Monday, January 31, 2005

Interesting Sports List

Found on ESPN.com's Page2 - The greatest Quarterbacks in NFL History.

The interesting part for me is how the Giants have Phil Simms at #2 (whom a buddy of mine who is a Giants fan called "mediocre" - blasphemy!) and Kerry break your heart Collins at #80 (the bottommost number). Just shows you where the franchise has gone since the glory days of Parcells. For the true geeks out there - Jeff Hostetler was #28.

No fear, though - Eli will save us... if we can get a WR.

Democracy in Action

OK, OK, i know - a liberal democrat is not supposed to feel this way, according to conservative stereotyping. Regardless of that, however, I just want to post how moved I am by the Iraqi's who came out to vote yesterday - they braved far more odds than we ever have to just to get to the polls, and odds are that their turnout will be higher than ours.

This is by no means me condoning our action in Iraq, by the way - I'm still quite conflicted on that, mainly because many of those you yell at me for not condoning our entry into that country are the same who opposed nation building practices while Bill Clinton was president. Didn't Bill present evidence of Iraqi WMD in 98... and didn't congressional Republicans tell him he couldn't go in? Oh yeah - look it up, folks.

Anyways, don't tell me that your full and total assetion that the President was completely right isn't based, somewhat, on your party affiliation - so don't tell me that I "disrepect the troops" or have "no ideas about foreign policy strength" - think about it yourselves, won't you?

The idea that our troops fought and died for in the sand is the same idea that Iraqi's braved terror for - freedom - It's the same idea that you and I have the ability to excercise everyday, so please, please, try and use it - don't just regurgiate the party line - think.

I will if you will.

Deal?

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Nationals Pride

I like what I see lately.

The more and more I am around the DC metro area, the more Nationals Paraphenalia I see.

From what I can tell, this is a good thing - I mean, I was never part of the 33 years without a baseball team - even my hometown had a AA franchise - but I am happy to see that the area has responded so well to the team, despite the week of no baseball thoughts due to the city council.

Personally, I am psyched - I've always wanted to live in a city with a big league franchise, and splitting season tickets with friends will be great. Now, we may not have the greatest team ever, nor may we even make the playoffs, but I believe that playing in front of a packed house of 40k most nights as opposed to 5k poeple in Montreal will give a boost to the team.

In effect, I'm just waiting for the game that comes down to the young relief pitcher facing the big hitter - "Forget the curve, Ricky - give him the Heater!"

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Playoffs?!?!?

Now, I don't mean to sound like ex Colts head coach Jim Mora, but I have to say, after watching one day of the NFL divisional round, it was quite the confusing day.

Game one - Pittsburgh/Jets - Blowout, right? No - Dougie Brien shanks two in the final 2 minutes to blow the game for the Jets (a game the Steelers should have won easily) - sure, they were long, but you're the kicker - you have one job, maybe two... hit that kick, Scott Norwood.

Game two - Rams/Falcons - Should be a tight game, right? Wrong. Falcons put up basically 50 on St. Louis, and it was never even close - and this rams team was supposed to have momentum, and the Falcons had "questions". Well, Questions answered.

So, after a resounding WTF shook the NFL intelligentsia last night, we have to figure out what the hell is going to happen today... and I have no clue, because after last night's games, I look like Jim Mora.

On a side note, as much as I like the Don Cheadle NFL commercials, it was... nice to see Rene Russo on there too, I know, she's old enough to be my mother, but whatever - that's one attractive woman.

Saturday, January 15, 2005

I've been meaning to write this for a while...

Because I had a unique event happen to me and I wanted to share it with you all. It's quite sad, so bear with me.

Last November I attended a wedding with my girlfriend - two Army captains who met in Baghdad, both Helicopter pilots in the 82nd airborne (Jen flies Kiowa warriors, Justin flew Blackhawks). It was, by far, one of the neatest things I have ever seen, and I felt privileged just to be able to be there. Granted, the only reason I know them is that my girlfriend was Jen's roommate at NMMI - the New Mexico Military Institute, which is a prep school for those wishing to attend a service academy.

Well, last Sunday, January 2, Jen and Justin had gone to see the family of Jen's old troop commander, another female captain who died over Fallujah. On the way back to Fort Bragg, a tractor trailer jumped the median on I-95 and struck their car, injuring Jen and killing Justin on impact.

We found out about this a few days later, and we drove down and attended the funeral service in Fayetteville the eighth, and Justin will be interred at Arlington February 2. I cannot describe in words the range of emotions that I have felt the past few weeks because of this. Despite the generalization that Liberals hate the military (something far from the truth), I have a deep, deep respect for those who serve, knowing some of them myself and once upon a time considering doing the same... you expect those who serve to be injured in training, or in combat, and to even have them die, but you never expect for something like this to happen, and it cuts you to the core.

I could go off on some rant about highway safety, or the unfairness of life, or whatever, but I won't, because that would disrespect Justin's memory. All I ask is that if you know someone who serves, thank them and tell them how grateful you are for them as a person, because you never know, combat or not, if this will be the last time you have a chance to say it.