Dogpiles by star

After basking in my winningness for the last few days I'm back.
I was going to blog on all the dogpiles of the CWS qualifying teams, but couldn't find all the pictures. So instead I'm going to blog about the best dogpile I've ever seen.
This is when the Huskers made it to the CWS in 2005. And the stripy socks were all the rage. Looking back, there are 4 major leaguers on that team.

The guy running to the pile out of uniform is the great Alex Gordon. 'Why is he out of uniform' you ask, 'he was thrown out of the game for back talking to an ump' I answer.

The big guy leaning on the pile on the right side the Joba 'F***ing Bugs' Chamberlain. Note: he can't get off the ground.

The second fellow from the left is Zach Kroenke. He is almost up to the Yankees bullpen. If he's not yet, he will be by the end of the year.

Right under him (all you see is the head) is Brian Duensing, he was in the Twins bullpen earlier this year.

It was a blast! Sweeping Miami in 2 games! Ahhh, those were the days!

Road to Omaha... by boo

We are ready here in Omaha to welcome the 8 teams that will be playing for the NCAA National Championship next week. (read… drinking, puking and public urination along 13th Street and at Pauli’s… not me, the college kids…) There are two new teams to the group, along with some traditional favorites.

Here is a brief preview of each of the teams.

Arkansas – One of the two teams that will probably be “fan-favorites”, the Hogs have been up a few times recently. Their head coach, Dave Van Horn, revived the Husker baseball program back in the late 90’s and he will be getting a lot of the love from the locals. However, DVH has brought 3 teams to the CWS and is 0-fer the tourney. I don’t look for much from them this year, since they are the only team in the field that NU has a win over. However, their 2B has the best name in the tourney, Ben Tschepikow. Keep an eye on him...

Cal State Fullerton – My favorite to win this side of the bracket, the Titans (oddly, their mascot is an elephant) always bring a lot of fans up to Omaha, most famously, Kevin Costner. So I always hope they go far. Mostly, because they spend their money here, and, if they are around for the Championship series, Costner shows up!

LSU – A traditional power, the Tiger fans always show up in droves and paint the town purple and yellow. You can wander the parking lot and they will invite you to random tailgates. And those folks can cook. Their team is ok, too. Geaux Tigers!

Virginia – One of those first time teams, they will get a lot of local attention since their head coach is a local boy who played on Creighton’s 1991 CWS team. Don’t know much about them, but would expect a quick exit. Don’t have a reason, since a lot of first time teams have done well in the past couple years. But they are the Cavaliers. Don't know if that is good or bad, just ask LeBron.

North Carolina – Remarkably, this team is making its 4th trip in 4 years to Omaha. I hope they get kicked out early since they have basketball, they don’t need baseball, too. Sour grapes, perhaps. But that’s all I’ve got on the Tar Heels.

Southern Mississippi – The other new team to the field, I don’t know much about them except that they kept Florida from making it. Yea. No Florida, FSU or Miami this year. And only one from CA. Loaded up on the Deep South, however. Might be a scary crowd.

Arizona State – Another perennial visitor to the CWS. Funny coach. Really like Pat Murphy, and Dirtman has chosen them as his “adopted” college team. That is a concept I do not buy into. I cheer for only one team… forget about the rest…

Texas – Saved the worst for last. Really struggled to cheer for the hated Longhorns, but needed at least one Big XII team to make it. Can’t stand the team, the school, the coach or the nasty big white Spaceballs batting helmets. But that is neither here nor there. They came into the tourney as the #1 overall seed, but struggled throughout. So that means they will probably do well here in Omaha. Blech, burnt orange.

Dirtman will probably try to make it to all the games, so I’m sure I will get some brilliant insights from him. Not. He will watch the games, but will be unwilling to make any observations about physical characteristics of the players. What fun is that….

Some offseason Nash

So be sure to catch Steve Nash reporting for David Letterman from the NBA finals- he'll be on the show wednesday night. One can only hope it's as good as his vitamin water commercials. Don't know if he'll take his shirt off, so here's a pic to tide you over. I know, surprisingly hairy for a canadian.

Dinara ****cough, cough, choke*** Safina

Dinara Safina, #1 in the world, looking for her first Grand Slam title, looked a little hapless against her Russian counterpart Kuznetsova. I was only able to watch the first couple games before Dirtman and I went out for a run and Farmer's Market. She looked a little hesitant early, but thought that she would make it a match. Not so much.

She is less a grunter than a moaner. You can still hear her groan as the ball is landing on the other side of the net. ANNOYING. And not that I am all about the looks, but... it appears her brother got all of them in the family. Yummy. Love that big sexy Russian. (Gave you some bonus Tommy Haas coverage in there!)

Can Calvin Borel get his personal Triple Crown today? There are some saying that Mine That Bird has the stamina for the longer Belmont, but Borel's inexperience at the track might be a problem in timing his move.

Happy Birthday, Lilly!!! I'll drink a couple for you with Frankie tonight. She'll be in for the CB Half tomorrow am. Hope I can keep up with Mr. T in the 1 mile. He's pretty fast for a 4 year old.

NBA finals, so sad

I can't even comment on the finals thus far, ugh. seriously? Luke Walton? getting productive minutes? and Team Kobe still winning? by 25? double ugh. *head to desk, reach for drink*

Star asked me today if the Magic can come back, I don't know but in my dream scenario Team Kobe goes up 3-1 and then suffer an epic collapse which ends with Kobe dropping from Staples Center ceiling dressed in all black to take revenge on his pathetic teammates.

BFA use #2 - Okay - Stan van Gundy is almost to easy, really you all could have guessed this one, the master of panic is..."The Scream" by Edward Munch. I know, I wanted something less obvious, but its too perfect. Only thing wrong is the guy in the painting isn't dressed poorly enough.

I thought "The Elephants" by Salvador Dalî was a nice fit for Coach Zenmaster. Do you understand it? I don't, that's why its perfect. And as Hubby pointed out - the elephants are tall like him. Brilliant, he should get an honorary degree in art history for that.

Trés Bon Rogerer, Au Revoir Serena

Yips Shankova managed to not mentally break down and beat Serena in three sets today. On the women's side there are two Russians, an Australian and a Slovak left in the draw...I'm pretty sure there's a joke in there.

Rogerer beat Gael Monfils (best name on the tour) in three sets, Rogerer woke up during the first set tiebreak and realized he's Rogerer Federer and put the smack down on the young frenchman.

And the Bryan Bros are still alive in doubles...

NBA finals meets BFA

Finally, I can use my degree. Okay, lets say you have to describe Dwight Howard & Kobe Bryant using one piece of art.

Dwight first, 'cause he's super easy. Jeff Koons' Balloon Dog.(shown in yellow, put imagine it in blue) Happy, light, fun, larger than life, easy on the eyes, self aware enough to realize the joke-but completely okay with it. 

Kobe was harder...my choice was Leonardo Da Vinci's Vetruvian Man. Perfection, rigid adherence to form, beauty with joylessness.

Tomorrow....Stan Van Gundy & Zenmaster

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

So today Boo, myself and a adopted sister whom shall remain nameless, since she doesn't have a nickname (you know her as the one who ran the San Fran & Seattle 1/2's with us) went to Football 101 with the Nebraska football coaches.
So after running some drills with the coaches and listen to Coach Bo, Carl and Watson there was a quiz by the guy in charge of the academics for the athletes at UNL. I got to answer the bonus question, which I got right, and won a chance to be a 'football recruit' for any game this year. This means I will be treated to lunch, meet the coaches (which I already did today), get to be on the field during warm ups and the tunnel walk.
I think I'm able to take someone with me, Boo's already called dibs. I'll see if I can get more.
star

'staches: tell me why again?

Dback's not-a-rookie reliever Clay Zavada has been getting alot of publicity lately for his mustache. It's very old school. He has a great life story (read this article from the NY Times). 

But in the best of obscure sporting mustache gallery there must be room for Dave Z. Lots of room. Also for his teammate Steve Cozza (thanks star)

Of course there is one cyclist that could totally pull it off.

¡Jens!

creating the championship tennisbot

I was reading this article today which proposed that the U.S. needs more crazy tennis parents to push their children to become champions, since the U.S. tennis association is in a bit of a drought. Speaking of crazy tennis parents... Maria Sharapova's dad wasn't coaching enough or making enough crazy threats from the stands, or maybe Dominika Cibulkova is way to tough of a slovak to fall for that. She downed Maria 6-0, 6-2. Buh Bye Maria, can't say I'll miss your ridiculously deliberate serve preparation or your annoying noises. 

Congrats to Andy for doing so well - second week. well done. (fourth round, four pictures)