Ah, finally, the weekend. I celebrated by getting out of bed a bit before 3:00 this morning. I think perhaps it might be time to put some more air in the air mattress. It’s starting to kill me. I may also need to go get the memory foam mattress topper from our real bed and put it on there. Might be a while before we get all our furniture over here, and if I don’t do something soon, I may be crippled for life. On the bright side, during my daily lunchtime pilgrimage to the old house to grab a few bags of pellets, I discovered two tool boxes filled with tools I’d long since forgotten, and a very nice looking plunge router that I only vaguely remember and have long since forgotten about. I think the damn thing was hardly ever used. So yesterday was kinda like Christmas in that respect.
With the move and lack of Internet access and all that, one of the things I’ve been neglecting to do is keep everyone up to speed on the progress of the Syracuse football team (plus, if I’m going to ignore the news, that pretty much only leaves sports, weather, and whether Michelle Obama changed her outfit during the flight to India – which, by the way, cost $20 million an hour because, instead of jet fuel, Obama insisted that the burn hundred dollar bills). Please let me take a moment to apologize for that. I know you’ve all been bummed out by the lack of updates.
After getting stomped on by Pittsburgh at home a few weeks back (which, I believe, was due to the fact that they somehow were under the impression that beating South Florida made them ‘good’), SU seems to have gotten their shit together (at least on defense), and beat first West Virgina (which looked impressive for about a week, until UCONN beat them too) and then Cincinnati (both on the road). With all due caveats as to the Big East being less than stellar, and that three of SU’s wins come against winless Akron (sorry, Kevin), the powerhouse that is the Main Black Bears, and the Colgate Raiders, Syracuse finds itself at 6-2 overall, and 3-1 in the league (good enough for 2nd place at this point in time).
And, while this is more a reflection of how terrible SU had become over the previous five years (under the coach whose name we dare not utter in these parts, lest he be summoned back from Michigan where he is busy destroying the Wolverines’ defense), in two seasons under head coach (and fellow SU alum) Doug Marrone, Syracuse…
…has already equaled the number of wins in the previous five seasons (with four games still to go).
…is 6-2 for the first time since 2001 (when they finished 10-3).
…3-1 in the Big East for the first time since 2004.
…beat Cincinnati for the first time since 2004.
…beat South Florida for the first time ever.
…beat West Virginia for the first tine since 2001.
All of which brings us to today’s game against Louisville (who is doing quite well under their new coach, Charlie Strong; preseason predictions – and past performance – had today’s game pegged as a battle for the league basement). If SU wins today, they’ll clinch a winning season and be bowl-eligible for the first time since, like 2004 (and with the plethora of bowl games these days combined with the dearth of quality teams in the Big East, they’re pretty much assured of going to one if they win). SU is favored, Louisville will be w/o their starting QB and running back, and the Cardinals haven’t won a league game on the road in the past 1 tries.
In other words, SU is ripe for playing like crap and losing. Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen, or, in addition to ignoring the news, I’ll also be forced to ignore sports (for at least a week, anyway). Plus, I’ll be very, very angry.
And you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.
Have a good day.
The Grizzly Manifesto
By GAIL COLLINS
I think it is time to take back the mama grizzly.
“In real life, they are famous for their reproductive freedom,†said Gloria Steinem over the phone.
This is one of the many things I love about Steinem. When things are darkest, she will come up with a very cheering factoid about Iroquois women in pre-Columbian America or the private life of female bears.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/opinion/06collins.html?_r=1
This is a story on NPR this morning about an ESPN documentary that will air next week. Of interest to some of you perhaps because Jim Brown gets mentioned as well as Barry Switzer and OU.
The Football Star We Never Knew
by NPR Staff
November 6, 2010
Listen to the Story
Weekend Edition Saturday
[8 min 0 sec]
November 6, 2010
Marcus Dupree was once the biggest name in the future of football. The superstar that he did not become and the man he is today are the subject of a new documentary airing Tuesday on ESPN. Host Scott Simon talks with Dupree and filmmaker Jonathan Hock about the film, The Best that Never Was.
“two tool boxes filled with tools”
what a treat.
reclaiming buried treasure! love it.
lost my ship wright adzes and turned em up in the basement buried under some of my old house hardware boxes.
Bill Maher on the Tally to Restore Sanity.
He’s right!
Don’t know where this came from but
The GOP is back in control, so don’t forget to
turn your clocks back one century tonight. #p2
#GOPFail
Same as video above