The title of this entry says enough.
I'll give some quick background. After I finish up my weekly duties at Newsday, I hop in the car (sometimes on a plane) and head to northern Virginia for my Saturday show on XM radio. Sundays are generally spent on the couches of my college friends' place in Arlington, where I stay each weekend.
In an ideal world, I'd love to leave after the 1 p.m. NFL games and get home in time for some dinner and a chance to wrap up the weekend in the comforts of home. However, the Jersey Turnpike - Hades' gift to earth - is a parking lot between exits 7 and 8 and what takes me 4 hours at night turns into 7 hours on Sunday. So, we sit on the couch and let an advertisement peak our interests and we finish the weekend with a dinner somewhere around town.
This week it was "Endless Shrimp" at Red Lobster. I admit to everyone I had never been to a Red Lobster (always lived near the ocean and went to local seafood restaurants). They go insane and demand we go there for dinner.
Fast forward to 7:30, when we're seated. One of my friends pitches the idea of a shrimp eating contest. But all of us shoot that down. He then proceeds to gloat how he would destroy all of us. My pride gets the best of me, mainly because I know I can take him out with the blink of an eye. The game is on.
Within five minutes I'm up 15 shrimp. He closes the gap to 10. Before he knows it, he's down 30 and gives the obligatory handshake, officially ending the competition. It was pure intimidation with speed, plus the fact I ate three cheddar biscuits, a salad and a baked potato.
The end result of this story, in addition to my swelled pride, is an interesting drive home filled with ingestion and an intense craving for water (it was probably more of a necessity than craving).
That's my story.
As for the weekend, we'll get into it big time tomorrow, but let's point out a few things.
- Paul, I watched Arizona State instead of going out to meet friends after the show. It was important that I watch the Sun Devils and I'm glad I did. They're a ton of fun. I definitely think I watched a 10-win team and a unit that could be playing in a BCS game when it's all said and done. Dennis Erickson was having a ton of fun out there, it was really a treat to see.
- Sticking with the Pac-10. Does UCLA have an identity? Losing to Washington State was pretty bad. The ups and downs this team is going through has to leave someone accountable when it's all said and done. I've said all year that this could be the end for Karl.
- I'm starting to think Urban Meyer might be a little too 'new school' for his own good. I really question some of the play calls I saw on Saturday in Florida's loss to Georgia. There's a time for ingenuity and there's a time for stuff that works. On a fourth and two, there are better choices than an attempt at a reverse.
- Fact: Hawaii is on the cusp of being BCS eligible. Remember this come late November.
- Ohio State is looking more dangerous every week. The Buckeyes' performance in Happy Valley was pretty impressive.
I'll hit you with a ton tomorrow. First, as BNG hinted to, it's going to take me a while to make sense of this mess they're calling the polls.
Oh, if you go to Red Lobster, stay away from the "new" buffalo shrimp. No good.
Comments (7)
Adam, I watch or listen to every game I can with the idea that I will have my heart ripped out. (I suffer from Joe Pisarcik disease). I am enjoying the ride because it does not happen that often, maybe under Erickson it does. I understand that dynasties bring in "casual" fans, but I like new blood, just like I enjoyed Boise State last year, it is even better when my school is that new blood. This team, mostly Dirk Koetter players, is obviously playing with an unbelievable amount of confidence, as opposed to Koetter, when espcially towards the end, always played very tight. My goal is to figure out a way to watch the game this weekend, which is always hard to do with a three year & a wife that works weekends. Or just cut down all of the public trees that are preventing me from getting sattellite TV. Thankfully there is the internet, so at worst, I can keep a play by play update. I would be more than happy to have a running battle with Black & Gold leading to a game in New Orleans.
Paul, ASU keeps playing like they are, and it would be a one sided battle. They looked pretty impressive this past weekend.
Let's see what they can do without two weeks of preparation from here on out.
Looks like ASU and WVU are, at least currently, in the Battle for the all important 6th spot (last BCS Bowl spot).
I'll root against ASU on that basis, but I won't be taking any more swings at them till they stumble.
Adam,
Speaking of WVU, they won by 28 points (a 20 point or more differential for the 5th time), didn't allow a touchdown and beat a team that had just come off a victory over the second ranked team in the nation.
Do we get any respect now?
BnG -- All will be revealed tomorrow (my version of a cliffhanger)
Adam, fair enough, but I don't want any 'shrimpy' respect. :-)
It's got to be the real deal :-)
B&G, well, WVU looks a lot like Oregon east, except the QB throws with the other hand. Like I said, I am just enjoying the ride.
the hand breaded shrimp are the best followed by the shrimp scampi