Archive | January, 2015

Facebook Birthday Posts

30 Jan

 

Facebook

Facebook

For two years now, I’ve refrained from wishing anyone a happy birthday via Facebook. I just wouldn’t do it. I think birthdays are very special days, and do extend a greeting over Facebook on such an occasion was tacky and impersonal. Besides family, close friends, nobody got a happy birthday from me unless I knew it was your birthday. In which case I’d either see ya or call ya. It was some rebellious thought I had about sincerity and social media.

I’m not going to let Facebook dictate my well wishing. No way. Where do you get off putting everyone’s birthday’s on my calendar? Not my style. Just mindlessly writing a “Happy Birthday” on someone’s wall. Adding a “man” or, “Terry” or some other reference as to how you’re acquainted. Nah. Get lost. Goddamn Facebook birthdays. Continue reading

What If’s… A Patriots-Colts Do-Over This Sunday? Pig Skin Rodeo II

22 Jan

Andrew Luck admits that when it all boils down to it, the Colts just flat out got beat by the Patriots. But players have asked about it. You’ve thought about it. The NFL has the power to do it. What if…. what if tomorrow, Roger Goodell decides his ruling on the case of the deflated footballs, strolls up to the podium and taps the mike. He looks at his notes, smiles, tosses his notes over his shoulder and says, “You know what guys? Screw it, we’re going to do it over again on Sunday!”

And the crowd goes wild.

That would be the most watched football game in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

It would be unprecedented. Can you remember the last time there was a do-over this epic? Not since the 1972 Olympic Basketball final between the United States and Soviet Union. You know, the Russians get three tries at a buzzer beater and, hey–hey! They win.

But this Colts-Patriots Rodeo this Sunday would be the game of the decade. The Patriots cheat using under-inflated balls in AFC Championship thrashing of Colts, commish says that’s not fair, do it again, Pig Skin Rodeo II, live, Sunday, January 25th, 4:05pm. That’s the best best preliminary name I could think of. Pig Skin Rodeo II. Someone will think of something better, I’m sure.

But the sad truth is that Pig Skin Rodeo II won’t happen. It may or probably may not be the greatest game ever played, but it opens pandora’s box of do-over arguments for the rest of eternity. Penalties, suspensions, anything could be a case for a do-over. So I guess we can stop thinking about it now.

The Patriots will likely get a huge fine, couple draft picks, and Superbowl XLIX rings. But what if Roger Goodell wants to go for the jugular?

Suspend Tom Brady and/or Bill Belichick for one year. Lock those villains up in the Asylum for twelve months, and clean up Gotham, Commish.

The NFL has suspended players and coaches for entire seasons before. Paul Horning for gambling in 1963 for instance, or Sean Payton for Bountygate. If they threw the book the quarterback or the coach, boy that would be a big loss for the Patriots.

We’ll see as the NFL continues to investigate. They have to do something. Isn’t it fun to think of what?

Lessons in Reporting 2: Buzzer Beaters

21 Jan

Beaulieu's Buzzer Beater

 

Last night was one of those nights that reminds me why exactly it is I went into the business of covering sports. There’s several reasons, and I’m reminded of them frequently, but last night was one of those nights where the magic was on the court and I’m just glad I was the guy standing on the baseline with the camera and the microphone.

Actually, I didn’t have the microphone. Or a tripod. They were out in the car. I thought about running to get them from the car between the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime of #3 Fort Fairfield’s 67-66 win over #1 Washburn, but I couldn’t forgive myself for turning off the record button at that point. Not after what just happened. Continue reading

Maine Things: The Cold

7 Jan

For as long as I can remember, the “Ice Bowl” has been the image that comes to mind when I think of unbearable cold. That is until I moved to Northern Maine.

Photo Jan 06, 2 24 31 AMI’m 4/5 of the way through the 1968 best-seller Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer. The book recounts the entire season in which the Packers would go on to win Superbowl II. I’m just getting to the book’s climax: the 1967 NFL Championship Game between Dallas and Green Bay, also know as the “Ice Bowl.”

Continue reading