Big Game Coming UConn Women play #6 LSU tonight at 7 on ESPN2. UConn's one loss came in their last big game, versus Rutgers, but I'm looking to the Patriots and saying it's better to have a regular season loss. (UConn regained the number one ranking after Tennessee had two losses - although one counts as a clock-assisted win.)
LSU's a great team, making four of the last Final Fours. They knocked UConn out last year - Tina Charles has been keeping a picture of LSU's Sylvia Fowles in her locker since then. If you haven't caught Maya Moore yet this season, check out tonight's game. She's poised to break Svetlana Abrosimova's record for freshman scoring, Diana Taurasi's record for consecutive games in double figures and Rebecca Lobo's record for "Freshman of the Week" honors. That's the company she's in already. Update: Well, that was quite a game. Not to overlook Moore's 29 pts. or Charles' 18, but McLaren's 11pts/12reb combined with solid defense was crucial and Swanier was clutch. If they can bring this game for Rutgers, and the tourneys, they'll be fine.
I alluded to the Clinton tendency to fight things out. Even with Obama's recent 8 for 8 string of victories, even if Hillary doesn't take both Ohio and Texas, I fully expect her to be in it. If you are hoping for a orderly conclusion to the Democratic primaries, you should read this post at Ghost in the Machine. In order to avoid some ugliness, Obama needs a knockout. Hillary will fight to turn this thing on the unrecognized delegates of Florida (Obama hasn't won a major state), on the superdelegates (The mature leaders of the party have an obligation) or on P.R. (They're picking on me again) She didn't lend herself five million (try it, it's fun!) just to concede.
Here's hoping the voters do their bit and/or Howard Dean earns his pay.
Whenever anyone - anyone - tries to pass off that media-inspired bit about McCain being a "maverick" or "independent" around me, I spew forth about how McCain always caves in to his party about everything. The only exception I allow is McCain's speaking out against torture.
I agree with the central point of this article on what went wrong with Friday Night Lights this season.
"But the big failing of this season was simple: the first season’s tight-knit ensemble, adults and teenagers tied somehow to the Dillon Panthers football team, was blown into its constituent parts, and never really reassembled."
The murder subplot got all the negative attention, but just as bad were the decisions to remove nearly all football and ramp up the O.C.-esque music montages. What happened to all the great Landry-Saracen talks? Both of them wound up with hot girlfriends and never got around to telling the other? Last season the show was so tightly knit it was about a community. This season it's about characters and sometimes it's still great, but not nearly as good.
Roy Scheider dies. With Jaws and The French Connection and, I have to add, Blue Thunder there were a good two or three years where this guy stood with Burt Reynolds and Marc Singer in the trifecta of movie masculinity for me. Not saying that was entirely a good thing, but there it is. Other people had John Wayne, I had Hooper and Beast Master.
When a candidate drops out, it's often a time to say nice things about him. (Usually a him, of course.) So I'd like to take a moment and say Screw you, Romney! I might have ignored his dropping out altogether except for his comment that a Clinton or Obama win is some sort of "a surrender to terror."
Really? If a Democrat wins we'll have to roll out the red carpet and greet our terrorist overlords on bended knee? If they put that in their speeches I wouldn't vote for them.
Seriously though, Republicans have elevated this kind of shrill overstatement to the point where no one notices anymore. If a reasonable candidate suddenly suggested this, we'd all be talking about the slip. But if you're crazy all the time ...
Bleech I have to say, as Patriots fan, I was worried right from the start. Brady seemed off with his passes and unable to slide away from the rush like he often does. And the rush was relentless. Standing for so long, 7-3 seemed to tempt an upset. Stupidly, I wasn't worried during the Eli scramble and bomb/helmet catch by Tyree. I saw the ball touch the ground and thought, "It's under two minutes. You can't demonstrate control of the ball with your helmet. That's getting overturned." Also stupidly, I wasn't worried earlier during the same drive when Eli fumbled and somehow recovered it with his legs and we didn't get the call. "That's okay," I thought. "They're not moving it downfield and we'll get the next call." No and no.
I was worried when I should have been happy and happy when I should have been worried. Also sober when I should have been drunk.
Making matters worse, many people are thrilled with the Patriots' defeat because of how jerky Red Sox fans have been. Makes it hard for us Yankees/Patriots fans.
Can't complain too much considered up until last night I've been following two perfect seasons. Go Huskies.
"We all were challenged to engage and serve our country by John Kennedy. That is my starting point," DeLauro said. She believes Obama is now the charismatic figure inspiring the young to register for the first time. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I felt compelled to join."
Still, she travels quite a bit of personal distance to reach that conclusion.
New England, Where We're Slow to Accept New England The Land of Steady Habits took a long time to embrace the Patriots over the New York Giants. I like that the article also points out that Connecticut's location breeds combo fans that seem strange to outsiders. Many Giants fans who are also Red Sox fans. And those like me, who root for the Yankees and the Patriots. I was nine or so when I picked the Patriots as my favorite team. There were so few Patriots fans around (none) I had no idea they were also the "local" team. I hadn't quite figured out that I lived in the same New England. They happened to win the game I was watching when it was time to pick a favorite team and - more importantly - they wore red. It all worked out.
