The Croatian Sensation

What a Huge Pile of Steaming Poo!!

2007-12-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

OK it is that time of year again where I rant about how messed up the BCS is in College Football and predict the outcome of each game. I understand that I have no control over what is done or how it is done, but it makes me feel better and has kind of begun a little tradition. Here we go....

Orange Bowl: Kansas Jayhawks (11-1) vs. Virginia Tech (11-2)

First of all, let me say congrats to Kansas for pulling the wool over every ones eyes this year and beating absolutely no one of any kind of significance. Virginia Tech, kudos to you for doing the same. This should be a good game considering that neither of these teams beat anyone important. Kansas, your most impressive win came against, well, I guess Kansas St. That's how bad your schedule is, I can't even find a big win on it anywhere. VT, your big win was last week against Boston College, the same BC that you lost to earlier in the at home. Both teams have had, what I would call a successful year in past years, however, both leagues in which they play are complete garbage. Therefor, my pick is not an easy one.

Winner: Virginia Tech

Rose Bowl: USC Trojans (10-2) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3)

Hey guess what? It is a traditional match-up this year for the Rose Bowl. Only one problem, the Big-10 is sending Illinois. Huh?! Illinois, really? What a joke. USC, OK, you have earned it, kind of, with the help of everyone else in the Pac-10. If it wasn't for Arizona St., Cal, and Oregon taking nose dives at the end of the year. As for Illinois, congrats on the win over Ohio St. Too bad it was an over rated Ohio St. team. This game is going to be a blow out.

Winner: USC

Fiesta Bowl: West Virginia Mountaineers (11-2) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (11-2)

This could actually be a good game. Oklahoma is coming of a big win against Missouri and WV is coming off a loss but have a great quarterback and running game. Is WV worthy of this Bowl, probably not, but that is what makes the BCS so exciting. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that this game will be a lot like last years Oklahoma bowl game vs Boise St.

Winner: West Virgina

Sugar Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) vs Hawaii Warriors (12-0)

Is this year going to another WAC team beating a perennial power? Georgia has been griping about this bowl game so that alone is cause for them to loose and loose big. Everyone says that the WAC is not a strong conference and Hawaii is overrated. They beat an 11-1 Boise St team this year and everyone else they played for that matter. High octane offence with a very accurate QB. I like their chances.

Winner: Hawaii

Championship: Ohio St. Buckeyes (11-1) vs. LSU Tigers (11-2)

What a joke. Ohio St has to be the worst choice based on the fact that no one in their league is worth a crap this year and they lost to Illinois. That should be like 3-4 losses alone. LSU may be the best team but no one really knows because they have lost to overtime games. I don't think that I am going to watch this one.

Winner: LSU

Now if my calculations are correct, if I tally up the wins this is what the records will be after the Bowl games

Virgina Tech (12-2)
Kansas (11-2)
USC (11-2)
Illinois (9-4)
West Virginia (12-2)
Oklahoma (11-3)
Georgia (11-3)
Hawaii (13-0)
Ohio St. (11-2)
LSU (12-2)

Now, someone please tell me why it is that there is not a playoff in college football.

We have lost a good one.

2007-10-30T20:38:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have not herd the tragic news, singer, actor, and Broadway entertainer, Robert Goulet has passed away at the age of 73. He died on Oct 30 at Cedars-Sinai awaiting an emergency lung transplant. We have lost an icon ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a sad day.

Born: Robert Gerard Goulet
Nov. 26, 1933 in Lawerence, Massachusetts

Died: October 30, 2007 in Los Angeles

Awards:

Vera Awards (2007)
Star on Canada's Walk of Fame (2006)
First Star On "Shubert Walk of Fame" (New Haven) (2005)
The Wellness Community Human Spirit Award (2005)
25th Annual Telly Awards for ESPN College Basketball (2004)
The League Of American Theater and Producers -
Distinguished Lifetime Service Award Of Touring Broadway (2000)
1998 First Star On "Sidewalk Of Stars" Memphis, TN (1998)
Nevada Symphony Guild - Contribution To The Arts (1998)
Emmy - ESPN College Basketball Campaigns (Sports Emmy) (1997)
1995 Radio Mercury Gold Award - Humor (1995)
Robert Goulet Day - Las Vegas, Nevada July 27, 1994
Royal Conservatory Of Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Fellowship (1993)
Entertainer Of The Year - Las Vegas (1982)
Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star (1975)
Tony for Best Actor - The Happy Time (1968)
Emmy (5 Emmies) - Brigadoon (ROGO Production - Starred and Produced) (1966)
Grammy Gold Album for My Love Forgive Me (1966)
Grammy Best On Record (1965)
Grammy for Best New Artist (1962)
Theater World Award (1960)
Liberty All Canada TV Talent Award - Best Male Singer (1958)
Liberty All Canada TV Talent Award - Best Male Singer (1957)

Quotes:

"It wasn't until the first dress rehearsal that I discovered that he had a great pair of legs!
Even better I got to enjoy them every single performance for 18 months. I sat on stage, misty eyed, while he sang "If Ever I Would Leave You" and, to this day, I never told anyone which turned me on more, the voice or the legs!"
-JULIE ANDREWS (1985)-

"Goulet - the first time I’ve seen him on stage without braking into song - does admirably as the embattled George, handling his drunk session with impassioned lunacy.."
-Clive Barnes - New York Post - "Moon Over Buffalo" Broadway 1996-

"ROBERT GOULET’s vocal talents illuminate every medium of the entertainment world. A Grammy, Tony and an Emmy winner, he is a legendary artist of striking power. His illustrious career has spun for over half a century and he is considered one of the greatest baritones of our times. Equally adept at picking up nuances of a Broadway musical, caressing the lyric of a romantic ballad or amplifying the excitement of a swinging melody, whether in person or one of his 70 best-selling albums, he has enriched the lives of music lovers worldwide."
-Robert Goulet Ofical Website- www.robertgoulet.com-

Motto: "Check it Out"

-I second that motto with this collection-

-You will be missed. Thank you for all the wonderfulness that was Robert Goulet-

May you rest in piece Mr. Goulet.

Week 2

2007-10-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

So I figured that I would update on Owen's second week of life and I am happy to say that things could not be better. He is starting to get used to the idea of sleeping and night. He is pretty much on a set regimen now where he wakes up around 7pm and eats, then he is a wake for approx 2 hours. He then eats again and falls asleep until about 1-1:30 am. At this point he likes to get his but wiped and eat some more, then it is back to sleep until 4am. After another wiping of his rear end, it is time to, your guessed it, eat some more. It is at this point that he likes to get his beauty sleep in and goes until about 7am. All in all, can't complain. He is so cool it is ridiculous. He is starting to look around around more and look at faces. Oh, and the other day he got Laura really good. She went in to change him in the morning and after a second she noticed that her arm was wet, then when she was distracted with that, he blew out tire all over his changing pad and blanket. He is a crack up.

24-17 DUCKS!!!

2007-10-28T08:50:00.001-07:00

You can't stop them. You can only hope to contain them.

What a novel idea

2007-10-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

So a couple of days ago, while I was sitting eating dinner at Laura's parents house, I had an epiphany. I am going to write a book. I have no idea as to why I want to. Could be to accomplish something worth talking about, or could be just for the heck of doing something in general. At any rate, I am doing it. I was thinking more about it yesterday and thought how cool it would be if I could get it published and say I wrote a book and here it is. Currently, I have a character base and the first couple pages. I have never written anything of this kind of length so I really don't know what I am getting myself into. I do know that it is going to take me a few months to do at best so don't expect anything real soon. Anyway, if any of you have suggestions on how to go about it, please let me know.

Right into the Danger Zone

2007-10-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

I find it very interesting that we associate music with our mood and how certain songs hit the spot for us. Whether it be a love song, insperational or whatever, we all have those special songs that mean more to us than others. For me, and most other people, I associate songs with my moods. For example, if I want to listen to somthing that is soothing to the mind and body, I may put on some soft jazz or for those special occations, The Righteous Brothers. I can remember back in high school we would play some sweet tune before games to get us going. With that said, I have decided to put together my top 10 most inparational songs. These are the songs that get me going when I need a pick me up:

10- Bon Jovi "Wanted (Dead or Alive)
09- Metallica "Enter Sandman"
08- Queen "We Will Rock You"
07- Bonnie Taylor "Holding Out for a Hero"
06- Journey "Don't Stop Believing"
05- Europe "The Final Countdown"
04- Guns n' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"
03- Survivor "Eye of the Tiger"
02- Joe Esposito "You're The Best Around" (Karate Kid)
01- Kenny Loggins "Danger Zone"

Now I relize that most, if not all, are form the '80s but that was some of the best times in music. I have always said that there is a lot of crap songs in the '80s, but if you can hold you breath long enough to get past it, you will find gold.

What are your favorites?

Owen Ryder Rusick

2007-10-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, here he is, my new baby boy. Isn't he awesome. He and Laura are doing great and I couldn't be more happy than I am right now. He is perfect. Here are his stats:

Name: Owen Ryder Rusick

Weight: 8 lbs. 8 oz.

Height: 21 1/2in.

Hair: Blond

Eyes: N/A (Won't know that for a few more days)

We went in on Mon. 10-15 to be induced, and at 4:17am on 10-16 Owen was here. Took him long enough if you ask me. I believe that Laura was in labor for close to 14 hours, which in expectant father terms is approx 27 days. There came a point that night that I thought to myself that he just was not on the same page as us and was not coming out for nothing. But I am happy that he had a change of heart. Laura was amazing throughout the whole thing. So calm and cool and I love her so much it is unreal. We were able to bring him home on Wed, and he has not adjusted to our sleep schedule just yet. He feels it is important to keep a close eye on all the doings between the hours of 10:30pm and 5:30am. So as of right now, we sleep about 2 hours a night and I must say, it does not bother me one bit. Of course I'm not nursing so Laura may have a different take. I was able to take this week off but I must go back to work on Monday. I have never felt bad about going to work until today when I was holding him and he farted and looked at me and smiled. Great times.

How Convenient

2007-10-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Al Gore for his stunning achievements in the last year or so. Emmy, Oscar and now Nobel, quite the trifecta. Now I never saw the documentary that he did and I have herd nothing but mixed reviews. I guess it kind of depends on which side of the fence you sit on if you enjoyed it or not.

not that he will need it in jail, but still.

2007-10-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

So the Atlanta Falcons took Micheal Vick to an arbitrator in search of getting back bonus money that was given to Vick. Now, I agree that the Falcons are entitled to some kind of compensation in lew of Vick's stupidity, but to win almost $20 million dollars? To me , that number seems kind of high. Please, don't get me wrong, Vick is a piece of garbage, but the reasoning behind the ruling makes me kind of cringe. It opens the door to all companies and employers to receive back funds given. From what I read, it sounded like the reason it was approved was that he was using the funds earned by the Falcons to fund the dog fighting ring. Now, I would bet that some of that money went to the dog fighting, but 20 mill worth? I find that hard to believe. At any rate, the reason for the ruling was said be be "inappropriate behavior". It was such a blanket ruling, that I fear that someone is going to take advantage of the situation. Technically, under that ruling, any employee that uses money earned from their employer, that is used in what is deemed "inappropriate", the employer can file a suit to reclaim the money. So, for example, a man rents a hotel for his mistress with the money he earned from work and his employer finds out, and deems it "inappropriate", they can attempt to regain that money and then some. That just does not seem right to me. They pretty much made it up to the employer what act is and is not appropriate. They whole situation just doesn't sit right with me. I know that I am waisting my breath though because the NFL PA will just appeal and get it over turned, but it bothers me that this type of thing can happen and no one involved can see the big picture.

I don't know why.

2007-10-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

So, as some of you know, I will a dad soon. For those of you who didn't know, well now you do. With that comes a whole slew of responsibility. Shocker I know, but seriously though, you never really think about that stuff until it happens to you. I wasn't really feeling all that nervous until yesterday. I have, for the most part, been feeling pretty good about the situation, but yesterday I think that it has finally hit me. Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to the who experience but now the nerves are setting in. Oh well, I am sure that once he is born all those feelings will subside and nothing will be more important than him.

In other news, my Oregon Ducks are up to #8 (USA Today) in the polls. Now I realize that they do this every year to me. Start off hot, get a couple big wins and break into the top 10. And usually from there they nose dive into this unthinkable loosing streak. Well this year it just feels different. The office is clicking and the defence is actually tackling people. Something that they haven't done since 2001-02. I feel that when it is all said and done that they will finish in the top 5. And then from there they will get hosed out of a BCS bowl game. But that rant is for the end of the season.

Other than that, not much else to report on. I am hoping to be posting on a regular basis but I think we all know how that turned out last time.