I work in a call center for the vacations department of a major airline company (name withheld due to the content of this article). If you were to book a trip on our website, have a problem, call customer service, you will talk to me. If you are a moron, please do not call that number. Also - if you are a dumbass, have an IQ level of a monkey, or spew out garbage every time your mouth is open, don't call that number. I am done talking to you, and I have all of your addresses on file. Look in the mail, soon you will be receiving your "I'm with stupid t-shirt" with an arrow pointing straight up to your face. For crying out loud, why do you call me? What a bunch of losers!!! If you are cheap and cannot afford to go to Las Vegas, DON'T GO TO LAS VEGAS. If you can't afford to travel, you can't afford to gamble your money away. And please, don't yell swear words at your kids when you are talking on the phone to me. Not only should you not be shouting the F word at your kids, but in doing so, you are essentially shouting it at me too. It's annoying, and uncalled for. You might not be professional, but at least try to act like it while you are on the phone. I know I'm just another faceless keyboard jockey on the other end of the phone, but that doesn't mean that you can treat me like shit. In the words of Stephanie Tanner - how rude.
And please stop calling me M'am. I am not a lady. I am a guy, a man, a dude, a bro, or more professionally, a sir. Calling me M'am, honey or sweetheart does not make me feel like a man. It is degrading. There is nothing wrong with women. I love women. I love women a whole lot. I think they're great, I just don't like to be called something that I am not. Now sometimes I speak in a high voice when I get excited, but I am anything but excited when I answer the phone and have to do work. Granted, there are some burly manly women (Berta from 2 1/2 Men comes to mind) that might speak in a lower voice, but I have never met one that is named Scott. Some of the older lady travel agents sometimes call me dear or honey, and I don't take offense to that because their terms of endearments are from generations past. Older people just don't understand that it's not ok to call a young man in his late 20's honey or dear, so I just let it slide. Besides, you can't get mad at old people. It's not their fault that they are senile. Just go ahead and try and yell at Blanche, Dorothy, Rose or Sophia - you know, the Golden Girls! I'm sure that that old dame Sophia will sock you in the mouth if you try to sassy talk her. I dare you. Now don't get me wrong, I love that show, and I love those broads, but that would be an episode that I'd love to see! Hey, I guess they're right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose. They won't go dyin' on you, they'd whoop your ass!
Finally, these people who call are complete morons! I understand that you call customer service or a help desk if you don't know something, but these people are clueless. They are absolutely hopeless, and I sure hope that they don't breed because their spawn would dumb down the world, much like the vastly underrated Mike Judge comedy Idiocracy. These people calling me surely must love those electrolytes. People call here asking about a product that we don't offer, and they confuse us with someone else. WE ARE (Company A), NOT (Company B) DUMBASS!! What the hell is wrong with these people? If they were to simply use the limited brain power that they have to actually think for a second, they would answer their questions themselves and not have to bother me!! But the more that I about, if people knew the answers and didn't have to call me, then I would be out of a job and I wouldn't have anything to bitch about. So it looks like either way it happens, I'm screwed so I better just deal with it or go out and get a new job. This sucks.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Brewers @ Mets 4/11 - 4/13 : Series Wrap-Up
Series 4 - Brewers @ New York Mets, Shea Stadium, Queens, NY
This was the beginning of a very important road trip for the Brewers. If they are to win the NL Central or a Wild Card and make it to the playoffs for the first time since 1982, they would have to learn how to play well and win on the road. After the acquisition of Johan Santana (and despite the early injury to Pedro Martinez) a lot of people are picking the Mets to win the NL East. This series would show how we match up against one of the supposedly best teams in the NL. I personally don't think the Mets are that good, especially since some of their guys (Delgado, 35 and Beltran, 31) aren't getting any younger. And also their best player, Jose Reyes, is sidelined with a hamstring injury. It still is tough to play in New York in front of some of the most hostile fans in sports, but I had a feeling that the Brewers were going to come out of this one alright.
Game 1 (Friday) - Manny Parra vs Nelson Figueroa
The Brewers offense just couldn't figueroa Nelson out. This ex-Brewers pitcher (2002) hadn't pitched in the majors since 2004 and was only activated to momentarily take the place of the injured Pedro Martinez. The Brewers only managed 2 hits the entire game, but they made the most of them by scoring 2 runs with those hits. Parra pitched alright, but was pulled in the 5th after only throwing 74 pitches so that Joe Dillon could take some swings and hopefully spark the sputtering offense. It didn't help. Yost was also trying to get the lead in the game by pulling the pitcher early because rain was supposed to come and postpone if not cancel the game. If the game is called because of rain and a certain number of innings have been played (I think it is 6 but don't quote me, I'm too lazy to look it up) then whoever is leading (if they are unable to resume the game) is declared the victor. Yost was trying to win before the rain came. But it never came, and it didn't matter because the Brewers' offense took the day off. As Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker) in Major League would say, "Two runs off off...two hits? That's all we got - two God Damn hits?" Needless to say, we lost. Mets 4, Brewers 2.
Brewers record: 6 - 4
Game 2 (Saturday) - Ben Sheets vs Johan Santana
This is the match up that got me really excited. We always know that Sheets will most likely be getting match up against the other team's ace (as he did against Zambrano for the Cubs and Zito for the Giants) but this one in particular got me jazzed up because the Brewers always played well against Santana when he was with the Twins. Santana would be making his home debut at Shea, and even though he would never admit to it, I bet there's pressure on him to earn the record contract to which he signed in the offseason, such as the case was with Jeff Suppan last year (although he's only a #3 pitcher, .500 pitcher who eats up innings and keeps you in the game. Milwaukee fans were way too hard on him to live up to is hype/contract. A guy of Suppan's talent makes $10 million a year now. That's the going rate for a pitcher of his caliber). Sheets gave up his first runs of the season in the 1st inning, and I got worried real fast that this would be a disaster and our offense wouldn't be able to come back, but Sheets settled in and retired 18 in a row until the 8th inning. The offense did just enough, scoring all 4 of their 5 runs via the home run (Hall, Weeks and Kapler each hit one). Sheets pitched in with a RBI sacrifice bunt that scored Corey Hart when Santana threw to first to get Sheets out. It was some clever base running for Hart, who is right up there with Jose Reyes as the best base stealer in the National League. Gagne came in and recorded his second save of the season, and the rest is history. Final score Brewers 5, Mets 3.
Brewers record: 7 - 4
Game 3 (Sunday) - Jeff Suppan vs Oliver Perez
This was a huge series win for the Brewers, who needed to prove that they can win on the road if they wish to be successful in 2008. Like I said before, many had predicted the Mets to finish on top of the NL East, so this series gave us an opportunity to see how we stack up against the other good teams in the league. Our pitching is decent (with tons of room for improvement, thanks to the unproven arms of Gallardo, Villanueva and Parra) and our offense is way better than they have been playing so far this year. We're 8-4 right now, without all of the cylinders firing at that same time. Once everything starts clicking all at once, we'll be an unstoppable force brewing in the NL Central and heaven help any team that comes up against us.
Next up - Brewers @ Cardinals April 15 (Tuesday) - April 17 (Thursday) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
This was the beginning of a very important road trip for the Brewers. If they are to win the NL Central or a Wild Card and make it to the playoffs for the first time since 1982, they would have to learn how to play well and win on the road. After the acquisition of Johan Santana (and despite the early injury to Pedro Martinez) a lot of people are picking the Mets to win the NL East. This series would show how we match up against one of the supposedly best teams in the NL. I personally don't think the Mets are that good, especially since some of their guys (Delgado, 35 and Beltran, 31) aren't getting any younger. And also their best player, Jose Reyes, is sidelined with a hamstring injury. It still is tough to play in New York in front of some of the most hostile fans in sports, but I had a feeling that the Brewers were going to come out of this one alright.
Game 1 (Friday) - Manny Parra vs Nelson Figueroa
The Brewers offense just couldn't figueroa Nelson out. This ex-Brewers pitcher (2002) hadn't pitched in the majors since 2004 and was only activated to momentarily take the place of the injured Pedro Martinez. The Brewers only managed 2 hits the entire game, but they made the most of them by scoring 2 runs with those hits. Parra pitched alright, but was pulled in the 5th after only throwing 74 pitches so that Joe Dillon could take some swings and hopefully spark the sputtering offense. It didn't help. Yost was also trying to get the lead in the game by pulling the pitcher early because rain was supposed to come and postpone if not cancel the game. If the game is called because of rain and a certain number of innings have been played (I think it is 6 but don't quote me, I'm too lazy to look it up) then whoever is leading (if they are unable to resume the game) is declared the victor. Yost was trying to win before the rain came. But it never came, and it didn't matter because the Brewers' offense took the day off. As Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker) in Major League would say, "Two runs off off...two hits? That's all we got - two God Damn hits?" Needless to say, we lost. Mets 4, Brewers 2.
Brewers record: 6 - 4
Game 2 (Saturday) - Ben Sheets vs Johan Santana
This is the match up that got me really excited. We always know that Sheets will most likely be getting match up against the other team's ace (as he did against Zambrano for the Cubs and Zito for the Giants) but this one in particular got me jazzed up because the Brewers always played well against Santana when he was with the Twins. Santana would be making his home debut at Shea, and even though he would never admit to it, I bet there's pressure on him to earn the record contract to which he signed in the offseason, such as the case was with Jeff Suppan last year (although he's only a #3 pitcher, .500 pitcher who eats up innings and keeps you in the game. Milwaukee fans were way too hard on him to live up to is hype/contract. A guy of Suppan's talent makes $10 million a year now. That's the going rate for a pitcher of his caliber). Sheets gave up his first runs of the season in the 1st inning, and I got worried real fast that this would be a disaster and our offense wouldn't be able to come back, but Sheets settled in and retired 18 in a row until the 8th inning. The offense did just enough, scoring all 4 of their 5 runs via the home run (Hall, Weeks and Kapler each hit one). Sheets pitched in with a RBI sacrifice bunt that scored Corey Hart when Santana threw to first to get Sheets out. It was some clever base running for Hart, who is right up there with Jose Reyes as the best base stealer in the National League. Gagne came in and recorded his second save of the season, and the rest is history. Final score Brewers 5, Mets 3.
Brewers record: 7 - 4
Game 3 (Sunday) - Jeff Suppan vs Oliver Perez
After winning the opener in the series and splitting the middle game, the series would come down to the Sunday finale. Both Suppan and Perez had been pitching well this season, so we knew that it would come down to which ever offense could score the most runs. We had no idea that it would take 9 runs to barely edge the Mets and take the series victory. Suppan was off of his game today, giving up 6 runs off of 9 hits and 2 walk in 4 innings. The bullpen did a nice job the rest of the way and Gagne got his 2nd save in as many days, to bring his season total to 3. But the real story was the offense, who hit up the Mets for 9 runs off 11 hits. Rickie Weeks and Gabe Kapler each hit a home run for the second consecutive day, and the offense looked it's best since the home opener on April 4th. If you like watching an offensive showdown, then this was the game for you to tune into. I was excited to see that life had seemed to return to the Brewers' bats, but they could use some more hits and soon, so that the batting averages could get back to an acceptable number. But screw those stats, the only one that matters is the W, and they earned that one today. Final score Brewers 9, Mets 7.
Brewers record: 8 - 4 ( 2nd place NL Central)This was a huge series win for the Brewers, who needed to prove that they can win on the road if they wish to be successful in 2008. Like I said before, many had predicted the Mets to finish on top of the NL East, so this series gave us an opportunity to see how we stack up against the other good teams in the league. Our pitching is decent (with tons of room for improvement, thanks to the unproven arms of Gallardo, Villanueva and Parra) and our offense is way better than they have been playing so far this year. We're 8-4 right now, without all of the cylinders firing at that same time. Once everything starts clicking all at once, we'll be an unstoppable force brewing in the NL Central and heaven help any team that comes up against us.
Next up - Brewers @ Cardinals April 15 (Tuesday) - April 17 (Thursday) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, April 11, 2008
Brewers vs Reds 4/8 - 4/10 : Series Wrap-Up
Series 3 - Brewers vs Reds, Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
A lot of writers and "experts" (I put quotation marks around that because I don't consider them to be experts, just very opinionated) have picked the Cincinnati Reds to be one of the surprise teams of the year and a dark horse candidate to finish on top on the NL Central. This was our first opportunity in this young season to see if they are right. This series was also the first time Francisco Cordero returned to Milwaukee following his much publicized departure to the Reds for a 4 year $46 million dollar contract. I know for sure that I will boo him for leaving over $4 million dollars (Brewers offered him 4 years $42 million) but I have the right to because I paid for some of his salary by going to games and buying merchandise. Aside from that, it will be good to see how the Reds match up against the Brewers in 2008.
Game 1 (Tuesday) - Jeff Suppan vs Johnny Cueto
I had the pleasure of being in attendance for this amazing game. Cueto came just as advertised, and any critics who said that the Reds didn't have any pitching were wrong. I hate to laud opposing players, but you've got to give credit where credit is due. This kid was downright nasty, striking out 8 in 6 innings of work. In his major league debut last week, he struck out 10. This kid is going places in this league. I just hope that he cools off before we face him next time. Although Cueto pitched well, Suppan (albeit less dramatically) upstaged him by allowing only 1 run in 7 innings. I know it's early in the season, but Suppan is looking really good. I'll give some of the credit to Kendall for working with the pitchers, but I think Suppan will be earning his check this year. Suppan was in line for the win, but Gagne gave up a home run to Corey Patterson with 2 strikes and 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning to force the game into extras. It sucked a lot, but the Brewers ended up winning in the 10th with a little bit of small ball. They made it look easy, as Hardy led off with a single, Dillon sac bunted him over, Kendall hit a single sending Hardy to third, and Weeks followed with a game winning RBI single. Just like that, everyone (for the most part) forgot about Gagne's blown save and reveled in the win. Final score Brewers 3, Reds 2.
Brewers record : 6 - 1
Game 2 (Wednesday) - Dave Bush vs Josh Fogg
Dave Bush was coming off of a rough outing in Chicago, but he would have every opportunity to prove himself in front of the home crowd with a decent start today. It never happened. He gave up 2 early runs in the second, and appeared to be throwing just fine until he hit a wall in the 6th inning, and left the game after giving up 6 hits, 5 runs, walking 3 and striking out 4 in 5.1 innings. With Bush out, you would think that our bullpen could keep it close and allow the offense to come back, right? Wrong. Derrick Turnblow and Seth McDung came in a allowed the Reds to score 7 more and officially put this game out of reach. This was one of the games that we toss out and forget about, and chalk it up as a forgetful loss. I'm glad I was at work and was only able to watch this one on ESPN Gamecast stat tracker. The only high points of the game were Braun's 4th inning solo home run and Bill Hall's impressive 4th home run of the season in the 9th. Aside from Bernie rocketing down the slide for those, this game was only exciting for the visiting team. Final score Reds 12, Brewers 4.
Brewers record : 6 - 2
Game 3 (Thursday) - Carlos Villanueva vs Aaron Harang
Carlos Villanueva made his 2nd start of the year and it was a tough one - squaring off against Reds ace Aaron Harang. Villaneuva held his own until the 7th inning when he finally buckled and gave up 3 runs, which was all that the Reds needed to win because the Brewers bats couldn't muster up anything after the 2nd inning. Harang kept the boys quiet, and Cordero pitched a scoreless 9th for his second save and quieted the booing from the amassed crowd. There isn't too much to say about this game besides the fact that we just got dominated by Harang, who once again was able to go deep in the game against our offense. The Brewers quietly ended the home stand with a 4-2 record, which still isn't that bad. It would have been nice to win the series at home, but at least we're still above .500 and if our offense picks it up, we'll be playing some really good baseball for the rest of the season. Final score Reds 4, Reds 1.
Brewers record : 6 - 3
It sucks to lose a series at home, especially against an NL Central rival. I'll give the Reds some credit; they came out swinging the bats and throwing strikes. The Brewers offense just kind of fell apart. The bats stayed dormant for the duration of the series, and the Brewers only scored 8 runs (versus giving up 18) so there's no secret as to why they lost the series. I hate to see us being beaten by the Reds, because that proves the sportswriters right who picked the Reds to finish atop the Brewers in 2008. But then I tell myself to relax and avoid hitting the panic button because we're only 9 games into a long long season and there's still plenty of innings to be played. Next up would be a 3 city roadtrip to New York, St. Louis and Cincinnati. As you may recall, the Brewers have struggled on the road over the last few years, so if they wanted to prove their NL Central dominance, now would be a good start to showing those other teams that the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers team is no joke. I think they'll do it, but we'll see.
Next up - Brewers @ Mets April 11 (Friday) - 13 (Sunday) at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
A lot of writers and "experts" (I put quotation marks around that because I don't consider them to be experts, just very opinionated) have picked the Cincinnati Reds to be one of the surprise teams of the year and a dark horse candidate to finish on top on the NL Central. This was our first opportunity in this young season to see if they are right. This series was also the first time Francisco Cordero returned to Milwaukee following his much publicized departure to the Reds for a 4 year $46 million dollar contract. I know for sure that I will boo him for leaving over $4 million dollars (Brewers offered him 4 years $42 million) but I have the right to because I paid for some of his salary by going to games and buying merchandise. Aside from that, it will be good to see how the Reds match up against the Brewers in 2008.
Game 1 (Tuesday) - Jeff Suppan vs Johnny Cueto
I had the pleasure of being in attendance for this amazing game. Cueto came just as advertised, and any critics who said that the Reds didn't have any pitching were wrong. I hate to laud opposing players, but you've got to give credit where credit is due. This kid was downright nasty, striking out 8 in 6 innings of work. In his major league debut last week, he struck out 10. This kid is going places in this league. I just hope that he cools off before we face him next time. Although Cueto pitched well, Suppan (albeit less dramatically) upstaged him by allowing only 1 run in 7 innings. I know it's early in the season, but Suppan is looking really good. I'll give some of the credit to Kendall for working with the pitchers, but I think Suppan will be earning his check this year. Suppan was in line for the win, but Gagne gave up a home run to Corey Patterson with 2 strikes and 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning to force the game into extras. It sucked a lot, but the Brewers ended up winning in the 10th with a little bit of small ball. They made it look easy, as Hardy led off with a single, Dillon sac bunted him over, Kendall hit a single sending Hardy to third, and Weeks followed with a game winning RBI single. Just like that, everyone (for the most part) forgot about Gagne's blown save and reveled in the win. Final score Brewers 3, Reds 2.
Brewers record : 6 - 1
Game 2 (Wednesday) - Dave Bush vs Josh Fogg
Dave Bush was coming off of a rough outing in Chicago, but he would have every opportunity to prove himself in front of the home crowd with a decent start today. It never happened. He gave up 2 early runs in the second, and appeared to be throwing just fine until he hit a wall in the 6th inning, and left the game after giving up 6 hits, 5 runs, walking 3 and striking out 4 in 5.1 innings. With Bush out, you would think that our bullpen could keep it close and allow the offense to come back, right? Wrong. Derrick Turnblow and Seth McDung came in a allowed the Reds to score 7 more and officially put this game out of reach. This was one of the games that we toss out and forget about, and chalk it up as a forgetful loss. I'm glad I was at work and was only able to watch this one on ESPN Gamecast stat tracker. The only high points of the game were Braun's 4th inning solo home run and Bill Hall's impressive 4th home run of the season in the 9th. Aside from Bernie rocketing down the slide for those, this game was only exciting for the visiting team. Final score Reds 12, Brewers 4.
Brewers record : 6 - 2
Game 3 (Thursday) - Carlos Villanueva vs Aaron Harang
Carlos Villanueva made his 2nd start of the year and it was a tough one - squaring off against Reds ace Aaron Harang. Villaneuva held his own until the 7th inning when he finally buckled and gave up 3 runs, which was all that the Reds needed to win because the Brewers bats couldn't muster up anything after the 2nd inning. Harang kept the boys quiet, and Cordero pitched a scoreless 9th for his second save and quieted the booing from the amassed crowd. There isn't too much to say about this game besides the fact that we just got dominated by Harang, who once again was able to go deep in the game against our offense. The Brewers quietly ended the home stand with a 4-2 record, which still isn't that bad. It would have been nice to win the series at home, but at least we're still above .500 and if our offense picks it up, we'll be playing some really good baseball for the rest of the season. Final score Reds 4, Reds 1.
Brewers record : 6 - 3
It sucks to lose a series at home, especially against an NL Central rival. I'll give the Reds some credit; they came out swinging the bats and throwing strikes. The Brewers offense just kind of fell apart. The bats stayed dormant for the duration of the series, and the Brewers only scored 8 runs (versus giving up 18) so there's no secret as to why they lost the series. I hate to see us being beaten by the Reds, because that proves the sportswriters right who picked the Reds to finish atop the Brewers in 2008. But then I tell myself to relax and avoid hitting the panic button because we're only 9 games into a long long season and there's still plenty of innings to be played. Next up would be a 3 city roadtrip to New York, St. Louis and Cincinnati. As you may recall, the Brewers have struggled on the road over the last few years, so if they wanted to prove their NL Central dominance, now would be a good start to showing those other teams that the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers team is no joke. I think they'll do it, but we'll see.
Next up - Brewers @ Mets April 11 (Friday) - 13 (Sunday) at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Brewers vs Giants 4/4 - 4/6 : Series Wrap-Up
Series 2 - Brewers vs Giants, Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI (Brewers home opener)
The Brewers held their opening day on Friday April 4th, and this would mark the 1st time since I started working at Miller Park (2002) that I would be missing an opening day. My current job does not allow me to have a lot of vacation time, so I had no choice but to miss the opening game of the series. I would however, be working the Saturday and Sunday games. I cried for a minute, but I got over it quickly. When asked by others why I was crying, I just told them that I had something in my eye because there is no crying in baseball. Deal with it, I told myself, and I did. A magical weekend it was, and a recap I will bring you.
Game 1 (Friday) - Carlos Villanueva vs Johnathon Sanchez.
I know what you are thinking - who is Johnathon Sanchez? Good question, but it is one that I do not have an answer for you. There's a lot of people who I don't know on this Giants team, and I challenged myself to name 5 people on the team (I came up with Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum, Dave Roberts, Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand.) This was an intense game, but I doubt the drunkards in the stands realized it. Opening day is an excuse for bus loads of kids to skip school , work, life and get wasted and annoy the hell out of the real fans who are there for the game. Most Milwaukee baseball purists will avoid opening day altogether, and instead attend the day after. The day after is always a little more subdued and people cheer when necessary, not just because they are drunken buffoons. I appreciate the big crowds, and I realize that they are bringing in extra revenue that will be put back into the stadium and the team, but at the same time I'm sick of these bandwagon fans. Where were they back in 2003 when the Brewers lost 106 games? Not at the park because I was there, didn't see you, and I remember that they were lucky to draw 15,000 fans on a weeknight. Oh well, enough with the bitching, on with the recap. The Brewers offense exploded, and a good start by Carlos Villanueva was almost overlooked when the Brew combined for 13 runs on 16 hits. Bill Hall led the way with 3 of those hits and 6 of those RBIs (hitting 2 majestic home runs). I watched this game on TV later in the weekend, and it was awesome to see how good the Brewers offense could be. Final score Brewers 13, Giants 4.
The Brewers held their opening day on Friday April 4th, and this would mark the 1st time since I started working at Miller Park (2002) that I would be missing an opening day. My current job does not allow me to have a lot of vacation time, so I had no choice but to miss the opening game of the series. I would however, be working the Saturday and Sunday games. I cried for a minute, but I got over it quickly. When asked by others why I was crying, I just told them that I had something in my eye because there is no crying in baseball. Deal with it, I told myself, and I did. A magical weekend it was, and a recap I will bring you.
Game 1 (Friday) - Carlos Villanueva vs Johnathon Sanchez.
I know what you are thinking - who is Johnathon Sanchez? Good question, but it is one that I do not have an answer for you. There's a lot of people who I don't know on this Giants team, and I challenged myself to name 5 people on the team (I came up with Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum, Dave Roberts, Randy Winn and Aaron Rowand.) This was an intense game, but I doubt the drunkards in the stands realized it. Opening day is an excuse for bus loads of kids to skip school , work, life and get wasted and annoy the hell out of the real fans who are there for the game. Most Milwaukee baseball purists will avoid opening day altogether, and instead attend the day after. The day after is always a little more subdued and people cheer when necessary, not just because they are drunken buffoons. I appreciate the big crowds, and I realize that they are bringing in extra revenue that will be put back into the stadium and the team, but at the same time I'm sick of these bandwagon fans. Where were they back in 2003 when the Brewers lost 106 games? Not at the park because I was there, didn't see you, and I remember that they were lucky to draw 15,000 fans on a weeknight. Oh well, enough with the bitching, on with the recap. The Brewers offense exploded, and a good start by Carlos Villanueva was almost overlooked when the Brew combined for 13 runs on 16 hits. Bill Hall led the way with 3 of those hits and 6 of those RBIs (hitting 2 majestic home runs). I watched this game on TV later in the weekend, and it was awesome to see how good the Brewers offense could be. Final score Brewers 13, Giants 4.
Brewers record : 3 - 1
Game 2 (Saturday) - Manny Parra vs Kevin Correria
Game 2 saw the much anticipated 2008 debut of Manny Parra, whose 2007 season was cut short due to a broken thumb on a bunting attempt in early September. He would not pitch for the remainder of the year. He had a stellar spring training until his last two starts, and his play (as well as being the minor league pitcher of the year and pitching a perfect game for AAA Nashville) earned him a spot in the rotation and resulted in the release of Claudio Varags. He came out in full force on Saturday, throwing a variety of pitches including some nasty stuff. He held the Giants hitless through 5 innings despite 2 errors and sloppy defense, and struck out 7. He left in the 6th inning with a 4-2 lead. The bullpen did a decent job holding the lead, and Kapler's pinch hit home run in the 7th proved to be the game winner. Gagne came out in the 9th win a 1-run lead (to thunderous applause from the home crowd, looks like they've forgiven him for that Chicago fiasco) and nailed down his first save of the year. This is a game that a good team is going to win; in the past few years we would've lost this one. Final score Brewers 5, Giants 4 and Manny Parra earns his first major league win.
Brewers record : 4 - 1
Game 3 (Sunday) - Ben Sheets vs Barry Zito
With wins in games 1 and 2, the Brewers were going for the sweep, and who better to have on the mound than longer time Brewers pitcher and staff ace Ben Sheets. Sheets was coming off a no decision in Chicago where he pitched 6 innings and did not give up a run. From the first inning of the game (where he struck out the side on 10 pitches) I knew this was going to be a good one. The sold out crowd for Prince Fielder bobblehead day was electric, and the loudest that I have heard them in a long time. When Sheets recorded the 3rd out of the 1st inning, the place went absolutely nuts. I could only imagine what this place would be like during the playoffs. Kapler and Braun each hit solo home runs for the second consecutive day, but the story of the day was Ben Sheets throwing only his 2nd career complete game shut-out. It stuck me as odd that he only did this once before in his 7 year career, but then I remember how injury prone he has been over the last few years. Then I also remember how dominant he was from 2002-2004, but then I also remember how poor the offense and defense was behind him. Add all of that together and it makes perfect sense. If Sheets can stay healthy this year (in a contract year, so he will) I'm willing to bet with our improved defense that Sheets will put up a whole lot more zeros on the board. Zito continued to falter in the month of April, and the Brewers easily swept the Giants out of town. Final score Brewers 7, Giants 0.
Brewers record : 5 - 1
I'm excited that the Brewers are off to a 5-1 start, but I also have to relax because it's only the first week of the season and there's still 154 games to go. A lot can happen over the course of the season, and especially after the now infamous 24-10 start (which will go down in Wisconsin Sports history just like 4th and 26) a lot of people are hesitant to believe in quick starts. The Brewers have a history of falling short after the All-Star break (and especially in the month of August) but I believe that this current team is better and stronger than any team since 1992.
Next up - Brewers vs Reds April 8 (Tuesday) - April 10 (Thursday) at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Monday, April 07, 2008
Brewers @ Cubs 3/31 - 4/3 : Series Wrap-up
I'm going to try and provide a commentary on each Milwaukee Brewers series when they end, which sounds pretty ambitious considering that we will have a total of 51 series before the season ends (not including playoffs, which will get their own columns when we get there). Knowing how lazy I can get, and how infrequently I update, I doubt that I will make even a quarter of them. But I'll raise a beer to being ambitious and trying to accomplish a goal. 2008 will mark the first Brewers since in the last 7 where I will be unable to watch nearly every single game either in person or on TV. My current work schedule has me working from 11 or 1:30 until 10 pm, so I have to watch the gameday statracker online. I try to tape the games on DVR, but that means that I know the score before watching the game, which takes some of the fun out of it. The whole reason for doing a wrap-up is so that I can comment on the game after the fact, because that is when I will have been able to see it.
Series 1 - Brewers @ Cubs, Wrigley Field, Chicago.
MLB couldn't have picked a worse time to open a season in Chicago than March. What were they thinking? Granted, this would be a showdown between NL Central rivals who finished only 2 games apart last year. Even though it's early in the season, every game played against each other counts heavily in the standings. But the weather is terrible in early April, and Miller Park has a roof and is climate controlled? Doesn't make sense. Oh well, on with the wrap-up.
Game 1 - Ben Sheets vs. Carlos Zambrano
This game was delayed due to rain, and the overall weather sucked. Once again, it's April in Chicago. Hell-lo? After a 40-some minute interruption (which made me miss taping the game in its entirety due to the DVR time settings (which will come into play later) - damn you rain delays!!) we got to see one hell of a pitchers duel. Both Sheets and Zambrano brought their A games, with Sheets pitching 6.1 innings giving up 2 hits and striking out 7, and Zambrano pitching 6.2 innings giving up 3 hits and striking out 5. Neither gave up a run. Each bullpen was pitching well and the score was deadlocked at 0 until Kerry Wood came on to face the heart of the Milwaukee order in the 9th. A series of well played events saw the Brewers jump to a 3-0 lead, and they passed the ball over to their new closer (and $10 million dollar man) Eric Gagne. Gagne gave up a single, a walk, and a 3 run home run to Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome. I literally fell out of my office chair. In my opinion, (aside from Ben Sheets having a season ending injury) nothing worse could have happened for the Brewers at that time. With all of the talk that has been going on in the off season such as overspending on an HGH doping, Mitchell Report named Canadian; I could hear the doubters and Yost-bashers screaming for not resigning Cordero (although Cordero chose not to resign with us). Gagne settled in and retired the next three batters, and this rain-lengthened game was about to get longer. We were going to extra innings. The Brewers didn't take long to score, thanks to a double by Craig Counsell, some small ball, and a sacrifice fly from new Brewers hero Tony Gwynn Jr. David Riske, who I think is the most underrated pitcher on the staff, came in to close the game by pitching a 1-2-3 10th inning. Just like that, after all of that excitement, the Brewers were 1-0 and had beaten the rival Chicago Cubs at their own ballpark on Opening Day. Fantastic. Final score Brewers 4, Cubs 3.
Brewers record : 1 - 0
Game 2 - Jeff Supan vs. Ted Lilly
Both teams had off Tuesday, which I thought was weird. But anyway, on Wednesday afternoon the Brewers got off to a booming start as Rickie Weeks crushed the first pitch of the game out of the stadium and onto Waveland Ave. That set the tone for the rest of the game. Suppan was solid, and the defense was in prime force behind him, which is crucial for a ground ball pitcher like Suppan. The Brewers kept tacking on runs throughout the game, and besides Weeks' first pitch home run, none of the others were scored via the long ball. The Brewers came up big in clutch and situational hitting, and the Brewers players combined for 8 runs on 14 hits. All around, it was just a great day down at Wrigley for the Brewers, and they improved to 2-0. Final score Brewers 8, Cubs 2.
Brewers record : 2 - 0
Game 3 - Dave Bush vs. Ryan Dempster
Dave Bush was an interesting choice to start game 3, given his career numbers at Wrigley Field and against the Cubs in general. I personally would've chosen Villanueva and started the veteran Bush in the home opener, but I'm just a fan, not the Manager. Dempster, a staple in the Cubs bullpen for the last few years, was making his first start since 2005. Dempster was solid, but Bush was not (allowing 5 walks and a hot batter, ouch!) as the Brewers lost 6-3 and the Cubs salvaged a win in the series. The offense was decent, but they mostly got shut down by the Cubs pitching. All 6 runs were charged to Bush, who after a so-so spring training, is not making a good cause for him to keep his job once Yovanni Gallardo comes off of the DL. The game started with a bang (literally) when Rickie Weeks bowled over Cubs catcher Giovanni Soto and scored in the 1st inning, but that was basically the only exciting part for the Brewers in the game. The rest was understandably forgettable. Final score Cubs 6, Brewers 3.
Brewers record: 2 - 1.
The most important part about this series is that we beat a division rival on the road and won the series. I am satisfied if they win 2 out of every 3 games, because that would give them a record of 108-54, which would be astonishingly good. That is a little farfetched, but winning the series would help them get to the 90-72 record that should be good enough to win the division or the wild card. We also beat the Cubs at their own park, and nothing makes me happier than seeing the Cubs fans get upset and boo their own players. What a bunch of losers.
Next up - Brewers vs Giants, April 4-6.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Series 1 - Brewers @ Cubs, Wrigley Field, Chicago.
MLB couldn't have picked a worse time to open a season in Chicago than March. What were they thinking? Granted, this would be a showdown between NL Central rivals who finished only 2 games apart last year. Even though it's early in the season, every game played against each other counts heavily in the standings. But the weather is terrible in early April, and Miller Park has a roof and is climate controlled? Doesn't make sense. Oh well, on with the wrap-up.
Game 1 - Ben Sheets vs. Carlos Zambrano
This game was delayed due to rain, and the overall weather sucked. Once again, it's April in Chicago. Hell-lo? After a 40-some minute interruption (which made me miss taping the game in its entirety due to the DVR time settings (which will come into play later) - damn you rain delays!!) we got to see one hell of a pitchers duel. Both Sheets and Zambrano brought their A games, with Sheets pitching 6.1 innings giving up 2 hits and striking out 7, and Zambrano pitching 6.2 innings giving up 3 hits and striking out 5. Neither gave up a run. Each bullpen was pitching well and the score was deadlocked at 0 until Kerry Wood came on to face the heart of the Milwaukee order in the 9th. A series of well played events saw the Brewers jump to a 3-0 lead, and they passed the ball over to their new closer (and $10 million dollar man) Eric Gagne. Gagne gave up a single, a walk, and a 3 run home run to Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome. I literally fell out of my office chair. In my opinion, (aside from Ben Sheets having a season ending injury) nothing worse could have happened for the Brewers at that time. With all of the talk that has been going on in the off season such as overspending on an HGH doping, Mitchell Report named Canadian; I could hear the doubters and Yost-bashers screaming for not resigning Cordero (although Cordero chose not to resign with us). Gagne settled in and retired the next three batters, and this rain-lengthened game was about to get longer. We were going to extra innings. The Brewers didn't take long to score, thanks to a double by Craig Counsell, some small ball, and a sacrifice fly from new Brewers hero Tony Gwynn Jr. David Riske, who I think is the most underrated pitcher on the staff, came in to close the game by pitching a 1-2-3 10th inning. Just like that, after all of that excitement, the Brewers were 1-0 and had beaten the rival Chicago Cubs at their own ballpark on Opening Day. Fantastic. Final score Brewers 4, Cubs 3.
Brewers record : 1 - 0
Game 2 - Jeff Supan vs. Ted Lilly
Both teams had off Tuesday, which I thought was weird. But anyway, on Wednesday afternoon the Brewers got off to a booming start as Rickie Weeks crushed the first pitch of the game out of the stadium and onto Waveland Ave. That set the tone for the rest of the game. Suppan was solid, and the defense was in prime force behind him, which is crucial for a ground ball pitcher like Suppan. The Brewers kept tacking on runs throughout the game, and besides Weeks' first pitch home run, none of the others were scored via the long ball. The Brewers came up big in clutch and situational hitting, and the Brewers players combined for 8 runs on 14 hits. All around, it was just a great day down at Wrigley for the Brewers, and they improved to 2-0. Final score Brewers 8, Cubs 2.
Brewers record : 2 - 0
Game 3 - Dave Bush vs. Ryan Dempster
Dave Bush was an interesting choice to start game 3, given his career numbers at Wrigley Field and against the Cubs in general. I personally would've chosen Villanueva and started the veteran Bush in the home opener, but I'm just a fan, not the Manager. Dempster, a staple in the Cubs bullpen for the last few years, was making his first start since 2005. Dempster was solid, but Bush was not (allowing 5 walks and a hot batter, ouch!) as the Brewers lost 6-3 and the Cubs salvaged a win in the series. The offense was decent, but they mostly got shut down by the Cubs pitching. All 6 runs were charged to Bush, who after a so-so spring training, is not making a good cause for him to keep his job once Yovanni Gallardo comes off of the DL. The game started with a bang (literally) when Rickie Weeks bowled over Cubs catcher Giovanni Soto and scored in the 1st inning, but that was basically the only exciting part for the Brewers in the game. The rest was understandably forgettable. Final score Cubs 6, Brewers 3.
Brewers record: 2 - 1.
The most important part about this series is that we beat a division rival on the road and won the series. I am satisfied if they win 2 out of every 3 games, because that would give them a record of 108-54, which would be astonishingly good. That is a little farfetched, but winning the series would help them get to the 90-72 record that should be good enough to win the division or the wild card. We also beat the Cubs at their own park, and nothing makes me happier than seeing the Cubs fans get upset and boo their own players. What a bunch of losers.
Next up - Brewers vs Giants, April 4-6.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, April 04, 2008
Peas and Rice
"Peas and Rice" was used by Simon Pegg in the movie "Hot Fuzz" as a TV/Airline safe dubbing of "Jesus Christ". Most movies when edited for TV/Airlines redub lines, and often they are so far off that the effect is comical. It's like in Happy Gilmore - instead of Adam Sandler yelling out "The Price is Wrong, bitch!" he shouts out "the Price is Wrong, Bobby!" How many times have you ever heard of someone refering to Bob Barker as Bobby? I never have. Watch the unedited version of a movie enough to memorize the lines, and then watch it on TV. I guarantee that they cut out all of the good stuff. And yet I still watch movies I own on TV when I'm flipping through the channels. I could easily walk over to the TV and pop in the DVD, but I don't do it. And I hate commercials!! Sometimes I just don't understand myself. Yippee-kay-yay, melon farmer.
My sister and I started code talking as a way to use swear words around our parents without technically getting in trouble. We actually started it around our Dad, mostly because he allowed us to swear. We thought that it was funny that we chose not to swear even though he didn't mind. Our Mom, on the other hand, would even let us say hell or dang growing up. That always made me want to say it even more because it was banned. I also wasn't allowed to watch PG-13 or R rated movies until I was age appropriate, because those movies featured language and situations that I wasn't old enough to comprend. To a point, I can understand her reasoning, but I'm now 26 years old and I'm still not allowed to say shit or damn in front of her.
My Dad allows us to swear, which is why we refuse to do it. "What the hell?" becomes "What the H?" Statements containing the F-word (I still reserve from using that word in full, because I think it is the harshest of all the swear words) still hold their impact by replacing the word with an F. Like, "Let's go to the F-ing store, B." Basically, you just use the first letter of the word in place of the word itself. It doesn't sound very original, nor does it sound funny, but to us it is because it is so ironic. We've started to include other words that are not swears into our code talk, such as calling Lassie and Gracie (my Mom's dogs) DB's, or Dog Bags. My Dad gets confused as to why we code talk, but we just tell him that we can say whatever G D S we want and that his MF-ing A can't to anything to stop us. OK, that's being a little ridculous, because we never say things like that directly to another person. That's just rude. There are limits here, because when you code talk, people still know exactly what you are saying because the code really isn't that hard to crack. It's not like geniusus came up with this S.
Basically, Jenny and I just say it to each other because we know that we can handle talking to each other in this innapropriate mannor. If Jenny tells me that my S is W, I call her a B and we laugh. She'll try to punch me, and I'll run like H to get away from her A. That's just the way it is. I pretty much talk like this exclusivly in front of Jenny, but we have started branching out to include both honorary and actual family members, but that's about as far as it goes. You might have noticed a little code talking going on in the commentary on my website. It allows someone to know what you are saying without actually saying it. It allows you to be Bad-A without technically saying something that is offense to someone. They know what you meant, but who's to say that I'm not implying Bad-Apples when I say Bad-A? You can't prove it, and I'll keep on doing it until someone outlaws me from talking that way.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
My sister and I started code talking as a way to use swear words around our parents without technically getting in trouble. We actually started it around our Dad, mostly because he allowed us to swear. We thought that it was funny that we chose not to swear even though he didn't mind. Our Mom, on the other hand, would even let us say hell or dang growing up. That always made me want to say it even more because it was banned. I also wasn't allowed to watch PG-13 or R rated movies until I was age appropriate, because those movies featured language and situations that I wasn't old enough to comprend. To a point, I can understand her reasoning, but I'm now 26 years old and I'm still not allowed to say shit or damn in front of her.
My Dad allows us to swear, which is why we refuse to do it. "What the hell?" becomes "What the H?" Statements containing the F-word (I still reserve from using that word in full, because I think it is the harshest of all the swear words) still hold their impact by replacing the word with an F. Like, "Let's go to the F-ing store, B." Basically, you just use the first letter of the word in place of the word itself. It doesn't sound very original, nor does it sound funny, but to us it is because it is so ironic. We've started to include other words that are not swears into our code talk, such as calling Lassie and Gracie (my Mom's dogs) DB's, or Dog Bags. My Dad gets confused as to why we code talk, but we just tell him that we can say whatever G D S we want and that his MF-ing A can't to anything to stop us. OK, that's being a little ridculous, because we never say things like that directly to another person. That's just rude. There are limits here, because when you code talk, people still know exactly what you are saying because the code really isn't that hard to crack. It's not like geniusus came up with this S.
Basically, Jenny and I just say it to each other because we know that we can handle talking to each other in this innapropriate mannor. If Jenny tells me that my S is W, I call her a B and we laugh. She'll try to punch me, and I'll run like H to get away from her A. That's just the way it is. I pretty much talk like this exclusivly in front of Jenny, but we have started branching out to include both honorary and actual family members, but that's about as far as it goes. You might have noticed a little code talking going on in the commentary on my website. It allows someone to know what you are saying without actually saying it. It allows you to be Bad-A without technically saying something that is offense to someone. They know what you meant, but who's to say that I'm not implying Bad-Apples when I say Bad-A? You can't prove it, and I'll keep on doing it until someone outlaws me from talking that way.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Where's the love for the Brewers?
Everyone in Milwaukee has Brewer fever, and the only prescription is the playoffs. We're without a doubt ready for Winter's end and Spring (and baseball's) beginning. But how does the rest of the country feel about the Milwaukee Brewers? Not too highly. ESPN (2nd place finish), Sprts Illustrated (3rd place finish) and Yahoo Sports (1st, 3rd, or 4th, depending on the analyst) all have very interesting preseason predictions, but none of them (almost) pick the Brewers to win the NL Central. It's pretty ridiculous, and although I do admit that I'm just a tad biased, the Brewers deserve more respect than that. I'll present my argument first, then go on to say why I can understand their lack of respect.
My opinion is that the Brewers have the best raw talent, in terms of hitters and pitchers, but their just that - raw. All of the "kids" (Fielder, Braun, Hart. Hardy, Weeks, Gallardo, Villanueva, Parra, Gywnn Jr.) are a year older and a year more experienced. Leading the NL Central for most of the year, failing after the All-Star Break and having a rough month of August, only to surge in September and lose the division by only 2 games straightened them. There's no way that any of them want to go on that emotional roller coaster again this year. It was extremely difficult as a fan, but I wonder what those players went through knowing that it was their actions that contributed to that slide. At least as a fan, I know that I have no direct impact on the team (although playing in front of a capacity home crowd could increase their adrenaline and thirst for victory) and I have no choice but to deal with it. I claim no fault in their losses. The veterans that the Brewers have around the "kids" are all positive influences on them - Ben Sheets, Jeff Supan, Jason Kendall, Bill Hall, Mike Cameron and Craig Counsell. The bullpen has been almost completely rebuilt with veteran arms, with Turnbow, Shouse and McClung as the only holdovers from last year. Joining the staff are Mota, Torres, Gagne and Riske. I think that Riske will stabilize that bullpen, be the unsung hero of the pitching staff, be the most underrated pitcher, and was by far, the best off season acquisition by the Brewers. If he doesn't get the credit he deserves this year, then something is terribly wrong with this town and the National/Local media. Every aspect of the team has improved and their coaching staff got stronger with the addition of Ted Simmons as bench coach. Ned Yost is another year wiser, and Dale Sveum moves back to 3rd base coach. The rest of the staff remains intact. Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio have proven their commitment to this team, so I see no reason why they won;t contend, win the division, and make it back to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.
Then there's everyone else's point of view. The Brewers are a young team, and young teams often have a lot of inexperience. All of their core players are less than 25, which is in fact younger than I am. When I was 25, I was still struggling to complete my college degree, and these guys are counted on to produce at the Major League level. Ned Yost is criticized with his managerial decisions, and it is often noted that the Brewers have never hired a manager with post-season experience. We all hope that Yost is the right one to take them there. Aside from the inexperience with the youth, the team is filled with a lot of IFs and question marks. The biggest IF/? is will Ben Sheets stay healthy this year and make 30 + starts? If he does, he's one of the most dominant pitchers in the league and the Ace of the staff. When he's not...we have the last 3 years of futility. Another IF/? is the additions of veterans like Cameron and Kendall, both of which had off years in 2007. Cameron was playing the majority of his games at spacious Petco Park, a place that slaughters the batting averages and home runs of a hitter. At the thriller known as Miller, his average and home runs should increase. Kendall had a down year, in every single category. If he rebounds, he could be a great asset to our team. But some people say that he's old and washed up. As long as he calls a good game and our pitchers ERA's go down, I'm fine with that. The last (and biggest) IF/? is the bullpen, led by the Canadian Eric Gagne. Gagne, as we all know, was named in the Mitchell Report and had a horrible showing with the Boston Red Sox. If he can revert back to his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers (I'd even take his 2007 days with the Texas Rangers) he'd be good enough to close games consistently. Our other new relievers are coming off of poor showings, with Mota posting a 5.76 ERA for the New York Mets (his career ERA is 3.91) and Torres posting a 5.47 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates (his career ERA is 4.39). Most people would also say that they are past their prime and washed up, but if they can revert to form due to a change in scenery, a new pitching coach, and a veteran catcher, we have ourselves one hell of a bullpen. There are a lot of IFs/? on our team, and time will only resolve those IFs/?, so for now they just remain unsettled.
I can see why the media doesn't pick the Brewers to win the NL Central or the NL Pennant - there's too many IFs/? and so far none of them have been resolved. It's too easy call the Chicago Cubs the favorites because they won last year and they basically have the exact same team this year. Going out on a limb and claiming the Brewers are the best team in the division doesn't sit well with the National Audience. The Cubs are loved nationally (and internationally) because they are perennial losers, and this year marks the 100th year since there last World Series championship. The Cubs winning this year would make for the perfect headlines to run on the front page of every newspaper, TV program, and Internet site come October. It's too historical. By make unsubstantiated claims (as they see it) and choosing the Brewers as #1 might cost a writer his job because that's not what the people want to see/read. I can understand, but I don't like it. So let the Brewers have no expectations, let them fly under the radar, let them play without the pressure of being the favorites - we all know what team is the best in this division.
What really drives me crazy is that the Brewers are given little to no respect at all! Sure, they fell apart a little bit in July and August, but a lot of good things happened last year that proves we are a contender. Prince Fielder was in the running for MVP and led the NL in home runs, set the Brewers franchise record for home runs in a season, and was the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season. Ryan Braun was the NL Rookie of the Year, setting records for all time slugging percentage for a rookie and Brewers franchise home run record, plus he only played in 4 out of 6 months in 2007. JJ Hardy had a fantastic year, earning him a spot on the all-star team. Corey Hart surprised everyone with his defensive and offense prowess. Rickie Weeks, although injured and struggling, posted fantastic OBP numbers and really took off offensively in September. The pitching staff (starters and relievers) faltered at times, which is one of the big reasons why they lost some games. They once again struggled on the road, which hurt them in the win column, but their record at home was once again phenomenal. If they improve the pitching (which they have) and win on the road (which I hope they will) they will finish above last year's record of 83-79. That record gave them their first winning season since 1992. That's 15 years people!!! Things are looking good for this team. We can see it, but it will take a serious season from the team (which needs to result in a NL Central division title and a trip to the playoffs) for the rest of the country to finally give us the respect that we deserve.
It's going to be a long road back up to the top, one that is going to be filled with way too much season-long drama for to handle. I'll be taking every game with it ups and downs, and hanging on every single pitch. But I have a feeling that 2008 is going to be the best year of my life. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be hooting and hollering through the Miller Park parking lot, grilling brats and drinking tons of celebratory Miller Lite beers. As much as I want October to be here so that I can start dancing, I would not miss the day by day action that goes on here during the regular season. It's going to be a long and trying year, so bear with me if my mood changes along with the Brewers win/loss total. But if all goes according to plan, I'll be happy a hell of a lot more times that I'll be sad. Go Brewers!!
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
My opinion is that the Brewers have the best raw talent, in terms of hitters and pitchers, but their just that - raw. All of the "kids" (Fielder, Braun, Hart. Hardy, Weeks, Gallardo, Villanueva, Parra, Gywnn Jr.) are a year older and a year more experienced. Leading the NL Central for most of the year, failing after the All-Star Break and having a rough month of August, only to surge in September and lose the division by only 2 games straightened them. There's no way that any of them want to go on that emotional roller coaster again this year. It was extremely difficult as a fan, but I wonder what those players went through knowing that it was their actions that contributed to that slide. At least as a fan, I know that I have no direct impact on the team (although playing in front of a capacity home crowd could increase their adrenaline and thirst for victory) and I have no choice but to deal with it. I claim no fault in their losses. The veterans that the Brewers have around the "kids" are all positive influences on them - Ben Sheets, Jeff Supan, Jason Kendall, Bill Hall, Mike Cameron and Craig Counsell. The bullpen has been almost completely rebuilt with veteran arms, with Turnbow, Shouse and McClung as the only holdovers from last year. Joining the staff are Mota, Torres, Gagne and Riske. I think that Riske will stabilize that bullpen, be the unsung hero of the pitching staff, be the most underrated pitcher, and was by far, the best off season acquisition by the Brewers. If he doesn't get the credit he deserves this year, then something is terribly wrong with this town and the National/Local media. Every aspect of the team has improved and their coaching staff got stronger with the addition of Ted Simmons as bench coach. Ned Yost is another year wiser, and Dale Sveum moves back to 3rd base coach. The rest of the staff remains intact. Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio have proven their commitment to this team, so I see no reason why they won;t contend, win the division, and make it back to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.
Then there's everyone else's point of view. The Brewers are a young team, and young teams often have a lot of inexperience. All of their core players are less than 25, which is in fact younger than I am. When I was 25, I was still struggling to complete my college degree, and these guys are counted on to produce at the Major League level. Ned Yost is criticized with his managerial decisions, and it is often noted that the Brewers have never hired a manager with post-season experience. We all hope that Yost is the right one to take them there. Aside from the inexperience with the youth, the team is filled with a lot of IFs and question marks. The biggest IF/? is will Ben Sheets stay healthy this year and make 30 + starts? If he does, he's one of the most dominant pitchers in the league and the Ace of the staff. When he's not...we have the last 3 years of futility. Another IF/? is the additions of veterans like Cameron and Kendall, both of which had off years in 2007. Cameron was playing the majority of his games at spacious Petco Park, a place that slaughters the batting averages and home runs of a hitter. At the thriller known as Miller, his average and home runs should increase. Kendall had a down year, in every single category. If he rebounds, he could be a great asset to our team. But some people say that he's old and washed up. As long as he calls a good game and our pitchers ERA's go down, I'm fine with that. The last (and biggest) IF/? is the bullpen, led by the Canadian Eric Gagne. Gagne, as we all know, was named in the Mitchell Report and had a horrible showing with the Boston Red Sox. If he can revert back to his days with the Los Angeles Dodgers (I'd even take his 2007 days with the Texas Rangers) he'd be good enough to close games consistently. Our other new relievers are coming off of poor showings, with Mota posting a 5.76 ERA for the New York Mets (his career ERA is 3.91) and Torres posting a 5.47 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates (his career ERA is 4.39). Most people would also say that they are past their prime and washed up, but if they can revert to form due to a change in scenery, a new pitching coach, and a veteran catcher, we have ourselves one hell of a bullpen. There are a lot of IFs/? on our team, and time will only resolve those IFs/?, so for now they just remain unsettled.
I can see why the media doesn't pick the Brewers to win the NL Central or the NL Pennant - there's too many IFs/? and so far none of them have been resolved. It's too easy call the Chicago Cubs the favorites because they won last year and they basically have the exact same team this year. Going out on a limb and claiming the Brewers are the best team in the division doesn't sit well with the National Audience. The Cubs are loved nationally (and internationally) because they are perennial losers, and this year marks the 100th year since there last World Series championship. The Cubs winning this year would make for the perfect headlines to run on the front page of every newspaper, TV program, and Internet site come October. It's too historical. By make unsubstantiated claims (as they see it) and choosing the Brewers as #1 might cost a writer his job because that's not what the people want to see/read. I can understand, but I don't like it. So let the Brewers have no expectations, let them fly under the radar, let them play without the pressure of being the favorites - we all know what team is the best in this division.
What really drives me crazy is that the Brewers are given little to no respect at all! Sure, they fell apart a little bit in July and August, but a lot of good things happened last year that proves we are a contender. Prince Fielder was in the running for MVP and led the NL in home runs, set the Brewers franchise record for home runs in a season, and was the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season. Ryan Braun was the NL Rookie of the Year, setting records for all time slugging percentage for a rookie and Brewers franchise home run record, plus he only played in 4 out of 6 months in 2007. JJ Hardy had a fantastic year, earning him a spot on the all-star team. Corey Hart surprised everyone with his defensive and offense prowess. Rickie Weeks, although injured and struggling, posted fantastic OBP numbers and really took off offensively in September. The pitching staff (starters and relievers) faltered at times, which is one of the big reasons why they lost some games. They once again struggled on the road, which hurt them in the win column, but their record at home was once again phenomenal. If they improve the pitching (which they have) and win on the road (which I hope they will) they will finish above last year's record of 83-79. That record gave them their first winning season since 1992. That's 15 years people!!! Things are looking good for this team. We can see it, but it will take a serious season from the team (which needs to result in a NL Central division title and a trip to the playoffs) for the rest of the country to finally give us the respect that we deserve.
It's going to be a long road back up to the top, one that is going to be filled with way too much season-long drama for to handle. I'll be taking every game with it ups and downs, and hanging on every single pitch. But I have a feeling that 2008 is going to be the best year of my life. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be hooting and hollering through the Miller Park parking lot, grilling brats and drinking tons of celebratory Miller Lite beers. As much as I want October to be here so that I can start dancing, I would not miss the day by day action that goes on here during the regular season. It's going to be a long and trying year, so bear with me if my mood changes along with the Brewers win/loss total. But if all goes according to plan, I'll be happy a hell of a lot more times that I'll be sad. Go Brewers!!
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
Friday, March 28, 2008
1988 called, it wants its program back
The reasoning of my rant is this: I want to bitch and moan about my program that I use on a daily basis at work and the limitations that it offers. Basically, it is two colored (white on blue background) just like a computer that we had when I lived on 56th street when I was 8 years old. That computer had two colors - black screen with green writing. The graphics were extremely basic, but it was good enough for playing Tank Wars and Oregon Trail. That was 1988, this is 2008. You'd think that it 20 years they could have developed a program that isn't monochromatic. The functionality is limited, and the text is very retro, but not in a cool retro kind of way. It times out all of the time, and it doesn't offer pictures or Internet links. If it was the 20th Century, then this program would be King of the World.
The trouble is that it is not the 20th Century, and the World has been forever changed since Al Gore invented the Internet. The program we switched into last week is....gasp!....Internet based! Who would've thought that we could use the Internet to our advantage? Certainly not our company! There are tons of things that our company does that keeps us firmly rooted in the old days, but I can't be terribly specific due to the fact that I need to continue to pick up a pay check every two weeks so that I can stay connected to my precious Internet. I'm trying to be a little bit discreet, because I've heard stories of people getting in trouble with the law and their jobs for because of stuff posted on Facebook. I've got this blog link on Facebook, as well as on my website. I've seen the numbers, and I know that no one comes here to read this shit, but that doesn't mean that someday (like if I suddenly get famous) that someone will come on here and see this and I get in trouble. That is why discretion is key to my rants.
Beating around the bush, dancing around the issues, and putting a spin on things to ensure a good public image have never been my strong point, which (aside from the fact that I need to be inebriated to write a witty and insightful article) was the reason that I gave up on Journalism. In Journalism, it is important to always need to come off as a professional and have an unbiased opinion. I am almost the complete opposite of professional and unbiased. I'm sick and tired of pretending that technology hasn't advanced, and staying rooted in 1988 when I'm at work. The second I leave, I'm on my cellphone talking to someone across the country, accessing WiFi Internet on my iPod so I can tell them what the weather is like were they live. It's obvious that 1988 has come and gone, and as soon as people at my company realize that, I guess it won't give me anything to bitch about, which is always a good thing.
But then again, if it weren't for bitching, then I guess I wouldn't have anything to say on here. My Mom always told me that if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. I believe that living life by that statement would regulate to me talking 3 times a year - 4 tops. I love to complain, but I have yet to know if you care or not. If you want to bitch at me, then certainly feel free to do so in the comment section. If anything, you'll give me some fuel for my fire so that I retort with a blog post bitching about you. Cause that's all we really want anyway - to complete the circle of life. The Lion King ain't got shit on me.
The trouble is that it is not the 20th Century, and the World has been forever changed since Al Gore invented the Internet. The program we switched into last week is....gasp!....Internet based! Who would've thought that we could use the Internet to our advantage? Certainly not our company! There are tons of things that our company does that keeps us firmly rooted in the old days, but I can't be terribly specific due to the fact that I need to continue to pick up a pay check every two weeks so that I can stay connected to my precious Internet. I'm trying to be a little bit discreet, because I've heard stories of people getting in trouble with the law and their jobs for because of stuff posted on Facebook. I've got this blog link on Facebook, as well as on my website. I've seen the numbers, and I know that no one comes here to read this shit, but that doesn't mean that someday (like if I suddenly get famous) that someone will come on here and see this and I get in trouble. That is why discretion is key to my rants.
Beating around the bush, dancing around the issues, and putting a spin on things to ensure a good public image have never been my strong point, which (aside from the fact that I need to be inebriated to write a witty and insightful article) was the reason that I gave up on Journalism. In Journalism, it is important to always need to come off as a professional and have an unbiased opinion. I am almost the complete opposite of professional and unbiased. I'm sick and tired of pretending that technology hasn't advanced, and staying rooted in 1988 when I'm at work. The second I leave, I'm on my cellphone talking to someone across the country, accessing WiFi Internet on my iPod so I can tell them what the weather is like were they live. It's obvious that 1988 has come and gone, and as soon as people at my company realize that, I guess it won't give me anything to bitch about, which is always a good thing.
But then again, if it weren't for bitching, then I guess I wouldn't have anything to say on here. My Mom always told me that if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all. I believe that living life by that statement would regulate to me talking 3 times a year - 4 tops. I love to complain, but I have yet to know if you care or not. If you want to bitch at me, then certainly feel free to do so in the comment section. If anything, you'll give me some fuel for my fire so that I retort with a blog post bitching about you. Cause that's all we really want anyway - to complete the circle of life. The Lion King ain't got shit on me.
- pookon -
Thursday, March 27, 2008
F^*k Las Vegas
Now don't get me wrong, I love drinking, gambling, naked women, sin, lies, deceit and all of the other magical things that make Las Vegas the happiest place on Earth, but f^*k Las Vegas. F^*k it right in the ear. I know that it sounds a little graphic and vile, but who reads this blog anyway? Now that my Google ads privileges have been revoked (which is a different story for a different day) I should no longer have forced traffic on this site. I call it forced traffic because I have been using rather extreme measures of force to get people to visit my website and blog so that my ad revenue, page views, and statistics increase. I have falsely gained readership, but once again that is a different story altogether. Basically, I'm implying that nobody reads this shit so I can say whatever the f^*k I want.
My whole reasoning by saying f^*k Las Vegas is because I'm sick of it. At my current job (name withheld due to content of this article) I talk about it every single day to people from all over the country. People who can't afford to go to Las Vegas are trying to go to Las Vegas to lose money that they can't afford to lose. Makes sense, right? People are so ridiculously cheap that they get pissed off when things cost a lot. Hello morons! It's 2008, shit costs money. Deal with it. If you aren't paying your rent or sending your kids off to school with proper winter attire, you shouldn't be gambling and drinking your money away. Go take care of your kids before they rob me in 5 years. I'm sick and tired of that filthy town, and aside from the World Series of Beer Pong (which is held in Las Vegas by default because they really is no other city in the country that could host an event like this) I will never go back. Especially since last time I was there, I saw people dragging their kids around. KIDS!! IN VEGAS!! What the hell are the kids going to do while Daddy is sleeping with prostitutes and gambling away their college tuition? I know, Las Vegas is trying to promote itself as family friendly and incorporating events for the whole family into their repertoire, but this city was built on whores and money, and it will always be that way. What the hell is the matter with these people?
When I was a kid, my parents took me to Washington D.C. to see the monuments, to go the Smithsonian Museum and the Holocaust Memorial. I learned a ton of things at those places. I've been to the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. I've been to NASA in Florida. Those places were fun for me, but they were also educational. My parents also took me to Disney World, Universal Studios, Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells, and various other places. But we never, never ever, never ever ever would have gone to a place like Las Vegas. My Mom had too much sense than to take us to hell on Earth when we were kids. My parents waited until we were old enough to access internet porn and have friends with fake IDs buy us booze to be corrupted. We didn't need to be prematurely corrupted. When it was time to find our friend's dad's Playboy stash, smoke our first cigar, and steal Dad's beer, it was our time. Think how much worse I would have been if I would have been corrupted at an earlier age. I could be in jail or dead. Which is much worse than my current situation right now (duh.)
Basically, I feel that it is an abomination that cheap people talk to me about Las Vegas and then take their kids there. But who the hell cares what I think? Obviously you do, because you have successfully made it to the bottom of this tirade. I'm better off for waiting until I was 20 to go to Las Vegas, and although I have been back several times since, I vow never to return unless extenuating circumstances (such as the World Series of Beer Pong) bring me back. I've got plenty of other places to go visit that don't sully my soul and prohibit me from entering the pearly gates of Heaven.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
My whole reasoning by saying f^*k Las Vegas is because I'm sick of it. At my current job (name withheld due to content of this article) I talk about it every single day to people from all over the country. People who can't afford to go to Las Vegas are trying to go to Las Vegas to lose money that they can't afford to lose. Makes sense, right? People are so ridiculously cheap that they get pissed off when things cost a lot. Hello morons! It's 2008, shit costs money. Deal with it. If you aren't paying your rent or sending your kids off to school with proper winter attire, you shouldn't be gambling and drinking your money away. Go take care of your kids before they rob me in 5 years. I'm sick and tired of that filthy town, and aside from the World Series of Beer Pong (which is held in Las Vegas by default because they really is no other city in the country that could host an event like this) I will never go back. Especially since last time I was there, I saw people dragging their kids around. KIDS!! IN VEGAS!! What the hell are the kids going to do while Daddy is sleeping with prostitutes and gambling away their college tuition? I know, Las Vegas is trying to promote itself as family friendly and incorporating events for the whole family into their repertoire, but this city was built on whores and money, and it will always be that way. What the hell is the matter with these people?
When I was a kid, my parents took me to Washington D.C. to see the monuments, to go the Smithsonian Museum and the Holocaust Memorial. I learned a ton of things at those places. I've been to the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. I've been to NASA in Florida. Those places were fun for me, but they were also educational. My parents also took me to Disney World, Universal Studios, Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells, and various other places. But we never, never ever, never ever ever would have gone to a place like Las Vegas. My Mom had too much sense than to take us to hell on Earth when we were kids. My parents waited until we were old enough to access internet porn and have friends with fake IDs buy us booze to be corrupted. We didn't need to be prematurely corrupted. When it was time to find our friend's dad's Playboy stash, smoke our first cigar, and steal Dad's beer, it was our time. Think how much worse I would have been if I would have been corrupted at an earlier age. I could be in jail or dead. Which is much worse than my current situation right now (duh.)
Basically, I feel that it is an abomination that cheap people talk to me about Las Vegas and then take their kids there. But who the hell cares what I think? Obviously you do, because you have successfully made it to the bottom of this tirade. I'm better off for waiting until I was 20 to go to Las Vegas, and although I have been back several times since, I vow never to return unless extenuating circumstances (such as the World Series of Beer Pong) bring me back. I've got plenty of other places to go visit that don't sully my soul and prohibit me from entering the pearly gates of Heaven.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Absence of a Dream
I had a conversation with who I think was my Guardian Angel. No, I wasn't drunk or fast asleep, I was awake and sober, and I was at work talking on the phone. At my job, I do nothing but talk to people all day from around the country. One day, Richard from Kene, NH called me up and talked to me for over an hour, and absolutely none of it had to do with his vacation reservation. He asked me about my life, my opinion on God, what career goals I had - it was all some real philosophical shit. I mostly listened to him babble on (he revealed that he had been drinking heavily, and it was only 12:30 pm Eastern time, which is why I know he had the potential to be my Guardian Angel) but I did get to stick a couple words in there. He asked a question that baffled me, and to be honest with you, I didn't really have an answer.
His question was: What is your dream?
My answer was: I don't know.
I at least kept it a bit ambiguous so that I didn't have to tell him that I didn't have one. Basically speaking, there is no reason for me to keep on living. There's no goal I'm working towards, there's nothing monumental that I want to accomplish before I die, and there's really no purpose in my life. He wouldn't allow me to get by with out revealing my dream. I don't know just wouldn't do it it for this man. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I really don't have one. For the sake of the conversation, I made one up.
It was this - my dream is become a professional Beer Pong player. I want my life to follow the same path as Coop and Reimer in the movie Baseketball and move from the basement/attic and into the stadiums and hearts of America. I want to become famous and get paid to do something that I love to do. Sure, my sport may end up killing me someday, but wouldn't it be sweet to go out in the championship game after hitting a kill shot? My body may expire, but my status as a legend will never die. That was the best that I could come up with.
When I got off the phone it got me thinking. I really don't have any long term goals or dreams. I wake up every day and do the same G-Damn thing. My life has become monotonous and scripted. That's what working a steady schedule will do to you I guess. But it shouldn't be like that. Whatever happened to my inner child (J.P. from Angels in the Outfield - yes my inner child is a African-American foster child) who used to always say, "hey, it could happen!" I used to believe that anything could happen, but then something did happen - I grew up and met reality. There still is a bit of flexibility, because if you work hard and don't take no for an answer, you really can accomplish almost anything. I've never been a hard worker, so I just kind of accept what's going on and deal with it. My mindset has never allowed me to dream or set long term goals, which is why I didn't have an answer then and I don't have an answer right now.
I guess it's rough that there is nothing that I am working towards, but I am too short term orientated to think beyond a few months. I personally love to just do whatever I want and make things up as I go along. If I plan my life out in advance and set goals, I will always be working towards achieving something and will not allow myself to get off track. I don't know if you've ever stumbled off of the path, but some of the most memorable things that I have have ever done and seen have come along by accident. I like to be able to chose and not have any extraneous factors influence my decision. I try to be free to do whatever I want, but even now I can't make a decision without considering the outcome. I'm in no way tied down right now, but if I decided to leave Milwaukee, I would be leaving behind nearly every member of my family (brothers, sister, mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) and all of the friends that I have. I would even be leaving my greatest love - the Milwaukee Brewers. I would have to make a ton of sacrifices to get out of here and try something new, but at what expense? I guess it would be tough to do it, but I guess when the time comes and a situation presents itself, I will make my decision. I'm always open to suggestions, but what's the point in planning ahead if you can't even see 1 second into the future?
Currently, I need to plan my life out at least 1 month in advance and go from there. My jobs and activities dictate my life and plans. Beyond that, I don't even know if I will still be working at my current job. Hell, I don't even know if I'll still be alive! I guess it is good to have a dream and work towards goals, but I've never been a big fan of doing so and I don't see that ever changing. But then again, my whole outlook on life may have changed by tomorrow. That's what makes life so exciting - nothing is set in stone and it's entirely unpredictable. We can try to forecast the future, but seriously, what's the point?
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
His question was: What is your dream?
My answer was: I don't know.
I at least kept it a bit ambiguous so that I didn't have to tell him that I didn't have one. Basically speaking, there is no reason for me to keep on living. There's no goal I'm working towards, there's nothing monumental that I want to accomplish before I die, and there's really no purpose in my life. He wouldn't allow me to get by with out revealing my dream. I don't know just wouldn't do it it for this man. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I really don't have one. For the sake of the conversation, I made one up.
It was this - my dream is become a professional Beer Pong player. I want my life to follow the same path as Coop and Reimer in the movie Baseketball and move from the basement/attic and into the stadiums and hearts of America. I want to become famous and get paid to do something that I love to do. Sure, my sport may end up killing me someday, but wouldn't it be sweet to go out in the championship game after hitting a kill shot? My body may expire, but my status as a legend will never die. That was the best that I could come up with.
When I got off the phone it got me thinking. I really don't have any long term goals or dreams. I wake up every day and do the same G-Damn thing. My life has become monotonous and scripted. That's what working a steady schedule will do to you I guess. But it shouldn't be like that. Whatever happened to my inner child (J.P. from Angels in the Outfield - yes my inner child is a African-American foster child) who used to always say, "hey, it could happen!" I used to believe that anything could happen, but then something did happen - I grew up and met reality. There still is a bit of flexibility, because if you work hard and don't take no for an answer, you really can accomplish almost anything. I've never been a hard worker, so I just kind of accept what's going on and deal with it. My mindset has never allowed me to dream or set long term goals, which is why I didn't have an answer then and I don't have an answer right now.
I guess it's rough that there is nothing that I am working towards, but I am too short term orientated to think beyond a few months. I personally love to just do whatever I want and make things up as I go along. If I plan my life out in advance and set goals, I will always be working towards achieving something and will not allow myself to get off track. I don't know if you've ever stumbled off of the path, but some of the most memorable things that I have have ever done and seen have come along by accident. I like to be able to chose and not have any extraneous factors influence my decision. I try to be free to do whatever I want, but even now I can't make a decision without considering the outcome. I'm in no way tied down right now, but if I decided to leave Milwaukee, I would be leaving behind nearly every member of my family (brothers, sister, mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) and all of the friends that I have. I would even be leaving my greatest love - the Milwaukee Brewers. I would have to make a ton of sacrifices to get out of here and try something new, but at what expense? I guess it would be tough to do it, but I guess when the time comes and a situation presents itself, I will make my decision. I'm always open to suggestions, but what's the point in planning ahead if you can't even see 1 second into the future?
Currently, I need to plan my life out at least 1 month in advance and go from there. My jobs and activities dictate my life and plans. Beyond that, I don't even know if I will still be working at my current job. Hell, I don't even know if I'll still be alive! I guess it is good to have a dream and work towards goals, but I've never been a big fan of doing so and I don't see that ever changing. But then again, my whole outlook on life may have changed by tomorrow. That's what makes life so exciting - nothing is set in stone and it's entirely unpredictable. We can try to forecast the future, but seriously, what's the point?
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, March 21, 2008
Rod Stewart voted off of American Idol
With a voice like a crackling record nearing the end of it's rotation cycle, Rod Stewart, I mean Amanda Overmyer was voted off of American Idol. I thought that Americans were stupid, but it turns out that the general population (or at least those who actually waste their time to call and vote) knows what constitutes being a good singer and possessing talent. It's about time. I swear that girl smokes a pack of cigarettes before going up on stage. She sounds like Dorris the makeup lady on The Critic for crying out loud! I thought that someone was sanding down an old table in the garage, but it turned out to be Amanda practicing "Back in the USSR". So she's back in the USSR, eh? She should have stayed there because obviously America doesn't want her. I love that Simon put her in her place when she said that it didn't matter what the judges think, it's all about the fans. Well girl, I guess the fans listened to Simon because he's always right. People boo him because they don't want to hear the truth. He's almost always brutally honest and he tells it exactly like it is. The truth hurts Amanda, just like getting voted off of a reality show with 30 million people watching you lose. That's rough.
So bring over those old Motown records, we'll put the speakers in the window and we'll go on the roof. I'll certainly be listening to The Miracles echoing through the Adams Family home, but I will no longer have to suffer through another song by that chick. So goodbye to the tornado spinning, raspy voiced devil and hello to some singers who actually sing and not just sit up on stage and growl like a hungry lion. The only bad thing about her getting voted off? Now I have to find someone else on the show to make fun of on this blog. Or I could just give up and stop talking about American Idol on this blog, because that is what I think America really wants.
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Misery loves Three's Company
Because, after all - who doesn't? Some will say that two is a couple, and three is a crowd, but I think that comedy explodes from a crowd of close people who can play off of each other. Stand up is great, but situational comedy will always rule in my book because of the interaction between the characters. I studied human behavior and communication in college, and almost all of the discussions we had involved interpersonal communication. Communication is a two way street, and if more people occupy that street, things get a bit complicated. I started out trying to be funny (with the title of this post) but in actuality, I was trying to speak about a serious topic.
Misery. There. It even looks rough just sitting there. I know that it looks rough when I see it in the mirror every morning and every night. Sometimes I can catch it staring back at me in my computer monitor when I pull up a dark screen. Sometimes I even talk to the misery. I say, "Hi Misery!" Misery just stares back at me and says, "you're gonna be drinking early today." A few glimpses is all I get per day, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist when I can't see it. In fact, I think that I'm miserable so often that it is starting to be comical. Just give me a happy-go-lucky, no care in the world roommate (which is definitely not my current roommate Fresno Chris) and we'd have ourselves one laughable "odd couple" sitcom brewing right in my 2 bedroom apartment. Think off all the zany hijinks that would go on there! You'd bust a gut from all of the nonstop laughter. I don't even know why I'm so miserable anymore. I'm so pissed off at the world right now that I start to forget why I got so pissed off in the first place, and why I'm still all pissy.
I think I just like attention, and nothing screams attention more than being angry all of the time when you are usually jovial and grinning like an idiot. Everyone expects me to be laughing and goofing around, which is why I am never taken seriously. Sometimes it works in my favor, because I can say things and get away with it because no one would believe that I actually meant it. That has gotten me out of some sticky situations, but at the same time it's been a detriment because my opinion generally doesn't matter. Every now and then, I've got something good to say. I just wish that people would listen. It seems like people only pay attention if you're being funny. I personally think I'm hilarious, and I find it hard to be serious, but every once in a while I pull it together and act normal. You wait, I just might do it to you someday.
I initially started typing this entry on February 4 2008. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. I don't really feel all that miserable anymore. It might be because winter is almost over and spring time is just around the corner. Baseball is being played down in Arizona, but within a week, the Brewers will be back at Miller Park and the best 6 (hopefully 7) months of my year begin. Brewers baseball, beer, and good weather - how could anyone be miserable with that stuff going on? There's nothing left to be sad about one the baseball season kicks off. Oh what a difference a month makes. Let this be a lesson - things will always get better and don't let depression or misery get to you Artax, or else you'll meet your doom and end up at the bottom of the Swamp of Sadness.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Misery. There. It even looks rough just sitting there. I know that it looks rough when I see it in the mirror every morning and every night. Sometimes I can catch it staring back at me in my computer monitor when I pull up a dark screen. Sometimes I even talk to the misery. I say, "Hi Misery!" Misery just stares back at me and says, "you're gonna be drinking early today." A few glimpses is all I get per day, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist when I can't see it. In fact, I think that I'm miserable so often that it is starting to be comical. Just give me a happy-go-lucky, no care in the world roommate (which is definitely not my current roommate Fresno Chris) and we'd have ourselves one laughable "odd couple" sitcom brewing right in my 2 bedroom apartment. Think off all the zany hijinks that would go on there! You'd bust a gut from all of the nonstop laughter. I don't even know why I'm so miserable anymore. I'm so pissed off at the world right now that I start to forget why I got so pissed off in the first place, and why I'm still all pissy.
I think I just like attention, and nothing screams attention more than being angry all of the time when you are usually jovial and grinning like an idiot. Everyone expects me to be laughing and goofing around, which is why I am never taken seriously. Sometimes it works in my favor, because I can say things and get away with it because no one would believe that I actually meant it. That has gotten me out of some sticky situations, but at the same time it's been a detriment because my opinion generally doesn't matter. Every now and then, I've got something good to say. I just wish that people would listen. It seems like people only pay attention if you're being funny. I personally think I'm hilarious, and I find it hard to be serious, but every once in a while I pull it together and act normal. You wait, I just might do it to you someday.
I initially started typing this entry on February 4 2008. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. I don't really feel all that miserable anymore. It might be because winter is almost over and spring time is just around the corner. Baseball is being played down in Arizona, but within a week, the Brewers will be back at Miller Park and the best 6 (hopefully 7) months of my year begin. Brewers baseball, beer, and good weather - how could anyone be miserable with that stuff going on? There's nothing left to be sad about one the baseball season kicks off. Oh what a difference a month makes. Let this be a lesson - things will always get better and don't let depression or misery get to you Artax, or else you'll meet your doom and end up at the bottom of the Swamp of Sadness.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Monday, March 17, 2008
I want some pickles
So I went and got some pickles. I've always been an impulse buyer, and the US Economy loves that. I wanted an iPod, so I went out and bought one. Can I afford an iPod? Possibly, but not a $500 iPod with touch screen and wireless internet. When I want something, I flat out go and get it, regardless of my financial situation. That's probably the reason why I don't have a savings account and mounting credit card debt. I know I have a problem, but how can I tell myself no? It always starts small. I wanted some pickles, so I walked to the store and bought a jar. That was one of the best damn jar of pickles I ever ate in my whole life. Was it a good impulse purchase? Absolutely. Did it open the door for new impulse purchases? Hell yeah, which is what really troubles me. I've previously posted how much I hate working, but I spend money like it's going out of style, so I need to keep on working to keep up with my spending. It's a vicious cycle, and I'm stuck in it going round and round and round and round. So when I end up homeless, penniless, toothless, drunk and naked on the streets I'll remember that it all started with wanting some pickles.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat!
If you've got time, head on over to The Milwaukee Brewers blog on JSOnline. Tom Hadricourt and Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel post daily happenings and updates from spring training in Arizona, and I am in a bitter debate with several of the blog posters about the make up of the starting rotation. Check me out if you go on there - my name, of course, is Pookon. To be quite honest with you, I don't even know how I stand on this whole issue. Both sides make sense.
Side A - Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Villanueva, Parra in the starting rotation. Bush, Capuano and Vargas - one is long relief in bullpen/spot starter, one is sent down to AAA, and one is traded.
Positives - The best rotation talent-wise. Sheets, Gallardo and Parra are strikeout power pitchers and Supan and Villanueva are contact pitchers. Supan and Sheets (when healthy) are solid and reliable, and the other 3 have tons of upside.
Negatives - Gallardo, Villanueva, and Parra have little Major League experience. If Sheets get injured, they're screwed if they traded away an established pitcher like Bush, Capuano or Vargas. The lack of playing time in the Major Leagues could be the team's biggest weakness come the stretch run in September and their arms could be tired. None of them has pitched over 150-180 innings in a year at any level. If one of these young guns gets injured, it could hurt their career long term.
Side B - Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Capuano/Bush/Vargas/Villanueva (2 of the 4 in the starting 5). 1 of the last 4 is the long man in the bullpen and 1 is traded. Parra starts the season at AAA.
Positives - All of the starting 5 have Major League starting experience. If Capuano can return to form, he could be an 18 game winner again. Bush led the team in wins the last 2 years, but had a plus 5 ERA. Vargas, if he pitchers like he is in spring training, could go deeper into games and not tax the bullpen. All of them have been relatively injury free, which could give us a stable rotation.
Negatives - there's a lot of ifs with some of these guys, and not a lot of upside. I think we've seen everything that Capuano, Supan, Bush and Vargas have to offer, but the best years are still there waiting for Parra and Villanueva. Some might say that any innings pitched but Parra in AAA are a waste of his scheduled 150 innings this year, and they have a really good point - we need all of his good innings in the majors. Capuano also may need a change of scenery. A little change just may do him some good.
It's a tough call, one that I'm glad that I don't have to make. Either way, you're going to piss someone off. The fans are even split on this decision, just take a leisurely stroll down the JSOnline Brewers Blog message boards to see that in action. I have yet to make up my decision, going with the safe "I want the best 5 pitchers in the starting rotation at all times." If I stick to my guns, that would be Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Villanueva and Parra. Next week? Who knows.
That's why they leave speculation to the fans and decisions to the management. We just need to all unite as one and sing out, "Go go go for a little bit more, that extra effort that shows in the score. A double play, a big home run, the Brewers are brewing up a barrel of fun. So give a cheer! Let them know that you're here! C'mon now, we're gonna rock this town. C'mon Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat. Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat! C'mon Brewers! Milwaukee Brewers yeah yeah..."
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Side A - Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Villanueva, Parra in the starting rotation. Bush, Capuano and Vargas - one is long relief in bullpen/spot starter, one is sent down to AAA, and one is traded.
Positives - The best rotation talent-wise. Sheets, Gallardo and Parra are strikeout power pitchers and Supan and Villanueva are contact pitchers. Supan and Sheets (when healthy) are solid and reliable, and the other 3 have tons of upside.
Negatives - Gallardo, Villanueva, and Parra have little Major League experience. If Sheets get injured, they're screwed if they traded away an established pitcher like Bush, Capuano or Vargas. The lack of playing time in the Major Leagues could be the team's biggest weakness come the stretch run in September and their arms could be tired. None of them has pitched over 150-180 innings in a year at any level. If one of these young guns gets injured, it could hurt their career long term.
Side B - Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Capuano/Bush/Vargas/Villanueva (2 of the 4 in the starting 5). 1 of the last 4 is the long man in the bullpen and 1 is traded. Parra starts the season at AAA.
Positives - All of the starting 5 have Major League starting experience. If Capuano can return to form, he could be an 18 game winner again. Bush led the team in wins the last 2 years, but had a plus 5 ERA. Vargas, if he pitchers like he is in spring training, could go deeper into games and not tax the bullpen. All of them have been relatively injury free, which could give us a stable rotation.
Negatives - there's a lot of ifs with some of these guys, and not a lot of upside. I think we've seen everything that Capuano, Supan, Bush and Vargas have to offer, but the best years are still there waiting for Parra and Villanueva. Some might say that any innings pitched but Parra in AAA are a waste of his scheduled 150 innings this year, and they have a really good point - we need all of his good innings in the majors. Capuano also may need a change of scenery. A little change just may do him some good.
It's a tough call, one that I'm glad that I don't have to make. Either way, you're going to piss someone off. The fans are even split on this decision, just take a leisurely stroll down the JSOnline Brewers Blog message boards to see that in action. I have yet to make up my decision, going with the safe "I want the best 5 pitchers in the starting rotation at all times." If I stick to my guns, that would be Sheets, Gallardo, Supan, Villanueva and Parra. Next week? Who knows.
That's why they leave speculation to the fans and decisions to the management. We just need to all unite as one and sing out, "Go go go for a little bit more, that extra effort that shows in the score. A double play, a big home run, the Brewers are brewing up a barrel of fun. So give a cheer! Let them know that you're here! C'mon now, we're gonna rock this town. C'mon Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat. Brewers, Brewers, keep turnin' up the heat! C'mon Brewers! Milwaukee Brewers yeah yeah..."
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, March 14, 2008
WtF is up with American Idol?
When did the Tasmanian Devil join American Idol? You know, that chick with the black/blonde hair who sounds like Rod Stewart? Amanda Overmyer. That's her name. Do you know what she does (here it comes!!).... SHE REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS!!! She bothers the hell out of me! No matter what she sings, it sounds like gravel tumbling in the back of a cement truck. And you're telling me that out of hundreds of thousands of people in this country, she is one of the 12 best? In the words of Simon Cowell, that's simply appalling. I personally know more than 15 people who sing better than she does, and yet those people are working Joe jobs instead of being on TV. And it's not only her, the majority of the people on there suck balls. There's only about 3 people on there who I think are actually talented enough to be decent recording artists - Carly Smithson, David Cook, and David Archuleta (with a little love thrown in for my brotha Chikezie). I guess I'm out of touch with today's youth and what qualifies as good music, but I think that most of the people blow. I guess that is why I'm in the Travel Industry instead of in the Music Industry.
Why, oh why do I waste my time bitching about this then, if (according to today's musical standards) I have no clue what I am talking about? Because I'm trying to keep this blog current so that I can pull in some random numbers from people who aren't my friends and family. I need to up the readership on this page, and in order to do so, I need to branch out to other subjects instead of the ones that I usually cover. If this topic brings in additional viewers, I might start talking about gardening, upholstering furniture, candle making, and digging underground tunnels. You know, all of the other topics that are current in today's society.
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
Why, oh why do I waste my time bitching about this then, if (according to today's musical standards) I have no clue what I am talking about? Because I'm trying to keep this blog current so that I can pull in some random numbers from people who aren't my friends and family. I need to up the readership on this page, and in order to do so, I need to branch out to other subjects instead of the ones that I usually cover. If this topic brings in additional viewers, I might start talking about gardening, upholstering furniture, candle making, and digging underground tunnels. You know, all of the other topics that are current in today's society.
- pookon -
www.pookon.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Taxes Suck Balls
I just got my paycheck for the weeks of January 13-27 (we get paid biweekly and I worked a total of 109.50 hours. Every hour that I work above 40 hours a week counts as overtime, so I get paid time and a half. I should have had baller status today (payday), and my bank statement was looking rather robust, but then I got my check stub and saw that the f-ing government stole $322.13 right out of my pocket!! In the words of the great Bob Barker - "That's too much!!" That's a lot of dollars people, and for what - so that the inner city schools continue to try and turn gangsters into respectable members of society? The schools are just going to turn the kids from stupid criminals into smart criminals that rob people without getting caught. What else am I paying for? Fat politicians salaries? Clean streets? Crypto-free water? Stop lights? I know that I'm not paying for road improvements because there are more potholes on Locust between the Eastside and I-43 than the beach at Normandy. That stretch of road looks like a god damn battlefield with all of the cracks and crevices in the street. The federal government takes their share too, but what about my cut? I better be getting that back come tax day, or else there will be hell to pay, believe you me. I'm gonna be filing my taxes like a undead zombie that has undying thirst for dollars.
Update (3/12/08) - finished my taxes on Sunday, and I get a total of ~ $2,000 back from the Federal and Wisconsin government. I don't know if I should be reporting that here (there's a lot of things that can get you into trouble these days). Now that may seem like a lot of money to be receiving in one lump sum, but if you figure that I give $200 to the government every paycheck (that's $400 a month) over 1 year - that's $4,800 a year! And just from this one job! (I have two.) I know that I shouldn't be complaining, because there are probably people out there who pay more in taxes than I do, and the State/Federal governments certainly need it to do stuff to keep this country in order, or else all hell would break loose. So I understand, but I just don't like it. And since this is my blog, I'm allowed to voice my opinion. So there.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Update (3/12/08) - finished my taxes on Sunday, and I get a total of ~ $2,000 back from the Federal and Wisconsin government. I don't know if I should be reporting that here (there's a lot of things that can get you into trouble these days). Now that may seem like a lot of money to be receiving in one lump sum, but if you figure that I give $200 to the government every paycheck (that's $400 a month) over 1 year - that's $4,800 a year! And just from this one job! (I have two.) I know that I shouldn't be complaining, because there are probably people out there who pay more in taxes than I do, and the State/Federal governments certainly need it to do stuff to keep this country in order, or else all hell would break loose. So I understand, but I just don't like it. And since this is my blog, I'm allowed to voice my opinion. So there.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
My stomach is a jerk and I just grew a conscience
I repeat, my stomach is a jerk and I just grew a conscience.
For some reason, this seemed to be funny to me on the day that my mind came up with it. From the looks of it, I came up with this statement on the 21st of February around 2:30 pm. Judging from that time stamp, I was at work. When I'm at work, I sometimes have a little time to myself to come up with ideas and add content to my blog and my website. On the 21st, I had a really good idea that kind of went nowhere because I most likely got busy on the phones. Today (March 5) was the first day I have picked this up since then, so now i have no idea why I wrote that. So what's the point of this article then? Because that statement was, still is, and will always be hilarious. I think that the word jerk is one of the best curse words in the English. It's not terribly damaging (like some of the more hardcore curse words) and it kind of sounds funny when you say it out loud, which takes away from it's impact, allowing you to laugh it off. Think about it -
"Leave me alone, you big jerk!" , "Thanks for nothing jerk!" , "Move it or lose it, jerk!" , "What the hell's a matter with you jerk?" , "You better watch it jerk!"
I can't say it without laughing. Maybe I just have a different sense of humor that the rest of you jerks, but I wouldn't trade it for all of King Midas' Silver. If I can make myself laugh over something as silly as the word jerk, then I've accomplished my goal.
Back to the meaning of my statement. Using the Wikipedia, Nicholas Cage, and the knowledge of "top" scientists who look after the Ark of the Covenant, we have decided that this cryptic statement means that I was hungry and my emotions were beginning to sway my decisions. In fact, after deciphering that message, it's all coming back to my. My stomach was growling like the Terror Dogs in Ghostbusters, and I was getting pissed at it. "What the hell were they doing in my icebox?" Probably stealing my food, and that's why I'm hungry. Egads! I've solved the mystery! I also recall that I was having difficultly charging someone with a penalty on their vacation package because they made a mistake. I wanted to waive the penalties, but I wasn't allowed to. It was one of the first times that I actually cared for one of our customers and wanted to help them out. Normally they just piss me off cause they are stupid and ridiculously cheap. On that day, at that moment, my heart grew 3 sizes just like the Grinch and I decided to be nice. But since it was not my call, I had to charge penalties, and I ended looking like a jerk for not caring. I don't know why I suddenly grew a conscience, but it certainly didn't look like Jiminy Cricket and it didn't sing a song for me. Man, movies are f-ing bullshit. That Cricket jerk.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
For some reason, this seemed to be funny to me on the day that my mind came up with it. From the looks of it, I came up with this statement on the 21st of February around 2:30 pm. Judging from that time stamp, I was at work. When I'm at work, I sometimes have a little time to myself to come up with ideas and add content to my blog and my website. On the 21st, I had a really good idea that kind of went nowhere because I most likely got busy on the phones. Today (March 5) was the first day I have picked this up since then, so now i have no idea why I wrote that. So what's the point of this article then? Because that statement was, still is, and will always be hilarious. I think that the word jerk is one of the best curse words in the English. It's not terribly damaging (like some of the more hardcore curse words) and it kind of sounds funny when you say it out loud, which takes away from it's impact, allowing you to laugh it off. Think about it -
"Leave me alone, you big jerk!" , "Thanks for nothing jerk!" , "Move it or lose it, jerk!" , "What the hell's a matter with you jerk?" , "You better watch it jerk!"
I can't say it without laughing. Maybe I just have a different sense of humor that the rest of you jerks, but I wouldn't trade it for all of King Midas' Silver. If I can make myself laugh over something as silly as the word jerk, then I've accomplished my goal.
Back to the meaning of my statement. Using the Wikipedia, Nicholas Cage, and the knowledge of "top" scientists who look after the Ark of the Covenant, we have decided that this cryptic statement means that I was hungry and my emotions were beginning to sway my decisions. In fact, after deciphering that message, it's all coming back to my. My stomach was growling like the Terror Dogs in Ghostbusters, and I was getting pissed at it. "What the hell were they doing in my icebox?" Probably stealing my food, and that's why I'm hungry. Egads! I've solved the mystery! I also recall that I was having difficultly charging someone with a penalty on their vacation package because they made a mistake. I wanted to waive the penalties, but I wasn't allowed to. It was one of the first times that I actually cared for one of our customers and wanted to help them out. Normally they just piss me off cause they are stupid and ridiculously cheap. On that day, at that moment, my heart grew 3 sizes just like the Grinch and I decided to be nice. But since it was not my call, I had to charge penalties, and I ended looking like a jerk for not caring. I don't know why I suddenly grew a conscience, but it certainly didn't look like Jiminy Cricket and it didn't sing a song for me. Man, movies are f-ing bullshit. That Cricket jerk.
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Beer Pong Evolution
You are cordially invited to attend CHBPL Beer Pong at Live
This is a call to attention to help us bring the game of Beer Pong out the basements and attics of college neighborhoods and into the view of the general public. More specifically, I'm asking for your help in making our foray into CHBPL Beer Pong at Live on North Avenue successful. Let me start with some details -
Where? Live Bar and Grill (2028 E North Ave, located next to BBC)
When? Every Wednesday night from 8:00 pm - bar close
Who? for the last few weeks, Lorge, Balkman, Denise, myself (Iceman), and a few current and former league members (Brodey, Amanda, Katie, Jenny Reck) and bar randoms
What? Beer Pong, playing on Bpong tables with a Bpong/CHBPL rule blend
Why? I shouldn't have to point this out, but judging from the lack of participation, I have to. Plain and simple - you love beer pong and you should be interested in taking the sport to the next level. Let's face it - aside from our league, beer pong in our city is embarrassingly weak (and we're the drunkest city in America, for crying out loud!) Take a second and go onto the forums at Bpong.com and scope out the posts from players on the East Coast (like Maryland and New York/New Jersey) and the West Coast (particularly Southern California.) Aside from Michigan, the Midwest doesn't have a lot of representation. We're (CHBPL founders) are doing everything we can to increase the beer pong exposure, but we need your help. We already know that you love beer pong - that's pretty evident when you show up to play on Friday nights instead of getting hammered drunk somewhere else. The skill level in this league is at an all-time high, although the participation (1 league night, plus no one shows up at Live) seems to be dwindling.
That's why we need you, the next generation of beer pongers to help us create a festive and competitive beer pong atmosphere at the bar. I don't care if if you don't like North Ave bars or enjoy paying bar prices, but we need you to come out and support our league's endeavor. I know there are some of you who are under 21, and unfortunately you can not come out and join us. I don't care if you have a fake ID - don't jeopardize our bar league by trying to be sneaky. You will get caught. We appreciate the support, but please, wait until you're grown up. As for you people who are old enough (and I'm pointing several fingers at the people who occupy the beer pong house, and the randoms who don't live there but never go to their own homes) - shame on you. It's just like when you said "We'll all go out to the World Series of Beer Pong when we turn 21!" I went, didn't see you there. Funny. You must have been wearing a disguise... But I digress, and I'll save that for another post later in the year when I round up the troops for the 4th WSoBP.
I'm going to ask you to come on out to Live on North Ave on Wednesdays to play beer pong. For it to be a success, we need people to be there and play. Randoms at the bar have started playing, and we've gotten people to come in off of the streets, but we really need more people from the CHBPL to come out every week and represent our league. I guess I can understand if you can't make it because of school or work, but here's a parting thought to entice you - I've devoted nearly 6 years of my life to this game, and beer pong has made me the man I am today.
Long story short (at work, downtime + boredom = Iceman types too much) you better be there sometime in the next few weeks or I will be sad. We've come too far to quit now when we are on the verge of beer pong greatness. But we can only do so much, and we need your help. If you truly care about the advancement of our sport, you'll come out and support our cause.
- The Iceman -
http://www.pookon.com/
Come to Live on North Ave on Wednesday nights, and shoot nothing but foam with the Iceman.
This is a call to attention to help us bring the game of Beer Pong out the basements and attics of college neighborhoods and into the view of the general public. More specifically, I'm asking for your help in making our foray into CHBPL Beer Pong at Live on North Avenue successful. Let me start with some details -
Where? Live Bar and Grill (2028 E North Ave, located next to BBC)
When? Every Wednesday night from 8:00 pm - bar close
Who? for the last few weeks, Lorge, Balkman, Denise, myself (Iceman), and a few current and former league members (Brodey, Amanda, Katie, Jenny Reck) and bar randoms
What? Beer Pong, playing on Bpong tables with a Bpong/CHBPL rule blend
Why? I shouldn't have to point this out, but judging from the lack of participation, I have to. Plain and simple - you love beer pong and you should be interested in taking the sport to the next level. Let's face it - aside from our league, beer pong in our city is embarrassingly weak (and we're the drunkest city in America, for crying out loud!) Take a second and go onto the forums at Bpong.com and scope out the posts from players on the East Coast (like Maryland and New York/New Jersey) and the West Coast (particularly Southern California.) Aside from Michigan, the Midwest doesn't have a lot of representation. We're (CHBPL founders) are doing everything we can to increase the beer pong exposure, but we need your help. We already know that you love beer pong - that's pretty evident when you show up to play on Friday nights instead of getting hammered drunk somewhere else. The skill level in this league is at an all-time high, although the participation (1 league night, plus no one shows up at Live) seems to be dwindling.
That's why we need you, the next generation of beer pongers to help us create a festive and competitive beer pong atmosphere at the bar. I don't care if if you don't like North Ave bars or enjoy paying bar prices, but we need you to come out and support our league's endeavor. I know there are some of you who are under 21, and unfortunately you can not come out and join us. I don't care if you have a fake ID - don't jeopardize our bar league by trying to be sneaky. You will get caught. We appreciate the support, but please, wait until you're grown up. As for you people who are old enough (and I'm pointing several fingers at the people who occupy the beer pong house, and the randoms who don't live there but never go to their own homes) - shame on you. It's just like when you said "We'll all go out to the World Series of Beer Pong when we turn 21!" I went, didn't see you there. Funny. You must have been wearing a disguise... But I digress, and I'll save that for another post later in the year when I round up the troops for the 4th WSoBP.
I'm going to ask you to come on out to Live on North Ave on Wednesdays to play beer pong. For it to be a success, we need people to be there and play. Randoms at the bar have started playing, and we've gotten people to come in off of the streets, but we really need more people from the CHBPL to come out every week and represent our league. I guess I can understand if you can't make it because of school or work, but here's a parting thought to entice you - I've devoted nearly 6 years of my life to this game, and beer pong has made me the man I am today.
Long story short (at work, downtime + boredom = Iceman types too much) you better be there sometime in the next few weeks or I will be sad. We've come too far to quit now when we are on the verge of beer pong greatness. But we can only do so much, and we need your help. If you truly care about the advancement of our sport, you'll come out and support our cause.
- The Iceman -
http://www.pookon.com/
Come to Live on North Ave on Wednesday nights, and shoot nothing but foam with the Iceman.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Jeopardy / Wheel of Fortune Before and After Noon
I think that I'm going to start making the titles of my blog entries resemble the popular Wheel of Fortune / Jeopardy category Before and After. The purpose of this is to display headlines that grab people's attention and sucker them in to reading my blog entry. It's just another cheap marketing ploy that I'll be employing to generate higher numbers for this site. Once I get tired of it (and trust me, I already have) I'll look for new gimmicks to draw attention to this shit. Maybe I can get some of those ridiculous flash animations, or pictures of dogs and cats cuddling together like the ones that my Mom always sends me. Maybe that will draw more people here. I just saw my stats (I do keep a counter on this blog) and they're el terrible. I mean, the freakin' cable access channel has higher ratings than me. Have you ever seen the garbage that people put up on there? I have, and it's not pretty. I guess I'm to blame for driving their ratings up then. Shame on me. Looks like I'll just have to visit my blog from multiple ip addresses on a daily basis to keep the ratings war going between myself and public access. The heat is on Time Warner Milwaukee Public Access Channel 14! How do you like the way that shit works?!?
Join with me and fight the good fight against Public Access Channel 14 and check out Pookon's Ill Blog (and our brother site Pookon's Ill Stuff) as often as humanly (and technologically) possible. If you don't, then the terrorists have won and you are being anti-American. Try living with that burden on your shoulders. I dare you to look Lady Liberty and 6 pound, 8 ounce baby Jesus right in the eyes and tell them that you don't love America. If you are an American and do your civic duty by racking up the hits on my sites, then you also love spaghetti and meatballs. And if you don't love spaghetti and meatballs, just get the hell out of here. The time has come to band together and unite in the fight against Public Access Channel 14. I'm not gonna do what everyone thinks I'm gonna do and... FLIP OUT... all I wanna know is one thing... who's coming with me? C’mon! Who's coming with me and this fish? Who's coming with me?!?!?!?!
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
http://pookon.blogspot.com/
Join with me and fight the good fight against Public Access Channel 14 and check out Pookon's Ill Blog (and our brother site Pookon's Ill Stuff) as often as humanly (and technologically) possible. If you don't, then the terrorists have won and you are being anti-American. Try living with that burden on your shoulders. I dare you to look Lady Liberty and 6 pound, 8 ounce baby Jesus right in the eyes and tell them that you don't love America. If you are an American and do your civic duty by racking up the hits on my sites, then you also love spaghetti and meatballs. And if you don't love spaghetti and meatballs, just get the hell out of here. The time has come to band together and unite in the fight against Public Access Channel 14. I'm not gonna do what everyone thinks I'm gonna do and... FLIP OUT... all I wanna know is one thing... who's coming with me? C’mon! Who's coming with me and this fish? Who's coming with me?!?!?!?!
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
http://pookon.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 31, 2008
This just in: Money talks more than Chris Tucker
Which makes perfect sense because in 1997, a post Friday and pre Rush Hour Chris Tucker starred in movie of said name (Money Talks). It's hard to believe that something could actually talk faster, longer, and make you understand the words that are coming out of its mouth more than Chris Tucker, but money talks baby. So what does this have to do with anything? I'll tell you. I love dollars. I like looking at dollars. I love songs about dollars. I love collecting dollars and using those dollars to buy sweet things. I envy people who have baller status and have more dollars than I do (damn you Lil' Bow Wow!). But I hate (I know it's a strong word) but I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE TRIPLE HATE the process of getting dollars (for ex., working). There's nothing more that I hate then showing up at my place of business and dealing with stupid customers. To steal a line from Randall Graves in Clerks, "This job would be great if it wasn't for the fucking customers." I couldn't agree more.
I'm starting to get to the point where I wake up every morning depressed because I know that I have to go into work. "Stop whining, you're giving me a headache!" is what you and Arnold are saying right now. "Get a (new) job Grouch" is what you and Dave Chapelle are saying right now. I know, I should do both. But I've had so many jobs in my short life (I've been working since I got my first paper route at 15) and I know that regardless of where I work (with the exception of Miller Park) that I'll hate my job because it will always pale in comparison to that gig. The problem is that I can only work at Miller Park when the Brewers are playing a game, so that limits me to working only approximately 81 games a year. What the hell am I supposed to do with the other 284 days? I personally, can think of plenty of things to do, like drink myself retarded, go on trips, play Guitar Hero, watch movies, etc. but none of those get me the elusive dollars that I crave so much. I guess my only way out is to find a Sugar Mama (or Sugar Daddy - hey, it might be worth it if I get enough dollars so that I can swim in them like Uncle Scrooge) to ease my dollar woes. Since that is very unlikely (I'm an ugly mfer) I guess I'll just have to work for the man so that I can get some dollars.
I guess it really isn't all that bad. I could have worse things to worry about, like disease, the absence of a limb, poor living conditions, unclean water, insufficient food, and other basic living essentials that people in 3rd world countries go without. I guess I'm just a bitch for whining about stupid stuff. Oh well.
Dollars still rule the world, but I still believe that I rule a little bit too. I guess I'll try and be happy with the things that I have and stop getting upset about the things that I don't have. I'm lucky enough to have some kind of monetary possession in this world.
Until I strike it rich, I'll be sitting here making some dollars. As of yet, I haven't been able to figure out another way to resolve my unquenchable thirst for the almighty dollar. Until I figure that out - you know where to find me.
-pookon-
http://www.pookon.com/
I'm starting to get to the point where I wake up every morning depressed because I know that I have to go into work. "Stop whining, you're giving me a headache!" is what you and Arnold are saying right now. "Get a (new) job Grouch" is what you and Dave Chapelle are saying right now. I know, I should do both. But I've had so many jobs in my short life (I've been working since I got my first paper route at 15) and I know that regardless of where I work (with the exception of Miller Park) that I'll hate my job because it will always pale in comparison to that gig. The problem is that I can only work at Miller Park when the Brewers are playing a game, so that limits me to working only approximately 81 games a year. What the hell am I supposed to do with the other 284 days? I personally, can think of plenty of things to do, like drink myself retarded, go on trips, play Guitar Hero, watch movies, etc. but none of those get me the elusive dollars that I crave so much. I guess my only way out is to find a Sugar Mama (or Sugar Daddy - hey, it might be worth it if I get enough dollars so that I can swim in them like Uncle Scrooge) to ease my dollar woes. Since that is very unlikely (I'm an ugly mfer) I guess I'll just have to work for the man so that I can get some dollars.
I guess it really isn't all that bad. I could have worse things to worry about, like disease, the absence of a limb, poor living conditions, unclean water, insufficient food, and other basic living essentials that people in 3rd world countries go without. I guess I'm just a bitch for whining about stupid stuff. Oh well.
Dollars still rule the world, but I still believe that I rule a little bit too. I guess I'll try and be happy with the things that I have and stop getting upset about the things that I don't have. I'm lucky enough to have some kind of monetary possession in this world.
Until I strike it rich, I'll be sitting here making some dollars. As of yet, I haven't been able to figure out another way to resolve my unquenchable thirst for the almighty dollar. Until I figure that out - you know where to find me.
-pookon-
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, January 18, 2008
I've been a real asshole lately
So far, I'm starting of this new year with one hell of a bang. I've been really cynical and standoffish since my return from Las Vegas. To sum it all up, I just really don't give a shit about some things anymore. I tried giving up drinking, but I found that it made me even more of an asshole because I was angry that I wasn't drinking. My current attitude has started to affect my life because I am not talking to my best friend (Joey Kanz), won't give my Mom a call even though she's been sick in bed all of last week, and am not getting along with my friends and co-workers. Sooner rather than later I'm going to alienate myself and lose all of my friends. The worst part about it is that I really don't f-ing care, nor do I give a shit about it. My upside right now (career, relationships, life, etc.) is at its all-time highest potential and I'm so close to being genuinely happy. I don't understand why I would jeopardize my life by treating other people like shit. None of this really makes sense anymore. Well, maybe this will grow out like a bad haircut. I remember once when I went to SuperCuts and they cut my hair into a flattop like Drew Carey. If I would've been wearing black thick framed glasses, I could have yelled out Cleveland Rocks! and hosted the Price is Right. It was that bad. My siblings and my parents laughed at me, and all my 14-year-old self could do was yell back "shut up!" Those were some rough times.
Well, I guess I aired it out there for a second. Hopefully that helped me get over this little snafu. I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I get on the phones at work and the customers start belittling me and treating me like dirt because I work in a call center. I'll just tell them to deal with it then probably get in trouble because I'm not providing good customer service. Time will tell on that one. Well, I gots to go be mean somewhere.
Raer!
-pookon-
http://www.pookon.com/
Well, I guess I aired it out there for a second. Hopefully that helped me get over this little snafu. I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I get on the phones at work and the customers start belittling me and treating me like dirt because I work in a call center. I'll just tell them to deal with it then probably get in trouble because I'm not providing good customer service. Time will tell on that one. Well, I gots to go be mean somewhere.
Raer!
-pookon-
http://www.pookon.com/
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
My 2 Pennies on Mike Cameron
I've got to put out my copper Lincoln's on the free agent aquistion of center fielder Mike Cameron. As a precurser to my opinion, I must first state that I am perhaps the biggest Bill Hall fan (besides his mother). I have loved Bill Hall since he first appeared with the big league club in 2002. I immediatly appreciated his versatility and charasmatic attitude. He always looked like a genuinly nice guy in the clubhouse and took everything in stride. After all, (aside from 2007 and may-september of 2006) when he showed up at the ballpark, he didn't know what position he was playing that day (2B, 3B, SS). I don't claim to know everything that's going on in the Brewers universe and clubhouse, but it looks to me like Bill Hall has done everything the Brewers have asked of him. After all, until late, Bill Hall wins games.
My man-crush on Bill Hall puts me on the fence of the aqusition of Mike Cameron, who is a damn fine center fielder. The man has won 3 gold gloves, and a Brewer hasn't even won 1 since Robin Yount did in 1982!! We absolutley need a player of that defensive calibur! I love Ryan Braun, but his errors in 2007 hurt the team in so many ways. We only have 1 dominating strikeout pitcher (Ben Sheets) and the rest (especially Suppan and Capuano) put the ball in play and depend on the defense to back them up. That's why Suppan was so good in St. Louis and why everyone was up in arms that we paid so much money for him and we basically got an average year from him. Given a better defense, we can expect his ERA to drop from its 2007 mark of 4.62 to something more around the 4.00 mark. I can't stress enough that pitching and defense go hand in hand and pitching and defense also win ball games.
Some argue that we gave Rickie Weeks time to develop defensivly, why can't we let Ryan Braun improve at 3rd? It's cause we don't have time to wait anymore. The NL Central is at it's weakest point and we need to take advantage of that before the kids (Prince, Rickie, JJ, Corey, Ryan) all become elegible for free agency and we can't afford them anymore. We have a 3 year window in which to win a World Series, so there's no time to goof around anymore. We have to put the best team out on the field every year and every day, which means that we needed to upgrade our defense, hence the Cameron signing. Cameron in CF > Bill Hall in CF, Bill Hall at 3B > Ryan Braun 3B, and Ryan Braun = to or less than Kapler / Gross / Gywnn / Dillon so that solves our defensive deficiencies right there. I like whatever Melvin/Yost does to improve the team.
I can see Bill Hall getting traded for an established 3rd baseman who bats lefty and has a high on base percentage (something Melvin and Yost have been stressing for the entire off season), and I'll be extremely disappointed if it does. Bill Hall is awesome, and last year he struggled just a bit, but that's no reason to trade him. But at the same time, i was just 1 year old the last time the Brewers made the postseason, and I would like to see that before I die. That is why I have no reason but to back Melvin 100% and agree with his decisions. I need to see a championship team.
Is the Cameron signing a precursor to a Bill Hall trade? It might be, although it also might not be. Time will tell on that one, but it may happen just because we have too many pitchers and not enough roster space to keep them all. If some team offered a good player for a combination of Vargas/Bush/Capuano/Hall/Gwynn/Gross , I'd pull the trigger on the trade if I were Melvin and it put the finishing touches on a championship caliber team.
Bottom line - I like the Cameron signing because it makes our team better. There's no way in hell I can stomach another year of placing 2nd behind the Cubs and hear those FIBs boast about their accomplishments again. I will not stand for that kind of shit. We have to win now, and more importantly, we have to beat the Cubs because my hatred for them is more than I can bear to love with. Plus, it would be a dream come true for me to see my Brewers hoisting a World Series trophy up in the air. It's coming soon, and it's only a matter of when...
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
My man-crush on Bill Hall puts me on the fence of the aqusition of Mike Cameron, who is a damn fine center fielder. The man has won 3 gold gloves, and a Brewer hasn't even won 1 since Robin Yount did in 1982!! We absolutley need a player of that defensive calibur! I love Ryan Braun, but his errors in 2007 hurt the team in so many ways. We only have 1 dominating strikeout pitcher (Ben Sheets) and the rest (especially Suppan and Capuano) put the ball in play and depend on the defense to back them up. That's why Suppan was so good in St. Louis and why everyone was up in arms that we paid so much money for him and we basically got an average year from him. Given a better defense, we can expect his ERA to drop from its 2007 mark of 4.62 to something more around the 4.00 mark. I can't stress enough that pitching and defense go hand in hand and pitching and defense also win ball games.
Some argue that we gave Rickie Weeks time to develop defensivly, why can't we let Ryan Braun improve at 3rd? It's cause we don't have time to wait anymore. The NL Central is at it's weakest point and we need to take advantage of that before the kids (Prince, Rickie, JJ, Corey, Ryan) all become elegible for free agency and we can't afford them anymore. We have a 3 year window in which to win a World Series, so there's no time to goof around anymore. We have to put the best team out on the field every year and every day, which means that we needed to upgrade our defense, hence the Cameron signing. Cameron in CF > Bill Hall in CF, Bill Hall at 3B > Ryan Braun 3B, and Ryan Braun = to or less than Kapler / Gross / Gywnn / Dillon so that solves our defensive deficiencies right there. I like whatever Melvin/Yost does to improve the team.
I can see Bill Hall getting traded for an established 3rd baseman who bats lefty and has a high on base percentage (something Melvin and Yost have been stressing for the entire off season), and I'll be extremely disappointed if it does. Bill Hall is awesome, and last year he struggled just a bit, but that's no reason to trade him. But at the same time, i was just 1 year old the last time the Brewers made the postseason, and I would like to see that before I die. That is why I have no reason but to back Melvin 100% and agree with his decisions. I need to see a championship team.
Is the Cameron signing a precursor to a Bill Hall trade? It might be, although it also might not be. Time will tell on that one, but it may happen just because we have too many pitchers and not enough roster space to keep them all. If some team offered a good player for a combination of Vargas/Bush/Capuano/Hall/Gwynn/Gross , I'd pull the trigger on the trade if I were Melvin and it put the finishing touches on a championship caliber team.
Bottom line - I like the Cameron signing because it makes our team better. There's no way in hell I can stomach another year of placing 2nd behind the Cubs and hear those FIBs boast about their accomplishments again. I will not stand for that kind of shit. We have to win now, and more importantly, we have to beat the Cubs because my hatred for them is more than I can bear to love with. Plus, it would be a dream come true for me to see my Brewers hoisting a World Series trophy up in the air. It's coming soon, and it's only a matter of when...
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
Friday, January 11, 2008
chiggity checkin' in b
it's morning, i'm tired, and i'm at work. i can't think of 3 worse things that could be working against me right now. come to think about it, there are some - like cancer, an extreme hangover, and midget clowns terrorizing my town. so i guess the moral of the story is that things can always be worse. but then the question comes up - what's worse than midget clowns?
sorry for that opening tirade. i just blacked out and started typing. since you are alive and reading this i'm going to go ahead and assume that you know that it is currently 2008. that means that it is a brand new year and i can start off fresh. in my efforts to try and have a semi normal life, i have abandoned writing in this blog as of late (my last post before this was like june of 2007). now that the new year is upon us, i think i'm gonna gold old school on this s and start posting again. i'll make it my new year's resolution to make at lease 1 post a week.
basically i just wanted to say that i'm back and you f-ers better watch out because i'm bringing the noise, the pain and the thunder baby! if i fail on my promise, then you have the right to hit yourself repeatedly. since i most likely will fail on the promise to post at least once a week (i'm no mathematician, but that's like 90 posts a year) just start hitting yourself right now. make sure you apologize to yourself afterwards, because we all know you really didn't want to do it, you were just being a good little pookondotcommie and listening to authority figures (me) and doing what they tell you to do without questioning.
well, that's all that i really got for now. keep checkin' in or else!!!
best regards - your loving friend and dictator -
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
sorry for that opening tirade. i just blacked out and started typing. since you are alive and reading this i'm going to go ahead and assume that you know that it is currently 2008. that means that it is a brand new year and i can start off fresh. in my efforts to try and have a semi normal life, i have abandoned writing in this blog as of late (my last post before this was like june of 2007). now that the new year is upon us, i think i'm gonna gold old school on this s and start posting again. i'll make it my new year's resolution to make at lease 1 post a week.
basically i just wanted to say that i'm back and you f-ers better watch out because i'm bringing the noise, the pain and the thunder baby! if i fail on my promise, then you have the right to hit yourself repeatedly. since i most likely will fail on the promise to post at least once a week (i'm no mathematician, but that's like 90 posts a year) just start hitting yourself right now. make sure you apologize to yourself afterwards, because we all know you really didn't want to do it, you were just being a good little pookondotcommie and listening to authority figures (me) and doing what they tell you to do without questioning.
well, that's all that i really got for now. keep checkin' in or else!!!
best regards - your loving friend and dictator -
- pookon -
http://www.pookon.com/
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