A Large Regular

"We have this personal scoreboard that some of us are only kind of aware of; the ones that are probably more adjusted and healthy, understand what this is all about, and that's our personal scoreboard. It's about relationships with your family, your colleagues, your friends. It's about your purpose in life. It's about your values. It's about living authentically. It's about growing. It's about balance. It's about fitness, physical and mental." - Chris Petersen 

Via this great Bruce Feldman interview at The Athletic (subscription required)

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I think the people who made the Guitar Hero game should come out with Pan Flute Hero. You could make real music and maybe become the next Zamfir. Of course the slobber all over the flute could make sharing a bit of a problem... In the Progressive Insurance commercial about "the bundler" I keep hearing it as "the bungler" and thinking they for some reason want to insure my bung... Interesting stat from Peter Gammons: [Josh] Beckett vs. Yanks, Rays: 4-0, 38 IP, 12 H, 2 ER., 5 BB, 37 K. Boston 5-0 in those starts... Originally Capitol One was supposed to protect from those raiding Vikings but now they are the company mascots. This is like Orkin turning cockroaches into your butlers... A photograph of Albert Einstein riding his bicycle in Santa Barbara... Last night while watching the extra innings extravaganza I couldn't help but think that if they stopped serving beer after 7th inning - probably everyone at game was stone sober by the time it ended... It should be noted that a possible explanation of why Bruce Feldman has been silent in all his media forms is not that he's been suspended but that ESPN is working on a settlement with Mike Leach regarding his lawsuit and ESPN is keeping Feldman muzzled just out of precaution until a deal is reached... Here's why I don't understand about those soccer penalty kick situations - why don't they just kick it down the middle? The goalie always dives one way or the other leaving the middle open... Interesting stat from Buster Onley: Jacoby Ellsbury has 28 steals, .504 slugging average. Last BOS player to have .500+ SLG and at least 25 steals: Tris Speaker, 1914

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Red Sox owner John Henry tweeted this morning "Sox/Yankees biggest rivalry in US. LFC/MUFC biggest rivalry in the world. Typical match draws far more than triple the Super Bowl viewers." The LFC is Liverpool and MUFC is Manchester United. John Henry happens to own the Liverpool Football (soccer) Club. If this is really the case (and I'm not doubting it) someone should ask him if MLB should change the name from the World Series to the North American Series given the relative scope of the game... Southern lights from space... Is there anyone out there still legitimately steamed that Derek Jeter skipped the All-Star Game? Anyone?... Obama has a secret plan to take $4 trillion spending out of the budget just like John Kerry had a secret plan to get us out of Iraq... Richard Nixon's Humble Last Meal as President... It would be interesting to compare the number of albums and hits between Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band versus Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I would guess that they would be almost equals in terms of straight "stats"... Speaking of Springsteen - I have to think that the people not in loop in the recent Bruce Feldman / ESPN drama must have thought #FreeBruce was some sort of Springsteen MP3 giveaway... When good things happen for good people. Cleveland Indians starter Justin Masterson is now 8th in the American League in ERA (2.80), 13th in innings pitched, 20th in strikeouts (95) and 20th in WHIP. Good for him... What's not to like about Miguel Angel Jimenez? He loves golf, cigars and wine and has a stretching routine that would make any weekend duffer proud.

Bruce Feldman

Good article on the situation at ESPN regarding Bruce Feldman and Craig James.

After reading the article I was left with 3 questions:

1. How can the image conscious people at ESPN be so blinded to the fact that most viewers think of Craig James as a douchebag at this point? Craig James is tarnishing the brand not enhancing it.

2. It will be interesting to see if the ESPN Ombudsman addresses this issue. If not what is the point of having an Ombudsman at all?

3. Did ESPN choose James over Doug Flutie? If so it is not too late to rectify that. Flutie could easily assume James' duties and not a peep would be heard from viewers.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Lost Rainbow Toad found after 87-years. I hope they find the elusive hypno-toad next... Good to hear that Blue's Clues star Steve Burns did not die of a heroin overdose. Maybe I'm out of the loop but I wasn't even aware there were rumors of his demise... ESPN suspending Bruce Feldman is despicable. I don't have an Insider account I can cancel so instead I'm going to buy one of his books to show my support. Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life the Mike Leach book looks like a very good read... The administration at Kent State must be very proud of the level of education alumni James Harrison is exhibiting recently... The guys who do these short films are very talented. The Sean Bean Death Reel... I was late to the game for CSI but really got into watching the series via syndication. I burned out on the show just about the time Laurence Fishburne joined the cast. Having Ted Danson join the show just may peak the interest for me to start watching again... Some Linky Links to finish up:

- Tough Quiz: Name the Most Populous U.S. City for Each Letter of the Alphabet...

- This just made me laugh. I don't apologize...

- Beer Hydrates Better Than Water. Beer - is there anything it can't do?

- I also laughed at this. Again - no apologies.