Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Week 7 NFL Update

It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through the NFL season already. There have been several surprises thus far including some teams who have overachieved and another handful of teams that have fallen short of expectations. The K.C. Chiefs and St. Louis Rams have played better than most experts predicted. The Chiefs are doing it with a dynamic running game and a solid team defense. The Rams appear to be defying the odds with their talented rookie quarterback and a cast of lesser known players. The Seahawks and Titans are playing well too, but there is still a lot of football left to be played.

On the other side of the coin, the New Orleans Saints are certainly not playing like a championship level team. The loss of Reggie Bush has hurt them, and Drew Brees is playing mediocre football. The Norv Turner led Chargers are a huge disappointment in San Diego. The Bolts haven't played well early in the season in recent years, but the hole they've dug for themselves thus far may be too deep for them to climb out of. I would also have to put Minnesota and Dallas on the list of underachievers. Brett Favre has struggled with his health, off the field problems, and his on the field decision making. The Vikings are loaded with talent, but winning in the NFL on a consistent basis has very little to do with potential or talent. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have solid playmakers on both sides of the ball, but they beat themselves with penalties at crucial points during the game, and a coach who seems to struggle to get the most out of his players. The Cowboys also have their problems on the offensive line. The team will be watching the playoffs and Super Bowl on tv like the rest of us this winter.

Finally, I was impressed to say the least that Bill Belichick had the courage to trade Randy Moss, a decision that is sure to make his TEAM stronger. I capitalized TEAM because that is the name of the game and Randy Moss has never really proven himself to be a team player. New England won all of their Super Bowls without him and their offense already looks more in sync and disciplined since Mr. Moss packed his bags for Minnesota. I do believe that Moss is a great one on one player, but he wears out his welcome wherever he goes. He is a malcontent who only competes when the ball is sure to come to him. He takes plays off and the great ones just don't do that. I never saw Jerry Rice take a play off. Moss was getting into confrontations with coaches in New England and his unhappiness with his contract had become a distraction. I can never give Belichick my full respect because of his involvement in the video cheating scandal, but he is a very savvy coach with a great technical mind for the game, and a wonderful ability to sell his formula for winning to his players.

It is refreshing to see two new teams in the World Series. My favorite team is the one with the lowest payroll. I'm not sure who that is in this case, but I will try and find out before the series is over. As I've blogged before, the Rangers had to file for bankruptcy due to losing so much money because of paying huge contracts like the quarter of a billion dollar deal they gave to A-Rod several years ago. Now that I think of it, I will root for the Giants. It would be nice to see them win without the all time leader in steroid home runs. If my memory serves me right, I think he was a guy named Bonds.

Lights out.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Blog Hiatus is Over/ Memories from France summer 2010

My hiatus from the blog has come to a close and I will be posting 3-4 times a week now that things have begun to settle down here at home. Some of you might be wondering what I have been doing over the past 6 weeks since I returned home from coaching in Finland during the summer of 2010. The main issue that has garnered my attention during this time is dealing with a stomach ailment that has been wreaking some havoc in my life over the past 3 months or so. I have had many tests done including gall bladder scans, abdominal ultrasounds, and a colonoscopy. Overall, the tests seem to have cleared me of any major problems and I have started to improve over the past few weeks.

I have spent the rest of my time catching up on things around the house, reconnecting with family and friends, and even helping coach Kodie's youth football team. I am registered to begin substitute teaching again, so I will be resuming that as well. I have been applying for some teaching and government positions over the last month, but I have yet to hear anything. My main job at this time is serving as a part-time instructor for Trinity, the college in North Dakota where I taught and coached for six years. Basically, I teach an online/distance education course in Sports Psychology. It doesn't pay much, but it keeps me in the loop until I figure out the next step in life. As far as the future is concerned, I would love to return to Europe. However, the only way I see that happening is if a team is willing to bring me on full-time to coach or help me get set up with a job in the community to supplement my earnings. The situation would have to be right and my family's contentment is the most important factor in that type of scenario. Besides teaching, I may look to see what college coaching opportunities might be there once the season ends in a few months.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy this "time out" in life that allows me the opportunity to hang out with my family, and continue to pursue my freelance writing aspirations. I feel blessed to have this chance to do some serious reflection and really "smell the roses" in everyday life. Yesterday, while out at a local farm and Pumpkin Patch with my youngest daughter and her classmates, I caught myself staring at an old maple tree for what must have been close to five minutes. The old maple was bursting with color as fall has descended upon her. The venerable tree reminded me of my youth and the many tree house cabins that I used to build high above the ground. It was nice to have a few moments to just marvel at God's creation and recognize all the detail within the structure of the large tree. The experience also made me think back to the time I spent in Finland over the past two years and all the beautiful trees that dominate the landscape.

Before I close for today, I wanted to post a few more pics from the time we spent in France this past summer. Maybe, it was my desire to write about some of my moments of reflection that triggered me to think of France during my discussion. The country is currently coping with unrest and massive work stoppages and worker strikes because 70% of the population is upset with the government. What is the reason you might ask? France is coming apart at the seams because it looks as if the country might be raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 years of age. I remember the outrage there a few years ago over the "mind boggling" 35 hour work week. Kind of ironic, isn't it? Seventy percent of our citizens are angry at the government and ready to vote the democrats out because we want more work and the French are rioting because they want to work less. It probably isn't hard to guess what side of the coin I would argue for. I have a theory that much of the "mess" that we see in America today like corporate greed, rampant violence, poor school performance, and a crumbling family unit characterized by high divorce rates and single parent homes, is largely rooted in our love affair with this high production/high consumption mentality. The love affair with working our knuckles to the bone places way more emphasis on the external and leaves little in the form of time to focus and reflect on the internal. Simply put, we are a shallow nation with a very thin veil of understanding regarding the world around us. Ask the average 15 year old in America about the latest P. Diddy song, the newest release of Grand Theft Auto, or who Paris Hilton is dating, and they are likely to score fairly well. If you ask that same young person to find England on a map or name the Vice President of the United States, the scores are likely to be less impressive. The truth is we must find a way to give more quality time and direction to ourselves and our future generations. This theory and 90 cents will probably only buy me a cup of coffee, but I do believe in the importance of taking more time for personal reflection. It may not be great for the pocketbook, but it does wonders for the soul. With that being said, it is time for some pics.





A la Ferme--- Also known as a working farm and one of our lodging destinations during our stay in France. This 17th century stone house is located near Pontorson, a quaint village that is worth a visit.


Our hosts made quick friends with our kids


Our bedroom in the old farmhouse



Another building on the grounds used for summer gatherings/meals


The inside of the 300+ year old structure


Area above the fireplace in the farmhouse-- Year is 1788


The lounge area at our "holiday inn" France


Ready for some dinner


Time for some reflection "French style"


Lights out.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Championship Defeat/ NFL Preview

The Crocodiles suffered a season ending loss to the Porvoon Butchers 30-17 in the Maple League Championship game last Saturday afternoon in Helsinki, Finland. The team played a tough game and had some opportunities to pull away in the first half, but we didn't capitalize on the chances we had in those first two quarters. We outplayed the Butchers in the first half, but they weathered the storm and the game was knotted up 17-17 at intermission. In the second half, we stumbled on offense after one of our top receivers (Riku) broke his collarbone. We dropped two touchdown passes and also turned the ball over twice to the Butchers on interceptions, both coming on offensive drives in our opponents territory. On the flip side, the Butchers were outstanding in the kicking game as they converted on two field goals beyond 40 yards in the game. They made plays when they had to down the stretch and the play of their veteran QB Robert Johnson and the experience of the 5 time defending champions helped propel them to another title. We were so disappointed after the game as we realized that we let a golden opportunity pass through our hands. I felt terrible about the loss and a few poor calls that I made down on the goal line late in the first half.

In any case, I am very proud of our guys and everything they put into the 2010 season. We had a great team spirit this year and I can proudly say that this was a great team. I felt it was an honor to coach these players and I will sorely miss everybody associated with this organization. The Crocodiles organization has been very good to me over the past two seasons and our experiences there have been a great source of enjoyment and growth for both my family and I over the past two seasons. It is not an exaggeration for me to say that this experience has been a dream come true for me. Thanks again Crocs for so many wonderful memories.

As for my future, I have decided to comment on some of these issues in future blog posts. There are also some more pictures/moments that I want to share on the blog in the upcoming days.

Before I close today, I thought I would do a short preview of the upcoming NFL season and make a few predictions to stash away for future reference. It is so hard to believe that the NFL season actually kicks off tonight with a stellar showdown between the defending champ Saints and the hard luck Minnesota Vikings.

Here are a few observations based on what I have observed as we look towards the season, followed by my picks for divisional winners/playoffs/ and an ultimate Super Bowl winner.

- Observation # 1-- The league can really do without drama queens like Albert Haynesworth. This guy has been bad news from a character standpoint looking all the way back to his college days. There are $100 million reasons why he should be acting with a little more class and integrity, but Big Albert just doesn't get it and he never will. I would trade him for a 13th round draft pick. Oh by the way, there is no such thing as a 13th round pick!

- Observation # 2-- Peyton Manning is still pretty darn good. The Colts won every game they wanted to last season except the last one, and they almost pulled that one off too. Manning is the best in the game at making adjustments at the line and steering his offense into the end zone. I think the Colts will be 12-4 or better even if the rest of the team suffers a letdown from their Super Bowl loss last season.

- Observation # 3-- Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis will be well qualified to work as a baby sitter, circus ringmaster, or probation officer after he finally gets fired by the team within the next few seasons. The Bengals would probably try and sign Charles Manson to the practice squad if he ever gets out of prison. The recent list of malcontents include guys like Chad Johnson, Larry Johnson (last season), Terrell Owens, and Adam Pac-Man Jones. These are only some of big name guys that have reputations and egos to match. The Bengals seem to find more headcases than maybe even past years versions of the NBA's Portland Jailbreakers. I just cannot ever root for a team, coach, or team president (shame on you Mike Brown) who consistently set the bar so low when it comes to finding players with any semblance of character.

-Observation # 4-- Jay Cutler will never win a playoff game with the Chicago Bears. Cutler is overrated and the Bears are a team on the decline. This is good news for Detroit because the Bears really don't cause the Vikings or Packers to lose any sleep at night. Mike Martz should help this anemic offense, but the Da Bears will slide to new depths with the arrogant Cutler calling the signals.

-Observation # 5-- The Carolina Panthers are one of the most underrated teams in the NFL. John Fox is a solid coach and the Panthers will be better off without Jake Delhomme at QB. They have two dynamic running backs in Williams and Stewart and a defense that can still be effective, even with the loss of Julius Peppers.

-Observation # 6-- The Buffalo Bills are going to really struggle to score points this season. I don't think there will be many wins any time soon in this football hungry city. C.J. Spiller just might be the rookie of the year if he stays healthy, but the rest of the situation in Buffalo looks pretty bleak.

-Observation # 7-- The San Francisco 49ers are poised to be a playoff team this season. Yes, I think the 49ers are going to make a statement in the NFL in 2010. They have a solid defense, a great runner in Frank Gore, one of most talented young offensive lines in football and a great young coach in Mike Singletary to boot. Now all they are missing is a serviceable QB. (see Minnesota Vikings before Brett Favre) I'm not sure Alex Smith is the answer, but I admire the 49ers for believing in him and giving him a chance to mature in this offense.

-Observation # 8-- Jerry Jones will pull the trigger and fire Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to at least advance to the NFC championship game. I believe the Super Bowl is held in Dallas this year and Jones is banking on getting there. I just don't see it happening. The Cowboys are a playoff caliber team, but they are grossly inconsistent and it usually shows in the playoffs.

-Observation # 9-- The Pete Carroll era will get off to a slow start in Seattle. Carroll has a nice resume from his days at USC, but the Seahawks don't have Washington State or UCLA on the schedule. This Hawks have an aging QB, who I predict will not finish the season as the starter and no running backs like the former Shaun Alexander on the roster. I see a 6-10 season in my crystal ball.

-Observation # 10-- The Eagles will miss Donovan McNabb. # 5 never led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win, but he often got a bad rap in Philly, a city not exactly known for being warm and fuzzy towards its sports stars. I don't think the Eagles to be horrible, but they will have growing pains with a new starting QB at the helm. I wouldn't be surprised if they are on the short end of some close games this season.

Now for my regular season/playoff/Super Bowl Picks.

First the AFC

1. New England 10-6
2.New York Jets 10-6
3.Miami Dolphins 9-7
4.Buffalo Bills 4-12

1.Baltimore Ravens 11-5
2.Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
3. Cincinnati Bengals 9-7
4.Cleveland Browns 6-10

1.Indianapolis Colts 12-4
2.Tennessee Titans 10-6
3. Houston Texans 9-7
4.Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9

1. San Diego Chargers 11-5
2. Denver Broncos 7-9
3. Oakland Raiders 6-10
4. Kansas City Chiefs 7-9

Now the NFC

1. Cowboys 11-5
2. Giants 10-6
3. Washington Redskins 8-8
4. Philadelphia Eagles 7-9

1. Green Bay Packers 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings 10-6
3. Chicago Bears 6-10
4. Detroit Lions 5-11

1. New Orleans Saints 13-3
2. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
3. Carolina Panthers 8-8
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11

1. San Francisco 49ers 10-6
2. Arizona Cardinals 9-7
3. Seattle Seahawks 6-10
4. St. Louis Rams 3-13

Playoff Picks: AFC Teams-- Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Colts, Titans, Chargers
NFC Teams--Giants, Cowboys, Packers, Vikings, Saints, 49ers

AFC Championship Game: Colts vs. Ravens
NFC Championship GAme: Packers vs. Saints

Super Bowl Pick: Colts defeat Packers 34-27


Lights out.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Championship Bound

Our team posted a 42-28 victory in the semi-finals of the Maple League Playoffs. We defeated the Helsinki Roosters in a tough back and forth contest that showcased several changes in momentum throughout the game. We started the game with a flurry and jumped out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Roosters responded with a score before the half and closed the gap to 21-6 heading into the break. We expected to see the Roosters at their best in the 3rd quarter and they didn't disappoint with their effort as they scored twice in the first 7 minutes of the quarter. We will surely on the ropes, but we answered with a score of our own on as our QB Alex Rouse hit veteran Finnish wide receiver Tuukka Pernu on a play action pass. We carried a 28-21 lead into the final period. We added another score midway through the 4th quarter and extended the margin to 14 points. The Roosters weren't done yet and they answered with a touchdown pass to close the gap to 7 with less than two minutes to play. We recovered the onside kick and then ran the ball on two consecutive plays. Our opponent used their final two time-outs and we had a third and long to go with just under a minute and a half to play. On the next play, Crocs running back Greg Fountain responded with a long touchdown run to essentially seal the victory. The Roosters would again drive down the field, but the game ended on an interception in the end zone. What a game! I was very proud of our guys and the way they play the game. They never give up even when things are looking rather bleak. We had a real gut check when the Roosters tied the game at 21. I credit our players for having the ability to regain their composure and re-establish control of the game. The victory earns us the right to play the five time defending champion Butchers in the Maple Bowl. This is Finland's version of the Super Bowl, only with about 70,000 less people in the stands, and slightly less than half a billion people watching. In any case, it is big news in my life and here in Suomi. The chance to play for the trophy hasn't sunk in yet, but I will be giving everything I have this week to prepare us for this game. I feel so blessed to be in this position, and I am relishing every minute of it!!



The Crocs have one more mountain to climb this season.


We must overcome the Butchers to realize our dream of winning the title.


Wish you all were here to watch the big game

A team with a lot of heart


I really need to get this hair cut--- "Wonder how Justin Bieber puts up with this?"


Can't forget my little half pint


3 Cheers for the Crocs!


Lights out.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Crocs earn regular season title with victory over Wolverines


The Crocodiles played their hearts out on a gloomy and sad day and came away with a hard fought 35-12 victory vs. the Helsinki Wolverines. I say sad because one of our youth cheerleaders died last week from injuries sustained in an accident with a motorist while she was riding her bike and crossing an intersection. Her name was Katarina and she was only 15. The accident occurred less than a mile from our apartment at the corner of an intersection where the kids and I pass often when riding our bikes here in town. My heart and prayers go out to this family. It was quite hard to focus on the game as we honored the young lady yesterday with some words of reflection and then a moment of silence before the kickoff. Tragedies such as this sure put life into proper prospective and help me to realize that life is so fragile and football is just a game.

As for the game, the team got off to a quick start by blocking a punt in the first quarter and cashing in with a quick touchdown pass. Our defense was fired up yesterday and we kept their QB scrambling as we recorded several sacks on the day. A few of these hits caused fumbles and that was a big factor for us in the game. Our offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and running back Greg Fountain proved why he is the leading rusher in the Maple League. He pounded the ball inside and had a series of long runs in the contest. Our QB Alex Rouse was efficient with the ball and spread the wealth with his receivers by throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers. Our special teams played well and the win was a total team effort. The victory earned us an 8-2 record and the # 1 seed in the playoffs which begin next Saturday. We host the Helsinki Roosters in the first round. We split the regular season with them. Both games were decided by 3 points or less, so next week's game is sure to be a tough battle for the right to advance to the Maple League Championship on September 4th.

Now for some more pics from 'Summer in Finland' 2010




We kept this washer busy this summer


We soon adjusted to the smaller load capacity


Here is our home made dryer-- We made good use of our sauna this summer!


Getting ready for a dip


Relaxing at Eero's house


Kaylin thinks the water is a bit cold


A tv was waiting for us one night when we returned home-- the first tv we had blew out and then the team quickly replaced it with this one


In all reality, we watched very little tv this summer. The kids played outside and created works of art like this. A miniature playground made out of foil, paper towels, toilet rolls, juice boxes, and anything else they could find around the apartment


An aerial view of 'Central Park'


Collecting bottles and cans and then recycling them at the local grocers became a weekly routine for the kids--- this particular lot at the game in Helsinki two weeks ago fetched the kids 49 euros!! Not bad for 3 hours work


Unique clock tower in the historic town of Jacobstad, Finland


Our good friend Michael Rose came over from Arizona to explore Finland for nearly two weeks-- We enjoyed spending time together and having him as a guest at the apartment for part of his stay


Beautiful wooden boat we saw in the harbor at Jacobstad


There seem to be a lot of these dive platforms at the coastal areas in Finland-- This is similar to the one Kamryn was jumping off last summer at the coast near Vaasa


A little golf in Jacobstad-- Forget about Pebble Beach, this was the hardest course I have ever played-- it was designed for complete and utter failure-- No kidding, it took almost 2 hours for the four of us to finish 18 holes of miniature golf!


This Civil Guard Museum in Seinajoki was designed by the world famous Finnish architect- Alvar Aalto


A statue paying tribute to the Finnish Civic Guard Volunteers


One last water balloon fight in Finland-- I definitely got the worst of this one


Three Crocodile fans who rarely missed a practice


Kaylin has taken a shine to Aatu


Making new friendships has been the best part of this experience over the last two years


Some fun on the trampoline


Lights out.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Victory makes one jump for joy

The season here in Finland is winding down and there is only one regular season game remaining. We posted a win this past weekend 35-0 vs. the Tampere Saints in monsoon like conditions. The game was briefly stopped before the half due to intense rains and persistent lightning. We are currently sitting as the #2 seed as the playoffs approach. However, we must win this upcoming weekend vs. the #1 seed Helsinki Wolverines if we are to claim the #1 regular season ranking. A win this weekend would give us a home field advantage in the playoffs. Needless to say, there is a lot at stake when the Wolverines come to town. Our team is playing with a great deal of confidence right now. It is enough to make one want to jump for joy!!




Kodie preparing for future 82nd Airborne Ranger status



A good landing is always essential


Aatu looks like he's done this before!


Now for our synchronized event featuring Emmi and Kamryn


Kaylin in on the action too


Land training is necessary before entering the water


Don't try this at home


Air Aatu with some serious hangtime-- Michael Jordan would be proud


Victory is sweet


It was nice to finally win a close game vs. the Roosters-- They are well-coached and their players always compete to the very last play


Crocs QB Alex Rouse hands the ball off to Greg Fountain (a tough RB and the leading rusher in the Maple League this season)


Crocs offense and player of the game # 3 Robert Bishop in motion


Roosters offense on the move


Roosters QB Ryan Rufener looking things over before the snap-- Ryan is a very gifted QB who played college ball at Oregon State


The Roosters like to spread things out and use their skill and speedy players like #5 Charles McCrea for big plays down the field


Crocodiles and Saints get ready for battle this past weekend


Swirling clouds loom overhead before the kickoff-- Shortly thereafter the rains came along with the wind, thunder, and lightning


Kodie (small guy in the center of the picture) got recruited for his first game as a ball boy in the Maple League


Time to clear the field


Winning sometimes makes one do strange things

Lights out.