I wasn't one bit surprised the other night when I saw on the wire that Lane Kiffin was leaving Tennessee after one season to take the head coaching position at USC. I reported on my blog back on Sept. 21 of this past season that I thought the Vols had make a mistake by hiring Kiffin. I also mentioned in the post that I didn't think the marriage there in Knoxville would last very long. At that time, he was running his mouth a lot and most of the negativity was aimed at Urban Meyer. I said it once and I will say it again, Lane Kiffin's biggest claim to fame is being the son of the intelligent and well respected Monte Kiffin. Shame on USC for making such an impulsive decision. In my opinion, Kiffin hasn't shown anything at any level as of yet. In his prior stint at USC, he was the benefactor of a stocked roster and surrounded by other great coaches. The people at Tennessee are upset, but I think it will be good for them in the long run. I don't know how Kiffin does it, but he could give David Copperfield a run for his money. At best, he is a master illusionist. In Hollywood, people talk about the A-listers like Denzell Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Mel Gibson. They are A-listers for a reason. In the world that is college football, the A-listers are guys like Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, Joe Paterno. In my opinion, Coach Kiffin doesn't even rate as a B-lister. Since we are doing the Hollywood analogy thing, I would place him in the category of extra. How an "extra" gets a job coaching one of the most storied programs in college football history is beyond me. If you can wait a minute, I will be right back. I am going to put my resume together and see if the Buffalo Bills still need a head coach for next season.
Now on to more important things. Here were my other observations back in September just two weeks into the NFL season.
I said the Tennessee Titans were the best 0-2 team in the league. The Titans did make a nice run down the stretch, but it ended up being too little too late.
I said the Denver Broncos were the worst 2-0 team in the league. The Broncos would go on to post several more wins in a row, but they were overrated from the start. They imploded down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs.
I said the Jacksonville Jaguars window had closed and Del Rio would be out. The Jags did falter and played poorly this year, but Del Rio is still owed 15 million, so the team made the decision to keep him around. The team has lost some 17,000 season ticket holders, so they will have to do some damage control as they move forward.
I posted that I thought the Saints would be the darkhorse of the NFC and said they were poised to make a run this season. They are certainly sitting pretty right now.
I offered the opinion that the Vikings would win their division, but then falter in the playoffs. I hope I am wrong on this one, but the Vikes may have the toughest game out of all of the favored teams this upcoming weekend. The Cowboys are no pushover.
I said the Lions and Rams would battle down the stretch for next years number one draft pick. That wasn't exactly going out on a limb, but I think the Rams did come through for me on this one.
Finally, I said the Redskins would have a new coach and his name would be Mike Shanahan. That is now a reality and I expect the Redskins to make some big strides next season.
Well, that is the end of my fortune telling for now. If only I could pick the outcomes of the games this well. I was incredibly accurate during the college bowl season, but I took a turn for the worse last weekend and only went 1-3 on my NFL picks. Here are my picks/scores for this weekends games.
Saints 333 and Cards 314 No, this is not a typo. I think there will be 9,000 yards of total offense and each QB will lock up a trip to Canton by halftime. Okay all kidding aside.
Saints 37 and Cards 27
Colts 26 and Ravens 19 The Ravens will stay in it early, but once again Manning will be the difference.
Cowboys 30 and Vikings 26 This is my upset special and it pains me to say it. The Steelers are my favorite team, so the Cowboys are naturally our enemy. Think B. Favre will fall just a bit short in this one.
Finally, Chargers 30 and Jets 16. The Jets are a good story, but they will struggle if they have to play catchup football and I think that is what they will have to do this weekend. Sanchez is due for a poor performance and while he has been more steady lately, he is no Phillip Rivers yet. The Chargers will make a statement with this game.
Now, if you are smart, you will go against everything I just said and go 4-0 for the weekend.
Lights out.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Wishes and Resolutions For 2010
Now that we are officially in twenty ten or two-thousand and ten, or however you choose to refer to this new year, wishes and resolutions are buzzing everywhere you go. I've heard at least a dozen people talk about their new workout routine for 2010, and if I remember right, I am one of them. I noticed more people out walking yesterday when I took my morning stroll with my good friend Jake. Jake is my dog of course, but even he seemed to possess an unusual level of energy. Maybe he senses his masters exuberance and anticipation for a fresh start in the new year.
After all, clean slates and new beginnings are some of the greatest aspects of crossing over into January. Many people may actually dread the month of January for reasons such as cold weather, starting back to school or work, or poor retail numbers, ( at least for those of us who have worked in retail). In any case, I am excited about the new year and the chance to see how long my resolutions actually last! I have taken to putting them down in writing in hopes of making me more accountable to ME.
One of my resolutions is to learn more than the 30 or so Finnish words that I grasped last year while coaching overseas. In 2010, I plan on learning more of the language so I can better communicate with the team management and Finnish players. Another simple resolution I have is to learn how to go to bed earlier. You are supposed to learn this one around age 8, or probably in early adulthood at the latest. I am middle aged now (did I actually admit to that!) and I still haven't figured it out. I have been a night owl for as long as I can remember. I recently read that Churchill was a night owl who claimed to do his best work and writing between the hours of 9pm and 3am. He was known for his "Winston hours", and those who know me well better understand that I have always operated on "Eric hours". I would like to adjust this somewhat in 2010. However, I am not off to a good start so far. Last night, I headed off to slumber at the crazy hour of 4:20 am and was up to start my day at 7:15 am. Sounds like my old coaching/teaching hours at Trinity, but I am seriously getting too old for this. Another one of my goals for the upcoming year is to offer my insights to President Obama for major health care reform. Since I have seen over 7,000 dollars disappear out of my checking account in the last 8 days for dental bills, vet bills, health insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance; I am ready to draw a line in the sand!
In truth, I do have several resolutions for the new year, but I am also counting my blessings. That idea of wanting what I have and thereby having what I want is not lost on me. I am excited about the chance to live another year as a father to my three kids and a husband to my wife. Our family is very blessed and I thank God everyday for the chance to keep my life rolling forward. On top of that, I feel privileged to live in such a special place. The world is rapidly becoming a more volatile and dangerous place and the cost of freedom is rising each year. Despite all of these challenges, America is still one of the best places on the earth to call home.
Now that I've gotten all serious and patriotic on you, it is time to change gears and list some new year wishes/resolutions pertaining to the wide world of sports.
Here are 10 to start with. Send me one of your own
1. I wish that in 2010 the Detroit Lions will still be playing meaningful games in October.
2. I wish the agents and publicists for Charlie Sheen and Tiger Woods the best in putting a positive spin on their irresponsible behavior in 2009.
3. I wish the NBA's Washington Wizards would change their names back to the Washington Bullets to more closely connect with their gun toting players.
4. I wish that more Tiger Woods sponsors would jump off his image based bandwagon and allow him the freedom to pursue fresh endorsements like maybe "Boys Gone Wild" videos.
5. Speaking of videos, I wish that Bill Belichick would finally get a guest appearance slot on the reality show "Cheaters" and that he would do a better job of teaching his long-suffering assistants how to be more productive head coaches. (See also: Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, and now Josh McDaniels)
6. I wish the New York Yankees would change their name to the New York Spenders or the Bronx Bankers and just leave everybody's free agents alone for one season.
7. I wish Al Davis would hand the keys to the Raiders over to someone a little more aware of what is going on in the 21st century as it pertains to football. The only thing consistent in Raider land is the leg of Janikowski.
8. I wish sporting event ticket prices would fall from the stratosphere where they currently reside and put Joe the common fan back in the seats. Too many players who play games meant for boys don't appreciate how much they are getting paid and their collective sense of entitlement is spoiling a future generation of American athletes. Housing prices have tanked 30-40%, maybe it is time for ticket prices to follow suit.
9. I wish the BCS would finally fall on the sword and a playoff system would take root in college football. Then the pundits and so called experts couldn't rob teams like Boise State of a chance for a national title after going 14-0. Most of the dogs have roared during the college bowl season, and the phrase "Any given Saturday" is especially true in the college game. Let the teams decide who is national champion.
10. Last but not least, I wish coach Mike Leach the best in finding new employment. Maybe, I can convince him to return to Finland and coach with me next season. Leach once coached the Pori Bears in western Finland several years before his stint with Texas Tech. In truth, Leach has probably had more impact on the college game over the last 10 years than anybody other than Urban Meyer. His spread offensive schemes have influenced coaches all over the country and he has been proven that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I don't believe any QB's actually go under center in the Big Ten conference anymore, so Leach's methods and principles have taken root all over. Leach is certainly a quirky individual as well as an unconventional coach. He put the wrong "entitled athlete" in the shed that day. I don't necessarily agree with his methods, but his firing smells funny to me.
Happy New Year and Lights Out!
After all, clean slates and new beginnings are some of the greatest aspects of crossing over into January. Many people may actually dread the month of January for reasons such as cold weather, starting back to school or work, or poor retail numbers, ( at least for those of us who have worked in retail). In any case, I am excited about the new year and the chance to see how long my resolutions actually last! I have taken to putting them down in writing in hopes of making me more accountable to ME.
One of my resolutions is to learn more than the 30 or so Finnish words that I grasped last year while coaching overseas. In 2010, I plan on learning more of the language so I can better communicate with the team management and Finnish players. Another simple resolution I have is to learn how to go to bed earlier. You are supposed to learn this one around age 8, or probably in early adulthood at the latest. I am middle aged now (did I actually admit to that!) and I still haven't figured it out. I have been a night owl for as long as I can remember. I recently read that Churchill was a night owl who claimed to do his best work and writing between the hours of 9pm and 3am. He was known for his "Winston hours", and those who know me well better understand that I have always operated on "Eric hours". I would like to adjust this somewhat in 2010. However, I am not off to a good start so far. Last night, I headed off to slumber at the crazy hour of 4:20 am and was up to start my day at 7:15 am. Sounds like my old coaching/teaching hours at Trinity, but I am seriously getting too old for this. Another one of my goals for the upcoming year is to offer my insights to President Obama for major health care reform. Since I have seen over 7,000 dollars disappear out of my checking account in the last 8 days for dental bills, vet bills, health insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance; I am ready to draw a line in the sand!
In truth, I do have several resolutions for the new year, but I am also counting my blessings. That idea of wanting what I have and thereby having what I want is not lost on me. I am excited about the chance to live another year as a father to my three kids and a husband to my wife. Our family is very blessed and I thank God everyday for the chance to keep my life rolling forward. On top of that, I feel privileged to live in such a special place. The world is rapidly becoming a more volatile and dangerous place and the cost of freedom is rising each year. Despite all of these challenges, America is still one of the best places on the earth to call home.
Now that I've gotten all serious and patriotic on you, it is time to change gears and list some new year wishes/resolutions pertaining to the wide world of sports.
Here are 10 to start with. Send me one of your own
1. I wish that in 2010 the Detroit Lions will still be playing meaningful games in October.
2. I wish the agents and publicists for Charlie Sheen and Tiger Woods the best in putting a positive spin on their irresponsible behavior in 2009.
3. I wish the NBA's Washington Wizards would change their names back to the Washington Bullets to more closely connect with their gun toting players.
4. I wish that more Tiger Woods sponsors would jump off his image based bandwagon and allow him the freedom to pursue fresh endorsements like maybe "Boys Gone Wild" videos.
5. Speaking of videos, I wish that Bill Belichick would finally get a guest appearance slot on the reality show "Cheaters" and that he would do a better job of teaching his long-suffering assistants how to be more productive head coaches. (See also: Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, and now Josh McDaniels)
6. I wish the New York Yankees would change their name to the New York Spenders or the Bronx Bankers and just leave everybody's free agents alone for one season.
7. I wish Al Davis would hand the keys to the Raiders over to someone a little more aware of what is going on in the 21st century as it pertains to football. The only thing consistent in Raider land is the leg of Janikowski.
8. I wish sporting event ticket prices would fall from the stratosphere where they currently reside and put Joe the common fan back in the seats. Too many players who play games meant for boys don't appreciate how much they are getting paid and their collective sense of entitlement is spoiling a future generation of American athletes. Housing prices have tanked 30-40%, maybe it is time for ticket prices to follow suit.
9. I wish the BCS would finally fall on the sword and a playoff system would take root in college football. Then the pundits and so called experts couldn't rob teams like Boise State of a chance for a national title after going 14-0. Most of the dogs have roared during the college bowl season, and the phrase "Any given Saturday" is especially true in the college game. Let the teams decide who is national champion.
10. Last but not least, I wish coach Mike Leach the best in finding new employment. Maybe, I can convince him to return to Finland and coach with me next season. Leach once coached the Pori Bears in western Finland several years before his stint with Texas Tech. In truth, Leach has probably had more impact on the college game over the last 10 years than anybody other than Urban Meyer. His spread offensive schemes have influenced coaches all over the country and he has been proven that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I don't believe any QB's actually go under center in the Big Ten conference anymore, so Leach's methods and principles have taken root all over. Leach is certainly a quirky individual as well as an unconventional coach. He put the wrong "entitled athlete" in the shed that day. I don't necessarily agree with his methods, but his firing smells funny to me.
Happy New Year and Lights Out!
Monday, December 28, 2009
You Play To Win The Game
If you are a football fan, you might recall the very words that serve as the title for this posting. This phrase was popularized by ex Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards a number of years ago. The phrase is often replayed on sports shows and even used as fodder in commercials. The phrase stands out there like Allen Iverson's famous "Practice... Practice... we're talking about Practice"... or even better Coach Jim Mora's best known sound byte from the distant past "Playoffs!.... Playoffs!"... In any case, these infamous words uttered by Coach Edwards are my battle cry as we enter the stretch run of the NFL regular season. You see, I am not a big fan of coaches who decide to rest players in preparation for the post season. I have seen several teams, most notably, the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles practice this approach in recent years. For the record, these teams have a combined 1 Super Bowl victory in the Peyton Manning/Donovan McNabb era. In my opinion, this approach is the first cousin of the prevent defense, and we all know what the prevent defense is famous for. In case you don't, the saying goes that the prevent defense is great at PREVENTING a team from winning! Before I go any further, let me explain the reasons for my opinion. First of all, great offenses run like high performance cars. They are more effective out on the track than sitting in the garage. Next reason, great players love to compete. It is often said that November is for pretenders and December is for contenders. Players love to compete and they should be allowed to go out and earn the big money they are being payed to play the game. Reason # 3, losing a game puts a bad taste in your mouth, no matter what the situation. Positive feelings, emotions, and energy is associated with winning and for good reason. When you lose, the feelings turn into self-doubt, less confidence, and all the other negative baggage that comes with getting a big L in the loss column. The feelings associated with losing are contagious and once the trend starts, it can be hard to break the cycle. Finally, the idea of worrying that your best players will get hurt is way overblown and short-sighted. Players get hurt. It is part of the game. By playing guys for only a series or two or even a half, coaches are sending the wrong message. In my opinion, this very practice puts more focus on injuries and tends to have the effect of "putting the brakes on" your best players. Players who approach the game with worries about getting hurt often get hurt. In fact, I believe taking a handful of talented starters off a starting unit actually increases the chances of other starters having a greater exposure to injury. There are no guarantees when it comes to injuries anyway. I have seen players hurt themselves during pre-game warm-ups, jogging across a parking lot, or slipping in the shower. I have a great respect for coaches like Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell, but I believe their ultra conservative approach has hurt their football teams in the past. I liken it to running a marathon and having a great lead through the first 23 miles. Then all of a sudden, you decide to walk the next two miles so you don't get hurt. Then, towards the end you try and sprint the last 1.2 miles and hope nobody catches you in the process. I don't think this is a very sound strategy. My personal opinion is that the Colts are going all the way this year whether they sit Peyton and his mates or not. The decision to just let them play would surely take a lot of pressure off this team. Many people are talking about this idea of a perfect season. Is it or is it not important? That is not the focus for me. Playing your very best players, and preparing them to play their best and give maximum effort are the key factors for me. Perhaps Coach Edwards said it best and I couldn't agree more, "You play to WIN the game."
Lights out.
Lights out.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
One more till 40 !
My postings have been rather limited over the past few weeks. The buzz and activity of the holiday season has left me a bit sidetracked. I meant to post on my experience of attending my first Army/Navy football game last week, but the family cat got sick and "life happened." We dished out nearly $2700 to get our feline friend back to health. He isn't out of the woods yet, but is making steady progress after last weeks surgery. The other big event of the week was the big storm to hit the east coast. Our location put us in the eye of the storm, so we received about 20 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. That was child's play in our former home of North Dakota. Storms of this magnitude were just a normal part of life in the plains, but they tend to shut things down here. To put things in perspective, in North Dakota our kids had to stay outside for school recess unless the temps. hit somewhere around 20 below zero. There were probably more than 40 days per winter in ND with temps. falling between 0 and -40. Here in Maryland, they have been off school for the last two days because of some snow on Saturday. Either way, I am happy to see the white stuff and look forward to the real possibility of a white Christmas.
The other big event for me was celebrating my 39th birthday yesterday. I am closing in on the big 40! I'm not sure where the time has gone since I graduated from high school back in 1989. The last ten years have really flown by. In fact, I feel like the last decade has been a blur for me. I have been a parent for ten years as well now, so I am convinced some sort of correlation is going on here.
I will close out today with a few comments/predictions about the college bowl season and NFL playoff picture.
First of all, let me say that I am still in favor of some type of college football playoff to determine a true champion. There is too much controversy and ambiguity with the current BCS system and too many teams are left out in the cold after playing perfect football during the regular season. I would be in favor of shortening the college schedule by a few games and then letting the top 12 teams settle all the arguments with a playoff. In my playoff, the top four teams would get a first round bye and teams ranked 5-12 would all play in the first round.
The NFL playoff picture is still very muddled, especially in the AFC. This should set the stage for some high drama in the final two weeks as a plethora of 7-7 teams in the AFC are still alive in the playoff hunt. That is in stark contrast to last season when the 11-5 New England Patriots failed to win enough games to make the playoffs. Either way, it looks to be a fantastic finish. Here is my prediction on the final two wild card spots in each conference. I believe the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers will snag the two wild card spots in the NFC and the New York Giants will miss out on the postseason. In the AFC, I believe the Denver Broncos will choke. In an earlier post way back in October, I said the Broncos were the most over hyped of the undefeated teams at that time. I also predicted they would falter and not make the playoffs. I am sticking to my guns on this one. I believe the two wild cards in the AFC will be the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins. It would be too easy and probably too logical to assume the two best teams from the regular season will reach the big game. However, I posted early on this season that the Colts were my pick to win it all. I will stick with that prediction as well. Here is where I will deviate a bit. I'm predicting the Saints will stumble, probably in the NFC championship game, to a more experienced team. I think that team will be the Philadelphia Eagles. Anybody who follows this blog knows I am a lifelong Steelers fan, but that other team in Pennsylvania is quietly playing some great football and gaining momentum at the right time. So there it is. My Super Bowl prediction is now official. The Indianapolis Colts will defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-26 in the Super Bowl as Peyton Manning caps off another record setting year. The only thing I see changing this outcome is the creativity and brilliance of Bill Belichick. He may still have some time to implement his well documented "video strategies" and gain an upper hand on his competition.
Lights out.
The other big event for me was celebrating my 39th birthday yesterday. I am closing in on the big 40! I'm not sure where the time has gone since I graduated from high school back in 1989. The last ten years have really flown by. In fact, I feel like the last decade has been a blur for me. I have been a parent for ten years as well now, so I am convinced some sort of correlation is going on here.
I will close out today with a few comments/predictions about the college bowl season and NFL playoff picture.
First of all, let me say that I am still in favor of some type of college football playoff to determine a true champion. There is too much controversy and ambiguity with the current BCS system and too many teams are left out in the cold after playing perfect football during the regular season. I would be in favor of shortening the college schedule by a few games and then letting the top 12 teams settle all the arguments with a playoff. In my playoff, the top four teams would get a first round bye and teams ranked 5-12 would all play in the first round.
The NFL playoff picture is still very muddled, especially in the AFC. This should set the stage for some high drama in the final two weeks as a plethora of 7-7 teams in the AFC are still alive in the playoff hunt. That is in stark contrast to last season when the 11-5 New England Patriots failed to win enough games to make the playoffs. Either way, it looks to be a fantastic finish. Here is my prediction on the final two wild card spots in each conference. I believe the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers will snag the two wild card spots in the NFC and the New York Giants will miss out on the postseason. In the AFC, I believe the Denver Broncos will choke. In an earlier post way back in October, I said the Broncos were the most over hyped of the undefeated teams at that time. I also predicted they would falter and not make the playoffs. I am sticking to my guns on this one. I believe the two wild cards in the AFC will be the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins. It would be too easy and probably too logical to assume the two best teams from the regular season will reach the big game. However, I posted early on this season that the Colts were my pick to win it all. I will stick with that prediction as well. Here is where I will deviate a bit. I'm predicting the Saints will stumble, probably in the NFC championship game, to a more experienced team. I think that team will be the Philadelphia Eagles. Anybody who follows this blog knows I am a lifelong Steelers fan, but that other team in Pennsylvania is quietly playing some great football and gaining momentum at the right time. So there it is. My Super Bowl prediction is now official. The Indianapolis Colts will defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-26 in the Super Bowl as Peyton Manning caps off another record setting year. The only thing I see changing this outcome is the creativity and brilliance of Bill Belichick. He may still have some time to implement his well documented "video strategies" and gain an upper hand on his competition.
Lights out.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A Great Time in Las Vegas
Estalita and I returned from our trip to Las Vegas earlier this week. Our 4 days in the city seemed to fly by as we stayed busy from the time our feet hit the ground until we departed on our red eye flight Sunday evening. The trip was a nice chance for the two of us to get away on our own. We also enjoyed our time with my aunt and uncle from California as well as the opportunity to reconnect with our friends Brandon and Samantha.
The one thing that always strikes me when I visit this city is the WOW factor. This WOW factor struck again on this visit. I was mesmerized by the amount of changes that have taken place on the strip just since my last visit two years ago. An enormous amount of building has taken place, including the massive City Center project, which is reportedly somewhere up in the 10 billion dollar range. This is amazing considering the present state of the economy and the fact that Vegas is usually mentioned as the epicenter of the bursting U.S. housing bubble. Some stats indicate that home values in Vegas have lost 55% in valuations over the past 3-4 years. Ouch!
We did visit some of the newer casinos such as the Wynn and Palazzo, and they certainly don't disappoint. The amount of hotel rooms and extravagant restaurants, shops, and boutiques always seem to be on the rise in Vegas and I honestly don't understand how they all survive. One clue to their survival might be the rising costs for doing anything in this city. It used to be that you could get a good dinner buffet on the strip for 10-12 dollars. Now, that cost is in the 25-40 dollar range, and there are no more 99 cent shrimp cocktails or 2.99 steak and egg breakfasts. Even the tram, which used to be free, is now 5 dollars for a single ride ticket and 30 dollars to obtain a 3 day pass. Hotel rates and show prices have especially skyrocketed. It seems that Vegas has followed the lead of most pro sports teams and aimed their marketing at big business and corporate dollars. I guess that approach is fine when people are making money hand over fist as was the case in the 90's, but I question that marketing strategy when times are tight. The other WOW factor for me continues to be the shows and the amazing amount of talent that exists in this city. Estalita and I found some half-price tickets for Phantom of the Opera, so we went to the show on Thursday night. The show was absolutely fabulous. It didn't hurt that we had 4th row seats either. The stage sets, costumes, orchestra, and singers were all first rate. We both left the show just shaking our heads and all we could say was WOW!
Other highlights of the trip for us was the Brooks and Dunn concert on Saturday night. The concert lacked the same energy as the same one we saw two years ago. Both performers seemed a little off their game, but they still provided some great entertainment. My other personal favorites of the trip were the fountains at the Bellagio and the Paris buffet. These are mainstays for me on any trip to Vegas and as usual, neither experience was a disappointment.
Here are some pics from the trip.
Ronnie Dunn belting out some tunes
Time for some fiddle
Record setting country duo Brooks and Dunn
The curtain has finally fallen on this country act of nearly 20 years
Uncle David and Aunt Meg made the trip from Fresno
Reuniting with Brandon and Samantha was a lot of fun
The whole crew at the Venetian
More Christmas decorations
The beautiful St. Mark's square in the Venetian
Brandon and I discuss buffet strategy for the day
The gondola rides are something to see in the Venetian
The amazing fountains of Bellagio
At night, the Excalibur offers that magical feel
The Lion enclosure at the MGM Grand
Here kitty, kitty
Very unique cake at a chocolate shop in the Bellagio
These treats remind me of the cafes/dessert shops in Europe
An incredible chocolate fountain we stumbled upon in the Bellagio
Vegas shines at night
Night view from our hotel room at Bally's
Another great view looking out towards the Strip from our hotel room at Bally's
Lights out.
The one thing that always strikes me when I visit this city is the WOW factor. This WOW factor struck again on this visit. I was mesmerized by the amount of changes that have taken place on the strip just since my last visit two years ago. An enormous amount of building has taken place, including the massive City Center project, which is reportedly somewhere up in the 10 billion dollar range. This is amazing considering the present state of the economy and the fact that Vegas is usually mentioned as the epicenter of the bursting U.S. housing bubble. Some stats indicate that home values in Vegas have lost 55% in valuations over the past 3-4 years. Ouch!
We did visit some of the newer casinos such as the Wynn and Palazzo, and they certainly don't disappoint. The amount of hotel rooms and extravagant restaurants, shops, and boutiques always seem to be on the rise in Vegas and I honestly don't understand how they all survive. One clue to their survival might be the rising costs for doing anything in this city. It used to be that you could get a good dinner buffet on the strip for 10-12 dollars. Now, that cost is in the 25-40 dollar range, and there are no more 99 cent shrimp cocktails or 2.99 steak and egg breakfasts. Even the tram, which used to be free, is now 5 dollars for a single ride ticket and 30 dollars to obtain a 3 day pass. Hotel rates and show prices have especially skyrocketed. It seems that Vegas has followed the lead of most pro sports teams and aimed their marketing at big business and corporate dollars. I guess that approach is fine when people are making money hand over fist as was the case in the 90's, but I question that marketing strategy when times are tight. The other WOW factor for me continues to be the shows and the amazing amount of talent that exists in this city. Estalita and I found some half-price tickets for Phantom of the Opera, so we went to the show on Thursday night. The show was absolutely fabulous. It didn't hurt that we had 4th row seats either. The stage sets, costumes, orchestra, and singers were all first rate. We both left the show just shaking our heads and all we could say was WOW!
Other highlights of the trip for us was the Brooks and Dunn concert on Saturday night. The concert lacked the same energy as the same one we saw two years ago. Both performers seemed a little off their game, but they still provided some great entertainment. My other personal favorites of the trip were the fountains at the Bellagio and the Paris buffet. These are mainstays for me on any trip to Vegas and as usual, neither experience was a disappointment.
Here are some pics from the trip.
Ronnie Dunn belting out some tunes
Time for some fiddle
Record setting country duo Brooks and Dunn
The curtain has finally fallen on this country act of nearly 20 years
Uncle David and Aunt Meg made the trip from Fresno
Reuniting with Brandon and Samantha was a lot of fun
The whole crew at the Venetian
More Christmas decorations
The beautiful St. Mark's square in the Venetian
Brandon and I discuss buffet strategy for the day
The gondola rides are something to see in the Venetian
The amazing fountains of Bellagio
At night, the Excalibur offers that magical feel
The Lion enclosure at the MGM Grand
Here kitty, kitty
Very unique cake at a chocolate shop in the Bellagio
These treats remind me of the cafes/dessert shops in Europe
An incredible chocolate fountain we stumbled upon in the Bellagio
Vegas shines at night
Night view from our hotel room at Bally's
Another great view looking out towards the Strip from our hotel room at Bally's
Lights out.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Army/Navy Football
Just got back in from Vegas yesterday and we had a great time. I will post some info. and pictures from the trip sometime tomorrow. We headed out to Philadelphia this morning to take my in-laws to the airport and then stopped at Christiana mall in Delaware to do some Christmas shopping. The nice thing about shopping in Delaware is the lack of a sales tax, so that definitely makes a difference.
The exciting news I have to report is that I have accepted a position to be the offensive coordinator at a local high school here in Maryland. I am supposed to sign a contract sometime this week and begin implementing the playbook over the Christmas break. I was really surprised to get the opportunity due to the fact that we are going back overseas next summer to coach again. I informed the head coach that I won't be available until early September, but he agreed to work around my schedule. I am really excited about getting the chance to be involved with a local high school program.
Speaking of football, Kodie and I are driving out to Lincoln Financial Field this upcoming weekend to attend the Army/Navy football game in Philadelphia. I have always wanted to experience one of the service academy games in person. I nearly went to Army to play football and my best friend from elementary school ended up having a very successful career at Navy in the early 1990's. Both of these institutions play the game the way it should be played. They have great discipline, exhibit superb sportsmanship, display integrity and honor for the game with their actions on the field, and always seem to play hard to the last whistle; no matter what the score or outcome of the game may be. I wish they would show more Army/Navy highlights on ESPN and the other large networks, so the younger generations could see the examples that these young men set. Kodie is probably too young to understand the full significance of what this game really means, but I think he can still learn something about how to compete from this sort of experience. Watch for my summary and pictures from the big game next week on the blog.
Lights out.
The exciting news I have to report is that I have accepted a position to be the offensive coordinator at a local high school here in Maryland. I am supposed to sign a contract sometime this week and begin implementing the playbook over the Christmas break. I was really surprised to get the opportunity due to the fact that we are going back overseas next summer to coach again. I informed the head coach that I won't be available until early September, but he agreed to work around my schedule. I am really excited about getting the chance to be involved with a local high school program.
Speaking of football, Kodie and I are driving out to Lincoln Financial Field this upcoming weekend to attend the Army/Navy football game in Philadelphia. I have always wanted to experience one of the service academy games in person. I nearly went to Army to play football and my best friend from elementary school ended up having a very successful career at Navy in the early 1990's. Both of these institutions play the game the way it should be played. They have great discipline, exhibit superb sportsmanship, display integrity and honor for the game with their actions on the field, and always seem to play hard to the last whistle; no matter what the score or outcome of the game may be. I wish they would show more Army/Navy highlights on ESPN and the other large networks, so the younger generations could see the examples that these young men set. Kodie is probably too young to understand the full significance of what this game really means, but I think he can still learn something about how to compete from this sort of experience. Watch for my summary and pictures from the big game next week on the blog.
Lights out.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Rain, Rain, Go Away
The rains came again today and we endured another intense bout of heavy showers. It seems to rain about 4-5 days a week here, so that has been an adjustment for us since moving here from the west. I must admit that I would gladly trade all this rain and gloom for some fresh snow. This probably sounds crazy to most people, but I am fine with snow as long as there is some sun to go with it. Of all the places we've lived, I still say Park City, Utah had the best weather. There are more than 300 days of sunshine a year. The summers are warm and dry with little humidity. The evenings are cool due to the high elevation, so summer evenings are very comfortable too.
We should encounter some clear skies tomorrow as we are off to Vegas. Estalita and I will be flying out of Philly early in the morning with a direct flight. We are meeting up with some friends and my aunt and uncle from California. We plan on catching a few shows including a concert by the country music duo Brooks and Dunn. I saw them in concert in Vegas about two years ago and it was one of the best shows ever. The show is held in a very small venue with less than a thousand seats, so there isn't a bad show in the house. This will also be our first time away from the kids for such a long time (4 days). We are a little apprehensive about this, but we know they are in good hands with my in-laws.
As far as trips to Vegas are concerned, I have lost count of how many times I have been there. Between weekend visits when we lived in Utah, stopovers on the way to Phoenix to visit Essy's parents, and driving up several times a year for supplies when we had the Aqua massage business-- I would put the count around 30-35 times. Yikes! that's a lot. You never know who you are going to run into when in Vegas. In previous trips, we have run into Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, and the rock'n'roll band KISS. Rumor has it that Tiger Woods met his latest girlfriend there. Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas!
Lights out.
We should encounter some clear skies tomorrow as we are off to Vegas. Estalita and I will be flying out of Philly early in the morning with a direct flight. We are meeting up with some friends and my aunt and uncle from California. We plan on catching a few shows including a concert by the country music duo Brooks and Dunn. I saw them in concert in Vegas about two years ago and it was one of the best shows ever. The show is held in a very small venue with less than a thousand seats, so there isn't a bad show in the house. This will also be our first time away from the kids for such a long time (4 days). We are a little apprehensive about this, but we know they are in good hands with my in-laws.
As far as trips to Vegas are concerned, I have lost count of how many times I have been there. Between weekend visits when we lived in Utah, stopovers on the way to Phoenix to visit Essy's parents, and driving up several times a year for supplies when we had the Aqua massage business-- I would put the count around 30-35 times. Yikes! that's a lot. You never know who you are going to run into when in Vegas. In previous trips, we have run into Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, and the rock'n'roll band KISS. Rumor has it that Tiger Woods met his latest girlfriend there. Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas!
Lights out.
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