One more reason to hate Chicago and other observations

Hi There. Well the return trip from North Carolina on Saturday was a joy! NOT! As any flier knows, when there are delays at Chicago's O'Hare Airport the rest of the country suffers. I was supposed to arrive back in the area around 8pm, but ended up getting home just before midnight.
The new laptop is awesome and I've managed to hook up a printer to go with it. Now if my father could remember the password so I can use the wireless network in my home, I'll be golden. I'm the first to admit, I'm not tech savy but I'm trying to learn and come into the 21st century.
While driving to the office this morning, I tuned into Bristol Tech radio and E.K. was co-hosting the morning show with Linda Cohn. That was cool. I also have to give props to Steven A. Smith who I also refer to as "The Fresh Prince of Sports Talk." He also co-hosted with E.K. and it was a good listen.
O.K what NFL team sucked on the bigger gas pipe? The Jets or the Broncos? It doesn't matter because both Eric Mangini and Mike Shanahan got canned. As a Giants fan I'm begging Jerry Reese to do what it takes to keep Steve Spagnuolo as D-Coordinator and not let him leave for a head job somewhere.
In honor of the big day for football bowl games I'm giving you an upset special. Because I'm a fan of Big East football (Hey, somebody's got to like 'em) I'll take the Cincinnati Bearcats over the Va Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl. Speaking of Big East, how 'bout them Rutgers Scarlet Knights! 7 straight wins and a victory over NC State. I did get my niece to say "Go Rutgers!" before I left. Her cousin goes to school at NC State and she went to the bowl game in Alabama. Morgan say that to your cousin next time you see her.
If you ask me what the biggest sports story of 2008 was I'll have to go with the Tampa Rays winning the American League Championship. It wasn't the Giants Superbowl win, Eldrick the Gimp or the Celtics. Michael Phelps comes in a close second.
I making the usual New Years resolutions. You've probably attempted some or all of them. Lose weight. Eat healthier. Save money. Be more tolerant and nicer to people in general. You get the general idea
My voice is fine after calling 4 hockey games in 2 days at the Grandstanders Hockey Tournament. Thanks to "The Big Whistle" Dave Thomas for filling in while Brian was under the weather. It was great to have you back in the booth these past two days Festus.
I'm ringing in 2009 by going to bed early. SNY is replaying the Rutgers game so maybe I'll watch some of it before I go to sleep. Then New Years day I'll be tuned into the NHL Winter Classic between the Redwings and Blackhawks at Wrigley Field. Am I a party animal or what? See you in 2009...Leccese out.

The first entry from my new laptop and some upset specials

Hi There and Merry Christmas. This entry is coming to you from Cary NC where it's sunny and in the mid 60's and best of all no NO SNOW ANYWHERE! Here I am at my sisters' home typing away on my new laptop. This thing is great! I can't wait to get it home. Now for some upset specials. Even though I'm hoping they lose, I'll throw the Lions a bone and have them beat the Pack at the frozen tundra and since I didn't have one for you last week I'll double up and have the Chiefs knock off the Cincinnati Bungals .
Christmas is definitely for kids and my niece Morgan is playing with all the stuff Santa brought her. I'm discovering she likes some robot called Wall-e, animals, and fish. I also learned that 3 year olds have this reserve energy that is hard to explain. Just when you think they are dead tired, the back up battery kicks in they become wired again. They also don't eat much to attain this maximum power.
Bill Cosby once said of his parents that when they became grandparents something changed about them. He tried to explain to his kids that they were not same people he grew up with. They are only acting that way to get into heaven. My mom and dad are officially trying to get into heaven the way they respond to and play with Morgan.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday and I'll be back on Sunday...Leccese out.

Maybe I should have asked Santa for a snow blower instead of a laptop

Hi There. My back is aching and the snow is up to mid thigh. Is it too late to return the computer I'm getting for Christmas and exchange it for a snow blower? There is no amount of over the counter extra strength pain relievers to make you feel better after shoveling and clearing paths of snow when the white stuff is 30 plus inches deep. I believe the day you officially start hating snow is the day you get your drivers license. I was driving home Friday night during the worst of it fearing for my life and I found it amazing that those semi-drivers from the Great White North are driving on the Northway like it was a pleasant summer evening. Those guys must have learned how to drive from those ice road truckers you see on the Discovery Channel. No fear in them what so ever.
Only the National Football League would penalize a player for making a snow angel after scoring a touchdown like they did yesterday to Wes Welker.
Tell the people at Reebok to bring back long sleeve football jerseys with the pockets in them to keep your hands warm. Wearing those muffs around your waist is like when you were a kid and wore a ski mask to keep your face warm. Those put an automatic bulls eye on you during a snowball fight.
First the Mets and now the J-E-T-S. Its nice to know that both former tenants of Shea Stadium (may it rest in peace) took the gas pipe this year. Speaking of Shea, here's another reason why New York State is over regulated and no fun. I saw the video of the RCA Dome in Indiana being imploded. I think Shea deserved that same sendoff. Put some weapons grade explosives in the right places and BOOM! Down it comes in no time. However New York law does not allow it. Party poopers!
I'm headed to Cary, North Carolina for Christmas which is right next to the NC State campus in Raleigh. Can't wait to drive around town with my Rutgers fleece jacket on. Bring it on.
I echo the sentiment of Dan after reading the report of the Philadelphia Phantoms possibly coming to the Civic Center in Saturdays PostStar. No Comment.
I bought a "Charlie Brown Christmas" and after watching, it can be pretty depressing. However after 40 plus years much of the message stills holds true.
Enjoy the holiday and maybe the next entry you get will come from my new laptop, unless I get that snow blower after all...Leccese out.

Welcome to the Island of Misfit Toys and other Observations

Hi There. You have 8 more shopping days til Christmas. How's it going? First I want to thank everybody who contributed, helped out, adopted children or pitched in with our Operation Santa Claus campaign. I am truly amazed by this areas' propensity for giving. Nice job everyone.
O.K. enough with the mush on to more pressing and humorous things.
The Giants have dropped their last two including the upset special I gave you. They can't win without Brandon Jacobs in the lineup. The big guy not playing against the Cowboys exposed the offensive line. Also Sal Pal at Bristol Tech had an interesting observation regarding Big Blue. Last year Eagles d-coordinator Jim Johnson found the clink in the Patriots armour and he's done it again this year with the Giants. How come no one has interviewed this guy for a head job in the NFL?
Sam Bradford won the Heisman. Fine, but how could Graham Harrell from Texas Tech not be included?
So Arena Football decided to suspend operations for the 2009 season. That's like if a tree fell in the woods and no one was around, would anybody hear it?
Watching the Buffalo Bills snatch defeat from the jaws of victory Sunday against the Jets reminded me of the Pisarcik to Csonka hand off 30 years ago at Giants Stadium.
Got to give the Dallas Stars credit for severing the ties with Sean Avery. How come no women's groups are applauding this decision? As much as I hate to admit it, the commercial the NHL is running for the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on January 1st is great even with Bob Costas' voice on the tag. I may have to rescind my earlier decision and watch some of it after all.
One job I'm glad I don't have. Head coach in the NBA. Reggie Theus got the ax as the Kings head coach and that makes already 6 coaches given the ziggy. I'm surprised that Nets head man Lawrence Frank hasn't been among them.
I've been trying hard, but I just can't get into this season of "Top Chef." Sorry Tom Colicchio. If there is any consolation, I still read your blog every week.
I've read where vandals in LA are defacing the movie poster for "Marley and Me" with "The dog dies." These same people probably defaced posters for "Titanic" with "The boat sinks." A Charlie Brown Christmas is on tonight, which is my favorite animated holiday special... Good Grief, Leccese out.

Greetings from the Winter Meetings and other random thoughts

Hi There. To quote my good friend John Pratt who works on the sister station, "Yeah, I'm a slacker." Normally I'd give you a Monday entry, but to be perfectly honest with you, I had nothing. Well 3 days have past and I do have something.
We'll start with baseball's winter meetings. I don't know what to make of the Mets signing of Francisco Rodriguez. Is Omar Minaya brilliant for getting him at a reduced price or frugal after what the Yankees overpaid for C.C.Sabathia? There really hasn't been much action at the winter meetings. A couple of trades here and there. The biggest fear I have is with the lack of movement, you wonder if Don Fehr and the players association are planning to cry collusion against the owners again.
The economy must be suffering if the NFL is laying off employees. Did you hear about Arena Football? There are rumors it's going belly up.
Some advice to Syracuse University. After what happened at Rutgers Wednesday if you're unable to lock up Turner Gill as your new football coach, I'd put in a call to Greg Schiano to see if he's interested. A witch hunt has begun in Piscataway NJ and I have this feeling Coach Greg is next in line. Letting Bob Mulcahy go was a mistake of gigantic proportions.
I wish everybody would get their hands out of the bail out cookie jar. The U.S. auto industry has no one to blame but themselves. My American model SUV is just about paid off and the next vehicle I intend to purchase won't be from the Big 3 unless they make one that really blows me away.
Now for an upset special. The Giants are underdogs against the Cowboys so lets take Big Blue on the road in Dallas as they rebound from the loss to the Eagles.
Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Sean Avery doesn't get it and other random thoughts

Hi There. There's nothing better than heading into a weekend than having your favorite college football team win on national television 63 - 14 like Rutgers did last night. That was sooo sweet. Moving on to other things.
Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars decided to join Plaxico (or should I call him Harris Smith) and LeBron in the just plain stupid club. Its nice to know his breakup with Elisha Cuthbert was so amicable. Gary Bettman gave him a 6 game suspension, I would have given him 10 for those comments. By the way Shaun Ellis of the J-E-T-S should thank Plaxico because unbeknown to most of us; while Plax shot himself, later that morning Mr Ellis was caught with some Acapulco Gold in his car by a NJ State trooper. One last word on Harris, I mean Plaxico. When did sweatpants become fashionable to wear in a night club?
We've got some upset specials to run by you and we still have college games going on. I've decided to stay away from the conference championship games and give you a regular season match-up in our 50th state. Take the Rainbows of Hawaii over the Cincinnati Bearcats. For the pro upset special, I like the Redskins on the road in Baltimore to beat the Ravens.
I want to thank everyone again for your support of the Adopt A Child program. If you read Dan's blog, I've been helping transport gifts over to the GF Police Department. If I see another skateboard, I'm coming after Tony Hawk. The other thing you gotta like is those noise making toys with the batteries already in them. One slight move and it sets them off. Those things can drive a person nuts.
I love those holiday commercials for Lexus, but I'm waiting for one with a kid getting the Flexible Flyer sled. That was my bestest present of all time.
High School basketball starts Tuesday night on WWSC. Hudson Falls at Glens Falls. Can't wait. I'm curious to see if high schools will adopt the new men's 3 point line they use in college. Also I've noticed that some of the early season games have experimented with playing 16 minute halves instead of the usual four 8 minute quarters. I'll ask around and let you know what's going on. Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

We Need more Myron Rolles in the world and other Weekend Observations

Hi There. Lets see there's still some turkey and stuffing leftover and Giants are 11-1, not a bad way to start December? O.K. onto the serious stuff. Well my high school won its annual Thanksgiving match-up and the Cowboys beat the Seahawks. I don't think Mike Holmgren ever imagined his farewell tour to be this bad. There was a lot of bad football on Thanksgiving Day. It started with the Lions and snowballed into an avalanche. Cowboys/Seahawks and Eagles/Cardinals were not worth the price of admission and then if you're a college fan, boy that Texas/Texas A@M game was another real stay awake type game.
Who is dumber, Plaxico Burress or LeBron James? It's a toss up. Obviously Plax missed that how not to emulate PacMan Jones film and lecture at training camp. If I were Jerry Reese, I would call Plax's bridge troll of an agent Drew Rosenhaus right now and get tell him to get his behind up here and make sure Drew is begging for mercy on his hands and knees. I hope Mr.Burress likes the color orange. He maybe starring in another remake of, "The Longest Yard."
Now for LeBron James. Look, we all know Charles Barkley is no candidate to be the president of the Mensa Society. However if I'm picking sides to play Trivial Pursuit, I'm taking Barkley on my team. This just shows how pathetic the NBA is. Teams are clearing cap space for 2 years away so they can be a player in the LeBron, Chris Bosh or Dwayne Wade sweepstakes. It is that sad. LeBron, please shut up, you're a cancer to the NBA anyhow.
The other day I was taking stuff to the landfill when I found and decided to sell some of my old hockey gear at one of those consignment shops. My shinguards, elbow pads, and chest protector hopefully will find a good home.
This past weekend was the first since the middle of August that didn't include high school football whether it was watching a practice, scrimmage or calling a game.
After hearing about the fights, stabbings and tramplings at stores throughout the country on Black Friday, there is no flat screen, high def TV, computer, or other home electronics item worth it no matter how much is being saved. I remember the riots 25 years ago over Cabbage Patch Kids. It was not a pretty sight.
Finally a good sports story to talk about. If you want to root for someone, may I suggest football player Myron Rolle from Florida State. You see he wants to be neurosurgeon. His goal is to help with vaccinations in third world countries. He finished his undergraduate degree in 2 1/2 years. He's a Rhodes Scholar. He was willing to miss an important game so he could be there for his final interview and the announcement of the scholarship recipients. He could also play in the NFL if he wanted to. My advice to Myron is to meet and talk with Bill Bradley, the former senator from New Jersey and New York Knick. He did both, and so can you. We need the ESPN's, the Fox Sports or any of these networks to do more stories about the Myron Rolle's. I know there are more like him out there...Leccese out.