Here we go Steelers, Here we go. Pittsburgh's gonna win the SuperBowl

Hi There. Well football fans we've arrived at Super Bowl Sunday and our final pick of the year. Come on now, you honestly didn't think I was gonna pick the Pro Bowl? If you read the heading, I'm taking the Steelers to get that first ring for the other hand. I think their front 7 will make Kurt Warner's life a living hell and Willie Parker is gonna run the ball enough to open up the offense for Hines Ward and Heath Miller to have big days. My pick is and you're also getting a score. Steelers 27 - 13. This choice has nothing to do with the fact my sister went to college in Pittsburgh. It has nothing to do with the fact my brother in law and his family are from, "The Burgh." I just think the Steelers are a better team. Remember, we also said that about the Patriots last year and look what happened.
I just mentioned that my sister went to college in Pittsburgh. She's an alum of Duquesne University. Well her alma mater is not to happy with noted author John Grisham. His latest novel, "The Associate" deals with a character who attended Duquesne and was involved in a drunken rape scene that happened off campus. They feel it shines them in a bad light. The fact that Mr. Grisham even mentioned the school in one of his novels should be a compliment. Most people outside of Pittsburgh haven't heard of Duquesne. It could be worse, you could have been mentioned in "Paul Blart, Mall Cop" as the place where you know who dropped out of after only a semester.
Speaking of "Paul Blart, Mall Cop." A sequel is in the works. Now we've had two signs of the apocalypse for 2009. Kevin James is one lucky guy. On his tv show he got to have Leah Remini play his wife and now he's got a hit movie.
I received an e-mail yesterday that did not thrill me. I found out that the health club where I'm a member plans on closing the location where I work out in the next month and consolidating operations to 2 locations. Note to the owner Al. I understand the current state of the ecomony (It sucks) and you're doing what's best for business, but I wish you would change your mind and keep Queensbury open. You just don't get it and never will. Let the Queensbury location continue to be the black sheep of the family. Let the Queensbury location continue to be different and just leave us alone. I almost changed health clubs when you took over, but I stayed because of the many friends I've made and care too much about these last 8 years. I'm thinking of becoming a free agent and hiring super agent Scott Boras to represent me in my search for that special place to work out at. If you'd think I'd fit in somewhere let me know and maybe I'll take a look.
For all you Adirondack Redwings fans, tune into MSG Tuesday night. Adam Graves #9 will be hoisted to the rafters to join Giacomin, Leetch, Gilbert, Messier and Richter. Hard to believe it was 20 years ago when that puck he sent on net in game 7 against the Hershey Bears in double OT got by "Trees" Laforest and created such a roar that the seismology lab at A.C.C. thought an earthquake happened.
Mike Richter is one of my favorite people I've met doing this job. He was recently approached about running for the congressional seat vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand when she got promoted to the Senate. If you didn't know, he owns a home in Essex County and attended prep school in Lake Placid. If Mike Richter is going for it, I may just register to vote to help get him elected.
Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Dad's Outback is no fool and other meaningless thoughts

Hi There. With no football or hockey I thought it might be a quiet weekend of meditation and intellectual stimulation. Boy was I wrong! Had to run two easy errands and with my folks down south for the winter, my Dad said to drive his Subaru once a week. So I chose yesterday. I go to warm it up at 7am and move it so I could load recyclables and other assorted things for disposal at the transfer station and then go to workout. It started fine. I thought I was good to go. Move ahead 8:30. I'm ready to leave and what happens? If you guessed it wouldn't start you're right and you get to play the bonus round. So I unload everything and put it in my SUV. I get back home after my workout thinking I might have to jump the thing and it started up no problem. That car is no fool.
The other thing that happened yesterday revolved around barbecue sauce. You read right, barbecue sauce. Not just any sauce though. I've discovered this stuff in North Carolina called "Bone Suckin' Sauce." If you love really good barbecue sauce, I highly recommend it. Thinking I couldn't get it locally, I ordered it online. After my workout, I go to The Silo to pick up a couple of things and what do I see sitting on a shelf? If you guessed Bone Suckin' Sauce, you're right and now have a spot in the Tournament of Champions.
In between being outsmarted by an Outback and finding barbecue sauce, there was a hilight to my day. It happened at the place I work out. I got to take the group fitness class that I love. Nothing beats an hour of Body Combat to make you sweat, feel better, and bring out the warrior in a person. Part of the fun of taking that class are the people who take it with you. To my right was a friend who is an instructor. I hadn't seen her in a long time. We just smiled and over on the other side of the room were two other friends and we just waved. That was a bonus. Thanks Sonja.
The Leccese Curse reared its ugly head over the weekend. 3 of the 4 high school basketball teams I mentioned in Friday's entry lost. Granville was spared.
If the Professional Bowlers Tour is on television, I watch. Growing up I'd watch it on ABC Saturday afternoons and now I watch it on Bristol Tech instead of college hoops. Somewhere in heaven Chris Schenkel is smiling down on me.
Speaking of Bristol Tech. I wouldn't mind meeting someone like Linda Cohn. She know sports, likes the same teams (Rangers, Giants, and Mets) I do, and as a bonus played goalie on the ice hockey team in college. Now there's a female I wouldn't mind bringing home to meet the folks.
Did you hear about the girls high school basketball game in Texas where the final score ended up being 100 to 0. The coach has been fired and all h-e-double hockey sticks has broken loose. Since it was a Christian school that won the game, maybe the coach should explain that god told him to run up the score. That might put everyone at ease. It works for the evangelists.
I'll figure out how to get even with Dad's car while watching the CBS comedies and Bourdain tonight...Leccese out.

There's no football or hockey this weekend and some other random thoughts

Hi There. Yes Virginia, there is no football this weekend. No picks, no upset specials. No football. The NHL is in its All-Star break, so there is also no hockey. Never fear loyal readers, there is still plenty to talk about.
The Academy Awards nominations were announced and as always movies most people would never pay to see or have vaguely even heard of were nominated. This year I've heard of 3 of the "Best Picture" nominees. That maybe a record for me. When looking at the other categories, I have to wonder what the people who vote are thinking. They have this stalker like obsession with Meryl Streep and Sean Penn. O.K. I know he was Spicoli in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." I'm sorry, but I don't get Sean Penn. I should do a future entry on things I don't get. The list must be a mile long by now. Also Mickey Rourke has come back from the dead with his performance in the "The Wrestler."
I wish Governor Patterson would just make up his mind and announce his senate replacement for you know who. Now the rumor is our representative in congress is one of the front runners. I'm starting to believe that the list of qualified candidates is as long as the list of quality starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. Not very long.
Speaking of MLB, am I the only one who thinks Scott Boras doesn't realize that the economy is in a recession. What does this greedy, intellectually challenged person not understand? Manny Ramirez is not worth or going to get 25 million dollars a year for at least 3 years. Oliver Perez is not worth 15 million per year.
Note to Jeff Kent. Leave your key at the desk and don't let the door hit you on the way out. Trust me, you're not hall of fame worthy and no one is going to miss you.
Since we're into the boys high school basketball season, 4 teams have caught my attention this year so far: Ft.Ann, Granville, Hudson Falls, and Ft Edward. Honorable mentions go to Corinth and Lake George.
I got on the scale and was pleased. I'm just shy of 230 pounds. Another 30 pounds to go. Remember weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Most doctors will tell you that you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds per week. I work out between 9:30 and 11am and I have to admit I miss seeing the attractive working moms and single women who take the group fitness classes or are in the cardio room on the equipment that I use most of the time.
If you don't understand the power of the Morning Club or why Dan Miner is the man, go to CBS dot com and watch this past weeks episode of "How I Met Your Mother." Barney Stinson quotes Dan Miner. It explains a lot.
My birthday is in 2 weeks. I'm still lonely and getting even older.
Finally, a study by the Medical University of Vienna in Austria has found out that gardening just 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week can boost a man's sex drive. There's a method to my madness and the seed catalogs have arrived. Got some reading to do...Leccese out.

Super Bowl XLIII Arizona vs Pittsburgh and other thoughts of the weekend

It was either a stroke of genius or dumb luck on my part. I gave you Arizona versus Pittsburgh and I delivered. I'm leaning towards dumb luck. I thought the Eagles/Cardinals game was the better of the two championship games. Kurt Warner is only as good a QB as the receivers he has throwing the ball to. He had Holt, Bruce, Proehl and Conwell with the Rams and now Fitzgerald, Breaston, and Boldin with the Cardinals. The Steelers/Ravens was the war I thought it would be. Hard hitting, smash mouth football. Troy Polamalu is the real deal. I love doing my Mel Kiper, Draft Expert imitation to my brother-in-law Mike when I look at the Steelers draft every year and comment about certain picks. Two stick out. Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu.
In NFL coaching news, the Bucs gave the axe to "Chucky" Gruden and the J-E-T-S hired Buddy Ryan's son Rex as their new head coach. The bad news for Jets fans is they're leaning on keeping another former coach's son Brian Shottenheimer as the O-Coordinator. Message to Mike Tannenbaum. Give Junior Shottenheimer the axe so he can go to Cleveland and hang with his pal Mangini.
The first official signs of the apocalypse for 2009 occurred when "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" made 33.8 million dollars at the box office and "Hotel for Dogs" made 17.7 million.
I've got to give credit to Gonzo Gates over on the sister station for this one. I agree with him that inauguration day for President Obama can't come soon enough. Enough with the hype and the historic significance already. Just take the oath of office and get to work, President Barack. One more thing. Is this the swearing in of a new president or live from the red carpet? Every network morning show is doing features on what the new First Lady maybe wearing to the festivities. If that hasn't driven me nuts, the anticipated Super Bowl hype will officially put me over the edge.
Monday night means the CBS comedies and "No Reservations." I'll watch while trying to figure out quarterback ratings. The formula must come from the same dude who came up with the BCS rankings...Leccese out

Championship Weekend and other stuff

Hi There. You gotta love waking up to the balmy -20 degrees that I experienced this morning. It could be worse. We could be living in Saranac Lake. Now that place is cold 10 months of the year with 8 weeks of mosquito season.
There is something not right with the NFL. The late game is being played in Pittsburgh and the early game is happening in Arizona and in a dome. Just think, if you played the early game in the 'Burgh everybody would be happy cause they wouldn't be freezing as bad and you wouldn't hear Jim Nantz or James Brown saying, "Coming up after the game 60 Minutes in its entirety except on the West Coast where you'll see it in it's regular time slot." Now for the picks. NFC first. I like the Cardinals and if Anquan Bolden is playing I like their chances even more. The AFC will be a defensive war but Big Ben and the Steelers will win this one over Joe Flacco. This game won't be a blowout. You have to believe that it will come down Jeff Reed or Matt Stover kicking a field goal. With that being said, I've just opened myself up to seeing a high scoring affair. So your picks for Tampa are Arizona and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Either there's something in the water in Cleveland or the lack of pitching talent is evident in MLB when the Indians signed Carl Pavano. Cleveland now officially has 2 dumb sports teams.
Bernie Madoff is scum. This guy bilks people out of 50 Billion with a capital "B" dollars and isn't in the federal pen? He's holed up in his luxury penthouse apartment and I can't believe we can't find an intelligent person to set bail for this bridge troll. We need to lock him up with the mass murderers and suspected terrorists. No club fed for this guy. Plus his equally bridge troll of an attorney wants to plead the insanity defense. If this guy gets off and serves no jail time or has to pay back any of the money he scammed, the judge and jury who doesn't convict him should have to serve his sentence and we need to change the judicial system.
I have the utmost respect for the job that our fine law enforcement officials do. However the fine constables at the Bolton Police have lost my respect for the moment. Did you have to find Cloutier's horn and return it to him? You could have at least kept it for states evidence in some sort of case. How about aiding and abetting Bernie Madoff?
I'm returning a compliment. Dan dropped 15 pounds in his first week of Weight Watchers. Nice job. I'm proud to say I've gone through the freezer and pantry closet and gotten rid of a lot of the ice cream and snack chips that are my vices. If I keep working out and eliminating the night snacking after dinner, I'll drop those 35 pounds I want to lose.
Mike, I just read that new blog entry of yours. Funny stuff. You should be writing for Leno or Letterman.
Thanks for the jersey Festus. Stay warm and enjoy the weekend. Leccese out.

This is entry number 100 in the brief history of the Greenhouse Effect

Hi There. Lets start on a positive note. This is the 100th edition of, "The Greenhouse Effect." And the critics said it wouldn't last. I guess I proved them wrong.
O.K. on to the depressing news that being the weekends' play-off games. I though Kerry Collins had gotten over that clunker of a performance in Super Bowl XXXV. The Titans play reminded me of a Hall and Oates song. Missed Opportunities. I would like the Ravens more if Ray Lewis wasn't playing for them. Personally I think he should be O.J's cell mate in the federal pen.
Jake Delhomme put up an even bigger stinker against the Cardinals, but the Panthers as a whole didn't bother to show up. I thought the Cardinals had a slight chance to win the game. Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the NFL hands down. You can count the number of people on one hand who thought the Cards would blow out Carolina the way they did..
It took me 2 plays into the second half to morph into a stark raving mad Giants fan. They were out played, out coached and got punched in the face by the Eagles. Gilbride and Spagnoulo just had their head coaching stock drop after the game plans those two concocted. The play calling was brutal. Between not giving Brandon Jacobs the ball enough and the defense unable to sack Donovan McNabb and stop the Eagles on 3rd down. That was an embarrassment. Now onto Eli. Could you please get a play off with plenty of time left on the play clock instead of constantly pointing out the defense to your lineman?
The Steelers are a different team on offense with a healthy Willie Parker. You saw it yesterday against the Chargers. The defense didn't have to win the game by itself. The Ravens/Steelers AFC championship game will be a war.
Poor Charles Barkley. First a gambling debt and now a DUI. Did you hear who he was partying with? Michael Strahan and Jaleel White. Sir Charles was hanging with Urkel and got busted. That's just terrible, totally terrible.
One of the drawbacks to having the fans vote for All-Star games is ballot stuffing. It happened with the NHL when the Montreal Canadiens have half their roster in the game.
New episodes of "Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met your Mother" are on the tube tonight. Also Anthony Bourdain has new episodes of "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. It's gonna be a good TV night.
Congrats to Tom Rentz of Corinth and Don Landrio of Gloversville on their 300th and 400th coaching wins.
Mike and Brian are two funny individuals. I can't wait to read their next blog entries. Dan and I talk about them all the time.
The dinosaur desk top in my home has been purged of old files, taken apart and officially retired. I am now looking for a place to take it to be recycled...Leccese out

Getting back to some normalcy if there is such a thing in my world and football picks

Hi There. My immunity is up and I'm feeling better. I finally got to the landfill in Warrensburg and got rid off all that garbage and recyclables. The other thing I did was get back in the health club and start working out again. My main resolution is to lose at least 35 pounds or get my weight down to 200 pounds. I may have a high school reunion coming up this summer, so I do want to look good for it. If you saw the movie "Lucas," that was me in high school. I was Lucas. The glasses wearing, 138 pounds dripping wet weakling. Nuff bout that.
Either the Cleveland Browns are really smart or really stupid. Eric Mangini? Also I heard that Bill Romanowski applied for the Broncos head coaching position with a power point presentation. Bill Romanowski is a confirmed nut case who popped steroids and other crazy supplements like they were Pez candy and M & M's when he played.
My birthday is coming up and I'm so old and lonely.
On to some football picks. I like the Panthers, Giants, Steelers, and Ravens. Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out

Talk about being congested and other observations

Hi There. 2009 has not started out the way I hoped it would. Nothing beats a bout with the cold and flu to welcome the new year huh boys and girls? Friday night will be a fun one if you're a fan of our high school sports broadcasts. Both Brian and I are getting over being ill. Our voices are still pretty nasally sounding. Also Dan has been battling the bug too so we should get together and form the Brenda Vaccaro trio and hit the Indian Casino night club set.
Went 3 for 4 in the NFL picks with the Cardinals the lone setback. I was really impressed by the Ravens defense although they should have been penalized for 2 roughing the QB calls against Chad Pennington. I agree with the majority of Giants fans who are worried about playing the Eagles this week. When the Brian's (Westbrook and Dawkins) and Donovan McNabb are playing well, the Eagles are dangerous. If I keep hearing that this team or that team could be the Giants of 2008, I'm going slug someone.
I bought a new telephone for the house and it has Caller ID. I love that feature. Caller ID maybe one of the great inventions of our time. Now if my idiot cousin from Tennessee tries to call I can just look at the name and number and ignore it. He's that member of my family. You know the one, that one member you want to disown.
I'm going to pump some more medicine in my system now...Leccese out.

Take me out to the ice rink. Take me out to the crowd

Hi There and Welcome to 2009. The New Year was quiet except for the 3 hours I spent in front of my television watching the NHL Winter Classic. It was better than I imagined. I thought Bob Costas was great with Mike Milbury. This was the Costas than I like, not the one who has tried to morph into the late Howard Cosell. Losing Mike Emrick to a bad throat was a tough loss but our gain. Having Dave Strader call the Winter Classic. How cool was that? If they really wanted to make it special, they've should have put Panger doing color and Eddie O on the sidelines. I know I originally said I wasn't going to watch, but it was better than the alternatives. College bowl games or the Rose Parade.
Well Barry Melrose made his triumphant return to Bristol Tech and hockey coverage returned to Bristol Tech as well. I told you the two were tied into together. I think he and Matthew Barnaby will make a great team. I agree with the Coach that the next years' Winter Classic should be at Fenway Park with the Bruins hosting either the Rangers or Canadiens. Then it should go to the Rangers and the new Yankee stadium in 2011.
Would someone tell tell Joe Pa to finally bring the Nittany Lions into the 21st century and get them some new unis. I've seen high school JV squads wear better duds that Penn State. Come on. They work with Nike. Those guys would kill for the chance to update and screw up the Penn State attire. Just look what they did to the Oregon Ducks. Talk about brutally ugly. Their look is double bag ugly.
Just when you thought it was gone away, "As The Brett Favre Turns" has returned. The J-E-T-S are amazing. You win back to back games over the Patriots and Titans you're considered contenders. You lose 4 of your last 5 and the lone win was an early Christmas present from Dick Jauron and now the finger pointing takes place.
Now for some wild card weekend picks. I like the Falcons, Chargers, Ravens and Eagles.
With the Leccese family officially up to date in the computer category, I'm not the only one who got a new laptop for Christmas. Mom got one too. I've begun to slowly take apart the old dinosaur desktop in my bedroom. I've disconnected the old printer. That thing could be noisy and annoying at the same time. I've also disconnected the speakers to the system. The new printer is working fine. It has the same ink cartridges that is in the printer I mainly use at the radio station. Maybe I could get a couple extra ordered for me when R2 does the office supplies and I can sneak 'em by Mr. Ashworth. (Just kidding, Clay.)
John lent me his copy of "The Bro Code" so I think I'll catch up on my reading the rest of the weekend and I also have to make a run to the landfill. No wonder there's a line of females waiting to go out with me. Later days...Leccese out.