Friday, November 20, 2009

Time for "Sing A Long with Colin" and your upset specials

Hi There. Its Friday and that means your upset specials, but before we go in depth on this weekends' picks. Lets take a look at some other things I've noticed this past week or have forgot to mention.
The Greenhouse Effect is a "Twilight-New Moon" free zone. An observation: This country sort of has this curiosity/infatuation with vampires and organized crime shows and movies. I'm not immune to this either. If I'm channel surfing and I find it on, I'll watch "The Sopranos." FYI- I never watched it and didn't care about it when it was on HBO. Love the theme music on the opening credits.
Kellogg's is telling us that there will be a shortage of Eggo waffles due to damage to one of its bakeries in Georgia caused by flooding. Why do I have this strange feeling during this shortage, some mentally unstable individual will make a 911 call registering a complaint to police that their favorite supermarket is out of Eggo's and something has to be done. Remember I told you that a person actually called 911 complaining there wasn't enough cookie bits in a milkshake and another person called complaining that a fast food restaurant was out of chicken nuggets.
Stop the presses! Oprah will end her talk show in 2011. Has anyone told Steadman yet? What is the book club supposed to do when this happens in 20 months? Yet another sign that the apocalypse is upon us.
If you're a loyal reader, I've written a lot about celebrities who have passed away this year. There have been many. Here's another one for the file. Ken Ober. Remote Control, the best thing I ever loved about MTV. Sorry Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra, Singled Out did nothing for me. I would love to see some reruns of Remote Control for old times sake. When I heard of Ken Ober's passing, a flood of memories came back and a couple of new age spots exploded on my arm. One of my worst nightmares will be my niece asking me one day, "Uncle Kenny, is it true that MTV actually played music videos?"
Now on to sports. 86 year old Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for giving Buffalo Bills fans the "We're Number 1" salute with his middle fingers raised on both hands. Luv Ya Blue!
I forgot to mention this, but in all the glory of the AFL throwbacks, the Tampa Bay Bucs turned backed the clock 2 weeks ago and wore their original Tangerine and Ruby Red Grapefruit unis to victory. They looked good and it brought back memories. On the other hand, "Buccaneer Bruce" on the helmet is still creepy looking and causes some children to have nightmares or seizures.
Another reason to love the NHL. How they report injuries. They keep it simple and vague at the same time. Upper body or lower body injury. Day to Day. It makes the NFL weekly injury reports and their use of doubtful, questionable, probable, most likely, out and other terms read like a masters thesis.
The New Jersey Nets are 0-12 and Lawrence Frank still has a job. What's wrong with that picture? The other thing I find interesting about the Nets they've had a rash of early season injuries. Don't you think it would make sense to call up some bodies from the Development League instead of playing with only the league minimum of 8? Yep, Nets have definitely returned to the abyss of being the LA Clippers of the Eastern Conference...Again!
College basketball's silly season is underway and I'm wondering when I'll see Syracuse or some other big conference school play the South Harmon Institute of Technology on ESPNU.
O.K. for the Upset Specials. Got to keep the momentum going after finally having a 2 for 2 weekend last time out. College upset special. I've got the PAC-10 on my mind again and its a toss up between 2 games. I've flipped the coin and it comes up the Cal Bears over the Stanford Cardinal who has a let down after thumping USC. Now for the pro upset special. Its not a great week but I have to pick one so we go with Denver at home over the Chargers. Knowshon Moreno runs roughshod through the Bolts "D"and the Broncos end that 3 game slide before their Thanksgiving night match-up with the Giants.
One last thing. If the administrations of both Notre Dame and Michigan had any common sense, they would keep Charlie Weis and Rich Rodriguez as their football coaches. Enough with the rumors and the possible Bataan death march sentence that might be coming their way.
Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Just fix the stickin' bridge will ya please!

Hi There. Well another exciting weekend has past and it had drama, entertainment, laughter and a pinch of aggravation all rolled into one.
Let us begin with the aggravating part. Saturday night I go the Phantoms game, between the monsoon weather and parking behind the bar on South Street, I was about a minute late for opening face off. So I get to my seats and two women from out of town with a youth hockey group were there. I politely explained that they were in my seats asked them to move. One of them gave me this look like I was nuts and said, "Can't you sit somewhere else, there are other empty seats in this section." I said no. Look lady, what don't you understand? You're in a season ticket holders' seats! Get out! This woman looked like and sounded like one of those people you deal with on the phone from technical assistance to whom English is a second language.
Last night was totally f---in' awesome. I went to Proctors in Schenectady and saw the "The Man" Anthony Bourdain. It was part Louis Black HBO comedy special and part Q and A session rolled into one great event. It was 2 hours of observations, opinions, and stories from the road. Right off the bat he started in on Rachel Ray, Sandra Lee, other Food Network stars, chain restaurants, vegans, vegetarians, and the Food Network who by the way just bought the Travel Channel which his tv show happens to be on. No one or one topic was off limits. He answered every question asked of him. I was smart enough not to go up to the mic and ask one. I probably would have made a complete jack a-- out of myself going jojo monkey boy nervous like and screwing the question up. Tony if you want to sell out, start selling, "No Reservations" T-shirts. Since he brought up the topic last night, here's my take on Sandra and Rachel. Sandra Lee is a Martha Stewart wanna be who just happens to be one hot looking blonde. Giada is the brunette version. When it comes to Rachel, I've got to be careful what I write. To start, I know her brother and consider him a friend. She's given a lot back to this area with her annual show at Lake George High School. She has helped our charity auctions with donations, and gone on the air with Dan and Pete. Here goes. Rachel is that cute girl who lives next door with just a touch of tomboy. If you were one kid short for a backyard game, you'd ask her to play to even out the sides. She just happens to host both a talk and a cooking show. As someone who loves to cook and is always looking to improve my culinary skills, both Rachel's and Sandra's shows are too beginner for me. I like learning the advanced stuff and the actual technical terms that chefs use.
For this past weekends' upset specials. I went 2 for 2 . In the "How 'bout them Cowboys" weekend, Wyoming came back from 21 points down in the 4th quarter to beat San Diego State and the Packers knocked off Dallas on the Indian Summer tundra of Lambeau Field.
Finally, could both New York and Vermont please just get together and fix the Crown Point Bridge? Enough with the hemming and hawing and do something! Towns on both sides of the lake are suffering economically from the closure and not one but two states are doing nothing but sit with both thumbs up their buts making excuses and a solution hasn't happened...Leccese out

Friday, November 13, 2009

Going to see "The Man" and Upset Specials

Hi There. Busy weekend of things to do and lucky for me the Giants aren't playing. It started off on a good note with my favorite college team from Piscataway NJ thumping South Florida 31-0. That got the ball rolling so now I need the Phantoms to get a couple of home wins and to cap it off Sunday night I go to Proctors to see who I call, "The Man" speak. Anthony Bourdain host of "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. He was an award winning chef in New York City, best selling writer and his show is awesome. He's not your typical host. This should be interesting.
The NFL is at it again and Brett Celek has become my favorite Philadelphia Eagle because of this. He did the "Captain Morgan" pose on national tv after scoring a touchdown. Captain Morgan's donated money to Celek's favorite charity and made another donation to a charity that helps former NFL players. As always the NO FUN LEAGUE has banned the pose and threatened fines and bodily harm to everyone who does it. Remember this league fines players for petty uniform infractions such as not enough color on your socks showing and excessive celebrations. They got Chad 85 for wearing the wrong color chin strap! You heard right, CHIN STRAP!
The sneaker and apparel company Adidas has something stuck up their tuchis. Michael Jordan's son plays plays basketball for Central Florida. Now before he decided to attend the school, he asked if he could wear his dads' Air Jordan sneakers on the court instead of Adidas which outfits the Knights. Originally there was no problem. However one of higher up stuffed shirts at Adidas found out about it and had a big problem. Well in the end nothing could be resolved and Adidas broke a 3 million dollar contract with UCF and will no longer be outfitting the school with unis and other apparel for its teams. Honestly do you think if it was any other kid but Michael Jordans' would there have been such a hissy fit? Give me a break! I remember when I was in high school and college in the 80's, there was a hoops player at Kentucky named Roger Harden. The Wildcats for a long time played in Converse sneakers, then switched to wearing Nike. Roger's dad was an executive for Converse. Believe it or not, Nike made an exception and Harden continued to wear Converse. For one shining moment, Pat Knight wasn't that much of the bridge troll that he is.
Is there anything I'm forgetting? Oh yeah upset specials. Well it's a,"How 'Bout Them Cowboys!" weekend. For the college upset special, take the Wyoming Cowboys to upset the Aztecs of San Diego State. The pro upset special takes us to Green Bay where Aaron Rodgers and the Pack beat the Dallas Cowboys. Enjoy the weekend and I have to ask Roger Goodell, "Gotta little Captain in you, Commissioner?" Leccese out.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Next time, wait to feed the horses and other observations

Hi There. Had the chance to experience something that was amazing and humbling at the same time. It was a funeral. I know you're saying, "a funeral?" In July my Uncle Al past away at 88 years of age. He was a lieutenant in the Navy. The more I've gotten to know about him, the more I've realized what a fascinating person he was. His funeral took place Monday at Arlington National Cemetery and it was a full military funeral with honors. It had a 21 gun salute, military band, and a horse drawn carriage taking the casket to his final resting place. It was classy and my uncle wanted it that way. The only draw back was the horses having to...you know...do their business along the route to his grave site. We had the option of getting in a car or walking behind them. I walked as many of my family members did. I thought it would make me depressed seeing all the tombstones and passing where President Kennedy was buried, but it didn't. I felt a sense re-affirmation about the values and beliefs this country was founded on and are still trying to uphold. I've never really spent any time in Washington D.C. and just driving around, you get a history lesson just looking through the window of the car. Seeing the dome of the Jefferson Memorial. The beauty of the three spires of the Air Force Monument and the Pentagon itself. The immense size of the Iwo Jima Memorial and the presence of the Washington Monument everywhere in the background. It is interesting that I'm writing about this experience on Veterans Day, so a big thanks to those who have served and are serving.
On to other stuff. First it was Rachel Alexandra and then Zenyatta beating up the boys, winning the Breeders Cup Classic. If Rachel Alexandra had run and won in the Breeders Cup, she would have won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. It's now Zenyatta's to lose.
Loved that one fans' sign that CBS put on screen during the Giants/Chargers game. I told you LaDainian Tomlinson, L.T. stands for Lawrence Taylor. In a sad coincidence, the Giant linebacker got arrested again. This time for leaving the scene of an accident later that night.
As for the upset specials. Another 1 for 2 week. Lost on LSU, win on the Titans.
Normally, I love to slam and mock Bristol Tech when I get the chance; but I do praise them on occasion when its justified. Today is one of those days. In celebration of their 30th anniversary, they are doing a short film series called 30 in 30. I've watched a few of them and they've all been great. Last night saw one on the life of Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder. This movie was that good. Learning about his life. He and his wife lost 3 children to cystic fibrosis. The memories of the original NFL Today on CBS with Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and Phyllis George. That was the pre-game show, before there were pre-game shows. If they re-air this short film, it's a must watch. Phyllis George still is stunning looking by the way.
Thursday night Big Brothers/Big Sisters is honoring our morning show at their annual awards banquet. So props to the boys for a job well done. Hurray for us!
I thought choosing nine football games to broadcast was hard. I just got the Foothills Council and Adirondack League Basketball schedules, both boys and girls. There's a lot of work ahead of me.
Adopt a Child has started, so don't forget to help a kid have a merrier Christmas. Your generosity always amazes me and you've never let me down.
The British soccer hooligans must have loved seeing the two videos of those women's soccer games that have gotten so much air recently. Punching, shoving, violent tripping and tackling, and hair pulling. It probably brought a tear to their eye.
I know, still no photos of me with a beautiful woman in the "Greenhouse Effect." Keep holding that candlelight vigil.
Upset specials later in the week and the countdown to seeing, "The Man" has begun...Leccese out.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Upset Specials and thuuuuuuh Yankees win

Hi There. Before we get to the upset specials an observation on the World Series. For all the folks who say the Yankees bought a title, you're right. However they are playing within the rules. Just like the players who did PED's during the late 90's and earlier this decade. There was nothing in the rules against it, but they're still called cheaters. The Yankees were the best team. Both the Yanks and Phils have problems with their bullpens. Heading into next year, the Yankees also have two of the same issues the Mets do. They need a left fielder and who should be playing behind the plate?
Now for the upset specials. For your college, I'm picking another big game this week and its in the SEC where the Crimson Tide of Alabama host the Bayou Bengals of LSU. Take LSU in this one. Now for the pro, there's not a lot calling my name saying, "pick me!" but I'm going back to well for a second time with the Tennessee Titans as they score an interconference win over the 49ers.
I'm looking forward to the Chargers/Giants game. There's only one L.T., LaDainian Tomlinson and Sunday you're playing in his house. His name was Lawrence Taylor. Hope the Giants fans remind him of that.
Manu Ginoboli swatted a bat that was buzzing fans and players at a recent Spurs game. He took shots for rabies afterwards and the mentally challenged at PETA are complaining that he committed animal cruelty. Get a life please! I'm thinking something right now, but I can't express it in this entry without the PC Police coming after me.
The Breeders Cup is this weekend and I'm going to watch some of it. The usual debate will take place over synthetic or natural main track surfaces. I prefer the natural stuff.
Lots of sectional finals taking place in high school sports and I'm not just talking about football. Soccer, field hockey, volleyball. Go and check some of it out and support the kids. Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Just call the damn play Eli! And other stuff

Hi There. Well another weekend has passed and so has the high school football season. Hudson Falls lost, so really there is no local team we cover left. Please take no offense Greenwich, Saratoga, or Ballston Spa. I'll enjoy the wait for basketball and hockey seasons.
As for the upset specials, went 1 for 2...again. Oregon thumped USC and the Eagles thumped the Giants. Now for all you Giants fans which I am one, if you want to know why this three game nose dive into the abyss has taken place, it comes down to a variety of problems. Starting with the lack of a pass rush. Everything the Giants do offensively and defensively is built around Osi, Justin, and Co. getting to the quarterback. When a good QB like Brees, Warner and McNabb gets pass protection, it exposes the Giants beat up secondary and they'll just pick it apart. As for the offense, the young receivers are holding their own, but my one gripe with Eli has always been this obsession of his to constantly change the play at the line of scrimmage pointing everywhere left and right and just barely getting it off. How can a quarterback get into any sort of rhythm when half the time he's flailing his arms pointing out things to the lineman? Get up under center and call the damm play!
Sorry UConn fans, I know the Huskies needed the win badly to help with the healing over the tragic loss of Jasper Howard, but I was very happy that Rutgers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final minute Saturday afternoon.
Oregons' uni's weren't the ugliest things I saw on the college football field Saturday. The black tops that Tennessee wore were kind of gross looking. Stick with the orange, Vols.
To all you fans of "The" Ohio State Buckeyes, please accept this piece of reality. The Cincinnati Bearcats are the best college football team from the state of Ohio this year. Most college football fans are delusional about how good their team really is anyway. Especially the fans from the south and midwest.
This weeks sign of the apocalypse comes from the supermarket where I saw chocolate covered Ritz. I'm not making this one up. To quote Andy Griffith, "Mmmmm, good cracker."
Is it true that Brett Favre played at Lambeau Field wearing a Vikings jersey? No, it can't be. Say it ain't so cheesehead fans? Must have not been paying attention. This will take awhile for me to digest.
I have no problem with the Phantoms moving their December 4th home game to Philadelphia. I thought they were going play one there anyway. Besides its Norfolk we're talking about. The Admirals rank up there with the old Newmarket Saints and Cornwall Aces (Remember them?) As a season ticket holder the options presented to us were great. It also pads the attendance figure and if you look at how other teams in the league are drawing so far this year, we're holding our own.
Personally, I'd rather see a Directv commercial with Kim Basinger doing a scene from "Blind Date" than "Wayne's World II." I must admit the ad is very funny though. Next I'd like to see Mike Myers or Anthony LaPaglia do Directv spot which uses a scene from, "So I Married An Axe Murderer." Love that flick.
New episodes of the Monday night comedies on CBS...Leccese out.