Thoughts of giving thanks and upset specials

Hi there. Well I survived another holiday unscathed. My giving of thanks later on. Upset specials first. Last week another 1 for 2 weekend. Win on Oregon State, lose on the Broncs. Now for the this weeks'. In the alternate universe known as, "Leccese Bizarro World" tomorrow's Michigan/Ohio State game would end in a scoreless tie with no overtime. Well in the real world someone has to win. My college upset special is the Wolverines knocking off those annoying Buckeyes. Now for the pro, some interesting match ups and for some unknown reason I like the Panthers over the Browns. Plus one more for you. In honor of the Canadian Football League final this weekend its the, "Pete Tobey" upset special. Love the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the Montreal Alouettes. Pete is the high school football writer for the Post Star and he does a great job. He also happens to be a CFL fan like me. Sorry about your Stamps, Pete.
Here was the only football score I truly cared about yesterday. Middletown South 20, Middletown North 7. Go Eagles!
There's a part of me would love to make the trip the Hartford on Sunday to see the Phantoms play against the team formally known as the Hartford Wolfpack now known as the Connecticut Whale.
I've been asked by family members what I want for Christmas this year. I've said nothing. There is nothing I really want or need.
I kind of felt sorry for the Mets. On the day they announce Terry Collings as their new manager, the Yankees still managed to steal the back pages of all the NYC tabloids over the Derek Jeter negotiations. If I were the Metropolitans, let 'em have it and just go about your business under the big radar that is the Bronx Bombers. Fix the ship Sandy, and win some games. Then they'll notice.
I know its been a year since Eldrick's fall from grace, so please stop harping on him for not really telling us the truth. It's nobody's business but his.
If there was a mental condition called, "clinical frustration" I'd be the poster child for it and visit a therapist and ask for prescription medication with minimal side effects to combat the malady.
Everybody has been asking me what's going on with Dan. Here's what happened. We'll all know about his high blood pressure scare. Well the combination of the medicine he's been taking along with the stress involved affected him to the point where it made him ill and he needed to take some time off. He's been feeling a lot better and is this close to coming back. Trust me, we all miss him. I found a photo of the two of us that was taken 20 years ago horsing around on the ice after a Redwings game. We weren't making a lot of money and we didn't know any better. There are moments when I think I was better off then, than I am now as I look out at the 25 thousand dollar SUV I bought 3 months ago and I go over my 401K with my Dad.
Finally, I'm thankful for an understanding family and group of friends who make me feel like I belong, although in most cases I don't. I'm thankful that in a time where the economy is down and hasn't yet rebounded, the company I work for has bucked the trend and been successful. I'm also thankful to live in a country although far from perfect, is better than an overwhelming majority of the places. Remember this quote from Phil McConkey, "The Grass is always greener my a--." Leccese out.

Love handles don't help my putting and Upset Specials

Hi there. It's another Friday and that means "Opie's Upset Specials." Last week 1 for 2. Syracuse knocked off my boys from Piscataway on a last minute field goal and the Patriots won thumping the Steelers in the 'Burgh. As for this weeks, your college upset special has the Oregon State Beavers defeating the SoCal Trojans in LA and as for the pro, I'm liking the Broncos over the Chargers.
After watching the Giants/Cowboys mess (and boy was it a mess!) you'd think that after spending 1.6 BILLION dollars to build a new stadium the Giants and Jets could have hired a decent electrician to keep the lights on or the greatest groundskeeper to have a grass field instead of this pro-turf crap that is popping up everywhere.
I think its kind of neat that Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field are hosting college football games this weekend.
I love this controversy over Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars. As long as the public gets to vote, you know the worst dancer won't always be kicked off the show. It's like when fans get to pick the All-Stars in baseball and basketball.
For a country that fought for its independence from a monarchy almost 240 years ago, why did NBC do an hour long special on its "Dateline" show about the engagement of Prince William?
This week sign of the apocalypse. Schools are banning cupcakes from being brought into class when a kid celebrates his or her birthday. It promotes childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is caused by parents who don't tell their kids to go outside and make them run around and play instead of being on cell phones or playing video games. It's also caused by lack of portion control, and the convenience of eating at a fast food restaurants a majority of the time. We love to blame everyone and everything for what's wrong with kids. It starts with the parents.
Finally a quick thought on some news from the PGA tour. First Eldrick the gimp is now on Twitter. Also some thoughts from John Daly who had surgery to lose weight. He blames his new found skinniness on his putting troubles, claiming the love handles gave him a spot to put his elbows which helped his putting. Funny, no matter what weight I've been at, my putting has never been affected. It just sucks whether I'm skinny or a few pounds over...Leccese out.

Upset Specials

Hi there. With Dan being out sick its been a crazy week and when he returns, I'll bring back the "A" material. But for now I'll hit on two things "Opie's Upset Specials" and the Phantoms. Upset specials first. Last week when 1 for 2. Won on LSU over Alabama and lost on the Bills. College upset special. I've decided to use my once a football season Rutgers upset special this week and they are home dogs to the 'Cuse. They haven't played at home since the Eric LeGrand injury. This week they lay it all on the line and take out all the pain and tears against the Orange. Now for the pro, take the Patriots on the road in Pittsburgh over the Steelers. This should be one heck of a football game.
Now for my take on Greg Gilbert firing. I know the overwhelming majority of fans wanted him gone because the team was under performing. Congratulations either the genie in the bottle granted your wish or Santa Claus came with an early Christmas present. This team isn't very good to begin with. When it comes to prospects, the Flyers are ranked in the bottom third among NHL teams. Last year if you remember they traded their first round and a third round pick to Anaheim for Chris Pronger. It's hard to have a barn full of thoroughbreds when you not given any horses to fill it. One more thing before I go. Stop your whining about their not being a coaches show! Doing one is not on the job description they give you when you get hired...Enjoy the weekend...Leccese out.

Upset Specials and more raking the yard

Hi there. Another rainy Friday and we kick off another compelling edition with, "Opie's Upset Specials!" We are on scary good roll having won 7 of 8 and are now 9 and 10 at the midway point of the year. Well we'll be going over the .500 mark with these two picks. College upset special first. Take the LSU Tigers over the Crimson Tide of Alabama. For the pro, the Buffalo Bills have been this close to knocking off the Chiefs and Ravens the last two weeks and I like the Bills to get there first win over Da Bears in Toronto.
Other things. We start off with politics where our new Governor elects' girl friend is that smokin' hot Martha Stewart wannabe Sandra Lee. I can see it now. Coming to the Food Network it's, "A Semi-Homemade Inaugural Ball."
I'm not making this up. A guy in Nebraska dressed as a breathalyzer machine for Halloween gets busted for driving under the influence.
Here's another good one. Victor Gradowski is being inducted into White Castle's "Cravers Hall of Fame." He achieved this dubious honor by eating at the restaurant every Friday for 4 straight years. Nice to know he set his sights high.
Got to love the city council in San Francisco. They've passed a law banning toys from being included in kids meals that are considered not nutritious. You want to know why people aren't voting? That's why. Instead of working to solve real problems like crime, budget deficits, improving education and infrastructure, our lawmakers are passing legislation banning Happy Meals. Are cracker jacks included in this law, because its a coated popcorn and peanut snack that includes a surprise for kids!
Had a McRib the other day. Still holding out hope that someday the fried apple pie will make a breif comeback too.
With no hockey or high school football this weekend, got to finish raking those leaves and white pine needles. Remember to turn back the clocks before you go to bed Saturday night and "Adopt a Child" kicks off Monday...Leccese out.

A sense of emptiness and other observations

Hi there. Well another season of high school football on the Mighty 1450 WWSC has ended. It was an interesting year to say the least. Thanks to all the coaches for the help as always. I don't have the same enthusiasm for the upcoming high school basketball and hockey seasons that I do for football season. As soon as the school year ends in June, I start thinking about the schedule of games we will do on the air and waiting in anticipation for that first practice in August.
A couple of notes on that last game we did Thursday night. Those orange numbers could be hard to see at times on the black jerseys that Schuylerville wears. I got to give Greg O'Connor credit, there was about 3 or 4 times during the game where his quarterback had me totally fooled on the ball fakes. In fact on the second play from scrimmage, the refs were fooled as well and they blew the whistle thinking the play had stopped when in fact the Schuylerville QB pitched the ball to the other back and was running down the sideline for a touchdown. I also noticed that both teams were well aware of the others' return game on kick-offs.
Another perfect 2 for 2 weekend on the upset specials. Tulsa knocked off Notre Dame and the Pack beat the Jets. so after a horrible 2 and 9 start, in the past 4 weeks I'm a smoking hot 7 for 8.
Pondering the Notre Dame tragedy. Forget about the 50 mph winds for just a second. Why was the kid 50 feet in the air in the first place? Did he really have to be that high up to film practice? Practice, we're talking about practice.
Loved the throwback unis worn by the Patriots and Calgary Flames this past weekend.
How come whenever the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium is talked about, it is often referred to as "Jerry Jones' 1.1 billion dollar Taj Mahal or football palace."? Maybe I've missed hearing it during a broadcast, but the New Meadowlands Stadium cost 5oo million dollars more to build than Jerry's place and whenever the Giants or Jets play at home I never hear the place referred to as, "The 1.6 billion dollar facility that John Mara, Steve Tisch and Woody Johnson built."
Anytime the Cowboys have a bad year like the one they are having this year, I think of my favorite Wellington Mara quote, "It's nice to see arrogance humbled."
Watching Brett Favre sadly reminds me of seeing Johnny Unitas when he played his last year for the Chargers or Joe Namath with the Rams.
My gut feeling is that the majority of Mets fans' like Sandy Alderson accepting the job as the Amazin's GM, but he won't survive in New York.
The World Series is great feel good match up between the Giants and Texas Rangers. Unfortunately feel good match-ups don't drive television ratings, which are down 25 percent.
When I go to a sporting or any event at the Civic Center, I go to relax and have a good time. I don't want to be bombarded by protesters or volunteers for candidates running for political office telling me I should support their man or woman as I'm approaching or entering the building. Take the hint. Go away!
The Civic Center had an almost too nice feel to it Saturday night. Who ever thought that any visit by the Rochester Americans would have that. I used to love when the Amerks would come and play the Redwings. A couple Booster Club buses filled with their fans and that, "We hate you and you hate us" play-off type atmosphere no matter time of year it was.
More on the Phantoms. You want to why attendance is down. A few thoughts. The team isn't very good and sorry all you Greg Gilbert haters, its not completely his fault! Also, who thought up the ticket price structure. The seats behind the goal should be the cheapest in the building, not the second most expensive. Also, could the on ice promotions people return the "Chuck a Puck" contest to between the second and third periods instead of it taking place after the game.
I like Phlex as a mascot. Anything is better than Chilly.
I hope that animal rights group doesn't get their pants up in a bunch over that clip of Zenyatta's trainer giving her a beer as part of her lunch on the "60 minutes" feature done about her last night.
We're in a economic recession and I wonder if some unions really know that.
Note to the editor of the PostStar. I'll start voting when I hear a candidate talk to me about the issues that matter to me and want to do something about them with reasonable, common sense solutions. Just like that female whom I would like to go out with, I haven't met one yet...Leccese out.