Friday, December 31, 2010

Saying Farewell to 2010 and the final batch of Upset Specials

Hi there. Well here we are on the verge of another new year and the chance for some renewed optimism. We'll start with the final edition of "Opie's Upset Specials!" Yup this is last batch as this is the final week of the NFL regular season. So far 2 for 3 with wins for Syracuse and the Bengals, Giants took the gas pipe and we have one unknown since Notre Dame won't play til later today. For this final week, another 4 pack. Pro pick one, Browns over the Steelers in Cleveland. Pro pick two, love the Dolphins who are 6 and 1 on the road but only 1 and 7 at home to beat the Patriots in Foxboro. Two Bowl Picks: TCU over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl and Michigan State over Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.
This was the first year in a long time that WWSC didn't broadcast any Grandstanders hockey and there was a good reason. Location, location, location. If the games were at the Civic Center we would have tried to do at least one day, but with the Phantoms home, the games were at the Rec Center. Besides being cold, the Rec Center is a logistical nightmare. With all the technological advances, you still can't get cell service in the building. That's a big strike against us broadcast wise. The occasional home game is O.K., but having to spend between 5 and 6 hours for the two games we would normally do is tough.
I want to comment on Brett Favre, but this is a Jenn Sterger free zone.
Heading back to the chiropractor for some treatment on my back, which is acting up again.
I didn't comment on this last week, but what am I gonna do on Saturday mornings when I get off the air at 9am and head home or to the gym for combat class? This weeks sign of the apocalypse came when I heard the news that my favorite personality on Bristol Tech radio, Erik Kuselias is leaving for of all places The Golf Channel. E.K. gonna miss you. Why couldn't you stay and permanently replace that guy who starred with Zach and Slater on "Saved by the Bell, the College years" who co-hosts the morning show. Oops, my bad, wrong Golic.
Note to Rob Botruck, voice of the Phantoms. When you go over the pronunciations of players names with Dan before the game, also go over the names of the ref and linesmen. You butchered one real bad Wednesday night.
Why would anybody want to drop Nicole "Snooki"Polizzi enclosed in glass ball to ring in the New Year? That's crazy. Dropping her on her head to ring in the New Year, now that I would pay good money to see that happen.
I've made my resolutions for 2011 and they are the usual. Lose weight and eat less and healthier. Save more money. Golf more. Make time to visit my family more often then just seeing them at funerals or weddings. Head down to South Carolina and relax for a couple days at the family compound on Fripp Island, and one more. I'm gonna try harder to ignore the people and stuff that surrounds me that drives me insane and not comment about it. Just keep my mouth shut, put my nose to the grind stone and work just a little harder and not be distracted.
Finally thanks to all you loyal readers for overall another good year. "The Greenhouse Effect" is just another diversion from life's daily grind. Looking forward to another crazy, up and down 2011 and hope you can join me on the e-ticket ride...Leccese out

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Skyping Christmas, Upset Specials and other stuff

Hi there and Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Joyous Festivus and Holiday Salutations from the home office in Chestertown. First up on this Christmas Day is a stocking full of Upset Specials. 1 for 3 last time out with both the Vikes and Navy losing and the Jets winning. All right this week got a 4 pack for you. Two pros and two bowl games. Bowl game picks. Like K-State over the 'Cuse in the Pinstripe Bowl and the Golden Domers of ND over Miami in the Sun Bowl. For the pros, I haven't used my Giants upset special yet, so I'll take 'em over the Pack at Lambeau. My second pro pick is the Bengals knocking off the Chargers at home in Cincy.
I've made many strides in embracing technology this year. Got a new cell phone and I now text and take pictures using the phone. Bought a new car with sensors everywhere, I even managed to transfer points from 2 old Subway cards to a new one. Impressed yet? Now its Skype. My folks are in NC at my sisters and we are doing Christmas this year using video hook up on the lap tops. This thing is totally cool. What's next, we'll figure that one out at a later date. I guarantee it is not gonna be Facebook, so don't get any ideas.
I'm still trying to figure out what really happened in the last 8 minutes of the Giants/Eagles game. Did the Giants suddenly play that badly or did the Eagles all of sudden play that good and were toying with Big Blue the whole time?
Did we really need to see Rex Ryan and his wife on video talking about foot fetishes? How does this stuff show up and where do they find it? It would have been a lot funnier if Tom Coughlin was the one caught on a video with his wife. Since it is Rex Ryan, just seems like another normal day at the Jets offices down in Florham Park.
It's nice to know that the Mets are flying so well under the radar this off season that Norad and the Defense department can't detect them.
Let me get this straight. So these kids from Ohio State will be suspended for 5 games next year for selling and trading stuff they got for playing and winning in various games. They the traded stuff for services at a tattoo parlor! Body art for Christ sakes! Pathetic if you ask me. About 20 years ago, Rick Telander wrote a great book about college football called, "The One Hundred Yard Lie." I might have to read it again.
One more college note. A couple of Mississippi State basketball players got into a fight with each other in the stands watching another tournament game in Hawaii. I saw the clip and I don't whether to laugh or shake my head at it all.
No matter how much layering you wear and how warm you may think you may be, the Glens Falls Rec Center is one freakin' cold building to watch and broadcast a hockey game from.
Its been a couple of years since I last saw him, but when Joe Patterson's picture was shown in the Post Star upon the announcement of him becoming Phantoms coach earlier this week, I didn't even recognize him. I thought he looked kind of like one my co-workers who works Saturdays and no it is not Chip or Gonzo.
Enjoy your Christmas and Boxing day...Leccese out.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday Brunch, Upset specials and some random thoughts

Hi there. Shopping is all done, and I'm just enjoying some scrambled eggs and toast while killing time til the Giants/Eagles game. First order of business. Upset specials. Went 1 for 2 last week. Lost on the Da Raiders, won on da Dolphins. O.K. now for this weeks selections 2 pro and bowl game. First choice, Jets over the Steelers for no reason than they've never won in Pittsburgh, and there is a first time for everything. Well almost everything. Second upset special. Vikings over the Bears Monday night and the only reason why is they are playing that game at home outdoors. The way the Vikes used to play them. Now for a bowl pick. Navy over San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday.
In looking over the bowl match-ups. Utah and Boise State who have 3 losses combined will play against each other in the Las Vegas Bowl Wednesday night, while a 7-5 Michigan team gets a New Years Day trip and a million dollar bowl pay off in the Gator Bowl against 8-4 Mississippi State. Huh?
Yes, I'm thrilled that the home game the Vikings will be playing at the University of Minnesota is outdoors. I think its great. And what's even better is they will be having their 50th anniversary celebration as well. The best cold weather team of all time was the Bud Grant coached Vikings of the late '60's and '70's.
I want to know the guy who went to a Las Vegas sports book and placed a crazy bet that a rookie quarterback from Fordham would make his first NFL start before Tim Tebow. He's a rich man now.
Note to all the Tim Tebow naysayers. Does the name Doug Flutie mean anything to you?
The UConn Huskies womens basketball team will play against Ohio State and try to tie the UCLA mens record of 88 straight wins. On any level that kind of streak is legit.
If Michael Vick is in so much debt, how come he managed to save enough money to buy a 90 thousand dollar Porsche as a gift for his finace and not tell the people he owes he did it.
Last Saturday 112 thousand fans crammed into Michigan Stadium to watch an outdoor college hockey game. You think that the NHL might be able to add 50 thousand temporary seats to Heinz Field for the Caps/Pens game on January 1st.
Last Saturday I also watched not one, but two must see sports documentaries. First up was "Lombardi" on HBO. Unbelievable. The second was on ESPN. I'm not calling them Bristol Tech this time. The 30 for 30 film "Pony Excess" on the SMU Mustangs of the 80's was just phenomenal! Yes, both of those films were that good!
So the Big Ten(who will soon have 12) is thinking of not naming its two divisions "Legends" and "Leaders" after all. I was listening to the radio the other day and someone suggested the "Bo" and "Woody" divisions. Sure, I'm all in favor but only if Michigan plays in the "Woody" division and Ohio State is in the "Bo" division. My sick, perverted mind loves that one. Besides when I think of the name Bo, Schembechler doesn't come to mind first. The last names of Jackson, Diddley and Duke are ahead of him on my list.
I wonder if HBO is having second thoughts of doing that "24/7" series on the Outdoor Classic now that the Caps have lost 8 in row.
This weeks sign of the apocalypse. The NHLPA has named Don Fehr as its new executive director. I'm convinced that Don Fehr, to get even with all the kids who picked him last all those years ago is trying to ruin all of pro sports. First he messed up baseball and now he's getting his grimy little fingers into hockey. I would never call for a lockout or not play a season, but I were Gary Bettman, I would definitely consider it now that Don Fehr is leading the players.
The Phantoms finally win 2 in a row and the Christmas break comes and they don't play for a week! Talk about bad luck.
Finally, I thought it couldn't get any worse than Train's "Hey Soul Sister." It has and it comes in the form of a song by the Plain White T's called, "Rhythm of Love." Leccese out

Friday, December 10, 2010

Upset Specials and my thoughts on Jimmer Fredette

Hi there. Well its two weeks til Christmas and excitement of the "Hometown Classic" has died down a few decibels. More on the game later. Upset specials first and it was another 0 fer last weekend. Nebraska...loser. Florida State...loser. Last but not least Panthers...loser, but at least it was close. Now for this weeks. 2 pro for you loyal readers since the college season is over except for the bowl games. First pick, Da Raiders over Jacksonville. Last time I picked Oakland in an upset special, it was reluctantly, well they "reluctantly" put up 59 on the Broncos in that game. This time its a lock. Second upset special. The Dolphins over the Jets.
As much as I enjoyed seeing Rex Ryan humbled Monday night, as a Giants fan who has seen his team get humbled not once, but twice at home by the Titans and Cowboys the true test of how good the Jets are will be how they get off the mat against Miami. Games like that happen. Its happened to the all the so-called "good teams" this year. Your team is 9-3 Jets fans and look who you've lost to. Ravens, Packers and Patriots. All play-off caliber teams!
Honestly Yankee fans, did you really think that Derek Jeter wasn't going to re-sign? You know they were gonna get the deal done. Didn't you?
Sorry Colin Cowherd, I disagree with you that Yankee/RedSox hot stove news and signings are good for baseball.
Sylvester Stallone will be inducted into the boxing hall of fame for his contributions to the sport with the "Rocky" movies. People are in an uproar. Why? They should also induct Robert DeNiro and "Raging Bull." Even baseball's stuff shirts lighten up and allow contributions to the sport in their hall. John Fogarty's song "Centerfield" was given that accolade this year. I stopped being interested in boxing when Mike Tyson hooked up with Don King and his downward spiral began.
If the Islanders played the Phantoms, who do you think would win? Think about it.
Now for thoughts on Jimmer Fredette. He's a great kid who's got his head on straight. Covering and broadcasting Glens Falls basketball games his senior year was like covering a bunch of rock stars. If Glens Falls was playing, the gym would always be packed. Home or away. I even criticized him for one dumb play. It was in the state championship game against Peekskill. Jimmer had the ball with 17 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. He didn't milk the clock down to 10 seconds before making his move and shot. Threw up a 3 with time left and missed. Peekskill would get the rebound and make a shot before the buzzer went off. 4 point swing right there. I remember talking to him after one game and the amount of "Player of the Game" plaques he got over the 4 years from us could probably fill up all of the wall space of a small apartment. We were joking around and I said to take one with him to BYU so he wouldn't forget us. I also said it should be a football plaque because he was one heck of a tight end and linebacker. He was that good of an athlete. I didn't go Wednesday night. I watched at home. Dave Strader was calling the game and the chance to hear him do play by play was worth driving home for. I thought the game was good. I think it would have been nice for the Glens Falls band to be wearing BYU t-shirts and playing all of their stuff they do if the game was being played in Provo. One more note. With the charity auction taking place, I'm gonna miss the 2 by 4 that Jim Duggan signed for us. It's been in the office that I share with Dan and Mikey since last March when I did the appearance. I think Clay even put it on the payroll and signed it up for the 401K program. Its been around that long...Leccese out.

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Doctor is in and Upset Specials

Hi there. Well the best news in a long time was the return of Dan to his post next to Cloutier on the morning show. I don't know how he does it for such a long period of time? The radio station has been like a sports teams' disabled list. One person goes on and as soon as they're healthy another takes his or her place. Dan is back, but Dave Thomas is on the shelf again with his knee acting up. Mikey has been sick, Pete's battling respiratory problems, and D.A. is always complaining about something being wrong with him. I might be the healthiest of them all and I'm popping glucosamine pills like M@M's for my sore knees.
Upset special time. Last weekend was a total loss. 0 for 3. Michigan, the Carolina Panthers and my CFL pick were all losers. This week here we go. Another 3 pack. Two college and one pro. Big 12 Championship game. Go with the Nebraska Cornhuskers over the Oklahoma Sooners. In the ACC title game put the ranch on the Florida State Seminoles over the Virginia Tech Hokies. Pro upset special. I like the Buffalo Bills beating the Minnesota Brett Favre's.
Would the so called tape head "experts" at Bristol Tech have their lips surgically removed from the buttocks of the SEC and Big 10 conferences please! Enough already. I want to throw up. How come nobody says that the Big East is really competitive this year? So they don't have any teams in the top 25. All they do slam the conference saying they don't deserve a spot in a BCS bowl. I would like to take the 2 by 4 I got from Jim Duggan and knock some sense into Herbstreit, Corso, and the rest their cronies on Game Day. When the Big 10 or SEC is having a down year, its because the conference is really tough. Not the Big East though. They say the conference sucks.
Who cared about LeBron James returning to Cleveland anyway. We're talking about the NBA people!
I actually watched with interest the announcement of where they'll play the Soccer World Cups in 2018 and 2022. And you thought I didn't like soccer. I was actually disappointed that the U.S. lost the 2022 bid to Qatar.
I thought the Phantoms would be bad, I didn't think they would be this bad!
There's something wrong when the Yankees decide start being fiscally responsible and have chosen Derek Jeter as the first contract to try it out on. They must have forgotten about Carl Pavano and A.J Burnett.
Get ready Glens Falls, Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars are coming to town!..Leccese out.