Monday, February 27, 2012

I didn't watch the Academy Awards show. Did you?

Hi there.  So what film did win best picture at the Academy Awards?  90 percent of the movie watching public probably didn't see it or only saw the name on the marquee at the multi-plex and thought, "I don't think so."
One thing I did hear about the was the latest stunt by Sacha Baron Cohen who surprized Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet in his latest character, "The Dictator."  Personally I think Seacrest should have kicked his a-- after trying that.  I don't what to make of Cohen.  Is he a brilliant comic actor with his characters like Ali G, Borat and Bruno or just plain pathetic?  He was good in Talledega Nights though. 
If I could trade places with one person for one day it would have to be George Clooney just to say Stacey Keibler was my girl friend for 24 hours.
Been watching "The Princess Bride" on tv a lot lately and I've re-discovered it was one really funny movie that had a hell of a cast. 
As of today, The Greenhouse Effect is officially a Jeremy Lin free zone after Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream had the P.C. police swat team come after them for making a frozen yogurt flavor near Harvard U. called, "Taste the Lin-sanity."  It's vanilla with lychee honey and pieces of fortune cookies.  So not to offend, they've removed the cookie pieces and put in waffle cone chunks.  That sinus infection I've been battling just took a turn for the worse with that one.
So IVillage asked women what celebrity they would leave their husband for, and a surprizing 3 percent said Jason Segal.  We're talking about Marshall from "How I met your Mother" here!  He's admitted to having a room in his home devoted to his love of puppets and he also co-wrote the Muppett Movie that was in theathers last year.
One of the good things about getting 9 or 10 seed catalogs is that at least one of them had the variety of eggplant that I like and want to grow this year.
I'm watching "Outside the Lines" on Bristol Tech yesterday and they had a story on Reggie Rogers a former Detroit Lion who has been charged with DWI 6 times.  When are they finally gonna lock this guy up and throw away the key!
Even though I'm enjoying the New York Rangers season so far, I think coach John Tortorella needs to lighten up and try the decaf.
Last Tuesday I was up in Chestertown to broadcast a sectional basketball game on WWSC and it was so great to see the North Warren Central School packed with fans for both the girls and boys games.  What was even better was the fans who watched the girls play first, stayed for the boys.
The crowd at the Civic Center for Saturday's Section 2 hockey championship game proves two things. Number 1, that Glens Falls/Queensbury hockey is the best rivalry game in any high school sport in the area right now, and 2, the Civic Center has always been a great place to watch a hockey game. 
Sending some "freak" love out to the people where I work out at Core...Leccese out.

Bringing back one of my favorite entries

Hi there.  In looking back over the four years of "The Greenhouse Effect" and the nearly 280 entries, this one goes down as one of my favorites.  It's from April 23rd, 2008 and its entitled. "If this blog last lasts more than 4 hours, consult a physician immediately."  Hope you enjoy it.  A new current edition will be posted later today.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008


If this blog lasts longer than 4 hours, consult a physician immediately

Hi There. In an earlier edition of the Greenhouse Effect, I mentioned the incredible amount of email I receive regarding male enhancement products and the humorous subject lines that often accompany them. Well with some help from my co-workers and Dan who came up with the title of today's entry, here's some of the best. Just to let you know some of these are on the edgy side.
Only losers have small male machine
You must be the real man with huge dignity
Most popular jang enlargement
I want to relieve blue balls
Don't let women laugh at you, make sure your manhood is something to be proud of.
I was embarrassed of my small equipment in the men's locker room, but not anymore.
Your 6 incher will become a 9 incher
Make your trouser mouse a monster.
Heat up her loins with your massive fire stick in your pants
Nips, slips galore at your finger tips
Whip out your giant women pleasure maker. All the women will want you.
Amplify your precariously small manhood today and enslave the girls with your monstrous unit
Bed so well you can convert a lesbian with your new found manhood.
Too much sperm for sperm bank
I raised her a little as my manhood had no more room to go and she moaned softly
and here's one more: Your new device will rock her to ecstasy. Is this Pulitzer Prize material or what? Enjoy the laugh...Leccese out.

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Greenhouse Effect turns 4 years old

Hi there.  Yes indeed this blog is celebrating its 4th birthday.  So in honor of the occasion, here is a re-print of the very first entry  from February 21st 2008 entitled, "We Are Ready For Launch."

Hello,

Welcome to the very first entry in the "Greenhouse Effect." This little thing I will do every couple of days is mainly to keep you informed, make you laugh and think about some of the absurdities of life as we know it. Of course sports will be a BIG part of it, but there will be other observations to keep you off guard. Like how this blog got called the "Greenhouse Effect" in the first place. I thought about calling it, "The 40 year old Virgin" but it had already been used. Seriously though since my nickname is the "Garden Boy," it just made sense. Look forward to hearing from you down the road.

Leccese out.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Thoughts of Whitney and "Kid"

Hi there.  Really not much to talk about when it comes to the absurd, well unless you count how many times we've dealt with the alteration of the English language in regards to the past couple of weeks and Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin.  I mentioned this in last weeks entry.  I don't know how long this will last, but I'm hoping this kid will enjoy every moment and not let it get to his head.  I've come down with the annual winter cold this past week so you think if I had Jeremy Lin touch my forehead, he'll magically cure me of the stuffiness and congestion?
I have Directv and was not affected by the MSG versus Time Warner spat that was finally resolved.  The only thing that would have made me pay attention to it was if they were able to figure out and resolve the little problem of the issue being the north country is considered broadcast territory of the Buffalo Sabres.  When the Rangers and Sabres play on the same night, the Rangers get blacked out!  I'll stop complaining about it when I see the Sabres hold training camp at either the Weibel Avenue/Vernon twin rinks in Saratoga or here at the GFCC.
Like my friend Chris "Gonzo" Gates, I to did not watch the Grammy award show.  It was a forgone conclusion that Adele was going to take home a boat load of those shiny statuettes and I think 6 of them count as a boat load.
Nice seeing Mitch Albom back on the panel of the Sports Reporters last Sunday.
My birthday gift from my sister, brother-in-law and niece was a ravioli maker.  Now I'll be known not only as eggplant parm guy, but homemade ravioli guy too. LOL.  The curse of being a great home cook with restaurant chef skills.
This week we lost two of the good people too soon.  First was Whitney Houston.  How tragic.  Such a wonderful voice and beautiful person.  It's amazing how quickly things can just spiral out of control like a tornado to some one like that.
The other good person we lost was Gary Carter.  "Kid" was the moral conscious of those crazy but talented Mets teams of the early to mid 80's.  The Mets of that era, you either loved 'em or hated 'em.  Being a Mets fan, I loved them.  As a sports fan and commentator I wanted to know what was going through the minds of not just the Mets fans and New York, but was going on up north in Montreal where he was a giant along with names like Dawson, Wallach and Cromartie.  In a town where sports fans are born to worship at the church of the Canadiens, the Expos found a way to form their own little religion and Gary Carter was one of the lead preachers of that flock. Heck of a catcher and an even better person. They're also mourning the loss.  One more note about Carter's death.  He died of complications from brain tumors and cancer.  That one hit me hard.  11 years ago, I lost my god mother, my Aunt Patty to the same thing that beat Gary Carter.  It was the only time I ever cried at someone's funeral.  Carter was 57, my aunt was 54. 
Sectional basketball is coming up and I don't have make the trip to either Hudson Valley CC, UAlbany or some other gym next weekend.  Get to walk across the street to the Civic Center for the Glens Falls/Queensbury re-match in Sectional hockey.
Tuesday February 21st, "The Greenhouse Effect" turns 4 years old.  Maybe this stupid cold will be gone by then...Leccese out.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

A really great birthday and other thoughts on a Saturday

Hi there.  Lots to talk about even though there's no more football, so lets get started.
Leading off was birthday #46 on Tuesday.  It was as close to a perfect day as I could possibly have.  I've mentioned many times that I'm not big on celebrations.  I prefer the low key approach.  I was able to start my day with the best of group of friends a person could have.  The freaks at Core. For the first time I actually did 3 classes in a day! I was gunning for a fourth, but stupid me misread a Facebook post and I missed taking a class with an instructor who I get to see maybe 2 or 3 times a year.  The vibe and energy that you get from taking one of this persons classes is like an addictive drug. I also heard from a former co-worker in a text message and that made my day.  I miss that person.  Dan Miner is my best friend and he and Peter didn't disappoint in the gift department.  I got 3 cool tee-shirts from the Morning Club and downstairs crew at the radio station.  A Giants championship t-shirt.  A t-shirt from the movie, "Anchorman, the legend of Ron Burgundy;" and a really funny t-shirt from that viral video, "The Honey Badger!"  The Honey Badger craze is going around the radio station and it drives me nuts!  I made a promise that I would wear that shirt to a fitness class and I intend to keep that promise.  You wanna know why?  "Honey Badger Don't Care!" LOL.
You win a Super Bowl and what happens next after the parades and celebrations die down? The line forms in front of Jerry Reese's desk looking for contracts to be re-negotiated.  It's amazing how much players talk about how special a group a guys they are lucky to play with when they win a championship, but only if they've been taken care of financially.  If I were Jerry Reese my big concerns would be in no order: Osi Umenyiora, Mario Manningham and Steve Weatherford.  Victor Cruz, have another year like you did this year, and Mr.Mara and Mr.Tisch will take care of you.  Same goes for you Jason Pierre-Paul.
On the Patriots side of the ball, with those 4 picks in the first and second rounds, get some receivers with a 4th gear to help out Brady, Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez.  One name Coach Belichick: Mohammed Sanu!
The last time Knicks fans were that excited about a Ivy League player making such a positive impact on their team, it was Bill Bradley.  Jeremy Lin from Harvard.  Enjoy the moment for as long it lasts and stay grounded.  First Ryan Fitzpatrick and now Jeremy Lin.  I'll put good money down on it that the alums of Harvard are loving every minute of this and they should.  We need more good stories like that.
Now for the bad.  The second most famous alumnus of Middletown South High School in Middletown NJ next to me, Knowshon Moreno from the Broncos got pulled over and charged with a DUI driving an uninsured Bentley.  The best or worst part of it was the vanity plates on the vehicle.  The plate read: SAUCED. I'm not making that one up.  Too funny or sad depending on what angle you look at it.
Kimmy Kardashian wants her divorce settlement done in private.  We suffered enough with the 2 hour made for tv marriage special.  Look Kimmy, you owe us one after that 74 day sham of a marriage.  Besides, you could make even more money selling the rights to the divorce hearings.
This weeks sign of the apocalypse.  Rosie O'Donnell playing match maker by introducing Jenny McCarthy to Tim Tebow after McCarthy told Rosie that she had a crush on him.  Tim, stay away from Jenny McCarthy.  She's one bat sh-t crazy woman!  Talk to Tony Romo, and ask about what it was like dating "Scary" Carrie Underwood.  Find a nice "girl next door" type with the same passionate spiritual values you have and live happily ever after.
Normally on Valentine's day I would get to play, "Love Stinks" by J.Geils Band.  Not this year.  No Weird Al Yankovic medley of, "You Don't Love Me Anymore" and "One More Minute" either. It has stopped being funny.  My parents have been together as a couple for 50 years now!  Started dating in January of 1962.  Remarkable isn't it?  My Valentine's day? Gonna be broadcasting the Adirondack League Basketball Championship games at ACC.  Should be 2 good ones. 
Thanks again everyone for the great birthday and all the sincere wishes.  You're the best...Leccese out.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Post Superbowl and other thoughts

Hi there.  Here I am on the eve of another birthday (I turn XLVI Tuesday if you want to know)  and its been another one of those quiet weeks with not a lot that stuck out or caught my attention enough to make note of it.
As for the Super Bowl, it was a great game and I'm thrilled that the Giants won.  No over analysis on who coulda, shoulda, or who didn't do what they were supposed to do.  Eli Manning made one more big play than Tom Brady did; and when they had to, the Giants D made sure the field stayed just a little too long for Brady to make a comeback.
I didn't actually watch the game.  NBC's coverge was and is awful to begin with.  Enough of Dan Patrick, Bob Costas, Al Michaels and Cris Collingsworth.  The theme with Faith Hill makes me want to sit in a corner while sucking my thumb in the fetal position.  I listened to WFAN's broadcast with Bob Papa and Carl Banks.  I didn't see any of the commercials or Madonna's halftime show with M.I.A and her flashing the "We're number 1!" sign to the camera with her middle finger. 
I did see the Matthew Broderick commercial for Honda.  It would have been better a better ad if Matthew had been driving in a S2000 sports car that he borrowed from Alan Ruck instead of a SUV.   Ferris Bueller going through a mid life crisis.
HBO has done it again.  Their latest sports documentary on Joe Namath is brilliant.  It talks about this guy from Beaver Falls Pennsylvania who goes on to star for Bear Bryant at Alabama, plays for the Jets becomes "Broadway Joe" and was a matinee idol during his time.  He also didn't duck the Suzy Kolber, "give me a kiss" incident; or his involvement in a night club he  co-owned called, "Bachelors 3."  Must watch for sports fans.
I get the impression my sister wants me to give up the radio gig.  I think she either wants me to move down to South Carolina and open up one of those food trucks you see everywhere or open a restaurant that features American takes on classic Italian dishes.  I'll tell you what I'm getting as a birthday present from her little clan in the next entry.
Normally when it comes to canned soup or entrees I sort draw the line since I'm a highly talented home cook and I can make it better myself.  I am giving props to Campbells Slow Kettle style Burgundy Beef Stew.  It wasn't half bad.  In fact, it was actually delicious.  I would buy and try it again.
Last in this weeks entry is my secret crush made it to the top of the list.  In the recent askmen.com survey Sofia Vergara was number 1 on the list of most desirable women for 2012.  Chalk up one for me. Hope Lisa Robertson doesn't get jealous, LOL.  One of the good things about being single and not in a relationship or married is I can write these things and not have to worry about the consequences...Leccese out.