The networks are broadcasting preseason NFL games. Folks are talking about college rankings for the first time since January. Hey, we've reached the cusp of a new football season. I for one look forward to it. In the past, the football bug didn't hit me until mid-September, but it's mid-August and I'm looking forward to it earlier than usual.
I truly enjoy watching the sport. When I don't, it makes for good atmosphere just having a game on the television as I walk by.
We already have intrigue, too. What's great about this season is the unpredictabity. The landscape seems wide open. Anything can happen.
After what has become an annual soap opera, Brett Favre decided to play one more NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings. If I can see a game like last year's NFC Championship between Farve's Vikes and the New Orleans Saints, I have no problem with Favre returning to try it again. That game was so exciting. Let's hope for a deep playoff run for Brett Favre. It will make the NFL postseason a little more intersting I think. Plus, it will justify Favre's decision to come back. Heck, last season's success justifies it.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Basketball Worlds Coming
July has come and gone. The most notable sporting event for this blogger was the Tour de France. In late August and early September, we have the FIBA World Championship. That should prove interesting.
Too bad it is scheduled during the start of NCAA football. Worlds should be under way now to avoid a conflict. Leave it to FIBA to be that out of touch. I am of the mind that Americans should run FIBA. After all, basketball is our game. Shouldn't we organize the world championship? I think so.
Too bad it is scheduled during the start of NCAA football. Worlds should be under way now to avoid a conflict. Leave it to FIBA to be that out of touch. I am of the mind that Americans should run FIBA. After all, basketball is our game. Shouldn't we organize the world championship? I think so.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
TdF: The General Classification is Decided
What an interesting Tour de France we've had this year. Barring something unprecedented, Alberto Contador will win. Contador solidified his hold on the maillot jaune by outpacing rival Andy Schleck in the final time trial before Paris. Things looked a little dicey for Contador after the first time check. Down eight seconds in general classification, Schleck gained six seconds back on the time trial's first leg. I thought Schleck would win the Tour after seeing that. Contador pressed on though. Schleck faded a bit, losing his gains and 31 seconds overall.
Still, it was an impressive improvement for Schleck. I strongly believe one day, perhaps next year, he will win the Tour de France. He is too strong of an overall rider to fail. Plus, at 24 years of age, he has plenty of rides left in him.
Still, it was an impressive improvement for Schleck. I strongly believe one day, perhaps next year, he will win the Tour de France. He is too strong of an overall rider to fail. Plus, at 24 years of age, he has plenty of rides left in him.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tour de France Stage 17
Today's stage went up the Col du Tourmalet a second time. Gapped by :08 to Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck needed to attack. He tried, but his effort wasn't enough. I for one was underwhelmed.
The atmosphere though was electric. It may have saved my viewing experience. There was mist and sheep., honking team cars and wild fans crowding the road. The race commentators said they had not seen an atmosphere quite like it before, and they have seen a lot of Tours. The stage finished on the Tourmalet, which enhanced the moment. However, I wished Andy Schleck had more in the tank to pressure Contador. The white jersey of Schleck never made a time gain on the maillot jaune. That would have made Stage 17 a whole lot more interesting I think.
The atmosphere though was electric. It may have saved my viewing experience. There was mist and sheep., honking team cars and wild fans crowding the road. The race commentators said they had not seen an atmosphere quite like it before, and they have seen a lot of Tours. The stage finished on the Tourmalet, which enhanced the moment. However, I wished Andy Schleck had more in the tank to pressure Contador. The white jersey of Schleck never made a time gain on the maillot jaune. That would have made Stage 17 a whole lot more interesting I think.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
"Mad Men"
I love to watch Mad Men. It is an incredibly clever show. The premise is original. The execution is flawless. I am sure the show will garner more award nominations.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Tour de France So Far
Alas, it looks like this 2010 edition of the Tour de France is close to decided in terms of the overall winner. Andy Schleck holds a 41-second time advantage over Alberto Contador going into Stage 10, a 111-mile ride from Chambery to Gap.
Contador is the better time trialer of the two and is likely to overcome 41 seconds. He looks like the favorite heading into Paris and the Champs Elysees.
I had hoped for a big shakeout in general classification in the Pyrenees. That would extend the race's drama into the third week. However, fast pacing in the Alps blew up the field. Only Schleck and Contador are left to contend for the top podium spot at the end.
Helping set this table is the fact that Cadel Evans, once in the maillot jaune by 20 seconds over Schleck, cracked on Stage 9 mountain climbs. Evans was so distraught that he cried on the shoulders of another rider after finishing the stage.
Levi Leipheimer and Bradley Wiggens wilted on climbs, too. Carlos Sastre, Dennis Menchov and Ivan Basso never got on form.
Another factor, the biggest one of all, was Lance Armstrong's bad luck. Armstrong suffered a punctured tire on cobblestones and several crashes. None of these events proved conducive to winning an eighth Tour. The timing of these events were particularly harmful.
Armstrong says he will never ride the Tour de France again after this one. He will not win in Paris ever again. That is too bad. It would have been fun to see. Fortunately, there are seven other Tour rides he and his fans can savor.
Contador is the better time trialer of the two and is likely to overcome 41 seconds. He looks like the favorite heading into Paris and the Champs Elysees.
I had hoped for a big shakeout in general classification in the Pyrenees. That would extend the race's drama into the third week. However, fast pacing in the Alps blew up the field. Only Schleck and Contador are left to contend for the top podium spot at the end.
Helping set this table is the fact that Cadel Evans, once in the maillot jaune by 20 seconds over Schleck, cracked on Stage 9 mountain climbs. Evans was so distraught that he cried on the shoulders of another rider after finishing the stage.
Levi Leipheimer and Bradley Wiggens wilted on climbs, too. Carlos Sastre, Dennis Menchov and Ivan Basso never got on form.
Another factor, the biggest one of all, was Lance Armstrong's bad luck. Armstrong suffered a punctured tire on cobblestones and several crashes. None of these events proved conducive to winning an eighth Tour. The timing of these events were particularly harmful.
Armstrong says he will never ride the Tour de France again after this one. He will not win in Paris ever again. That is too bad. It would have been fun to see. Fortunately, there are seven other Tour rides he and his fans can savor.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The 2010 Tour de France is Coming
Alas, this 2010 edition of the Tour de France marks Lance Armstrong's last. Armstrong announced his intentions on Twitter, writing, "And yes, this will be [my] final Tour de France. It's been a great ride. Looking forward to 3 great weeks."
Whatever happens with Armstrong and the race as a whole, it will be interesting.
Whatever happens with Armstrong and the race as a whole, it will be interesting.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Thoughts on "Theodore Boone"
I am halfway through reading Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. With simple, clear prose, John Grisham has pieced together a coherent, multifaceted story about a thirteen-year-old boy on the periphery of a sensational murder trial. As the story progresses, the thirteen-year-old, Theodore Boone naturally, is drawn into the case and finds himself in position to affect the verdict.
This story is a really good read. I imagine it may challenge the intended younger demographic. For the average adult, the story seems like a light, enjoyable diversion from more intense literary works. I recommend Theodore Boone to adults even though Grisham aims for kids.
This story is a really good read. I imagine it may challenge the intended younger demographic. For the average adult, the story seems like a light, enjoyable diversion from more intense literary works. I recommend Theodore Boone to adults even though Grisham aims for kids.
Stephenie Meyer Novella
Stephenie Meyer's The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is in stores now. Presented as a novella, this story gives an account of the vampire war waged against the Cullen coven from the viewpoint of Bree Tanner, a newborn vampire. Bree appeared briefly near the end of Eclipse, Meyer's third installment in her Twilight series.
I for one haven't even started on Breaking Dawn. I bought the Bree Tanner story anyway so I could say I bought it the day it came out, but I will wait to read it when I finish Breaking Dawn.
I didn't catch on to the Twilight phenomenon until Breaking Dawn hit stores. I noticed a hoopla and couldn't figure out what it was all about. Now I know. Meyer writes really good vampire romances if you're into that sort of thing. Going into Twilight I wouldn't have thought I would be, but a female coworker talked me into trying it out. Twilight turned out to be a delightful read. I would recommend it to any reader that wants to take on something new and unusual.
I for one haven't even started on Breaking Dawn. I bought the Bree Tanner story anyway so I could say I bought it the day it came out, but I will wait to read it when I finish Breaking Dawn.
I didn't catch on to the Twilight phenomenon until Breaking Dawn hit stores. I noticed a hoopla and couldn't figure out what it was all about. Now I know. Meyer writes really good vampire romances if you're into that sort of thing. Going into Twilight I wouldn't have thought I would be, but a female coworker talked me into trying it out. Twilight turned out to be a delightful read. I would recommend it to any reader that wants to take on something new and unusual.
Apple Announces iPhone 4
Apple unveiled a new cellular phone, the iPhone 4, at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
I have an iPhone and wouldn't mind having a new one. This sounds exciting. The casing is more angular than on previous models, making the phone stand out against other iPhones. Yep. This looks like fun.
I have an iPhone and wouldn't mind having a new one. This sounds exciting. The casing is more angular than on previous models, making the phone stand out against other iPhones. Yep. This looks like fun.
Because They Facilitate Productivity
These days every writer should have a laptop computer. One opinion.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Michael Jordan x NBA 2K11
Michael Jordan will grace the cover for NBA 2K11.
For those of you that aren't aware, 2K11 is a basketball video game made by 2K Sports. I do not play video games anymore. I prefer to read. But for some reason, this development with Jordan sounds exciting to me. The cover of a video game is an honor for any athlete. However, the usual big-name athlete's presence does not make video game covers prominent in pop culture. There is no sizzle for a casual bystander like me. When Jordan is featured though, that ratchets up the cachet of video game covers. It does not work the other way around.
This marketing decision, or editorial decision perhaps, sends a positive message about 2K Sports. The company's decision to go to the trouble to feature Jordan tells the public that they are trying to do something that transcends gaming. The company wants to do something memorable. It is not just about the game anymore.
This particular game cover business might wind up as one of those noteworthy times: the time when Michael Jordan made the cover of 2K11. We will know for sure if the public remembers this down the road years later. It might turn out similar to the time when Jordan made four consecutive Sports Illustrated covers during a playoff run. NBA 2K11 is not the equivalent of an SI cover, but it is still significant. For one, Jordan's involvement is unexpected. This was a complete surprise to me when I heard about it. To this point, gaming companies were not using deactivated athletes to sell product. Now they are.
Jordan's presence on 2K11 lends useable credibility to video game covers and the sports video game industry as a whole. Yes. Jordan's involvement is that pervasive. If 2K11 depicted a lesser player, anyone else basically, there wouldn't be the same buzz for the game. The rest of the sports gaming industry will benefit, too. It just received a jolt of heightened credibility.
For those of you that aren't aware, 2K11 is a basketball video game made by 2K Sports. I do not play video games anymore. I prefer to read. But for some reason, this development with Jordan sounds exciting to me. The cover of a video game is an honor for any athlete. However, the usual big-name athlete's presence does not make video game covers prominent in pop culture. There is no sizzle for a casual bystander like me. When Jordan is featured though, that ratchets up the cachet of video game covers. It does not work the other way around.
This marketing decision, or editorial decision perhaps, sends a positive message about 2K Sports. The company's decision to go to the trouble to feature Jordan tells the public that they are trying to do something that transcends gaming. The company wants to do something memorable. It is not just about the game anymore.
This particular game cover business might wind up as one of those noteworthy times: the time when Michael Jordan made the cover of 2K11. We will know for sure if the public remembers this down the road years later. It might turn out similar to the time when Jordan made four consecutive Sports Illustrated covers during a playoff run. NBA 2K11 is not the equivalent of an SI cover, but it is still significant. For one, Jordan's involvement is unexpected. This was a complete surprise to me when I heard about it. To this point, gaming companies were not using deactivated athletes to sell product. Now they are.
Jordan's presence on 2K11 lends useable credibility to video game covers and the sports video game industry as a whole. Yes. Jordan's involvement is that pervasive. If 2K11 depicted a lesser player, anyone else basically, there wouldn't be the same buzz for the game. The rest of the sports gaming industry will benefit, too. It just received a jolt of heightened credibility.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Travels to Foreign Lands
I have my own copy of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, but I leave it at home when I hit up my local Barnes & Noble for tea. Since the staff has removed the book from its prominent display near the front doors, I have to hunt for a copy to look at. I hoped to find one with the rest of John Grisham's dramas, but since the target demographic for Theodore Boone is eight to 12, I had to divert to the store's kids' section.
The mere fact that the kids' section's predominant color is color and lots of it tells me, "You don't belong here." The cute animal decor is another non-verbal cue to stay out. They're like those X-shaped markers in Planet of the Apes signifying the Forbidden Zone. Those are to be heeded and comprehended, not ignored or discarded.
I went in anyway, because I like defiance.
There on a rack lied several copies of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Moving quickly, I snatched one and walked all the way over to the store's other side to read and sip my tea. Retrieving a book from a bookstore's children's section is awkward when the sole purpose is to read it without paying for it. And walking all the way across the store only enhances the vibe. It makes it better that a purchased copy is at home, but people in the store don't know that. Putting it back is just as weird. I need to hurry through reading this story so I don't have to repeat that trip too much.
When I start reading Stephenie Meyers' Breaking Dawn, similar trips will be made to the section with all of the teen books.
The mere fact that the kids' section's predominant color is color and lots of it tells me, "You don't belong here." The cute animal decor is another non-verbal cue to stay out. They're like those X-shaped markers in Planet of the Apes signifying the Forbidden Zone. Those are to be heeded and comprehended, not ignored or discarded.
I went in anyway, because I like defiance.
There on a rack lied several copies of Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Moving quickly, I snatched one and walked all the way over to the store's other side to read and sip my tea. Retrieving a book from a bookstore's children's section is awkward when the sole purpose is to read it without paying for it. And walking all the way across the store only enhances the vibe. It makes it better that a purchased copy is at home, but people in the store don't know that. Putting it back is just as weird. I need to hurry through reading this story so I don't have to repeat that trip too much.
When I start reading Stephenie Meyers' Breaking Dawn, similar trips will be made to the section with all of the teen books.
Monday, May 31, 2010
"Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer"
John Grisham is one of my favorite writers. He is Southern by default, which is always a plus, and he knows how to spin a good yarn. Few do it as well as he. This past week, Grisham released his first children's novel entitled Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Per his reputation as a king of the light read, Grisham delivers a standard courtroom drama that is easy to digest.
Grisham's new protagonist, Theodore Boone, is a 13-year-old aspiring lawyer. Theo's parents are lawyers, and he expects to be one, too. Grisham portrays Theo as bright, grounded and interested in the kind of courtroom law that makes for great legal dramas. Since Grisham intends to make a book series out of Theo, it wouldn't make sense to portray the boy as one with a passion for tax law. Tax lawyers don't see a lot conflict. Naturally, Theo wants to be a warrior of the courtroom, a litigator. Of course, he gravitates to a sensational murder trial under way in his home town.
As of this writing, I'm about a third of the way through Theodore Boone's first adventure. If I weren't so busy with other things, I'd have had it finished by now. With easy language appropriate for an eight-year-old demographic, Grisham weaves an efficient yet detailed account of Theodore's involvement in a murder case involving a married couple. Even though the story was written for children, I have enjoyed reading it, and I recommend it to anyone wanting quick, accessible literary entertainment.
Grisham's new protagonist, Theodore Boone, is a 13-year-old aspiring lawyer. Theo's parents are lawyers, and he expects to be one, too. Grisham portrays Theo as bright, grounded and interested in the kind of courtroom law that makes for great legal dramas. Since Grisham intends to make a book series out of Theo, it wouldn't make sense to portray the boy as one with a passion for tax law. Tax lawyers don't see a lot conflict. Naturally, Theo wants to be a warrior of the courtroom, a litigator. Of course, he gravitates to a sensational murder trial under way in his home town.
As of this writing, I'm about a third of the way through Theodore Boone's first adventure. If I weren't so busy with other things, I'd have had it finished by now. With easy language appropriate for an eight-year-old demographic, Grisham weaves an efficient yet detailed account of Theodore's involvement in a murder case involving a married couple. Even though the story was written for children, I have enjoyed reading it, and I recommend it to anyone wanting quick, accessible literary entertainment.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Writing Competition Entered
I entered a writing competition. One rule for entrance was a word cap set at 2,000. I wrote a little over 1,600. This is quite easy to do, so I managed it no problem.
Other hurdles included a $10 reading fee, U.S. funds only of course. Manuscripts had to be typed on 8 1/2 x 11" paper. No staples please. Submit original works only.
Yeah, the rules aren't exactly tough to follow. I have no delusions of grandeur about winning, so after the contest is judged and the winners are announced, I may or may not publish my story here. Haven't made a concrete editorial decision yet, but I would like to post some of my fiction here on The Blogadier General. Fiction is a good way to spice up a blog, especially when it comes from the blog's publisher. In the future, some of my fiction will appear on this little plot of electronic acreage. I just have to write it first.
Other hurdles included a $10 reading fee, U.S. funds only of course. Manuscripts had to be typed on 8 1/2 x 11" paper. No staples please. Submit original works only.
Yeah, the rules aren't exactly tough to follow. I have no delusions of grandeur about winning, so after the contest is judged and the winners are announced, I may or may not publish my story here. Haven't made a concrete editorial decision yet, but I would like to post some of my fiction here on The Blogadier General. Fiction is a good way to spice up a blog, especially when it comes from the blog's publisher. In the future, some of my fiction will appear on this little plot of electronic acreage. I just have to write it first.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
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