Top 5 - a blog in review

Hello all! In a good bye to the year, I am asking you all to look back! I am doing my top 5 favorite top 5 lists I have done to date. If you go to one of my top 5 lists, the subject at the bottom of the post is top 5. If you click on that, it will give you a good summary of all the top 5 posts. Anyway, these below were my favorite either because I really enjoyed writing them or I enjoyed researching them or I felt the list was solid.

1. Top 5 American Beers - I posted this one around July 4th and I loved the list. I loved the conversation this caused with other people. Just a good topic and good timing for it.
2. Top 5 words with video - It was my first post with video and I thought it was hilarious and turned out very well.
3. Top 5 Paul Newman movies - It was therapeutic to me to spend a week counting down this icon's movies. RIP Newman.
4. Top 5 Athletes I want to drink with - I think this topic is very fun to think about and I feel like my list is very solid. I would change nothing!
5. Top 5 TV Theme songs - This was very fun to research. I can not tell you how many theme songs I listened to but it brought back a lot of good memories. It was very enjoyable.

Well, good bye 2008 and hello 2009! If everyone enjoyed the top 5s half as much as I enjoyed writing them, then it was a success.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GO HAWKS!!!

Shanahan - the GM or the Coach...oh wait...both

Alright, Shanahan is gone from Denver. I cannot believe it. They had a collapse of huge portions this year and have not been good the last few years. Still, I can not believe it. Shanahan's record in Denver is 138-86 and has only two losing seasons in 14 years of coaching. He coached the Broncos to back to back Superbowl Championships. Firing him was a mistake. Jeff Fisher went three years without a winning record. Bill Cowher went three years without a winning record. Neither of them got fired and did pretty well after those years. Who is Denver going to bring in that is better? The only person I would be a little happy about bringing in is Gary Kubiak. Too bad he was born and raised in Houston and now coaches there.

Let me paint you a picture. Bill Parcels is the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins. Tony Sparano is their head coach. Mike Shanahan is BOTH OF THOSE IN DENVER!!!!!! WHY????? I don't know. It happened a couple years ago. Basically, Shanahan was doing everything for the team. That was the fatal flaw. As soon as they fired Ted Sundquist, and gave his job to Shanahan, I knew they were in trouble. This did not work in Seattle with Holmgren. It did not work with Parcells when he tried it as well.

Now, if I were the owner of the Broncos (happiest person on earth would be me), I would have stripped Shanahan of his football operations job and kept him as head coach. If Shanahan refused, then fine, he is gone. It makes no sense for one person to do the job that takes two people 20 hours a day each. Well, coaching at least is a highly demanding job hours wise. I am sure the other is too.

He is one of the greats when it comes to coaching. He will go down as the Bronco's greatest coach to date. GM - Well, Shanahan was not too good there. Actually, I am not sure. Trying to do two jobs at once probably caused both jobs to suffer. He had too much responsibility.

It is reported the players are stunned and the players were behind Shanahan. Where is this organization headed? I have no idea but this move seems a bit extreme.

Advice to anyone wanting to hear about this - Please listen to Mark Schlereth. He nails this!!!!!

Good-bye Shanahan and thank you for the years! See you in Canton (if the hall of fame didn't hate the Broncos...that is a whole different post).

Prediction: If Shanahan goes to a team as just the head coach - watch out!

Top 5 - Christmas Movies

I have to say that tethering to a blackberry to get wireless connection on my computer is pretty nice. I am writing this blog as I sit on the back porch of Michelle's parents' house. On a quick sidenote, Michelle's Uncle Tom got an eagle on a par 4 today. He chipped it in from about 100 yards away. It was AWESOME. So, today's top 5 is Christmas movies and cartoon movies are allowed. I am excluding Die Hard and Gremlins. It just made it too hard. So, without further ado, from my 82 degree surroundings, here are mine.

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - I love this movie especially the amount of lights that are on the house and Randy Quaid's character.
2. A Christmas Story - I once got a beebee gun for christmas. I probably wanted it because of this movie too.
3. Scrooged - Bill Murray plays a great role in this movie and I love the ghost of Christmas past. She is a riot.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon) - Who doesn't love the Grinch? Really?
5. Home Alone - Any christmas movie that has a polka bank from Sheboygan will always make my top 5!

Time to jump in the pool....

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!

Obscure fact about me...

I am a fan of Frank Sinatra. Actually, more acurrately, I am a fan of the Rat Pack. Those guys had life figured out. Why did this come up you ask? Well, if I am going to listen to Christmas music, my favorite album is the Rat Pack Christmas album. It has 20 songs on it and they are all good.

In other news, here are a few facts about our car ride so far (we are 350 miles from Michelle's parents house right now)

1. It is 54 degrees outside and I swear it feels like SUMMER!
2. It took until we were in Chattanooga, TN before we hit a temperature above 32 degrees. WTF!
3. Michelle says Chick-fil-A is the greatest food on earth. We stopped their about 20 min ago.
4. I know this goes without saying but customer service in the south is SOOO much better than Chicago.

Happy Tuesday!

Heading South

So, Michelle and I are leaving in an hour for Florida. I can now wait to head south. This negative weather is ridiculous. I have two top 5s in mind. For Wednesday, I want you to think about your favorite Christmas movies.

Safe Travels to everyone and I will post on Wednesday.

This week in 1985

The Chair by George Strait was #1 in Country Music.

Long Live King George!

AWESOME!!!!!

This really does sum it up. Thank you media for not doing your job.

Also, please catch when the Washington Post talks about the article written about Obama during the campaign that led to Obama kicking the Washington Post off the campaign plane.

I am having trouble providing the video but here it is.

Top 5 - Baseball Movies

Ok, we are coming to the home stretch for my run of top 5s. I also have an idea of what the next two will be. Lets just say next week's top 5 has to do with Christmas movies. This week's list is self explanatory. Give me your top 5 baseball movies. This maybe a shocker to some. Field of Dreams will be no where NEAR my top 5. If you need help, think of movies, go here.



1. Bull Durham - I can not really explain it. Of course, Cosner is going to be in everyone's list in someway shape or form. I like that this movie takes place in the minor leagues. My favorite scene is the huddle on the pitcher's mound when everyone is trying to figure out their problems. Classic.

2. The Natural - I love the time period of the movie. This is another one that takes places in the minors. Roy Hobbs is the best damn hitter I ever saw.

3. Major League - Baseball's best comedy. Who doesn't love Jobu?

4. League of their Own - Tom Hanks nailed this role. Very unique movie. I could not even fathom this happening today. Just crazy. I find I have a hard time turning this movie off if it is on TV.

5. Bad News Bears (the old one obviously) - Chico's bail bonds - Enough said.

If I were to continue this list, Long Gone, 8 men out and Sandlot would be next.

Let me give a shout out to Long Gone here. It was a made for HBO movie. It is a very underrated movie. The lead actor, Stud Cantrell is played by William Peterson (head actor on CSI now) and his main squeeze in the movie is Virginia Madsen. It is a story about a low level minor league team. I highly recommend it.

Happy Wednesday!

What happens at training...

does not always stay at training.

"You mean water and soap does not remove this but I am flying straight to work tomorrow and all I have packed are short sleeved shirts. Uh oh."

Good times!

Note: They were removed last weekend with rubbing alcohol.

Top 5 Casino Games

I am in training all week and am not online very much. I am dying without the web. Actually, the classes are pretty good and there is so much going on. Well, tonight they are having a casino night for us. This is always a hit. We have not had it the last couple years but it is back! YESSSSSSSSS! They give us fake money and at the end of the night the more money you have the more chances you have of winning prizes. Anyway, this gave me the idea of the top 5 today - Casino games. Without further ado, here they are.

1. Paigow Poker - Great game if you are at a casino with friends. It is a slow game.
2. Blackjack - 22! Big winner! A couple people will get that sorry... Fun game but it is sometimes too fast for me.
3. Craps - You need a bankroll to keep up with this game but I usually do pretty will with it.
4. Poker tables - Not a no-limit buy-in game but the tables you can walk up to and sit for a while and then leave.
5. Video poker - They are usually at the bar and usually when you are playing, the drinks are free!

Back to class.........

P.S. Last night around midnight, the temp outside was 60. I heart the south from December to March.

P.S.S. I left off sports books because they are not a casino game really. However, if they were to be on the list, they would go number 2.

A New Nation Holiday!

I want to thank Funk for sending me the link and I am going to make this short since I am busy. BOOO. Today is the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition!

So everyone, grab a drink and cheers!

http://www.repealofprohibition.com/

Top 5 - Worst College Mascots

Sorry I have been slow around these parts lately. I have been ridiculously busy at work. On a sidenote, Thanksgiving break was good including watching LU win a close one at home. Also, my goal of 150 workouts was made on the last day of November. Yess!!! I can take a whole month off! When thinking of bad college mascots, #1 was very easy to come up with.

1. Stanford Cardinal - Really? A tree that looks like 3 year olds decorated it. I expect more from this great University.



2. Wichita State - Your nickname is the Shockers. You have so much potential there in many ways BUT you decide with a Frankenstein figure called Wushock. BOOOOOOOOOOOO!



3. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers - The name is appropriate. I ran through the middle of campus and almost threw up. The hill that the entire campus is on is ridiculous. You somehow decide that your mascot is going to be a version of the Kool-Aid man after gastric bypass. (I stole this line from another blog because it is sooooo true!)



4. Akron Zips - Zippy the Kangaroo. Yes, a school in the middle of OHIO decided to have kangaroo as their mascot. Who knew Australia and Ohio had kangaroos in common.





5. Xavier University - A fellow jesuit univeristy. I didn't know that the cookie monster (Blue Bob at Xavier) is a Musketeer. He must be one hell of a shot.





I did not have the heart to put LU in this list but a wolf is a rambler???? On a sidenote, I think that Dartmouth may have my favorite mascot ever...Keggy the Keg. Wow.

Well, I hope you all have a great day/week.

Note: Lil' Smitty jarred my memory that St. Ignatius of Loyola raised two wolves. That is probably were Lou Wolf comes from. Still pretty weak...