Guinness Is Good For You Revisited!

“Some days it dont come easy,
Some days it dont come hard
Some days it dont come at all,
And these are the days that never end.
Some nights you breath fire,
Some nights your carved in ice,
Some nights your like nothing
I've ever seen before,
Or will again.

Maybe I'm crazy,
But it's crazy and it's true,
I know you can save me,
No one else can save me now but you.

As long as the planets are turning,
As long as the stars are burning,
As long as your dreams are coming true -

You better believe it! - That I would do anything for love,
And I'll be there until the final act -
I would do anything for love! And I'll take a Vow and Seal a pact -
But I'll never forgive myself if we dont go all the way - Tonight -
I would do anything for love!
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that...”

--Meatloaf, 1997.

Just a picture of my good friend Guinness that my brother chose not to use for his site.

One of my Irish-heritage students whose parents embrace the Irish culture thought it was classicly cool that I named a cat Guinness. The student then quoted the Guinness slogan “Guinness is Good For You” to me.

He then said “the cat, not the beer.”

He added that his father was a fan of the beer.

So here’s my pictorial tribute to the Maine Coon Wonder/Whiner that Good Ole Guinness is. I cannot imagine a productive life without him.

Griese Player of The Week; The Miracles Continue To Enfold

“I'm still alive

Must have been a miracle

It's been a hell of ride

Destination still unknown

It's a fact of life:

If you make one wrong move with the gun to your head

You better walk the line or you'll be left for dead

I'm a runaway train on broken track

I'm a ticker on a bomb, you can't turn back this time

That's right

I got away with it all and I'm still alive

Let the end of the world come tumbling down

I'll be the last man standing on the ground

As long as Hot blood runs through my veins

I'm still alive.”

--Meatloaf from the song “Alive” from the album Bat Out Of Hell III—The Monster Is Loose, 2006.




The Bears, like Meatloaf, are still “alive.” It was unreal, last weekend watching the Bears game.

Mark had called as he could not find a Florida spot to watch the game. Shame really as it was a terrible game. The Bears were lucky that the Eagles did not score. However, the Bears were incredible in the last two minutes.

With no timeouts, Griese called his plays at the line due to a broken headset (TAKE A HINT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR RON TURNER, YOUR PLAYS SUCK!) and orchestrated a drive that may have salvaged the season. Mushin caught an almost impossible pass to cap a drive that had Berrian catching a pass, Clark catching a pass, Hester catching a pass, and Benson actually trying. Of course if they lose three more games, it will be for naught, but for the time, let us Bear fans have our dreams. And speaking of dreams, Griese NFC player of the week (!?); wow.

The main problems with the Bears are simple.

The management has no understanding of team chemistry. The release of Thomas Jones hindered a team that does not believe in Cedric Benson. They need to let Adrian Peterson (yes, the OTHER Adrian Peterson) run the ball and live with it. Benson is always looking for a soft spot to land and seems unaware of his own lack of effort.

They either need to involve second round draft pick Mark Bradley or offer him up as trade bait. I am not saying he is a bad player, but he seems to be kind of “third down” receiver and we have that in an established Rashid Davis.

I would put Hester out on every play. The kid is special and may actually end up playing Wide Receiver some day. He is a Willie “Stone Hands” Gault without the “stone hands.” He is also a Hell of a lot of fun to watch.

They need to find some young offensive linemen to mix in the game plan. A of now, this must be a concern with the average age of the line over 30.

They must let Mark Anderson run loose. Let rush and blitz. They shell up to much on Defense.

Speaking of defense, my buddy Hunter Hillenmeyer has been badly burned two weeks in a row. They need to restore his confidence.

They must pay Lance Briggs every and anything he asks for. He MUST be resigned.

Daniel Manning must be dropped. What a worthless player, as we now know how important Nate Vasher is to the team.

The Bears have to develop more of a passing game than “up the middle to the tight-ends.” Both Clark and Olsen are talents, but there needs to be more when Mushin and Berrian are on the team.

On a more entertaining note, why have we not seen Jerry Angelo, the great savior; lately? Last year about this time when the Chicago Bears were winning everything, he was plastered all over the news. Now…oops. Maybe he is not so quick to take credit since he let some talent go and his last two years of picks, Hester excluded and Olsen excluded, stink.

Just keep BEARING DOWN folks.

Call The Lawyers

“Good morning,
Worm your honor.
The crown will plainly show
The prisoner who now stands before you
Was caught red-handed showing feelings,
Showing feelings of an almost human nature.
This will not do.”

--Roger Waters of Pink Floyd from "The Trial" from The Wall, 1979.

Not much news to report.

The Bears are playing poorly; I have a bit of stomach flu or some type of virus complete with chills, fever, and nausea; the cats are fine; and I have playing more and more power metal.

I was curious last week about how much we have turned into a litigious society. I really have not been affected by it as much; but I slipped in class due to my disdain of the students’ rudeness towards my student teacher. Upon doing so, I may have uttered some unseemly words. No one threatened to sue me, but a parent was not pleased with my liberal usage of the English language; and she wanted some punishment directed towards me.

Recently at work I had a few disagreements with other faculty members and there was some mild talk of filing grievances against me.

Obviously going through a divorce, one can expect certain litigation to ensue.

I have not been sued or even been in front of a court other than trying to politely brown-nose my way out of a ticket or speaking on behalf of a student.

I never even thought about suing others.

I honestly think the world would be much better off if people were not always trying to impose their views for a quick fix and hiding behind litigation to do so. I mean, let’s face it, we all have been harmed by others words and/or actions. The thought of suing just does not come to me. The thought of kicking the crap out of someone may, but not suing.

Last week the schools of Illinois were given a mandate by the state (the same state that after 25 years STILL refuses to pay the 51% of a district’s costs even though it is a law on the book) for a ten second “moment of silence” after the Pledge of Allegiance.

We all know what this is thinly disguised as: PRAYER IN SCHOOL.

I have no problem if someone wishes to pray in my class (many students do before my Psychology Final). They can pray in Yiddish if they wish. Offer up a Lord’s Prayer or Hail Mary. Grab the Koran for a lesson; none of it matters to me. I doubt it will help much, but if it brings comfort—by all means.

On the other hand, the school and the state cannot encourage this behavior. “A moment of silence” is meant to be “reflective.”

Uh-huh.

Reality is that “a moment of silence” is meant to push a moral agenda in a secular place; something that should not and cannot happen.

I follow the law because I feel that I am setting an example by doing so. I may not agree with it, as I told my students, but I will follow it because I do not agree with a 65 MPH speed limit, yet if I break it, I am forced to pay the consequences.

I am just wondering how long it will take for someone in the state to sue Illinois. I also wonder if they will win. I may even suggest to our school to sue the state for our 51% (we currently are given about 18%-26% depending on the year).

Such suits will not be heard quickly because the courts are bogged down with frivolity and worthless cases. It seems the important matters are ignored when a private agenda is pushed.

Finally A Few Cheers And A Few Jeers In A Dark Knight's Football World

“We’re winning…winning Ugly.
--Jagger/Richards, 1986.

Finally some Cheers and a few Jeers this week.

GO BEARS!

The Chicago Bears staged a relentless comeback that was nothing short of satisfying. The Bears, through Green Bay’s miscues (although three of them were CAUSED by the Bears so quit whining Fudge Packers), The Bears game plan, and a “we finally became agitated Defense,” along with a “we finally woke up Quarterback,” won the game.

I think watching Devon Hester, who I truly believe is the best player on the team; shows signs of greatness they can achieve.

Add to it, Tommie Harris and Mark Anderson are among the best Defensive Linemen in the business. Oh, and in case I have not said it enough in the blog—PAY LANCE BRIGGS ANYTHING HE WANTS. He had 15 tackles last night, alone. Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who I have given my fair share of shots to in his career, was the man who played an outstanding game on Defense.

The offense, well, I liked Griese and the tandem passes to the tight ends. I admire Adrian Peterson’s efforts, and I thought the line was adequate.

Now I will sort the bad news.

Chicago needs to sit Benson down and explain the concept of running forward. He poured it on at the end of the game, but please…in the beginning he looked unsure and as if he was finding a soft spot to land. Move on.

The O-line is adequate, which is not enough. The person I think they miss is Thomas Jones in the backfield blocking—not too ironically the same guy who ran the ball. Nice job Jerry Angelo.

Danieal Manning cannot cover me; I am not too impressed with Archuleta or Manning Junior either. I would keep McGowen in the game; he reminds me of a bit of a Ulysses S. Grant reference as Lincoln commented after all the casualties suffered at Grant’s hands—“at least he fights.” At least this kid fights.

Fix the running game, get Vasher back, fix the safeties, and we will have a better year.

Oh and Favre, bye bye.

Now For The Ugly This Weekend:




Travis Johnson stood over and mocked Trent Green, an unconscious Trent Green for the record, after Green threw a block. Quoting the less than articulate Johnson, "It was a malicious hit," Johnson said. "It was uncalled for. He's like the scarecrow. He wants to get courage while I wasn't looking and hit me in my knee instead of trying to hit me in my head. God don't like ugly, you know what I mean?"

God don’t like stupid either you dumb sonovabitch.

Hitting in the head is illegal.

Green’s block was a legal hit.

Taunting is bad, but made worse when the person being taunted cannot hear or see you because he is knocked out.

Oh and for purely reference purposes Mr. Literary Genius, in The Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow was not looking for courage—that would be the “cowardly Lion.” The Scarecrow, like you, was looking for a brain.

Lately I have been so disgruntled watching players taunt after a a play. I was watching some game yesterday, cannot remember, and a player makes a four yard run, and then stands and pumps his chest. Barry Sanders—the greatest runner I have ever seen; Walter Payton—the greatest player I have ever seen; Brian Urlacher—among the greatest Defensive players I have ever seen; all have something in common. When they did or do well, they do not taunt.

Hopefully there will be more good football next week.