Category: Life

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Just hear those sleighbells ring-a-ling…

ChristmasIt is obviously that time of year again… Anyone who knows me knows I love Christmas music. I’ve got gigs and gigs of mp3’s and I pretty much play them constantly from the day after Thanksgiving until New Years.

Here are, in no particular order, some of my favorite Christmas selections. You may not be familiar with all of the songs and/or versions I’m speaking about, but they would be worth looking up.

Without further ado…

Sleigh Ride – Boston Pops
Probably my all time favorite Christmas song. This particular version (the symphonic with no lyrics to screw it up) is just so festive I get excited every time I hear it. I’ve been on one sleigh ride in my life, and yes, I did hear this song in my head during.

Jingle Bells – 2 Versions
First version is the Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters. Very upbeat, you can help but tap your toe. It’s great when the sisters break in with “jingle bells… ji-jingle bells… jingle alll the way-ay…” Also, this song appeared in ‘A Christmas Story’ so could be a reason I like it too. The other version is Frank Sinatra’s blusey slower version. Begins with the background singers, “I love those j-i-n-g-l-e bells… whoa… those holiday j-i-n-g-l-e bells…” Very smooth. It is pretty much the opposite of Bing’s. But no less terrific.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Bing Crosby
This song almost brings a tear to my eye, especially with Bing singing it. Being a WWII buff, when I hear this song I picture a lonely GI, stationed in the middle of the south pacific somewhere on Christmas. Sweltering in the sun… “Please have snow and mistletoe“. He’ll be home for Christmas, if only in his dreams. Heartbreaking.

White Christmas – Bing Crosby
Keeping with the Bing Crosby theme, you can’t ignore this classic. I just recently saw the movie, but have loved this song my whole life. Every year I hope and pray for a white Christmas, but it seldom happens around here anymore.

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas – Bing Crosby
Ok, one last Bingo song. It’s about all the prep that people do when leading up to Christmas. I love seeing lights and decorations and the like. Makes me happy. Some day I want to go to New York City during the Christmas season and soak in that atmosphere. I also have a habit of singing that song to myself any time it starts snowing… even if its March. *shrug*

Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
You cannot have a Christmas song list with out Burl Ives on it. Plus, this was always one of my favorite songs to sing in elementary school, when they teach you all the lyrics to Christmas songs.

Let It Snow – Dean Martin
I love the song, because I’m one of those people who when it starts to snow, I hope it never stops. I don’t even ski or do anything in the snow, I just love it. Snow changes everything. Plus, I love Dino and this song was use for the end credits of Die Hard.

The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
This song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…) is just an all around tremendous song. Written by Mel Torme but perfected by Nat King Cole. The don’t make songs like this any more. Makes you feel warm inside when you hear it.

(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays – Perry Como
There is no truer statement than that. There IS no place like home for the holidays. No matter how far you have to travel to get there. Not many songs out there dealing with the travel aspect of the holiday. “I met a man who lives in Tennessee he was headed for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie“. Everyone is going in different directions but all for the same reasons. Terrific.

O Tannenbaum – Vince Guaraldi Trio
You know the song, but the artist might not ring a bell. It will if I tell you, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. This is the group that did all the music for that special, including the song “Christmas Time Is Here” which is also good. It starts very traditional with just a piano, but when the snare and the bass come in and it downshifts into smooth jazz territory. It is the kind of song I want to be somewhere sitting with a mixed drink in a comfy chair listening to.

Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) – Duke Ellington
Keeping with the jazz theme, this is one of the coolest songs ever. I highly recommend finding a copy. It’s from a disc called “Jingle Bell Jazz”. Takes the old Tchaikovsky classic and puts a slow groove to it. Bongo drums, muted horns, light cymbals. Just very very nice. Bob your head.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Lou Rawls
From jazz to soul. This version of the song is the one I want to hear. Rawls has a terrific voice and it is so smooth you could wrap this song up and wear it as a coat. Another ‘mixed drink, comfy chair’ song. “From now on our troubles will be miles away” is a great line. I visualize a dark room with the tree blinking on Christmas night. Relaxing with the people you most love. “through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow.” and I hope they do.

Good King Wenceslas – Glenn Miller Orchestra
From jazz, to soul to swing. This is one of the few versions of this song that I enjoy, and I really enjoy it a lot. From a 2 disc set called “In The Christmas Mood”. I do love big band music and this fall right in line with that. It starts with some saxophones playing the main tune. I wish I knew more about music to know what it was called how they are playing, but that first 30 seconds is my favorite part. I will listen to it over and over.

What Christmas Means to Me – Stevie Wonder
I really like this song, but most versions of it are done by pop singers I don’t really care for. This particular version, however, comes from the early 70’s when Stevie Wonder was the biggest thing since sliced bread. He has an awesome voice. Comes from a disc called “Motown Christmas” with a lot of Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and the Temptations. Stevie also sings “Ave Maria” which amazing.

Adeste Fideles – Various
I just love this song, especially when its done by an opera tenor or something. This is my favorite ‘church’ Christmas song. I remember being a kid and sitting in Midnight Mass for an hour before it started (had to get there early to get a seat) and with nothing else to do, I sat there and memorized the latin lyrics, which is basically just a verse to “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Granted, it wasn’t exactly taxing, but it gave me something to do that didn’t get Kim and I in trouble. That song has stuck with me ever since.

Eric Cartman Sings
I am a big South Park fan. Eric Cartman is one of the ‘kids’ on that show and just his voice makes me laugh. So, on the South Park Christmas album from a few years ago, he belts out a couple songs. The first one is “O Holy Night” which is just perfect. “It is the night with the Christmas trees and pie” as Eric tells us. “Jesus was born and so I get presents“. Classic. From the same album is “Swiss Colony Beef Log“, which is about the ubiquitous gift baskets people give for the holidays. See, Eric’s neighbors always get his family a beef log, but their out of town this year. So, no beef log. But, in the end, Grandma comes through. Way to go grandma!

The 12 Pains of Christmas – Bob Rivers
Another comedy song that I have loved for a long time. It is not Christmas until you hear this song, at least in my book. I think it is so great because it is the flip side of all the Christmas joy and details everything that can make you crazy this time of year. From wrestling with Christmas lights to entertaining creepy in-laws. Its all in there. “Now why in the hell are they blinking!?”

Must Have Been Ol’ Santa Claus – Harry Connick Jr.
I like Harry. He has a great voice and the New Orleans vibe of this song is awesome. Another of those songs you can help but move your body to when you hear. Plus, the story of the song is just fun. A kid gets a ride with Santa. “It must have been ol’ Santa, cause I saw his big red hat and I know my mom and dad can’t fly like that.” You can’t have a song list without some fantasy like that in there. Every kid wants that opportunity. I know I did.

Please Come Home For Christmas – Bon Jovi
Some times known as “Bells will be Ringing”, this is a song about being alone on Christmas. His baby’s gone and he has no friends. Sometimes you just like to have a good slow depressing song. This is the one. Occasionally you don’t want the happy kid friendly songs… you want an adult song of woe. I know I do.

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carrey
Yes. I have Mariah Carrey on my list. I’m not normally a fan, but she does such a great job with this song I can’t help but like it. Plus, it’s a little more modern than a lot of my songs and it shows up in a lot of movies and other pop culture places. Kinda like the polar opposite of the last song. Relationships are part of Christmas and this is a great way to express those feelings.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Various
I’m not sure if I have a favorite version of this song. It has been done so many times so well, that a lot of them are great. Everyone from Dean Martin to Vanessa Williams. I even have a great version with Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong. This song was also part of my favorite scene in the movie Elf. What I love about this song is that we have all been in that situation. You’re with someone and you KNOW you should leave, but by god you don’t want to. She is trying to convince herself to leave, worried about her parents and the neighbors but just can’t come up with a good enough reason to brave the cold. I just get a great mental picture of the scene when I listen to this song. Of course, it really has nothing at all to do with Christmas, but then again, a lot of so called ‘Christmas Songs’ don’t.

I could probably go on and on, but I’m going to wrap this up. I only have one Frank Sinatra song on this list, but I love his Christmas stuff (“Silver Bells“, “A Christmas Waltz“, “Mistletoe and Holly“). Quick list of stuff I left off… “Let it Snow” by Boyz II Men, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms or Randy Travis, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” by Diana Krall, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Bottom line, I love Christmas music. Leave me a comment of your favorite songs. Especially if they’re something I might not have heard before. I would love to expand my collection!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Winter Garden Aglow

This is pictures from my backyard. No, I’m just kidding. Jess and I went to the Idaho Botanical Garden this weekend. Every year, they decorate for Christmas. These are the pictures I took. (click each one for big image)

I would have give my right arm for it to be snowing when we were there… but, we can’t always get what we want. I guess it was Christmasy enough…
Enjoy!

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Apartment Christmas Tree

It’s Christmas time again, and I’m back in an apartment.  Due to the fact that I have rather limited amounts of space available in my place, I decided to put up a stylistic Christmas tree.

Yeah, it ain’t fancy, but it gives me the Christmas light glow that I wanted.  I don’t have any presents to put under it anyway, so there you go.

Enjoy.

Apartment Christmas Tree
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BCS or Bust – What it all means

Here is the remainder of the weekend. (Part 1 Here – BCS or Bust)

First off, I do have to say that the enormity of what had happened didn’t really hit me after the game. I think I was so nervous heading in that I felt more relieved than anything. I didn’t jump up and down or scream or anything (not that that is really my style anyway). I think as I watched the blue and orange sea on the field, I just stood there with a bemused look on my face. Taking it in without it sinking in.

Thusly, the rest of the night kinda went the same way. No drunken revelry. We had a good dinner a another local brew pub (the Italian Sausage Ravioli were great) and watched the first half of the Notre Dame v. USC game. This place was a little out of the way, and there were no other Broncos in the joint (at least in the bar). We talked to a few Reno guys in there and they were gracious in defeat. I did have to tell them that its not all bad, since they’re still going to a bowl game and Boise State just cut them a check for $750,000. (Each team in the conference splits some of the BCS booty). Can’t argue with that too much. They were cool, and we just had a low key dinner.

After, we headed back down to the casinos to find a place to watch the Trojans finish off the Irish and the first little bit of the Purdue @ Hawaii game. We actually packed it in early due to the fact we were driving home the next day.

We woke up early to bust out of there. I set the alarm on my cell phone but somehow calculated the time wrong (it was still on Boise local time) and instead of setting the alarm for 6:30, I set it for 4:30. The lesson, as always, is I’m a dumbass. I should have just woken everyone up then since I was pretty much wide awake and ready to go, but instead I laid there for 2 hours before getting up.

On our way out of what really appeared to be a ghost town… there was NO traffic on the roads at all… we stopped at a local Starbucks. Now, we were the only 3 people in the building except for the two girls behind the counter. For some reason, they had to be sure to ask all of us our names so they could write them on the cups. Uh… I don’t think we’ll get them confused girls… But we made it on the road without incident.

Just like the way down, we were in the middle of a Bronco caravan. We drove Jess’ car down since her’s is the newest and it ended up getting us some strange looks. See, she is a Vandal, tried and true, and came along just because I asked. And, being a Vandal, her car has the University of Idaho sticker in the back window and the Vandal license plates. We did, however, have the dual Bronco car flags flying high. It was quite amusing to pass another bronco car and watching in the mirror as the passenger points at us and says something to the driver, or vice versa. This must have happened half a dozen times that I saw, who knows how many more times that I didn’t. To quote Peter Venkman, “Dogs and cats living together… Mass hysteria!”

Honestly, I think it took me until Tuesday for it all to really set in. Life is a funny thing. In what has undoubtedly been the hardest year I have ever lived through (a close second was the year in college when I worked full time, school full time, and had a part time internship, but thats another post), the only team I follow with an absolute passion had its greatest season ever. Especially ironic when you know that every single Boise State memory I have from the past 4 years is intertwined with memories of my ex and ex-laws. Who knows… maybe this was supposed to happen. It might be egotistical for me to think that some higher power set up the Bronco run to make it up to me for being shit on… I don’t know. All I know is that I love the Broncos. What does it tell you that I want to be successful in life, make a bunch of money, but not for me… but because I want to be able to give big chunks to Boise State. That’s just not normal.

I listened to KBOI’s archive of Paul J’s call of the game on Saturday, and I would be lying if I didn’t get chills. When they were talking about where this team has been and where its going, I think my eyes welled a little. Again, stuff like this shouldn’t happen. Paul J’s voice can at once make me feel both like a grown man listening to a BCS team on the verge, and a 7 year old kid following the Broncos the only way one could back in the day, on the radio. He may not be the greatest announcer who ever lived, but he is the very soul of Boise State to me. I can hear his voice and it sounds like home. When he gets excited, my blood pressure jumps 30 points. He is one of the rocks this program has been built on. I think KBOI & Boise State should market a DVD of the greatest BSU moments and the accompanying Paul J. calls. As it is, I watch the Bronco season commemorative DVD’s I have weekly.

Saturday’s game at Reno will be one of those events that improves in my memory with age. Like the Idaho game in ’94 or the Fresno game in ’02. That image of the fans on the field will stick with me for a long long time.

Phoenix, here we come.

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BCS or Bust

BoiseStateThat was the theme for the recent road trip weekend. Boise State was facing one game for all the marbles at University of Nevada Reno. Outright WAC championship (fifth consecutive), undefeated regular season, and BCS bowl birth with the big exposure and big pay day. Here’s the story.

Friday, November 24th. My birthday was spent mainly driving from Boise to Reno. Roughly 7 hours of some of the most boring driving this side of the great plains. I will concede that driving across North Dakota (sorry to my relatives back there) may be, in fact, the most boring place on the planet to drive. Take a peek at a road map for the state, and you will see I-94 slicing a straight line directly across the state. Yawn… At least the road to Reno does change direction, however, you end up with about 350 miles of the exact same landscape. It does look nice enough, but when you stare at it for 14 hours in 3 days, it definitely gets a little old. You find yourself begging for some trees or something to at least break the monotony.

Hotel DoorWe arrived in Reno and check into the hotel. Since we were making this trip on the cheap, I booked us into a Super 8 motel that was about 300 yards from the stadium. Savvy planning on my part, I thought. Unfortunately, this place wasn’t exactly the Ritz. You will notice in the picture that the door is completely closed, yet there is about an 1/4 inch gap around the whole thing. Yes, we left the heat on the entire time.

After a little rest, we hit the downtown area of the “Biggest Little City in the World”. I’ve always liked casinos even though I’m not a huge gambler. Go figure. And the casinos this night were absolutely swarming withReno blue and orange clad fans. It was terrific. Everywhere you turned, you saw another group. I will admit though that the random “BOISE…. STATE…” chants were a little much. I’m as big a fan as you know, but even I have my limits. There was an interesting phenomenon at play here. Usually, when you’re traveling to an away game and you see someone in your colors, you usually make a comment to that person like “Go Broncos!” or something. Well, in Reno, there were SO many Bronco fans that you don’t feel the need to make those comments. It was like we were the ‘home’ team or something. The occasional Nevada fan might say something to you, but since they were outnumbered in the casinos about 200-1, there wasn’t many of them around.

After being incommunicado for the whole day on the road, I really enjoyed sitting in the sports book of the Silver Legacy to catch up on the day’s college football action… Who upset who, who was favored by what, etc. Plus, Fresno State and La. Tech were playing on TV and the announcers spent half the time talking about Saturday’s Boise State v. Reno matchup. Good times! The book had Boise State favored by only 3 points in the game. I thought about putting a bet down on the game, but I figured, I’ve already got way too much wrapped up in the outcome of this game, there is no need to add a financial aspect as well. Although, hindsight being 20/20 and all, I probably should have bet $1000 on the game, so if we won, my trip to Phoenix was paid for, and if we lose we’d stay home and play in the local MPC Computers bowl anyway and I wouldn’t have to travel with the team. Damn…

One observation of the casino scene in Reno. We were heading back to the car that was parked in the Circus Circus parking garage. First of all, I hate Circus Circus. I hate clowns and I hate the circus. But, as we were heading out at after 11pm, the sheer number of kids running around was astounding! That place was absolutely LOUSY with kids. First of all, for the life of me I can’t understand why you would ever bring your kids on a ‘vacation’ to a casino in the first place. Second, why in blue blazes are these kids still running around this ‘midway’ in Circus Circus at almost midnight? At least the actual casino floors are still kid-less sanctuaries. Just one more reason to loathe the Circus Circus.

Game Day

After an exceptionally craptacular breakfast (how in the hell do you fuck up biscuits and gravy anyway?!) it was time to get into game mode. As I had told everyone, I was nervous about this game. Nevada came into this game on an absolute roll. Five wins in a row, including two 42-0 routs in a row. We were favored by a mere 3 points (or one point underdogs in the Sagarin ratings). Even Kirk Herbstriet on ESPN picked Nevada to win. Everything was piling on and I wasn’t feeling great.

Broncos Take the Field Opening Kickoff

It was quite a chilly morning, so we layered up and headed into the stadium. Two weeks ago when I went to purchase tickets, Boise State told me that their allotment of 5000 tickets was long gone. So, I went directly to the Wolfpack athletics website as was able to purchase tickets directly from them. As you can see, I got damn near 50 yard line seats. It is safe to say you wouldn’t be able to get tickets like that at Bronco Stadium.

Sitting in the upper deck in the sun, we QUICKLY warmed up and started stripping off layers. Eventually getting down to our shirtsleeves. Unbelievable. It was so warm, it felt like September. Just a gorgeous day. Continue reading “BCS or Bust”

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I can talk about it now

BoiseStateI know some of you have been waiting for my reaction to the closest of close calls last Saturday. Frankly, I haven’t been able to talk about it until now.

We escaped. We needed to buckle down and pull out a miracle 4th quarter. I’ll tell you one thing, I was not enjoying that game at all. And frankly, I’m not very fun to be around when we play a game like that. I actually got in trouble once (2 years ago, from the ex) for brooding and not being happy and chatty when Boise State had a hellish game the LAST time down at San Jose State. Yes, I know I have WAY too much invested in these games that I have no control over. I know this. Can I do anything about it? Absolutely not. I am, however, realistic.

I listen and read to national sports media all the time. With Rutgers being undefeated and a long shot at getting into the national championship game, there is a lot of debate about who deserves the chance to get there. We know the winner of Ohio State/Michigan will be there, so all of the rest of it is debate on who #2 will be. There are a lot of one loss teams out there who are clamoring to be the one. What I don’t understand is this. Before Louisville lost, and Rutgers now, their fan bases are up in arms that they might go undefeated and not make the championship game. Thus, citing their weak strength of schedule, the national media guys are slamming them saying they don’t deserve it. But somehow, Boise State keeps getting wrapped up in those slams as a team whose fans are delusional. Let me say this loud and clear… THERE ARE NO BOISE STATE FANS OR LOCAL MEDIA HERE WHO ARE SAYING WE DESERVE A SHOT AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! Period. End of story. Yet somehow, we keep getting tossed in that discussion and are being killed for it. We know we are not national championship caliber. We are not crazy. We’ve only been D-1 for 10 years for pete’s sake.

However, we do think if we run the table we at least deserve a shot at a BCS game. I think that is only fair. Which brings me back to Saturdays game. There was A LOT riding on it. I want to go to Phoenix in January. I want to see us play a big time school, even if we lose. I just want to be there. I want to have the national media talking about Boise State football in a positive way for a month leading up to the game. I want another game like we played against Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. Everyone was in agreement that that was a terrific game. Obviously, I would love to win, but all things being equal, it is great just to be at the party.

I would also like to point out, that this season will be the first season where I have seen double digit Boise State football games live. Which ever bowl game we make it to will put me at 10 for the year, meaning I still have three more games to watch (tomorrow vs. Utah State, next week @ Reno and the bowl game, wherever that may be). For someone who hasn’t missed a home game in… well this season will make it 15 straight years, that was the next big hill to climb. Of course, the only pinnacle from here would be to hit EVERY game in a season. Maybe someday I can pull that one off. Hopefully, I won’t pick a year where we have to play at Louisiana Tech.

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Sporting Week Conclusion

Ok, so I dropped the ball blogging about the sports weekend. Here is your conclusion.

Idaho Steelheads vs. Utah Grizzlies – Friday

Opening night for the Steelheads. I absolutely love hockey (yet still can’t get a single NHL game on TV). There is nothing better than a live hockey game, well, except for a live Boise State football game, but I had already had one of those this week.

Being opening night and the ten year anniversary season for the Steelheads, they had a little pre-game on ice celebration. Ol’ JR Simplot was there as he was instrumental in getting the arena built and getting the team there in the first place. Plus, he lives right upstairs, so it was an easy commute for him. Boy, he is OLD. Tough old bastard. Great man, but he certainly looks like a walking skeleton.

Of course, the Governor was there. Risch, in an attempt to appear as ‘one of the people’ was out there in skates and a hockey jersey. Well, isn’t that cute. Until, that is, you realize that he is actually wearing figure skates. Doh. The people in our section got a good laugh when I pointed that out. What a typical politician putz move.

The Steelheads also debuted their new mascot. Aparently, the old mascot Bonk (click ‘what about bonk’) had to go since he looked like the old logo and we can’t have that now, can we? So, they roll out this thing that looks like Yogi Bear. A bear with a stupid looking grin on his face, wearing fishing gear and tackle. Horrible horrible mascot. I’m not an expert, but since our mascot is an ocean going rainbow trout that swims thousands of miles upstream to spawn, do we really want our mascot to be a creature that kills and eats hundreds if not thousands of those animals every year? Really? You guys really thought this through, didn’t you? Why didn’t you just make the new mascot spinning hydroelectric turbine blades and be done with it?

I will say the new logo, uniforms and colors really do look terrific!

All that being said, the game itself was terrific. Tight the whole time. A little extra-curricular activity after the whistle. A fight. Plus, we won on an overtime shootout. One of the most exciting moments in sports. Good time was had by all.

Boise State Basketball vs. Cascade College – Saturday

The final exhibition game of the Broncos was with another powerhouse program from Oregon. Where the previous team at least looked like a college basketball team, these guys looked like my high school team. As a matter of fact, they probably played like my high school team… if not worse.

The final score was 103-51. This team had less than 20 points on the board with 17 minutes to go in the game. I think the score at that point was something like 70-19. Unbelievable. I don’t know if you can learn anything about yourself when you play a high school junior varsity team like that. Hell, we looked like the friggin Harlem Globetrotters. Only without the bucket of confetti.

Well, perhaps we did not look exactly like the Globetrotters… you see, we had a number of breakaways in this game. On at least three separate occasions, dunks were attempted, and failed miserably. It was quite embarrassing. When you’re all alone on a fast break, you try to throw it down and get stuffed by the rim, that is a bad thing. In fact, one guy, the freshman Anthony Thomas got rim-checked TWICE. Coach, do your team a bit of a favor… set aside some practice time for some dunk training. These guys need it.

Steelehads vs Grizzlies – Sunday

Sunday finished off with a 4pm face off with the Steelies. This game didn’t have much in the way of physicality and was played really clean. Idaho had the lead after scoring in the second period and had the shutout until about 4 minutes left in the game. The goalie Silverthorn played really well, and saved our bacon more than once. Idaho won with a final of 4-1 and finished off a clean sweep of the visiting Utah Grizzlies.

They also polished off a perfect 5-0 for the home teams in my sporting weekend. Three total blow outs (one really fun, 2 not so much). An overtime shootout win and a solid domination to wrap it up. You might be thinking that I might be a little burnt out on sports. Of course, you would be wrong. All I can think is why can’t all weeks be like that?

Game on!

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Boise State Basketball vs. Western Oregon – Thursday

Ok… this game wasn’t close. It wasn’t even close to close. Granted, it was only an exhibition, but this was ridiculous. Final score of 103-62 and it was worse than that. Western Oregon looked like a bad high school team. I mean, they turned the ball over on their first 5 possessions. Shot 34% for the game. Ugh. Just ugly basketball.

Broncos did some nice things. Hit some 3’s. Got some solid, back to the basket, legitimate post play. That was nice to see. Been a while since we’ve had anyone inside who could do the work. This Matt Nelson kid is the real deal.

Crowd was pathetic. Again, it was an exhibition on a week night and was the day after a big football game, but seriously… there had to be 1,500 people there. Quiet. No students except for a group of about 20 who were there making noise. Hopefully once the regular season rolls around, we’ll have a few more people showing up. See the pics. (sorry for the quality, cell phone camera)

Boise State v. Western Oregon Boise State v. Western Oregon

However, to paraphrase and misquote Hamlet, the play’s not the thing. This game marked the first time since d-day that I was in the same building with the ex and all of the ex-laws (that sorta sounds like some superheroes). Well, not counting 30,000 seat Bronco Stadium. I really didn’t know what to expect. I mean, its a basketball arena. My new seats are across the court from them all, so I can’t help but see them when the play is in the near end of the court. It was tough seeing her… it was tough seeing everyone. It is easy to feel singled out when you see them all together in the exact same ways you were a part of not long ago. Dredges up a lot of memories. The problem is I don’t have any animosity towards them. Her included. I guess I should, but I don’t. Frankly, I guess you could say that I do miss and still care about them and hope they are all doing well. God, that sounds like a total wuss-out position, but what can I tell you? I really am a sensitive guy. *shrug*

However, this doesn’t mean I really want to interact with any of them. One thing is painfully clear. Unless I take extreme measures, there is absolutely no way I’m going to make it through the season without coming in contact with one or more of them. Impossible. I guess I’ll just jump off that bridge when I get to it.
Oh well… such is life on the outside.

At least tonight is hockey. None of them will be there. Let’s drop the puck, it’s time to go!

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Touchdown Slam Dunk Slap Shot

Now this is my kind of week.

For those of you keeping score at home that is 5 straight days of live sporting events. You have read about my somewhat unhealthy compulsion to watch sports, but this week is like nirvana. Or perhaps, nerd-vana if you will. I will post my accounts/opinions of each event after, so watch this space.

Boise State vs. Fresno State

I always love when Fresno comes to town. For a few reasons. a.) It’s always a big game, ESPN almost always shows up to broadcast the game. Big game atmosphere is always fun. And b.) We always win. And usually win big. Nothing is more fun than a big game, except winning a big game in blowout fashion. Last night was no exception. (one of my all time favorite games was a Fresno game)

Even with Fresno mired with a 1-6 start, they still have a ton of talent. I wasn’t near as nervous for this game as I have been for say Hawaii or Oregon State. I’ve seen them play on ESPN a couple times this year, and they always seem to shoot themselves in the foot… and they did it again last night.

Boise State pretty much dominated the game, and won 45-21. The game wasn’t even that close. Fresno scored on a kickoff return for touchdown and interception return for touchdown. Take away those 2 plays, they had just over 200 yards in total offense and one TD. Domination baby.

Almost more impressive that the game on the blue was the fans in the stands. The sports marketing for Boise State had an ambitious plan for the ESPN television cameras. People sitting in even numbered sections were to wear blue, odd sections, orange. I didn’t think they could pull it off. Especially with the cold weather. If you tried it in September when people could wear t-shirts, then I could see it working, but when its 30 degrees out, not everyone has the proper colored cold weather gear.

How wrong I was. I stopped by the mall to get a new turtleneck before the game, and I saw many many people buying Bronco gear and they were all talking about which section they were in and getting the right color. I thought to myself, maybe it will be better than I think. I got to the stadium early, like I always do, and as people started filling in, I could distinctly tell what color each section was wearing. Hmmm… maybe we’ll pull this off. Once the stadium was full, the effect was amazing! I could not believe how well it worked, and it really looked cool. I just want to say well done to all the Bronco fans out there. This town has come a long ways in the past 5 or 6 years. I love to see the people with the painted faces, or wacky hats, or signs or whatever. The energy in that building is immense. Coach Pete has even said that it feels more like 70,000 than 30,000.

BSU v. Fresno BSU v. Fresno

All in all it was a very fun game, despite the frosty temperatures. A big thank you to whoever it was who developed those chemical hand warmers.

More later.