Countdown to Armegeddon

Well, NYE is here and we ring in the new year for 2012 in about 14 hours or so here on EST. Since the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012 according to those wacky Mayans, this will be the last one we have. Anybody remember Y2K?

Happy New Year, Y'all.

The NBA Has Started?

Judging from the comments I heard this weekend in suburbia, most people had no idea that the NBA's Opening Day/Night was on Christmas. Which pretty much sums up how this sport has devolved in the real world. Other than the playoffs in May and June, this league is a phantom. Not as transparent as the NHL, but it's pretty close.

Here in the greater metro area, we have the emerging Knicks and the woeful Nets.

The Knickerbockers actually have some playas...so after 10 years of nothing, they might actually make some noise. Unless Amar'e's back starts balking. Finally got a big man that plays D in Tyson Chandler. So if 'Melo can learn to share, there could be some good things in the near-future. On the flip-side is the Nets. These guys are absolutely terrible and will challenge for "worst team" this season. The chants for Dwight Howard began last night during a 30+ point loss (that is not a typo). The owner is a Russian Gazillionaire, so he got the rubles. Better do something quick before the exit to Brooklyn.

SoulSlam's early pick is OKC. And I still like LeBron, though I don't like Bosh. So I root against the Heat.

NYC - Nothing Like It

Absolutely great time, stayed at the Casablanca Hotel near Times Square. Awesome place.

Places we visited:

Rockefeller Center

Madame Tussaud's

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

NBA Store

NintendoWorld

NikeTown NYC

Toys R Us

Lids

Trump Tower

Can't remember all, maybe I can check my foursquare acct.

Day After Y'all

Sorry townsfolk, forgot to post on the actual day...so Merry Merry.

Quiet round these parts, the Sons of SoulSlam had a geat day.

I got a great DVD, Wiseguy, the Complete Series. And a cool Brian Wilson jersey. Awesome.

Gonna spend the day (and evening) in NYC. Sounds like fun.

The Official Eve

Here we are...CHRISTMAS EVE!

Got some running around this AM, I am showered and getting dressed as soon as I stop typing...

Most of my packages wrapped, so I won't have 4 hours of that later tonight...

Church at 6:30PM, Dinner at 4PM (or so)...

All leading up to the day. If you're a parent you want your kids to have everything, but that's not always possible, so a big smile is always the goal...

C-YA Later!

Eve of the Eve

Which is Eve removed? Not sure. Could be Eve -1.

Big shopping day, with the commandos out for blood. SoulSlam hit the mall around 8:30AM, ran to my spot and made an exit, stage left by 10. Then I stalked some sporting goods places for the next hour on the lookout for stuff they don't have. Perhaps the buyer for Sports Authority can tell me why every store has an ample supply of red Nike Diamond Elite Pros, and no other (more reasonable color)?

So I think I'm 95% done. Gotta pick up a couple of odds and ends, I can do that tonight or tomorrow morning. Get some wrapping done tonight, assess the situation, complete the mission. Countdown to Santa. And FYI - Tim McGraw has screwed me again. I'll 'splain later.

Know the Game

Let me confess something. I am not a patient person. Becoming a father helped me a little, but overall, I am not the type who suffers fools gladly.

Coaching:(definition from Webster's) one who instructs or trains ; especially : one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a competitive sport and directs team strategy.

So a guy who coaches at say, the Middle School level to collect a stipend yet not really know anything about a sport that he coaches tries the patience of SoulSlam.

Trouble is, I don't want the Sons of SoulSlam to be indicted by my actions. So, unlike myself, I have to keep it on the down-low and bite my lip.

Difficult. Stay tuned.

Chilly Bones

Got chilly bones today, everybody in the House of Slam has been sick over the last couple; am I the last target?

Office is freezing right now. Maybe I'm coming down with something...a hot bowl of soup sound good right now; to jump in!

It'll Be More Sir

OSSS wants to get YSSS (11YO) a cellphone for Christmas (we celebrate Christmas, not the ambiguous "holiday"). So we took a ride this AM to the Verizon store in our general neck of the woods.

Since he's 11 and needs nothing more than something to call and text, we pick a phone. They no got. But they can ship to my house. OK.

The "salesperson" (more like an order-taker) asks me my number, we confirm that it's an added line, blah, blah, blah. Then it goes like this (Him-OT/Me-SS):

OT:So Mr. SoulSlam, the phone costs $249 but you get an $50 credit for signing up so the total will be $199.
SS: Really, 'cause it's $19.99 on your website.
OT: Ummm, let me go talk to my manager.

At this point, I take a look at the website on my iPhone and see I was wrong, the phone is F-R-E-E. Free. OT comes back.

OT:Well, the best I could do is $129.
SS: Well, it's free on your website. You guys know you have a website, yes?
OT: It'll be more here, sir.

Can't really argue with that logic. So I will order at home. And no longer go to Verizon stores.

Тридневный викэнд

Like the way that looks! You'll need a text translator to figure it out.

Got about 9 days until the Christmas morn'...need to get it in gear shopping-wise.

Boys Travel Team is playing game #3 tonight away, we are 1-1 so far. Lot's of mental mistakes, turnovers and lack of shooting did us in, losing by 8 (29-21).

OSSS's MS Team is 0-4, basically getting doors blown off every time. Coach doesn't make many adjustments (IMO) and keeps kids not doing the job on the floor too long. OSSS comes off the bench to play hard when he gets in. Just saying, but when your starting 5 goes down by 15-20 every game, isn't it time to switch it up?

Check back later, peeps.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

First, we are cutting payroll. Then, we can't keep the reigning batting champ, now we have this headline:

Mets acquire $40 million loan from Bank of America

Holy crap. when are the Wilpon's going to come back from la-la land and realize:
"We have NO MONEY! And we are holding the fans of the franchise hostage!

But apparently they could care less. This will be one LOOOOOOOOONG season.

Early Jump

Forgot to tell ya...

My 5th Grade Travel Team had game #1 this past Saturday, opening up with a win, something we didn't get until February 4 last season. We played pretty well with exceptional defense (100% zone). Beat a neighboring town by the score of 27-10. Game #2 is tonight with Game #3 on Friday. Let's see where we are then.

Juicer?

When the reigning NL MVP gets outed as failing a test for PEDs, no matter that a second test failed to confirm the first, it doesn't bode well for a certain Mr. Braun.

Machine = Angel

Whoa. AL West is stacking!!!

Desolation Boulevard

Reyes. Gone. No closer. Starting pitching is in disarray. Bullpen beyond help. An outfield of chaos. Catching? Who needs catching?

Welcome to the 2012 NY Mets.

I keep looking at the blogs, the papers, anywhere for a plan. No plan. Instead we get Sandy Alderson (Mr. Moneyball) telling us the team "lost" $70MM, from gate revenue. Well, Sandy-Boy, here's a clue. Nobody comes when the team FREAKIN' SUCKS!!!

Ponderous. I know David Wright says all the right things, but he's gotta want to get out of here, deep in his heart.

It's Tuesday, 5:30PM EST. Bet the next signing is Endy Chavez. Like that does anything.

My time as a Mets fan is wearing thin. Can't do it much longer.

Adios

One of the great strategies in baseball is to be "strong up the middle"; that means catcher, SS, 2B and CF.

Word is that Jose Reyes has signed with the Florida Miami Marlins for 2012 and beyond. You can read it here on Matt Cerrone's blog. Seems like the NY Mets never really tried. Kind of sad, Jose was a guy you loved to watch and play. He was a homegrown talent, now leaving for South Beach. No doubt he'll be hangin' with LeBron.

So where does that need the hapless (and hopeless) ones. AKA The Mets?

If you look at the middle right now - Thole and somebody else in a platoon behind the dish, Tejada at SS, Murphy or Turner or somebody at 2B and Pagan in CF. Inspiring.

And just wait, we might get to do this all over again with David Wright!

Awesome job.

Playoffs

Forgot to blab...fantasy playoffs began today. Top 6 teams make it with top 2 in each division getting a bye.

SoulSlam (also the name of my juggernaut team) is one of the few, playing a certain KISS fan today, who also runs league, as well as his mouth.

So about 1/3 way through the 4th qtr of the 4PM games, I am up by 20 points. I need the GB Packers to score a TD so my receivers on the Giants can get a couple of chances at more yardage and the endzone.

It's go big or go home time.

LIT UP

Spent yesterday hanging the outside Christmas lights...some new designs and the like. In the middle of all that we had an eval for our 6-7-8 grade boys league (in-town). Wow. I never realized how bad some kids were. We had about 45 boys show (10 no-shows) and I can count on two hands, with a finger or two left over, how many boys can actually play. Kind of depressing actually.

But that is the state of youth sports...you have the kids who excel, the kids who hang on, and the kids who just lag behind. Blame video games? Blame parents who don't encourage kids to get out and exercise and compete? Blame society? I wonder...

Anyway, teams got picked; mine is as strong as anybody else with OSSS and a couple of my baseball players on roster. Everybody has about 2-3 decent players, so I guess it's how the other boys grow and develop that will make the difference.

Never In Your Best Interest

Remember A-Hole? Typed out something a few back about this troglodite?

He's really done something he should have left alone. Time to pay the piper.

The piper swings hard. Fair warning.

Something Going Around

Hereabouts. Something going around, sick-wise. YSSS stayed home today from school. Now SoulSlam is feeling less than 100%. SoulSlam does not like being sick.