Friday High Fives: 04/06/2007

I'm back bitches and I've got some changes in the works. It has been too long.

This week's five items, ideas, and individuals that I am thankful for, appreciate, or admire.

The Masters
Man, I am telling you the webcast from masters.org is getting better and better every year. The scoreboard interface, the streaming video, the great UI, the expanded coverage. It is pure awesome. But I think the best aspect of the web coverage is the commentary Bobby Clampett and Billy Kratzert who are on the Amen Corner feed. seriously talking about golf, telling stories, debating who was the best line putter and best sight putter, bringing in other guys like Ferherty and having casual conversations. The depth is amazing and I really wish they and really all sports (looking squarely at you NFL) had a special feed or channel for pro-sumers who want this type of coverage commentary rather than the standard fare Jimmy Nantz/Joe Buck vanilla stuff. I can't say enough good stuff about this.

Home Opener
All though the Cubs are off to a questionable start with a 1-2 record I am really looking forward to going to the home opener on Monday.


Seven Samurai - Criterion Collection Edition
Super duper edition of Kurosawa's seminal film that "seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope."

Graphic Novels
I am not usually a comic book guy but I do enjoy a good graphic novel every once and a while. I just got done reading volumes 1 and 2 of DMZ and I recommend them. It isn't a masterpiece but the artwork is great and the story is compelling. I do think that the story is somewhat contrived at times and lays the symbolism on a little thick in some areas but overall a good read. I've just started Watchmen by Alan Moore who did V for Vendetta.

MLB Gameday
I thought ESPN's real time scoreboard was the best in breed for interactive scores and stats but I recently have been turned onto MLB.com's Gameday. It is really slick and has a lot of neat stuff like showing you the pitch locations for every at-bat each hitter has had in the game to see how they are attacking them and giving some really sweet stats (speed, break, and pFX) on each pitch thrown.

Filed in: fridayhighfives

Quickies: The "I am sooo not ready for football saturdays" Edition

Nice win for the Hawkeyes this past weekend. They've bumped up a slot or two in the polls and should steamroll the Orangemen this weekend. But they haven't exactly been TCOB in September road games the past couple years.

Chuckles has an article on James Bond in Esquire this month.

Wolf Parade show from a 8/29 [torrent]

Impossible Germany which is expected to be on Wilco's next album is my new favorite song.

Tiger Woods 07 has different features and courses for the XBox 360 and PS2 and obviously the better features and more desirable courses are for the next gen console. So basically that is it, I give in. I am getting an Xbox 360.

Filed in: quickies

Things I'd Like Hansel to Weigh In On

Deadspin has been all over the Matt Leinart's baby's moma and today sheds some light on a potential reason why Leinart was banging a basketball player instead of a cheerleader or washed up reality star while at USC.

I'll enlighten: Women's college basketball players are historically the trampiest athletes out there. Most of these gals were considered too freakish (and intimdating) in high school to garner any normal attention. But once they attend college, they make up for all of those humiliating days in junior wearing their older brother's track shoes by engaging in as much humping as possible once they hit campus. Think about it. Think about your school. Think about the hottest female basketball player on your team (who probably wasn't that hot, comparatively) and think about how she always seemed to be involved in the most tawdry sexual rumors circulating throughout campus. Even at La Salle University, I remember our best female college player, who was quite homely looking, had the nickname "Choo-Choo" due to how many times she rode Lionel "L-Train" Simmons in the locker room (in front of other players, apparently) during her freshman year.

I'd definitely like to hear Hansel's opinion on this issue.

Filed in: culture sex sports

Cubs: Two Unsurprising Things

1) According to SI columnist Jon Heyman Aramis is looking to leave the Cubs after this year.

Aramis Ramirez is telling friends that he plans to exercise an option to opt out of his contract with the Cubs, which would allow him to join Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee as the top positional free agents this winter. Ramirez, who has 31 home runs, 89 RBIs and a .287 batting average, is also telling people he'd love to go to New York, although for now the Yankees are saying there is no consideration being given to trading Alex Rodriguez, who's in a much-analyzed, inexplicable funk.

Wherever Ramirez goes, he should be able to top the $11 million annually he is slated to make. He's having a big finish, and it would make little sense not to capitalize on that even if it means he stays with the Cubs at an increased salary. The Astros, Rangers, Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox and Tigers could be among favored players for Ramirez. But, of course, the Cubs won't let him leave easily.

2) According to Paul Sullivan the Cubs believe Aramis is going to stay and not opt out of his contract.

So let's add this to the list of things the Cubs believe is going to happen but no one else that has an even casual interest in the Cubs believe is going to happen.

The only question is do I slot that in list? Above "Wade Miller, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior are going to be ready to go early enough in the season that we don't need to add more arms in the off season" or below "overpaying Neifi Perez and Glendon Rusch with multiyear, multimillion dollar contracts because they are key components to the team's playoff chances"?

Filed in: cubs sports mlb pathetic

Always a good idea to bump attendance

The Chinese seem to have figured out a sure fire way to increase attendance at funerals. As always the government, in this specific case the very definition of the "fun police", has deemed this inappropriate.

Filed in: awesome culture

Bears: Start Practicing

Bear down, Chicago Bears, make every play clear the way to victory;
Bear down, Chicago Bears, put up a fight with a might so fearlessly.
We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation with your T-formation.
Bear down, Chicago Bears, and let them know why you're wearing the crown.
You're the pride and joy of Illinois, Chicago Bears, bear down.

Filed in: sports nfl bears

Coffee: Magical Liquid?

There are two things about coffee that amazes me. One I can explain and the other that to this day baffles me.

1) Coffee that is secreted through the bottom of a styrofoam cup after sitting on a surface for a while. This one I am pretty sure about.

2) How in the F can coffee jump out of the damn slit in the lid and make "magic bullet" like movements to spill on me in weird places right in front of me as I watch?

Big things going down in the Sofa Kingdom. More soon.

Filed in: coffee weird

The Champ

Your claret jug sized cup of coffee is ready.

Filed in: sports golf awesome tiger