Hype?

* Can you possibly hype a game more than the Brett Favre saga about to play out? I'm a huge Viking fan....but I'm tired. Can we just play football? I can't wait for this to be all over. I'm ecstatic Favre is a Viking. I think we have a great chance to make some noise this year. But, I just want to be a fan. Let's talk about something else can we?

* The roughing the passer penalties on the Ravens vs. the Pats was atrocious. Those 2 roughing penalites directly resulted in 14 points for the Pats. Not right.

* There is definitely no respect for the Buckeyes. They win handily and get jumped by Cincinnati. Until they win a big game, the Bucks will go no higher than 5 despite what they do the rest of the way. We will get another shot at redemption....expect the Rose Bowl rematch with USC.

* Imagine playing 162 games and it all comes down to 1 baseball game. Imagine being a player & thinking about all of the opportunities you were given throughout the year to win just 1 more game. Could you have focused a little more, ran a little harder, studied the scout chart, warmed up, etc... just a little more to make that one play to create one more win?

* Magical couple of days in Minnesota. The Twins play their last regular season game in the Metrodome, the Vikes are home in the Brett Favre battle, and the 1 game playoff tomorrow night. Fun town.

* The Saints have been ridiculous on offense. They have scored 144 points in 4 games. That is 20 more points than the 2nd best offense - get this....the 2nd highest scoring team is the Baltimore Ravens. Are you kidding me? I thought they only played defense in that city.

* The Broncos have only given up 26 points in 4 games. That's less than 7 per game. It helps that they played the Browns.

* Braylon Edwards is a solid citizen.

* The Indians only lost 97 games. Shrew...I thought they were gonna lose 100. Why fire the manager with only 6 games left? Silly.

* Below is a parenting tip that I recently read & liked.

Parenting Tips – The Importance of Respect and Guidance
This will bring us to our next parenting tip which is guidance. Kids will learn what they live. If we disrespect our kids, they will disrespect us and others. A common way we as parents disrespect our children is by letting them get away with being disrespectful to us.

For example, I say to my four year old son Johnny, “It’s time for bed, hurry off now.” His response is, “NO” and I laugh and say, “How cute.” I have disrespected him. In other words, I didn’t care about his need for guidance. If we walked into someone’s house and smoked after they have expressed their desire for not smoking in their house, I would be showing disrespect for the needs of the home owner. If we laugh at our kids when they are disrespectful to us (which they will be at times) or don’t correct them, we show disrespect for their needs. Children need guidance. But unless our guidance stems from love, it will come off as nothing but orders: “I am parent and you are a nothing child, do as I say!”

As a parent, we owe it to our kids to guide them into being respectful children. Otherwise they will grow to be disrespectful to all authority.

• Guidance takes time and love -- lots of time and lots of love. Never, ever give up.

If children know beyond a doubt that they are loved, special, and important to their parents, and are learning respect for others, they are well on their way to a healthy happy future. But the key is to be persistent and realize that this bundle of joy came into this world with a number of great needs that we can meet if we realize the demands of parenting and love them all the way through their growing up stages.

For Best Results

* I think it's absurd that a toothpaste tube contains the directions - "for best results, squeeze from the bottom of the tube" - are you kidding me?

* As discussed last week, the Indians are gaining ground on hitting the 100 loss number. They have now lost 11 straight. There are 11 games to go & they must win 2. Embarrassing.

* The SI Cover Jinx is alive & well. In the College FB preview issue they highlighted a few teams that were going to make a run this year - Ole Miss, Oregon & Oregon St. - they all have lost.

* Now I'm concerned - Adrian Peterson was on the cover last week. That's not good for a Viking fan like myself.

* Baseball has about 11 games left. There are only 2 races worth mentioning:
- The Rockies are up 3.5 but have dropped their last 2. Meanwhile the Braves have won their last 3 & the Marlin have won their last 2.
- The Tigers are only up 3 on the Twins. But, Detroit was on the cover of SI this week. Oh No.......... Can Detroit handle more disappointment?

* The Russians are coming....it appears one of the richest dudes in the world is going to buy the Nets. The NBA is clearly becoming an international game isn't it? The Cavs have a Chinese owner.

* The NHL kicks off in 8 days. Excited about the Columbus Blue Jackets. Can they continue to improve? I really like the young talent - Nash, Mason, Brassard, Filatov. Just keep healthy....

* Not much in the way of big games for College FB this weekend. The biggest is Virginia Tech vs. Miami - but I really don't care about that one. The Big Ten does have some important conference games - but I don't think they really matter in the national picture anymore. There is no love out there for the Big Ten. People continue to be fascinated with the SEC.

* I ran into this blog on Networking. I liked it & wanted to share it:

Ten Top Tips to Grow Your Network
by KeithFerrazzi.com on August 11, 2009
1. Build it before you need it: The best networking isn’t networking at all. Your goal should be to build relationships. Sure, that takes more time than swapping business cards at some boozy event. But those connections – real, sustained friendships – are what’s going to make a real difference in your life and career.

2. Don’t Be a Networking Jerk: Does the thought of “working a room” make you feel dirty? So don’t. Approach people with the question, “How can I help you?” Leading with generosity will allow you to approach people without the usual nervous inhibitions that bubble up when we feel inauthentic.

3. Don’t Keep Score: Truly connecting with others is a constant process of giving and receiving—of asking for and offering help. You’ve got to be willing to be generous, and accept the generosity of others, without keeping tally. Think big-picture: The more people you help, the more help you’ll have and the more help you’ll have helping others.

4. Create Instant Intimacy: Who really wants to talk about the weather? Why not skip to the good stuff! Creating instant intimacy by talking to people right away about their passions. What is it that really makes them tick?

5. Be Audacious: Nothing will create more opportunity in your life than a willingness to step up and ask for what you need. If you’re not brave enough to get out there and meet the people who are essential to your career, you won’t. It’s that simple. Push beyond what you think is “allowed” and you’ll often find that people are eager to help.

6. Develop Conversational Currency: When meeting someone new, be prepared to have something to say. Keep up with current events. Cultivate some niche interest—a single, narrow specialty that you’re truly passionate about. That passion has power.

7. Learn to Listen: Strive to be interested as much as interesting – or more. People love to meet others who take genuine interest in their lives. It’s frighteningly rare! Ask questions and when they answer, listen! Show them you’re listening with body language and follow up questions.

8. Master Nonverbal Cues: First, smile – it makes you approachable. Uncross your arms, relax, and maintain eye contact. When your eye contact drops below 70 percent, you can come across as rude and disinterested.

9. Get to Know the Gatekeeper: You think an assistant isn’t important enough to be on your radar? Wrong! That assistant has tremendous power as your target’s right hand. Treat them well.

10. Create a Personal Advisory Board: Get other people invested in your success by calling upon them as trusted

Move On

* Last Saturday was a kick in the gut for Buckeye fans. To be oh so close & miss out again. Texas, Penn State & now USC. All down to the final plays. All losses. Tressel ball can keep us in the games, but the Bucks must be perfect to win.

* Speaking of Tressel & the punt is the most important play. Check out this link.... This coach does not believe in punting & onside kicks every time. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1160256/index.htm

* On to this weekend - I'm a Buckeye fan. To me that means my loyalty & passion will not change from week to week. I hope they smash my alma mater, Toledo (T-O-L-E-D-O, Toledo). I also hope the Rocket offense if very potent so OSU has to learn to put up some points.

* This is the weekend that Lane Kiffin learns to be a little more quiet. Florida will whack Tennessee. Don't expect Florida to take Tebow out until the clock hits 0:00.

* Texas plays Texas Tech this weekend. If you remember, Tech ruined the Longhorns chance to play for the National Championship. Expect Texas to get revenge in a big way. It will be a high scoring Texas win.

* It looks like College football will be the Big 3 this year - Florida, Texas & USC. I hope USC is good enough to run the table & not trip over a lesser opponent. I do think the Pac 10 is much improved. Cal is pretty good. I want USC to dominate that conference.

* Got a chance to see the Vikings & Browns live last Sunday. Couple of observations.
1) The stadium was not full. How does an opening day at Cleveland stadium against a team with so much star power (AP & Favre in particular), not sell out?
2) It was an awesomely beautiful day.
3) I love Browns fans - I really do. They have incredible passion & like me are fans of a team that has not won a Super Bowl.
4) Pro football players are incredible athletes. The speed, size & hitting on the field. How do more not get permanently injured from this sport?
5) Adrian Peterson is not human. I'm watching this guy warm up before the game - there is no one on either sideline that closely resembles him. The size, power & speed of him - whoa! He runs like a receiver & looks like a linebacker. No one like him. His fourth quarter run.....speechless. That run will be shown in the highlights for years to come. If he stays healthy, he will be mentioned in the same breath as Payton.
6) As much as I want to believe it because he's a Columbus kid & I think a good guy, Brady Quinn is not the answer in Cleveland.

* I hope the season hurries & ends & puts the Indians out of their misery. 1-9 in their last 10. Only 16 more games. They stand at 85 losses. Can they avoid loosing 100?

* One more thought from the Browns game - the camera panned to Lebron in the stadium. The ovation & roar for that guy was incredible. He owns the city of Cleveland.

* I know this was made re-popular while USC was in town, but I don't think there is a better was to define being a friend than the song "Lean On Me". I'm not sure there are any lyrics written that are better than these:

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Go Buckeyes (& michigan)

* Big game tomorrow. Honestly, I'm tired of hearing how bad the Big 10 is. There is only one way of dealing with that. OSU has got to win a big game.

* Many people forget it took a last minute comeback by Texas to beat OSU last year in the bowl game. I consistently hear & read that the Buckeyes have been embarrassed in the big games. Definitely true in the Florida, LSU & USC game. Not true otherwise. Many argued Texas should have played Florida in the National Championship game last year. OSU took them to the wire.

* I know - a loss is a loss. Once again, until the Bucks win a big national spotlight game, they will not be respected in the media. I'm sure all of the Big Ten will be rooting hard for the Buckeyes.

* This weekend is the only time that I become a michigan fan. I'm not an Irish fan.

* The NFL is here. Not a bad game last night. That was some serious smash mouth football. Sometimes I wonder how adults can survive that much punishment to the body. There was some hitting last night. Seems the Steelers are always involved in punishing games. There aren't too many teams that hit consistently like them - the Ravens & Titans come to mind.

* Roger Federer is the man. Got a chance to see him live a couple of weeks ago - if you can at all respect tennis (I happen to like it a lot), there is no other player like him. He looks so effortless yet his shot placement & lack of errors are amazing. Surprise - he's once again in the semis at the US Open. He will win another.

* The Rockies continue to push the Dodgers in the NL West. They have won 7 in a row. Since firing their manager in the first part of the season, they have went from 10 games under 500 to 21 games over 500. They are a lock for the NL wild card. But done sell them short, they are closing on the Dodgers quick - and they close the season with the Dodgers.

* With about 20 games to go, it looks like the MLB playoffs are close to being set. In the NL - Philadelphia, St. Louis & LA with the Rockies. In the AL, it's NY, Detroit & LA with the BoSox & Texas fighting it out for the wildcard. That's it. I don't expect anyone to stop the Yanks this year.

* Interesting article in Sports Illustrated this week. I didn't know it, but the AL has dominated the NL. Interleague play has been consistently slanted to the AL (even the Royals & Orioles are successful). AL players that are traded or moved to NL teams find success (Smoltz & Giambi are the latest examples- if you're a GM in the NL, watch the AL waiver wire). NL players that move to the AL bomb (Kerry Wood among many). The AL has won the last 13 all star games. The only place where the NL has success - the World Series - they have won 4 of the last 8.

* With Sizemore out due to injury - does anyone know any of the current Indians?

* Here's a fantasy sleeper - our very own Beanie Wells - if he stays healthy, he will be a stud. The only other back they have is Hightower. The receivers are so good, they will get extra attention. Beanie will have a terrific year.

* Some tips on leadership (thanks to Dale Carnagie)
A leader's job often includes changing your people's attitudes & behavior. Some tips:
1) Being with praise & honest appreciation
2) Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3) Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4) Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
5) Let the other person save face.
6) Praise the slightest improvement & praise every improvement.
7) Give the other person a reputation to live up to.
8) Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9) Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest. (what's in it for them).

* Go Bucks (& michigan) - enjoy the games.

Football is Here....

* After March Madness - this is the longest time of the year for sports fan - however it's starting to pick up......

* Hard to believe school is starting & football is right around the corner. Fantasy teams are being picked, everyone is optimistic (except for Raiders & Lions fans), and Buckeye fans have their usual high expectations.

* So many things to think about with the upcoming seasons. I think this season, unlike any other that I can remember, has so many quarterback stories.
- In the NFL you have Favre, Vick, Quinn vs Anderson, Cutler as a Bear, the return of Brady, is Romo better without Jessica, can Aaron Rodgers repeat on such a fantastic last year, can Carson Palmer find Ochocinco without TJ in the lineup, is there a soph slump on the horizon for Matt Ryan (or is he even better with Tony Gonzalez in the lineup), what will the Chiefs do without their very expensive Matt Cassel, does Hasselback improve with TJ Housh in the lineup, how bad will Mark Sanchez be and many more. Can't wait to kick it off.
- In the college world, the big 3 are back - Tebow, McCoy & Bradford. They will have amazing years. The heisman will be a 3 horse race simply because of the press these guys have received & the expected success of their teams.
- In the Big 10, we have Pryor, Juice and Daryll Clark - all 3 are quality QBs.
- Others to mention & watch - Todd Reesing (Kansas), Dan Lefevour (Western Mich), Jevan Snead (Ole Miss), Zac Robinson (Ok St), Russell Wilson (NC State).....oh my I get excited just thinking of the fun to be had.

* Is Eli Manning really worth more than his brother? Just imagine if David Tyree doesn't make the incredible helmet grab. Are we still talking about Eli as an elite QB? I don't think so. I think
he's an OK quarterback, but there are many that I would take before him.

* As a matter of fact, I would take Drew Brees over almost any other QB (maybe Brady & Peyton----maybe). The dude threw for over 5,000 yards last year. That offense is absolutely unstoppable (they also have a Westerville South player named Lance Moore). If only the D (led by OSU's own Will Smith) could pick it up a notch, that team is scary.

* Speaking of scary, the Vikings have 3 world class sprinters in their lineup - AP (All Day), Bernard Berrian & Percy Harvin - talk about excited. If #4 can be average, the purple team could be very good this year. It's honestly the most excited that I have been since they were upset by the Falcons in the NFC championship many years ago. Go Vikes.

* Time for predictions - NFC - I like the Giants, Vikings, Saints, Seahawks with the Bears & Eagles getting the wildcards. The Vikings (yes the Vikings) will be the last team standing from the NFC. Gonna be a fun year.

* AFC - I like the Colts, Pats, Steelers, Chargers with the Jaguars & Titans grabbing the wildcards. The Chargers will represent the AFC.

* Sadly I predict the Chargers will give the Vikings their 5th Super Bowl loss.

* Hockey kicks off on Oct 3 - expect the CBJs to be much improved this year. Need to get up in the top 4 of the conference. I expect this to be a good year - A healthy Brassard will be a horse.

* Baseball is finishing - don't see anyone stopping the Yankees & Dodgers - the deepest pockets in the majors.

* Surprise - Michigan's Rodriguez is cheating with his practices. It won't be long before that guy is run out of town. That's too conservative of a school to take too many more hits.

* Expect Lane Kiffin to get quiet after Florida smacks Tennessee on Sept 19th.

* Games of the week:
9/3: Oregon @ Boise State
9/5: Alabama @ Va Tech, Georgia @ Oklahoma State
9/12: USC @ OSU
10/3: LSU @ Georgia, USC @ Cal
10/10: Florida @ LSU, Alabama @ Ole Miss
10/17: Texas v Oklahoma, Va Tech @ Georgia Tech
10/31: USC & Oregon, Florida v Georgia
11/7: LSU @ Alabama, OSU @ Penn State
11/14: Utah @ TCU
11/21: OSU @ michigan (not the luster of the ole days but still very meaningful), Penn St @ Mich St.
12/3: Oregon State @ Oregon

Lots more thoughts to come.

It's Been A While

But there's a lot on my mind:

* I'm very mixed about the Brett Favre situation. On one hand, I'm tired of it. It's been very frustrating going through his change of mind - especially since the team he is impacting is the Vikings (a team I'm pretty near & dear to). On the other hand, I can't help but feel #4 would have been a lot better than the other options the Vikes have at QB. They are quite possibly the most talented team in the NFL outside of QB. It's been over 30 years since they've been to a Super Bowl. Now, it's Sage Rosenthal that is my QB in Minnesota. Wow!

* It's very tough to be an Indian fan these days. They only have 4 guys left on the team that played in the playoffs just 2 years ago. You would think their farm system is very stocked now. I'm a skeptic - I'm not expecting these trades to ultimately pay-off for the Tribe in the next few years. How do you justify going to the Jake these days when you can go to the brand new Huntington Park in Columbus & watch the minor league Indians for $6?

* This has been the most boring sports season that I think I have gone through. The options right now - Baseball, Soccer, Nascar, Golf - none are very interesting to me. I continue to lose more & more interest in baseball. Not sure why. Maybe it's due to the ridiculous salaries. Maybe it's due to the Indians & Reds being terrible. Maybe it's due to me being a basketball & football fan primarily. I'm not sure. But I'm having a very rough time finding things to watch on tv.

* Played Mud Volleyball last weekend. If you haven't done it, I highly recommend it. You don't have to be a good volleyball player. The mud makes it difficult to move & jump - equalizing most of the players. It's hard not to have a great time splashing around in the mud. Lots of laughs, smiles & fun no matter how good you play.

* I finally bit the bullet & got a Facebook. I was very reluctant. I felt Facebook was more of a HS/College thing to do. But one day, my daughter set me up an account without me knowing. Next thing I know I have a ton of friend requests. These are people that I haven't seen or talked to in many months or years. Now I'm connected to so many different people that it's been fun. I don't do much on FB. But it has been fun re-connecting. I have another HS reunion next year & it's going to be a great tool to communicate getting it setup.

* College is expensive - I now have 2 in college. One of the things I've learned is SAVE, SAVE, SAVE while your kids are young.

* I recently had another birthday. One of the things that I've reflected on as I've continued to age is 2 simple statements:

1) Life is about relationships
2) Be comfortable being uncomfortable.

I'll explore some of my thoughtse on these statements in future posts.

It Starts Tonight

Let's go Jackets.....Let's go Jackets.....Let's go Jackets