All by myself: Patriots - Steelers Live Diary

This is a big game (bigger for Pittsburgh than NE).  Since I'm at the house, I figure I can watch and type at the same time.  So here is a running diary for the game.

32 Thoughts on 32 Teams

The Patriots play the Steelers in a few minutes.  Besides that, it's a week of pretty craptacular match ups.  So, while I watch the Dolphins - Giants game, here is a thought or two on each NFL team.

NFL Picks

Indianapolis +7.5 vs. TENNESSEE
Jacksonville +10 vs HOUSTON
CAROLINA -3 vs. Minnesota
New Orleans -13.5 vs. ST. LOUIS
BALTIMORE -11 vs. Arizona
NY GIANTS -9.5 vs. Miami
BUFFALO -4 vs. Washington
Detroit -3 vs. DENVER
New England -2.5 vs. PITTSBURGH
Cleveland +9 vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Cincinnati -1 vs. SEATTLE
Dallas +3 vs. PHILADELPHIA
San Diego -3 vs. KANSAS CITY

Last Week: 7-5-1
Season: 43-54-5

Here is where I am getting the lines now: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/sportsbook_sniper.html.  I take the Hilton line if there is one.

College Football Picks

Bunch of road favorites to cover, and Michigan State (+165) to win; this is probably a bad idea...

Arkansas -9.5 vs. VANDERBILT
Clemson -3.5 vs. GEORGIA TECH
Georgia -2.5 vs. Florida (at Jacksonville)
Michigan State +4 vs. NEBRASKA
Stanford -7.5 vs. USC
Oklahoma -13.5 vs KANSAS STATE

Last Week: 3-3
Season: 27-19-2

What's New

My life is pretty boring, and I like it to be routine.  For a while I wasn't sleeping well at night, not eating well, and keeping inconsistent hours.  It's my own fault and now I think I've fixed the problem.  I'm back to sleeping better at night and eating more regular meals.  That's not to say I won't stay out late some night playing cards, but I'd prefer to be sleeping at night.

1.  Going to try to get tickets to Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour while I'm at MGM later, or else I'll buy online.  I bet it is an interesting show.

2.  Going to San Diego in December.  Will spend a day or two at the zoo and don't know what else.

3.  There is an Occupy Las Vegas.  They are camped out, on a 30 day permit, about a mile from my house.  Haven't heard anything good or bad.  I know they are not on the strip because it's all private property.  I think they plan to protest at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Paris Casino (represents G20 Summit in Paris, France).  I'm interested to see if these "Occupy" movements accomplish anything, aside from stating the obvious; that people feel taken advantage of by corporations and their government.

4. May take my camera out one night this weekend.  Halloween, Occupy Vegas, and the bull riding championships all going on.

5.  Spent yesterday chasing back my money courtesy of this unfortunate hand:  I raise on the button with AK and get two callers.  Flop is KK2.  Unfortunately, one of my opponents had 22.  Got my money back and more, but it was a longer day than I would have preferred.  Actually, I got to watch Game 6 of the World Series while I was playing, so it wasn't all that bad.

6.  Dear Texas Rangers Fans:  

Welcome to our world.  

Signed: Any Red Sox Fan over 30. 

Weekend Football Picks

College

West Virginia -14 vs. SYRACUSE
Oklahoma State -6.5 vs. MISSOURI
Tennessee +30 vs. ALABAMA
Southern California +9.5 vs. NOTRE DAME
Auburn +21 vs. LSU
MICHIGAN STATE +7.5 vs. Wisconsin

Last Week: 3-3
Season: 24-16-2


NFL


TAMPA BAY +1 vs. Chicago
Washington +2.5 vs. CAROLINA
NY JETS +2 vs. San Diego
CLEVELAND -3 vs. Seattle
Houston +3 vs. TENNESSEE
Denver +2 vs. MIAMI
Atlanta +3.5 vs. DETROIT
OAKLAND +5.5 vs. Kansas City
Pittsburgh -3.5 vs. ARIZONA
St. Louis +13 vs. DALLAS
Green Bay -9 vs. MINNESOTA
NEW ORLENS -14 vs. Indianapolis
JACKSONVILLE +8 vs. Baltimore


Last Week: 4-9
Season: 36-49-4

Note**Good thing I decided betting NFL games was a losing venture after Week 2.

Random Sports Thoughts

Here are a few random thoughts from the weekend.

1.  The Patriots played good enough to win against Dallas.  A few too many turnovers kept the game close, but they came through in the end.

2.  I'm beginning to wonder if Chad Ochocinco will ever play a significant part of the offense, or if he'll just spend one insignificant season in New England.

3.  People will try to place a slogan on the Texas Rangers vs. St. Louis Cardinals World Series.  I'm going with, "the Arkansas is in the way series".

4.  I pick Texas to win.

5.  Did not do baseball picks for this post-season.  I would have picked Philadelphia over Texas.

6.  What a horrible crash that killed Indy Car driver Dan Wheldon yesterday at the Las Vegas Speedway.  I may have gone to the race, had it not conflicted with the Patriots game on tv.  I got an email about complementary tickets the other day.  MGM property guests were offered free tickets with reservations.

7.  Las Vegas made a big deal about the Indy Car race beforehand, with tie-in's to the casinos and events around town.  Now I think they wish it would all go away.  I read that drivers felt uncomfortable with the speeds on that track.  I'll admit that I don't know much about auto racing.  I just figure that because of the nature of the sport, these horrific accidents are going to continue to occur.

8.   Went to the UNLV Men's Basketball scrimmage last night.  They look like a good basketball team, and I look forward to seeing some games this season.  They should expect to get to the tournament and maybe win a game or two.

9.  Next season's team may be even better, given a year of experience under new coach, Dave Rice.  Plus, the player I was most impressed by, USC transfer Bryce Jones, is sitting out this season.  Now I wonder if they could ever land top high school recruit, and local standout, Shabazz Muhammad.

10.  The first BCS standings have been released.  I'm not going to argue with the top 5: LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Boise State.  I'm sure I'll eventually have something to complain about.

11.  Regarding the NBA lockout - they can take the rest of the decade off for all I care.  I only feel bad for team employees and peripheral businesses who depend on the NBA for their income / livelihood.

12.  The Patriots have a bye next week, meaning I need to find something to do Sunday.

 

Dropkick Murphys - Hard Rock Casino 10/14/11

Went to see the Dropkick Murphys Friday night at the pool at Hard Rock Casino.  I enjoyed most everything about the concert, but I'm perhaps unfairly comparing it to the first time I saw them, six or seven years ago at Lupo's in Providence.

50 Cent and the Mountain Dew Motocross and BMX Tour were at other other venues, so it was a busy night at Hard Rock.  I live about a mile away, so I just walked across UNLV to the casino.   I got there as the opening act was playing and was lucky to pull up a seat on a cabana (I'm too old for mosh pits and getting as close as I can to the stage).  A palm tree blocked one of the sides of the stage from view, but that's ok.  I'm still sitting on a cabana at the pool watching the Dropkick Murphys perform.

The Dropkicks did a good job, and have updated their set list with some new songs - replacing older ones that I like as well as the Irish standards they integrated into old albums and shows.  Songs off their new album include the title track, "Going Out In Style", "Cruel", and "The Irish Rover".

They may be best known for "I'm Shipping Up To Boston", aka: that song from "The Departed".

So, it was a good show.  It seemed like about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, including encore.  After that, I grabbed a bite to eat and played poker for an hour or so at the Hard Rock Casino.  I had never played poker there before, but may have to go back because the $1-$3 game was really soft.  I made enough to pay for my ticket, meal, and clear about $100.  All and all, a pretty good night.

Football Picks

I started picking games this last season, just to see how I would do based on what I thought about the match-ups.  Last season, I did well on NFL and poorly on NCAA.  So far, this season is the opposite.  I don't place a lot of sports bets, but I am about even for the season - probably because all of my winnings are invested back into losing parlays.

Weekend Football Picks

College


Southern Cal. -3 vs. CALIFORNIA
Virginia Tech -7 vs. WAKE FOREST
Baylor +9.5 vs. TEXAS A&M
AUBURN +2 vs. Florida
TEXAS +7.5 vs. Oklahoma State
Michigan +2.5 vs. MICHIGAN STATE

Last Week: 4-2
Season: 21-13-2


NFL


St. Louis +14.5 vs. GREEN BAY
PITTSBURGH -12 vs. Jacksonville
WASHINGTON +1.5 vs. Philadelphia
DETROIT -4 vs. San Francisco
ATLANTA -4 vs. Carolina
Indianapolis +7 vs. CINCINNATI
Buffalo +3.5 vs, NY GIANTS
Houston +8 vs. BALTIMORE
Cleveland +6.5 vs. OAKLAND
NEW ENGLAND -7 vs. Dallas
New Orleans -4.5 vs. TAMPA BAY
CHICAGO -3 vs. Minnesota
NY JETS -7 vs. Miami

Last Week: 6-7
Season: 32-40-4

NFL Picks

INDIANAPOLIS -2.5 vs. Kansas City
MINNESOTA -3 vs. Arizona
BUFFALO +3 vs. Philadelphia
HOUSTON -5 vs. Oakland
New Orleans -6.5 vs. CAROLINA
JACKSONVILLE +1 vs. Cincinnati
PITTSBURGH -3 vs. Tennessee
NY GIANTS -9.5 vs. Seattle
Tampa Bay +3 vs. SAN FRANCISCO
NY Jets +7.5 vs. NEW ENGLAND
San Diego -3.5 vs. DENVER
Green Bay -5.5 vs. ATLANTA
DETROIT -5 vs. Chicago

Last Week: 8-8
Season: 26-33-4

Overheard at the Poker Table

Here are a few funny things I've heard (or said) at the poker table recently.

Woman in casino (yells):  "Woooooo!"
Woman at poker table:  "She must be fat.  Fat chicks need attention."
(Even thought her back was turned, she was right about the woman being quite large.)

Same woman at the poker table gets up to leave:
Man: "Where are you going?"
Woman at poker table: "Wherever the f**k I want to go."
Me: "She's going to make someone a very lucky man."

European Man:  "I am not very good at sex."

Man at poker table: "Have a good trip back to France."
Japanese man at poker table: "I'm from Tokyo."

Australian man (sitting between a man from Israel and man from Palestine during a raised pot): "I'm caught between Israel and Ramallah.  I better get the hell out of the way."
(True story: I sat at a table with guys from Israel, Palestine, and Dubai.  None of them knew each other and when they were done playing poker, they went to the club together.)

Dealer: "You definitely want to have a seat in here on Halloween night."
Me: "I bet it's quite a show."
Dealer: "People just wear their underwear around and call it their Halloween costume."
Me" "Isn't it a little cold for that?"
Dealer: "Nope.  They say it's the only night the prostitutes all stay home, because nobody can tell the difference."
Me: "That's good to know, thanks."

I have 5 6 and the flop is 4 7 8.  I bet $12 (pot-size bet) and get three callers.  Turn is Q.  I over-bet the pot (about $75 into $56).  There is a comment or two about my bet as everybody folds.
Me:  "Anyone want to guess what I have?"
Guy next to me: "Straight?"
Me (as I flip over my cards): "Get off my lawn."

Oldie but goodie (from a few years ago):
Man who busted out at Bellagio: "There goes my hooker money."

College Football Picks

Oklahoma -10 vs. Texas (at Dallas)
ALABAMA -29 vs. Vanderbilt
Auburn +10.5 vs. ARKANSAS
Georgia -1 vs. TENNESSEE
VIRGINIA TECH -7 vs. Miami
LSU -13.5 vs. Florida

Last Week: 3-3
Season: 17-11-2

Bruins Stanley Cup Defense Begins Tomorrow

The Bruins regular season begins tomorrow.  Most of the team returns.  I expect the B's to be fighting champions.

In the meantime,

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/gallery/bruins_receive_stanley_cup_rings?pg=7

NFL Picks

Detroit +2.5 vs. DALLAS
New Orleans -7 vs. JACKSONVILLE
PHILADELPHIA -9.5 vs. San Francisco
ST. LOUIS +3 vs. Washington
CLEVELAND pk vs. Tennessee
Buffalo -3 vs. CINCINNATI
KANSAS CITY +3 vs. Minnesota
Carolina +6.5 vs. CHICAGO
Pittsburgh +3.5 vs. HOUSTON
Atlanta -4.5 vs. SEATTLE
NY Giants -1 vs. ARIZONA
SAN DIEGO -7 vs. Miami
GREEN BAY -12 VS. Denver
New England -5 vs. OAKLAND
NY Jets +4 vs. BALTIMORE
Indianapolis +10 vs. TAMPA BAY

Last Week: 6-10
Season: 18-25-4

Terry Francona Leaves Red Sox

It was announced yesterday that Terry Francona will not continue to manage the Boston Red Sox, following a season where the team famously collapsed and failed to make the playoffs.

College Football Picks

Picks were made earlier; just got around to posting.

Mississippi State +6.5 at GEORGIA
Texas A&M -2.5 vs. ARKANSAS (at Arlington, TX)
Alabama -4.5 at FLORIDA
Auburn +11 at SOUTH CAROLINA
Clemson +7 at VIRGINIA TECH
Nebraska +9.5 vs. WISCONSIN

Last Week 4-2
Season 14-8-2

Moneyball

Movie reviews are a dime a dozen, and I don't read them before seeing a movie in the theater (don't want to read any spoilers), so I'll just post a quick opinion.

I liked Moneyball.

Saw it last Friday (opening afternoon).  I read the book when it was released, and was surprised when I heard that it was going to become a major motion picture (from what I've read, so was author Michael Lewis).  The movie is a stylized and basic interpretation of the book, and yes, many "facts" are changed or conveniently overlooked, but that's usually the case when "real life-becomes written word-becomes moving picture".  So, if you can get beyond critically comparing the movie to the book and look at it in comparison to what's been at the theater lately, Moneyball is as good as anything that has come out lately.

If you want the crabby baseball insider's "this movie sucks" review, here you go.

I would not be surprised if Moneyball receives Academy Award nominations for best picture, actor (Brad Pitt), and supporting actor (Jonah Hill).