January 2006 Archives
I brewed up a batch of Kern River Red for the Christmas holidays as I had quite a bit of family coming in. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite ready. It takes a good 3-4 weeks in the bottle for good results. This is 5 weeks in the bottle. This is as good as it gets. Excellent head and carbonation. Smooth malt with just a bit of bitterness and dryness from the hops. I need to finish this batch up so I can bottle the North Dakota Sweet Porter.
Mad Oilman is not a Longhorn. He is a Terrier, albeit a native Houstonian Terrier.
1. Defenses on both sides collapsed at the end.
2, Vince Young #2 Heisman? Right. That was proven tonight. A 6'5" mobile quarterback is a hell of a lot more valuable in the draft than a 6' running back/receiver that is a playmaker against crappy teams. A guy slated before this game to be the #1 pick in the NFL draft, who runs an average of 12 times a game. LenDale White proved to be the better offensive threat in this game, and his collegiate numbers prove him to be a good pickup if he is available. Reggie Bush is talented, yes. I see him going down the Antwoan Ranle El path. Fast as hell, not quite a receiver, not quite a runing back, to small for a tight end.
1. Pete Carrol is a damn good coach. Second half adjustments have been masterful. This game may come down to coaching.
2. Field goals are always important. Points on the board. Or in the case of Texas, not on the board. 4 points squandered.
3. Stupid penalities and turnovers are key. Texas is losing this battle in a big way.
4. Where did Texas' defense go?
5. Mack Brown's halftime motivational speech had to be one of the worst in history. As was his staff's first half analysis.
So the Astros pick up Preston Wilson. At best a sideways move. Yes, he had some key hits for the Nationals and his numbers look good, but he played in Colorado for quite a while and that town tends to inflate stats quite a bit. Average player.
What's infuriating, though, is listening to our local sports talk jackasses, Rich Lord and Mark Vandermeer discussing the move. They actually brought up that race (Preston is black) might have played a part in the signing as the Astros at that point had no 'black' players on the roster. They lamented that Major League Baseball as a whole only had 10% black athletes. Black population in the US is around 14% .
Vandermeer, in brilliant analysis, brought up the fact that a Major League roster is 30 players. Therefore the Astros should have at least 3 black players. What!? There are quotas in baseball? BULLSHIT! Baseball, as all sports are merit based. You are compensated based on talent. Period.
Then they intimated that this was a marketing move to get the black fan to the park. Again, What?!
The entire conversation implied old boy racism. In fact, it showed an inherent racism in the sportscaster, looking for problems where they do not exist.
Professional sports are based on skill, period. A player's value is based on his ability. His paycheck is based on his ability (and a good agent).
Given the demographic argument presented by Lord and Vandermeer, let me play devil's advocate and ask a few questions:
Why are there so few whites on the Texans, given there demographic distribution in the country? Is it racism?
Why are there so few Hispanics on the Texans, given there demographic distribution in the country? Is it racism?
Why are there so few Asians in any major sport? Is it racism?
Answer to all of the above? NO.
Let's continue.
Why are there no Black sports commentators on the 610 lineup? Is it racism? Are Kevin Bass contributing during the Astros season and Andre Ware calling during the Texan's season marketing ploys to bring in the Black audience? Why does the regular staff not reflect the demographics of the USA?
Stupid commentary by inherently ignorant people, creating controversy where there is none to generate callers. Again, Bullshit.
1. Keith Jackson - Time to retire. Calling an obviously wide right extra point good shows you don't even pay attention any more. It was obvious.
2. How long is halftime? Come on, let's play some football.
3. USC Band - Beat It, Michael Jackson. Nice collective 250 person crotch grab and thrust. Classy.
4. U2 performance/commercial - Ummm, Apple used that song about a year ago. Hideous waste of time delaying the game needlessly for some stupid and ill thought out marketing campaign.
5. Midway through the 3rd quarter. Reggie Bush? Sorry, this is the Vince Young show. Reggie Bush has been shut down. It's still a damn good game, but looking at sheer talent at this point, Reggie Bush is not a #1 draft pick. Don't do it Texans. Don't do it.
6. Officiating. Typical college garbage. Vince Young's knee was down on the lateral. Texas intercepted a ball near the end of the second half. Even in the impact of incompetence at this point.
