Blackbird.

By The Fillerbuster

The Cast 101818

SETTING:

Two part writing session.  No theme selected at writing time.  On my couch both nights, one watching The Voice with wife (compromise show), and the other watching Broncos game and baseball.  I feel the need…the need for speed.

Let’s turn and burn.

EVERGREEN (topics that don’t fade away):

• Predictions are really cool. When you are wrong, at least you made a statement and showed your confidence.  When you are right, you are Nostradamus.  And you have to space them out-the whole little boy cry wolf thing.  Everyone wants to predict personal events like Joe Namath and retire like John Elway.  But, I have a problem with the latest prediction.  Von Miller announced, and asked to be on record, that the Broncos would be kicking the Cardinals a#$ this week in Thursday Night Football.  That is swell.  And, good timing too, as rumors are circling about the comfort zone of the Broncos coaching staff.  They NEED to win one.  But…the Cardinals sort of stink.  So, this “prediction” is stating that you will win a road game that you are favored in against a 1-5 team.  Not exactly monumental, drop the mic stuff, if you ask me.  Anyway, be confident.  Predict wins.  Do what you want.  But, let’s stop thinking that Von Miller’s statement is anything but a little confidence going into the game.  If they win going away, I don’t want anyone in the media begging for more predictions from the Broncos star player.  He is just showing confidence through the media to the locker room.  Let’s appreciate.  Let’s not exaggerate.
• We had a cool Sunday night/Monday night back to back football journey. In one game, we had the instant phenom, Patrick Mahomes, standing up to the GOAT, Tom Brady.  The first half was all Brady, the second half was mostly Mahomes.  In the other game, we had the lesser known Iowa product, CJ Beathard, standing up to a less than 100% Aaron Rodgers.  This was a back and forth affair start to finish.  Both CJ and Patrick will have successful careers, and lesser football fans should catalog both names in their memory.  But, when push came to shove, when the game was on the line, we saw, in the regular season, what each HOF QB was made of.  The youngsters received a loss inducing PERSONAL lesson on NOT letting either old timer on the field within a score.  And, it was beautiful.  I work full time, travel, and have stuff to do in life.  I miss games.  But, dammit, I am SOOOO glad I chose to watch both of those games…start to finish.  Not that I had a problem loving football in general, but, if I did, I would have fallen so in love all again.  No, they weren’t defensive masterpieces.  But, they were toe in the sand statement games that our present legends aren’t going ANYWHERE yet.
• Week 7 in college football created chaos. Where we thought we had solutions, we have problems.  Where we thought we had great teams, we had parity.  Where we thought we knew who was out of it, we were corrected.  And, in a lot of ways, there is ONE team that affects a BUNCH of teams.  You want to map out the college football playoff from here out, watch this team.  Notre Dame controls their destiny and the destiny of many other teams.  There are one loss teams with an extra conference championship ALL OVER THE PLACE who will be left out if Notre Dame runs the table.  The Pac-12 and Big-12 especially will be scoreboard watching Irish scoreboards.  Think about this.  Since I married into a Sooners family, I will give them as an example (even though pretty much all of them have written off title aspirations because they live in a fandom of depressed funk for some reason).  Anyway, the Sooners lost on a neutral field to a good Texas team, and allowed 48 points.  Let’s say that Ohio State, Clemson, and Alabama continue on their merry way.  IF that holds, and Notre Dame wins out, then OU winning the Big 12 championship and redeeming themselves against Texas might not matter.  Or, the Big 10 MIGHT be the conference that gets in TWO teams this year (Ohio State/ Michigan).  The Pac-12 has some weaker teams with one loss (Oregon/Washington State/ CU) and what we thought would be powerhouses with two losses (Stanford, Washington/ USC).  And let’s not forget about UCF.  Bottom line?  When an independent makes a run with a tough schedule, it leaves someone out who is IN a conference.  And, when looking at Notre Dame’s schedule, it is runnable, unless USC magically decides to be what they are on paper ON the field with a freshman QB.  Hey, Power 5 conferences.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  Unfortunately, like it or not, their fan base is massive.  So, if something is gray area, people will vote them in.  They are the necessary evil.  So, the usual plan of losing early and then running the table might not work this time.  Notre Dame might already have a slot reserved no matter HOW they stay undefeated.
• The McGregor-Mayweather bout was…fun. It was different.  It was interesting meshing two slightly different sports.  We watched.  I admit it was sort of cool.  But, let’s draw a line.  Let’s stop the madness.  This talk about Khabib and Mayweather?  I have MANY problems with this.  First, Khabib is a floor fighter primarily.  Doesn’t fit.  Second, Mayweather should retire.  Come on, man.  You were and are great, but don’t push the envelope.  Third, one run at crossing sport lines is enough.  Fourth, I think this says it best.  https://deadspin.com/should-khabib-nurmagomedov-fight-floyd-mayweather-a-ve-1829826072
• NHL predictions: next time (ran out of time)
• NBA predictions: next time (ran out of time)

WEEK-FISH (current topics of interest in sports):

• Sometimes things just drag out and you pinch yourself, and say “What? Jimmy Butler is starting the season ON the Timberwolves?”
• It is quiet news since we are past the Grand Slams of the year, but anyone else notice that Djokovic kind of looks like the Djokovic of a couple years ago SUDDENLY?
• I totally disagree with Nick Bosa leaving the team to concentrate on his injury rehab and the NFL draft. Sure, we knew Ohio State was a stop on your train to the NFL.  But, didn’t you embrace college WHILE you were doing that stop?  Don’t you have camaraderie with your teammates?  I don’t care about the money, rules, available time to train, etc.  I think he would have showed me something OFF the field by sticking with the Buckeyes.  I know the NFL is a business and only a business, but I would have respected him more if he stayed on the sidelines with his teammates until the end.
• You kind of are happy when you see an athlete start kicking butt in another sport and, at the same time, go “really?” Anyway, nothing like a big opening than the best sprinter of all time (Usain Bolt) starting his “soccer career” with two goals in his first game.  Dude is a stud.
• I love the NBA. I love the length of the season, the different stages during it, and love the sport overall.  But, the beginning of the season definitely snuck up on me personally.  The Celtics and Sixers kicked it off on Tuesday.  Anyone else wish that hockey and hoops could wait another 30 days until after MLB was at least over?  I do.
• I am tired of it. I went on the Bama side of the spread two weeks ago, and they missed by .5 points.  I went with the underdog last week, and they missed…even without their star QB…by .5 points.  I am trying NOT to hate you, Bama.  Don’t keep doing this, or at least be consistent on one side or the other.
• There are so many articles these days about whether we are at the end of Eli Manning.   I mean, the guy has made a CAREER off of being a subpar QB most of the time with a high interception rate, with two rings over the GOAT in ANY given argument against his skills.  It is kind of brilliant if you think about it.  I am sure he doesn’t really MEAN to be treading water at this point, but he is.  And, when they have OBJ and Barkley as his skill position threats, you are losing the argument slowly.  At least a couple of years ago, he was at least doing well to barely make the playoffs, and THEN pissing everyone off on other teams by winning.  That two ring trump MIGHT have lasted about 1-2 years too soon.  Hey, Eli.  Your brother has a fake band on commercials-go join HIM.
• NC State is undefeated and plays Clemson this week in an ACC where no one wants to stand up beside Clemson? Well, THAT is juicy.  And probably not going to be exciting at all, but at least there is a little breath from someone other than Clemson in that league.
• I won’t brag about UVA beating Miami this past week.  I assume that going to Duke will blow out whatever optimism I have somehow accumulated to this point.
• I remember a time not so very long ago when I thought Auburn would make the college football playoff jump this year. Now, ironically, not only have they lost twice at home when they shouldn’t have, but now they still have to go TO Alabama AND Georgia.  They were supposed to beat Washington, cruise for a while, and THEN have things get tough.
• I am not alone in thinking that WVU was a closet title contender, but I guess I am the only one writing right now, so…yup…I was wrong.
• I am so confused. Bell announces he is coming back to the Steelers during the bye week.  Then, he disappears.    We had weirdness in the Kawhi Leonard situation.  Weirdness in the Bell situation.  Any hockey players suddenly want to demand a trade and disappear for a while?
• You want to know what control is? I will tell you.  It is being in a sport where there was turmoil, trouncing everyone in your path including some never been done vaults, and then getting the new head of your sport fired because they dissed a Nike commercial.  Simone Biles IS in control.
• You can argue the WR pick all you want on that last scoring play, the Steelers BEAT the Bengals once again. I kind of feel bad for Bengals fans in a way.  And, by the way, watching that game transpire on Gamecast in an airport, exhausted from Vegas, was painful.
• It was fun while it lasted, but you are starting to see the fun run of the Brewers slowly come to an end against a more talented Dodgers team. What a run though…
• I feel like the Astros-Red Sox series might BE the World Series.
• Tulsa had several chances to right the ship and totally BLEW a 14 point lead against USF last week. It was odd to even watch.
• Nathan Peterman might have measurables and arm strength and all that jazz, but man does he like to not only throw interceptions but interceptions that lead to game changing scores TOO. If his career is short-lived, he can never say that he didn’t have the chance in winnable games.
• In the Khabib post fight interviews, anyone else how ugly Ronda Rousey looks these days?
• Think about this. The Broncos have lost four straight but had two Super Bowl contenders on the ropes, relatively.  They had their chances to beat the Rams AND Chiefs, and Broncos fans should know they are a kind of close team, just with no personality.
• And they have a little problem with rushers, of course…
• Plus, this is an important season for the Broncos. Why?  Because if they continue their losing ways, they will no longer be able to say that they have more Super Bowl rings than losing seasons during that span.  It is impressive.  Or, at least is for the moment.
• “Fun” is a relative and subjective term. But, I will say that this college hoops trial is “fun” because of all of the casual references to OTHER possible breaches of recruitment of big schools.
• Scott Frost probably wishes he was back lobbying for a national championship ring when out of a Power 5 conference right now. Man, they find new and creative ways of losing in front of a fan base who now WISHES they could just be 9-4 again.
• I admit it. I thought CU would give USC a RUN last weekend.  We don’t know who anyone is evidently.
• I am not surprised that the Knicks waived Mr. Noah. I AM surprised that the story made it to the top of the ESPN wire for a couple of hours that day.  Talk about either an inflated story or a miserably slow day in sports news.
• Insult to injury, or just plain stupidity. So, we are in the middle of a controversy of whether Kaepernick is wrong or right for starting a trend, and the team he last played for leaves him OFF the team history video?  Well, that is just blatantly dumb and really deserves the media to be all over them for that inaction.
• I think there are cool things in postseason sports. But, I think a pitcher homering off the other pitcher to advance his own cause is right near the top.
• Whether Oregon is for real as a contender or not, this beginning of the season HAS pretty much cemented ONE thing. Herbert will probably be the first player drafted next spring.
• With all of my talk about Notre Dame controlling a lot of this college football playoff, they probably CAN’T afford too many more close calls against teams like Pittsburgh.
• When the Cowboys destroyed the Jaguars, I became more confused about what I was confused about. Is Dallas good?  Was Jacksonville NOT good?
• About NFL refs, complain about targeting penalties.  Complain about roughing the passer penalties.  But, do NOT complain about what Emmanuel Sanders did.  Taunting is obvious, and has been rightfully enforced for quite a while.  I don’t care if it wasn’t totally over the top.  It shouldn’t happen.
• Think about what you will be known for and some will get sad, some will be happy, and some will just know they have more work to do. I, for one, am just glad I wasn’t that guy who poured the beer on Tyreek Hill and in one swoop got charged, got booted forever, and will always be known for that disrespect in a public facing view.  I hope he meets a pretty lady and the girl googles his name after the first date and drops him.  Oh, you are THAT guy.
• Richard Jefferson retired finally, and he was the consummate pro, the exemplary role player, the locker room leader, and the deadeye shooter most teams wish they always had.
• Michigan State always gets ONE of those wins each year when we are doubting them.  I am sure they wish they could compile all of those wins in ONE season to make a run, but nice win over Penn State regardless.
• Think you had a bad day? Wasn’t up to Ice Cube standards?  Well, if you look at the Rutgers QB line last week, you will feel better.  Five INT’s, 16 attempts, 8 yards.  If you figure in the minus 7 yards one of the QB’s had, he accounted for ONE yard during his time in the game.
• Canelo just signed a MONSTER contract with the DAZN network. I know HBO is out of the mix in fighting, but do I really need to GOOGLE who someone signs with now that they are out?
• Want to know when the winds of change are upon us? I will tell you when.  The Cleveland Cavaliers were getting THIRTEEN points against the Raptors tonight.  Who cares where it was played…
• Oh, and they covered by ONE point. Lost by 12.
• I guess the hateful fans (me being one of them) are making a dent. Not only has Mr. Ball been a little quiet to start the NBA season, but ALSO the Big Baller Brand released a sneaker that was ONLY $200.  Baby steps, I guess.
• The Hoodie says that Mack is no L.T. I agree.  NO one is like he was.  He was a machine.  He was organized chaos.  He was beautifully violent.  He was a freaking force on every single play that he was on the field.

THIS AND THAT (pop culture, Fillerbuster thoughts):

• Sears is BANKRUPT? I mean, I guess we saw it coming, but that is pretty crazy if you ask me.
• For those of you figuring that simple star power overcomes looks, Ms. Grande and Mr. Davidson are separated after being engaged. Well, THAT didn’t last long.  And one of them IS much better looking than the OTHER.
• My wife has told me about 1000 times that A Star Is Born is the best movie, like ever. I will rent it, and that will probably, if I must go on record, be simply for the cute dog in it that apparently should win the Oscar.
• I think my new thing might be peanut butter on burgers. Just had another one the other day.  Well, except for the Old Major burger.  THAT is perfection.
• I got a flu shot this week. Since I never get sick, and am not organized enough each year to remember to expend the effort for the flu shot, I guess I am getting sick a LOT this winter.
• My buddy just got booked to play at Red Rocks, the greatest outdoor concert venue in the U.S. Seeing any artist up there is beyond cool.  Seeing my buddy will be surreal and priceless…and I will just be the ones in the stands.
• My wife keeps playing me Hamilton songs, and I admit that I had no idea that not only is there rap in the damn thing, but it is a LOT of rap.
• Our work team went axe throwing the other day. Throwing axes when you really haven’t done it is fun enough, but I am more curious about watching different personalities toss those things.  One of the biggest, meanest looking guys was throwing them like he was shooting a free throw and using the wind from the back door as aid, and one of the quietest colleagues at work threw those things like…he was very, very angry at something.  His velocity was off the charts.  Kind of scary.  Glad I think he likes me at work.  I won’t be making him mad any time soon.
• I am glad Canada legalized weed. I think I have heard all of the present Canadian jokes.  Throwing weed into the mix sounds fresh and new.
• A colleague brought some Target spread to bagel day at work. It was the best tasting thing ever.  Of course, ever since I attended The Masters, I think I have a THING for Pimento cheese.  I think those Augusta Pimento sandwiches CHANGED me.
• I learned this on 5 Things To Know on cnn.com. NYC had the first weekend of NO shootings in 25 years.
• Vegas: one liners only (no time)
  • Unless you are up $34 ($17 per) and have money to burn, know that the Ice bar at Mandalay Bay is exactly what you think it can’t just be…going into a frigid room to drink with you and two other stupid people who paid the cover.
  • If you visit Mandalay Bay, don’t forget the Irish Bar up the escalators. We almost did, but Lindsey found the guitarist she saw in Dublin who holds the Guinness Book of World Records…record…for longest time playing guitar…101 hours.  David Browne.
  • They didn’t know a lot of my requests, so they did Billy Joel and that worked.
  • Evel Pie on Fremont is good pizza, but incredible pizza because of the atmosphere and the odd toppings.
  • Go in The Griffin as your perfect meant to be a dive bar from 1973.
  • If on Fremont, find the Viking guy, as he is hilarious…and always there.
  • I love improv rap, and my favorite part of Fremont was listening to a street performer (with a MONSTROUS bodyguard) freestyle rap about everyone who came up.
  • The light show on Fremont is sick, and make sure you wait around long enough to see the “official” light show. We didn’t catch it the first time, so glad we caught it the second time.
  • The Four Seasons Veranda restaurant was kind of delicious, but once again the atmosphere by the pool and tub made the meal.
  • We did the Sterling Brunch again (our new regular thing), and it is tough to get into, you have to either reserve months ahead of time or get there at 8am in the first 18 people. I don’t lobby for expensive meals, but there is a difference between expensive meals and overpriced meals.  That brunch is the bomb.  And I think I am starting to like caviar a little bit.
  • I have seen every show I believe on The Strip except for MJ’s One (next on my list, and ironic since we stayed there), and here are my present rankings of shows. Far and away #1 Absinthe (crazy stunts). #2 Love (music). #3 La Reve (water).  If you see Love, sit up high-otherwise you can’t see what I have in my photos below.  Love was incredible on all levels.  VERY impressed.  It would take a LOT for anything to overtake Absinthe for me, but that was close.
  • See the shows while you can. Music performers doing residences are doing better and might overtake a lot of these long running shows before too long.
  • I am not a huge Beatles fan, although I respect the heck out of them. Love made me appreciate a couple of their songs MUCH more, and Blackbird is now my favorite Beatles song by far.  Maybe it was how it was presented at the show.  Maybe it was my subconscious remembering the song.  But, the feel of the song, the chord progressions, everything made me kind of like the Beatles again.  I knew they were geniuses, but somehow blocked out some of their more brilliant songs from my memory.  I have now righted the ship.  Sorry, Beatles.
  • We really WANT to stay the whole time on Fremont, but the hotels are similarly priced, so hard to make the argument…one night is worth it though.
  • Mandalay Bay has a wave pool and lazy river. I love those things.  I still not am sure why they don’t provide tubes for a lazy river.  I get trying to get money from us, but come on.
  • We met some of her family at Town Square. Neat little place, and previously had no idea it existed.
  • We hit up the Neon Museum before kicking off our Fremont night. Not well known, and pretty freaking cool, both lights and music.
  • The Bellagio fountains NEVER get old and are one of my favorite things out there. But, with all of the music in the world, they can’t change up the tunes in the background?
  • Secret place. Fuel Bar in front of Bally’s.    Flair bartending at its best, cheap drinks, and fun crowd.
  • At the Fuel Bar, we met new Dutch friends. I hope they call or write.  Not only were they fun, but they also live right near Amsterdam.  Standing offer by both couples to house the other in the future in either Amsterdam or Denver.
  • I had my brief one on one with the Seinfeld machine, and although it treated my wife nice, it did not do the same for me, even though I am the monster fan.

TWEET OF THE WEEK:

THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK:

Still two big ones.

The present king.  Feed The Wolf by Breaking Benjamin.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuNRW8Zens

The newcomer.  Pure Evil by Like A Storm.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXKfC_-chEQ

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Nothing revolutionary crossed my path this week.

LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE:

https://jalopnik.com/city-seizes-and-crushes-dude-s-bmw-while-he-was-getting-1829821107

https://deadspin.com/should-khabib-nurmagomedov-fight-floyd-mayweather-a-ve-1829826072

CLOSING:

I say 30-20 Broncos tonight.

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  Remember.  Feed yourself.  Feed your family.  But, always remember to feed the wolf.

PICS:

I found out my ex-colleague has a new job.  And he is on TV.  Here is my friend.

And here is in the Sprint commercial:

At the Sterling Brunch in Vegas:

At the Neon Museum:

In the Game of Thrones chair at the Ice Bar at Mandalay Bay:

At Love above the fault line:

At Fremont during the light show:

Me and my favorite member from KISS:

And a dancer on Fremont with some special, disgusting talents:

And, in case you care about what I threw back in the pond, here you go…

warriors interchangeable rings

orange final season

melo finds new reserve role challenging