LORD STANLEY

By The Fillerbuster

The Cast 042319

SETTING:

This is written a little on Monday night, with the majority busted out on Tuesday night.  On Tuesday, I am sitting in front of the first of two Game 7’s in hockey.  But, I have an 8pm work call, and other stuff to do, so I feel the need…the need for speed.

Let’s turn and burn.

Barely edited…sorry.

EVERGREEN (topics that don’t fade away):   

STANLEY CUP

It is, without a doubt in my mind, the hardest team trophy to win.  The amount of separation in points from first through eight could be much, yet when they get on the ice, you feel like the skill level delta is decreased.  The worst player on an NHL club is better in comparison to the worst player on an NBA team.  And all players on any hockey team are a little tougher than the NBA folks.  All series are best of seven and you sometimes feel that sweeps are almost like seven game series with the physical nature of the sport.  There will be less penalties, less fights, and more straight up play.  Players will play through ridiculous injuries, and announcers will get more excited than any NBA announcer.  And things like what just happened will happen occasionally, and yet we will be less surprised.  The Flames went down to the hometown Avs, and the Lightning flopped against the Columbus Blue Jackets.  TWO top seeds lost to two lowest seeds.  This would be like the Warriors and Bucks both losing quickly in their first round series.  In the same year.  Sort of mind blowing for the NBA, but the higher competition in the NHL makes this more likely of a case.  And we Love it.  There is a reason they play the games, and probably a little more of a reason in hockey.  The Stanley Cup Playoffs are awesome.  And my Flyers are absent, so, truly, GO AVS.

WARRIORS

I was a little sad about the DeMarcus Cousins injury.  I am, of course, sad about the injury to any player.   But, I kind of wanted to see how this played out naturally, with no injuries.  I questioned when the Warriors picked up Cousins this season, and just really thought that he slowed them down, made it much less position-less ball, and didn’t make sense to the equation that the Warriors had created.  And now is most likely gone for the duration of the 2019 playoffs.  I was really curious about seeing how the Rockets series would go with Cousins playing, and think their only true advantage with Cousins would have been possibly if the Portland matchup would have occurred when THEY were fully healthy.  But, the Evil Empire plays on without him, and I worry their little dysfunctional group of guys will be better WITHOUT DeMarcus.  Their body language looks off in post-game interviews.  KD acts like he didn’t expect to answer media questions when jumping in shotgun with these guys.  Even Klay has to run out in the ocean to score more than 30.  They just don’t seem HAPPY.  It looks like this might their last run, to be honest, with egos and contracts stuffing the stat sheet more than points.  And Cousins makes ANY possibly dysfunctional group MORE dysfunctional.  We won’t get to see it though.  But, regardless, someone take OUT these guys finally.  That team, after all of our West siding all year, MIGHT just come from the East, folks.  And we will know soon enough about the overall picture for the Warriors, because the rubber hits the road against the Rockets in a SEMI-FINAL matchup.

NFL DRAFT

The draft is upon us yet again.  This is when we have lots of picks to plug in those holes for the team we die for.  This is where we watch the first round, sort of hoping for Ricky Williams-like trades and moves.  This is where I finally think that the Steelers might get a shutdown corner.  This is the week where Broncos fans say “we really aren’t going to go QB in the first round too, are we?”  This is where we see if the #1 picking team put up the greatest smoke and mirrors show ever with a tiny wonder of a QB.  This is where we wonder if great players at a off-skill position (TE) can even be considered in the top ten.  This is where we realize by the teams picking in the first and second round that “yes, Clemson’s D-Line really WAS that good.”  This is the week where we wonder if those Rosen rumors are true, whether he is like Brady with his gifts and attitude, and whether The Hoodie IS really smarter than my team, your team, and the others.  This is where the mock drafts all become about 15-25% right, even though we have been reading meticulously, wondering who our team would take.  This is the time when your losing season becomes a little hopeful.  This is the NFL Draft.  Enjoy.

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

NFL

• I am a little concerned right now if I am an Eagles fan trusting in the healing powers of Carson Wentz.  His injury from last year is said to still linger.  Players are reporting, folks, and they already chose their QB.
• If I am a Seahawks fan, whether I love or don’t love Russell Wilson, I am glad my team ponied up to pay the rudder of my ship some cash to keep some type of offensive consistency after the team allowed the defense to dismantle itself.
• The signing of Demaryius Thomas was SUCH a Pats thing to do, and one day we will put this contract as a hit or miss on their record.  What I really am curious about is why other teams don’t do things that are Pats things to do.  Not a bad risk if you ask me.
• The scheduling of the Steelers IN Foxboro for Week 1 was basically the NFL saying to the Steelers “Hey, jackasses.  Thanks for all of the drama in the last year.  Here you go.  Enjoy being 0-1.”
• For all of the thought and planning that goes into creating the NFL schedule, as it can’t be easy, I sometimes marvel at oddities that still exist after all of that thought and planning.  The Steelers will go THIRTY-TWO days between away games.  That is insane.
• LOVE the decision to make the first MNF game Broncos-Raiders.  That will be a fun and interesting game, even for people not in either fan base.  The new faces on each team really throw in some elements to the already existing and great rivalry.
• The Browns will have FOUR prime-time games, and they deserve it.  They are exciting, improving, and are just downright fun in their own way.
• Change is not always good.  When hearing that the Chargers would bring back their powder-blue uniforms, the very first thing that crossed my mind was WHY did they ever stop wearing those awesome uniforms anyway.  So, present change is good, because it is fixing a mistake from years earlier.
• I have decided to not care about this Bob Kraft video anymore.  It is too much back and forth, and has lost my interest.
• I did not know that Phillip Lindsay lived at home before seeing a special on him Saturday morning.
• How adorable and thought out.  Russell Wilson bought his offensive lineman $12k stock buy-ins as his thank you present.  Nothing really fun, and giving them immediate gratification, but I guess it is nice.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

• We are at the time when schools are having their spring football games.  I don’t get jealous about the true football schools doing their thing.  I more focus on trying to remember if UVA even has one of those things and whether I attended any of them DURING school.  Don’t think so.
• Matthew Baldwin is entering the transfer portal and leaving Ohio State.  I get that Justin Fields just came in there.  I get wanting to start.  But, wouldn’t you rather compete with the best on a team that will be in the playoff hunt rather than going somewhere else to be a star that will NOT make the playoff?  I mean, Cardale Jones might end up just being a trivia question in ten years, but he was THIRD on the depth chart and ended up doing alright.

NBA

• The Nets allowing 51 points by the Sixers in a quarter is a record-tying defensive lapse, but also is just another thing on the list of interesting things that have happened in that series already.  It has had a little bit of everything.
• Some games can waste oxygen for good players with deficits that are never made up, but the Clippers effect on the 2019 playoffs will last through June.  Think you have lost?  Think about the 31 points comeback by the Clips just this year.
• The guy who told Doc Rivers about his dropped $2k really must hate basketball.  Take the money he saved him, along with his gig, and I bet you he would have gotten pretty sweet playoff or 2019-2020 tickets.  I believe the guy just ran away.
• I feel like the Raptors always lose their first game of the playoffs.  I am not looking it up, but bet it is pretty spot-on.
• The Nuggets are not exactly being the model of consistency, but winning Game 4 like they did was a statement in an arena where they were hitless for quite some time, and now they don’t have to win there again to win the series.  Those little things are why you play the 82 games.
• I admit to not remembering that when Derrick White was lighting up the Nuggets right and left (mainly right), that he was a CU guy.
• The Jazz are surprising because they are getting smoked by the Rockets, when they were in the conversation in the last year as contender in the wings.  They won decisively on Monday, which showed a pulse, but just expected a little more.  That is a team that needs to get better seeding for the playoffs.  They need to win more of those 82 games.
• The Hulu commercial with Giannis is a little awkward, but glad he is getting some endorsements and will be known out of just basketball circles.
• The Sixers were already dysfunctional in nature.  The Embiid knee injury though is a skill deficiency.  They will NOT get out of the East without that thing being operational, no matter HOW guys are stepping up right now without him.
• I did the moneyline so I didn’t have to worry about things like this, but I love when scores are right on the point spread line.  When the Warriors won 113-105 against the Clippers this weekend, know that the spread was 8.5.
• Really odd timing for this Luke Walton sexual assault accusation.  First, he is right in between jobs.  Second, I missed in the article WHY the woman waited FIVE years to report this.  It is hard enough to prove anyway, but not sure why someone waits to bring it to the forefront.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Zion Williamson declared for the draft right after my press time last week.  We enjoyed him in the college scene, although briefly, and let him go play with the big boys now.  If I was going to add one more Evergreen topic, it would have been this.  But, he plays for Duke, and it is a week old.  Moving on.
• Don’t be sad for Duke.  They immediately landed #8 recruit Matthew Hurt, putting them again at #1 in recruiting rankings, team-wise.
• AND they just landed Cassius Stanley, a top 30 recruit.
• The only thing that made me happy as a semi-reply, was UNC snagging Cole Anthony, the #2 recruit in the land.  He really adds to that team in all of the right ways.  Depending on who leaves for the draft, they are in the mix next year as contenders.
• I know MY team won’t be in the mix.  Last I saw, Guy, Hunter, Jerome, and Diakite all exited stage left.
• Rick Barnes confuses me.  Not going to UCLA is good, and Tennessee is happy.  So, WHY does he feel the need to say to the media that he would have gone to UCLA IF they paid him the buyout.  Why add that info, when you are staying at the school you would have left?  I suppose it is to make UCLA feel worse, but don’t see the point.
• There was a time in the 80’s when turning down St. John’s would be utterly ridiculous.  They ended up with Mike Anderson, which is a hire I will never hate, but many people turned them down before that signing.
• I feel like de Sousa is getting older more quickly with KU still fighting for him to be able to play.

MLB

• Of course, Puig was late for his NLCS ring presentation.
• Having 3 HR’s and 7 RBIS’s for the year isn’t a bad start to the year.  Christian Yelich did that in a GAME.
• I guess Blake Snell does things differently.  When I get out of the shower, I am not in the mood to move heavy objects.
• The Mariners know they are supposed to stink this year, right?
• It has only occurred FIVE times since 1893.  Add Steven Matz from the Mets to the list.  He allowed EIGHT runs to start a game without recording an out.
• There are lots of reasons to play the games.  Who would have thought that Chris Sale would be 0-4 with a 8.50 ERA at this point in the season?
• Four game series.  I was able to catch one of the games.  Phillies came to town and didn’t exactly blow away the Rockies (lost 3 of 4), but at least I got front row seats for one of the losses.
• Funny attire problem.  I only have one hat that I wear regularly.  My Steelers hat.  I was going to a Phillies games.  I wore a Masters visor.  Reason?  I didn’t feel like the constant explanations of how I merged the PA franchises into my fandom.  Too long of story for passers by.

NHL

• I don’t think that Mr. Svechnikov will be picking on the other team’s stars in the playoffs any time soon.
• If I don’t have bias or love for either of the teams playing in basketball and hockey, I am watching hockey in Round 1.
• So cool.  The Avs picked up their draft pick from UMASS right after he won the national title, and he scored first game playing.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Back off SOME of the stereotypical jokes on NASCAR.  I just read that Jimmy Johnson just did the Boston Marathon.  That is pretty badass.
• So, Jarrell Miller gets the shot of his life and will face Anthony Joshua, and decides to cheat and get caughtfor PED’s  instead?
• If Jim Nantz says that The Masters this year was his favorite event he has EVER called, then you Tiger haters need to check yourself.  Listen to him, friends.
• Tree.  Sound.  Forest.  AAF officially filed for bankruptcy.
• I didn’t watch the fight, but sounded like a really odd end to a short fight between Khan and Crawford.  The right person won, but very surprising HOW.

THIS AND THAT (pop culture, Fillerbuster thoughts):

• If you have not tuned in ONE time to see this newest Jeopardy champion, you are missing out on an experience.  It is amazing to watch him literally take the soul of his contestants.  He starts at the bottom of the board, he knows all ranges of topics, he bets numbers with family birthdays and such in them, and he is a freaking “professional sports bettor.”  Check him out.  He only had a measly $78k when I tuned in.
• (I made my wife watch an episode.  Just had over $80k that game.  Has topped out at $131k.
• You should be watching the show anyway because of its greatness, but please consider watching Barry simply for Hank, a supporting role, if anything.  He is a Super Nice Guy.
• My only problem with Barry is what it is supposed to be.  It is highly entertaining, but very not believable that Barry hasn’t been caught yet.  So, my enjoyment is now going back up, as I have said, screw it, just be entertained and don’t worry about realism.
• I have jury duty in two weeks.  My general rule of thumb?  Either get me the most interesting murder case possible that lasts, or get me the heck out of Dodge within an hour.
• The Secret Life of Pets 2 has me a little pumped.
• No spoilers on any of this…
• I hear people complaining about the lack of action for Game of Thrones.  Give me a break.  Yes, there are only 6 episodes total this season, and we are running out of time.  But, the quality of the run-ins and conversation did provide closure on many story lines.  They have to set up the next one, and I personally don’t mind them taking two shows to do that.  Everything was well-thought out in these set-up episodes.
• (except where they plan on hiding the women and children in the war against the dead)
• That being said, these battle scenes better be off-the-hook, and prove that THIS is why we were gone two years.
• When I was re-watching some older GOT episodes, I realized I totally missed that The Mountain kind of died.  Whoops.  I guess I just thought he suddenly liked helmets.
• But not as bad as Lindsey’s dad.  We watched the first episode with him last week.  I am more curious than worried.  His knowledge is pretty limited.  I am amazed he has fought all the way through the seasons not knowing exactly why what is happening is so cool.
• Billions remains very strong.  The side action remains entertaining, the performance quality is still top-notch, and somehow Wendy is now the key chess piece on the board, which most didn’t expect coming into this season, or last episode.
• (It is very, very hard to cram Billions, GOT, and Barry all into my Sunday night)
• So, when this Songland show comes out, it is the actual song and not the performance that is “advancing?”  Kind of confused on that…
• When we watch The Voice together, I can like who I want to like on the show, but my wife understands the quality of each singer more.  Basically, she just tells me who has the better voice each time.
• I am pretty sure they would have to tell me who the guest coaches are.
• The “cross-battles” are a neat idea, but I honestly don’t like the audience deciding this early in the game.
• Thoughts and prayers for the families involved in Columbine 20 years ago.  Everyone knows where they were at the time, it was surreal while it was happening, and I would love to never see anything like it again.
• You can tell me the ending of Avengers.  I won’t be mad.  It will be the most I know about it as of yet.
• I went to Estes Park Saturday, so I had plans, but kind of was a little sad I couldn’t snag one of those Denver Carl’s Jr. cannabis infused burgers on Saturday.
• When I arrived a little later to meet up with my wife at The Stanley, I told her my delay was me not thinking through things.  How?  Driving through Boulder on 4/20 was a little tougher than a typical Saturday afternoon.  I have been here since 1997.  I should have known that.
• This Galaxy fold phone looks cool.  I am very patient to let everyone else vet them out first.  I think I don’t understand how they won’t break constantly.
• I have a weird sense of humor.  I chuckled when I read that the guy who helped save the Thai soccer team from the caves was…stuck in a cave himself this week.
• I want nothing to do with BTS for the rest of my life.  But, I did see them on SNL, so at least I know who they are.  So, when I read that they just broke the 24 hour record for most views (74 million), I said to myself “oh, THOSE guys…”
• Happy Birthday, Dad (it is Saturday, before another blog comes out)
• If you like Italian subs and find yourself in the lower downtown area, Low Down Brewery has a Yonkers sandwich that is kind of ridiculous.
• My colleague, Rob, and I played many hours of pool on Friday.  I am not sure how he brings me to earth as a player, but although I win, I win ugly.  Not sure why.  I compared it to this.  Go to 1:25.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lISBP_fPg1s
• We played pool at Zanzibar.  Zanzibar was featured on Bar Rescue one time.  It was painfully obvious to me after watching the bartenders, that they got notoriety from the show, and then went back to old ways right after the plane was wheels up.
• Then, Saturday night in Estes Park I shot badly also.  I was worried I had lost my skills/edge.  I was happy to play someone on Sunday where we played 5 games in about 20 minutes.  No one got second shots.  Crisis averted.
• Interesting battle.  I had the choice to watch John Wick 2 or Aquaman last week when Lindsey was out.  Amazingly, John Wick won.  People have me petrified to watch the horror that apparently is Aquaman.  Apparently, if I didn’t to see it with 3-D special effects, the movie is useless.
• I also oddly got stuck in the FIRST Friday the 13^th and Saw.
• Am I alone on this?  We went to Icehouse after the Rockies game.  I ordered an Icehouse also.  But, my trifecta would not to be.  There was no Icehouse “Electric Blue” anywhere in the jukebox.  How am I the only person wanting that wish?
• Denver folks know Bar Dough as a great dinner cooked by a Top Chef person (Carrie, I think).  Anyway, put brunch and happy hour on your list of things to do.  Incredible brunch items, very creative, and the happy hour has a high quality margarita pizza that is HUGE.
• I was on my way to work this morning, and The Fox talked about a possible Seinfeld reboot, and how Larry has talked Jerry into doing so.  Don’t do it, folks.  As much as I love that show, I don’t want a reboot.  You can’t ruin perfection.  Don’t.

Estes Park/ Wedding Anniversary Notes

• My wife is very clever.  Our first activity in Estes Park was horseback riding.  Third year.  Leather.  Saddle.  Clever girl.  And amazing view to say the least.
• I wrote down “poor” on my riding skills pre-ride.  I ended up with a horse named Simon.  I had “Simon says” jokes ready too.
• I am the worst horse rider, and have so much more respect for Westerns.  Two hours of riding killed my legs.  Can’t imagine doing it for a day.
• Elkins Distillery was a cool stop before we had dinner downtown, and picked up a long sleeve shirt while we were in there.
• The Wheel Bar is an awesome dive bar.  Typical dive bar, with fun signs, locals, and pool.  If you want to play pool, keep in mind there is another table further back and down the steps.
• We had dinner at Claire’s.  Decent steak, but the queso was actually the mind blowing part of the meal.  They also had an IPA that is high on my list now.  WTFO by Bonfire Brewery in Eagle, CO.
• The Stanley Hotel is cool.  You are not paying for room amenities.  You are paying for the experience.  I won’t rush to go back, but I will say that Estes Park is WAY to close for me only to have been up there three times in 20 years.
• Oddly, The Stanley can’t play The Shining anymore on a loop.  They lost the rights to their movie.  Weird.
• We didn’t see any ghosts.
• Interestingly enough, the bar scene from Dumb and Dumber was shot at The Stanley Hotel bar (not in Aspen).  The astronaut sign is still in there.  Fun facts.
• The Stanley has a lot more shows and concerts then I remembered.  It was pretty happening when we were there.
• We ate at Seasoned, the #1 food place according to TripAdvisor.  We had brunch there.  Great Benedict.  I also got their pasta bowl to go, and it was ridiculous later that night.  Worth stopping by if you have time (slow service, but good service)…

TWEET OF THE WEEK:

THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK:

Nothing much changed, but I have about 10-15 new songs in the queue.

1. Running from Creed 2.
2. Basic Needs by Jonathan Davis
3. Tourniquet by Breaking Benjamin
4. My Name by From Ashes To New
5. Defying Gravity by Veer Union

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“This NDA is tighter than AC/DC in ’78.”

Orrin in Billions earlier this season

“I know death. He’s got many faces. I look forward to seeing this one.”

Ayra in Game of Thrones

LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE:

BY THE NUMBERS:

(I am workshopping these.  I will get back to you)

THIS WEEK’S LIST:

Since I just visited a Colorado mountain town, I think I will just take 5 minutes and name my favorite Colorado mountain towns…off the cuff.

1. Aspen
2. Crested Butte
3. Winter Park
4. Steamboat Springs
5. Glenwood Springs
6. Breckenridge
7. Vail
8. Estes Park
9. Leadville
10. Grand Lake
11. Keystone
12. Asterisk for Telluride since I haven’t been there yet, but heard great things

THE RIDDLE:

No riddle this week.  I didn’t have time to think of something non-Google-able.

CLOSING:

The theme?  Well, you take the Avs big series win against the Flames in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and combine that with Linds and I staying at The Stanley Hotel, and you get the classic pic of Jack Nicholson from The Shining.

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Remember two things.  First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf.  Second,  if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro. 

PICS:

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

Avenatti-whiteside

Stafford’s wife is now home

Suns fire kokostov

Missing Wyoming recruit

Obj rant against giants

DE Frank clark dealt from seattle to KC