Speed

The Cast

Date: 14 February 2020

FILLERBUSTER’S ELEVEN

BACKGROUND:  This started as a long-winded numbered blog.  It transformed into an organized long-winded category blog.  Now, it is a quick-hitter to ease your pain.  I lack time.  So, the preparation of the blog actually made me procrastinate from writing the thing.  Let’s see who makes the cut.  Barely edited as usual unfortunately, so please excuse any mistakes during my stream of consciousness.  I feel the need…the need for speed.  Let’s turn and burn.

SETTING: This is a mini-blog.  A SPEED blog.  Really (I sometimes have lied in the past before writing it).  I got talked into a getaway for Valentines Day, and I want to get a Couple things off my chest (old school lingo accidentally) before the topics go stale.  This is mostly written on Thursday night, and topped off and released after work on Friday.  Five topics with a speed rush hook.

1. NFL:  Rivers.  Phillip Rivers officially is moving on from the Chargers.  Dan Marino had the stats.  Eli has the rings.  Phillip has…consistency.  He is like the Curtis Martin of QB’s.  His HOF legacy is very undetermined, but he shouldn’t get in most likely.  But, Curtis Martin did.  If I am a team, I would try and pick him up, but asking a non-mobile QB in his prime to suddenly start winning titles at 38 wile being even more immobile is tough.  Shame he hasn’t even been IN the Super Bowl.  But, man, you have to love him.  He reproduces like a rabbit, and brings a fire to the game that is unmatched, all without uttering a curse word.  Whether he jumps on one more train, becomes a knowledgeable mentoring backup for someone, or rides into the night, he is one of a kind.  Most of us could outrun him and his odd release on his throws has raised eyebrows for years, but he got the job done better than most.  I root for the guy.  I hope he has one more run.  But, regardless, he has been a treat to the league thus far.
2. COLLEGE FOOTBALL:  Mel Tucker.  Unless you live in a cave, even outside of Colorado, you are aware that Tucker did a 360 (Seinfeld joke) and left the Buffs after pledging his allegiance on social media and in person days before.  Sad for the kids.  Listen, I get it.  And you do too.  Michigan State DOUBLED the money that was offered.  And we are talking millions, not mattress money.  But HOW he did it is the problem.  Leave for more money.  OK.  But, don’t talk about allegiance, the kids, and integrity in the days before the bigger offer, and put yourself out there as that guy that is there for the kids.  Shame on you, Mel.  You came from a thoroughbred at UGA, and now are heading to another semi-thoroughbred at MSU, but CU is no slouch either.  They have one title since 1966, and that is one more than MSU.  They CAN get recruits.  They CAN compete.  You bailed, Mel.  I never had any dislike for MSU in the past, but I can tell you right now that I will be rooting for whatever team is lining up against your kids moving forward.  You pissed off Drew Pearson, you left kids high and dry, and you did all that in one single year.  Lose much, sir.
3. COLLEGE BASKETBALL:  Here is my quick Final Four look, without the rest of the games being played, and without knowing the matchups in the bracket.  I have watched a good amount of games and gotten a read on most teams in the top teams.  Here is what I have.  I like the Zags.  I do.  I like the depth, the coaching, the shooting, the bigs, and think this could be a breakthrough year.  Their weak conference schedule is balanced by some early big wins against big time teams.  Not splitting the atom by selecting them.  I like FSU.  They have a monster lineup in length, they play 10 guys regularly, and they added long range shooting this year, more than other years.  They have a coach who we wouldn’t be surprised to break through, they have only two guys under 70% in FT%, and they are due.  This team is legit, and has no really bad losses.  I like Dayton.  I have watched them a couple times.  They have the best player in the nation, and a roster that is experienced in comparison to other schools.  This is a great sleeper.  I also like Seton Hall.  They have the second best player in the nation, have pulled some great road wins, and are solid through and through.  This team needs the right draw and a couple of upsets to set the table, but don’t sleep on these guys.  No, I am not an idiot.  I get that Baylor, KU, and Duke are legit.  I am not sold on the San Diego State bandwagon yet.  Maryland is bipolar, Auburn has a couple of really bad losses, and West Virginia needs to play all of their games at home to win everything.  And watch out for Nova.  They are quietly improving.  Bottom line, if I had to choose two other teams, give me Louisville and Kentucky.  Both, when they are on, can look unbeatable.  But, for now, I have Seton Hall, Dayton, Gonzaga, and FSU in this very crazy year of college hoops.
4. NBA: ASG.  The NBA All-Star Game is the only game outside of baseball (unless there are trash cans) that has the game actually LOOK like a real game when it is going on.  Baseball still looks the most real, and is the most watchable.  But, watch the first quarter of the game.  You will experience the best athletes in the sport play with FLAIR and have FUN being on the court together.  It is a special sight to see, and only the Olympics can hold a candle to the talent on the floor.  Tune out for the 2^nd and 3^rd quarter though.  It is trash.  It is going through the motions, and semi-stars throwing alley-oops that their team coaches Then, set an alarm to watch the end of the fourth quarter, when they play for the MVP trophy and TO WIN.  It is entertaining.  No All-Star Game is going to be high-quality and be exactly like the game.  But, pick and choose your spots, and enjoy this year’s game.  Watch the dunk contest, or don’t, because you can watch Wilkins vs. Jordan or the Vince Carter show from the early 2000’s, and you won’t want to watch a dunk contest ever again.
5. MLB: I was going to write something about the Astros BS unorganized/ cop-out presser or the apologies that are coming across the grid, but they cheated, and we are all getting tired of the entire subject.

ALTERNATE CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT:

1. THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK (because the best song this week IS the best song ever…for now):
2. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
3. LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE
4. TRAVEL
5. THIS WEEK’S LIST
6. MY NUMBERS
7. GONE FISHING (the riddle for money):
8. PICS BY MY PIXEL (pictures from my phone):
9. LIFEGUARD ENTRY:
10. EVERGREEN
11. NHL
12. MISCELLANEOUS
13. THIS AND THAT
14. THE FILLERBUSTER
15. TWEET OF THE WEEK

The theme?  Since the Oscars just happened, and we know Keanu Reeves is not winning anything in the near future, why not make him the theme in my blog?  Yup.

Yes, there will be a longer addendum to this, most likely on Monday, when I have the day off but somehow forgot to tell my wife, so we are just lounging for the day.

And our weekly reminder of the greatest sequel ever made coming out next summer… Top Gun 2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zbFldEt844&vl=en

MWTILMGBDEOASMGUWGEMCDFTWBIPMFBRMBWC

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.  As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.