Dumb luck...

Um, sometimes you just get plain L-U-C-K-Y.      

And so there we were yesterday afternoon (after a morning of snow blowing and shopping at power-less Target) around 1:15.  We remembered that we had not set our fantasy lineup.  We hopped on-line only to discover that Green Bay (Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson) had the bye week.  Extremely problematic for us as Oakland's Denarious Moore also had the bye, and it was too late to get Mario Manningham in the lineup.  Even worse, we had no backup QB to Rodgers.  And once games start on Sunday you can't make a roster move.  (Had we been able to, we would have scooped up Alex Smith, who would have delivered 15 points.)

So with empty spots at QB and one WR, we assumed we'd get our ass kicked.

Of course, we won, 106-80.  Running backs Shady McCoy and Steven Jackson combined for 61 points.  And everyone else was solid: Pittsburgh's D (13), Percy Harvin (10), Fred Davis (9), David Akers (8) and Torrey Smith (5).

We are now 4-4 and tied for second in our division.

So we were in Target today...

And the power went out. Yikes.

Thursday night: First snow of the season (MORE tonight...)

TGIF

Offense breaks out...

After a bye week (more on that later), Your Flag Football Colts came back with a dominating 30-12 victory Tuesday night.  The Playmaker did some of everything.  He had 4 catches for 60+ yards.  He threw a TD pass (a 12 yard down and out in the end zone) as well as a 2-point conversion.  And he had an interception on defense.  We are now 4-1-1.   

It's over! It's over! It's ALL over!

You have noticed, perhaps, the shortage of quality posts this fall.  (Quality being a relative term, of course.)  Too, you have undoubtedly seen the abundance of posts saying "We're tired!" or "We're busy!"

Now we can tell you why.

You know that we are coaching flag football.  We also help coach soccer.  What you did not know was the fact we coached another sport this fall.  It was ... wait for it ... FIELD HOCKEY.

Stop laughing.  And no, we're not lying.

We missed the sign ups for The Playmaker's Sister last June.  By the time we realized this fact, it was the end of July.  We were so late, we couldn't even get her on the dreaded waiting list.  We went down to the rec office and poked around.  We were told they were trying to add a second team, but needed some coaches.  We said we knew NOTHING about the sport, but that we would be willing to HELP coach a team.

A week later an e-mail came out.  Our Daughter was on a team.  And she had ONE coach.  Her Father.

So we practiced Mondays and Wednesdays.  Throw in flag football every Tuesday and Thursday.  And mix in soccer on Wednesdays and Fridays.  That's right.  We coached or helped coach every night, Monday through Friday.  That's code for: We never had a sit-down family meal during the week until Saturday. 

Ugh.

Thankfully, the field hockey season came to an end yesterday afternoon.  (Ironically, we played the town in which we grew up.  We told the girls they were playing on the same field we used for four years of football practices.  For some reason, they didn't much care.  Proud moment, though, as The Playmaker's Sister scored her first career field hockey goal on that field.) 

Last year, the team went 0-10 and scored one (repeat: ONE!) goal the entire season.  With The Head Ball Coach running the show, the team went 3-7.

So we are now down to two weeks of soccer and three weeks of flag football.  (Speaking of which, come back tomorrow for a recap of last night's flag football game.)

We'll always have 2008...

Yesterday the Phillies declined their option on Brad Lidge's contract for 2012.  While he has been mediocre (and injured) the past three seasons, he deserves Our Gratitude (extreme gratitude) for his dominant 2008 season.  A season in which he was 48-48 in save opportunities, including game 5 -- the clinching game of the World Series.

Best we can do...

No lie...

Spent 10, count 'em, TEN hours at a field hockey jamboree today.

Shouldn't we get some type of award for that or something?!?

Seriously...

You wouldn't even believe the day we had.  Ranged from GREAT (3-0 win in soccer ... another half-shutout in goal for The Playmaker) to UTTERLY ASININE (some people just don't have a clue.)

Best we can do...

This is it...

There comes a time in life when you ...

Have to punch someone (sometimes more than one) in the face.  Hard.  Really hard.  And you knock them down for the simple reason that they are in your way.

Tonight is one of those nights.

Wish us luck.

Look out...

Blood is beginning to boil.  Someone is gonna get punched in the face.  Unless our head explodes first.

Ugh...

See the ball. Be the ball.

Busy making It happen.

Fantasy x 2

Our NFL Fantasy Team won yesterday, 110-49 (with our opponent having Brandon Marshall playing tonight -- though he has already stated he will get "probably" get ejected in the second quarter of the game).  Aaron Rodgers (29), Shady McCoy (19), Jordy Nelson (16) and David Akers (15) led the way.  We are now 4-3.  Our college fantasy team also won (132-113).  Our team is, shocker!, heavily stacked with Oklahoma players.  The Sooner talent scored 79 of our points, led by receiver Ryan Broyles' 31 big ones.  Our NCAA team is now 5-3.

In the Bill Parcells Bunker...

Prepping for an extremely important week.  Do not disturb.  Really. Please don't bother us.

Everyone know who we are...

Battled a team from our own town in soccer today.  We played them in the first game of the year and they beat us, 3-2.  With the kids and coaches all knowing each other, it was definitely a rivalry game.  (Hint: No love lost between the two coaching staffs.  We like the head coach.  One of his assistants, however, is the BIGGEST douchebag in the world.  Repeat: In the world.  He thinks his son is All That.)

We whipped their ass, 3-0 ... and it wasn't even that close.  The Playmaker played goalie in the first half, stopping all seven shots he faced.  In the second half, he played forward.  He got two shots off on goal, one of which was thisclose to landing in the net.

When the game was over, the head coach was cordial.  The aforementioned Douchebag Assistant said NOTHING.  Literally, he said nothing.  Even better, his loud mouthed wife was (for undoubtedly the first time in her life) speechless.

Good times.  Always.

Colts 8 Undefeated Broncos ZERO

Here's a PDF of the sign we left on The Playmaker's bedroom door when we left for work this morning.  In the spirit of cash payments for big plays (he had four of them), we greased his hands with a Stevan Ridley three color patch autograph.  Now that we have knocked off the undefeated Broncos, we are tied for first place with a 3-1-1 record.

Too busy for anything...

Sorry 'bout that.

Two wins in a row ... Break-up the Colts!!! (And pass the fried chicken!)

Not only did Your Colts win last night, they also had their highest point total of the season.  Colts 20 Chiefs 12.
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The Playmaker was in the middle of all things good.  First play he ran a down out and up, flew past his defender, only to have the pass sail over his head.  Two plays later he took a simple crossing route, caught the 10 yard pass, juked his man, then raced 30 yards to The House.  6-zip, Colts. Following an interception, he had a short field to play with and took over as QB.  First play, six yard completion.  Second play, run for 5 yards.  On third down he eluded the pass push, side-stepped to his right and then threw across the field to an open receiver in the end zone.  Said receiver promptly ... wait for it ... dropped the TD pass.  (In what was surely a coincidence, The Head Ball Coach "muttered" the F-bomb on the sideline.)  Fourth down yielded a TD reception but, alas, the kid was out of bounds.  (Good call.)
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The game was tied 6-6 at half.  We went up 14-6, then saw the score go to 14-12.  We scored to make it 20-12.  The Chiefs got the ball with 45 seconds left -- enough time for two plays.  First play: a running play.  The Playmaker zoomed in and pulled the flag for a two yard loss.  Second play: They threw a pass to their fastest player who caught the ball and bolted down the middle of the field with open turf ahead. The Playmaker left his man and yanked the flag from behind at midfield to end the game.  If he missed the tackle, the game could have potentially been tied (TD + 2 point conversion).
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The Colts are now 2-1-1.
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Before we leave you, you must check out this in-depth article on the implosion of the Boston Red Sox.  Tito popping pain pills, Lackey and Beckett playing video games, eating fried chicken and drinking beer during games.  It's effing classic.  Click here to read!

Best we can do...

Ahh, the good ole days...

Was outside this afternoon playing football, basketball and baseball with The Playmaker.  It was warm and he was sans shirt.  Two girls from his class road their bikes by and called his name.  Embarrassed, he said quietly, "Hi" and then went back to his workout.  For the next 30 minutes they rode by over and over again, calling his name each and every time.

The longer it went the more disgusted he got.  He clearly didn't want the female attention.

We didn't have the stones to tell him to enjoy it while he can.  That there will come a day when the only female who pays attention to him will be his wife.

It's called getting old.

220 Big Ones...

Today we won the Brent Suicide NFL Pool.  Eleven of us entered the competition before the season began.  Three people bowed out week one (with losses by the Browns and Chiefs).  Everyone survived the next three weeks.  But today seven went down hard. Five went down with the Giants.  One went down with the Texans (who had a chance to win on the final play against the Raiders).  And another lost with the ... wait for it ... COLTS.  Good gawd, man, why would anyone take the Colts at any time this season?!? 

As for us?!?  We took the Saints on the road at Carolina and squeaked out a 30-27 win.

And because of that we're $220 richer.

It's true. It's true.

FINALLY a W...

Several have noted the absence of flag football updates this year.  Some asked whether The Playmaker had made the inevitable jump to Pop Warner.  One surmised his new life as soccer goalie had taken over.

Flag football is alive for us.

After three games, the Colts are a mundane 1-1-1.  We lost our first game, 13-6.  The other team was completely STACKED with no fewer than SIX difference makers.  The Playmaker had 2 catches for about 20 yards.  The next game we were ahead 12-6 with 10 seconds to play.  You can guess the outcome.  The other team ripped off a 40 yard (length of the field) TD run at the buzzer.  (By the way, the kid stepped out of bounds at his own 20, but no one called it.)  Again The Playmaker had two catches.  This time he went for 40 yards, including one catch and run of 30 yards before getting flagged on the 3 yard line.    

Finally last night we got the first W of the fall.  And The Playmaker led the way.  He had a 40 yard TD reception on the very first play of the game.  The QB was trying to avoid the sack and threw it up for grabs.  The Playmaker went in between two defenders to make the leaping catch.  He then spun away from the duo and sprinted 35 yards down the sideline, out-running another defender to the end zone.  On our second TD, he snared the 2 point conversion.  For the game he had 3 catches (giving him a team leading 7 for the season).  On defense he had three tackles, including one for a 3 yard loss on a running attempt.

The only way we win tomorrow night is...

If Roy Halladay (and perhaps Cliff Lee coming out of the 'pen) pitches a shutout.  Otherwise, the season ends tomorrow night.

The Professor is stupid

Three things about Tony La Russa:

1. He's downright creepy looking.

2. His pants are beyond tight.

3. He thinks he's smarter than not just you, but EVERYONE.  On the planet.

4. If he could reproduce with himself, he would.  In a heartbeat.

Oh, and there's a fifth thing.  We loathe him beyond human comprehension.

That's what makes yesterday's 3-2 Phillies victory over The Professor and his  Cardinals so yummy.  Because La Russa cost his team the game.  REPEAT: La RUSSA COST HIS TEAM THE GAME!!!

Ha, Ha, Dick Weed.  You outsmarted yourself.  And in doing so, you allowed a mediocre bench player named Ben Francisco to beat you with a home run.  A home run, by the way, that was his first in four months.

What a tool La Russo is.

With Shane Victorino on second and two outs in the 7th, The Professor ordered pitcher Jaime Garcia to intentionally walk Carlos Ruiz.  Now Ruiz has delivered some big playoff hits over the years, but he was 1-11 in the series when The Professor decided it was better to put him on base.  Even worse, he allowed the lefty Garcia to pitch to the righty Francisco.  At that point Garcia looked like he was running on fumes.  But instead of bringing in righty Fernando Salas (2 innings, no hits, 2 strikeouts in game 2), The Professor let Garcia face Francisco.

And because of that, the Phillies are now up 2 games to 1.

Thanks, Professor.

Do it, Cole! Do it!

The Cole Hamels you see in the picture is the Cole Hamels we need to pitch tonight.  The guy in the World Series picture (the skinny white dude) was the best pitcher in the fall of 2008.  No one could touch him.  It wasn't even close.  Since then he's been up and down.  Hamels SUCKED in 2009.  He was good (not great) in 2010.  At times this year he was very good.  At other times (like the entire month of September) he was not so good.  The one constant this year was his knack for serving up gofer balls.  Lots of 'em.

With the series tied 1-1, and games 3 and 4 in St. Louis, tonight's tilt is easily the most important one of the year.  We don't need Cole Hamels.  We need the Cole Hamels, the 2008 playoff version.

False sense of security

Before the series began we proclaimed the Cardinals were the last of the three playoff teams we wanted the Phillies to face.  In fact, being the Pessimistic Peter that we are, we quietly predicted the Phillies would lose the series.  The late inning offensive onslaught in game 1 gave us false security.  We figured Cliff Lee would win game 2 (if only by a score of 1-0 or 2-1) and then we would surely get one more win with Hamels, Oswalt and Halladay pitching.

Ding-dong. So wrong.

If Hamels doesn't win tomorrow the series will be all but over.

Not feeling confident.

Not at all.

Oh we of little faith...

Yesterday we texted Cliff Lee was way better than Doc Halladay, who gave up a three run dinger four minutes into the game.  Moments later we typed that the offense SUCKED.

And that was after the first inning.



By the third inning we tweeted the game was over.

In the fourth we were reading Sports Illustrated while half paying attention to the game.

Then came the sixth. 

Rollins singled, but refused to steal second.  ("He sucks.  When was the last time he stole a base?  2005?")  Utley whiffed.  ("We're stuck with this guy for TWO more years?!?").  Hunter Pence ripped a single.  ("He's our only REAL hitter.")  Up stepped The Big Man.  Ryan Howard.  With the count 2-2, we announced, "Watch.  He'll strike out."   Ball three, full count.  We again said he'd strike out.  He ripped off three straight foul balls.  Before the last one, we pleaded -- "Hit a home run!"  One pitch later, that's exactly what he did.  He tomahawked a chest high change up from Kyle Loshe and sent it into the second deck in right field.

It was his first meaningful playoff hit that we could remember since 2008.  By the end of the inning, the Phillies had scored five runs.  They went on to win, 11-6.  (But not before Uncle Charlie had to kick Michael Stutes the hell off the mound and get closer Ryan Madson into the game for the final two outs.)

We knew we had it all the way.

Second win...Second shutout

The Playmaker won his soccer game today, 4-0.  For the second time this year he had a (half) shutout in goal.  Starting the game in net, he stopped all five shots in the first half.  His best one was a diving stop to his left where he barely got a finger tip on the ball to redirect it.  In the second half he played fullback. 

For the season his team is 2-2.