Southern California - So Cal needs a long thread "What's Up?" type thread!

Have a safe trip and a nice Christmas.

+1 Be safe, Dan!

what about Constinople?

Have a safe trip, be respectful over there...the navy still has sailors locked up for stupid mistakes over there!!

what about Constinople?

Have a safe trip, be respectful over there...the navy still has sailors locked up for stupid mistakes over there!!

somehow I don't see Dan as the heroin smuggling type...

Have a great trip!

Have a safe trip Dan! Just don't try to smuggle out anything that can land you in prison there...:p :D

Have a great trip!

somehow I don't see Dan as the heroin smuggling type...He may start up a riot/revolution over there though. :D

Leaving for Istanbul at 5:30AM tomorrow. Yes I did check, and predictably enough the city is an extremely bad place for cycling. It will be interesting to celebrate Xmas in a place where they don't celebrate Xmas.

Dang, I've always wanted to go there. Post lots of pics.

my chest/tri's are ultra sore right now...........................ughhhh

Just got home. :eek: Happily, only one more day before my break. :D

In before the Joy!

***Warning!!! Navy and Duke spoilers ahead***

So, I'm bittersweet this morning.

I spent last night at the Poinsettia Bowl, and it was glorious. Navy, a major underdog, came from behind in a thrilling final minute to almost pull out the upset over Utah. The final minutes saw an incredible goal-line stand by Navy at the 1/2 yardline, followed by turning it back over on downs at the 8. Down 10 points, Navy hits an amazing 58 yard pass play, recovers one of the most picture-perfect onside kicks I've ever seen, and, down just three points and nearing field goal range, gets intercepted by the Defensive player of the game for Utah.

I'm sad that Navy lost, but wow, what a game. Exciting, entertaining, and the Poinsettia Bowl putter-onners did a great job. The National Anthem was followed by a sick flyby of two F-18's on full afterburner...they were maybe 50' above the stadium and shook the hell out of the place.

It's just great seeing a service academy, with pretty much ZERO NFL prospects, 100% graduation/commission rate...and each and every person associated with the team/band/cheerleaders will be serving the country.

I even marvel how, at the end of the game, BOTH Navy and Utah teams stood in front of the Brigade of Midshipmen and the Navy band and sang a song of respect to the victor.


Secondly,

I read and heard how my Duke basketball team lost by 1 point to Pittsburg in overtime. Again, far from being sad or disappointed, it was a hard-fought game...Pitt suffered the loss of one of their stars to injury, and battled back. Duke will still have a great season.

I just like good games.


HOWEVER, the Trifecta is now in play...Chargers face Denver on Monday night. It should be a walk for SD...but bad things come in threes.

***Warning!!! Navy and Duke spoilers ahead***

I'm sad that Navy lost, but wow, what a game. Unfortunately, even though they lost they managed to cover the point spread... :mad:


(Go Chargers!)

...So, I'm bittersweet this morning...
You're gonna need one of these:

http://img.getactivehub.com/an2/custom_images/americanartsalliance/Seattle_Symphony_v1.jpg

I took the day off. What should I do?

I took the day off. What should I do?Train for the Stone and Pie rides.

I took the day off. What should I do?

get out of the house and harden the F*** up!

Ride to San Clemente; pick up some cheap rudy deals and share it with us. :D

Drove my dad to the SD airport today. The northbound I-5 is jammed. Lucky I took the local route instead.

I read and heard how my Duke basketball team lost by 1 point to Pittsburg in overtime. Again, far from being sad or disappointed, it was a hard-fought game...Pitt suffered the loss of one of their stars to injury, and battled back. Duke will still have a great season.


Don't be reasonable. Be like the jackhole dook fans that were doing cheers when the Pitt guy was hurt and writhing on the floor.

When you're like this, I can't even mock you about the game.

Lost the headphone that came with my ipod the other day, and so got a new replacement (JVC earphone). I finally can tell the difference between good and bad speakers/headphones and couldn't stand them after a few minutes of listening. Reverted back to my office headphone instead. :p

I must have some kind of sickness... I'm considering buying another bike frame (well, no longer considering, it's more of a done deal if i can get what i want). Check the Road Cycling forum for the Soul Bikes potential group buy thread...

I must have some kind of sickness... I'm considering buying another bike frame (well, no longer considering, it's more of a done deal if i can get what i want). Check the Road Cycling forum for the Soul Bikes potential group buy thread...

Yeah, but without pricing and warranty information no one will buy into the deal... :rolleyes:

I do like the name and the fact that they are Ti frames, but I have to wait to get home before checking out the pictures and video on their website. Jeff's idea of a SS 29'er is pretty good... actually, scratch that...

The steel bike description sounds awesome! I've wanted a touring/commuting bike to build up with an internal geared hub (Nexus 8) that can accept panniers, disc brakes, and fenders.

True, but even their MSRP pricing is less expensive than other TI frames. I'm not to worried about the warranty as long as the price is right and the frame construction is good. I could go the Bikes Direct Motobecane route for a dedicated TT/Tri bike but i've got a soft spot for small name companies that aren't horribly expensive... :lol:

Don't be reasonable. Be like the jackhole dook fans that were doing cheers when the Pitt guy was hurt and writhing on the floor.

When you're like this, I can't even mock you about the game.

Didn't actually see the game, so can't reply to what the fans did. I'd like to think that sportsmanship won out, but youth and mob mentality can turn normal people rather ugly.

Question: Duke fans cheer the entire game...during timeouts, during commercial breaks...were they mid-cheer and didn't realize the player was hurt, or where they shouting, "Yay, the guy broke his leg!"

If I watch the Tivo'd game, I'll judge for myself.

can turn normal people rather ugly.

Weren't we talking about dookies?

Okay...here's an honest question. I might be a nouveau-Duke fan. I started following them when my wife and I began dating in 1998. Her father taught at Duke, but they lived in Chapel Hill in the '80's, and they've been Duke fans since then.

I like Coach Krzyzewski, and admire the discipline and poise he instills in his teams.

But, since I've gotten online, so many people just hate Duke and all they stand for. I don't get it, and it's never been explained to me. Is there something behind it?

Pretty much every time I say that I'm a Duke fan, I get slammed or snarked for it... I don't ever see that reaction from, say, an Indiana fan or an Arizona fan.

Duke SUCKS!

It's partly just the NY Yankees syndrome of hating the big bully who is always so successful. But more significantly, it's a southern thing -- since Duke is perceived as being filled with rich, snotty yankees, most southerners I know (NC'ers especially) really hate Duke in favor of the more local/blue collar/whatever schools.

But, it's nationwide...and Duke has just 3 national championships...if it's the 'Big Bully' syndrome, then Indiana or UCLA should have a much harder time.



I also know that part of the online hatred comes from Fark.com, where Drew (the owner/creator) was a Kentucky guy, and that last second Laettner 3 ruined Kentucky's chances way back when...prompting any basketball (actually any sports-related or North Carolina-related) thread to be appended with Duke Sucks. Maybe it just caught on.

But, it's nationwide...and Duke has just 3 national championships...if it's the 'Big Bully' syndrome, then Indiana or UCLA should have a much harder time.

Public school, public school...

And "Coach K" fits perfectly into that pompous, holier than thou caricature that duke haters have of the southern ivy.

http://www.truthaboutduke.com/

maybe it's because it is duke...it's probably just jealousy, as if all the people there don't have enough going (ie great education, money, blah blah) for them they also have to dominate at basketball....

nobody hates on syracuse when they do well...it's hard to get mad at and Orange!


That being said...Go Orangeman!

Hmmm...still don't really get it, though. Probably biased because I'm an outsider Duke fan that just started watching a team play. K reminds me of my HS volleyball coach: focused, disciplined, emotional without being a ****...As a team, we thrived, so I respect that. But I can see how other teams might think we were 'holier than thou caricatures'.

Is it envy, jealousy, or is there something about Duke and their philosophy or practices that is inherently evil? Am I myopic?

Hmmm...still don't really get it, though. Probably biased because I'm an outsider Duke fan that just started watching a team play. K reminds me of my HS volleyball coach: focused, disciplined, emotional without being a ****...As a team, we thrived, so I respect that. But I can see how other teams might think we were 'holier than thou caricatures'.

Is it envy, jealousy, or is there something about Duke and their philosophy or practices that is inherently evil? Am I myopic?

that's what most of it is...at least that's why i don't like them...and they usually beat Syracuse.

Good morning and HAPPY FRIDAY WHOHOOOO

Hmmm...still don't really get it, though. Probably biased because I'm an outsider Duke fan that just started watching a team play. K reminds me of my HS volleyball coach: focused, disciplined, emotional without being a ****...As a team, we thrived, so I respect that. But I can see how other teams might think we were 'holier than thou caricatures'.

Is it envy, jealousy, or is there something about Duke and their philosophy or practices that is inherently evil? Am I myopic?

I'm a Tar Heel, so my brainwashing against dook is complete. Having said that...

Yes, Coach K is evil personified. Just had to get that out of the system to be true to my nature.

Now then, it's really 2 things. Mostly, people are just sick and tired about hearing about dook. They're constantly brought up, Vitale talks about them all the time when he's calling games that have nothing to do with dook or even the ACC. ESPN covers them closely, almost all their games are on TV. Even when they're down, they get attention. West coast teams don't get as much attention when they're in the top 5.

As for specific practices I personally don't like. I don't like the way K will never play a team on their home floor. They haven't played a true road game except for the one's forced by ACC play or the ACC / Big 10 matchup in years. They use their name to force schools to do series with a game at dook and a game at a neutral court. This is a fine technique for maximizing wins, but not for making your team better.

K is also a complete hypocrite, there are many examples of that. I know everyone is hypocritical to a degree, but he's completely off the charts.

BTW, rereading my earlier comment about the cheering went over a line I don't like to cross (it sounded funny when I thought about it, but not when I re read it). I really just like to have fun with it.

http://www.truthaboutduke.com/

That's about as unbiased as moveon.org or freerepublic.com. In any organization, any sports team or otherwise, you can slant perception and take things out-of-context.

It's cool, though.

i hate duke the same way i hate the yankees. or the red sox. or...the lakers. or...the braves and the bills at one time. and the patriots. GOD i hate the patriots. or boston in general. they monopolize the winning thing. it's a respectful hate.

I'm a Tar Heel, so my brainwashing against dook is complete. Having said that...

Yes, Coach K is evil personified. Just had to get that out of the system to be true to my nature.

Now then, it's really 2 things. Mostly, people are just sick and tired about hearing about dook. They're constantly brought up, Vitale talks about them all the time when he's calling games that have nothing to do with dook or even the ACC. ESPN covers them closely, almost all their games are on TV. Even when they're down, they get attention. West coast teams don't get as much attention when they're in the top 5.

So, Duke Basketball is the television equivalent of Notre Dame football, right? I admit, I love the fact that they're on tv all the time, but I can guess that irks most people. Some coach on Jim Rome's show said once, "Well uh...Duke is Duke, they're on tv more than Leave it to Beavaaahhh........reruns." (in the voice of a Kennedy...really funny soundbite.)

One possible reason is they're nationally known...which is a reputation that K has built purposely. Games at Cameron are entertaining to watch, regardless of the opponent, because of the insane fans. Dook Vitale is a definite homer, but I think in recent years he's fixed that. His boner for Hansbrough is visible from space.

As for specific practices I personally don't like. I don't like the way K will never play a team on their home floor. They haven't played a true road game except for the one's forced by ACC play or the ACC / Big 10 matchup in years. They use their name to force schools to do series with a game at dook and a game at a neutral court. This is a fine technique for maximizing wins, but not for making your team better.

Preseason games against small market teams will always be played at where the network wants it to be played. Carolina won't play West Vermont Tech at WVT...it'll always be at the Dean Smith Center. It's not a Duke thing. Also, for the exposure, teams bid to play Duke at Cameron. Preseason, or in-season non-conference games are publicity for the small schools. Sometimes the big dog throws the little dog a bone. I get it. That's why Michigan played Appalacian State in football at Michigan...sometimes it works out in the little dog's favor.

K is also a complete hypocrite, there are many examples of that. I know everyone is hypocritical to a degree, but he's completely off the charts.

I'm not arguing at all here...I'm curious what you mean. Like I said, I'm a distant fan who doesn't see the things that a NC'er would see...

BTW, rereading my earlier comment about the cheering went over a line I don't like to cross (it sounded funny when I thought about it, but not when I re read it). I really just like to have fun with it.

...I couldn't follow this, not sure what you meant.

Points for spelling out his mind twistingly contorted last name. You could have just typed "Coach K," and every sports fan would know who you were talking about.

My next dog is going to be named Krzyzewski...My other dogs are named Battier and Avery...my car is named JJ.

i hate duke the same way i hate the yankees. or the red sox. or...the lakers. or...the braves and the bills at one time. and the patriots. GOD i hate the patriots. or boston in general. they monopolize the winning thing. it's a respectful hate.

Do you hate Federer too?

How about Tiger?

How about Dennis Connor?

HOW ABOUT LANCE??!!!

Y'know, sometimes talent is everything.

;)

Do you hate Federer too?

How about Tiger?

How about Dennis Connor?

HOW ABOUT LANCE??!!!

Y'know, sometimes talent is everything.

Some people just like the underdog. And those people are generally not fans of any of the above. :)

Ergo...I'm a Navy football fan. Perennial underdogs.

Also, a psuedo Padre fan...even though baseball hates me and I return the favor...just can't get away from it.

Ergo...I'm a Navy football fan. Perennial underdogs.

Also, a psuedo Padre fan...even though baseball hates me and I return the favor...just can't get away from it.

Can we start the steroid/HGH discussion now? Heh. Just kidding... it's too nice of a day to get all worked up.

Can we start the steroid/HGH discussion now? Heh. Just kidding... it's too nice of a day to get all worked up.

I'll second that! Lucky me I'm off on the bike. Perfect day! :p

K is also a complete hypocrite, there are many examples of that. I know everyone is hypocritical to a degree, zbut he's completely off the charts.

I'm not arguing at all here...I'm curious what you mean. Like I said, I'm a distant fan who doesn't see the things that a NC'er would see...


K always keeps his star players and regulars late in the game during blowouts. During the Albany game this year, four of his scrubs didn't get a minute of playing time, and he had four regulars in to the end of a 111-70 blowout (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=273510150). No big deal there. However, last year when Henderson mugged Hansbrough in the last minute of the game, K had the audacity to suggest that Hansbrough shouldn't have even been on the floor.

As for the home game thing, I don't mean the small schools (though UNC does travel to play at smaller schools almost every year), I mean schools with good bball programs. K and Lute Olsen were talking about doing a dook / arizona series. K wanted arizona to play at dook twice, and then play two of the games at neutral sites, he wouldn't travel to play at arizona. That's pathetic.

I hate the Patriots too. Specifically, I hate Bill Belichick and Tom Brady because I think they're both poor sportsman. I don't hate Federer. That guy is a machine. How can I hate a robot?

Forget about the haters Mo', go ahead and cheer Duke.

Steroids and HGH mixed in the proper way is supposed to look and taste like M&M's...

so I've heard... ;)

word on the street, eh?

K always keeps his star players and regulars late in the game during blowouts. During the Albany game this year, four of his scrubs didn't get a minute of playing time, and he had four regulars in to the end of a 111-70 blowout (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=273510150). No big deal there. However, last year when Henderson mugged Hansbrough in the last minute of the game, K had the audacity to suggest that Hansbrough shouldn't have even been on the floor.

I'll sound like a homer here...The 'mugging' of Hansbrough last year could be seen both ways. Trying to look at it unbiased-like, I'd say that Hansbrough was double-pumping the layup, Henderson went to swipe the fake, and whacked Tyler. It probably would have been a foul if Tyler wouldn't have brought the ball down in the first place and had his arms up to block Henderson's swipe. I saw it as physical, but I can see where anybody could also see it as dirty.

One thing I admire about both Roy Williams and K is that they teach their players to ignore the score. Both coaches will keep starters on the floor, and in the non-conference games, both are using valuable real-game time as time spent to train the starters for ACC play.

If I remember correctly, K was being blasted for Henderson's whacking of Tyler by the press. It was right after an emotional loss. I'm not excusing him suggesting Tyler shouldn't have been on the floor, but what else could the guy say? He's defending his player who he thought was being painted as a thug.

As for the home game thing, I don't mean the small schools (though UNC does travel to play at smaller schools almost every year), I mean schools with good bball programs. K and Lute Olsen were talking about doing a dook / arizona series. K wanted arizona to play at dook twice, and then play two of the games at neutral sites, he wouldn't travel to play at arizona. That's pathetic.


Is it pathetic or is it a negotiating tactic? Both are savvy coaches, and both got to where they are by doing what's best for his team. Duke plays preseason tournaments all over the place (Maui, Alaska...) so to say that Duke won't travel is incorrect. Maybe there was something in the deal that didn't benefit Duke. You can't really blame him if it was a bad deal.

I don't know much about the details of those negotiations, so saying that it's "You come to my house to play, but I'm not going to yours" would seem to be an oversimplification.

You have to admit the Patriots have been a godsend to the NFL in terms of legitimate excellence [chortle!!!] and setting the bar for domination. And it's not like they don't have competition this year from the top AFC and NFC contenders. It's up to those teams to rise up and beat them at their own game. If Tony Romo totally blows this season (loses homefield advantage) because he's distracted by Jessica Simpson totally blowing him, then he deserves every bit of derision. You don't see Tom Brady being distracted by his supermodel girlfriend in the crowd.

I don't root for the Patriots because a jagoff guy I've been forced to watch Monday Night Football and the playoffs for 6 years with is from Texas, but roots for the Pats. Said he's been a Pats fan since boyhood. He's a freaking liar. I grew up 70 miles S.E. of Cleveland. Guess who I root for and have been a fan of my entire life? Right, the Browns. Why? Because that's who we saw on TV every other weekend (the non-home games, unless a sell out) when there were only 5 channels to see. I grew up among Browns fans. My Dad and his brothers were all Browns fans. They grew up when Cleveland dominated the NFL like no other team has since. 10 straight title game apearances and 7 wins. Record setting hall of fame legendary team members. Imagine if I decided I was a Houston Oilers fan? They'd have put me on a freight train heading for Texas.

The only thing I hate about the Browns is the dog masks...but they're better than the overweight men with pignoses wearing dresses. Worst.Gimmick.Ever.

today is shoulders, abs and cardio...my tri's are really sore still and the bi's feel terrible from tuesdays session

and the patriots. GOD i hate the patriots. or boston in general. they monopolize the winning thing. it's a respectful hate.

Being from New England, and a lifelong fan of boston teams, I'm in a bit of an awkward spot these days:


It was much more fun being the cursed, underdog red sox. Instead, we've now become the NY Yankees (albeit with more palatable ownership). 2004 was momentous. 2007 was a yawner, by comparison.

The totally unexpected 2002 superbowl victory over the heavily favored Rams was amazing. And aside from being born a Pats fan, I also appreciate the intellect and strategy the Patriots are using to dominate. However, Belichick is a supreme ass (probably surpassing even Coack K), so what am I to do?

The Celtics have gone from a decade of irrelevance to dominant overnight. And it has been mildly exciting watching their transformation. However, in my opinion, the NBA has become a horrible product. (Among other things, see the 2006 Championship series where the officials handed the crown to Dwayne Wade on a silver platter in a most egregiously obviously fashioin.) Besides, I know it's all for naught, since Doc Rivers has no business coaching at this level, so we'll be folding in the playoffs.