That's it.
It's gone.
What little ounce left of holiday cheer and Christmas spirit is gone.
And I knew it was gone when we watched, "Mickey's Christmas Carol" tonight and at the end everyone had that happy smile on their face when Tiny Tim gets picked up by Scrooge and then I turned to the people there and said, "Just your standard liberal propaganda." It got a couple laughs, but I was serious about it. I followed up with, "You know, this kind of stuff is meant for kids. You gotta get 'em started early."
And with that, I heard Santa sigh a little bit. Baby Jesus' cry was muffled and the Star of David turned slightly dull.
Another adult lost to the mentality of "Just another day on the calendar".
How did I get here? I used to be so excited about Christmas. And ever since that one special Christmas eve night (almost 10 years ago now), it's just become cheapened for me.
How I got here:
A) Commercialization of Christmas. Constantly trying to find the perfect gift for everyone. And knowing it'll never happen. And not getting gifts for people I know are going to get me gifts. And looking at a lot of my gifts and saying, "This is going to be a re-gift". As a kid I was definitely excited to get toys and money. But now? There is nothing I want that I don't already have. There is nothing that could really be bought for me (that someone could realistically afford) that would have actual meaning to me (other than an inside joke or something of that sort). I suppose it doesn't help that the "recession" word has been on everyone's lips for the past month.
B) Lack of spirituality. When I was younger I'd go to every single advent candle lighting. We'd have an advent calendar. I'd go down to Saint Marks because they had special Christmas season programs for the monks. I loved caroling, and even to this day I still enjoy Christmas music. On that last special Christmas, there was a hokey retelling of the birth of Jesus in our standing room only sanctuary. Where the light from an angel was a youngster willing to climb a ladder and shine a flash light down on a baby. On that Christmas the bell that rang at midnight to mark the change from Christmas eve to Christmas I felt to my core. It's an odd thing to say, but that night I felt like God was there, hugging us all. But no more. After almost 10 years of going to the midnight service, which I have continued to see dwindle every year in attendance since then (or maybe because the sanctuary is just too big and cold now) I am actually debating on going. If someone had asked me 5 years ago, there was no question I was going to be there. "This is a holiday tradition!" I would've scoffed. I have talked about living a balanced life a lot on this blog. I feel that this is one of the main things I am missing.
C) A combination of the holidays sneaking up on me and the routine just being that - routine. Being in Charleston until Halloween did not help my holiday attitude. I feel as if someone picked me up out of September and dumped me off in to the middle of December. There has been so much that has happened the past 2 months that I don't feel like I've had the chance to really settle in. And because of that, spending time with old friends and family just doesn't seem as interesting as it used to. Heck, we'll even have a white Christmas this December and instead of rekindling my childlike joy I curse the snow for screwing up the roads. I don't know how people like me put up the facade during family times, but I've done it pretty well. Or maybe not, of course no one's going to mention that they can see right through me. Hopefully they can't.
So there you go. Ba Humbug. To completely deflate myself on the way home tonight I said, "You know, if I was given the opportunity to work on Christmas, I'd put in at least 10 hours. I'd rather take the holiday pay. Heck, they're making me work on Christmas eve anyway."
It's just another day on the calendar. Nothing special. And why we put so much emphasis on that day to actually make it feel special just sets people like me up for this kind of failure later on in life.
I'll just be in the back corner counting my gold coins. Tap me on the shoulder in February when all of this holiday crap has passed. And until then you can call me Ebenezer.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Obligatory New Years Post
This time, before New Years!
Go figure.
I had time to write, so I wanted to put up something. Those that write blogs - ever notice that reading other people's blogs makes you want to write in yours?
It does for me. Sometimes.
And the fact that I have tomorrow off (hah in your face Monday!) I don't feel it's right to let Sunday night go so easily. Sunday nights are such a good time to write - or read. Good time to sit and reflect back on the week, or the month, or anything at all, before the cycle starts again.
And actually reading through my last new year's post gave me the impetus to write this years. I wanted to do it early for some reason. I wanted to get in in there before too much changed next year. Because of all the talk of change for 2009, I think my life will change. Not that it hasn't every year that I've been on this Earth.
So, like my January post from this year, let's recap what's been 2008, and see the things I was able to accomplish and not accomplish from what I resolved to do this year.
First off, 2008 in a nutshell:
-Made it past 25. I still exist. I am alive. I am healthy. As long as I have my health, everything is just fine.
-Made my motorcycle lesson appointment for this summer. Those never came to fruition. But I could taste it. The charge for the lessons even hit my credit card, cleared, and I paid for them. Only for them to be refunded. Yes, doing this was that big of a deal for me that it deserved a "dash".
-I've seen so many things this year. In my last new year's post I wrote that 2008 would be the "Year of Seth". It has been. I have never in my life experienced so many new things, seen so many sights, traveled the world. I drove from Seattle to Charleston and back. Here are the states I either saw, or actually stayed in: Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina. On the way back we drove through the South and I saw Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and finally back home to Washington. And that was just on the drive down to Charleston and back.
We also took a vacation and drove up the East Coast to New York. I can now say I've seen a good majority of the lower 48. And this country is amazing. And beautiful. I love road trips. A day of driving 10 hours doesn't seem bad to me any longer.
-I saw the sights in Europe over 2 ridiculous weeks. England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland. I'm probably forgetting something, but I stopped looking at a map after listing off all the states.
-Charleston. Beautiful, gorgeous, laid back Charleston. I loved it there. I miss it every day and lived almost the perfect life there. What an opportunity. I don't think I've written enough about it...so maybe I'll put up at least one more post dedicated solely to South Carolina.
Unfortunately I failed at a few things I resolved to do in 2008 because of our short term relocation. Those include: Not getting more defined abs. Sorry, people drink down there, and I had to try everything. Not just the booze, but the food too. Starting my MBA. Just wasn't going to happen while I was out of state. Unfortunately I'm not one of those online degree types.
-Run a marathon: Nope
-Earn 35% returns in the market: Hah, more like 3% (but still not losing!)
-Make more to-do lists: Na-uh
-Don't whine/complain as much: Yes! Completed!
-More driven at work/Search for other opportunities: It will be hard to top 2008 for me. I've also been involved in a few interviews this year. Add another point for me.
-Don't go to Vegas: Only 2 weeks left in the year and no plane ticket! Winner winner chicken dinner.
-Don't drink so much that I vomit: Still happening.
-Go get a pedicure: Yes, we did that for a July 4th celebration...to celebrate our independence from bad feet? I guess.
And that, in so many words, was my 2008. What a great year. If I wasn't coming out of such a gloom over the pats few weeks for coming home and then promptly getting sick, then it would look much better than it does right now.
So what's on the table for 2009. Lots. Every day is filled with plans (albeit not big) but still I will be doing at least something every day of 2009 just like I have every day of my life.
Things from 2008 I didn't accomplish that I want to in 2009:
-Start my MBA. I am planning on taking the GMAT this spring and planning to apply (and hopefully be accepted somewhere respectable - most likely Seattle University) in the fall. This is of course assuming I don't somehow get relocated again.
-After watching "The Dark Knight" this weekend, one of my resolutions for 2009 will be to be more like Batman. This entails a lot: Getting rich(er). Signing up for some form of martial arts training (I'm thinking Judo would be fun?). Signing up for those motorcycle lessons again.
-I give myself 2 nights of vomiting due to drunkenness. Why? Because 3 is too many, and 2 gives me just enough leeway to screw up at least once. This is a goal I failed miserably in 2008.
-Sports related goals: I always put up the dunk one, but I think that's out of reach now. I'll work on something more manageable. 1) Working on my short range jumpers for bball. I can shoot from the outside, I can post up and I can drive. Only one thing is missing. 2) Golf. I've got the power but I lack control. It's tough to hit a ball 250 yards if you can't find it. 3) Play raquetball for the first time ever. 4) Go to a Silvertips and Storm game. Neither of which I have been to. Possibly go down to Portland and catch a Blazers game?
-Be less cheap. I'm constantly calculating the cost of things. And what I could save if I just removed "X" out of my life. I'm doing a good job saving. I should worry less because all that saving won't do me any good if I can't enjoy it because I live a shortened life due to stress.
-Pray more. I thought I wrote this in my last new year's resolution but I didn't see it there. I think I might have written it in another post this year. That is something that I have accomplished in 2008, but I've noticed I only pray when I really want something. I'd like to expand my praying and definitely make it less selfish. I have always felt that living a balanced life was the key and the spiritual side of things has definitely been lacking recently.
-Experience more outside of my comfort zone. I am attracted to things that I've done before, because I know what to expect, and I go back to things that I like. I'm an alright fan of country, but I've never been to a concert before. I've never been to a metal or punk show before. What about the ballet? There are so many fantastic things to see and do near where I live. In Charleston I did everything in my power to go out and try new things because I knew I probably would never be able to live there again. And being given that ability to try something new every weekend if not every day was amazing. One of the many reasons that South Carolina was unforgettable for me.
-Go to Vegas. It's been 3 years. My hiatus is over.
That's good enough for now.
2008 has been such a great year for me. Sadly, I can't see how 2009 can be better but I'm going to try.
Hopefully around this time next year I can put check marks next to the entire list I've made for myself instead of just some of them. Until then, it'll be one day at a time.
Go figure.
I had time to write, so I wanted to put up something. Those that write blogs - ever notice that reading other people's blogs makes you want to write in yours?
It does for me. Sometimes.
And the fact that I have tomorrow off (hah in your face Monday!) I don't feel it's right to let Sunday night go so easily. Sunday nights are such a good time to write - or read. Good time to sit and reflect back on the week, or the month, or anything at all, before the cycle starts again.
And actually reading through my last new year's post gave me the impetus to write this years. I wanted to do it early for some reason. I wanted to get in in there before too much changed next year. Because of all the talk of change for 2009, I think my life will change. Not that it hasn't every year that I've been on this Earth.
So, like my January post from this year, let's recap what's been 2008, and see the things I was able to accomplish and not accomplish from what I resolved to do this year.
First off, 2008 in a nutshell:
-Made it past 25. I still exist. I am alive. I am healthy. As long as I have my health, everything is just fine.
-Made my motorcycle lesson appointment for this summer. Those never came to fruition. But I could taste it. The charge for the lessons even hit my credit card, cleared, and I paid for them. Only for them to be refunded. Yes, doing this was that big of a deal for me that it deserved a "dash".
-I've seen so many things this year. In my last new year's post I wrote that 2008 would be the "Year of Seth". It has been. I have never in my life experienced so many new things, seen so many sights, traveled the world. I drove from Seattle to Charleston and back. Here are the states I either saw, or actually stayed in: Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina. On the way back we drove through the South and I saw Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon and finally back home to Washington. And that was just on the drive down to Charleston and back.
We also took a vacation and drove up the East Coast to New York. I can now say I've seen a good majority of the lower 48. And this country is amazing. And beautiful. I love road trips. A day of driving 10 hours doesn't seem bad to me any longer.
-I saw the sights in Europe over 2 ridiculous weeks. England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland. I'm probably forgetting something, but I stopped looking at a map after listing off all the states.
-Charleston. Beautiful, gorgeous, laid back Charleston. I loved it there. I miss it every day and lived almost the perfect life there. What an opportunity. I don't think I've written enough about it...so maybe I'll put up at least one more post dedicated solely to South Carolina.
Unfortunately I failed at a few things I resolved to do in 2008 because of our short term relocation. Those include: Not getting more defined abs. Sorry, people drink down there, and I had to try everything. Not just the booze, but the food too. Starting my MBA. Just wasn't going to happen while I was out of state. Unfortunately I'm not one of those online degree types.
-Run a marathon: Nope
-Earn 35% returns in the market: Hah, more like 3% (but still not losing!)
-Make more to-do lists: Na-uh
-Don't whine/complain as much: Yes! Completed!
-More driven at work/Search for other opportunities: It will be hard to top 2008 for me. I've also been involved in a few interviews this year. Add another point for me.
-Don't go to Vegas: Only 2 weeks left in the year and no plane ticket! Winner winner chicken dinner.
-Don't drink so much that I vomit: Still happening.
-Go get a pedicure: Yes, we did that for a July 4th celebration...to celebrate our independence from bad feet? I guess.
And that, in so many words, was my 2008. What a great year. If I wasn't coming out of such a gloom over the pats few weeks for coming home and then promptly getting sick, then it would look much better than it does right now.
So what's on the table for 2009. Lots. Every day is filled with plans (albeit not big) but still I will be doing at least something every day of 2009 just like I have every day of my life.
Things from 2008 I didn't accomplish that I want to in 2009:
-Start my MBA. I am planning on taking the GMAT this spring and planning to apply (and hopefully be accepted somewhere respectable - most likely Seattle University) in the fall. This is of course assuming I don't somehow get relocated again.
-After watching "The Dark Knight" this weekend, one of my resolutions for 2009 will be to be more like Batman. This entails a lot: Getting rich(er). Signing up for some form of martial arts training (I'm thinking Judo would be fun?). Signing up for those motorcycle lessons again.
-I give myself 2 nights of vomiting due to drunkenness. Why? Because 3 is too many, and 2 gives me just enough leeway to screw up at least once. This is a goal I failed miserably in 2008.
-Sports related goals: I always put up the dunk one, but I think that's out of reach now. I'll work on something more manageable. 1) Working on my short range jumpers for bball. I can shoot from the outside, I can post up and I can drive. Only one thing is missing. 2) Golf. I've got the power but I lack control. It's tough to hit a ball 250 yards if you can't find it. 3) Play raquetball for the first time ever. 4) Go to a Silvertips and Storm game. Neither of which I have been to. Possibly go down to Portland and catch a Blazers game?
-Be less cheap. I'm constantly calculating the cost of things. And what I could save if I just removed "X" out of my life. I'm doing a good job saving. I should worry less because all that saving won't do me any good if I can't enjoy it because I live a shortened life due to stress.
-Pray more. I thought I wrote this in my last new year's resolution but I didn't see it there. I think I might have written it in another post this year. That is something that I have accomplished in 2008, but I've noticed I only pray when I really want something. I'd like to expand my praying and definitely make it less selfish. I have always felt that living a balanced life was the key and the spiritual side of things has definitely been lacking recently.
-Experience more outside of my comfort zone. I am attracted to things that I've done before, because I know what to expect, and I go back to things that I like. I'm an alright fan of country, but I've never been to a concert before. I've never been to a metal or punk show before. What about the ballet? There are so many fantastic things to see and do near where I live. In Charleston I did everything in my power to go out and try new things because I knew I probably would never be able to live there again. And being given that ability to try something new every weekend if not every day was amazing. One of the many reasons that South Carolina was unforgettable for me.
-Go to Vegas. It's been 3 years. My hiatus is over.
That's good enough for now.
2008 has been such a great year for me. Sadly, I can't see how 2009 can be better but I'm going to try.
Hopefully around this time next year I can put check marks next to the entire list I've made for myself instead of just some of them. Until then, it'll be one day at a time.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Fantasy Football
*deep breath*
Yes, I actually for the first time searched my own blog to make sure I hadn't already written something about this. Sad.
For the first time this year, I am playing in more than 2 leagues. 3 to be exact. I know what you're thinking, wow big jump. Big woop.
But I can't wrap my head around it.
Around this pressure. Late at night, when I should be tired, I'm looking through player lists. Reading injury reports. Seeing how Santana Moss plays outdoor away games on turf in 20 to 40 degree weather.
Seriously?
And how much financially is this all worth? Because that's the the bottom line right? Am I not always pushing that aspect of things?
I am in 2 of my leagues with my wife.
Those league buy ins are $10 and $20. So multiply those by two and you get $60 total.
And I have one league that I am in on my own for $30.
Add all of those up and you come up with $90.
Sure, the payouts are nice...if you get 1st or 2nd in each league. Assuming I got first in each league (which I think has about a 20% probability of occurring) the payout would be $300. Not too shabby, but pretty unlikely. So actually, knowing that I have a 20% chance of winning $300 this year, I'm just going to say I'm probably going to win $60. Awesome, a loss of $30. Exactly the amount I spent to buy the wife in to these leagues...
We are currently in our 15th week. In fact, Chicago just beat New Orleans in overtime in a Thursday night roller coaster 27 to 24. Darn, because I just picked New Orleans to win that game earlier in my weekly NFL pick 'em I do with my friends (which is actually worth more than all my fantasy leagues combined dollar wise).
Anyway, every weekend, or throughout the week after Thursday night football starts, I sit down at the laptop, browse my current line up, figure out good matchups, good combos, take mental note of the star players my opponents are starting. I move players around, add and drop players, maybe pick up possible starters or up and coming rookies. All in total the time I spend on adjusting my fantasy line ups and reading fantasy football related news comes close to an hour every week. Which is assuming I've got something else going on in the background (reading emails/watching TV/listening to music) therefore not concentrating 100% on my team.
Now, while I was in Charleston the Hawks were not broadcast locally (except for at least one game that was nationally broadcast). So because of that I "had" to go to the local bar - D I G represent! - to catch my hawks along with 5 other games.
It was beautiful. Cheering for a lot of my players while simultaneously cheering against other players.
But all the while, there was that little stressor in the back of my mind.
C'mon Zorn! How do you run that in with Betts after Portis gets you there!
ARGGG another TD for Vincent Jackson...
Ugh, should've started Big Ben this weekend instead of Romo
And I can't decide if Fantasy Football has made the game more enjoyable for me, or made me an absolute slave to it.
Because, here's the kicker - it's not just money I'm playing for. In fact, I guess I should've included that at the beginning. Heck, I could be playing for a nickel in each league and I'd still be trying just as hard...why? Because it's about respect.
Fantasy Football is typically filled with guys. Out of my 3 leagues one of them is completely male, and another only has 1 female - which is the wife.
And guys earn respect by competing with other men. Well, at least some of us do. You beat me, I tried my best, you earn my respect.
But here's the problem with that in Fantasy Football. You can control your line up until the first whistle to each game blows. After that, it's completely out of your hands.
So, you do your best with what you have post draft. You scrounge the free agent bin for strays that people missed in the draft or for possible breakout seasons. Maybe a star player got hurt in the first week *cough Tom Brady cough* and now there's suddenly an opening at QB on your roster? You try your best to put together your best starting team given the players that are available for you.
And you win or lose completely based off of nothing you do while the game is actually occurring. Now, if there were live Fantasy Football where you could bench players on the spot and the online fantasy leagues could give you the ability to play any available WR for 60 minutes (assuming Randy Moss was hot late in the 4th quarter you could pull him up for 8 minutes for one of your WR slots) - wow, what an idea.
But, we don't have that. That would be way too involved. Not that it isn't already.
What I'm trying to get to though is that I can't control the fact that Brian Westbrook puts up 30 points a game for the last 3 games and then *crosses fingers* somehow rolls his ankle on the 2nd hand off from scrimmage. It's not the same in other sports I compete in where I almost have complete control over what happens in the game I am playing. I can at least control how I am playing.
I just get to feeling so helpless it's sad. Adrian Peterson puts up 10 points last week in a winning effort and I'm disgruntled because he was projected for 17. Clinton Portis falls off the past few weeks and then comes out with some strong words about his coach.
Great. So after putting in way too much time thinking, discussing and analyzing all of this it's come down to this.
Week 15.
The first week of playoffs in 2 of my 3 leagues. After drafting 2nd out of 10, 7th out of 10 and 7th out of 8 I go in to the playoffs in 2nd place, 4th place, and 3rd place respectively. I've had a solid year, and from my mostly male dominated leagues have been given respect. (At least I think I have - you know guys, we don't communicate well). But the cream has risen to the top. And now I'm playing guys that I also respect. Why? Because they've put in the same work as I have. Some have even made double the number of moves I've made. They've beat me during the regular season and have put up some scary numbers.
In the two playoff games I face this weekend I am projected to score less than my opponents. In the league I am 4th in I face the 1st seed. I am projected to score 100 points and him 125. He had Colston and Forte tonight and combined they were projected to score 26 points. Together they scored 26 points. Great. I'm playing for 3rd in that league.
In the other playoff game I am also an underdog but not by as much. 95 to 100. I'm going to need big games from Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Dominic Rhodes, Adam Vinateri, and Indiniapolis's defense. Yes. I do have all of them starting for these 2 playoff teams. Pretty amazing how that happened.
So, good luck to my players. I'll need at least one big performance from somebody. Because making it to the playoffs is one thing. But actually getting paid for all of this "work" is another thing.
And that is exactly why I love and hate fantasy football.
Yes, I actually for the first time searched my own blog to make sure I hadn't already written something about this. Sad.
For the first time this year, I am playing in more than 2 leagues. 3 to be exact. I know what you're thinking, wow big jump. Big woop.
But I can't wrap my head around it.
Around this pressure. Late at night, when I should be tired, I'm looking through player lists. Reading injury reports. Seeing how Santana Moss plays outdoor away games on turf in 20 to 40 degree weather.
Seriously?
And how much financially is this all worth? Because that's the the bottom line right? Am I not always pushing that aspect of things?
I am in 2 of my leagues with my wife.
Those league buy ins are $10 and $20. So multiply those by two and you get $60 total.
And I have one league that I am in on my own for $30.
Add all of those up and you come up with $90.
Sure, the payouts are nice...if you get 1st or 2nd in each league. Assuming I got first in each league (which I think has about a 20% probability of occurring) the payout would be $300. Not too shabby, but pretty unlikely. So actually, knowing that I have a 20% chance of winning $300 this year, I'm just going to say I'm probably going to win $60. Awesome, a loss of $30. Exactly the amount I spent to buy the wife in to these leagues...
We are currently in our 15th week. In fact, Chicago just beat New Orleans in overtime in a Thursday night roller coaster 27 to 24. Darn, because I just picked New Orleans to win that game earlier in my weekly NFL pick 'em I do with my friends (which is actually worth more than all my fantasy leagues combined dollar wise).
Anyway, every weekend, or throughout the week after Thursday night football starts, I sit down at the laptop, browse my current line up, figure out good matchups, good combos, take mental note of the star players my opponents are starting. I move players around, add and drop players, maybe pick up possible starters or up and coming rookies. All in total the time I spend on adjusting my fantasy line ups and reading fantasy football related news comes close to an hour every week. Which is assuming I've got something else going on in the background (reading emails/watching TV/listening to music) therefore not concentrating 100% on my team.
Now, while I was in Charleston the Hawks were not broadcast locally (except for at least one game that was nationally broadcast). So because of that I "had" to go to the local bar - D I G represent! - to catch my hawks along with 5 other games.
It was beautiful. Cheering for a lot of my players while simultaneously cheering against other players.
But all the while, there was that little stressor in the back of my mind.
C'mon Zorn! How do you run that in with Betts after Portis gets you there!
ARGGG another TD for Vincent Jackson...
Ugh, should've started Big Ben this weekend instead of Romo
And I can't decide if Fantasy Football has made the game more enjoyable for me, or made me an absolute slave to it.
Because, here's the kicker - it's not just money I'm playing for. In fact, I guess I should've included that at the beginning. Heck, I could be playing for a nickel in each league and I'd still be trying just as hard...why? Because it's about respect.
Fantasy Football is typically filled with guys. Out of my 3 leagues one of them is completely male, and another only has 1 female - which is the wife.
And guys earn respect by competing with other men. Well, at least some of us do. You beat me, I tried my best, you earn my respect.
But here's the problem with that in Fantasy Football. You can control your line up until the first whistle to each game blows. After that, it's completely out of your hands.
So, you do your best with what you have post draft. You scrounge the free agent bin for strays that people missed in the draft or for possible breakout seasons. Maybe a star player got hurt in the first week *cough Tom Brady cough* and now there's suddenly an opening at QB on your roster? You try your best to put together your best starting team given the players that are available for you.
And you win or lose completely based off of nothing you do while the game is actually occurring. Now, if there were live Fantasy Football where you could bench players on the spot and the online fantasy leagues could give you the ability to play any available WR for 60 minutes (assuming Randy Moss was hot late in the 4th quarter you could pull him up for 8 minutes for one of your WR slots) - wow, what an idea.
But, we don't have that. That would be way too involved. Not that it isn't already.
What I'm trying to get to though is that I can't control the fact that Brian Westbrook puts up 30 points a game for the last 3 games and then *crosses fingers* somehow rolls his ankle on the 2nd hand off from scrimmage. It's not the same in other sports I compete in where I almost have complete control over what happens in the game I am playing. I can at least control how I am playing.
I just get to feeling so helpless it's sad. Adrian Peterson puts up 10 points last week in a winning effort and I'm disgruntled because he was projected for 17. Clinton Portis falls off the past few weeks and then comes out with some strong words about his coach.
Great. So after putting in way too much time thinking, discussing and analyzing all of this it's come down to this.
Week 15.
The first week of playoffs in 2 of my 3 leagues. After drafting 2nd out of 10, 7th out of 10 and 7th out of 8 I go in to the playoffs in 2nd place, 4th place, and 3rd place respectively. I've had a solid year, and from my mostly male dominated leagues have been given respect. (At least I think I have - you know guys, we don't communicate well). But the cream has risen to the top. And now I'm playing guys that I also respect. Why? Because they've put in the same work as I have. Some have even made double the number of moves I've made. They've beat me during the regular season and have put up some scary numbers.
In the two playoff games I face this weekend I am projected to score less than my opponents. In the league I am 4th in I face the 1st seed. I am projected to score 100 points and him 125. He had Colston and Forte tonight and combined they were projected to score 26 points. Together they scored 26 points. Great. I'm playing for 3rd in that league.
In the other playoff game I am also an underdog but not by as much. 95 to 100. I'm going to need big games from Jason Campbell, Santana Moss, Dominic Rhodes, Adam Vinateri, and Indiniapolis's defense. Yes. I do have all of them starting for these 2 playoff teams. Pretty amazing how that happened.
So, good luck to my players. I'll need at least one big performance from somebody. Because making it to the playoffs is one thing. But actually getting paid for all of this "work" is another thing.
And that is exactly why I love and hate fantasy football.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
The Worst Sports Year Ever
Well, I was waiting for this weekend to make it official.
I could have written this even a week ago. But I guess I was just lazy.
There is something in the water in Seattle. At least in 2008.
Because this has been the worst sports year ever. And it's not even that we're lovable losers anymore. It's that we now have actually had some semblance of competitiveness in each sport we play, and yet for some reason absolutely nothing has gone right for any of our teams. It's like a plague that has spread from franchise to franchise.
Looking back on it now I can't believe that before I left for Charleston in April that I told my dad that if we made a run for the pennant I'd never forgive myself for missing it. There were actually people out there that were predicting how well we were going to do. I told him that I would fly home just to catch a world series game. It's a once in a lifetime sort of deal and he said he would do everything in his power to get me a ticket if we did make it that far.
Uhhh, I guess I just jinxed us then?
But before I go down that road, let's break it down to see how this was actually the worst year ever in all of the Seattle sports I follow. And as a heads up, those sports are the NFL, NBA, MLB college basketball and football.
January/February 2008: Hawks make the Divisional playoff and lose to Greenbay. I think this is where the downturn started. Writing about this now makes it seem like it was years ago. But really, it was the beginning of this year.
However, I don't count us losing in the playoffs as 2008 though. Because we made the playoffs based off of what the team did in 2007. And the NFC west is the worst division in the league. So for us to make the playoffs...is almost like taking candy from a machine which dispenses candy for free. More on this later.
March/April (2008): There is no big dance to speak of. Even the NIT snubs us (although IMO we were definitely more deserving than at least 3 of the schools that got the invite).
Husky basketball goes 17-17 during the entire season and even loses at home in a tournament for the real suckers (W...T...F is "College Basketball Invitational"?) it was seriously an embarrassment. Which I think you'll find is a reoccurring theme throughout this past year. Husky basketball I still have the most love for. The new season started last month and we are looking better than last year, but it's still not enough. Maybe if we can somehow squeeze in to the big dance in 2009 it might make the pain from this year a little bit easier to bear.
May/June/July: There is no NBA playoffs to speak of. I go to a few games earlier in the year (so this is actually filed under the wrong section, I just wanted to mention that the Sonics weren't even CLOSE to being in contention for a playoff run), which will now go down as my last games in Key arena. I get drunk and yell profanities at Earl Watson for being the worst point guard in the history of the NBA. He really isn't but on the nights I was there he was. The sonics put up an absolutely horrendous 20 and 62 season. In fact, it was so bad that I wish they got honorable mention on this list. But alas they don't.
Oh, and did I mention the whole time that the season was occuring that there was a "battle" happening over whether or not the team would be moved to Oklahoma City? And we all know how that ended up turning out. Key Arena was such a depressing place to be this past year. I even think the storm got better turn out than the Sonics did. The only time people actually came to see the Sonics? Was when they were playing other teams that fans were interested in seeing more than the home team. Which I was definitely guilty of.
But now, they're gone. And all I have left are the memories of the 1995 NBA finals. Kemp, Payton, Dale Ellis, Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins. Heck, even the run we made in 2005. I'll throw it in there. Now, I feel like the 3 sports of city of Seattle has now become a little bit more gray. Nothing to look forward to to bring us out of winter in to these perfect Seattle summers. No more Callabro. I just kind of have to sigh and laugh about how the Oklahoma City BLUNDER are doing. They are currently 2-19 and I think trying to beat out last year's Sonic team. I hope you're happy Bennett.
August/September: The worst season in NCAA Pac-10 Football history starts. Who knew it would get this bad? I mean, I guess I could kind of see it coming...I wanted Ty out last year but everyone was telling me that he needed another year. Why? The guy is a terrible coach, terrible recruiter, and actually lost games for us just because he doesn't understand basic coaching strategy. I caught a few games on TV down in Charleston (amazed that they showed them!) and the supposed "home team" announcers questioned his decisions at least twice a game. The guy lacked everything. A winning resume. Charisma. Coaching knowledge. Good riddance.
But look where it got us? ZERO WINS. Not one. Big goose egg and a number 12 after it. There is not one other team across all 119 NCAA Division 1 football teams that lost all of their games. Except for us. Embarassment, shame, anger. Have I been a victim of some crime? No, only the association to my once proud alma mater. And this is exactly what I was waiting for. I was waiting for Cal to destroy us on Saturday. And I watched most of it. Heck, I caught more than half the season for being gone for most of it.
And I'll still remember Jake Locker running in to the end zone versus BYU and tossing that ball up. I'll remember Willingham giving up on a first half with a minute and 40 seconds to go, timeouts and the ball. I'll remember our defense which couldn't stop a 4th grade class of peewee footballers. I'll remember that heart breaking loss to Wazzu in overtime. But most of all, I will remember the worst season in PAC-10 history. Not even in UW history only. But in the PAC-10. Which is saying a lot seeing as how many of the schools have been around since the early 1800s.
October: Wasn't I supposed to be flying home at this time? To catch at least one of the World Series games? Remember dad? Remember how you said we would get tickets to my first World Series game ever?
The pitching was laughable. The hitting was nonexistant. The coaches were asleep. Fans used Safeco field more as a beer garden then an actual sporting venue. If we could've just lost a few more games we could've been part of history by joining this list. I mean we were only 15 games away from getting on that loserboard at a ridiculous 61 and 101 this year. What must it feel like to lose 100 times? I mean, I'm sure over my life time I've lost that many times given the number of things I compete in. But in one season? I think I was already calculating our "magic number" to not make the playoffs by May.
Just another pathetic excuse for a professional sports team based out of the good ole Northwest.
November-Present day: The one thing I've been able to hang my hat on the past few years is gone. At least when all else was lost I could point to the Seahawks and say: There's a team that is representing us properly. Let's beat up on all of the other weak teams in our division and make the playoffs! We've been a shoe-in since 2004. It was almost like we good just be on cruise control throughout the entire season because we knew that Arizona, San Fran and Saint Louis were just that bad. And of course we were on cruise control seeing as how often we've lost in the past 5 years any time we've gone on the road.
That was fine with me though. Because an above .500 team in the worst division in the league would be able to sleep it's way in to the playoffs. Well, I think that's what happened this year. The team just got the feeling that I had. That we could just saunter in to the playoffs like we have done in previous years.
Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Hasselbeck's been hurt. We've had walk-ons for wide receiver, offensive line and our secondary. And Arizona's finally made something out of that high powered offense. So now what? So now, we are the worst team in one of the worst divisions in the NFL. This one probably hurts the most because at least in the MLB we're in a ridiculous division where 90 wins guarantees you nothing. In the NBA our conference has been strong (or at the least respectable) for a decade. But the NFC west? It's been a joke as long as I can remember. And for us to be the cellar dwellers right now at 2-11 after another gut wrenching loss to New England today...it's too much.
This had to be written.
On the bright side - although it doesn't seem like there is much of one - there is change coming. New coaches. New managers. High picks in the draft due to a terrible previous season. New recruits. As I've mentioned in regards to other things that are going on right now - I mean really, can it get any worse that what I've endured regarding sports in 2008? I wasn't even here for half the year!
But to all of you true hometown fans out there (like myself), the more we continue to hold on through these tough times, the sweeter it will taste when we finally get that championship. Hopefully you'll see me in the crowd years down the road at the World Series/NBA Finals (go Portland)/Superbowl/Final Four/NCAA National Championship. And when we finally take one down you won't be able to wipe the smile off my face.
I could have written this even a week ago. But I guess I was just lazy.
There is something in the water in Seattle. At least in 2008.
Because this has been the worst sports year ever. And it's not even that we're lovable losers anymore. It's that we now have actually had some semblance of competitiveness in each sport we play, and yet for some reason absolutely nothing has gone right for any of our teams. It's like a plague that has spread from franchise to franchise.
Looking back on it now I can't believe that before I left for Charleston in April that I told my dad that if we made a run for the pennant I'd never forgive myself for missing it. There were actually people out there that were predicting how well we were going to do. I told him that I would fly home just to catch a world series game. It's a once in a lifetime sort of deal and he said he would do everything in his power to get me a ticket if we did make it that far.
Uhhh, I guess I just jinxed us then?
But before I go down that road, let's break it down to see how this was actually the worst year ever in all of the Seattle sports I follow. And as a heads up, those sports are the NFL, NBA, MLB college basketball and football.
January/February 2008: Hawks make the Divisional playoff and lose to Greenbay. I think this is where the downturn started. Writing about this now makes it seem like it was years ago. But really, it was the beginning of this year.
However, I don't count us losing in the playoffs as 2008 though. Because we made the playoffs based off of what the team did in 2007. And the NFC west is the worst division in the league. So for us to make the playoffs...is almost like taking candy from a machine which dispenses candy for free. More on this later.
March/April (2008): There is no big dance to speak of. Even the NIT snubs us (although IMO we were definitely more deserving than at least 3 of the schools that got the invite).
Husky basketball goes 17-17 during the entire season and even loses at home in a tournament for the real suckers (W...T...F is "College Basketball Invitational"?) it was seriously an embarrassment. Which I think you'll find is a reoccurring theme throughout this past year. Husky basketball I still have the most love for. The new season started last month and we are looking better than last year, but it's still not enough. Maybe if we can somehow squeeze in to the big dance in 2009 it might make the pain from this year a little bit easier to bear.
May/June/July: There is no NBA playoffs to speak of. I go to a few games earlier in the year (so this is actually filed under the wrong section, I just wanted to mention that the Sonics weren't even CLOSE to being in contention for a playoff run), which will now go down as my last games in Key arena. I get drunk and yell profanities at Earl Watson for being the worst point guard in the history of the NBA. He really isn't but on the nights I was there he was. The sonics put up an absolutely horrendous 20 and 62 season. In fact, it was so bad that I wish they got honorable mention on this list. But alas they don't.
Oh, and did I mention the whole time that the season was occuring that there was a "battle" happening over whether or not the team would be moved to Oklahoma City? And we all know how that ended up turning out. Key Arena was such a depressing place to be this past year. I even think the storm got better turn out than the Sonics did. The only time people actually came to see the Sonics? Was when they were playing other teams that fans were interested in seeing more than the home team. Which I was definitely guilty of.
But now, they're gone. And all I have left are the memories of the 1995 NBA finals. Kemp, Payton, Dale Ellis, Schrempf, Hersey Hawkins. Heck, even the run we made in 2005. I'll throw it in there. Now, I feel like the 3 sports of city of Seattle has now become a little bit more gray. Nothing to look forward to to bring us out of winter in to these perfect Seattle summers. No more Callabro. I just kind of have to sigh and laugh about how the Oklahoma City BLUNDER are doing. They are currently 2-19 and I think trying to beat out last year's Sonic team. I hope you're happy Bennett.
August/September: The worst season in NCAA Pac-10 Football history starts. Who knew it would get this bad? I mean, I guess I could kind of see it coming...I wanted Ty out last year but everyone was telling me that he needed another year. Why? The guy is a terrible coach, terrible recruiter, and actually lost games for us just because he doesn't understand basic coaching strategy. I caught a few games on TV down in Charleston (amazed that they showed them!) and the supposed "home team" announcers questioned his decisions at least twice a game. The guy lacked everything. A winning resume. Charisma. Coaching knowledge. Good riddance.
But look where it got us? ZERO WINS. Not one. Big goose egg and a number 12 after it. There is not one other team across all 119 NCAA Division 1 football teams that lost all of their games. Except for us. Embarassment, shame, anger. Have I been a victim of some crime? No, only the association to my once proud alma mater. And this is exactly what I was waiting for. I was waiting for Cal to destroy us on Saturday. And I watched most of it. Heck, I caught more than half the season for being gone for most of it.
And I'll still remember Jake Locker running in to the end zone versus BYU and tossing that ball up. I'll remember Willingham giving up on a first half with a minute and 40 seconds to go, timeouts and the ball. I'll remember our defense which couldn't stop a 4th grade class of peewee footballers. I'll remember that heart breaking loss to Wazzu in overtime. But most of all, I will remember the worst season in PAC-10 history. Not even in UW history only. But in the PAC-10. Which is saying a lot seeing as how many of the schools have been around since the early 1800s.
October: Wasn't I supposed to be flying home at this time? To catch at least one of the World Series games? Remember dad? Remember how you said we would get tickets to my first World Series game ever?
The pitching was laughable. The hitting was nonexistant. The coaches were asleep. Fans used Safeco field more as a beer garden then an actual sporting venue. If we could've just lost a few more games we could've been part of history by joining this list. I mean we were only 15 games away from getting on that loserboard at a ridiculous 61 and 101 this year. What must it feel like to lose 100 times? I mean, I'm sure over my life time I've lost that many times given the number of things I compete in. But in one season? I think I was already calculating our "magic number" to not make the playoffs by May.
Just another pathetic excuse for a professional sports team based out of the good ole Northwest.
November-Present day: The one thing I've been able to hang my hat on the past few years is gone. At least when all else was lost I could point to the Seahawks and say: There's a team that is representing us properly. Let's beat up on all of the other weak teams in our division and make the playoffs! We've been a shoe-in since 2004. It was almost like we good just be on cruise control throughout the entire season because we knew that Arizona, San Fran and Saint Louis were just that bad. And of course we were on cruise control seeing as how often we've lost in the past 5 years any time we've gone on the road.
That was fine with me though. Because an above .500 team in the worst division in the league would be able to sleep it's way in to the playoffs. Well, I think that's what happened this year. The team just got the feeling that I had. That we could just saunter in to the playoffs like we have done in previous years.
Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Hasselbeck's been hurt. We've had walk-ons for wide receiver, offensive line and our secondary. And Arizona's finally made something out of that high powered offense. So now what? So now, we are the worst team in one of the worst divisions in the NFL. This one probably hurts the most because at least in the MLB we're in a ridiculous division where 90 wins guarantees you nothing. In the NBA our conference has been strong (or at the least respectable) for a decade. But the NFC west? It's been a joke as long as I can remember. And for us to be the cellar dwellers right now at 2-11 after another gut wrenching loss to New England today...it's too much.
This had to be written.
On the bright side - although it doesn't seem like there is much of one - there is change coming. New coaches. New managers. High picks in the draft due to a terrible previous season. New recruits. As I've mentioned in regards to other things that are going on right now - I mean really, can it get any worse that what I've endured regarding sports in 2008? I wasn't even here for half the year!
But to all of you true hometown fans out there (like myself), the more we continue to hold on through these tough times, the sweeter it will taste when we finally get that championship. Hopefully you'll see me in the crowd years down the road at the World Series/NBA Finals (go Portland)/Superbowl/Final Four/NCAA National Championship. And when we finally take one down you won't be able to wipe the smile off my face.
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