A Sad State of Affairs for UVA Football

UVa football had a dream season in 2007 -- 9 wins (5 by 2 points or less), arguably the best defensive player in school history (Chris Long), and its first New Year's Day bowl in a decade (Gator Bowl). But then came 2008. On January 1, 2008, the Hoos blew a 14-point lead in the last 6 minutes and lost to Texas Tech. Soon after, it was announced that starting quarterback Jameel Sewell had failed out of school. Then, highly recruited freshman linebacker J'Courtney Williams was kicked out of school for stealing another student's credit card. The best offensive lineman (Branden Albert) subsequently declared for the NFL Draft. Over the next few months, the program's two best defensive backs and its best defensive lineman (Chris Cook, Mike Brown, and Jeffrey Fitzgerald) were either kicked out or failed out of school. A senior starting linebacker broke his ankle in the first game and will miss the rest of the season. Last week, new starting quarterback (and highly recruited sophomore) Peter Lalich -- supposedly the future of the team -- got kicked off the team for numerous alcohol and marijuana-related offenses (ASIDE: he is rumored to be transferring to Oregon State). The squad lost to USC 52-7 (not surprising since USC is ranked #1) and 45-10 to UConn (surprising since the lowly Temple Owls had taken UConn to overtime the week before).

Just when things could not possibly get any worse for this embarrassment of a football team, the line came out for the Duke game this Saturday. Duke is favored by 7! Based on UVa's play so far this season, the line is about what I expected but it is still hard to believe. Duke has been the doormat of the ACC for the last 15-20 years. This week's line begs the question: when is the last time Duke was favored in an ACC football game? After conducting a quick Google search, it appears that Duke was last favored in ACC play in 2002 against UNC (favored by 3). I would guess that it has been well over a decade since Duke was favored by a touchdown or more versus an ACC opponent -- perhaps this is the first time since the Spurrier era in the late 80s.

2008 has been an embarrassment for the Hoos. Let's hope Al Groh is not around to see the program turn things around in 2009. The first piece of good news: QB Jameel Sewell will re-enroll in January and should be on the field in 2009. Most UVa fans are probably more concerned with the school's ranking in USNews & World Report than the football team's ranking, but while they're drinking Zima and eating brie, the real fans are ready for the program to get back to respectability.

Ramblings

I'm sorry for the two-week hiatus (I am speaking to my 6 readers). It's time for some ramblings:

• Contrary to overwhelming popular opinion, I thought Michael Phelps was decent as host of SNL. He flubbed a few lines, but considering he is a freakin' swimmer, he did fine. He was surprisingly poised during the monologue, and most of his awkwardness during the skits was a direct result of shitty writing. SNL actually has a lot of funny actors now, but the writing is weak. TIME magazine listed Phelps as the #10 worst host ever on SNL. I have watched SNL for about 16 years now, and I think TIME is way off on this one. Maybe it's still the Olympic Fever talking, but I think people are hating too much on his performance. They had Nancy Kerrigan (figure skater) at #1 from her 1994 hosting fiasco -- I am in complete agreement with that choice.
• How about the Ryder Cup last weekend? The U.S. defeats Europe for the first since 1999. I always forget how pumped I get for the Ryder Cup until it actually starts. The Ryder Cup is to golf what the World Cup is to soccer, at least from my perspective. I watch golf majors and some random soccer games (matches?), but i get consumed with those sports during the Ryder Cup and the World Cup. There were some good college and pro football games on this weekend, but the Ryder Cup completely took priority on my TV. Boo Weekley doing the "Happy Gilmore" bull dance after teeing of on the first hole on Sunday was one of the funniest things I have ever seen on the golf course. Doin' the bull dance, feelin' the flow. Workin' it. Yeah.
• Will albums ever go platinum anymore now that we have iTunes? I wouldn't think that iTunes count toward an album's platinum status -- maybe if you buy the whole CD, but who does that when you can just buy the three or four good songs? How can you sell 1 million albums when fans can buy individual songs? The artists probably make the same amount of money, if not more, than they used to but it's still an interesting thought. If this is all true, no album will ever pass Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album in sales. That makes me happy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide
• I've only watched the two newest episodes, but "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is a disturbingly funny show. It's solidified itself it my weekly rotation.
• I know I talk about "90210" way too much, but the first four episodes have met my high expectations. I wouldn't say they've exceeded my expectations, but they're at least at the level that I set in my mind. I appreciate the 3 levels of drama that the show portrays -- 1) high school drama (the usual but still intriguing), 2) 30 something drama (Kelly, Brenda, Ryan, Dylan as Kelly's son's father), and 3) parent drama. No other show -- including BH9er -- have given us all three of these levels. Stay tuned for more analysis.
• This might be old news by now, but referee Ed Hochuli clearly blew a call during the Broncos-Chargers game last week. He blew the play dead right before the Chargers would have recovered a fumble and won the game. Denver got the ball back and proceeded to score and win. I understand that Chargers fans are pissed, but the Chargers still had chances to make a play and they didn't. Moreover, no matter how pissed you get at the refs, you have to be a huge loser to send hate mail or angry emails to a ref. Apparently, Hochuli got thousands of cursing emails -- and instead of ignoring them like most people -- he has been trying to respond to every single one. Clearly, he feels bad about the call. Refs make mistakes. I have wanted to punch refs in the neck many times, but if I ever sat down at my computer and took the time to write an email to a ref about missing a call, I would feel like the biggest booger-eater in the world. It's time to move on, Chargers fans.
  

ACC Football Sucks Worse Than "The Hills"

Admitting that Wake Forest is the best team in the ACC is like suggesting that Lauren is the best character on "The Hills." With all due respect to Wake, they are not a top 10 team. Probably not even a top 20 team. Likewise, Lauren is a pretty miserable person, but she seems like a decent girl when surrounded by the likes of Heidi, Lo, and Audrina. In both circumstances, it is more of a process of elimination.

Wake Forest needed a last second field goal last week to beat Ole Miss -- arguably the 9th or 10th best team in the SEC -- by 2 points. Oh, and the game was at Wake. Oh, and that was the best win the ACC has had in the first two weeks of the season.

The conference has a few opportunities to save some face this weekend -- UNC plays at Rutgers on Thursday, UVa plays at UConn on Saturday, and Maryland plays Cal at home. Based on the ACC's early mediocrity, I should also note that Florida State plays Chattanooga at home.

Outside of Wake's two wins (Baylor and Ole Miss), the ACC's only wins have come against the following: Kent State, The Citadel, Western Carolina, Delaware, William & Mary, Richmond, Furman, James Madison, Charleston Southern, and McNeese State. The losses have come to Middle Tennessee State, East Carolina, and EVERY team we've played from a power conference (USC, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Northwestern). I wouldn't go as far as to say that Conference USA is better than the ACC, but the Mountain West Conference probably is. I am fairly confident that Utah, BYU, and Air Force would punish most of the teams in the ACC. I don't like the Mountain West Conference, but damnit I respect it.

I think Clemson is much better than they showed against Alabama. I still think they will overcome their tendency to choke in big games and win the ACC Championship, but then proceed to continue the ACC's losing streak in BCS games. My sleeper pick in the ACC (picking a sleeper pick in a conference as shitty as the ACC is like picking your favorite surprisingly good Lindsay Lohan movie -- ASIDE: "Parent Trap" is the only one that comes to mind and Lohan was 12) is Georgia Tech -- new coach Paul Johnson has them running the option and Nesbitt and Dwyer (QB and RB, respectively) have looked impressive. I predict they will win the Coastal Division of the ACC. They play Virginia Tech this weekend (good call redshirting Tyrod Taylor just for the ECU game) -- that early-season game may end up determining which team wins the division. I predict losing records for Duke, NC State, Virginia, Maryland, and Boston College. I realize these predictions could have been posted two weeks ago, but I wanted to get a preview of the ACC. So far, that preview has sucked.

90210 Running Commentary

My brother and I were more than a little excited for the series premiere of "90210." We decided to keep Google talk on for the entire episode. Needless to say, the first episode was as good as can be expected. I have no doubt that the show will be successful. Here is what resulted during our running commentary.

Dave: Here are my 3 keys to the show 1. Drama between Kelly and Brenda 2. No product placement 3. Not too many main characters

and as a bonus, Brandon Walsh

7:58 PM me: Brandon (we shall refuse to use his real name) said he doesn't want to be in the show -- but is willing to work behind the scenes, maybe do some directing

7:59 PM I keep forgetting Aunt Becky from Full House is on the show

8:00 PM Coldplay intro...lame choice

Michael from The Wire is now the token black guy -- at least he won't get type cast

8:01 PM Dave: remember how the original show played a current popular song in the intro

me: Of course I remember but Coldplay blows

8:02 PM Dave: did aunt becky just say dude?

is jessica walters a drunk on every show?

8:03 PM me: Lucille Bluth 2.0

Dave: ugh - if they play the incest angle.....

8:04 PM me: West Beverly High hasn't changed a bit -- where's Mrs. Teasley?

8:05 PM Dave: is that Andrea's daughter?

8:06 PM me: Haha Hannah Zuckerman-Vasquez!

Dave: nice

what is the capital of Kansas?

topeka?

me: Is it weird that I feel old seeing Hannah all grown up even though she's fictional?

8:07 PM Dave: yeah

Kelly Taylor

still hot

8:08 PM me: Her life experiences will make her an outstanding guidance counselor

Dave: 16?

nice. this is soph year

Ethan gets more ass than Dylan

8:09 PM me: That's impossible

I sense there is some history between Ethan and the girl from Kansas -- me so awkward

8:10 PM Dave: 2 girls in 8 minutes, it's McKay-esqe

and Brenda!!!

me: theme song?

8:11 PM Dave: an updated version of the orig. I like it

me: classic guitar riff with an updated feel

8:12 PM Dave: I need a freaking play bill to follow all the characters

The Principal is their dad right?

me: yeah and he is married to Aunt Becky

8:13 PM Dave: i feel like that teacher will be the center of a Kelly/Brenda feud - predictable, but I am still excited

8:14 PM me: true dat

silver?

any relation to a skinny dj who tickles the ivories?

8:15 PM Dave: Silver ? as in David Silver's sister?

8:16 PM mr matthews might be the new mrs. t

me: This principal is a P.I.M.P.

Nat!

8:17 PM Dave: naaat!

me: Is that the Peach Pit?

8:18 PM I think there is some foreshadowing of plagarism

8:19 PM Since when do they play lax in California and how is the guy from Kansas good at it?

Dave: i guess so

8:20 PM annie seems like a better looking version of andrea

me: much less nerdy

8:21 PM i bet they didn't even ask Andrea to come back

just her daughter

7 minutes

8:29 PM me: Aunt Becky's ex is named Morris Cornblume

8 minutes

8:37 PM Dave: who stole naomi's purse?

the drama chick?

what's her name?

me: this girl with bangs

8:38 PM Dave: dixon, you should be playing football anyways

me: Kelly and Silver are sisters -- what was the name of David and Kelly's half sister?

8:39 PM Dave: don't remember

8:41 PM me: was that chorus or Destiny's Child?

8:42 PM where is Brenda?

Dave: i thought i saw her at the beginning

8:45 PM lots of drama for the pilot

me: What's the over/under on a James Eckhouse (Jim Walsh) sighting?

Dave: ha - zero point zero

me: still in Hong Kong?

8:46 PM Dave: of course

8:47 PM commercials aren't exactly few and far between

gotta pay the bills i guess

8:51 PM me: my initial reaction -- this show is already better than one tree hill

8:52 PM Dave: and every other show on CW

me: chad michael murray is the worst. actor. ever.

8:53 PM gossip girl has a huge fan base but i am not part of it

Dave: I am really glad they're not trying to make people the new dylan or the new brandon etc....

i like that the adults are part of the drama

although, there are a ton of characters to keep up with

8:55 PM me: Naomi's party has a Peach Pit After Dark feel

shouldn't Steve Sanders be working the door?

8:56 PM Dave: who is the person singing?

9:00 PM me: is that Laguna Beach?

9:01 PM where is Ryan Atwood and Seth Cohen?

9:05 PM Come to think of it -- this show has more of an OC feel than BH9er

9:08 PM Dave: who is this guy? he wasn't in the first hour

9:10 PM me: he's got some pipes

9:11 PM ty collins

nice sweater bro

9:13 PM Dave: that was an aggressive slap

me: he got jacked up

9:14 PM Dave: it was weird - annie was all into ethan, but was sad when her Kansas boyfriend broke up with her

9:15 PM now she likes ty

9:16 PM me: yeah i thought that was weird

9:17 PM silver's blog is a perfect example of how 90210 has adapted to the times

Dave: wait, is jamie from real world san diego samuri girl?

did you just see that commercial?

me: yes

i saw that commercial a few months ago

weird huh?

9:18 PM Smallville is still on the air?

Dave: yep -

back to the peach pit

9:19 PM me: Do you think Navid listens to Fall Out Boy?

Ty has a Bentley

9:20 PM that puts Steve's Corvette to shame

9:24 PM Dave: not only does Navid listen to FOB, he prob rubs out that easy one to pics of Pete Wentz

9:26 PM me: Kelly and Mr. Matthews? Don't dip your pen in the company ink!

9:28 PM Brenda, Kelly, and Nat together again

9:30 PM Brandon in Belize?

9:32 PM Dave: is there anything in belize?

9:33 PM me: people go there for mission work

maybe a little bit of tourism

B Dubbs is probably doing the former

7 minutes

9:41 PM Dave: who's your pick for kelly's kid's dad?

9:42 PM me: i bet the writers leave it open for debate -- just in case Brandon or Dylan agrees to come back

i will guess Dylan

if the show is successful, Dylan will come back -- Luke Perry needs the work

9:43 PM Dave: true

but kelly said she was talking to brandon at 3am when she was with brenda

9:46 PM me: you raise a good point

9:47 PM i wonder what ray pruit is up to now?

9:48 PM not the actor, but the fictional character

9:50 PM Dave: living with his mother still?

9:51 PM me: still banging Valerie and pushing Donna down staircases

9:52 PM Dave: i forgot that he hooked up with val

did that actually happen?

9:56 PM me: Brenda and Kelly seem to be getting along swimmingly

I wonder what it's like off-camera

9:59 PM Jackie Taylor is back next week

Dave: i see

me: who will be next?

Dave: i give the first show a 9.9 out of 10

10:00 PM me: that a little high but it was good

as good as expected

it's a solid set of characters

10:01 PM in conclusion -- we did NOT overhype the show

Dave: correct

10:02 PM me: let's see how this conversation looks in the blogosphere

it could be funny or lame or a little of both