Mizzou loses SEC Championship Game

I am still in a state of mourning as I write this.  My Missouri Tigers got beaten badly yesterday evening by the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome.  The final was 59-42.

Had you told me ahead of time that Mizzou would score 42 points I would have told you they would win easily.  But that was not the case.  The Auburn rushing game moved the ball at will against Mizzou. The game was closer than the final score,  as Missouri had to go on a fourth and a yard very late in the game from their own seven yard line. Mizzou failed to convert.  Auburn scored a few plays later.  My congratulations to Auburn and their fans.  The "War Eagles" were obviously the better team.  I will cheer for them in the BCS championship game against Florida State. (The final BCS ratings are not out as I write this, but I trust Auburn will leap frog Ohio State after it's loss last night).

Obviously I was disappointed in the outcome.  But, I am not down on my beloved Tigers.  They are 11-2 at this point and set up to play in a top notch non-BCS game.  Most teams in the country would kill for this opportunity.  I am hearing Mizzou will play in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State.  To me a trip to Dallas would be a great way to spend the first week of January.

Mizzou you may have been beaten yesterday, but you are still champs to me.

Another Good Sports Weekend

My beloved Missouri Tigers picked up win number ten this weekend as they defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 24-17.  Up next for Mizzou is "Johnny Football" and his Texas A&M Aggies.  The Tigers are now ranked #5 in the latest Associated Press poll.

The St. Louis Rams continued on their winning ways too.  They clobbered the Chicago Bears yesterday afternoon 42-21.  The Rams are now 5-6 and will fly to San Francisco this weekend to play the 49ers.

And if the football wins weren't enough, the Blues continued their winning ways with an easy 6-1 win over Dallas on Saturday night and Mizzou's basketball team improved to 5-0 Saturday afternoon with a 72-63 win over Gardner-Webb.

Mizzou Up to #8 in the Latest BCS Poll

I went through some football withdrawal this weekend.  My Missouri Tigers were on their second bye of the season and the St. Louis Rams were also on their NFL bye.

Even though my teams weren’t playing this weekend my Tigers are up to number eight in the latest BCS rankings, which if I understand correctly, would put them into a BCS game if it was played today.  Obviously they won’t be played until the first week of January.

In the interim, the Tigers have Ole Miss this weekend in Oxford and then end the season at home against Texas A&M in Columbia two days after Thanksgiving.  Go Tigers!  M-I-Z!!!

Did I Sleep for a Month?

I'm driving to work this morning and using the seek button on my car radio looking for something besides commercials.  Guess, what I hear as the radio settles on 102.5?  I hear Christmas music, yes Christmas music.  I think gee is this November 18th or December 18th?  And to top it off this station's announcer declares it is the "official" Christmas station.  I thought yeah, and you are the only Christmas station here.

Not wanting to listen to Christmas Carols in mid-November, I hit the see button again and what happens you ask?  The radio stops on 103.3 and this station is also playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC.  Seriously I think to myself...two radio stations right next to each other on the dial playing Christmas music two weeks before Thanksgiving.  Not to be outdone, the second radio station calls itself "Your Christmas Station".  

I love Christmas and everything that goes with it.  But, let's wait until December before we start broadcasting 24/7 Christmas Music.

Congratulations to the Bearded Bunch from Boston

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox! You were the better team in this World Series. Here's hoping you and your fans enjoy your championship!  You certainly have worked for it and outplayed the rest of the American League in the regular season, the ALDS, the ALCS and the Cardinals in the Series.

Congratulations to my beloved Saint Louis Cardinals. I am proud of the way you played this year and proud to be a Cards fan. You may have come up two games short of being "Baseball Kings" for the 12th time, but you are champs in my book and many other Cardinal fans.

Go Cards!

Here it is the middle of October and the St. Louis Cardinals are again in the National League Championship series.  This is the third year in a row where the Cardinals have made the League Championship series.  Only one other team in baseball can say this.   As I write, the Cards lead Los Angeles three games to two.  The Birds have been a lot of fun in this season where they have overcome way too many injuries of which to write.

At the same time the Cardinals are making a run for the World Series, my beloved Missouri Tigers are off to a 6-0 start coming off of a huge win last Saturday in Athens, Georgia.  Mizzou went down to Georgia and beat up on the then seventh ranked Bulldogs 41-26.  The Tigers defense came up with four turnovers in the game.  The Tigers are playing the Florida Gators this Saturday at the "ZOU".  A sellout is expected for Mizzou's first home SEC game this year.  Go Tigers!  M-I-Z!!!

And finally the St. Louis Rams are at 3-3 having beaten the Houston Texans last week in Texas.  The Rams are again on the road this weekend against Carolina.  Go Rams!!!

I love October!

I Love a Pennant Race

OK, I haven't been very faithful in writing.  Yeah, I know I keep using the excuse I'm busy.  And it's not exactly as if you Mr. and Mrs. Reader are asking for more.  So, I do the best I can and if you don't like that, well too freakin' bad.

As I write this I'm watching my beloved Cardinals play the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin.  The Cardinals lead it now 6-4 on Matt Adam's gargantuan Home Run in the top of the ninth.  But, the bigger picture is the National League Central divisional championship race.  All season the Cards, Pirates and Reds have chased each other for divisional supremacy.  Already tonight the Reds have come from behind and beaten the Pirates 6-5.  If the Cards, or Birds as we call them in the Saint Louis area, can close out the Brewers they will up their lead to two games over each of their rivals.

If...and that is a big IF, the Birds hang on to win, the Cardinals magic number will be seven with eight games remaining.  Any combination of St. Louis wins and the second place teams losses will guarantee the Cards yet another divisional championship.  How 'bout them Birds!

Apparently there is only one team of value in Major League Baseball

I must have missed the memo.  Why you ask?  Well, on each of the past two weekends the Boston Red Sox have been the featured team on nationally televised games.

Last week the MLB Network, Fox and ESPN teamed up to ram the Red Sox and New York Yankees down the rest of the nation's collective throat.  This week Fox and ESPN are again doing their very best to make us think the Red Sox are the only team of value in the Majors.  Why?  Fox and ESPN have both decided the Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are the only games the entire nations cares to see.

In fairness to the Red Sox and Dodgers they are the best teams in each of their leagues.  And they are both playing great baseball.  (The same can not be said of the Yankees).

Once upon a time the Boston Nine were a bunch of lovable losers.  But no so any more.  So MLB Network, Fox and ESPN remember there are 30 teams in the Big Leagues and most of us could care less about the Boston Red Sox.

This is 601

I just noticed my previous post, 30 minutes ago about Awful Announcing, was post number 600 since I started this blog over eight years ago.

If you are keeping track that's' like 50 posts a year and give or take about four posts a month.  That's not what I would call prolific by any means, but it does provide me a forum to express myself when I see something in the Post-Distate ("St. Louis Post-Dispatch") that is truly awful.

Even though I am not writing as much the Post is still a mediocre newspaper at best.  It's just taking the time to write about every screw up in that publication would fill up much of my day.  And the local TV stations aren't much better.  Their "news judgement" leaves a lot to be desired to say the least.  Writing about "local TV news" is like the saying "shooting fish in a barrel".

But, when I see something outrageous in the Post or on local TV I will be sure to express myself.

No Brazil is not in Europe

Sometimes the words coming out of TV talking head's mouths are well, unexpected to say the least.  I didn't see it this past weekend, but one my favorite blogs "Awful Announcing" caught it during a broadcast of the White Sox - Twins baseball game.

Bert Blyleven should know better, but in complementing the Sox and their scouting department he told viewers Chicago Pitcher Andre Rienzo is from Europe.  Gee, last time I checked Brazil was in South America.  To see the clip CLICK HERE.

Happy (Belated) Independence Day

This is like a lot of things I do...a day late and a dollar short.  But, here goes, Happy 237th Birthday to the United States of America.  Thank you to all of those who came before me and my generation.  Thank you to those who gave up their lives, blood, sweat and toil.  May God Bless the USA and may she always be free!  Happy Independence Day!

Happy Summer

It's been several weeks since I last posted and I have been busy with all kinds of things, but I have to tell you I have been enjoying the great late Spring weather.

Now that it is officially Summer, let me tell you Happy Summer!  Its in the 90s today where I live and is supposed to be this way until mid next week.  That sounds a little warm, but I got to tell you, I would much rather deal with hot weather than cold weather.

Welcome back summer!

Knock, Knock...Who's There? Argo...

I finally got to watch this year's Academy Award Winner for Best Picture...Argo.

I am impressed.  Many times a picture fails to live up to it's hype.  This movie met my expectations and in fact exceeded them.

If you haven't seen it, I don 't want to spoil it for you so won't go into specifics.  For a long time I thought Ben Affleck was an overrated actor who got lucky once and has been living off of his past.  I don't believe that any more.  After you watch Argo you'll know why.  Affleck directed the movie too.  Nice job Ben.

I did some fact checking this morning and like Hollywood does to a lot of films they played with the actual facts more than a little.  But, it did not detract from the central theme of the picture.  When I said it exceeded my expectations I can tell you I got more and more nervous as the movie approached it's climax.  Yeah, I know, it's only a movie.  It's only a movie.

If you haven't seen it go to one of those movie kiosk thingies and turn loose of that dollar you've been saving for God only knows what.  (By the way, what does a dollar buy anymore)?  You'll be glad you did.  As far as the title of this post, if you want to know the answer watch the movie. God Bless you Canada!

Mother's Day

To all mothers out there; Happy Mother's Day.  But, to one specific mother who reads this blog occasionally, Happy Mother's Day to the best Mom in the whole wide world!  Mom I love you! Thanks for all you have done for me over the years.  You truly are the best.

When will this Winter Let Go? - Part II

It's been a month since I posted the exact same title and as I write this it is the last Saturday in April and the temperature is only 52 degrees.  I am tired of being cold and hearing the furnace run.  That sound of the furnace igniting triggers an image in my mind of seeing dollar bills going up in flames.

Normally, by this point we have had a few mid to upper 80 degree days where I live.  But, this year nothing of the sort.  Hopefully, when we turn the page on the calendar to May next week it will start to get warmer.  I just hope we don't go straight from Winter to Summer.

When Will this Winter Let Go?

As I write this I am looking out the window at about seven inches of snow on the ground.  And if you are wondering when this was written it is March 25th, 2013.

Yesterday the Saint Louis area got hammered with over a foot of snow at the Airport.  According to the folks at the National Weather Service who keep track of such things, this is the largest snowfall the area has ever had in March.   Locations to the north had more snow and areas south of the Airport ended up with less.

Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row it has been cold and snowed.  Last weekend's Saint Patrick's Day celebration was hindered by the cold wet weather.  It was the first time in years I've been home on St. Patty's Day by seven in the evening.

I and everyone I know is tired of Winter.  The St. Louis Cardinals will open their regular season next Monday in Arizona and then play the home opener the following Monday April 8th against the Cincinnati Reds.  Hurry Spring!

Final Thought's on Mizzou's Basketball Season

Missouri ended its up and down basketball season with a good old fashioned ass whooping at the hands of Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  As they did much of the season, when Mizzou left it's happy place in Columbia, Mo. the team was mediocre at best.

This team was loaded with talent, but appeared to lack direction all season.  For this I blame head coach Frank Haith.  In fairness to Haith the team lost a key player mid-season over unproved charges of sexual assault.

With Dixon's departure the team never did come together like it should have.  Junior point guard Phil Pressey played out of control frequently and the result cost Missouri several wins on the road.  Haith, never did bench Pressey even when Pressey was firing up three point jumpers and missing like there was no tomorrow.  The bottom line is Haith lost control of the team and never did get the team back under control.  When Mizzou played at home they were very very good, and didn't lose all season.  But, when this group went on the road they were very, very mediocre.  It's time for the Athletic Director Mike Alden to evaluate where the basketball program is and what Haith's future is with The University of Missouri.

Tigers Put it all Together

I won't dwell on this but my beloved Missouri Tigers basketball team put together two solid halves tonight and smoked the Arkansas Razorbacks 93-63.  The Tigers led 48-22 at half, in what I believe was the team's best half of the year.  Mizzou dominated Arkansas on the boards and at the Free-Throw line.

Missouri finishes it's home season with a perfect 16-0 record.  The 22-8 Tigers complete their regular season in Knoxville on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Tennessee Volunteers.

Winter Weather "Coverage" Laughable

In the past two weeks this area has had two major Winter storms skirt it.  The first week we got about five inches of snow.  This past week we got a dusting.  The weather talking heads were obviously disappointed since they couldn't play with their high tech weather toys this week.  So, one local station decided it would have Winter storm coverage anyway. Now keep in mind as I posted above St. Louis got just a dusting this past Tuesday.

KPLR-TV spent the first ten minutes of it's 7 pm newscast covering the snow in Columbia, Missouri.  Columbia is 125 miles from Saint Louis and there is no way in the world the fine folks in Columbia could see this debacle of "news".  So, the question becomes why did news management permit this abomination of local news coverage?  I have no idea, but my guess is the management thinks people want to see pictures of snow regardless of where it takes place and it will boost ratings.  My guess is probably not.

The message KPLR sent to it's community was nothing worth reporting happened in Saint Louis on this day so we will go after something 125 miles away.  By reading the Post-Dispatch the next morning and listening to the radio stations, plenty took place on Tuesday.  KPLR just decided to ignore it for business reasons.  KPLR = FAIL.

Congratulations to the Ravens!

It's been a day since the Baltimore Ravens won the 2013 Super Bowl.  That's Super Bowl XLVII if you prefer to read Roman numerals.  The bottom line is the Ravens jumped on the San Francisco 49ers early and held on to beat the NFC champs 34-31.

I thought Joe Flacco played a heckuva a game and made some nice throws to put the Ravens up 21-6 at half.  But, if you go back and look at those plays, the 49er's Defensive backs were missing in action on several of the touchdowns.  To me the most memorable play of the game was the 108 yard kickoff return to start the second half.  When I saw Jacoby Jones take the kick deep in the endzone and start to return it my initial thought was "what a dumbass".  But, as he streaked down the field my thoughts changed to "man that dude is fast".

I thought the power outage was unfortunate for the city of New Orleans trying to show off for the rest of the country after Hurricane Katrina crippled it eight years ago.  I sure am glad I'm not the chief electrician at the Super Dome.  There must be a lot of finger pointing today.  One other thing I noticed about the power outage was CBS never showed a single commercial in the 40 minutes we waited for the game to resume.  My guess is there is something in the contract between CBS and it's advertisers that allow them to be shown only when the game is actually being played.

I had been cheering for San Francisco to win the game because of the two Mizzou Tigers on their roster; Justin Smith and Aldon Smith.  And I am not a fan of Ray Lewis.  As one pundit put it..."most accomplices to murder go to prison.  Lewis went to the Superbowl.  Anyway, just my take on it.  Everyone makes mistakes and I am sure he is sincere in his religion.  Congratulations Ravens!

Farewell to Baseball's Perfect Knight

Stan Musial now belongs to the ages.  I am saddened by the passing of my childhood hero.  Stan "The Man" died today at the age of 92.

As an eight year old kid my Dad would take me to the original Sportsman's Park on North Grand Avenue.  I can recall seeing "The Man" hit balls over the right field screen during batting practice.  I also saw my share of Musial home runs during the games.  He ended his career with 475 HRs and even more impressively 3630 hits.  You know what made that even more special?  Mr. Musial had 1815 hits at home and 1815 on the road.

The Man appeared in 24 All-Star games, which to this day has been tied by only Willie Mays. Stan the Man won three MVP awards and was a player on three World Series champions. Even more impressively Stan was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in his first year of eligibility in 1969.

Yes, Stan Musial was baseball's perfect warrior.  On the occasion of his retirement in 1963, then baseball commissioner, Ford Frick uttered the following; "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior, here stands baseball's perfect knight".

All Hail the Crimson Tide

OK, this is late in being posted but I still need to say it.  Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide on winning the 2013 NCAA Football Championship. 

If you watched the game you know it was no contest.  Had it been a prize fight it would have been stopped in the second quarter.  The Tide totally dominated Notre Dame in the 41-14 win.  My thought at the end of the game was Notre Dame was about the same level as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.  The Irish would have been beaten by LSU and Texas A&M.  If Notre Dame played Alabama 20 times Alabama would win each time and they would all be mis-matches.  The Tide are just that good.

Congratulations to the SEC on winning it's 9th BCS championship in 15 years.  The next closest conference in BCS wins is the Big 12 with a whopping two victories.

I Would Go Broke

Good thing I don't pick college football games for a living.  Yesterday I was critical of the University of Louisville football team and compared them to Northern Illinois.  Man, was that a mistake.

Louisville dominated Florida last night in the Sugar Bowl and upset the SEC power 33-23.  In looking back I should have been more careful.  The Gators had been feckless on offense against lesser teams for the past four weeks of the season.  One of those games was against my beloved Mizzou Tigers.  Missouri had a chance to tie the game on the final play of that game 14-14, only to have a pass sail just over the head of an open receiver.

So, to all of the Louisville Cardinals fans I may have offended, my congratulations to you and your team on a nice win and a good season.

Missouri Tigers Basketball

 Don't look now, but my beloved Missouri Tigers are the highest rated SEC team in the latest AP Basketball Poll.  The Tigers check in at number 12 this week just in front of the Florida Gators.  The Tigers and Gators will meet in three weeks at Gainesville on Saturday afternoon the 19th.

The Tigers are ten and two, with a loss to Louisville and a loss to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in overtime last Friday night. Key wins in the Mizzou season include Stanford, VCU and Illinois.  The Tigers have one more non-conference game this weekend and that is full speed into the School's first year in the SEC.  Go Tigers!  M-I-Z!!!

It was a Good Year for the Rams

The Saint Louis Rams wrapped up their 2012 campaign with a loss at Seattle on Sunday afternoon 20-13.  That loss gave them an overall record of 7-8-1.  But, what is encouraging is that is six fewer losses than 2011.  The Rams also lost just once in their division this year.  The division record was 4-1-1.  The tie coming at San Francisco and the loss was this Sunday at Seattle.  Both of those teams are playoff bound.

The Rams are the youngest team in the NFL and have done a nice job of filling needs with draft picks and free agents.  The talent is in place. The Rams have built up a number of extra draft picks this year and next year with trades to other NFL teams prior to the 2012 draft.

Given the current management and the job done by head coach Jeff Fischer I am optimistic about the 2013 season.

Happy New Year!

As the title of this post indicates, I really hope that you and the ones you love have a Happy New Year.  It was a good one, except for the hoosier neighbors down the street waking everyone up with fireworks at midnight.  

You may have noticed this is written on January 2nd, mainly because I spent New Year's Day sampling the Smorgasbord of NCAA football bowl games.

I also learned, again, that if it's New Year's Day the Big 10 (or maybe it's the Big 12 or possibly the Big 14) will choke big time.  The Big Ten went a whopping one and four.  The only winner in the group was Northwestern which finally won a bowl game for the first time since 1949.  The Big Ten losers list includes Nebraska, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin.  At the same time the SEC conference played three games yesterday winning two of them (South Carolina in the Outback Bowl and Georgia in the Capital One Bowl).

And a final thought on the Bowl games yesterday; Northern Illinois had no business playing in the Orange Bowl.  Florida State had their way with the NIU in a 31-10 romp.  My guess is Louisville of the Big East will  suffer a similar fate this evening in the Sugar Bowl when they run into the Florida at the Super Dome.  For the record I forecast a 31-14 Florida win.