Inane Commercials, Week 11 (Fantasy) Football Thoughts, and (UCLA) Bruin Love
Can you believe it? Blog entries in consecutive days???
Quick-hitters:
- The Dale and Thomas Toffee and Walnut popcorn flavor was most excellent. I’ve now found my second-most favorite Dale and Thomas flavor.
- Current rebate-o-meter: still around $2,500, but rising (and after Black Friday, don’t be surprised if that total reaches $3k again).
- With Black Friday around the corner, here is my current Black Friday-o-meter: $175.
- So I’m sure my loyal readers–all none of you–know how much I hate stupid, annoying commercials. Boy, have there been some doozies polluting my television experience lately:
- There’s this Tonka (?) ad that declares that “Boys are built different, and Tonka’s got the blueprint.” Never mind the apparent gender discrimination here (girls can’t play with trucks, trains, etc.?); I think Tonka meant to say that “Boys are built differently.”
(Tangent: Don’t get me wrong; by no means am I a grammar Nazi. However, if you’re going to air a nationwide advertising campaign, is it that much to ask for a simple grammar check?)
- I thought the Apple v PC ads were gone forever. Then I saw this commercial. Then I saw this one. Yeah, as if watching these commercials really make me want to buy a Mac!
- Has anyone seen this McDonalds’ commercial where a kid is snacking on apple slices to the tune of music? W T F? After seeing that commercial for the first time, I think I was clinically dead for a few minutes. All I remember is that it was light outside before the commercial started, and it was dark the next time I looked outside.
I can’t believe I am actually missing John Mellencamp commercials.
- Here are my Week 11 (Fantasy) Football Thoughts:
- I’m 6-5 in the BargainShare league, riding a three-game winning (read: lucky) streak, and I’m tied for first. Three weeks left, and I face division opponents in each of the final three weeks. A 2-1 record in those three weeks might be good enough for me to make the playoffs. I’m 4-7 (ugh) in my second league, 3-8 (last place, baby!) in the LT league, and 5-7 in my other league (all losses). I really hate fantasy football.
- The Patriots are the greatest team ever! At least, that’s what I’ve been told. 10*-0 now, and six more to perfection.
(Tangent: That was quite the interesting theory offered by Andrew Siciliano, guest-hosting on the Jim Rome Show today. He suggested that the Pats will go 15-0, only to play to lose in Week 17, screwing the NFL over on potential revenues earned from the Patriots going undefeated in the regular season. Very interesting, but I can’t see it happening.)
- The false ending of that Browns-Ravens game was something, wasn’t it? And how is a field goal attempt, at the end of a game, NOT a reviewable play? Nice job by the ref, by the way, insisting that after “consulting” with the other officials, he declared the FG good! And Brian Billick needs to be fired RIGHT NOW. He could have run out the clock before Matt Stover’s would-be game winner, but went incomplete-incomplete right before the attempt. And why keep kicking to Browns’ KR Joshua Cribbs?
- Cincinnati, Carolina, and New Orleans really stink. At least Carolina has a good excuse (injuries). San Diego stinks too.
- Indy sure misses Marvin Harrison, don’t they?
- Miami gave me a scare this past week. They almost won! And now I’m hearing that Miami’s next opponent–Pittsburgh–is dealing with some big injuries too. Nooooooooo! The only thing that might offset a Pats’ perfect season is a Dolphins’ “perfect” season!
- Speaking of Pittsburgh, how the heck did they lose to the J-E-T-S?
- As soon as the UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball team got ousted by Florida last year, I was looking forward to this year’s version of the team, with Lake Oswego’s Kevin Love patrolling the paint. After watching Mr. Love on consecutive days (Monday and Tuesday on one of the ESPNs), I can’t help but be positively giddy at the Bruins’ chances of making it to a third consecutive Final Four this year. Yeah, the Bruins’ come-from-behind win over Michigan State today was UG-LY, but I don’t think the Bruins could win shootout games.
By the way, it appears that Love won’t get a foul call unless he’s bleeding. Oh wait; he was bleeding at one point the first half, and he still couldn’t get a call (that’s not to imply that there should be been a whistle on that particular play)!
So when will teams employ the “Hack-a-Love”?
If I don’t post again between now and Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving!