Saturday, April 4, 2020
A New World Normal .. or abnormal?
Is today Saturday or Friday? Wait, let me look at my calendar.
Yeah, a new normal. Days blending together, time structure pretty much out the window.
Sitting here at my bedroom table aka my new office on most days, on Day 19 of my at-first 14-day self quarantine/then shelter at home/ now isolation prison, staring out at my backyard tropical landscaping... and the new normal is: what else can I do, cut, prune, add to that landscaping jungle just to get outside!!???
My good friend, Doug, said out of the blue recently: you should blog about your isolation experience.
So, here we go!
The past 19 days, really the last 30 days, have been to paraphrase pastor Craig Groeschel, emotionally disorienting.
As this viral pandemic quietly crept into the United States, I was across the world in paradise, in what other mortals call New Zealand, with my son, Kyle, enjoying the majesty of God’s creations. My only concerns were about booking the next excursion and finding a functioning Wi-Fi hookup. In our nine days in Kiwi land, only a few masks, and very little if any talk about this Wuhan Virus.
Returning on March 15, I was not prepared for the level of hysteria, misinformation, fear and economic disruption I would encounter.
The first emotional blow: upon our return, Kyle and I needed to self-quarantine (never thought in my lifetime I’d be saying that word so much as I have in the last 19 days!). Self-what!? Stay home, avoid all social interaction? What? Don’t they know how much I thrive on being around people? Putting together group plans to play golf, go drinking, go out to eat?
Ok, so we stay home. Cool. Get to do more Yardwork. Cook at lot. Sleep later. Binge watch Netflix, HBO, etc, every night. Play some online Texas Holdem. Surf social media. Drink some good bourbon (hope no one sees my purchase receipts on this ..don’t judge) Yeah, this won’t be so bad, right?
Well, all the fun n games slowly (or was it quickly? Wait, what time is it again?) shifted to a blur of boredom, a daily mental gymnastics to not let the dulling routine, the fear, the panic, the negative, the unsettling uncertainty of what would news be tomorrow about this virus, overwhelm my mind.
Before this national shutdown, Social media was already a digital doorway to enter into other people’s worlds, peek into their minds, somewhat experience their feelings (even if the voyeurism was simply endless pictures of dogs, cats, babies)
But social media quickly (or was it slowly, dang I just can’t keep track...) morphed into a universe of negative barking at positive, pessimism battling optimism, faith wrestling with fear.
This glaring dicotomy brought up two of my deepest core beliefs, ones I have believed and tried to walk, ever since I accepted Jesus into my life. Two core beliefs that are inextricably intertwined:
Choices and Faith vs. Fear.
A revelation many years ago for me was what God said about faith, in two personally powerful scriptures:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
So, I believe everyone in all things, not some: ALL, has a decision: do I choose fear or do I choose faith?
Choices. In ALL decisions, we must make choices. And from that choice, you should be prepared to accept the consequences, both good and bad. (Yeah, accountability.. what a novel idea, huh? And one lost in recent times.)
In this isolation prison, I never doubted my faith and fully believed (and voiced such too strongly, we’ll come back to this) this virus was a fear-monger’s wet dream.
After no-idea how many days, I had to severely limit my vocal attempts to discount misinformation and my strong feelings about the over-hyped hysteria and fear. I gave up the daily statistical wars with friends, and online debates about validity of news sources. Tough choice, but had to because so many are so filled with fear and other delicate emotions.
The daily mental and emotional pent-up frustrations and impatience weren’t healthy, so, basically, I chose to step off my social media soapbox, and try to only offer positive, faith-filled words.
And maybe this is the good part of his new normal (abnormal?)
We step away from emotional debates, and it’s ok to let people be right when they likely are wrong.
We just laugh at insanely long lines caused by social distancing at Lowe’s to get into garden section.
We thank everyday workers - store clerks, fast-food servers, janitors - more.
We appreciate and enjoy more our friendships.
We ask strangers more often, how are they doing.
We encourage everyone more, we love more.
We are more thankful in what we have and can do, then in what’s lost and can’t do.
Finally, we truly understand God is with you at all times, on the mountain and in the valley, in the isolation, in the fear... He is with you at ALL times.
Cheers, love, and safety to you.
Friday, December 8, 2017
The Clete Blakeman & Crew clown show aka Saints vs. Falcons
There's an old adage in sports: if you notice refs in a game more than the game, then refs aren't doing their job.
Well, last night, it was the Clete Blakeman & Crew Shit Show, not the Saints-Falcons' game, we all noticed, a 3-ring circus of incompetence.
I literally went to bed pissed off, and woke up pissed off. Such a crucial, season defining game should not be determined nor dictated by alleged professional officials. NEVER. But it was.
And before anyone screams "Homer" at me, let me point out that national and local social media, especially Twitter, the NFL network announcers, and objective viewers from Cali to New Jersey all agree the Saints' got jobbed by this incompetent crew.
At game-end, Mike Torrico and Chris Collinsworth both were chuckling and almost speechless at the absurdity of the calls against Saints. Both said at the end, they've never seen a more bizarre game. (Translation: never seen a bigger load of crap calls by refs.)
By 4th quarter, national and local sportswriters on social media were posting emojis of crap referring to the refs.
Yes, many and especially Saints' fans, will whine and moan about Brees' very ill-advised and admitted awful INT to end the game. (I totally agree it was bad.) And why didn't they run the ball more. The latter? Because Saints' were down to ONE RB, Ingram, who was already injured going into game, then got hurt again late in game. Plus, Saints' O line was playing a 3rd-string guard.
But fact is, the game never ever should have come down to Brees' INT play, under that pressure.
All the made bad call and the egregious missed calls eroded play-calling and strategies. And maybe even more importantly - and coupled with slew of injuries, the bad calls literally led to a wore down and depleted Saints' team.
ATL got NINE - NINE!!! - 1st downs because of penalties. Ponder how much game-time these calls caused the Saints' D to remain on the field! And it was obvious, the D was gassed in 2nd half.
Oh, and those NINE 1st downs? 2nd most 1st downs by penalty in the last 20 years.
Football is a serious game of chess. Every play, every down and distance, leads to another play in that series. Every play determines field position. Every play affects personnel you can utilize. And all this creates a rhythm of play-calling.
And there are very few coaches outside Payton that play the chess game better, evidenced by Saints' top offensive production and points year after year.
But when refs' blunders and blind misses occur, all the above stutters, staggers and stalls. And the incompetent officiating snowballs and affects all parts of the strategy... and leads to desperation later ie Brees' INT to end game.
Ref Blunders, you ask? Think about these 3 highly questionable calls, and how they literally cost Saints' 14 points:
1) Kamara helmet-to-helmet hit
By rule, it WAS a personal foul.
Not only wasn't it called, but Saints' best player was gone from game.
Instead of 1st and goal, Saints kick FG.
4 points lost.
2) roughing passer on Rankins
Rankins literally barely shoved Ryan. Announcers laughed and said directly: "that isn't roughing the passer."
That call was at midfield, Saints had stopped Falcons on a 3rd and very long.
Instead of punt, Falcons drive and score their 1st TD.
7 points given.
3) Illegal formation negates Lutz's first-half ending FG.
Payton said post-game, refs almost always talk to coach and give warning about infraction before calling it. Now post-mortem, should have been an omen how refs were screwing Saints.
Made 47-yard FG wiped away.
3 points lost
More salt in the wound, you say?
Michael Thomas face-masked and poked in the eye. No call.
Crawley called for holding ticks tack. But Julio Jones then swung at Crawley and hit his facemask. No call.
Both clearly seen by back judges. Both clearly shown on replay. Both not called.
Omen mentioned above fulfilled: to end game, Payton is called for unsportsmanlike conduct, effectively ending the game.
Like earlier in game, ref blatantly doesn't communicate with Payton. Replay shows Payton screaming and signaling time-out, but ref near him ignores plea. Payton said post-game, he called for timeout, ref didn't acknowledge, so he went onto field.
And I promise you, Payton had already communicated BEFORE that play, that he would be calling time-out!
EVERY, and I mean EVERY coach runs onto field to call timeout, and 99% of time no flag is thrown.
But fact, not opinion, is this was the Clete Blakeman & Crew Shit Show.
And dammit, Clete and his merry band of clowns ...they were going to take the final bow.
Well, last night, it was the Clete Blakeman & Crew Shit Show, not the Saints-Falcons' game, we all noticed, a 3-ring circus of incompetence.
I literally went to bed pissed off, and woke up pissed off. Such a crucial, season defining game should not be determined nor dictated by alleged professional officials. NEVER. But it was.
And before anyone screams "Homer" at me, let me point out that national and local social media, especially Twitter, the NFL network announcers, and objective viewers from Cali to New Jersey all agree the Saints' got jobbed by this incompetent crew.
At game-end, Mike Torrico and Chris Collinsworth both were chuckling and almost speechless at the absurdity of the calls against Saints. Both said at the end, they've never seen a more bizarre game. (Translation: never seen a bigger load of crap calls by refs.)
By 4th quarter, national and local sportswriters on social media were posting emojis of crap referring to the refs.
Yes, many and especially Saints' fans, will whine and moan about Brees' very ill-advised and admitted awful INT to end the game. (I totally agree it was bad.) And why didn't they run the ball more. The latter? Because Saints' were down to ONE RB, Ingram, who was already injured going into game, then got hurt again late in game. Plus, Saints' O line was playing a 3rd-string guard.
But fact is, the game never ever should have come down to Brees' INT play, under that pressure.
All the made bad call and the egregious missed calls eroded play-calling and strategies. And maybe even more importantly - and coupled with slew of injuries, the bad calls literally led to a wore down and depleted Saints' team.
ATL got NINE - NINE!!! - 1st downs because of penalties. Ponder how much game-time these calls caused the Saints' D to remain on the field! And it was obvious, the D was gassed in 2nd half.
Oh, and those NINE 1st downs? 2nd most 1st downs by penalty in the last 20 years.
Football is a serious game of chess. Every play, every down and distance, leads to another play in that series. Every play determines field position. Every play affects personnel you can utilize. And all this creates a rhythm of play-calling.
And there are very few coaches outside Payton that play the chess game better, evidenced by Saints' top offensive production and points year after year.
But when refs' blunders and blind misses occur, all the above stutters, staggers and stalls. And the incompetent officiating snowballs and affects all parts of the strategy... and leads to desperation later ie Brees' INT to end game.
Ref Blunders, you ask? Think about these 3 highly questionable calls, and how they literally cost Saints' 14 points:
1) Kamara helmet-to-helmet hit
By rule, it WAS a personal foul.
Not only wasn't it called, but Saints' best player was gone from game.
Instead of 1st and goal, Saints kick FG.
4 points lost.
2) roughing passer on Rankins
Rankins literally barely shoved Ryan. Announcers laughed and said directly: "that isn't roughing the passer."
That call was at midfield, Saints had stopped Falcons on a 3rd and very long.
Instead of punt, Falcons drive and score their 1st TD.
7 points given.
3) Illegal formation negates Lutz's first-half ending FG.
Payton said post-game, refs almost always talk to coach and give warning about infraction before calling it. Now post-mortem, should have been an omen how refs were screwing Saints.
Made 47-yard FG wiped away.
3 points lost
More salt in the wound, you say?
Michael Thomas face-masked and poked in the eye. No call.
Crawley called for holding ticks tack. But Julio Jones then swung at Crawley and hit his facemask. No call.
Both clearly seen by back judges. Both clearly shown on replay. Both not called.
Omen mentioned above fulfilled: to end game, Payton is called for unsportsmanlike conduct, effectively ending the game.
Like earlier in game, ref blatantly doesn't communicate with Payton. Replay shows Payton screaming and signaling time-out, but ref near him ignores plea. Payton said post-game, he called for timeout, ref didn't acknowledge, so he went onto field.
And I promise you, Payton had already communicated BEFORE that play, that he would be calling time-out!
EVERY, and I mean EVERY coach runs onto field to call timeout, and 99% of time no flag is thrown.
But fact, not opinion, is this was the Clete Blakeman & Crew Shit Show.
And dammit, Clete and his merry band of clowns ...they were going to take the final bow.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Due to the never-ending, irrational and hysterical NeverTrump news posted daily..
NeverTrump or Pro-Trump, here are some facts to consider:
** copied from another post!***
** copied from another post!***
President Trump's accomplishments so far:
BREAKING: 209k jobs added to US economy in July - that's over 1 million new jobs now since @realDonaldTrump became President on Jan20.
1.Supreme Court Judge Gorsuch
2.59 missiles dropped in Syria.
3.He took us out of TPP
4.Illegal immigration is now down 70%( the lowest in 17 years)
5.Consumer confidence highest since 2000 at index125.6
6.Mortgage applications for new homes rise to a 7 year high.
7.Arranged 20% Tariff on soft lumber from Canada.
8.Bids for border wall are well underway.
9.Pulled out of the lopsided Paris accord.
10.Keystone pipeline approved.
11.NATO allies boost spending by 4.3%
12.Allowing VA to terminate bad employees.
13.Allowing private healthcare choices for veterans.
14.More than 600,000. Jobs created
15. Median household income at a 7 year high.
16. The Stock Market is at the highest ever In its history.
17. China agreed to American import of beef.
18. $89 Billion saved in regulation rollbacks.
19. Rollback of A Regulation to boost coal mining.
20. MOAB for ISIS
21. Travel ban reinstated.
22. Executive order for religious freedom.
23. Jump started NASA
24. $600 million cut from UN peacekeeping budget.
25. Targeting of MS13 gangs
26. Deporting violent illegal immigrants.
27. Signed 41 bills to date
28. Created a commission on child trafficking
29. Created a commission on voter fraud
30. Created a commission for opioids addiction.
31. Giving power to states to drug test unemployment recipients.
32. Unemployment lowest since may 2007.
33. Historic Black College University initiative
34. Women In Entrepreneurship Act
35. Created an office or illegal immigrant crime victims.
36. Reversed Dodd-Frank
37. Repealed DOT ruling which would have taken power away from local governments for infrastructure planning
38. Order to stop crime against law enforcement.
39. End of DAPA program.
40. Stopped companies from moving out of America.
41. Promoted businesses to create American Jobs.
42. Encouraged country to once again be great
43. 'Buy American and hire American
44. Cutting regulations 2 for every one created.
45. Review of all trade agreements to make sure they are America first.
46. Apprentice program
47. Highest manufacturing surge in 3 years.
48 $78 Billion promised reinvestment from major businesses like Exxon, Bayer, Apple, SoftBank, Toyota...
49. Denied FBI a new building.
50. $700 million saved with F-35 renegotiation.
51. Saves $22 million by reducing white house payroll.
52. Dept of treasury reports a $182 billion surplus for April 2017
(2nd largest in history.
53. Negotiated the release of 6 US humanitarian workers held captive in egypt.
54. Gas prices lowest in more than 12 years.
55. Signed An Executive Order To Promote Energy Independence And Economic Growth
56. Has already accomplished more to stop government interference into people's lives than any President in the history of America.
57. President Trump has worked with Congress to pass more legislation in his first 100 days than any President since Truman.
58. Has given head executive of each branches 6 month time Frame dated march 15 2017, to trim the fat. restructure and improve efficacy of their branch.
All that with no help from Congress.
2.59 missiles dropped in Syria.
3.He took us out of TPP
4.Illegal immigration is now down 70%( the lowest in 17 years)
5.Consumer confidence highest since 2000 at index125.6
6.Mortgage applications for new homes rise to a 7 year high.
7.Arranged 20% Tariff on soft lumber from Canada.
8.Bids for border wall are well underway.
9.Pulled out of the lopsided Paris accord.
10.Keystone pipeline approved.
11.NATO allies boost spending by 4.3%
12.Allowing VA to terminate bad employees.
13.Allowing private healthcare choices for veterans.
14.More than 600,000. Jobs created
15. Median household income at a 7 year high.
16. The Stock Market is at the highest ever In its history.
17. China agreed to American import of beef.
18. $89 Billion saved in regulation rollbacks.
19. Rollback of A Regulation to boost coal mining.
20. MOAB for ISIS
21. Travel ban reinstated.
22. Executive order for religious freedom.
23. Jump started NASA
24. $600 million cut from UN peacekeeping budget.
25. Targeting of MS13 gangs
26. Deporting violent illegal immigrants.
27. Signed 41 bills to date
28. Created a commission on child trafficking
29. Created a commission on voter fraud
30. Created a commission for opioids addiction.
31. Giving power to states to drug test unemployment recipients.
32. Unemployment lowest since may 2007.
33. Historic Black College University initiative
34. Women In Entrepreneurship Act
35. Created an office or illegal immigrant crime victims.
36. Reversed Dodd-Frank
37. Repealed DOT ruling which would have taken power away from local governments for infrastructure planning
38. Order to stop crime against law enforcement.
39. End of DAPA program.
40. Stopped companies from moving out of America.
41. Promoted businesses to create American Jobs.
42. Encouraged country to once again be great
43. 'Buy American and hire American
44. Cutting regulations 2 for every one created.
45. Review of all trade agreements to make sure they are America first.
46. Apprentice program
47. Highest manufacturing surge in 3 years.
48 $78 Billion promised reinvestment from major businesses like Exxon, Bayer, Apple, SoftBank, Toyota...
49. Denied FBI a new building.
50. $700 million saved with F-35 renegotiation.
51. Saves $22 million by reducing white house payroll.
52. Dept of treasury reports a $182 billion surplus for April 2017
(2nd largest in history.
53. Negotiated the release of 6 US humanitarian workers held captive in egypt.
54. Gas prices lowest in more than 12 years.
55. Signed An Executive Order To Promote Energy Independence And Economic Growth
56. Has already accomplished more to stop government interference into people's lives than any President in the history of America.
57. President Trump has worked with Congress to pass more legislation in his first 100 days than any President since Truman.
58. Has given head executive of each branches 6 month time Frame dated march 15 2017, to trim the fat. restructure and improve efficacy of their branch.
All that with no help from Congress.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Attn Armchair GMs r: Saints 2017 draft
Friends, New Orleanians, and WhoDats... lend me you ear....
Few baselines: I try very hard to not overreact like most Saints fans, conduct basic objective research and look at the draft and trade situations with perspective, not just Black & gold fervor.
Has Saints draft history been brutal last several years? No doubt.
But first perspective, so we don't forget where we are and where we came from... :
In Loomis/Payton 15 years, we've won 129 games (average wins per year of 8.6!!!), gone 6-4 in playoffs, and won a Super Bowl.
Nine years prior to Loomis: average wins a year = 6.3, made playoffs ONCE, 1-1 in playoffs.
As far as this year's draft, Saints filled almost every need with both quality and great value:
CB Lattimore - some saying one of biggest steals in 1st round
Has Saints draft history been brutal last several years? No doubt.
But first perspective, so we don't forget where we are and where we came from... :
In Loomis/Payton 15 years, we've won 129 games (average wins per year of 8.6!!!), gone 6-4 in playoffs, and won a Super Bowl.
Nine years prior to Loomis: average wins a year = 6.3, made playoffs ONCE, 1-1 in playoffs.
As far as this year's draft, Saints filled almost every need with both quality and great value:
CB Lattimore - some saying one of biggest steals in 1st round
Safety (had to replace bust Byrd) - got a 1st round talent in 2nd round
Sproles-like 3rd down back Kamara is a stud
OT - outside of an aging Strief, there are ZERO OTs on this roster, which everyone forgets. And if Brees aint standing, we aint winning.
More
LB depth - maybe the only "stretch" pick in this draft
Edge rusher/DE - which Whodats were having coronaries bec we weren't picking.. well check out this Hendrickson stud: https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-four-prospects-on-r…/)
And do yourself a favor: breeze around the national sites, and experts almost all are giving this draft class an A.
So, Armchair GMs aka many Saints fans over the last couple of weeks.. lol: kick back, pour yourself an Abita and take a deep breath today. Saints took some mighty big steps to rebuilding for another Super Bowl run.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
NFL REFS SUCK 2016
There can be no argument from knowledgable NFL observers.. heck even the casual squirrel fan saw it: NFL Refs suck in the 2016 NFL season.
Even with what should be NASA-high-tech replay technology, refs week in and week out bumbled and blundered like blind mice right in front of millions of eyeballs.
Here are my random thoughts on how this officiating malaise can be cured:
1. All refs must be full-time.
How can the richest sport in the universe be the only professional sport WITHOUT full-time refs?
Full-time refs could travel together, work on film study, hone their rules knowledge.
2. Have a full-time (getting the theme here?) replay crew,
This crew reviews EVERY play, and when there is an egregious error, the head ref doesn't need to hide under that puppet-show tent, put on the 1980s headset and spend 3 minutes reviewing the replay like its the Zapruder film! No, a ref in front of 30 HD monitors can simply buzz in, correct the call and we move on!!!
3. EVERY stadium have Hawkeye technology for all sideline and end zone plays.
If you haven't see this technology, it's indisputable laser technology used by tennis on all line, close calls (http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk/)
In tennis - a sport now watched by 10 people and creating enough profit to fund an elementary school education - has this infallible line technology, yet the NFL uses what seems like VHS quality video.
Hey NFL: take one billion of that profit and install Hawkeye tech in every stadium tomorrow!
4. Scrap the what's a catch rule aka the Calvin Johnson rule.
Secure the ball, turn 38.5 degrees, take 2.5 "football" steps, complete the catch but do not move your left index finger off the ball unless the defender touches the right hand.... this the latest version of the rule, right?
Fact is NO ONE knows this ridiculous rule. Ditch it. Burn it.
Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher nailed it in a recent article: and was laid out succinctly by Deadspin's Drew Magary:
Imagine that: catch the ball, come down in-bounds, that's a catch.... genius!
5. Make Pass Interference replay eligible
Aside from refs blowing every other "catch" call, PI is only 2nd by a hair in number of blown/bad calls.
Seems DBs cough too hard, and they are flagged, while WRs now grab DBs, holding them down and not allowing DB to jump ... call it the Randy Moss move.
Or you can do like Mike Evans here and just 2-hand show Sterling Moore, and Moore be called for the PI!
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.marcon/videos/10154690819462787/
6. Eliminate the ridiculous "ice the kicker" timeout.
This one needs no explanation.
7. Amend the Automatic 1st down on Illegal Contact
So, it's 3rd and 20, you can A) decapitate the receiver, get a personal foul, but not give up the 1st down or B) touch receiver with a feather and no matter where it is, give offense automatic first..... Yeah, you get the picture.
Ok, NFL refs you suck and are on double-secret probation, don't make me send in the tape to my guy Knuckles...
Sunday, September 4, 2016
DJ, can you change that Miles' record, please?
I woke up this morning and realized LSU under Les Miles is like a collector's vinyl record, one everyone wants and the beauty is admired, but it has a gaping scratch that the needle is stuck on. And that stuck point of the song keeps playing, and playing and playing.
We all hear and see it's stuck. We scream and point out it's stuck. But Les just aw-shucks it, and babbles some incomprehensible words as to why he won't pick up needle and play on.
And that needle stuck was never more evident then again in LSU's mind-numbing , disappointing and disgusting season-opening (and ending?) loss to Wisconsin.
LSU was and is infinitely more talented, but was woefully out-played, out-coached and out-schemed.
I have been ridiculed for years, by friends for my defense of Miles. I rationalize "Who's better out there?" and point to his exemplary winning record.
I've always been a Les Miles advocate. No more.
After watching yesterday's game, there simply is no hope for another championship with Miles at the helm. None. Zero. Zilch.
No one can question his unparalleled ability to recruit. No one can doubt the man bleeds LSU, and is a great human being.
But the bells toll loudly now that Miles' simply cannot coach his teams to the elite level LSU fans' expect and deserve.
The insanity is, it's undoubtable that one thing alone has caused his imminent downfall: Miles' maddening inflexibility and unwillingness to adapt his offense to the skill set of players he has will alternately be his downfall.
Even simpler part of this is Miles' complete incompetence to recruit and develop even a serviceable average passing QB.
Name one QB that has progressed under Miles' watch..... Crickets.
In his tenure, Miles' QBs cannot complete the most basic fundamental passes. Five-yard passes are an adventure.
LSU QBs are laughingly inaccurate, as Harris proved repeatedly as he overthrew NFL-ready receivers... Well, that's why they don't pass, some say.
I say this is incorrect: when your passing game consists of 2 passes, quick bubble screen and deep go-routes.. how does a QB develop accuracy and rhythm?
LSU torched Wisconsin everytime they ran a quick WR out, and let their WRs use open field. But after that one TD drive... no WR quick outs. Back to the broken record, backward-ass cloud of dust play calls.
And every LSU QB, again Harris a glaring example, has horrible mechanics: feet not set, shoulders not square.
This lady and gentlemen is bad coaching.
Every player, every fan, every opponent knows LSU has 2 plays: run Fournette between tackles despite 8-9 defenders in box and 7-step drop, long-developing pass routes with no safety valve options.
Amazingly, LSU still continues to win 9-10 games every year, and Fournette's transcendent talent somehow gets 130++ every game.
I dream about this: Imagine LSU's offensive talent under Houston's Hermann or Clemson's Sweeney? I get giddy like a toddler about to see Mickey at Disneyworld...
Instead, we stare at the needle, wobbling up and down, and Les smirking at us, and about to call another Fournette run into a wall of 9 defenders.
And like vinyl records gradually were pushed into oblivion by the digital age, Miles' clock has struck midnight... and he must go.
We all hear and see it's stuck. We scream and point out it's stuck. But Les just aw-shucks it, and babbles some incomprehensible words as to why he won't pick up needle and play on.
And that needle stuck was never more evident then again in LSU's mind-numbing , disappointing and disgusting season-opening (and ending?) loss to Wisconsin.
LSU was and is infinitely more talented, but was woefully out-played, out-coached and out-schemed.
I have been ridiculed for years, by friends for my defense of Miles. I rationalize "Who's better out there?" and point to his exemplary winning record.
I've always been a Les Miles advocate. No more.
After watching yesterday's game, there simply is no hope for another championship with Miles at the helm. None. Zero. Zilch.
No one can question his unparalleled ability to recruit. No one can doubt the man bleeds LSU, and is a great human being.
But the bells toll loudly now that Miles' simply cannot coach his teams to the elite level LSU fans' expect and deserve.
The insanity is, it's undoubtable that one thing alone has caused his imminent downfall: Miles' maddening inflexibility and unwillingness to adapt his offense to the skill set of players he has will alternately be his downfall.
Even simpler part of this is Miles' complete incompetence to recruit and develop even a serviceable average passing QB.
Name one QB that has progressed under Miles' watch..... Crickets.
In his tenure, Miles' QBs cannot complete the most basic fundamental passes. Five-yard passes are an adventure.
LSU QBs are laughingly inaccurate, as Harris proved repeatedly as he overthrew NFL-ready receivers... Well, that's why they don't pass, some say.
I say this is incorrect: when your passing game consists of 2 passes, quick bubble screen and deep go-routes.. how does a QB develop accuracy and rhythm?
LSU torched Wisconsin everytime they ran a quick WR out, and let their WRs use open field. But after that one TD drive... no WR quick outs. Back to the broken record, backward-ass cloud of dust play calls.
And every LSU QB, again Harris a glaring example, has horrible mechanics: feet not set, shoulders not square.
This lady and gentlemen is bad coaching.
Every player, every fan, every opponent knows LSU has 2 plays: run Fournette between tackles despite 8-9 defenders in box and 7-step drop, long-developing pass routes with no safety valve options.
Amazingly, LSU still continues to win 9-10 games every year, and Fournette's transcendent talent somehow gets 130++ every game.
I dream about this: Imagine LSU's offensive talent under Houston's Hermann or Clemson's Sweeney? I get giddy like a toddler about to see Mickey at Disneyworld...
Instead, we stare at the needle, wobbling up and down, and Les smirking at us, and about to call another Fournette run into a wall of 9 defenders.
And like vinyl records gradually were pushed into oblivion by the digital age, Miles' clock has struck midnight... and he must go.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
How? Just say Yes.
Today in church, in his message Brian Jeansonne said something that resonated with me, mainly because I've always tried to be a solution focused, not a problem, person.
Brian said a friend told him when faced with a difficult decision, and asking himself, "How?" that he should instead just say "Yes" then just figure out the How.
The message was geared to how when God moves us to something, how do we react. And this message is so true of things in our, and really in my life.
In September 2013 when Denise blindsided me with news of her adulterous affair and declaration of not loving me anymore, my faith foundation was temporarily crushed. The emotional avalanche of doubt, fear, hurt, devastation was like nothing I had ever felt before.
And in the ensuing several months, I realized I was experiencing a death, a complete crushing of my spirit literally to ashes.
In the midst of that soul-crushing storm and being humbled to my knees, the choice of my life voyage was do I steer and stay in the darkness enveloping me or to pull myself to the light, to the promise of God's hope and His great plan for me?
Despite the physically wrenching pain, I chose God. I chose to cling to the faith I had always professed in the good times. I chose to know in the storm God was right there, holding my hand, holding me.
In those moments then and even now, I hold to His Hope, His Light, and ask not "How?" but just say "Yes."
Brian said a friend told him when faced with a difficult decision, and asking himself, "How?" that he should instead just say "Yes" then just figure out the How.
The message was geared to how when God moves us to something, how do we react. And this message is so true of things in our, and really in my life.
In September 2013 when Denise blindsided me with news of her adulterous affair and declaration of not loving me anymore, my faith foundation was temporarily crushed. The emotional avalanche of doubt, fear, hurt, devastation was like nothing I had ever felt before.
And in the ensuing several months, I realized I was experiencing a death, a complete crushing of my spirit literally to ashes.
In the midst of that soul-crushing storm and being humbled to my knees, the choice of my life voyage was do I steer and stay in the darkness enveloping me or to pull myself to the light, to the promise of God's hope and His great plan for me?
Despite the physically wrenching pain, I chose God. I chose to cling to the faith I had always professed in the good times. I chose to know in the storm God was right there, holding my hand, holding me.
In those moments then and even now, I hold to His Hope, His Light, and ask not "How?" but just say "Yes."
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