Lots of great reader feedback from some new blog followers on last week's Sixth Man entry, so here we are again, previewing my Spurs' chances in the Western Conference Finals.
1. Which is more true?
A. The Spurs can win an NBA title with offense.
B. The Spurs' defensive shortcomings might be fatal.
It's A. Maybe this is my newly developed WVU-in-the-Big-12 mentality poking through where it doesn't belong, but you don't need to defend well when you can outscore everyone else. San Antonio had one of the highest scoring offenses in the Association back in the regular season, second only to the Denver Nuggests. There are too many scoring options- WAY too many- on this team for their defense to limit how high this team can achieve.
Is their defense as good as it was in heyday of the Tim Duncan era? Of course not. But it's not like they don't play any defense at all, either. The times, they are a changin. San Antonio will win this year behind a methodical approach on the other side of the ball.
2. Who means more to his team: James Harden or Manu Ginobili?
It's James Harden. I'm one to believe that Harden's Sixth Man Hardware, not to mention his midnight sonata with Metta World Mishaps' elbow, elevated him from a slightly underrated player to a drastically overhyped player who is talked about wayyyy too much these past few days. But the dude can still ball with the best of them, and he's a hugeplayer in this series for one main reason.
Manu is a nice deep threat and keys a lot of the spacing San Antonio uses to set up pick and roles and other aspects of their offense. But that's just the thing- he is one part of a dynamic offense that has so many other creaters and role-players. Oklahoma City's best two players are point-scoring dynamos, but other prominent team members (like Serge Ibaka) are more known for their defensive presence rather than their offensive abilities. Harden provides a go-to third guy for offense where no one else may exist. San Antonio doesn't have that problem.
3. How important is the difference in coaching experience?
I don't want to say what Popovich brings to the table is a non-factor... but it's basically a non-factor. Pops is probably the best coach in the NBA right now, but this game is chalk full of superstar players. Put ten guys on the hardwood and let em play. Coaching is only going to determine so much.
4. What's the key for OKC to win?
Russell Westbrook. Tony Parker called him about before the series- not in a brash, arrogant way but merely saying they needed to guard him because KD was gonna get his regardless of what they did. Westbrook, however, the Spurs feel they can stop. Or, equally as likely, the Spurs want him to think that they think they can stop him. Fun with jedi mind tricks, Tony parker is having.
If Westbrook plays well, doesn't create a sloppy mess, and makes good decisions on when to shoot himself vs when to distribute effectively, the Thunder are likely to control their turnovers and play efficiently. After that, it's a matter of using their youth as an advantage and tiring out Tim Duncan's beloved knees.
If, however, Westbrook tries to throw down the gauntlet and do too much (or too little, depending on how you want to look at it), he might become a turnover machine. Giving up extra possessions to a lethal offense like San Antonio is nothing but damning. The Thunder have to limit themselves to 14 turnovers or fewer per game. 15 or more, and they have a 0% chance of winning the series.
5. Who wins?
I've struggled with this pick evers since the beginning of the playoffs, because this series was inevitable.
Originally, I had the Thunder in 6. Then the Spurs in 7. Then the Spurs in 5. Then the Spurs in 6. Then the Thunder in 7. And now I just don't know.
But I'm going to say the Spurs in 6. As even as this series seems, I don't think the Thunder will win in San Antonio, at least initially. They may grab game 5 in a measure of desperation, especially if the Spurs pick up a game in OKC. But I think the Thunder's weaknesses play right into the Spurs' strengths, and though I think Kevin Durant is just an absolute monster on the court, I don't know where he will find the buckets around him to keep up with San Antonio's offense.
That of course gives me quite a dilemna- do I want to see my Spurs win the championship, or do I want to not hear another offeseason of whining and complaining and "see, I told you so's, Lebron James will never win a championship"'s.
Ah, who am I kidding. Let's go Spurs.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Sixth Man: Pacers-Heat, Game 6
It's time for another segment of the Sixth Man. If you're new to the blog, this segment is a response to ESPN's 5-on-5 NBA commentary articles. Today, we're talking about the Miami Heat potentially closing out Indiana in tonight's game 6.
1. How do you expect the Pacers to respond in Game 6 after Larry Bird called them "soft" following Game 5?
In the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure Bird's comments matter. Lots of people seem to be referencing games 3 & 4 of the 1984 finals when Bird famously called his teammates sissies, but that was then and this is now. Responding after a game 3 loss is a lot different than responding in a game 6 loss with elimination on the line.
The Pacers are going home to Indy and have their backs against the walls- if they still need Larry Bird to fire them up, they're already doomed.
2. Fact or Fiction: We'll see two or more flagrant fouls in Game 6.
Fiction. The Heat can't afford to have any players ejected with their depleted-for-various-reasons depth, and the Pacers are surely concentrated less on tough-guy machismo. The refs will surely be calling anything that's remotely close to borderline flagrant, but I still think both teams keep it pretty clean.
3. Fact or Fiction: The Heat will really miss Udonis Haslem.
Fact. Absolute fact. It doesn't matter that Haslem has statistically been one of the worst performers in the entire playoffs this year, he's a forward on a team that's already sorely missing Chris Bosh. Haslem's (and rookie Dexter Pittman's) suspension leaves the Heat so desperate that they will actually need to activate players for their first career playoff games. Beyond that, Miami will need to rely on the particular talents of Joel Anthony, Ronny Turiaf, Juwan Howard, and Eddy Curry... also known as the inadequate, the too small, the arthritis-ridden, and the oh-good-grief.
4. Fact or Fiction: If Danny Granger is hobbled, the Pacers are done.
That's a fact. By my reckoning, Danny Granger's hobbling is pretty similar to Chris Bosh's injury. Danny Granger is a really important source of offense, so the Pacers will clearly miss that if he's 100%, but he's just as important for the general spacing of the team. Indiana wants to bang it around inside in the paint, but Granger's presence on the perimiter and even in the elbow forces defenses to respect the outside shooting of the Pacers. His ineffectiveness means that if Miami can lock Paul George down, they can spend the rest of their time focusing on the Paint.
Just as importantly, Granger can't really guard Lebron James at 150%, let alone 50-80%. Even on the road, an uninhibited Lebron James should scare the crap out of the home fans tonight.
Even if the Pacers win tonight, LBJ will be smelling the blood in the water if Granger is hobbled. He will close the series out in game 7. The Pacers will be done regardless- the only thing that will change is how many ECF games Dexter Pittman will need to sit, 1 or 2.
5. Fact or Fiction: Miami's Game 5 dominance will carry over.
Utter fiction. Even not if but WHEN Lebron James dominates both sides of the floor tonight, and even if Dwayne Wade has another huge game, the Heat's 5v2 quest just got even harder with the suspension of two more forwards. The Pacers are a physical team, which means forward is the position that the Heat need some depth and skill at. Without either, it's sure to be a low-scoring, ugly kind of game.
I predicted yesterday morning on twitter that the Heat would close the series out if Granger wasn't at 100%. That was, of course, before the two suspensions were announced. Still, with Lebron still in name-taking mode, I think this game will be a coin toss. Who will win? I can't say, though I'm leaning Pacers. Either way, don't expect a blowout.
1. How do you expect the Pacers to respond in Game 6 after Larry Bird called them "soft" following Game 5?
In the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure Bird's comments matter. Lots of people seem to be referencing games 3 & 4 of the 1984 finals when Bird famously called his teammates sissies, but that was then and this is now. Responding after a game 3 loss is a lot different than responding in a game 6 loss with elimination on the line.
The Pacers are going home to Indy and have their backs against the walls- if they still need Larry Bird to fire them up, they're already doomed.
2. Fact or Fiction: We'll see two or more flagrant fouls in Game 6.
Fiction. The Heat can't afford to have any players ejected with their depleted-for-various-reasons depth, and the Pacers are surely concentrated less on tough-guy machismo. The refs will surely be calling anything that's remotely close to borderline flagrant, but I still think both teams keep it pretty clean.
3. Fact or Fiction: The Heat will really miss Udonis Haslem.
Fact. Absolute fact. It doesn't matter that Haslem has statistically been one of the worst performers in the entire playoffs this year, he's a forward on a team that's already sorely missing Chris Bosh. Haslem's (and rookie Dexter Pittman's) suspension leaves the Heat so desperate that they will actually need to activate players for their first career playoff games. Beyond that, Miami will need to rely on the particular talents of Joel Anthony, Ronny Turiaf, Juwan Howard, and Eddy Curry... also known as the inadequate, the too small, the arthritis-ridden, and the oh-good-grief.
4. Fact or Fiction: If Danny Granger is hobbled, the Pacers are done.
That's a fact. By my reckoning, Danny Granger's hobbling is pretty similar to Chris Bosh's injury. Danny Granger is a really important source of offense, so the Pacers will clearly miss that if he's 100%, but he's just as important for the general spacing of the team. Indiana wants to bang it around inside in the paint, but Granger's presence on the perimiter and even in the elbow forces defenses to respect the outside shooting of the Pacers. His ineffectiveness means that if Miami can lock Paul George down, they can spend the rest of their time focusing on the Paint.
Just as importantly, Granger can't really guard Lebron James at 150%, let alone 50-80%. Even on the road, an uninhibited Lebron James should scare the crap out of the home fans tonight.
Even if the Pacers win tonight, LBJ will be smelling the blood in the water if Granger is hobbled. He will close the series out in game 7. The Pacers will be done regardless- the only thing that will change is how many ECF games Dexter Pittman will need to sit, 1 or 2.
5. Fact or Fiction: Miami's Game 5 dominance will carry over.
Utter fiction. Even not if but WHEN Lebron James dominates both sides of the floor tonight, and even if Dwayne Wade has another huge game, the Heat's 5v2 quest just got even harder with the suspension of two more forwards. The Pacers are a physical team, which means forward is the position that the Heat need some depth and skill at. Without either, it's sure to be a low-scoring, ugly kind of game.
I predicted yesterday morning on twitter that the Heat would close the series out if Granger wasn't at 100%. That was, of course, before the two suspensions were announced. Still, with Lebron still in name-taking mode, I think this game will be a coin toss. Who will win? I can't say, though I'm leaning Pacers. Either way, don't expect a blowout.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Remembering Bill Stewart, 1952-2012
Morgantown's shot at their first crystal football? Erased.
The Mountain State's favorite son? Departed.
Hope? In short supply, to say the least.
West Virginia, then removed from the national championship discussion after a crushing defeat at the hands of a 4-7 archrival Pitt squad, was slated to play Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Despite their recent #1 ranking, the Moutaineers were massive, massive underdogs to the Sooners. No one on national TV gave them a chance. It was just a bunch of hopelessly lost boys, destined to flounder in a clear leadership vacuum.
Enter Bill Stewart.
Stewart single handedly put the emotional wellbeing of an entire state on his shoulders and just chugged right along. Here was an absolute nobody, an assistant that no one had ever heard of before and, had he lost the BCS Bowl and failed to obtain the promotion to head coach, no one would likely ever hear of again. By anyone's reckoning, he was not a man who was prepared to lead one of the most shocking upsets in bowl history.
Then, this happened. It's one of the most inspirational sports videos out there, in part because it's not fiction; it's not from a movie. It's a real life speech from an underdog coach, given to a 20-point underdog team. And yes, that team dominated one of the winningest programs on the biggest stage of BCS football.
Bill Stewart saved West Virginia football. It's not an understatement. Rather than watch the program crumble to mediocrity under the weight of a historically embarassing loss, he lifted up a team whose soul had eroded under sudden and unavoidably damning circumstances.
I don't care for the other stuff. If fans want to complain about 9-4 seasons, that's fine. Living up to the lofty expectations of Morgantown, WV is no easy task. In fact, I can only count about three coaches in the history of the program that truly have. Stew was 27-12 as head coach, and though it may have felt substandard at the time, the odds are we were an incredibly selfish fan base as a whole. I never felt right about how he was forced out, even if Coach Holgorsen was a "better" coach.
And today, at age 59, Coach Bill Stewart sufferend an apparent heart attack while golfing with former WVU AD Ed Pastilong at Stonewall Jackson park, a place I often played as a kid when visiting family. He died at a nearby hospital in Weston, WV-- the small town where my dad and his family are from. My proximity to the story makes his death even harder to swallow.
Just like legendary coaches Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno before him, it seems Stewart may have quite literally been unable to live without the football program he adored so greatly. The comparison is especially relevant for the late JoePa-- though their levels of success are wildly contrasted, both suffered from incredibly public exits from their respective, beloved Universities, and it seems neither's heart could take it for very long.
But don't remember Coach Stew for his departure. Remember him for his arrival. Remember him for the team that he bled for and was devoted to, just as much as the most fervent of fans. The man may not have been the sexiest or the flashiest, but anyone who knew or watched him would go to their grave saying he was truly devoted to the old gold and blue. Wins are great, but devotion to the fraternity that is Mountaineer football is what truly matters. In that regard, Coach Stew's success was unparalleled and without question.
Never leave your wingman ever, indeed.
Rest in Peace, Coach Stewart. You were one of the good ones, and you will be missed.
"Leave No Doubt"
Bill Stewart
June 6, 1952- May 21, 2012
Montani Semper Liberi
The Mountain State's favorite son? Departed.
Hope? In short supply, to say the least.
West Virginia, then removed from the national championship discussion after a crushing defeat at the hands of a 4-7 archrival Pitt squad, was slated to play Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Despite their recent #1 ranking, the Moutaineers were massive, massive underdogs to the Sooners. No one on national TV gave them a chance. It was just a bunch of hopelessly lost boys, destined to flounder in a clear leadership vacuum.
Enter Bill Stewart.
Stewart single handedly put the emotional wellbeing of an entire state on his shoulders and just chugged right along. Here was an absolute nobody, an assistant that no one had ever heard of before and, had he lost the BCS Bowl and failed to obtain the promotion to head coach, no one would likely ever hear of again. By anyone's reckoning, he was not a man who was prepared to lead one of the most shocking upsets in bowl history.
Then, this happened. It's one of the most inspirational sports videos out there, in part because it's not fiction; it's not from a movie. It's a real life speech from an underdog coach, given to a 20-point underdog team. And yes, that team dominated one of the winningest programs on the biggest stage of BCS football.
Bill Stewart saved West Virginia football. It's not an understatement. Rather than watch the program crumble to mediocrity under the weight of a historically embarassing loss, he lifted up a team whose soul had eroded under sudden and unavoidably damning circumstances.
I don't care for the other stuff. If fans want to complain about 9-4 seasons, that's fine. Living up to the lofty expectations of Morgantown, WV is no easy task. In fact, I can only count about three coaches in the history of the program that truly have. Stew was 27-12 as head coach, and though it may have felt substandard at the time, the odds are we were an incredibly selfish fan base as a whole. I never felt right about how he was forced out, even if Coach Holgorsen was a "better" coach.
And today, at age 59, Coach Bill Stewart sufferend an apparent heart attack while golfing with former WVU AD Ed Pastilong at Stonewall Jackson park, a place I often played as a kid when visiting family. He died at a nearby hospital in Weston, WV-- the small town where my dad and his family are from. My proximity to the story makes his death even harder to swallow.
Just like legendary coaches Bear Bryant and Joe Paterno before him, it seems Stewart may have quite literally been unable to live without the football program he adored so greatly. The comparison is especially relevant for the late JoePa-- though their levels of success are wildly contrasted, both suffered from incredibly public exits from their respective, beloved Universities, and it seems neither's heart could take it for very long.
But don't remember Coach Stew for his departure. Remember him for his arrival. Remember him for the team that he bled for and was devoted to, just as much as the most fervent of fans. The man may not have been the sexiest or the flashiest, but anyone who knew or watched him would go to their grave saying he was truly devoted to the old gold and blue. Wins are great, but devotion to the fraternity that is Mountaineer football is what truly matters. In that regard, Coach Stew's success was unparalleled and without question.
Never leave your wingman ever, indeed.
Rest in Peace, Coach Stewart. You were one of the good ones, and you will be missed.
"Leave No Doubt"
Bill Stewart
June 6, 1952- May 21, 2012
Montani Semper Liberi
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
2012 Mock Draft
If you're a longtime reader of the blog, you know that I love me some ESPN fantasy games. Being a dork, I also am a big fan of draft forecasting. Hence my borderline obsession with the ESPN Draft Forecaster. Hop on and play with me for your chance to win 2 grand at Best Buy-- just make sure not to beat me, because I want a new laptop.
Alright, here's the latest version of my mock draft, which I will be submitting via the Draft Forecaster Competition:
1. Andrew Luck, QB (Indianapolis)
2. Robert Griffin III, QB (Washington)
3. Morris Claiborne, CB (Minnesota)
Alright, so the third overall pick is pretty highly contested. But the way I see it, they're in a league with Stafford, Cutler, and that Rodgers guy that nobody has heard of. I can understand grabbing the SoCal kid, and I can understand trading down for a shot at getting multiple guys. But at the end of the day, I think the Vikes management stays home and takes a Corner to stay competitive in their own league. And besides, it's not like that secondary is any good.
4. Trent Richardson, RB (Cleveland)
I don't know what all the fuss is about on this pick. It seems pretty clear to me.
5. Luke Kuechly, ILB (Tampa Bay)
This kid out of Boston College is a beast and I'm really high on him. The two positions Tampa could have used were corner (Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees...) and another runningback. Well, tough sledding, because the premiere guys at those slots just got taken. They can still grab a quality backer though, one who I think will be big in the league even ten years from now. Kuechly is about as highly decorated as they come and is a great pick, even though the two players the Bucs want here are already gone.
6. Justin Blackmon, WR (St Louis)
7. Melvin Ingram, DE (Jacksonville)
It's entirely possible that someone will trade up for the Jax spot to grab Tannehill before the Dolphins can. It's entirely possible, but I don't think it's going to happen.
8. Ryan Tannehill, QB (Miami)
9. Fletcher Cox, DT (Carolina)
10. Matt Kalil, OT (Buffalo)
At this point, Buffalo management loses their lunch from sheer excitement, realizing that Kalil has fallen to them all the way down at ten. I've been harping on Buffalo to fill their holes on the line for a couple years now. Guess the joke is on me.
11. Stephen Gilmore, CB (Kansas City)
This is admittedly a weird pick, but KC has been drafting with purpose of late. They want to build a sick young defense, and this gets them one step closer. The Chiefs' pass coverage was rather average last year, and now that they play Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning twice a year, they will need to take steps to be proactive against those players.
12. Quinton Coples, DE (Seattle)
13. Michael Floyd, WR (Arizona)
Now that the Arizona coach and management has denied that they will take Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald, they can get on with taking Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald.
14. Mark Barron, S (Dallas)
Mark Barron is one of my favorite picks in this draft, and Dallas' secondary is what needs the most help. They've already started patching the holes, and this (or fellow Alabama teammate and other possible Cowboy Dre Kirkpatrick) gets the Boys closer to winning the NFC East.
15. Brandon Thompson, DT (Philly)
16. Courtney Upshaw, DE (New York Jets)
17. David DeCastro, OG (Cincinatti via Oakland)
Cincinatti needs two things really badly- a Guard and a receiver to play opposite of AJ Green. I guess it's a good thing they have two first round picks then, huh?
18. Dontari Poe, NT (San Diego)
This is another weird pick, but the Chargers draft like dumbasses. It's not even close to their biggest need, but I just have a feeling they are one of the few teams that could potentially be in the market for this big, risky guy from Memphis who could just as easily be a bust as he could be a stud.
19. Riley Reiff, OT (Chicago)
Chicago is trying to have the best run game of the three NFC North teams that could actually compete for the division championship. They will probably be thrilled that Riley fell this far and snatch him up before anyone else can get him.
20. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Tennessee)
21. Kendall Wright, WR (Cincinatti)
22. Joe Adams, WR (Cleveland via Atlanta)
Pop Quiz: name a wide receiver from the Cleveland Browns that is actually worth naming in an online blog's hypothetically demonstrative pop quiz.
23. Janoris Jenkins, CB (Detroit)
The Lions grab Jenkins for the same reason Minnesota grabs Claiborne.
24. Cordy Glenn, OT (Pittsburgh)
The Steelers will be ecstatic to grab Glenn. He's a utility guy that can play multiple positions, and that's useful for a banged up line like the one in Pittsburgh.
25. Michael Brockers, DT (Denver)
26. Jonathan Martin, OT (Houston)
The Texans could easily opt to grab some quality guys to replenish their front 7, which has taken a couple hits over the last few months-- there's certainly enough d-linemen and backer prospects in the late first round. But that's just it- there's so many that they'll stick around into the early second round, where they'll have another pick. So I think the Houston's address a less critical need (O-line) here, if not for lack of quality prospects later on, then at the very least as a sign of good faith that they are willing to do what it takes to protect their stud Arian Foster and the running game.
27. Dont'A Hightower, ILB (New England via New Orleans)
New England will be looking to upgrade a rather paltry pass rush after last years' Superbowl appearance, and Hightower could be a monster rushing through the inside. OLB is a bigger need, but big boy Beli has to like the intangibles about Dont'a. He seems like a Patriot kind of guy.
28. Jared Crick, DE (Green Bay)
Similarly... I don't know what it is about Crick and the Packers, but he just seems like their type of guy.
29. Whitney Mercilus, DE (Baltimore)
If Ray Lewis doesn't want to be friends with an End whose last name is literally "merciless," then I'm not sure who he does want to be friends with.
30. Brian Quick, WR (San Francisco)
A bit of a bold pick by me, but I think San Francisco's defense will hold through the first round without a front 7 pick, which are most of what remains when you look at the prospects left on the board. I think the Niners elect to upgrade their West Coast stuff and go with a bit of a sleeper pick that could quickly evolve into a nice pass-catching threat. App State might have that guy in Brian Quick.
31. Kevin Zeitler, OG (New England)
Collegiate flag football players from Circle K International could have rushed through the holes in New England's offensive line by the end of last year. Going with a pass rush guy is fine for the first pick, but New England is just being irreponsible if they don't take an offensive guy here.
32. Coby Fleener, TE (New York Giants)
Frankly, I'd be shocked if the Giants didn't address the gaping need at tight end here.
That's all I've got for you today, come back next week (when school is done with) for a lot more content on the AL East and the hockey/basketball playoffs.
Alright, here's the latest version of my mock draft, which I will be submitting via the Draft Forecaster Competition:
1. Andrew Luck, QB (Indianapolis)
2. Robert Griffin III, QB (Washington)
3. Morris Claiborne, CB (Minnesota)
Alright, so the third overall pick is pretty highly contested. But the way I see it, they're in a league with Stafford, Cutler, and that Rodgers guy that nobody has heard of. I can understand grabbing the SoCal kid, and I can understand trading down for a shot at getting multiple guys. But at the end of the day, I think the Vikes management stays home and takes a Corner to stay competitive in their own league. And besides, it's not like that secondary is any good.
4. Trent Richardson, RB (Cleveland)
I don't know what all the fuss is about on this pick. It seems pretty clear to me.
5. Luke Kuechly, ILB (Tampa Bay)
This kid out of Boston College is a beast and I'm really high on him. The two positions Tampa could have used were corner (Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees...) and another runningback. Well, tough sledding, because the premiere guys at those slots just got taken. They can still grab a quality backer though, one who I think will be big in the league even ten years from now. Kuechly is about as highly decorated as they come and is a great pick, even though the two players the Bucs want here are already gone.
6. Justin Blackmon, WR (St Louis)
7. Melvin Ingram, DE (Jacksonville)
It's entirely possible that someone will trade up for the Jax spot to grab Tannehill before the Dolphins can. It's entirely possible, but I don't think it's going to happen.
8. Ryan Tannehill, QB (Miami)
9. Fletcher Cox, DT (Carolina)
10. Matt Kalil, OT (Buffalo)
At this point, Buffalo management loses their lunch from sheer excitement, realizing that Kalil has fallen to them all the way down at ten. I've been harping on Buffalo to fill their holes on the line for a couple years now. Guess the joke is on me.
11. Stephen Gilmore, CB (Kansas City)
This is admittedly a weird pick, but KC has been drafting with purpose of late. They want to build a sick young defense, and this gets them one step closer. The Chiefs' pass coverage was rather average last year, and now that they play Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning twice a year, they will need to take steps to be proactive against those players.
12. Quinton Coples, DE (Seattle)
13. Michael Floyd, WR (Arizona)
Now that the Arizona coach and management has denied that they will take Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald, they can get on with taking Michael Floyd as per the request of Larry Fitzgerald.
14. Mark Barron, S (Dallas)
Mark Barron is one of my favorite picks in this draft, and Dallas' secondary is what needs the most help. They've already started patching the holes, and this (or fellow Alabama teammate and other possible Cowboy Dre Kirkpatrick) gets the Boys closer to winning the NFC East.
15. Brandon Thompson, DT (Philly)
16. Courtney Upshaw, DE (New York Jets)
17. David DeCastro, OG (Cincinatti via Oakland)
Cincinatti needs two things really badly- a Guard and a receiver to play opposite of AJ Green. I guess it's a good thing they have two first round picks then, huh?
18. Dontari Poe, NT (San Diego)
This is another weird pick, but the Chargers draft like dumbasses. It's not even close to their biggest need, but I just have a feeling they are one of the few teams that could potentially be in the market for this big, risky guy from Memphis who could just as easily be a bust as he could be a stud.
19. Riley Reiff, OT (Chicago)
Chicago is trying to have the best run game of the three NFC North teams that could actually compete for the division championship. They will probably be thrilled that Riley fell this far and snatch him up before anyone else can get him.
20. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB (Tennessee)
21. Kendall Wright, WR (Cincinatti)
22. Joe Adams, WR (Cleveland via Atlanta)
Pop Quiz: name a wide receiver from the Cleveland Browns that is actually worth naming in an online blog's hypothetically demonstrative pop quiz.
23. Janoris Jenkins, CB (Detroit)
The Lions grab Jenkins for the same reason Minnesota grabs Claiborne.
24. Cordy Glenn, OT (Pittsburgh)
The Steelers will be ecstatic to grab Glenn. He's a utility guy that can play multiple positions, and that's useful for a banged up line like the one in Pittsburgh.
25. Michael Brockers, DT (Denver)
26. Jonathan Martin, OT (Houston)
The Texans could easily opt to grab some quality guys to replenish their front 7, which has taken a couple hits over the last few months-- there's certainly enough d-linemen and backer prospects in the late first round. But that's just it- there's so many that they'll stick around into the early second round, where they'll have another pick. So I think the Houston's address a less critical need (O-line) here, if not for lack of quality prospects later on, then at the very least as a sign of good faith that they are willing to do what it takes to protect their stud Arian Foster and the running game.
27. Dont'A Hightower, ILB (New England via New Orleans)
New England will be looking to upgrade a rather paltry pass rush after last years' Superbowl appearance, and Hightower could be a monster rushing through the inside. OLB is a bigger need, but big boy Beli has to like the intangibles about Dont'a. He seems like a Patriot kind of guy.
28. Jared Crick, DE (Green Bay)
Similarly... I don't know what it is about Crick and the Packers, but he just seems like their type of guy.
29. Whitney Mercilus, DE (Baltimore)
If Ray Lewis doesn't want to be friends with an End whose last name is literally "merciless," then I'm not sure who he does want to be friends with.
30. Brian Quick, WR (San Francisco)
A bit of a bold pick by me, but I think San Francisco's defense will hold through the first round without a front 7 pick, which are most of what remains when you look at the prospects left on the board. I think the Niners elect to upgrade their West Coast stuff and go with a bit of a sleeper pick that could quickly evolve into a nice pass-catching threat. App State might have that guy in Brian Quick.
31. Kevin Zeitler, OG (New England)
Collegiate flag football players from Circle K International could have rushed through the holes in New England's offensive line by the end of last year. Going with a pass rush guy is fine for the first pick, but New England is just being irreponsible if they don't take an offensive guy here.
32. Coby Fleener, TE (New York Giants)
Frankly, I'd be shocked if the Giants didn't address the gaping need at tight end here.
That's all I've got for you today, come back next week (when school is done with) for a lot more content on the AL East and the hockey/basketball playoffs.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
2012 NHL Playoff Predictions
With so much going on in the regular season- Bowl games, NCAA basketball, NBA, and others- it can be hard to keep up with the daily grind of the NHL regular season. But strangely enough, I've gotten really excited for the hockey postseason the last few years. So in the spirit of getting too drunk and banging on plexiglass while 220 pound Russians beat the shit out of each other ten feet in front of you, here are my predictions for the 2012 playoffs:
In the East:
Senators at Rangers: The East's top overall seed might not be the hottest team in hockey, but they're still too good for Ottawa to upset. I've got the Rangers going deep, taking care of the Sens in 5.
Caps at Bruins: It's not just because I'm a fan. Really. But I just have a weird feeling. Maybe it's because they lose when they should win, so I expect them to win when they're the underdog. I don't know. I think Ovechkin has an overall crappy series, but the Caps dig out the win in 6.
Devils at Panthers: Can both these teams lose? I don't know. For a three seed, I just think the Florida Panthers are awfully bad. If I have to pick one of these teams, I've got the Devils of the (lack of) Garden State in 5.
Flyers at Penguins: Can this be every playoff series? Honestly, watching the inter-Pennsylvania showdown will be light years better than every other playoff series in the East. I will be watching every game. It's gonna come down to the wire, but I've got the Flyers in 7.
In the West:
Kings at Canucks: I thought Vancouver was head and shoulders above everyone else last year and they still didn't win. This year, when I think they don't quite have the same magic... forget it. I don't see this team winning, and with some fresh injuries coming to light, I think they barely beat the Kings in the first round. Canucks in 7.
Sharks at Blues: St Louis has done a nice job flying somewhat under the radar with a very good team because St Louis isn't really a Mecca of hockey. But who cares? The blues are crazy good and I think they go deep. The sharks won't be getting far this year. Blues in 5.
Blackhawks at Coyotes: Phoenix is one of those franchises that, regardless of how good they are, I never really see them going far. Chicago might not be a great team like they were when they won the cup in 2010, but I think their experience and players gets the best of the southwestern boys. Blackhawks in 7.
Red Wings at Predators: What is it with the 4/5 matchups this year? This matchup is gonna be sick. I'm excited to see how Detroit plays with how bad they've been away from the Motor City, especially playing in a dangerously underrated hockey town like Nashville. Wings will be a tough out, but I think the Preds will get it done. Preds in 7.
Eastern Final: Caps at Rangers (Rangers in 5)
Western Final: Preds at Blues (Blues in 7)
Stanley Cup: Blues at Rangers (Blues in 6)
In the East:
Senators at Rangers: The East's top overall seed might not be the hottest team in hockey, but they're still too good for Ottawa to upset. I've got the Rangers going deep, taking care of the Sens in 5.
Caps at Bruins: It's not just because I'm a fan. Really. But I just have a weird feeling. Maybe it's because they lose when they should win, so I expect them to win when they're the underdog. I don't know. I think Ovechkin has an overall crappy series, but the Caps dig out the win in 6.
Devils at Panthers: Can both these teams lose? I don't know. For a three seed, I just think the Florida Panthers are awfully bad. If I have to pick one of these teams, I've got the Devils of the (lack of) Garden State in 5.
Flyers at Penguins: Can this be every playoff series? Honestly, watching the inter-Pennsylvania showdown will be light years better than every other playoff series in the East. I will be watching every game. It's gonna come down to the wire, but I've got the Flyers in 7.
In the West:
Kings at Canucks: I thought Vancouver was head and shoulders above everyone else last year and they still didn't win. This year, when I think they don't quite have the same magic... forget it. I don't see this team winning, and with some fresh injuries coming to light, I think they barely beat the Kings in the first round. Canucks in 7.
Sharks at Blues: St Louis has done a nice job flying somewhat under the radar with a very good team because St Louis isn't really a Mecca of hockey. But who cares? The blues are crazy good and I think they go deep. The sharks won't be getting far this year. Blues in 5.
Blackhawks at Coyotes: Phoenix is one of those franchises that, regardless of how good they are, I never really see them going far. Chicago might not be a great team like they were when they won the cup in 2010, but I think their experience and players gets the best of the southwestern boys. Blackhawks in 7.
Red Wings at Predators: What is it with the 4/5 matchups this year? This matchup is gonna be sick. I'm excited to see how Detroit plays with how bad they've been away from the Motor City, especially playing in a dangerously underrated hockey town like Nashville. Wings will be a tough out, but I think the Preds will get it done. Preds in 7.
Eastern Final: Caps at Rangers (Rangers in 5)
Western Final: Preds at Blues (Blues in 7)
Stanley Cup: Blues at Rangers (Blues in 6)
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Dear Diary: JMU/OSU Championship Game/Some things are Universal
After crashing pretty hard on Friday night, I got up Saturday morning and headed straight for the breakfast table in the hotel lobby. On the way there, I ran into none other than (JMU WBB head coach) Kenny Brooks, who I had never been so happy to see in my entire life. Knowing that I had finally caught up with the girls, who had been anywhere from 4-10 hours ahead of me for most of the previous day, was really comforting. I wished him luck and told him I was not-so-secretly rooting for him (I'm clearly bad at being "objective" at times) and continued into the lobby so that I could drink my weight in orange juice.
Most of the girls came through the lobby while I was eating. Some recognized me and said hi; some probably recognized me, but were stuck inside their own head wondering why/how the hell I was in Stillwater with them; a few had no idea who I was (bench players who don't ever go to pressers). Either way, it was cool to feel like I really belonged to a team or a movement that was this big, even though I clearly don't play women's basketball.
I spent the morning driving around Stillwater, seeing what there was to be seen... well, it turns out there isn't much of that in Oklahoma. I pass several fast food places, an inordinant number of Conaco gas stations, and one rather large and strangely placed refinery plant and... suddenly I was out of Stillwater and back in BFN. I kept driving because I had literally nothing else to do, but even that got boring after about 10 miles, so I turned around and headed back to my hotel to watch TV until I needed to leave.
Then there was the game. We lost, and there was an issue with my press credentials. Honestly, I don't have much to add about the game that I didn't already write in the three stories I wrote for the paper. Oklahoma State deserves a lot of credit for playing a great game, shooting insanely well (60% from the field in the second half ). I thought the refs got caught up in the moment and ESPN's agenda, wanting to make OSU into "the good guys" and JMU into "the bad guys" because of the horrific plane crash that killed the Cowgirls' head coach in November. Foul calling was very inconsistent, and at one point, I tweeted that the refs were "handing out And 1 calls to OkSt like it was candy on Easter morning." That pretty much summed up my feelings. Other than foul calling, though, they seemed pretty on top of things, and they should be commended for that.
Lauren Whitehurst fouled out with about a minute to go, and that was heartbreaking to watch. I was just a few feet away from the bench, and that's really when the tears started to flow. Everyone was crying after the game, but it wasn't the "we lost" type of crying that tends to border on sore-loserdom. It was the "it's over, we'll never have this again" cry that, though sad to watch, really spoke to the character of this team. Above all things- winning, competition, even the game of basketball itself- these girls loved each other and they loved playing with each other. That much was very clear in their actions, and it was clear when I spoke to them multiple times throughout this postseason run. That's what made Lauren special, and that's what made this team special.
(and now I have to plug myself... for more on Lauren and her incredible career at JMU, check my career recap in tomorrow's paper)
I talked to Kenny after the game, and his pride in this team and their accomplishments was 100 times more pronounced than his disappointment in coming up short of the championship. And that's how it should be. I've always liked Kenny. People say this about coaches all the time, but KB is truly a class act who I enjoy being around.
After I had done everything I needed and taken care of business after the game, I started disrobing on my way to the car. I was wearing three layers of clothes in near-100 degree weather, so I was understandably on fire. Every parking lot within half a mile of the basketball/football complex was reserved for Oklahoma State cars and their crazy orange parking passes, so I had to park on the side of a gravel road (on the outskirts of BFN) probably a mile away from the stadium. Tie in hand, as I'm walking back to the car unbuttoning my shirt, a friendly lady from Oklahoma (Oklahoman? Oklahomian? Stillwater Resident? Person who can bear incredible heat? All of the above?) commented in my general direction, "Tie in hand, you must be coming from an interviw, right?"
"haha, no, actually I was press for the WNIT game."
And that felt weird to say. Still getting used to it I guess.
Now that I was in no particular rush, I took my time driving off of the Oklahoma State campus. OSU as a whole looks like a big college from a big town/small city that God just picked up and shifted to the middle of nowhere. Not only is the State campus bigger than the surrounding town, but it looks much nicer. Campus looks like an oasis to the blacktop strip that comprises the rest of Stillwater.
Still, as I'm driving back through campus, there are other noticable differences between JMU and Oklahoma State. The big thing that I noticed was the presence of fraternity houses. Instead of being hidden away in the depths of the city or various apartment complexes like at JMU, fraternity houses seemed like the cornerstone that the University's designers built around. It was easy to to imagine tons of students spilling out onto the sidewalks and corners of the campus from the Lambda Chi house that seemed to tower over the surrounding streets...
...wait, that's because it is actually towering over the streets. These frat boy geniuses had constructed a wooden platform, emptying out from their back porch, that raised 15 or 20 feet above the streets. A couple dozen lawn chairs were strewn across the tops of these platforms as guys reclined, shirtless, working on their minor in multitasking by tanning and shotgunning beers at the same time. One guy stood in the middle, chucking a football across the road to a guy standing on the sidewalk. He wore teal shorts and a button down long-sleaved shirt, despite the fact that it was approximately the temperature at which an oven cooks a pizza outside. He had a pair of Croakies covering his eyes that, in the 45 second span I spent watching him while I was stopped at a light, he moved from his eyes to the top of his head and back three separate times. He was barefoot, but if he had a closet full of Sperries to choose from, guess who wouldn't be surprised? This guy. (And the rest of America.)
As I sat continuing to watch this character, who would be more than welcome on USA, he grabbed a beer and tossed it to one of his friends. The friend looks at the beer, looks back at Croakies, and then sets the beer down on the ground. Croakies comes over, opens the beer, and shoves it in the guys face. The guy chugs the beer, and Croakies throws him another one and cracks a big grin to himself. He was clearly very impressed with his beer distribution skills. When the guys starts having trouble drinking the second one, Croakies starts laughing so loud I can hear him from my car. He starts giving double guns to his friends like he's the Expert Witness, and his friends shoot him back finger-pointing signs of approval.
Then, the light turned green, and I drove off.
I went to Wendy's to grab dinner after that, but as I stood in line, all I could thing was this:
Some things are universal, and douchebag is definitely one of them.
Most of the girls came through the lobby while I was eating. Some recognized me and said hi; some probably recognized me, but were stuck inside their own head wondering why/how the hell I was in Stillwater with them; a few had no idea who I was (bench players who don't ever go to pressers). Either way, it was cool to feel like I really belonged to a team or a movement that was this big, even though I clearly don't play women's basketball.
I spent the morning driving around Stillwater, seeing what there was to be seen... well, it turns out there isn't much of that in Oklahoma. I pass several fast food places, an inordinant number of Conaco gas stations, and one rather large and strangely placed refinery plant and... suddenly I was out of Stillwater and back in BFN. I kept driving because I had literally nothing else to do, but even that got boring after about 10 miles, so I turned around and headed back to my hotel to watch TV until I needed to leave.
Then there was the game. We lost, and there was an issue with my press credentials. Honestly, I don't have much to add about the game that I didn't already write in the three stories I wrote for the paper. Oklahoma State deserves a lot of credit for playing a great game, shooting insanely well (60% from the field in the second half ). I thought the refs got caught up in the moment and ESPN's agenda, wanting to make OSU into "the good guys" and JMU into "the bad guys" because of the horrific plane crash that killed the Cowgirls' head coach in November. Foul calling was very inconsistent, and at one point, I tweeted that the refs were "handing out And 1 calls to OkSt like it was candy on Easter morning." That pretty much summed up my feelings. Other than foul calling, though, they seemed pretty on top of things, and they should be commended for that.
Lauren Whitehurst fouled out with about a minute to go, and that was heartbreaking to watch. I was just a few feet away from the bench, and that's really when the tears started to flow. Everyone was crying after the game, but it wasn't the "we lost" type of crying that tends to border on sore-loserdom. It was the "it's over, we'll never have this again" cry that, though sad to watch, really spoke to the character of this team. Above all things- winning, competition, even the game of basketball itself- these girls loved each other and they loved playing with each other. That much was very clear in their actions, and it was clear when I spoke to them multiple times throughout this postseason run. That's what made Lauren special, and that's what made this team special.
(and now I have to plug myself... for more on Lauren and her incredible career at JMU, check my career recap in tomorrow's paper)
I talked to Kenny after the game, and his pride in this team and their accomplishments was 100 times more pronounced than his disappointment in coming up short of the championship. And that's how it should be. I've always liked Kenny. People say this about coaches all the time, but KB is truly a class act who I enjoy being around.
After I had done everything I needed and taken care of business after the game, I started disrobing on my way to the car. I was wearing three layers of clothes in near-100 degree weather, so I was understandably on fire. Every parking lot within half a mile of the basketball/football complex was reserved for Oklahoma State cars and their crazy orange parking passes, so I had to park on the side of a gravel road (on the outskirts of BFN) probably a mile away from the stadium. Tie in hand, as I'm walking back to the car unbuttoning my shirt, a friendly lady from Oklahoma (Oklahoman? Oklahomian? Stillwater Resident? Person who can bear incredible heat? All of the above?) commented in my general direction, "Tie in hand, you must be coming from an interviw, right?"
"haha, no, actually I was press for the WNIT game."
And that felt weird to say. Still getting used to it I guess.
Now that I was in no particular rush, I took my time driving off of the Oklahoma State campus. OSU as a whole looks like a big college from a big town/small city that God just picked up and shifted to the middle of nowhere. Not only is the State campus bigger than the surrounding town, but it looks much nicer. Campus looks like an oasis to the blacktop strip that comprises the rest of Stillwater.
Still, as I'm driving back through campus, there are other noticable differences between JMU and Oklahoma State. The big thing that I noticed was the presence of fraternity houses. Instead of being hidden away in the depths of the city or various apartment complexes like at JMU, fraternity houses seemed like the cornerstone that the University's designers built around. It was easy to to imagine tons of students spilling out onto the sidewalks and corners of the campus from the Lambda Chi house that seemed to tower over the surrounding streets...
...wait, that's because it is actually towering over the streets. These frat boy geniuses had constructed a wooden platform, emptying out from their back porch, that raised 15 or 20 feet above the streets. A couple dozen lawn chairs were strewn across the tops of these platforms as guys reclined, shirtless, working on their minor in multitasking by tanning and shotgunning beers at the same time. One guy stood in the middle, chucking a football across the road to a guy standing on the sidewalk. He wore teal shorts and a button down long-sleaved shirt, despite the fact that it was approximately the temperature at which an oven cooks a pizza outside. He had a pair of Croakies covering his eyes that, in the 45 second span I spent watching him while I was stopped at a light, he moved from his eyes to the top of his head and back three separate times. He was barefoot, but if he had a closet full of Sperries to choose from, guess who wouldn't be surprised? This guy. (And the rest of America.)
As I sat continuing to watch this character, who would be more than welcome on USA, he grabbed a beer and tossed it to one of his friends. The friend looks at the beer, looks back at Croakies, and then sets the beer down on the ground. Croakies comes over, opens the beer, and shoves it in the guys face. The guy chugs the beer, and Croakies throws him another one and cracks a big grin to himself. He was clearly very impressed with his beer distribution skills. When the guys starts having trouble drinking the second one, Croakies starts laughing so loud I can hear him from my car. He starts giving double guns to his friends like he's the Expert Witness, and his friends shoot him back finger-pointing signs of approval.
Then, the light turned green, and I drove off.
I went to Wendy's to grab dinner after that, but as I stood in line, all I could thing was this:
Some things are universal, and douchebag is definitely one of them.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Dear Diar: Diary of an East Coast Journalist
So today is Friday and I am flying out of Shenandoah Valley to cover the WNIT game in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Til now, I've never been past the Ohio Valley, so this was certainly going to be an experience regardless of what ended up happening...
What took place is both literally and metaphorically the longest day of my life. But let me begin at the beginning.
Luckily I had no class today, so I didn't have to do the whole "traveling to Oklahoma on school business, don't count me absent" thing. The first plane left Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (which for some reason I keep calling shenandoah national airport- which is CLEARLY isn't if you've ever been there) at 2:25. So I left around 1 just to make absolutely sure I had absolutely enough time to get there. My directions state it's a quick 25 minute drive down the interstate, so that would be more than enough time. (you might think you know where this is going, but I promise, you don't.)
25 minutes down I81 from Harrisonburg is the 81/64 junction. So I assumed the airport was around that area. Around 8 miles before the merge, I started looking for airport markers. 5 miles... 3 miles... 1 mile... Junction. I'd been past the junction before, but never when I was driving- only on a family trip to Roanoke or trips to West Virginia through Beckley, etc. So as I passed two more stops after the junction, I decided I would get off at the next exit and plug in my GPS and let it guide me to the airport.
(Why didn't I just use my GPS to begin with? Well my car only has one 12V plug in and I wanted to listen to my ipod... duh.)
Well of course the next exit wasn't for another seven miles. But as I got off and plugged in the GPS, it told me to just hang a right and drive a couple miles down the road. Perfect! Fortune favors the ipod-inclined directional hopefuls. Actually, not so much. The GPS directed me through downtown Mint Spring, which consisted of a Post Office and two driveways. After a few more miles of driving, Emily (my GPS, named after a former YMCA coworker) dropped me back on 81/64 and told me to drive 20 miles back toward Harrisonburg. I had overshot the airport by 20-some miles.
In reality, the airport is in Grottoes at exit 235, a seven-mile drive from the the Harrisonburg city limits. By now it was already 1:45, and my plane was leaving in 40 minutes. I had 20+ miles to go.
I proceded to drive at a rate that I will not reveal online because I know my parents will be reading this. But take my word for it. It was fast.
...Until the RV/Camper that was in front of me had a tire that completely exploded before my eyes and started blowing really black, tarry smoke everywhere. This guy refused to get off the road, blown tire and all though, so he continued drive, switching lanes back and forth like he was vying for the most indecisive man award.
I finally got to Grottoes around 2, leaving me very little time to get to the airport and get settled. (Remember, I've never really flown, so I need some extra time just to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to be doing.) I fly off the interstate ramp and drive half a mile down the road to find A TRAIN. As I crest over a hill, I see the arms descending to block the road, and I have to wait. You think this is going to be a short train? Yeah right. This clearly is not my day.
The airport is practically on the other side of the tracks, thank God, so after I finally get past the stupid train tracks, I arrive at the airport about two minutes later. I get inside, happen to walk to the right counter out of sheer dumb luck, check my one bag, and go sit in the lobby.
Of course by now it's 2:15 and I know they're about to call for the security for the flight, and HOLY CRAP I FORGOT MY IPOD IN MY CAR.
I absolutely sprint out of the building- I can't make this trip without my ipod, and I don't particularly care if that means I need to leave my bag unattended to get it, airport lady on the PA- and make it back to my car. I rip open the door, grab my ipod, slam the door shut, and rush back inside. Thank you, body of a former track star. ("star" here is used pretty loosely.)
Now, here's probably about the part where you're thinking this story must be close to over, because holy crap this has gone on for a while. But remember... all I've done is got to the first airport.
Next, they called for security. Everyone clearly knew what to do here, and I... didn't. I had to be told like three times to take my shoes off because I was so busy trying to get stuff in the right bins. They confiscated my RGX spray- clearly a weapon of mass destruction- but I get that they're just doing their job. I have like 5 cans of the stuff so no harm no foul. I do now get to say though that I had something confiscated by TSA.
Side story: I totally did say this. Actual conversation between me and my lovely editor, Carleigh Davis:
Me: sweet, i can now check "have something confiscated by tsa" off my bucket list. yessss
CD: What'd they confiscate?
Me: my gun. did you know you cant take guns on an airplane? I had no idea.
CD: YOU TOOK A GUN??
Me: HAA. got you
CD: omg
Me: haha damn I got you good
CD: Fuck you.
Me: oh stop, you love me.
Me: My plane could crash and I could die you know. ignoring me will only make you more wistful after I'm dead.
Once we got on the plane... I mean I knew the plane ride from SVRA to Dulles would be short but wow. I'm definitely taken shits that took longer than this flight.
We got to Dulles around 3:00PM, but my flight for OKC didn't leave until after 7. So I hunkered down with a burger in Dulles' Five Guys and chilled. Around 5, some guy straight off a plane from India came up to me wanted to call his son. He had a phone with his son's number, who I think lived in Jersey according to the phone number he was calling, so I'm not entirely sure why he couldn't use his own. But it was cool to help somebody who had just got to America. (his english was pretty broken, and that was one of the only bits I could get out of him.)
I knew that the plane would leave around 7:20 or 7:30 and would land soon after 9. But it wasn't until standing in the shadow of the plane that I realized that was nearly a three hour flight because of the time change. So I braced myself for a longer flight than I had initially anticipated.
On the plane, I sat in the midst of an awkward combination of a girl from Clarksburg, who I was very interested in talking to, and a bunch of Oklahoma State fans, who I was fairly hesitant to talk to. I wasn't keen on them finding out who I was or where I was from, but I eventually got to talking to one of them after the flight and told her I was from Harrisonburg in the Valley and was covering the WNIT. I stupidly told her it had been a long day, VA to DC to OK, and she proceeded to tell me she started the day in Rome. Yeah, I felt pretty dumb.
I wish I could say I was done at that point, but my phone was dead, I still had a checked bag to find, and I had to go get my rental car. After a pit stop at an electrical outlet to charge my phone, I secured the keys to the rental car (around 11 or 12 years nicer than the KiaOutMobile, not complaining) and started on my scavenger hunt for where it was hiding in the rental garage. It took ten minutes to find the car, ten minutes to get settled in the car and figure it out, and another ten minutes just to find the exit out of the garage.
From there, it was into the jaws of Oklahoma City. You might not think it was that big if you've never been out here, but holy shit, Oklahoma City makes Richmond look like BFN. It's like the entire city is a series of ramps on ramps on ramps. And yeah... that was a Racks reference. I'm tired. Get over it.
And then nothing. All of a sudden, I was in actual BFN, with nothing but what I'm assuming were giant telephone poles and even bigger fields, but I'm not totally sure. Rural Oklahoma isn't like Virginia where even in places like Dinwiddie and Goochland, both of which I've spent fair amounts of time in, the countryside is more or less lighted. No lights in Oklahoma. Even with the cars' lights on, it was like driving with my eyes closed. Bizarre experience.
An hour or so later I finally pulled into the Quality Inn that I'm staying at. My clocks all said about three different times, so I had no idea what time it actually was here, let alone back in HBurg where everyone else is. I saw what I'm pretty sure was the JMU girls' basketball bus, and took small comfort in knowing that I had finally caught up to them.
As I walked into the lobby to check in and grab my keycard, the guy at the front desk looked at me and started asking me questions like my last name and stuff. Pretty routine questions, really. I was exhausted, and it was all I could handle just to answer the most basic of questions.
The last question he asked me was a killer- I'm tired, in the 25th hour of my day, which shouldn't even be possible, and I just want to go to sleep. I can barely communicate. Without missing a beat, the guy looks at me and says, "Did you drive a car here?"
I stood there for a moment, looked up at him, and replied,
"Nah man. I walked here from Virginia."
What took place is both literally and metaphorically the longest day of my life. But let me begin at the beginning.
Luckily I had no class today, so I didn't have to do the whole "traveling to Oklahoma on school business, don't count me absent" thing. The first plane left Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (which for some reason I keep calling shenandoah national airport- which is CLEARLY isn't if you've ever been there) at 2:25. So I left around 1 just to make absolutely sure I had absolutely enough time to get there. My directions state it's a quick 25 minute drive down the interstate, so that would be more than enough time. (you might think you know where this is going, but I promise, you don't.)
25 minutes down I81 from Harrisonburg is the 81/64 junction. So I assumed the airport was around that area. Around 8 miles before the merge, I started looking for airport markers. 5 miles... 3 miles... 1 mile... Junction. I'd been past the junction before, but never when I was driving- only on a family trip to Roanoke or trips to West Virginia through Beckley, etc. So as I passed two more stops after the junction, I decided I would get off at the next exit and plug in my GPS and let it guide me to the airport.
(Why didn't I just use my GPS to begin with? Well my car only has one 12V plug in and I wanted to listen to my ipod... duh.)
Well of course the next exit wasn't for another seven miles. But as I got off and plugged in the GPS, it told me to just hang a right and drive a couple miles down the road. Perfect! Fortune favors the ipod-inclined directional hopefuls. Actually, not so much. The GPS directed me through downtown Mint Spring, which consisted of a Post Office and two driveways. After a few more miles of driving, Emily (my GPS, named after a former YMCA coworker) dropped me back on 81/64 and told me to drive 20 miles back toward Harrisonburg. I had overshot the airport by 20-some miles.
In reality, the airport is in Grottoes at exit 235, a seven-mile drive from the the Harrisonburg city limits. By now it was already 1:45, and my plane was leaving in 40 minutes. I had 20+ miles to go.
I proceded to drive at a rate that I will not reveal online because I know my parents will be reading this. But take my word for it. It was fast.
...Until the RV/Camper that was in front of me had a tire that completely exploded before my eyes and started blowing really black, tarry smoke everywhere. This guy refused to get off the road, blown tire and all though, so he continued drive, switching lanes back and forth like he was vying for the most indecisive man award.
I finally got to Grottoes around 2, leaving me very little time to get to the airport and get settled. (Remember, I've never really flown, so I need some extra time just to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to be doing.) I fly off the interstate ramp and drive half a mile down the road to find A TRAIN. As I crest over a hill, I see the arms descending to block the road, and I have to wait. You think this is going to be a short train? Yeah right. This clearly is not my day.
The airport is practically on the other side of the tracks, thank God, so after I finally get past the stupid train tracks, I arrive at the airport about two minutes later. I get inside, happen to walk to the right counter out of sheer dumb luck, check my one bag, and go sit in the lobby.
Of course by now it's 2:15 and I know they're about to call for the security for the flight, and HOLY CRAP I FORGOT MY IPOD IN MY CAR.
I absolutely sprint out of the building- I can't make this trip without my ipod, and I don't particularly care if that means I need to leave my bag unattended to get it, airport lady on the PA- and make it back to my car. I rip open the door, grab my ipod, slam the door shut, and rush back inside. Thank you, body of a former track star. ("star" here is used pretty loosely.)
Now, here's probably about the part where you're thinking this story must be close to over, because holy crap this has gone on for a while. But remember... all I've done is got to the first airport.
Next, they called for security. Everyone clearly knew what to do here, and I... didn't. I had to be told like three times to take my shoes off because I was so busy trying to get stuff in the right bins. They confiscated my RGX spray- clearly a weapon of mass destruction- but I get that they're just doing their job. I have like 5 cans of the stuff so no harm no foul. I do now get to say though that I had something confiscated by TSA.
Side story: I totally did say this. Actual conversation between me and my lovely editor, Carleigh Davis:
Me: sweet, i can now check "have something confiscated by tsa" off my bucket list. yessss
CD: What'd they confiscate?
Me: my gun. did you know you cant take guns on an airplane? I had no idea.
CD: YOU TOOK A GUN??
Me: HAA. got you
CD: omg
Me: haha damn I got you good
CD: Fuck you.
Me: oh stop, you love me.
Me: My plane could crash and I could die you know. ignoring me will only make you more wistful after I'm dead.
Once we got on the plane... I mean I knew the plane ride from SVRA to Dulles would be short but wow. I'm definitely taken shits that took longer than this flight.
We got to Dulles around 3:00PM, but my flight for OKC didn't leave until after 7. So I hunkered down with a burger in Dulles' Five Guys and chilled. Around 5, some guy straight off a plane from India came up to me wanted to call his son. He had a phone with his son's number, who I think lived in Jersey according to the phone number he was calling, so I'm not entirely sure why he couldn't use his own. But it was cool to help somebody who had just got to America. (his english was pretty broken, and that was one of the only bits I could get out of him.)
I knew that the plane would leave around 7:20 or 7:30 and would land soon after 9. But it wasn't until standing in the shadow of the plane that I realized that was nearly a three hour flight because of the time change. So I braced myself for a longer flight than I had initially anticipated.
On the plane, I sat in the midst of an awkward combination of a girl from Clarksburg, who I was very interested in talking to, and a bunch of Oklahoma State fans, who I was fairly hesitant to talk to. I wasn't keen on them finding out who I was or where I was from, but I eventually got to talking to one of them after the flight and told her I was from Harrisonburg in the Valley and was covering the WNIT. I stupidly told her it had been a long day, VA to DC to OK, and she proceeded to tell me she started the day in Rome. Yeah, I felt pretty dumb.
I wish I could say I was done at that point, but my phone was dead, I still had a checked bag to find, and I had to go get my rental car. After a pit stop at an electrical outlet to charge my phone, I secured the keys to the rental car (around 11 or 12 years nicer than the KiaOutMobile, not complaining) and started on my scavenger hunt for where it was hiding in the rental garage. It took ten minutes to find the car, ten minutes to get settled in the car and figure it out, and another ten minutes just to find the exit out of the garage.
From there, it was into the jaws of Oklahoma City. You might not think it was that big if you've never been out here, but holy shit, Oklahoma City makes Richmond look like BFN. It's like the entire city is a series of ramps on ramps on ramps. And yeah... that was a Racks reference. I'm tired. Get over it.
And then nothing. All of a sudden, I was in actual BFN, with nothing but what I'm assuming were giant telephone poles and even bigger fields, but I'm not totally sure. Rural Oklahoma isn't like Virginia where even in places like Dinwiddie and Goochland, both of which I've spent fair amounts of time in, the countryside is more or less lighted. No lights in Oklahoma. Even with the cars' lights on, it was like driving with my eyes closed. Bizarre experience.
An hour or so later I finally pulled into the Quality Inn that I'm staying at. My clocks all said about three different times, so I had no idea what time it actually was here, let alone back in HBurg where everyone else is. I saw what I'm pretty sure was the JMU girls' basketball bus, and took small comfort in knowing that I had finally caught up to them.
As I walked into the lobby to check in and grab my keycard, the guy at the front desk looked at me and started asking me questions like my last name and stuff. Pretty routine questions, really. I was exhausted, and it was all I could handle just to answer the most basic of questions.
The last question he asked me was a killer- I'm tired, in the 25th hour of my day, which shouldn't even be possible, and I just want to go to sleep. I can barely communicate. Without missing a beat, the guy looks at me and says, "Did you drive a car here?"
I stood there for a moment, looked up at him, and replied,
"Nah man. I walked here from Virginia."
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