Last Minute

Oh how I love traffic jams. There is absolutely nothing more exciting than spending time in a traffic jam. When you can see the sign of the store you want to get to, you are about half a mile away, at a stand still. Horns are beeping as if anyone has any control over the situation, people swearing, and birds are flying. I find it humorous, as I'm sitting there, calm, cool, collective. Im taking in the thrill and joy of Christmas rather than rushing everywhere I go. Traffic jams make us slow down and just think for a moment.

With the busiest shopping weekend in one day, traffic is expected, yet people will still loose it. Take your time, go the back way, and plan on being slow. Its not that hard to figure out people. Don't take Blairs Ferry and don't take Collins and you at are set. The south side of town isn't nearly as busy, so go to target, and other stores on that side. Or, a nice alternative would be to get your shopping done now, and just relax at home with family and friends this weekend. Thats what i Plan on doing. Well actually maybe not,

I do like last minute shopping because it forces me to get something and rather quickly. I really don't care about sitting in traffic or waiting in lines this weekend. I don't have anywhere to be so i might as well just jump right into the holiday shopping insanity this weekend! the best time to go is like 20 minutes before stores close. Most people are leaving, i can sometimes then get a deal that was really meant for tomorrow, and i don't have to wait in line. Plus in stores that have a 30 return policy, if I get the gift on Christmas Eve, and give it on Christmas, the recipient still has 29 days to return it if they so desire.

Pretty much there is going to be long lines and a large population of vehicles out this weekend. Either plan on sitting in a traffic jam or don't go out. Or, if you still have to shop and don't want to go out, today is the last day to order stuff online and get it here by Christmas! I like driving when it's busy, so I don't mind it either way, but for those of you who are impatient, and eager, get your shopping done today, and limit the amount of road rage tomorrow, thanks. (WC 420)

School Tomorrow = Pointless.

As I'm sitting here on this much needed snow day, I look outside and see that we got no where near 12 inches of snow like projected. We didn't even get 8! It really bugs me when the weather man/lady says we are supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow and we don't even get close to the lower amount of that range. C'mon, you can do better, cant ya?

I just got in from clearing snow the first time and I am already dreading the second, and possibly third time I will have to go out. It was definitely a good called snow day, but now we have to go back to school tomorrow for one very unproductive and unwanted day of school...bleh.

Tomorrow we will watch movies, eat candy canes, do crafts, and other busy work that I could very well not do and spend my time better by finishing shopping, or cleaning the house for company, or maybe even cleaning my room. Tomorrow is pointless no matter how you look at it. Many teachers don't want to be there either. One of mine told us if we have school on friday, he's taking the day off. I completely see his logic. Tomorrow is pointless.

Another reason why tomorrow will not be worth it is because right when we get done doing our coloring sheets, the teacher will assign us some homework over break. I would rather of done that in class than do it over break. Thats a waste of time and very unappreciated. Our teachers are paid to teach, not put DVDs in the DVD player. I might as well stay home, watch Elf, and eat cookies, and I will have been more productive than most students and teachers will be tomorrow.

Well instead of ranting anymore about how stupid it will be to go back to school for one day, I might as well enjoy the rest of this snow day. I can't go anywhere, and I'm guessing our power will go out soon, as many in the Cedar Rapids area are without power. Ive got our candles stocked, food ready, driveway cleared, blankets warmed, and fire wood set. So whatever this blizzard brings, I really really hope it brings us one last snow day tomorrow. That would be the ultimate christmas present, and would be much appreciated by everyone! (WC 398)

Snow Days

     Snow days are a high schoolers cup of tea. Ones that we anticipate are the best, because them homework gets spread out over a longer time, and we can sleep in. I am hoping for one tomorrow.

     With Iowa's first snowfall of the year expected to hit later tonight, everyone will go into a panic. It seems about 80% of Iowans forget how to drive in snow. With this being said, tomorrow is a for sure snow day. With over a foot of snow projected and high winds, we are under a blizzard warning!! This means lots of shoveling, but also lots of sleep.

     On a snow day I get up early and help my dad clear the driveway. After that I go back inside and go back to bed for an hour. After that I usually do some stuff round the house, get my homework done, then just relax. It is usually a great time, and a perfect unplanned break.

     However snow days do have their negative side. Having to make them up is what we a
dread. If we have tons of snow, we could be going to school in mid June! This doesn't appeal to anyone. Also, snow days mean the adults count on us kids to get the driveway continuously clear, and the house spick and span. One last negative, is the confusion. Sometimes we wonder when the test will now be, or when certain assignments are due. This can quickly ruin a snow day if it is spent doing homework the whole time.

     Overall I would have to say snow days are a plus. Unexpected breaks are always welcome. The only time this really sucks is when we expect a snow day, have our off day planned, and then we don't even have a 2 hour delay. However, I'm pretty certain we aren't going to be roaming the halls of our designated schools tomorrow. And if it is going to be as bad as the trusty weather man says, we might be out of school for 2 days. Having the 2 days off before break would be awesome! And extra long Christmas break is just what I need! With so much more shopping to do for family and friends, I really need these next few days off so I am not scrambling on Christmas Eve trying to pull some gifts together. (WC 400)

Packers Clinch

The NFC North Division has been won by the Green Bay Packers. Today with a 21-13 win against the Chicago Bears the Packers clinch the NFC North title as well as a playoff berth. The Pack is not done. If the San Francisco 49ers lose one of their last three games, and the Packers win their next two, they can clinch a first round bye in the playoffs. Which would be fantastic, or would it be?

Last year the Packers had only lost one game going into the playoffs and had the first round bye. They were the first seed and considered the most dangerous team in the playoffs. However when they played their game against the New York Giants in the second round, they came out flat. With everything the Packers had done that season, everyone expected them to come out and dominate. They ended up losing and it wasn’t pretty. That was devastating, and was a horrible end to a great season.

The year before that, the Packers had to win their last two games (which they did) and have the Philadelphia Eagles win. The Eagles were down in their final game of the season. Their only hope to win, and the Packers only chance in making the playoffs was if the Eagles returned the kickoff for a touchdown. The kick was caught and 13 seconds later, the Eagles found themselves in the end zone. They had won the game, and the Packers squeezed into the playoffs as the last seed.

In the first round of the playoffs the Packers played the first seeded Atlanta falcons. They won by over twenty points. This sent a message to everyone in the playoffs. The Packers made it to the NFC championship game against the Chicago Bears. They had their odds stacked against them with all of the injuries they had suffered. The Packers prevailed and they were headed to the Super Bowl! They played a great game against the Steelers and pulled off the win. The underdog, sixth seeded, Packers – world champs.

For the Packers going in on top might not be the best option. Maybe going in as a 3^rd or 4^th seed would be better than going in as a second seed and having a first round bye. Although I can’t get too picky, we are in the playoffs and that is what matters. Without further ado…Go Pack Go! (WC 402)

Tragedy Strikes Once Again

This morning tragedy struck once again in this country. The news broke that 27 people have been confirmed dead after a man opened fire in an elementary school. Teachers, administrators, and young elementary students, were now dead. No one in the right mind does this. Young innocent lives, will never be lived to the fullest. Some only had five years to make their presence known, and others a few more. Either way, lives were taken to early, way way way to early and in a horrible way.

Evil roams this earth. This week there has been two bodies found that were missing for 143 days, two people were gunned down in an Oregon Mall and now, 27 lives conformed gone in a Connecticut ELEMENTARY school. Not long ago there was a movie theater shooting in Colorado, and in 2008 a massacre at Virginia Tech University. Evil is roaming this earth and it is a very very scary thing. To know that tomorrow I will walk into my school knowing at any moment in time someone could pull a gun. Last year I did some research on school violence and discovered that on average, in each school, at least one person has a gun. That is a very scary thought. It makes us rethink exactly what we are thankful for.

Each one of those families was getting ready for the holidays, excited, curious, and awaiting Santa Claus. Now, instead of giving gifts, they have received grief. A burden they will carry for the rest of their lives. The families of those who are now gone will grieve instead of celebrate. There is no reason those kids and adults deserved to die. It is sickening to know someone is that ill to do that.  

My heart aches and goes out to the families who have lost a loved one. I also am thinking about the hundreds of kids that heard what happened or maybe even saw it. Or maybe even made eye contact with the gunman, but survived. Those kids will be mentally scared forever. This will never leave them. But may God use them to make the future brighter, and tell their story and hopefully help make this world a safer place. Good can, and will beat evil. The battle has begun. (WC 381)

The Thought Put Into Giving

Sometimes I don’t think people completely understand the amount of thought and time that go into giving Christmas presents. I always think I have a good idea and then I see something else that is five times better. Only to realize I can’t return the other gift. So now I’m giving someone two gifts of great value, meanwhile they will feel bad that they haven’t spent nearly that much. People will deny that that is true, but it is. We always put price tags on things and when we receive a gift, we try and guess how much it costs.

                Lots of people have barcode scanners on their phones, they scan the bar code and the price pops up. People are missing the point of Christmas. Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving as we celebrate Jesus’ birth. However, many people, me included, get sidetracked from that. Each year we want more and more stuff. If we end up not getting what we wanted we end up disappointed. This year I have spent, and am giving more than I ever have, simply because I don’t know what to get! I have lists of items that I’m looking for, but sometimes I can’t find them and have to resort to getting other things. Now for each gift I’m giving, I have to think of a creative saying to go with it. I’m not that creative, so I have resorted to the creative minds in my classes to help me out. Each gift has to do with either an inside joke between I and the recipient, or something that describes who they are.

                For my dad, he wants a baseball stadium calendar. Well, it just so happens the store I always get it at doesn’t sell them anymore. So I resorted to a Cubs calendar. Right as I bought that, I get an email saying that store just got some in. Now, I have two calendars for him, and no one needs or wants two. And who likes the Cubs anymore? So what I did was cut out the pictures from the Cubs magazine and made a cubs collage. Actually I just had the idea, my sister did the work.  Christmas shopping when you aren’t creative gets very difficult, so for me, it really does take lots of thought. I will stand in an aisle for minutes on end trying to decide whether or not to buy something. Yesterday I was in the freaking hallmark store for 45 minutes. That just about exceeded my limit. Cards plus candles plus books plus ornaments plus candy plus songs plus women who ask me if I need help every 5 minutes simple don’t appeal to me. On the bright side, I left with two gifts that I am very excited to give. (WC 470)

Slow Start, Great Finish

The Packers started out extremely slow on Sunday night. They found themselves in a 14 point deficit midway through the second quarter. Finally with 10 minutes left in the half, struggling Packer kicker, Mason Crosby made a 48 yard field goal. Then shortly the Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford fumbled and Packer lineman, Mike Daniels recovered it and ran for a 30 yard touchdown. The tide had been turned as the Packers went into the locker room at halftime only down by four.

Coming out at halftime the Packers defense stepped it up only allowing three points. Our offense scored another touchdown and the Packers were rolling. As the fourth quarter approached the Packers needed another score to break the tie. On a 30 yard run, Alex Green scored another Packer touchdown. With the Packers up by one score, it still wasn’t a comfortable lead, then from 42 yards out, Mason Crosby drilled another long kick! The Packers were now up by ten which made the game a two possession affair. The Packer defense definitely stepped it up and was able to force the Lions into some three and outs. Overall, a great second half by the Packers.

With a 27-17 win over the Detroit Lions, and a Bears loss to the Vikings, the Packers take a one game lead in the NFC North with only three games remaining in the regular season. This is huge as the Packers go into Chicago to play the Bears. Even if Green Bay Losses next week, they still would lead the NFC North due to the tie breaking rules. However, if the Packers want to be the second seed in the playoffs instead of the third, they must win out. If they do that, and the 489ers lose another game the Packers would be the second seed and have a first round playoff bye.

It is very settling knowing the Packers control their own destiny. The way they have played in six of the last seven games, I would say it is safe to say they will make quite a run in the playoffs. Super Bowl? Who knows, but they have a lot of work to do, and a lot of players need to heal in order for that to happen. There are a lot of really tough teams that the Pack could very easily lose too early in the playoffs. They must remain focused, remain a team, and remain healthy and we may see them in the championship game. (WC 417)

Dogs Have It Made

I would just about do anything to be a dog, especially our dog. The biggest stress in his life is worrying about who will knock on the door next. Other than that he lies around ALL day, eats once or twice, and goes for a walk. Wouldn’t you just kill for that schedule?  Every time I come home from school he is always lying on a bed, and rarely does he come great me. If I could just lay at home all day oh what a wonderful life I’d be livin’.

                Although laying around and not having to do anything would be super fantastic, I think I would get bored. I would probably be that dog that rips everything apart just so my owners get mad. But knowing my luck they would think it was cute, so then I’d go around ripping more stuff up, and eventually get put in my kennel all day. Now I don’t think that would be too bad. As long as I had lots of blankets, a pillow, a bone, and a tv, I would be set! No homework, no sports, no anything to get stressed out about. Well, except for the vet that is.

                I feel like going to the vet is the equivalent of final exams. A dog has to go to a place that it is not familiar with, get poked with needles, and be examined by an unfamiliar face. This is a big stress for a dog, and they always come home and go right to sleep, at least mine does. Now comparing that to finals, we get stressed out, our grades might suffer, and we come home and sleep. The only difference is we take finals on top of everything else we do; dogs go to the vet once every couple months and do nothing in between.

                Every time I see my dog, I envy his life. He gets unconditional love about 8 hours a day, gets cuddled with, pet, and is always comfy. I’d much rather do that than curl up and do homework. I mean, wouldn’t you? Most importantly dogs don’t have to put up with the sibling rivalries that take place. They just lie down and watch everything unfold as they try and get some more rest. Pretty much dogs, cats, or another house hold pet have it made. I really wish I could be like a dog and get away with it, but that won’t be happening ever. (WC 412)

 

 

Let It Snow

When is the last time you walked outside in a t-shirt in December, and weren’t cold? Well for most of us, we can say we did last week. With temperatures nearing 70 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the state, it was a record braking day for sure. As we look at the forecast for December, it looks like these crazy warm trends will be coming to an end, and winter weather will be on its way!

                It is currently December 6, 2012 and we have yet to see snowfall. We have yet to see even a flurry, or even just one single snowflake. For some, this weather is perfect because it eliminates the driving hazards that come with snow, and with winter. For others, like me, this weather comes as a disappointment. I enjoy heavy snowfalls and the activities that come with them, such as skiing. Skiing isn’t the same when there isn’t any real snow on the ground. Skiing on fake snow when there is no resemblance of snow anywhere else around you is a bit eerie. I also like the challenge that comes with winter driving. Some days it will wake us up a bit more quickly, and allow us to be more alert. It always can present a challenge, one that I am excited for.

                The only thing I don’t appreciate about heavy snowfall is having to shovel. I can’t stand shoveling. It seems to take twice as long as it should, it hurts my back, and once you get done, the driveway is covered again. So instead of shoveling I resort to the snow blower. For the best 8 years we have had one of the world’s crummiest snow blowers; however my dad never understood because I was the one using it. One day last year I told him to snow blow for me because I was “studying.” He came in after completing the task and headed right to Menards to purchase a new one. He had finally understood where I was coming from. So now that we have a nice, big, powerful snow blower, I don’t mind going out and removing the snow. I just put my headphones in, and get ‘er done.  

                I’m hoping for snow in the near future (next week) but we will see. If nothing else I hope we have snow by Christmas. There is not much worse than looking out on Christmas and seeing dead grass. And there isn’t much better than looking out on Christmas morning and seeing new layer of snow. One can only hope. (WC 429)

A Sigh of Relief

The Pack is back. After a horrifying game for Packer fans last Sunday night, the Packers redeemed themselves with a win today against the arch rival Minnesota Vikings. The Packers are now tied for first in their division and ultimately beat out the Bears in the tie breaker. It is reassuring, as a Packer fan to know that we control our own destiny to the playoffs, hoping we get there.

                The biggest positive out of today’s game was to see Packer wide receiver Gregg Jennings back on the field. Jennings has missed the last 7 games with an abdominal tear that he later had surgery on. He is now back to full health and boy was it nice to see him out there. The Packers have suffered some huge injuries throughout the whole year so every player we get back is a step in the right direction. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson has been injured recently and left the game due to a hamstring injury. Clay Matthews is still out after missing three games, but I would expect to see him on the field next Sunday night. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is out for the season as well as running back Cedric Benson. At one point in time this season had a total of ten starters on the sideline due to injury. The packers are slowly, but surely getting their guys back one touchdown at a time.

                The Packer offense was slower than usual today but they still got the job done, so no complaints there. The defense stepped up their level of play coming away with two crucial interceptions, one being in the red zone while the Vikings were pressing. However, there is one aspect of the game that might have been a turning point of the season. Mason Crosby. Crosby is the Packers kicker, and has done a horrendous job the past six games making 50% of his field goals. Today, after a 52 yard miss he went three for three! For the first time in weeks we saw a smile on his face.

                With the season coming to a close it is important for the Pack to take this momentum into the closing weeks. With three more divisional games, we need to come away with wins. I think the Packers still have a lot of potential that hasn’t been shown yet and I would expect to see that next week. Next Sunday Green Bay plays Detroit. It is a big game on Sunday night, and you can count on Aaron Rodgers having a break out game, mark my words. Go Pack go. (WC 434)

"The Sacred Acre" Review

Last year I read the book titled, “The Sacred Acre”. This book remains as my favorite book of all time. The book is a story of Ed Thomas’ life. Most of his life is spent on the football field coaching the Aplington-Parkersburg Football team. Aside from that, the book explains just how Coach Thomas became a hero and a legend in Parkersburg.  From rebuilding the city of Parkersburg after and EF5 tornado ripped through, to painting a picture of how Coach reached out to everyone in the community, the book goes in depth on all of those topics. The book also ends in tragedy and explains how the community had to rebuild from yet another devastating loss.

This book was by far the best book I have read in the past year. I liked it so much because of multiple reasons. One being because it relates sports into each chapter, therefore it is easier for me to relate. However another thing I found shocking about this book is how much it incorporates God and The Bible. I am very deeply rooted in my faith so to read about “God Moments” that happened throughout the book was really uplifting. Towards the end of the book, a lot of Bible verses are stated and Coach Thomas’ son gives a very impactful speech evolving around God’s word.

           One thing I wasn’t too fond of throughout the book was some of the repetitiveness. Sometimes I would see the same information appear multiple times only in different ways. It got somewhat irritating reading the same thing over and over but I guess it helped me retain the information. Another thing I found was that some of the views of people mentioned throughout the book were, at times, contradicting. After some thinking, I was able to find away to link both of the People’s views together.  All in all however, it was a fantastic book and would recommend it to anyone.

 The reason I was prompted to write about “The Sacred Acre” is due to the amount of violence we see in the schools, and surrounding community.. No one was expecting any such thing to happen in small town Parkersburg but it did. This murder devastated many, and over 5000 people attended the Visitation. It talks about the timeline of the murderer, and how he should have still been in the hospital, or if not the hospital, he should have been in jail. This just goes to show how important communication is. The police were thinking the hospital would notify them once Mr. Mark Becker was released from the Psych ward, but the hospital did no such thing. Instead he Becker was released, and killed the man who ultimately got Parkersburg on the Map. (WC 458)

Disappointed? Or Hopeful For the Future?

The Hawkeyes ended their season in disappointment, or did they? Finishing the season with a four win and eight loss season, many fans were beyond irritated with both the players and coaches. After beating Minnesota and Michigan State, some people thought Iowa would come through after all! That notion was proved wrong in the following weeks with losses to Indiana, Purdue, and a beat down by Michigan. At this point in the season it was clear Iowa would not, and should not be in a bowl, but that didn’t quite make the season a lost cause…yet.

                Iowa Hawkeye football regulars had a mindset that if we could just upset Nebraska, the season would be a success. This thought was way out there considering many people thought Iowa would lose by upwards of 20 points. Iowa “fans” sold their tickets right and left, and Kinnick Stadium was filled with red; Husker red that is. Completely expecting Iowa to come out flat, the Black and Gold exceeded expectations.

                The Hawkeyes entered the locker room at halftime feeling pretty confident as they held a 7-3 lead. Hawkeye fans were now glued to the television set hoping for an upset. The Hawks came out of halftime fired up, but not fired up enough to top the Huskers. Nebraska scored 10 points in the third quarter and both teams were scoreless in the fourth. Iowa had lost their last game of the season to number 14 ranked Nebraska by only six points. Although many fans were upset, I believe each one was eating their words from earlier. “Iowa is going to get smashed” “They will get clobbered.” “pssht who’s going to watch that game? Iowa will lose by 50.” Those were all things I was hearing. Iowa had put up a good fight, and after the season we had, I think a large amount of Hawk fans were pleased.

                After a very disappointing season, I feel like Iowa ended on a high note. They beat all odds, and made a game out of it. I understand that there are no moral victories, but when very few believe you will even show up to play, and you only lose by 6 to a top 25 team, that speaks volumes. With the regular season over and no post season play ahead, Iowa coaches can focus more on recruitment, which is something Iowa needs drastically; a good recruiting class. Also, our senior quarterback with less than desirable stats is gone, and we have a bright future in Mark Weisman at full back.  So although the season was a joke, it might have brought more positives for the future than people think. (WC 443)

Testing

Test. That one word can send a teenager into an instant frenzy. There is so much weight leaning on one test. It could dramatically lower a grade if poorly done, but only slightly raise it if done well. Many teachers weight their grades so that test are over 30% of your final grade. That, is ridiculous.

Those tests are just the ones taken in the classroom during the school day. Lets think about the ones taken that decide our future. The ACT and SAT decide what funding we get for college,what colleges will accept us, and can define who we are in the educational realm of things. One four hour time period of testing could change our future, and it all lies on a bubble sheet....that's a crazy thought.

I do well on tests, but that doesn't mean I like them. I hate tests because I lose sleep, miss football, and they takeaway from my social life. But mostly because I lose sleep. I think I should be defined more by tests PLUS what I do. I have a lot of qualities that can't show up on a bubble sheet; I'm responsible, a leader, and respectful, but there is no bubble for that. That's something I think a college would want, rather than a really smart but snotty kid. Another thing that really irritates me about the importance if tests, is that some days people just have an off day, a day where nothing is going right, a day where we just don't function right, and a day where we don't have the ability to take a test while producing accurate results.

The reason I'm saying this is because I know someone who is extremely intelligent, very kind, and is just an all around great person, but they struggle on tests. They suffer from test anxiety and just never do well on tests. It is too bad because they have the potential to go far in life. But because their ACT score doesn't reflect them accurately, who knows what will happen. If only their was a supplemental exam to the ACT that reflected who a person was rather how it they performed on tests.

Aside from those standardized test, I want to come back to school tests. We do some extra work to offset the bad test scores, but I wish tests were a less influential part of our grade. I get that they are needed to keep students to attentive and so they don't just stop trying, but do they really need to be over half of our final grade? I don't think so. I think they should be the same percentage as everything else. No special weighing, just straight up points. (WC 450)

It's Time

It is tradition for my friend Ben, his dad, my dad, and me to go to one Hawkeye away game each year. We are trying to get to every Big Ten stadium and then rank them in order of liking, taking multiple factors into account. This year, the only stadium we haven't been to that is on our schedule is Memorial Stadium in Indiana.

After the Hawkeyes poor effort the past two weeks, the game we thought would be a sure win might not come so easily. With Iowa's offense just painful to watch, the defense struggling, and our quarterback not showing up, we have a long way to come. It would be very nice if for just once this year, the Hawks could blow a team out, that team being the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers, although last in our division, are a strong football team. They have put up a fight against the always powerful Ohio State Buckeyes, and have shown some signs of soon being a dominant force.

With Iowa struggling a lot, and the Hoosiers showing good signs, this will be a very very very tough game. There is nothing I hate worse than driving a long ways, to a mediocre stadium, and losing. It is the worst feeling in the world, a waste of time, and waste of money. When going to a less than desirable stadium such as Memorial Stadium, it is expected that the Hawks win big, that way the drive home is a bit more fun.

Last year we went to the other Memorial Stadium in Nebraska. With Iowa having a poor offensive performance against Nebraska in the game last year, it was disappointing, but because it is a cool stadium, it didn't feel like as much of a waste as it could have. One year we drive all the way to Penn State University the year after we ruined their Rose Bowl hopes. It was a very hostile environment and we won. It was a heroic performance and that was the best feeling in the world.

So pretty much what I am saying is that the Hawkeyes better turn their selves around, and put together a great game for us to watch next week. I am tired of watching the games and being embarrassed. If we are going to save the season, the time is now. Beat Indiana and use that momentum to finish the season strong. We can do it, we just have to believe. Lets go hawks! (WC 417)

Teams to Watch

Now that the NFL is coming up on week 8, it is okay to begin to decide which teams are “for real” and which ones just got lucky at the beginning. After next Monday night we will be half way through the regular season, which is extremely hard to believe! With 9 games remaining, anything could happen, but now is when teams begin to either fall further back, or start to creep up.

The team I am most impressed with this year is the bears. Actually I’m not impressed with the whole team, just the defense. The Bears defense is one of the absolute best in the league and consistently holds opponents to very few points. Last night the Bears help the lines to 0 until the final seconds of the game, that’s a sign of a stealthy defense. The offense on the other hand isn’t as impressive. Jay Cutler in my opinion is one of the better quarterbacks in the league, but only sometimes. He has is glory games, but he also has some awful ones as well. However, their defense doesn’t need to be as p[proficient when their defense holds so well.

A team that I feel has just gotten lucky is the Minnesota Vikings. They only have two losses, and do keep putting up a fair number of points, but their schedule hasn’t been difficult at all, with the exception of one or two games.  The Vikings play a rougher schedule the second half of the season including two games against the Packers in the final 5 weeks of the season.

The Houston Texans are a team that I feel will begin to expand on their lead in the AFC west. With only one loss to the Packers, they rebounded from that game and had a remarkable game this past week. I would be surprise to see Matt Schaub and his offense continue to put up points against strong defenses and continue to win. I think they might make it two the playoffs with 3 or fewer losses. They are a strong team on both sides of the ball.

Lastly, I want to talk about the Packers. They got off two a really rough start losing three times the games they lost last year. But after theses past two weeks, I think there is a different team on the field. Aaron Rodgers has been completely lights out the past two weeks throwing a combined total of 9 touchdowns, and is looking like, if not better than he did last year. I think with an offense as proficient as they have been, they Pack roles into the playoffs on a high note. They play five divisional games to end their season and that very well could make or break their road to the Super Bowl. (WC 467)

Another Political Call

I am getting so sick of all of these political ads, as is most everyone as I can imagine. By this time of year most everyone has decided who they are going to vote for. One measly call at 9pm is not going to change many people votes. The biggest way to sway voters in your favor are the debates. The debates show us who you are under pressure, who you are when criticized, and how you fire back. Debates, although facts may be not totally credible, are in my opinion the best way to gain more support.

     Last week I took a tally of how many people called asking for my vote. Thirty three. That is thirty three more phone calls than I care to answer. Every time the phone rings I have made it known I will answer. I simply answer in the driest tone possible, they ask me who I am voting for if the election were held today, and I respond, "I am not of age to vote." I would think that would end the conversation; it never does. So then the next question they ask is usually around the lines of, if you could vote, who would you vote for. Once again, trying to be difficult I respond,"due to the fact that I am ineligible to fill out a ballot I do not feel I am an accurate representation of the nation's vote." They then ask me if I consider myself an independent. For the third time, trying to be a smart Alec, I respond, "I am not a registered voter, I do not consider myself independent, democrat, republican, or Whig. Good bye and God bless 'Murica."

     The reactions I get vary but the ones I love are the people who still try and get an answer from me. To be honest I start to not like the candidate who does the most negative campaigning, who has the most ads, and who calls me the most. Oh and by the way campaign volunteers...my last name is pronounced (Guy-ger) not (Gee-ger). Thank you. (WC 350)

Kennedy Advances to Playoffs

What a crappy day to be a hawk fan. I’m not even going to blog about the game, the score speaks for itself and if you don’t know the score, look it up…enough said. On the other hand Kennedy is in the Playoffs! With a final regular season record of 4-5 the Cougars advance to post season play Wednesday vs. Muscatine.

                If the Cougar defense holds its own as it has the second half of the season, they should have a good chance to go deep into the playoffs. Kennedy has had a pretty solid defense this season, especially prominent against the Iowa City Little Hawks, where they had just over 40 yards of offense…impressive. The offense on the other hand has also undergone major improvement! Senior quarterback, Riley Fergus, is showing more athleticism since game one where the Cougars had an AWFUL day completing 3 of 27 passes. His right hand man, Alex Hillyer, has also pulled more than his weight this season. Hillyer broke Kennedy’s single season rushing yards record, and is always a dominant force on the field. This last game against the Little Hawks was a great representation of what he can do, rushing for over 200 yards.

                Overall I would say the Cougars didn’t live up to their expectations, or their potential for that matter. They came in to the season expecting to run their division; they did anything but. Starting out 0-4 with little to brag about, the Cougs then real in their first win against, you guessed it, Jefferson. Since then the cougars have gone undefeated. It seems as though the sleeping giant has awoken and the cougars are back!

                It is hard to tell how far Kennedy will make it in the playoffs this year. With a possibly 5 more games, that is if they go to the championship game, players, and the coaching staff begin to fatigue. A team that just snuck into the playoffs has a lot of work to do to become state champions. I have a feeling the Cougar football team has some things in their playbook we have yet to see, and that could be the little spark we need to keep this streak alive. As I was once told, “It’s not about who has the better team, but who has the greater determination.” If Kennedy has the drive and determination to make it to the UNI Dome, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Go Cougars! (WC 407)

Yet Another Phone Tabusted

One thing that I cannot stand is when my phone malfunctions. For the fourth time in a year it has decided to not work properly and turn off whenever I slide it open. This problem seems to only happen to me and no one else in my family. I just don’t quite understand why the same thing happens over, and over, and over again.

Each time this happens I have to go to the cell phone store, they look at it, determine it is an interior (Manufacturer) problem. After that they send me a new phone of the same model and I send the messed up phone to the company. If they prove I didn’t do anything to it, the replacement is free. If for some reason they prove I did do something to cause that problem, it costs me 200 dollars. The past three times it has been the phones fault and I am positive the same is true this time.

The reason it is so annoying, is because it takes forever at the phone store for them to tell me what I already know. It also takes about five days to get a new phone so meanwhile I’m either stuck with a crappy loaner, or my malfunctioning one. Not having a phone isn’t the end of the world for me, but it is really irritating especially when I am trying to contact people or get a hold of my parents.

Usually when this interior system problem occurs, I just text people off of my iPad because it is a lot easier than trying to learn the keyboard of a new (loaner) phone. I guarantee you that when I go to the phone store today the sales associate will tell me the same thing they always do, “it looks like you are in need of a new phone.’’ I will politely respond, “Nope, I just need a new one because this one seems to have a system malfunction.” They always try and deny that that is the problem, but after a few times of me telling them that it’s not my fault, my dad will jump in, sternly speak with the salesperson, and from there we are sent to the technician.

The Technician will take one look at it, tell me it is my touch display connector piece that is doing something funky and I will be sent a new phone in 3-5 business days. If it were up to me, I would get a different phone because this same model has failed me four times now. However, if I do that I am out 300 bucks. So until my two year agreement is up I will continue to endure the irritation of a phone that breaks down very quickly. (WC 461)

Defense is Key for Packers

     There is nothing better on a rainy Sunday than kicking back laying on the couch and watching football, at least in my opinion. Days like these are my absolute favorite. Homework mostly done, and lots of good games on tv.

     I am getting pumped for the Packer vs Texan game tonight. The Texans are undefeated and that could very well continue tonight. With a beat up and discouraged Packer team, no one really knows what might happen. Obviously I am a bit bias toward the pack, but I do feel they might squeak away with a victory late this evening.n

     Although the Packers are discouraged, they also have heads full of steam and are ready to destroy anything in their way. If the Packers can convert on 3rd down and move the ball efficiently, I would be happy. That has been something they have struggled with and is very irritating for me. I would also like to see our defense step it up, force turnovers and ultimately win the ball game.

     The Packer defense has struggled the past couple of weeks and needs a big game to get their confidence up. I believe tonight might be the game that happens. Knowing that the defense needs to be on top of their game is concerning for me, but it is bound to happen one of these days...right?! I'm a very optimistic kind of guy so I am really thinking the Packers will come away with three huge turnovers this evening.

     If Houston has a bit of a lull tonight, and the Packers decide to turn things around, it could, just possibly, get nasty in Houston. I'm very hopeful for a win and am confident the Packers will come through tonight. Like I said earlier, I'm very optimistic, so I am going to predict a 35-24 Green Bay Packer victory. From here the Packers will get the confidence they need to boost their level of play. That is the very bold prediction of the day, that I hope come true. Go Pack Go!!! (WC 345)

Oh Politics

     Politics. That is the word many of us cringe at when used. Especially in this time of the year the word, "politics" has a different meaning. If you want to get in to an argument all you really have to do is start talking nonsense about the government, and it will set someone off...guaranteed.

     It seems that no matter what any candidate says, someone takes it way to far and blows the true words out of proportion. We smack talk the President and republican nominee way to much. Even tho not all of us may agree with President Obamas policies, but we have to have to utmost respect for the man. He has run this country, kept us safe, and been through tremendous stress to keep America going. Even tho some of us feel Barack was a sub par president, he certainly did a better job than you or I could have done, so we owe him one.

     On the flip side, Governor Romney needs our respect as well. As his views differ from Obamas in most areas, we tend to form a strong opinion of one man over the other. As some people may bash Romney for some of his policies we have to understand that he is in the spotlight 24/7. It is so hard for an individual to say everything without flaw for months and not be criticized. He is bound to slip up, just as we would, so we need to stop criticizing Romney for every little mishap of his. Keep in mind he may be running the country in a few months, and he deserves our respect, as we would expect if we were in either candidates position.

     We tend to think of these two fine men less as people and more as targets. Nothing will ever get done if we can't get along! Republican or democrat we are all people of god, and people of the USA and we have to embrace that and get along despite political differences. Just because Romney is republican and your a democrat doesn't mean you have to disagree with all of his policies. There may be some you like, so support it. And same goes with President Obama. Yes he's a democrat, and if your a republican it is ok to agree with the man. All I am trying to say is I think politics separate us way to much. I feel a lot more would get done properly if we could get along as one, rule as one, and not be so separated by the words, "republican" and, "democrat."(WC 434)

Pssht Who Needs a Job?!

I am currently unemployed, yet I make more money than most people who do have jobs! I do this by utilizing my skills, and helping others. This weekend I made $200 in 2 hours. All I had to do was sit up in a tech booth and run the lights, sound, and projection for a wedding. I do this about once every other month and it is totally worth it! 

                Beyond that I, as well as my friend, David can repair toilets. As stupid as that sounds, it is true, and it pays well. This past summer we probably fixed 4 toilets or so and made $240. That is one of those tasks where we can charge high because a plumber cost a whole lot more, and no one wants to do it themselves. You may be wondering how we got into this biz. Well it is kind of a boring story, but pretty much my upstairs toilet was leaking, and we wanted to fix it before my parents go home, so we uninstalled it, repaired the wax ring, put it back in, and it to this day works like a charm. My parents eventually found out, thought it was pretty impressive, and now tell the story everywhere they go. Which helps us out because then people call us needing a repair.

                Aside from those tasks which are rather sporadic, I often times have to watch my neighbors until their mom gets home from work. It is super easy (because I really don’t do anything but give them a snack) yet I get paid pretty well. I also gave baseball lessons to a 3^rd grader this summer, and he ended up making the better travel team this year! So that paid off in more ways than one.

One last job that I really don’t need to get paid for, but do anyway is dog/house sitting. Recently I house sat for some friends of our family and David and I just watch the dogs, eat their food, and use their electricity. It’s a rather sweet deal because really all they would need to do is stock the fridge and I would be set, however they still pay us pretty well on top of that!

Just because I don’t have a job doesn’t classify me as a lazy teenager that doesn’t do anything. I do lots of things at random times for large amounts of cash. It’s been paying for my expenses so for. For all that I am concerned; getting a job would be a waste of time. I am perfectly content with my current financial situation. (WC 434)

Yet Another Game Lost

Earlier today the Packers suffered their third loss of the 2012 season. As the Packers went into halftime with a 21-3 lead over the Indianapolis Colts they were feeling pretty confident about the game. Not so fast. The colts came out firing the second half and ended up taking the lead with 5 minutes left.

The packers marched right down the field to score yet another touchdown. At this time the Packers are now up 5 with two minutes remaining. The Colts answer scoring another touchdown making the game a difference of three points. With 35 seconds left, Aaron Rodgers does what he does best and moves the ball down to the Colt 35 yard line. With 8 seconds on the clock the Packers intend to run one more play, call a timeout, and kick a field goal to hopefully tie the game. Well as the story goes, the Packers had a miscommunication at the line of scrimmage and were forced to take their last  timeout and making the field goal just a bit trickier. The Packers had no choice but to kick the 52 yard field goal in an attempt to tie the game. Mason Crosby, one of the most respected kickers in the league comes out fully expecting to send this game into overtime. FLOP. The kick goes way wide left and the Packers lose yet another nail bitter.

With a 2-3 record, the Packers must make some major adjustments. These adjustments need to be in the defense. Green Bay’s defense allowed Indianapolis to convert too many crucial downs, and wasn’t able to hold them in the end. When an offense puts up 37 points, your defense needs to be able to hold the opposing team! Another area the Packers struggled was in catching the ball…on defense. I counted at least 5 times where a Green Bay defender had both hands on the ball and had a great opportunity to come away big. If the Green Bay D would have just picked one of those drops off, it would have been a different game. There were 2 plays in the Colt’s final drive where the ball was right in a Packer defenders hand, yet we wouldn’t get the interceptions. If the Packers want to make it to the Play-offs, something needs to change and it needs to happen now.  

-Irritated Packer Fan (WC 395)

Gone but Never Forgotten

     As Charles Dickens once said "It was the worst of times, it was the best of times..." This could not be more true this past month when my great aunt, Judy past away. Judy had suffered a severe stroke last month and was hospitalized for a week before she was taken to heaven. As my mom and grandparents were in Colorado for the duration, cleaning out the condo, spending final moments with Judy, and reminiscing the life of such an interesting woman, we were at home praying, hoping, and remembering.
     While cleaning out the condo they found many pictures and documents reminding them of just how interesting of a woman she was. They realized that that she was a collage dean, she was in the very first group of the Gold Singers at the University of Iowa, she was in a play with Harrison Ford, and she sang in the University of Iowa choir with Simon Estes. However that's is all stuff my mom and grandparents remembered or found out, I on the other hand remember some other things about aunt Judy.
     I remember receiving cards always in her cursive writing that was near impossible to deceiver, every time either talking about the Broncos, Packers, Hawkeyes, Cubs, or Rockies. Her passion for sports was something i admired and she was always interested in what I thought about the teams, and always up on the latest news. I won't forget her love and passion for the game of golf and and her little bank in the condo reading "green fees."
     As hard of a loss this might be, it really brings people together to celebrate the life and achievements of an accomplished lady. The visitation was filled with laughter and great memories and stories were told. As we mourn the unexpected loss of a fairly young loved one, we will never forget the Christmases spent at grandma's house, the birthdays with great gram Russ, the trip out to her condo on our way to Estes Park and her chest high waist line.
     Through the days after her passing, the visitation, and the funeral, there were many very sad times; but all in all it is a time filled with laughter and joy as we look back, remember, and celebrate her life. There is nothing that can replace her presence, but the memories will live on forever. Rest in peace aunt Judy; you will be missed. (WC 406) 

When Mom Leaves, So Does Sanity

We always can be so short tempered with our parents and not really realize all that they do for us. This past month I happen to gain a lot of respect for my mom. As we received a phone call from the Colorado hospital, we were informed that my great aunt had just had a horrible stroke. At this moment my mom, as well as my grandparents, hopped in the car and left for Denver, Colorado. My mom promised us they would be home Monday (they left on a Thursday).  Four days without home cooked meals and house cleaning wouldn’t be so bad, I thought. I have been home alone for a week before, and been completely fine. However that wasn’t the case, with my dad and sister also home, stuff got out of hand very very quickly.

It all started when my mom called and told us that they doubt Aunt Judy would survive and they would have to stay a day longer. It had only been tree days so far and I was sick and tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. On top of that, laundry was piling up and the house was a mess. I decided Tuesday night I would take matters into my own hands and make dinner, well that didn’t work so well. So once again I am back to PB and J.

On Monday my mom called and said that she won’t be home anytime soon, for me the only issue was I was sick of sandwiches, but for my sister it was more. My sister only being 11 started bawling and that lasted the evening. My dad was stressed out at work, my sister is upset, and I am just hungry…great. That next day my dad decided we would go out to eat, which was a fantastic idea, until we realized that there were heaps of laundry that hadn’t been done yet so we had to stay home and sort, wash, fold, and sort more laundry…it was a fantastic time as you can imagine.

It is now Thursday and my mom has left Colorado, due to be home on Friday. As relieving as this was, we needed to do a ton of cleaning. The house had gotten so out of hand that it took two full evenings of hardcore cleaning to restore it to its default settings. Finally on Friday evening my mom arrived at home and asked the question she regrets asking, “How did the week go?” As we all spill out different things that happened and went wrong, and she simply responded, “So next time you get mad at me because your favorite shirt isn’t washed yet, why don’t you think back to this week.” Touché mom, touché. (WC 458)

School Lunch, or Lack There of

     Many people are able to make it through the day without eating lunch, however I am not one of those people. I must have lunch or I am not able to focus one bit. Sitting in class with my stomach growling and mind wondering is one of the most annoying things in the world. Not only am I hungry, but I am missing out on important and valuable information.
     This year the cafeteria food has gone drastically downhill, which is saying a lot considering it wasn't that great to begin with. Not only are we limited on calories, and have no desserts most of the time, but we are paying more for less! This year we very seldom get dessert and portions are smaller, yet I pay an average of 25 cents more per meal. It is as if the government is now controlling what I eat, and in no way do I agree with these new policies.
     We are expected to take a fruit and vegetable which is ok unless all we are going to do is throw it away because it is fake and disgusting. Then I'm not only wasting money, but wasting food. It is as if the government thinks of all of us school children as unhealthy, immature, couch potatoes. Well you know what, we aren't. I understand the push for healthy lunches but for goodness sake, some of us need some more calories in our bodies. Athletes simply cannot function if all they are allowed is 700 calories for lunch. That's like my after school snack nowadays, and it is beginning to really irritate me that I often have to buy two lunches just to satisfy my hunger. It's not good for me or the bank account, and something needs to change.
     The majority of us young adults are not obese and need to eat more than we are allowed just to keep going. Is health more important than education? If it is why don't you start feeding real food, and if it isn't then feed me enough food so I can focus the rest of the day. I'm not the only one who is upset; parents, and other students also are crying out. I would appreciate if my diet was not regulated by government and school policies and I could get portions that actually fill me up. We are not all unhealthy, I wish someone would realize that. I want real food, and so does everyone else. (WC 413)

A New Season

     Today's starts a new season, the Big Ten season starts now. The games we played before today don't mean anything now. It is all about our Big Ten record that will get us into some of the bigger bowls. Heck if we win the Big Ten we go to the Rose Bowl regardless of our overall record.
Today Iowa plays the Minnesota Gophers, a team with a tough defense, good offense, and a team that has beaten Iowa the past three years. There is fire in the hearts if many Iowa players after last weeks last second loss to Central Michigan University. After a game like that, the team, the university, and the fans are lost. Game plans ruined, expectations lashed, and hope beginning to crumble, Iowa needs a win today.
     With running back Jordan Canzeri back in the back field as well as Iowa's go to man, mark Weismann I would hope that Iowa's offense coordinator Greg Davis would use that to Iowa's advantage and pull out some trickery with with this offense. Weisman has carried the team on his back the past few weeks. After running back Damon Bullock went down and has yet to return to game action, Iowa turned to Weisman. Weisman has rushed for 338 yards with 6 touchdowns on the season.
     The Hawkeye receivers have made a huge improvement since week one, but there is still some to go. They have improved upon dropped passes. They amount of dropped passes in week one was ridiculous and very very frustrating. Week two was an improvement, and last week they looked like a new corps. I expect to see the receivers get down field and beat the gopher defenders by a step or two downfield.
     If Iowa holds the Gopher offense to 14 points and is able to win the turn over battle there is a good chance Iowa will win. However it's not that easy. Hawkeye quarterback James Vandenburg must be on his A game today. He must be on target to his wide receivers, and he must bring leadership to the offense. Although are running game is now dominant, we need to establish the passing game. If we do that, then Iowa can look to open up the play action, which is I my opinion, one of Iowa's greatest go to plays. My prediction for this game is Iowa 24 Minnesota 10. (WC 398)

We're Back!!

     As many of you have heard by now, these replacement referees in the NFL are turning many people away from the NFL. They are not only making horrible calls, but taking wins away from teams that deserve to win. I know I blogged about this not too long ago but after watching the Monday night game this week, it is once again a hot topic.
     In the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks the refs were calling supposed penalty, after penalty, after questionable penalty. It was becoming ridiculous. Now granted some of those penalties were deserved, but a lot were very unnecessary. In the situation in the Packer game, there were about 250 yards in penalties and countless horrible calls. One including a game deciding call that may go down as the most controversial call in NFL history. As the Seahawks quarterback threw a last second hail marry to the end zone a Packer defender as well as a Seattle wide receiver made an attempt to catch the ball. One referee called a touchdown and one called an interception. They reviewed it, and called it a touchdown which gave the Seahawks the win. As this play was played over and over it becomes clear that the wrong call was made. It was clearly a Packer interception and the Packers should have won the game.
     This outraged many NFL fans and and certainly made it clear that they regular officials need to return! On Wednesday night, a deal was made. The referee lockout is over. And tonight (Thursday) the normal refs took over. It is a great relief to finally watch a game where the refs have more authority, know the rules better, and ultimately make the game run smoother. With a lot less penalties and no huge controversial calls, it was great to see the NFL back to normal again.
     It is incredible to think that a deal was made last night and tonight the refs were back on the field. The replacement refs are now dismissed, and there will be more authority in the league. Granted there will still be some poor calls, but without a doubt, games will run more smoothly. Coaches will no longer try to bend the rules nearly as much, and players will hopefully stop the unnecessary roughness that followed many of the plays with the replacement referees. Once again, it is refreshing to know the NFL we all know, is finally back! (WC 413)

My Future in Teaching

     As some of you might know, I'm not the most patient guy in the world. I get very irritated very easily and can't stand people who make stupid comments or keep kicking the dead horse during discussion. Yet I may not always show my frustration, and many times appear as a very nice, kind, patient type of person. Which I am, don't get me wrong, but often times kids really irritate me.
     I bring this up because in the past week and a half not one, not two, but THREE people have told me a should think about becoming a teacher. Never once has becoming a teacher been on the top of my career choices, matter of fact it is probably one of my last choices. There is no way I could contain any sanity spending 180 days with us yahoos. All off the irritable students and mad parents, come along with being a teacher do not appeal to me at all. I feel like I'd be the teacher that seems really nice at the beginning of the year but once kids start not paying attention, talking, and giving me a poor effort I'd become the most hated teacher in the state. I'd be the guy to assign a project a week on top of daily assignments. I just thinks kids would really irritate me.
     Now the reasons people tell me I should be a teacher differ. One lady told me I should because I have fantastic problem solving skills, and always think of a plan so that everyone gets along and stays happy. Another person thought I should become a teacher because of my leadership abilities. I am a "natural leader" and he thought I would make a great addition in the school system. Another individual asked me if I had thought about teaching because I avoided a possible situation that would have disrupted class. I find it funny that people think I should become a teacher because even though I may have some great qualities that would prove valuable as a teacher, I have absolutely no desire to relive my schooling days on the other side of things.
(WC 360)

Rough Around the Edges for Replacement Referees

As the NFL season wrapped up week two on Monday, there is a huge amount of controversy swirling around the league about the replacement referees being used. The regular NFL referees have been locked out because of failure to come to contract agreements with Commissioner Roger Goodell and the rest of the NFL. As replacement refs take over, one sees just how much the regular refs are missed.

                Touchdown or no touchdown? Penalty, but was it really?! Extra time outs awarded and calls regarding the rules being missed. Those are all just a few of the huge mistakes these replacement refs are making. The replacement refs consist of a select few of college referees that have been reading up and studying the NFL rule book since June in preparation of a lockout. As the refs take on the huge challenge of officiating an NFL game, their weakness and poor effort is really starting to irritate coaches, players, and countless fans.

                Some of these calls that the refs are missing have the potential of being game changing. Many times the calls are irritating, but we can let them go. However some, such as one in the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Brown game could have possibly changed the outcome of the game. In this particular situation, an incomplete pass by the Bengals should have stopped the clock; however the refs allowed an additional 29 seconds to run off. The Browns then ended that half on the Cincinnati 29 yard line. Perhaps that extra 29 seconds would have allowed the Browns to score and end up winning the game.

                According to ESPN.com, Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was told by a ref that the official needs LeSean McCoy to do well for his fantasy team. This is being looked into by the NFL because referees having a fantasy team is NOT permitted by the NFL. Another situation concerning replacement refs is when a ref is a fan of the team they are officiating. A few hours before kickoff of a New Orleans Saint game, the NFL removed side judge Brian Stropolo from the New Orleans-Carolina game because it was noted that he is a Saints fan. Being a fan of the team you are officiating is a huge violation. Officiating with an unbiased opinion is a requirement for referees. These replacement referees have line-ups set through week five in preparation that the lockout continues. As a fan myself, I cannot wait for the regular officials to return. Not only does this give fans a look at how hard it is to officiate an NFL game, but it should open our eyes to realize how hard regular NFL officials work to make the right call. We may not always agree with it, but they certainly do a better job than the replacement referees. (WC 469)

Homecoming "Expectations"

As times change so do school dances. This year Kennedy High School has come up with some guidelines for this year’s homecoming dance. The list of expectations states:

“1. It is expected that all students will wear clothing appropriate for a school event.

2. It is expected that clothing will be worn as intended at all times. Boys are expected to keep their shirts on. Girls are expected to keep their dresses and skirts at the intended length. Pulling skirts/dresses up is unacceptable.

3. It is expected that all students will dance appropriately. Simulating sex acts, dancing with hands on the ground, etc. are inappropriate.”

Personally, I think these are rather pointless. I’m sorry, but I have no intention of showing up naked, and I won’t be dancing with my hands on the ground…just saying. These rules or expectations rather, seem to be directed to those who show up and seem to have left their common sense at home. Homecoming is a school event and I don’t know why you would why you would want to portray yourself poorly by disregarding these rules.

Grinding is something that’s going to happen, there isn’t anything anyone can put in a rule book that will stop it completely. It is just what today’s teenagers do. I’m not trying to make stereotypes, but about 80% of the people dancing are grinding. However, is that disobeying one of the expectations? We are still clothed, the dress is still at normal length, hands aren’t on the ground, and it isn’t technically simulating sex acts…is it?

Now as stupid or obvious these rules sound, it is still an issue that needs to be addressed, I guess. Having gone to both a Kennedy and a Jefferson homecoming I find it fascinating the difference between the two. At Jefferson it could best be described as Grind Fest 2012. Everybody, in one huge mob, for three hours, that’s all that goes on. It makes me wonder, do they have expectations? I’m going to guess not because if they got a nice little piece of paper with rules stated on it, I’m SURE everyone would stop what they were doing and obey them. NOT. I mean c’mon, the majority of everyone at the homecoming dance will be grinding. Better not, because if you do the little piece of paper says “Students who do not follow the expectations will be asked to leave the dance.” I guess the dance will be rather small this year…

(WC 413)

Fantasy Frenzy

One aspect of the NFL is fantasy football. It is pretty much a game within a game. People draft players and get points based on how well that player does on a given week. After every week team "owners" go looking for better players to create the best, highest scoring, roster possible. What makes fantasy football hard, is that you never really know what a player will do each game, and how many or how few points a player will score.

For me fantasy football is a battle I face. I want to cheer for my favorite team, yet for fantasy football I have to cheer for the players on my team. It makes it difficult for me to pick my battles. It is even more difficult when players on my fantasy team are on my favorite team as well and I start cheering for a rushing touchdown rather than a passing one. It is always complicated and I have come to realize that I can't always win, some weeks I just have to accept defeat.

Fantasy football can be very frustrated, especially when players that are projected to score a lot of points do very poorly, or sometimes don't even play! For example, this week Aaron Rodgers was projected to get 31 points, he ended up only earning me 12 points. That creates a huge set back for me because the bulk of my roster is reliant on players, such as Rodgers, doing very well. However, there are also weeks when players that are project to earn rather low points, have breakout games, which is a great surprise! Having players like that can always help balance out the players that don't do so well.

The nice thing about fantasy football is that at any point in time I can pick up another player (free agent) if I choose to drop a player on my current roster. However, trying to find decent players that haven't been picked up by other owners yet is very tricky. I have some less than desirable running backs on my team but there aren't any better ones that are free agents. This leads me to my next point; trading. Teams within the league can trade players if they choose. Not everyone is willing to trade, you have to be willing to give up one of your decent players in order to make a trade with another owner. Although fantasy football can be tough, stressful, and hard to cheer for, it is a lot of fun and very exciting.(WC 421)

Packers-Bears

Tonight one of the oldest rivalriesin football is renewed. The Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears in aclassic showdown at historic Lambeau field. With the Packers coming off of atough loss they will be fired up and ready to begin their attack on the Bears. However,the Bears have a very tough defense that the Pack will with have to surpassfirst.

Being a Thursday night game, itbrings a new audience; it is the only game on Thursday so many more people arewatching the game tonight than the normal amount that would watch this game onany given Sunday. This always brings a little more hype and excitement to thegame. The Packers haven’t lost to the Bears in two years, so it will beinteresting to see who pulls ahead tonight.

I believe in order for Green Bay tobeat the Bears a few things need to improve. First quarterback Aaron Rodgersneeds to have a better day passing. I say four hundred yards passing and fourtouchdowns will give the Pack the win. However they can’t rely solely on Rodgers.With a weak defense in the past, the Pack needs to change that tonight and showthat they can hold a team to minimal yards as well as do it without getting penalized.Along with that, the Packer’s defense needs to bring the blitz and jump onBears quarterback Jay Cutler quickly. That will then force the bears to go withtheir running game which the Packers have a better chance of stopping. If the Packerscan do that then I say they pull out the win thirty one to twenty seven.

For the Bears to beat the Packersthey need to contain Aaron Rodgers. Because Rodgers is fantastic at getting outof the pocket and extending plays it is crucial for the Bears to contain himand apply as much pressure as possible. Besides that, if the Bears receivers canget just a few steps on the Packer defense they have a great e a greatopportunity to score a lot of points in the air. If all of these things happenfor the bears I say they pull out the win against the Packers twenty four totwenty.

Expect to see a very back and forthgame, with a lot of yards gained. Both teams have dominant offenses and bothhave the potential to score a large sum of points. With an interesting matchupbetween Rodgers and Cutler I wouldn’t want to miss this game; the oldestrivalry in football.(WC 431)

Lots of Work Ahead for the Pack

Today the Packers go back to work after a tough first game loss against the San Francisco 49ers. The Packers will be working at correcting their defense as well as some of the route communication. With Aaron Rodgers being an elite quarterback in the NFL he didn’t look the part yesterday. Going 30/44 with only 303 yards passing, an interception, and 3 sacks is less than desirable for Rodgers. Pocket awareness and accuracy are two areas where Rodgers can improve this upcoming week.

                With the Chicago Bears coming to town this week the Packers have a huge load on their hands. Considering the Packers pass defense was falling apart in the first game, it will be very easy for Jay Cutler to jump on the Pack early unless something is corrected. However, if the Packers’ offense can be more efficient I do not believe the Bears can stop Aaron Rodgers. To add some complication to the preparation for the game, the game is three days earlier than usual. With a Thursday game, teams often have a rough time getting the proper amount of reps in at practice, and also lack time in the film room. Beyond that, the Packers’ running game needs a massive amount of help. With a team total of 45 yards rushing, the Packers need to address that immediately. When your quarterback has more rushing yards than your actual running back you know there is a serious issue.

                To beat the Bears I think Rodgers needs to pass for over 400 yards with 3 touchdowns. They need to establish the run as a dominant force and then open up the passing game. It is very important that Cedric Benson is improved for the game or it will be tough for the Packers to win. Green Bay is relying way too much on Rodgers’ arm to win games rather than running the ball. Although Rodgers is a phenomenal quarterback, he can’t be the sole scorer of points every game.

                With a tough Bear’s defense on the field, running will be difficult, but the Packer’s offensive line must create holes for Benson. With 18 yards on the ground for Benson, he needs to improve by more than double that. I would expect to see 75+ yards out of him coming up in this next tough match-up. If the Packers show up with better pass coverage, an improved running game, and an excellent passing game, I say the Packers get the win easily, under one circumstance-they eliminate the penalty yards.

                Against the 49ers the Packers committed 10 penalties for 77 yards. With replacement referees this season, the Packers, as well as any other team, have to play cleaner and reduce the amount of penalty yards. Committing half as many penalties could have very likely changed the outcome of the game; considering at least three of those penalties where on failed 3^rd down attempts by San Francisco. Four days from now we will see if the Packers have improved, the Bears will be a tough opponent, but with a few adjustments, the Packers can record their first win this season. (WC 517)

NFL Week One Surprises

Part of the excitement of football is that on any given game day, any team could pull off the win. This was very relevant this Sunday as many teams that were projected to win, fell short of starting their season with a win. One of the biggest surprises today was seeing Robert Griffin III lead the underdog Washington Redskins to a big 40-32 win against the favored New Orleans Saints. With a solid performance on the ground, as well as in the air, Griffin proved that he can be a very dangerous rookie in the NFL this season.

Another game that was a bit of a shock was the Green Bay Packers vs. the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers jumped on the Packers early and never let up. It was very apparent that the Packers defense was struggling on pass coverage, as well as with the penalties. The Packers’ defense often got called for pass interference, or they gave up plays that should have been stopped. After such a great season last year, it was surprising to see the Packers come out as flat as they did. However, I’m not trying to take away from the San Francisco 49ers. Last year the 49ers were ranked as the 2^nd seed in the NFC playoffs. They have a very stout defense as well as a great quarterback in Alex Smith. Smith began picking away at the Packers defense and did a very fine job of it. Smith was 20/26 with 200 yards passing, which was enough to top the packers by a score of 30-22.

As of now, I am intrigued in the Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburg Steelers game. With Peyton Manning playing with a new team for the first time in 13 years it is interesting to see what he can do after his season ending neck injury that he suffered last year. Currently it looks as if Manning is still fully capable of putting together magical drives with little time left. Meanwhile his former team (Indianapolis Colts) suffered a 41-21 lost today against the Chicago Bears. It will be interesting to see what turns up after next weekend full of NFL games. (WC 363)

The Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy

Its game day here in Iowa City and is it ever lively! With about three hours until kickoff many tailgaters are really starting to arrive. Today’s matchup will feature the 1-0 Iowa Hawkeyes taking on the 1-0 Iowa state Cyclones. With both teams fighting for a win, the Hawkeyes have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. The Hawkeyes lost the CY-Hawk trophy last year in a 44-41 overtime loss to the Cyclones. This year, they want the trophy back, it belongs in Iowa City. After squeaking out a victory last week against Northern Illinois, the Hawkeyes have a lot to improve on.

                I expect to see a stronger performance by the Iowa offensive line as well as better game management by senior quarterback James Vandenberg.  Last week the Hawks were heavily relying on the running game, it would be nice to see offensive coordinator Greg Davis open up are passing game, establish the run, and see a bit more play action. With a sharper performance by Vandenberg, Iowa can really open up the pass game and maybe we will see a long ball or two.

                With Sreele Jantz commanding the Cyclone offensive, it is important that the Hawkeye defense brings their A-game. Containing Jantz is easier said than done, but if the Hawkeyes can do that, they have a better chance of bringing home the Cy-Hawk trophy. With this game being the Hawkeyes home opener, we can expect an overwhelming amount of excitement as well as a very hostile crowd. Fans expect to see a dominant Hawkeye squad on the field today, as well as a “W” on the Scoreboard for the Hawks.

                I would expect to see a high scoring game, with Steele Jantz being a dual threat quarterback; it will take a lot of scoring by the Hawkeyes to surpass the Clones’. If the Iowa offensive line can give a good push and running back Damon Bullock as another dominant performance, I say the Hawkeyes roll over the Cyclones 38-35, and the Cy-Hawk Trophy comes back to Iowa City. (WC 344)

The NFL Season Finally Begins

Today begins the Nation Football League regular season play. The five month time period between now and the Super Bowl are always very exciting. We can always try to predict how a team will be, but we truly don’t have any idea what a team will do this season.  The teams we expect to do poorly could very possibly end up in the plays-offs and surprise all of us.  With 32 teams, 17 regular season weeks, the paly-offs, and the Super Bowl it is hard not to be pumped about what is in store for us.

                I believe this year the Green Bay Packers will show up just like they did last year. They have a lot of the same weapons in Aaron Rodgers and his receiving corps, as well as an improved defense. Even though I believe they have a great team this year, I predict that Packers lose a game early on. That loss could very likely be in week two against the rival Chicago Bears. Although the Bears may not be as equipped as the Packers, it is very possible they show up and upset the Packers early on. After that I see the Packers rolling into the play-offs with only a few losses. The Packers are my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

                A team I am excited to watch this season is the Detroit Lions. With a history that is less than desirable, they have a lot to prove. Last year we saw a Detroit Lion team that was not only putting up a fight, but winning games. After Years of horrible seasons, the Lions are back and more dangerous than ever. With finally healthy quarterback Matthew Stafford at the helm, I wouldn’t doubt the Lions anymore.

                On the AFC side of things I am watching the Indianapolis Colts. For the first time in 13 seasons they are playing a game without Peyton Manning on the roster. With rookie Andrew Luck leading the team it will be interesting to see what the Colts are able to do. Last year with quarterback Curtis painter the colts embarrassed themselves. Winning just two games, the Colts front office knew some decisions had to be made. Getting rid of Manning was the most controversial of them all. It will be interesting to see how the Colts respond with a new coach, new quarterback, and new outlook on the season.

                The Baltimore Ravens are a team I always think could make a run at the Super Bowl. With veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, I think they could do some serious damage this season. With a tough defense and aggressive offense the Baltimore Ravens are my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

                Tonight marks the beginning of a new season, new records being made, new teams emerging as dominant forces, and new expectations.  So many emotions are expressed in just one single game, let alone the whole season. Starting today many lives of millions of Americans are sucked into NFL frenzy. Will you be one of those? Enjoy.(WC 512)