A fun way of chatting about drunk weekends with friends. If you have any question/comments for the mailbag send them along to mrbooze187@hotmail.com
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Fantasy Draft Review
Anybody know if Rudi Johnson has been signed yet?
ROUND 1:
Slippery Wizards – Ladanian Tomlinson
B-Money – Brian Westbrook
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Joseph Addai
Sflabo – Adrian Peterson
Nameless Few – Tom Brady
Smidawgs – Stephen Jackson
FKNSKZA – Marian Barber
JSL ENTERPRISES – Frank Gore
Madd Niggerish – Clinton Portis
Thanks4Gore – Randy Moss
My Pick:
Well I was 50/50 between Brady and Jax. Jax should have a huge year assuming Orlando Pace stays healthy. But I couldn’t pass on Brady, even if he has a big drop off from last season he still throws 35 TD’s and 3500 yards.
Reach of the Round:
It’s hard to say any 1st round pick is a reach but the Defending Champs reached a little for Addai. Some boards had him going as low as the 6th pick. Still a solid pick that should generate consistent points every week.
Steal of the Round:
Smidawgs getting Jax with the 6th pick could be the steal of the draft. He’s capable of rushing for 1500 yards with 500 receiving yards and 12 to 15 TD’s. Nice start for the Smidawgs!
ROUND 2:
Thanks4Gore – Terrel Owens
Madd Niggerish – Marshawn Lynch
JSL ENTERPRISES – Tony Romo
FKNSKZA – Peyton Manning
Smidawgs – Reggie Wayne
Nameless Few – Larry Fitgerald
Sflabo – Drew Brees
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Braylon Edwards
B-Money – Marquis Colston
Slippery Wizards – Andre Johnson
My Pick:
I knew I was going receiver since there were no RB’s on the board worthy of a 2nd round pick. Edwards, Colston, Johnson, and Fitzy were on the board. I was a little concerned about Derek Anderson (concussion) throwing to Edwards so I went with Fitzy. As long as Warner is throwing to him he should have a big year.
Reach of the Round:
The Nameless Few selection of Larry Fitzgerald is a reach at 15 since Edwards and Colston were still on the board. Most draft boards had Fitzgerald ranked as the 5th or 6th best WR in the draft. We’ll know by the middle of the season if this was a mistake.
Steal of the Round:
The steal of this entire draft could be Marshawn Lynch at the 12 spot for Madd Niggerish. Lynch fell due to some questions about the offensive line but this guy put up 14 points per game last year. All drafts had him going by the 7th or 8th pick and some as high as the 5th pick.
ROUND 3:
Slippery Wizards – T.J. Houshmanzadeh
B-Money – Ryan Grant
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Maurice Jones-Drew
Sflabo – Jamal Lewis
Nameless Few – Earnest Graham
Smidawgs – Willie Parker
FKNSKZA – Wes Welker
JSL ENTERPRISES – Jason Witten
Madd Niggerish – Plaxico Burress
Thanks4Gore – Larry Johnson
My Pick:
So I needed a running back and I was more than happy to take Graham. He’s not flashy but he’ll get me 12 to 15 points a week on a consistent basis. He may lose some 3rd down touches but Tampa Bay likes to run the ball and let the defense keep the game close.
Reach of the Round:
A tight end in the 3rd round???? Are you serious? Granted Witten is the best TE but in the 3rd round. He would’ve been there when it came back to you JSL. Witten’s average draft position was around 50 going no earlier than the 44th spot. You know it’s a reach when this didn’t start a run on the TE position.
A very close second for Reach of the Round was Larry Johnson. But I don’t want to speak badly of Thanks4Gore since I plan on doing a trade that I will later regret. Kevin Smith for Lee Evans??? Call me!
Steal of the Round:
Smidawgs pulls off another steal with Willie Parker at the 26th spot. Everybody talks about Peterson but it was Parker who was leading the league in rushing before he broke his leg late last year. As long as Mendenhall doesn’t take away his red zone touches this pick could be the steal of the draft.
ROUND 4:
Thanks4Gore – Willis McGahee
Madd Niggerish – Torry Holt
JSL ENTERPRISES – Darren McFadden
FKNSKZA – Brandon Marshall
Smidawgs – Ben Roethlisberger
Nameless Few – Thomas Jones
Sflabo – Calvin Johnson
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Roy Williams
B-Money – Anquan Boldin
Slippery Wizards – Carson Palmer
My Pick:
My original plan was to go best available at each position but when the run on TE’s hadn’t started yet I figured I could take a chance and wait one more round to get my TE. I was thinking about taking Thomas Jones in the 3rd round if Graham wasn’t there so this worked out for me. But somewhere in the back of my mind I’m thinking be careful what you wish for.
Reach of the Round:
Everybody picked real well in this round so I’m not sure if there is a 100% reach so I’m going call it a tie between Sflabo and the Defending Champs. Taking Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams respectively, we won’t know until the end of the season who made the wrong choice. Williams averaged going with the 48th pick no higher than 43. Johnson averaged going with the 58th pick and no higher than 41 in mock drafts. My gut tells me that Sflabo may have gotten the better player.
Steal of the Round:
Thanks4Gore had to take McGahee. Anytime you are relying on LJ as your #1 back you need some insurance. McGahee has some injury questions but he’s still a steal with the 31st pick. Might be a good idea to handcuff him later on though.
ROUND 5:
Slippery Wizards – Reggie Bush
B-Money – Donavan McNabb
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Steve Smith
Sflabo – Santonio Holmes
Nameless Few – Kellen Winslow
Smidawgs – Marvin Harrison
FKNSKZA – Edgerrin James
JSL ENTERPRISES – Jerricho Cotchery
Madd Niggerish – Chris Cooley
Thanks4Gore – Antonio Gates
My Pick:
This is where the draft gets interesting. I could’ve gone with my 3rd RB here so I have some depth at the position or my 2nd WR but I really didn’t like what was available. So I stuck with my plan and took Winslow. Gates was available but his foot concerned me and Winslow is a WR in the TE position.
Reach of the Round:
Chris Cooley for Madd Niggerish is a little bit of a reach in the 5th round. Gates, Gonzalez, and Clark were still available so the TE pick could’ve waited until it came back to you on the next round.
Steal of the Round:
JSL Enterprises may have grabbed a gem with Cotchery. Favre always has a go to receiver starting with Sterling Sharpe then Bubba Franks and then Donald Driver. The only question is will Cotchery or Coles be his go to guy. My guess is it will be Cotchery which makes this the steal of the round.
ROUND 6:
Thanks4Gore – Michael Turner
Madd Niggerish – Brandon Jacobs
JSL ENTERPRISES – Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco)
FKNSKZA – Dallas Clark
Smidawgs – Vincent Jackson
Nameless Few – Hines Ward
Sflabo – Tony Gonzalez
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Derek Anderson
B-Money – Heath Miller
Slippery Wizards – Matt Forte
My Pick:
I had my QB, TE and 2 starting RB’s. I needed my 2nd WR before it got too late in the draft. Ward was the selection since his steady production year in and year out will get me the 10 points a game I need. I seriously considered taking Maroney here but I have no idea what the Pats are going to do this year with the 20 RB’s they have on the roster.
Reach of the Round:
OH MY GOD!!! Not only is this the Reach of the Round but it is hands down the reach of the draft. Let’s see with the 6th round selection it’s always a good idea to take a guy who is the 4th offensive option and is coming back from a hamstring injury. I had this guy ranked as the 49th best WR which means I wasn’t going to draft him. Vincent Jackson in the 6th round? SERIOUSLY? I guess Smidawgs is making a trip to San Diego and pulling a Tony Harding on Chambers, Gates, and LT.
Steal of the Round:
I’m still not over the Vincent Jackson pick but lets continue. Thanks4Gore pulled off his second Steal of the Round with Michael Turner. I thought he would go by the 3rd round so getting him in the 6th round is a great pick.
ROUND 7:
Slippery Wizards – Dwayne Bowe
B-Money – Dallas Defense
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Jonathan Stewart
Sflabo – Greg Jennings
Nameless Few – Kevin Smith
Smidawgs – Jeremy Shockey
FKNSKZA – Roddy White
JSL ENTERPRISES – Laurence Maroney
Madd Niggerish – Nate Burleson
Thanks4Gore – Matt Hassleback
My Pick:
DAMN IT…DAMN IT….DAMN IT!!!!! Maroney or Smith…Maroney or Smith. Probably the toughest pick I had all day. Screw it I always pick a rookie RB that comes out of nowhere and does well. Smith is my horse this year, he’s the hands down starter for Detroit and they are going to emphasize the run this year. Teams can’t stack the box to protect against the run since the WR’s are so good. I hope you break a leg Mr. Maroney.
Reach of the Round:
Dallas defense over the Minny defense? B-Money must be a huge Zach Thomas fan. Just kidding, it’s not much of a difference between Minny and Dallas but anytime a defense is taken before the 10th round it’s a reach. THAT’S A RULE!!!!
Steal of the Round:
Watch out for JSL Enterprises this year boys and girls they are starting to rack up the Steals of the Round. Taking Maroney in the 7th round is a great pick. Yes he’s gonna lose some touches but he is a starting RB for a team that should score a ton of points. Nice pick Jewfrey.
ROUND 8:
Thanks4Gore – Lee Evans
Madd Niggerish – Aaron Rodgers
JSL ENTERPRISES – Minnesota Defense
FKNSKZA – Julius Jones
Smidawgs – Lendale White
Nameless Few – Patrick Crayton
Sflabo – Ronnie Brown
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Tony Scheffler
B-Money – Lavernues Coles
Slippery Wizards – Vernon Davis
My Pick:
This is the pick I’m most disappointed in. I think Dallas has a huge offensive year and puts up a ton of points. Crayton should be open deep this year with TO getting double coverage and Witten getting the other safety covering him. I can try and justify this pick but he’s still the 4th option for Dallas. He’s on the block if anyone is interested.
Reach of the Round:
Couple of candidates for Reach of the Round. Minny defense is a candidate, Ronnie Brown isn’t even a starter, Tony Scheffler lost his starting job but I need to go with Madd Niggerish selection of Aaron Rodgers. He would’ve been there in round 9 and maybe round 10. Everyone had their starting QB so another QB wasn’t coming off the board until the 10th or 11th round. Also Warner, Cutler and Favre were still on the board. I like Rodgers but it was a reach at pick 72.
Steal of the Round:
Smidawgs pulls off his third Steal of the Round. Smiddy is trying to make up for the Vincent Jackson pick and may have done that with a solid starting RB for his 8th round selection. Lendale may be fat, slow and lazy but he puts up 11 points per game and that’s not bad for this late in the draft.
ROUND 9:
Slippery Wizards – Chicago Defense
B-Money – Rashard Mendenhall
DEFENDING CHAMPS – San Diego Defense
Sflabo – Jacksonville Defense
Nameless Few – Donald Driver
Smidawgs – Indianapolis Defense
FKNSKZA – Pittsburgh Defense
JSL ENTERPRISES – Felix Jones
Madd Niggerish – Chris Chambers
Thanks4Gore – Selvin Young
My Pick:
I violated a rule with this pick. If you make a bad pick don’t try and over-compensate and make up for it with your next pick. I was so unhappy with Crayton that I forced myself to take another WR. I like Donald Driver but I don’t know who the go to guy is for Aaron Rodgers. This also filled out my WR’s which took out a bunch of sleeper WR’s that I had planned on taking towards the end of the draft (Eddie Royal, Burleson, Bryant Johnson, and Desean Jackson).
Reach of the Round:
Watching Smidawgs make picks is like watching a VERY SLOW moving roller coaster. Two Steals of the Round so far to go along with the worst pick of the draft. We can now add a Reach of the Round award to Smidawgs collection. This was a close call since everybody was taking defense but the Indy defense over Pitt, Seattle, Chicago, Tamba Bay, Green Bay? Really?
Steal of the Round:
Since only 5 position players were taken this round it’s a little more difficult to determine a Steal of the Round but I have to go with Thanks4Gore selection of Selvin Young. Even though it’s Denver and we all know Shanahan takes great enjoyment in screwing around with fantasy football owners. Selvin Young is the #1 RB on a team that runs the ball a ton.
ROUND 10:
Thanks4Gore – Brett Favre
Madd Niggerish – DeAngelo Williams
JSL ENTERPRISES – Isaac Bruce
FKNSKZA – Santana Moss
Smidawgs – Fred Taylor
Nameless Few – Chester Taylor
Sflabo – Jay Cutler
DEFENDING CHAMPS – Anthony Gonzalez
B-Money – Chris Johnson
Slippery Wizards – Owen Daniels
My Pick:
I usually use my 4th RB as a back-up in case of injury and to give me coverage for bye weeks. I want a guy who gets 3rd down touches and runs behind a runner who is injury prone. I had two choices here: Chester Taylor or Lorenzo Booker. I went with Taylor because he’s a proven commodity and Peterson runs so hard that he punishes himself and defenders. Peterson is my choice for biggest fantasy disappointment of the year. So I like my chances having his back-up.
Reach of the Round:
This rounds reach is pretty easy to pick out. DEFENDING CHAMPS pick of Anthony Gonzalez was a reach here. ‘Experts’ had been talking this guy up but I don’t get it. He’s the 5th option on a team that has a banged up QB that lost his long time center for 6 weeks.
Steal of the Round:
What a round!. Favre, Williams, Moss, Fred Taylor, Jay Cutler are all great picks. But the Steal of the Round goes to Madd Niggerish for picking DeAngelo Williams. He’s looked great in the preseason and he’s the #1 RB for Carolina. Despite all the hype over Jonathan Stewart, Williams will still be the man for the Panthers.
So where does that leave us? As usual injuries will have the greatest impact on all of our teams but the Pre-Season Poll has picked the winner:
10th Place – DEFENDING CHAMPS (1601 points)
9th Place – Smidawgs (1608 points)
8th Place – Madd Niggerish (1628 points)
7th Place – FKNSKZA (1722 points)
6th Place – B-Money (1767 points)
5th Place – Sflabo (1774 points)
4th Place – JSL Enterprises (1784 points)
3rd Place – Nameless Few (1788 points)
2nd Place – Slippery Wizards (1814 points)
1st Place – Thanks4Gore (1850 points)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Lets start the weekend
Finally its Friday and the Wingalympics are upon us.
Hope everyone can make it to Sidebar tonight. Its located at 14 Bromfield Street, Downtown.
Lets hope we can get it started at 7:30.
8 Competitors - One Shirt!! Who do you like?
1. Hot Sizzle
2. The Wing King
3. El Wingador
4. Chomp em and Stomp em
5. Bring the Heat
6. Last Hurrah
7. Timbo Slice
8. Two Thumbs
This is shaping up to be a fabulous night.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Chrissy is that you?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Humpday
Then go and Yearbook yourself.
The Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay just a few minutes ago. Heres to his wife shoing up at Fenway this year.
Lets hope that JD's back isn't hurting too bad or Jacobys not too fucked up from that dive into the wall.
Not much going on this week. Trying to stay low for the weekend. Friday the Wingalympics, Saturday Fantasy football + drinking, Sunday a cookout and an evening wedding. Full on weekend. Plus I gotta work on Monday
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Are you Kidding me
By David Brown
It doesn't get much better than this. Left-handed reliever Eddie Guardado has just been traded from Texas to Minnesota for a hamburger — minor-league pitcher Mark Hamburger, that is.
Six immediate reactions to this news:
1. Cheese, you've got to be kidding me!
2. Did the Rangers get fries with that?
3. Mmm, Guardado.
4. Some Twinkies, a Hamburger, let's do lunch!
5. The Twins will gladly take Guardado to close on Tuesday for a Hamburger today
6. Prince and CC want to know why the Brewers couldn't have pulled this trade off.
The Happy Meal Deal also brings to mind other players who are named after food.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK!!
9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.
Officials with the Youth Baseball League of New Haven say they will disband Jericho Scott's team because his coach won't stop him from pitching.
Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.
But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.
"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"
The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.
"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."
Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.
Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.
"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."
League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.
"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."
Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.
"Facing that kind of speed" is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.
League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.
League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.
"I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said.
Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.
League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.
Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options.
"You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"
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So let me get this right, I have been on a 4 day bender and can't really wrap my mind around this whole situation, This 9 year old child can throw a baseball faster than most kids at the age of 9 - so he cant play? Makes about as much sense as tits on a bull. The parents of the children that are afraid for saftey concerns should be told that that they are raising PUSSYS!!!
I thought we were taught to teach children to try and be the best that they can be. I hate Connecticut. This is the 2nd time I wrote about these bitch ass parents complaining about kids. The first time they bitched about the kids cleaning up a vacant lot to play softball now THIS.
Connecticut is nicknamed the Constitution state...doesn't seem like it!! Maybe we could rename it the Pussy State? Or the Cry Baby state? Or the BUNCHABITCHES state!
This Friday - 1st Annual Wingalympics
"If Its free its for me" looks like he is backing out but we have a late entry.
1. Chrissy “El Wingador” Macphail 3-1
2. Jeffrey “The Wing King” Lundrigan 7-1
3. Mario “Hot Sizzle” Long 5-1
4. Jimmy "Two Thumbs" 4-1
5. Steve "Bring the Heat" Keith 6-1
6. Jason "Last Hurrah" Foley 2-1
7. Charlie "Chomp em and Stomp Em" Ferlauto 6-1
8. Timbo Slice 8-1
Its a 8 man competition.
Welchie has made it clear that he will take any and all bets against his boy Jimmy "Two Thumbs". Smiddy has taken him up on that - $100.00 bucks!!
Come on down and support your friends/contestants/eaters. At the very least support your local bartenders.
Just a side note:
According to Restaurant Business magazine, low cost dining spots like wing joints have become some of the country’s fastest-growing chains. Cincinnati-based Buffalo Wings & Rings is now the nation's fastest-growing franchised restaurant.
Several recent surveys have confirmed that tighter food budgets are causing more consumers to seek out less expensive dining options. But, folding wings into your dining lineup too frequently could lead to a seriously expanding waistline. Here’s the low down on the calorie counts of several popular wing spots:
* Lone Star, chicken wings appetizer: 1,759 calories
* Applebees, 1 order boneless Buffalo wings, 1,724 calories
* Zaxby’s, large order wings & things, 1,673 calories
* Wingstop, 10 Cajun wings, 1,590 calories
* Old Chicago, best Buffalo chicken wings, 1,562 calories
* Chi-Chi’s, 1 order Tex-Mex BBQ wings, 1,421 calories
* Chili’s, boneless Buffalo wings, 1,250 calories
* Hooters, 5 chicken wings, 866 calories
* Pizza Hut, 10 hot wings, 600 calories
* KFC, 1 order of 5 boneless fiery Buffalo wings, 420 calories
Most adult women need about 1,600 calories a day and men (who are usually taller and have more muscle) 1,800 – 2,000. That means a single wing order can provide a quarter to well over 100% of the calories needed in an entire day. Not to mention the fact that each wing contains 1 gram of artery clogging saturated fat not including the blue cheese.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thirsty Thursday - Quote of The Week
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
-Deep Thought, Jack Handey
Update Next friday
1. Chrissy “El Wingador” Macphail
2. Jeffrey “The Wing King” Lundrigan
3. Mario “Hot Sizzle” Long
4. Scott “If It’s Free It's for Me” Deegan
5. Steve "Bring the Heat" Keith
6. Jason "Last Hurrah" Foley
7. Charlie "Chomp em and Stomp Em" Ferlauto
Looks like a 7 man competition. Rumors floating out there that someone may bail - let's hope nope.
Hope everyone can make it to cheer on all these competitors!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
WINGALYMPICS
When: Next Friday August 29th
Where: Sidebar - 14 Bromfield St. Boston, MA. 02108-5203
Time: 7:30pm
Who can eat the most wings in 30 minutes?
Mike T, Welchie and I will be the judges. No meat left on the Bones…or we will not count it as a full wing.
1. Chrissy “El Wingador” Macphail
2. Jeffrey “The Wing King” Lundrigan
3. Mario “Hot Sizzle” Long
4. Scott “If It’s Free It's for Me” Deegan
5. Steve "Bring the Heat" Keith
All have confirmed their entrance into the competition. Odds will be posted as the EVENT gets closer and closer.
The Gold winning T shirt has been ordered and is en-route.
Any suggestion?? Anything I may have missed? Anything you thing I can improve on? Let me know
Ninja' student slays teen with sword
His face painted black, wearing a home-made mask and wielding a sword resembling a samurai, the teenager went on a violent spree killing a 16-year-old boy and injuring two school gardeners.
Police spokesman Captain Jacob Raboroko said the killing took place early yesterday before the Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp on the western outskirts of Johannesburg held its daily assembly.
Experts agree the latest tragedy is one of many showing an increase in violent incidents in the country's schools.
"It is horrifying. The incident further shows that violence in South African schools is a real problem and people, especially parents, are worried about it," the director of South Africa's Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP), Eric Pelser said.
Education expert Graeme Bloch of the Development Bank of South Africa said it showed South Africans were living in a "very violent society".
"It is an extreme situation, also underlying the general problems facing our youth: problems of identity, confidence in the future, abuse of drugs and breakdown of family's moral system."
A recent study by the CJCP, released in April, said violence in the country's schools was "embedded in the broader violent South African environment".
Official statistics indicate that at least 50 murders are committed in South Africa every day, while child murders increased 22.4 per cent between March 2007 and April 2008.
The CJCP research, carried out between 2006 and 2007 in conjunction with the department of education, showed that 15.3 per cent of students in primary and secondary schools, or 1.8 million pupils, had been victims at some point of violence such as assault, sexual harassment or assault, rape or robberies.
More than 88,000 pupils in high schools across the Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, had experienced violence in schools, adds the report titled Merchants, Skollies and Stones, the first such study in the country.
According to the study, children engaged in violence due to drug or alcohol use, exposure to violence, easy access to weapons and criminal role models, including parents and environment.
In schools, up to 64 per cent of pupils had easy access to alcohol, 25.3 per cent drugs and 62 per cent to guns, the report said.
The head of Gauteng education, Angie Motshekga, who is also the leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) women's league, said she was "taken aback" at the killing of the year nine pupil.
"This is traumatic. Parents leave their children with us in schools and expect to find them in one piece," she told teachers and pupils during a visit to the school, according to SAPA news agency.
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I read this and thought two things:
NINJA do exist and they are AWESOME!!
What the fuck is going on with the youth of the world...I mean child murders are up almost 23%?? Is it that bad that you get your Samurai sword and start slicing motherfuckers?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mustache challenge 08
If you start growing a mustache This Friday August 22nd (you can grow a beard, a goatee whatever you want before you shave it in) and you show up Week 5 (Sunday October 5th) of the football season with JUST A STACHE I will give you $50.00. And every Sunday after that - you show up with the stache $50.00 until the end of the football season, Weeks 5-17. No playoffs! You must stay for at least the 1:00 games.
I am only going to pay 1 person so who is going to step up for the challenge??
Whoopings
This just goes to show you SHIT HAPPENS...
The Red Sox got WHOOPED this weekend by the Blue Jays. I mean a major ass whooping. Two games and outscored 19-5.
The Pats didn't fare any better losing 27-10 to Tampa Bay. I know its only preseason but in 2 games the Pats secondary got torched by Kyle Boeller and Brian Greise not exactly stud quarterbacks!
We lost our playoff softball game, 5-4. I was not able to play, due to being stuck at work. Dice-K(ristine) pitched well enough for a win in her 1st start of the season. The bats decided to go take the rest of the summer off...lets hope we get to play one more season. "LET THEM PLAY! LET THEM PLAY!"
Mikeys/Jeffs suprise 40th was a blast. Lots of drinking, plenty of bull shitting and tons of laughs. Man nothing is better than a good old fashion TIME at Florian hall.
Still have no takers for the FREE EDDIE MONEY SHOW AT MOHEGAN SUN this Thursday - I got 2 tickets to paradise!
HAPPY 21st BDAY PETE KELLY!!! Have fun at Ron Emmas and Castaways tonight!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Tats and other bullshit
2. I am looking forward to seeing the reception Paul Byrd gets...this is the same guy that the Sox fans chanted - "STERIODS" - at during last years playoffs. Will they embrace him now that he wears a Sox uniform or will they be lemmings and CHEER HIM!!
3. Chrissy finished fourth in the Demolition Derby last night, He busted up his hand but he should be okay. Him and his uncle are going to try and fix up the Freddie Krueger mobile and put it in the finals next Friday. If he gets it up and running - I WILL BE THERE - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!
4. I was having a debate with some dumb fucking twerp between Quiznos and Subway and I have to say that Subway is 1000000000000 times better than Quiznos. Hands down, No questions asked, Garunfuckingteed!!! The freshly baked breads and the different options on types of breads alone JUMPS SUBWAY OVER QUIZNOS. Plus Subway toasts their shit now too...winner winner chicken dinner! Eat up bitches this food talks making this fat kid hungry.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Dance off Pants off
I think he Can Dance - Watch more free videos
Jeffrey challenged this guy to a dance off and he ran away...so Jeffrey challenged him to a battle on Dance Dance Revolution still the guy refused...SO Jeffrey Kicked him in the Nuts and told him to have a nice day!!!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
One giant turd !
Flying piece of art causes museum chaos in Switzerland
Mon Aug 11, 3:26 PM ET
A giant inflatable dog turd by American artist Paul McCarthy blew away from an exhibition in the garden of a Swiss museum, bringing down a power line and breaking a greenhouse window before it landed again, the museum said Monday.
The art work, titled "Complex S(expletive..)", is the size of a house. The wind carried it 200 metres (yards) from the Paul Klee Centre in Berne before it fell back to Earth in the grounds of a children's home, said museum director Juri Steiner.
The inflatable turd broke the window at the children's home when it blew away on the night of July 31, Steiner said. The art work has a safety system which normally makes it deflate when there is a storm, but this did not work when it blew away.
Steiner said McCarthy had not yet been contacted and the museum was not sure if the piece would be put back on display.
They actually research this stuff?
For the first time, scientists have proven that "beer goggles" are real - other people really do look more attractive to us if we have been drinking.
Surprisingly, the beer goggles effect was not limited to just the opposite sex among the ostensibly straight volunteers recruited for the study - they also rated people from their own sex as more attractive.
Scientists in England gave 84 heterosexual college students chilled lime-flavored drinks that were either non-alcoholic or given a dose of vodka equivalent in alcohol to a large glass of wine or a pint-and-a-half of beer.
After 15 minutes, the volunteers were shown photos of 40 other college students from both sexes. Both men and women who drank booze found these faces more attractive, "a roughly 10 percent increase in ratings of attractiveness," said researcher Marcus Munafo, an experimental psychologist at the University of Bristol in England.
The researchers also asked volunteers to rate their mood, "and there were no differences on those measures in the alcohol group compared to the no-alcohol group," Munafo added. "This suggests that the effect we observed wasn't due to a general change in mood."
It did not escape Munafo that the results are rather obvious.
"Everyone knows about beer goggles," Munafo said. "But some of our results suggest that there's more going on than we might have thought."
The discovery that the effect is not specific to the opposite sex was surprising. One possibility is that alcohol generally makes us see things as more attractive, but when this occurs in social situations, such as at a bar, "this might become targeted at opposite-sex faces," Munafo said. By repeating the experiment with video clips shot at bars, the scientists hope to recreate those social cues and see what happens.
"The main question is whether these effects are specific to faces, or whether we would rate anything as more attractive after a drink," Munafo said.
Future research could expose people who have been drinking to landscapes or the faces of puppies and other animals, "to see if alcohol has a more general effect on perceiving beauty in the environment."
Low dose
"It's also surprising to see this effect is happening at lower doses than you might think," Munafo said. "We're trying to build up a more complete picture of what happens when people go out for a drink, and we're interested in certain behaviors that are more common after drinking, such as unsafe sex, or violence. If this effect is happening at lower doses than expected, it might be helpful for people who are predisposed to such behaviors to anticipate those situations and prevent them."
I for one have been a victim of "Beer Goggles" a few times in my life. I am happy to see that someone is finally working to eradicate this dreadful disease.
BINGO
Taxi anyone?
I wonder where the meter is for the taxi? Do they charge a flat fee... Yo you pay me one 40oz of Old E and I can get you from the sto to ya mommas house.
I think I saw this down by Franklin field yesterday.
I mean I know you want to save money but seriously?? A lawn mower with a Saves-a-lot carriage/chariot hybrid??
MAN I FUCKING LOVE AMERICA!!!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Don't forget
Chrissy will be in the Demoltion Derby at the Marshfield Fair this Friday Night!!
He will be in his Freddie Krueger mobile.
Hope that everyone can make it and show your support!! Drinking at the Black Rasberry in Plymouth after...beers and Plunkett!!
Well
August is almost over:
Football starts soon and you know what that means...SUICIDE POOL!!! You want to join let me know.
The Travers stakes is NEXT weekend up at Saratoga!!! Right now its penciled in for us to travel up there.
August 20th and 21st Eddie Money is playing at Mohegan Sun FOR FREE IN THE WOLF DEN.
Michael Phelps is an Animal...5 events - 5 Gold Medals - 5 World Records!! THATS SHIT MOVIES ARE MADE OF!!!
The Sox looked like they had an easy win last night. They came out with that Fire that I said they had been missing THEN they shit the bed. Got lazy and complacent.
Buffet, Fantasy football, Pittburgh, Weddings, Cookouts, working, Suprise Bday parties...my god damn weekends are full. I think I am available sometime in September.
Thinking bout going to the Wickeden Pub sometime soon as well.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Case of the Mondays
Friday nights Olympic kick off party at DJ's was a blast. Smiddy took home the gold in the beer chugging Tsingtao contest!
The UFC fights were some of the better ones I have seen in some time. Coops isnt a bad place to watch the fights, also helps to be with some of your friends.
I went 3-4 in my picks:
Here were my predictions:
The Matador over Florian - Loss
Lesner over The Texas Crazy horse - Win, actually A BEATING!! HERRING GOT WHIPPED!!!
Rob Emerson in a huge upset over Manny Gamburyan -Win,whole fight lasted about 20 seconds
St Pierre to wreck John Fitch - Win, just shows why Rush is the champ
Florian is going to have to wait to fight St.Pierre because BJ Penn wants to rock and roll.
Yesterday was a bit of a wash. It rained on and off and softball was cancelled. Kind of a pain in the ass.
It seems to be baby season - Mikey Ls wife is preggo(baby #3), Cheifdudes wife is preggo(baby #2) and one of Katies/Kristines friends is preggo(baby #1) - CONGRATS AND KEEP ON MAKING BABIES!
Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac both died this past weekend. You know they come in 3's...who is going to be next????
The Sox are 4.5 back of the Rays but 1.5 up in the wildcard race over The Twins. This team doesn't seem to be too interested in winning, its like watching the Royals or something. I need some fire from them or something.
Would anyone be interested in 4 tickets to the BC/Georgia Tech game, Saturday September 6th? This is the home opener. I will be going to the Jimmy Buffet concert so I won't be able to attend. If you know anyone who may want them let me know. Tickets are $37.00 each so $148.00 for all 4?
Pittsburgh is a month a way and I NEED A VACATION DAMN IT!!! Wish Smiddy would get his head out of the clouds and start having fun again.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Hope all is well
Just a few headlines from Boston.com:
1. NESN yesterday announced the hiring of Naoko Funayama, formerly of WMUR-TV in Manchester, N.H., to replace Rob Simpson as Bruins ice-level reporter.
Funayama will join play-by-play man Jack Edwards and analyst Andy Brickley. Kathryn Tappen will continue to host pregame, intermission, and postgame coverage with a rotating group of analysts.
Funayama, who spent four years at WMUR, has been a NESN freelance contributor on Red Sox coverage.
Simpson's contract was not renewed after two seasons.
2. ASHLAND, N.H.—A 7-year-old girl was killed after flash flooding from heavy rains swept her family's car 100 yards downstream at a campground.
The girl's father escaped when flooding hit the Ames Brook Campground and screamed for help, and her mother and another child were rescued after clinging to a tree in the raging water.
"She clung to a tree with her son, a small child, in her arms," Tilton Fire Lt. Chris Harris told the New Hampshire Union Leader.
The girl's body was found when the water receded.
In Laconia, heavy rain and flooding washed out part of the boardwalk at Weirs Beach and nearly 200 feet of railroad track was undermined and heavily damaged. Firefighters had to rescue a family trapped in a car on Weirs Boulevard. Roads in many other Lakes Region communities were closed because of flooding. A shelter has been opened in Ashland.
Meanwhile, a flood warning remained in effect Friday morning in Strafford County and a flash flood watch is posted in most of the rest of the state.
3. An in-depth, state-commissioned study released yesterday said Governor Deval Patrick's proposal to license three resort casinos would improve the state's economy and provide thousands of jobs, but not to the degree the governor asserted in the heat of the divisive debate earlier this year.
Salvatore F. DiMasi said he remains skeptical of expanding legalized gambling in the state , but promised to review the study.
The $189,000 study, by New Jersey-based Spectrum Gaming, concludes that several of the governor's estimates were inflated, but also estimates that his plan would allow the state to recapture up to $700 million of the $1.1 billion that Massachusetts residents spend at casinos in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The study comes too late for the original proposal, which is dead, but will add fodder to a debate that is likely to resume in January at the start of a new legislative session. Patrick has not said whether he will file new casino legislation, but many observers expect the casino debate to return in some form as the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe pursues a casino using its rights under federal law.
4. The Parkway National Little League team, made up of 12- and 13-year olds from West Roxbury and Roslindale, was eliminated from the playoffs last night and foiled in their bid to reach the Little League World Series.
The Massachusetts state champions lost to New Hampshire 5-2 in Bristol, Conn., spoiling the chance to become the New England champs.
Had it won that title, the team would have played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Parkway scored the first two runs of the game when Patrick Naughton hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.
New Hampshire scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, and then scored again in the second inning.
Parkway's manager, John Picarello, said the players were happy they made it so far but were obviously disappointed at being eliminated.
"They're a little upset," said Picarello of West Roxbury.
"They thought it was a game we could have won since we started out winning."
Parkway National, known for their mismatched uniforms as much as their pitching prowess in the regular season, suffered their only regular season loss last week to New Hampshire.
Though they've come close, no Parkway team has ever made it to the Little League World Series.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
15th times a charm??
YARMOUTH - A Yarmouth man who has been convicted of drunken driving nine times is being held without bail after his 15th drunken driving arrest.
William Rose pleaded not guilty to charges including operating under the influence and driving without a license at his arraignment in Barnstable District Court today. He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing Aug. 13.
Yarmouth police spokesman Lt. Steve Xiarhos said the 59-year-old Rose was stopped as he drove the wrong way on an exit off Route 28 at about 1:30 a.m on this morning.
Rose has a hardship license so he can get to work, but Xiarhos said the license is valid only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Rose’s attorney, Paul DeCenzo, says his client is allowed to drive during an emergency, and was responding to a call from a friend whose car had broken down.
...wondering why I am thirsty? Must be Thursday!
The Sox are on a roll: 5-1 A.M. - After Manny!
The Celtics season schedule came out yesterday and them bitches are playing on Christmas...that is an awfully early Xmas gift.
The Pats have their first preseason, and yes I hate preseason games but, tonight so I am going to have quite a few brews...
I tried the new Dunkin Donuts egg white veggie flat bread this morning. It was ok nothing to write home(or even here for that matter) about.
There should be some good fights this Saturday for the UFC 87.
Here are my predictions(just the main fights):
The Matador over Florian
Lesner over The Texas Crazy horse
Rob Emerson in a huge upset over Manny Gamburyan
St Pierre to wreck John Fitch
Big softball playoffs this Sunday at 5:00 pm come on down and support the Scrubs.
I am thinking about trying to organize a half way to St Pattys day party for Wednesday September 17th...would anyone be interested in that?? Dressing in green and getting your drink/drank/drunk on?? If so email me at drinking4fun@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Celtics Schedule has been released
Regular Season - October 2008 #
1 Tuesday, October 28 Cleveland Cavaliers 8:00 p.m.
2 Friday, October 31 Chicago Bulls 8:00 p.m.
November 2008
3 Saturday, November 1 @ Indiana Pacers 7:00 p.m.
4 Tuesday, November 4 @ Houston Rockets 8:30 p.m.
5 Wednesday, November 5 @ Oklahoma City 8:00 p.m.
6 Friday, November 7 Milwaukee Bucks 7:30 p.m.
7 Sunday, November 9 @ Detroit Pistons 6:00 p.m.
8 Monday, November 10 Toronto Raptors 7:30 p.m.
9 Wednesday, November 12 Atlanta Hawks 7:30 p.m.
10 Friday, November 14 Denver Nuggets 8:00 p.m.
11 Saturday, November 15 @ Milwaukee Bucks 8:30 p.m.
12 Tuesday, November 18 New York Knicks 7:30 p.m.
13 Thursday, November 20 Detroit Pistons 8:00 p.m.
14 Friday, November 21 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 p.m.
15 Sunday, November 23 @ Toronto Raptors 12:30 p.m.
16 Wednesday, November 26 Golden State Warriors 7:30 p.m.
17 Friday, November 28 Philadelphia 76ers 7:30 p.m.
18 Saturday, November 29 @ Charlotte Bobcats 7:00 p.m.
December 2008
19 Monday, December 1 Orlando Magic 7:30 p.m.
20 Wednesday, December 3 Indiana Pacers 7:30 p.m.
21 Friday, December 5 Portland TrailBlazers 8:00 p.m.
22 Sunday, December 7 @ Indiana Pacers 6:00 p.m.
23 Thursday, December 11 @ Washington Wizards 8:00 p.m.
24 Friday, December 12 New Orleans Hornets 8:00 p.m.
25 Monday, December 15 Utah Jazz 7:30 p.m.
26 Wednesday, December 17 @ Atlanta Hawks 7:00 p.m.
27 Friday, December 19 Chicago Bulls 7:30 p.m.
28 Sunday, December 21 New York Knicks 6:00 p.m.
29 Tuesday, December 23 Philadelphia 76ers 7:30 p.m.
30 Thursday, December 25 @ Los Angeles Lakers 5:00 p.m.
31 Friday, December 26 @ Golden State Warriors 10:30 p.m.
32 Sunday, December 28 @ Sacramento Kings 9:00 p.m.
33 Tuesday, December 30 @ Portland TrailBlazers 10:00 p.m.
January 2009
34 Friday, January 2 Washington Wizards 7:30 p.m.
35 Sunday, January 4 @ New York Knicks 6:00 p.m.
36 Tuesday, January 6 @ Charlotte Bobcats 7:00 p.m.
37 Wednesday, January 7 Houston Rockets 7:30 p.m.
38 Friday, January 9 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 8:00 p.m.
39 Sunday, January 11 @ Toronto Raptors 12:30 p.m.
40 Monday, January 12 Toronto Raptors 7:30 p.m.
41 Wednesday, January 14 New Jersey Nets 7:30 p.m.
42 Saturday, January 17 @ New Jersey Nets 1:00 p.m.
43 Monday, January 19 Phoenix Suns 8:00 p.m.
44 Wednesday, January 21 @ Miami Heat 7:30 p.m.
45 Thursday, January 22 @ Orlando Magic 8:00 p.m.
46 Sunday, January 25 Dallas Mavericks 1:00 p.m.
47 Wednesday, January 28 Sacramento Kings 7:30 p.m.
48 Friday, January 30 @ Detroit Pistons 7:00 p.m.
February 2009
49 Sunday, February 1 Minnesota Timberwolves 12:00 p.m.
50 Tuesday, February 3 @ Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 p.m.
51 Thursday, February 5 Los Angeles Lakers 8:00 p.m.
52 Friday, February 6 @ New York Knicks 7:30 p.m.
53 Sunday, February 8 San Antonio Spurs 1:00 p.m.
54 Wednesday, February 11 @ New Orleans Hornets 8:00 p.m.
55 Thursday, February 12 @ Dallas Mavericks 9:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 13-16 NBA All-Star @ Phoenix, AZ
56 Thursday, February 19 @ Utah Jazz 10:30 p.m.
57 Sunday, February 22 @ Phoenix Suns 2:30 p.m.
58 Monday, February 23 @ Denver Nuggets 9:00 p.m.
59 Wednesday, February 25 @ Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 p.m.
60 Friday, February 27 Indiana Pacers 7:30 p.m.
March 2009
61 Sunday, March 1 Detroit Pistons 1:00 p.m.
62 Wednesday, March 4 @ New Jersey Nets 7:30 p.m.
63 Friday, March 6 Cleveland Cavaliers 8:00 p.m.
64 Sunday, March 8 Orlando Magic 1:00 p.m.
65 Wednesday, March 11 @ Miami Heat 7:30 p.m.
66 Friday, March 13 Memphis Grizzlies 7:30 p.m.
67 Sunday, March 15 @ Milwaukee Bucks 1:00 p.m.
68 Tuesday, March 17 @ Chicago Bulls 8:30 p.m.
69 Wednesday, March 18 Miami Heat 7:00 p.m.
70 Friday, March 20 @ San Antonio Spurs 8:30 p.m.
71 Saturday, March 21 @ Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 p.m.
72 Monday, March 23 Los Angeles Clippers 7:30 p.m.
73 Wednesday, March 25 @ Orlando Magic 8:00 p.m.
74 Friday, March 27 @ Atlanta Hawks 7:30 p.m.
75 Sunday, March 29 Oklahoma City 7:00 p.m.
April 2009
76 Wednesday, April 1 Charlotte Bobcats 7:30 p.m.
77 Friday, April 3 Atlanta Hawks 7:30 p.m.
78 Wednesday, April 8 New Jersey Nets 7:30 p.m.
79 Friday, April 10 Miami Heat 7:30 p.m.
80 Sunday, April 12 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 3:30 p.m.
81 Tuesday, April 14 @ Philadelphia 76ers 8:00 p.m.
82 Wednesday, April 15 Washington Wizards 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
NINJAS
EagleTribune.com - — Two men dressed like ninjas busted their way into a local pharmacy early this morning and "with military precision" made off with a large amount of drugs in less than two minutes, said police Lt. Paul Gallagher. The two men dressed all in black with their faces covered used sledgehammers to break through a door at Walgreen's, 800 Waverly Road, about 12:38 a.m. A worker hid while the two men used crow bars to break open the store's drug lockers, police said.
Good News...Schlitz is back
MILWAUKEE - It's the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Now Schlitz is making the city nostalgic.
That beer with the old-time mystique is back on shelves in bottles of its original formula in the city where it was first brewed more than a century and a half ago.
Schlitz was the top-selling beer for much of the first half of the 20th century. But recipe changes and a series of snafus made the beer — in many a drinker's opinion — undrinkable, turning what was once the world's most popular brew into little more than a joke.
But after decades of dormancy, the beer is back.
Schlitz' owner, Pabst Brewing Co., is recreating the old formula, using notes and interviews with old brew masters to concoct the pilsner again. The maker of another nostalgic favorite, Pabst Blue Ribbon, it hopes baby boomers will reach for the drink of their youth, otherwise known as "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous." They also want to create a following among younger drinkers who want to know what grandma and grandpa drank.
"We believe that Schlitz is if not the, one of most iconic brands of the 20th century," said Kevin Kotecki, president of Pabst Brewing Co., which bought the brand that dates to 1849 from Stroh's in 1999. "And there's still a lot of people who have very positive, residual memories about their experience. For many of them it was the first beer they drank and we wanted to give it back to those consumers."
In Milwaukee, the comeback is creating a buzz. Stores are depleted of their stock within days, they're taking names for waiting lists and limiting customers to just a few six- or 12-packs each.
People like Leonard Jurgensen say the beer reminds them of better days. The 67-year-old, who grew up on the edge of the brewery downtown, said decades ago it seemed that everyone in the city either worked for the brewery or knew someone who did. If there was a special occasion, you drank Schlitz. Jurgensen had it on his wedding day 45 years ago.'
"For many years the product was associated with happy times, especially to people my age," said Jurgensen, who's writing a book on Milwaukee's breweries. "As we all know, the world is not the best it can be today. We used to think those were hard times and when we look back on them, those were the good old days."
Schlitz' comeback has been slow, just like its fall from the top. It was tested in a few markets and is available in Minneapolis, Chicago and western Florida, besides Milwaukee.
Its ties to the city are deep. Schlitz began its life at a brewery founded by August Krug in 1849. Joseph Schlitz took over and opened the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. several years later.
Nostalgia could prove a driving factor in sales, Kotecki said. Pabst is certainly using it in its marketing, reusing its '60s-era advertisements urging drinkers to "Go For the Gusto" and simple maroon and gold packaging, marked with fanciful script.
The Woodridge, Ill.-based company wants the brew to go national but is taking a slow approach, reintroducing it first in places like the Midwest where the beer was popular.
Hearing from Schlitz-thirsty consumers prompted Pabst to revive the brand, Kotecki said. A malt-liquor form of Schlitz has been available for years in cans. But fans say it's not the same.
The brew became a top-seller, Jurgensen said, after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 wiped out its competitors. It was the world's best-selling beer from 1903 until Prohibition in 1920, and regained the crown in 1934 until the mid-1950s. That's when a strike by Milwaukee brewery workers interrupted production and made way for others, like St. Louis' Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., to eat into Schlitz' market share. That company, which makes Budweiser and Bud Light, has held the top spot to this day.
Before it vanished, the beer changed — for the worse. According to Jurgensen, considered by Pabst to be the foremost "Schlitzstorian": First, brewery control shifted from immediate family members to more distant relatives, who wanted to expand the business. With demand high, the new owners wanted to make more, so they shortened the fermenting process. And they let customers know it through heavy marketing. There were also quality control issues for barley, so the beer went flat quickly. Customers associated the flatness with the quickened brewing time, and they weren't pleased. To fix the flat problem, the brewers added a seaweed extract to give the beer some foam and fizz. But after sitting on the shelf for three or four months, the extract turned into a solid, meaning drinkers got chunky mouthfuls.
And then, the biggest of errors.
"They decided not to pull their product off the shelf," Jurgensen said. "They decided to weather the storm and sell that product. That's the worst possible mistake they could have made."
Floaters? Flat beer? It was all too much for drinkers to swallow.
And by 1981 the Schlitz brewery closed. The owners sold the brand to the Stroh Brewery Co. in Detroit in 1982, which eventually sold some of its lines to Pabst.
The Schlitz revival is bittersweet for the former brewing capital of the U.S., which has seen its heritage slip away.
Beer was once brewed at about 100 places in Milwaukee, Jurgensen said. The city was home to names like Pabst, Blatz and Miller Brewing. Those first two are long gone, their former breweries now an abandoned site awaiting redevelopment and a condo complex.
And Miller is leaving too. This summer it became MillerCoors LLC in a joint venture with Molson Coors Brewing Co. The headquarters will move about 90 miles south to Chicago, though Miller says it'll keep jobs and breweries in Milwaukee.
Miller, coincidentally, brews Schlitz for Pabst under a contract at its east coast facilities. Kotecki said he hopes to eventually have the brand brewed back in Milwaukee, once some changes at breweries in the city are made.
Kotecki wouldn't disclose sales figures for Schlitz but said they are considerably smaller than for the company's top-seller, Pabst Blue Ribbon. In Milwaukee, it's at about 75 locations, including bars and liquor stores, though that'll grow when more is made.
John Thielmann, 55, of Milwaukee, says his first sip of the new Schlitz sent him back decades. He remembered being a teenager — drinking underage, he noted — spending summers with family on Druid Lake, about an hour from Milwaukee.
But when the formula changed, he started getting headaches after two or three sips, so he stopped drinking Schlitz.
Thielmann, who works at a liquor store in suburban Elm Grove, said he was confident the new formula wouldn't fail him. He figured Pabst had put in enough effort that they'd get the old formula back.
They did.
"That first sip was like 'I remember this. This is right,'" he said.
Schlitz Through the years
A look at the history of Schlitz beer:
1849: German immigrant August Krug opens a small restaurant and tavern in Milwaukee, begins to brew beer and turns it into a brewery.
1850: Joseph A. Schlitz, 20, immigrates from Germany and works for Krug as a bookkeeper.
1856: Krug dies, leaving no offspring, and Schlitz takes over management of the brewery.
1858: Schlitz marries Krug's widow, Ann Marie.
1861: The brewery is renamed the Joseph Schlitz Brewery. Schlitz runs it with Krug's four nephews, the Uihlein brothers.
1871: The Great Chicago Fire destroys many of that city's breweries, giving Schlitz an opening to expand his business.
1875: Schlitz travels to Germany and is presumed dead when his ship sinks in a storm. Since he had no children with Krug's widow, the Uihlein brothers take over the brewery.
1893: The company introduces the slogan "The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous."
1902: Schlitz surpasses Pabst as the world's best-selling beer after selling 1 million barrels that year.
1912: Schlitz bottles its beer in brown bottles, marking the first time a brewer does so. The dark color prevents light from spoiling the beer.
1920: Prohibition begins. The brewery makes soda, malt syrup and candy. It survives because the Uihlein brothers have extensive real estate holdings.
1934: Prohibition ends, Schlitz resumes production and retakes No. 1 sales spot.
1953: Strike by Milwaukee brewery workers hurts brewers like Pabst, Blatz and Schlitz, which lose market share to rivals such as Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. of St. Louis.
1954: Schlitz briefly rebounds to again be the world's best-selling beer.
1955: Anheuser-Busch takes over the top spot, which it still holds.
1975: Immediate family management of Schlitz ends and distant relatives and outsiders take over the operation.
Mid-to-late 1970s: Schlitz still sells well, so the new owners try to make more by shortening the fermenting process. But the beer has no foam and is flat, so managers add a seaweed extract. But that turns solid after sitting in bottles for a few months. Schlitz sales fall and the old formula is gone.
1981: Production of Schlitz ends in Milwaukee when workers strike.
1982: Detroit's Stroh Brewery Co. acquires Schlitz and sells off many of Schlitz's plants to pay for the acquisition. It focuses on promoting Schlitz' secondary brand, Old Milwaukee.
1999: Pabst Brewing Co. buys Schlitz from Stroh.
2008: Schlitz reintroduces the classic formula.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sooooooooo
1. The won our softball game yesterday 15-5. Finished the season 4-4!! Thanks to Jean for showing up, Kristine for legging out that grounder that hit her in the hand, Mikey T for hitting that bomb to right, Erv for hitting the monster shot to left and everyone else for playing hard. Bring on the playoffs.
2. UFC 87 this weekend. We will be going to Coops Saturday night to watch it. All are welcomed!
3. I am really digging this Jason Bay guy. He looks like he really loves to play baseball. I am not going to sit here and say he can replace Mannys production but I think he can contribute both this year and next. Maybe with some quality players around him he can bat .300 hit 35 Hrs and drive in 100 RBIS. I mean is that too much to ask??
4. Thank god there is some movement towards closure in the Brett Favre fiasco. I personally hope he gets traded, maybe KC as a dark horse?
5. 36 Days till we(Mike, Chrissy and I) visit Pittsburgh for our annual baseball trip. I will let Brandon Moss know we miss him. Oh and the Polar bears at the zoo too!!
6. TIC TAC SHOTS ARE THE SHIT!! Or as some bars call them...O Bombs. Whatever you want to call them they fucking rule and maybe should be illegal. I like them more than a car bomb and EVERYONE KNOWS I LOVE CARBOMBS!!! DRINK UP BITCHES!!
7. Batman made another 43.8 Million this weekend. Beat the Mummy movie(which I think looks pretty campy and super lame). The DARK FUCKING KNIGHT KICKS ASS!
8. Fantasy football is starting soon but not soon enough.
I guess an 8 item list is an ok way to start the week.
Friday, August 1, 2008
A POEM TO GET US THROUGH THE NIGHT!!
T’was the night before August and all through the Nation
the fans on their feet in a standing ovation
Ramirez -- the baby -- is off to L.A.
So who is this guy they call Jason Bay?
He bats from the right and throws that way too
And produces the home runs; he has 22
Will he ever be Manny? “Not a chance” might be true
But when he hits his first homah, we’ll all say “Manny who?”
He’ll protect our Big Papi and with Mike at his back
He’ll make up for what with Ramirez we lack:
Good defense in left field, base-running skill too
And he’ll run out the grounders unlike you-know-who
If you look at the stats, Bay’s a star on the rise
While Manny – his stature – is shrinking in size
Just look at the stats. Can you guess who is who?
AVG. HR RBI OBP SLG
Player 1: .282 22 64 .375 .519
Player 2: .299 20 68 .398 .529
(I’ll give you a hint: Good-Bye Player 2!)
With the A’s due in town, get the offense on track!
But will Papi and Bay will be a formidable attack?
At the end of the day brings an unnerving truth:
Yes, Papi and Manny were like Gehrig/Ruth
So here’s some advice from a local Sox fan
Please try to get it right if you can:
Say “Wall”; not “Green Monster”
Pronounce “Pahk” with no “R”
Produce like you’ve been doing and you’ll be a star.
The “bleachers” are in right field
Pesky’s Pole’s “down the line”
Say “I hate the Yankees” and you’ll fit in just fine.
By the way Red Sox Nation, raise your glass in a toast
Pay homage to an old friend who’s on the West Coast
He’s a friend of the Nation and a really good sport:
Thank you, thank you, oh thank you dear old friend Frank McCourt
So we hope for the best as the day turns to night
I’ll just finish my poem and turn out the light
But as I try to sleep, I turn and I toss
Jason Bay for Ramirez, Hansen, and Moss?
Did we make the right choice? Did we give up too much?
Will Jason Bay ever hit in the clutch?
I find I can’t sleep and I sit up in fright
I know Manny was wrong; God I hope Theo’s right.
But what about Manny? How hard will he play
Now playing with Nomar and Lowe in L.A?
I promise you this, there’s more to his story
As you head off to bed, say a prayer for Joe Torre!
Go Sox!!!
Why am I so Hungry
The Luther Vandross sandwich...
You know, I really hadn't planned on writing about food this week , but when you find a story like this (thanks to alchemist from Ye Olde Comments Section), you kinda have to run with it. Basically, Luther Vandross has his own sandwich.
Not that it surprises me that Luther Vandross would have his own sandwich - I mean, obviously the man enjoyed his fair share of them in his day - but it's the contents of said sandwich that got me. I don't even know if I'd eat one of these things, and I eat all kinds of shit. No, but Luther Vandross has a sandwich that's basically a big motherfucking bacon cheeseburger on a bun made out of a Krispy Kreme donut.
Word on the Internets (which is actually true according to Snopes), is that the deeply closeted Vandross, or Big Luther as he's called in the hood, came up with the Luther Burger one night when he was no doubt looking to fight back the urge to let loose his inner Sylvester by gorging himself on a big gob of grease-laden, cheese-covered meat and realized he had no bread in the house. Rather than run down to the local grocery store, which would have required excersize, he instead reached for what he considered the next best thing: A Krispy Kreme donut.
After the fold is a recipe for the Luther Burger and an actual picture of the thing. I have to warn you though, it's pretty fucking gross. And this is coming from somebody who's had the Monster Thickburger for breakfast.
The Luther Burger
via International Recipes Online
1 Krispy Kreme doughnut ( glazed yeast risen doughnut )
1 hamburger
1 slice of cheese
2 strips cooked bacon
condiments as desired
Try this the next time you make burgers. This food fad is popular in the South. The sweetness and texture of the doughnut plus the taste of the beef and savory taste of the cheese and bacon all contribute to its popularity.
For each serving:
Slice the doughnut, top with a grilled hamburger, add a slice of cheese and cooked bacon and top with remaining doughnut half.
Grill on both sides Serve immediately.
And so it begins
30 Things about Jason Bay:
- Full name: Jason Raymond Bay. He'll turn 30 on Sept. 20. He's 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and was born in Trail, B.C., Canada (population 7,237).
- He and his wife, Kristen, have one daughter, Addison, who will turn 2 in November.
- His sister, Lauren, is a professional softball player who pitched for Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- He is reportedly friends with fellow Trail native and Edmonton Oilers center Shawn Horcoff, and hails from the same town as St. Louis Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman and 408-goal-scorer Ray Ferraro.
- He played hockey as a youngster, but quit in favor of baseball. Like many Canadian ballplayers, he grew up idolizing Larry Walker, also a B.C. native. He rooted for the Mariners as a kid. He was a member of the 1990 Trail Little League team that represented Canada in the Little League World Series.
- He played two years at Gonzaga, earning first-team All-West Coast Conference honors as a junior and senior. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 22nd round, 2000.
- New England connection: He started playing for the Vermont Expos of the New York-Penn League and played two seasons ('99, 2000) for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League.
- He spent time in A-ball in 2002, hitting for average and power. He was dealt in March of that year to the Mets, who flipped him to the Padres for reliever Steve Reed at the 2002 trade deadline.
- He made his MLB debut May 23, 2003. His first big-league hit was a ninth-inning homer off of Arizona reliever (and future Red Sox reliever) Matt Mantei.
- An Elmer Dessens pitch fractured his wrist two days later and was sent to the minors for rehab.
- He was a teammate of former Sox infielder and current NESN studio analyst Lou Merloni on the 2003 Padres.
- In August 2003, he was traded with Oliver Perez and Cory Stewart to the Pirates for Brian Giles. He finished the year with a .287 average, 4 homers and 13 RBI in 87 at-bats. He reached base safely in his final 14 games, though he was bothered by a torn right labrum that required offseason surgery.
- After the 2003 season, he signed a one-year, $305,000 contract with Pittsburgh. He rehabbed in the minors until May, then recovered in time to have a breakout season. He hit .282 with 26 homers (a Pirates rookie record) and 82 RBIs that season and was a runaway choice for the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year, the first Pirate to win the award. He had little protection in the lineup, and the Pirates won 72 games.
- Despite the lack of talent around him, Bay had a monster 2005, hitting .306 with 32 homers, 101 RBIs, 44 doubles, 110 runs and 21 steals, leading the Pirates in every major offensive category. Statistically, it was one of the best seasons in Pirates history.
- That summer, he was selected to his first All-Star squad, but was the only player on either roster not to appear in the game. He did appear in the Home Run Derby, but didn't last long -- he produced 0 home runs in the first round. "I think a lot of people felt bad for me," he later told ESPN.com about his Derby doughnut. "But the bottom line is I just stunk."
- He finished third in voting for Canada's Male Athlete of the Year in 2005, behind Steve Nash and Sidney Crosby.
- He signed a four-year, $18.25-million extension in November 2005, receiving a one-year signing bonus. The deal paid him $750,000 in 2006, $3.25 million in 2006, $5.75 million in 2008 and $7.5 million next season. His agent is Joe Urbon, of Octagon Baseball, who played baseball professionally in the Phillies organization and who also represents Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore.
- In 2006, he established career-highs in homers (35) and RBIs (109), hitting in a lineup with current Sox first baseman Sean Casey. He hit 10 homers in a 10-games span in May and had 20 bombs at the All-Star break.
- He rode the hometown vote to the 2006 All-Star Game, held in Pittsburgh. The Pirates staged an aggressive marketing campaign to get Bay votes, and Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder urged fans to vote for Bay during a late June concert at Mellon Arena. Bay was sheepish about the publicity, saying that the attention was "very flattering. I never would imagine I'd be in this position with the names that are out there." He went 1 for 3 in the All-Star Game. He declined to appear in the Derby.
- He was troubled by knee problems all season, usually icing it after games. In late November, he had a quick, 10-minute arthroscopic procedure to relieve irritation in his right knee (he walked out of the hospital).
- In 2006, he represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic, leading his team to opening-round wins over South Africa and the US before they were crushed by Mexico.
- Last season, he again led the struggling Pirates by hitting 21 homers and driving in 84 runs. He shared the team lead in homers with Adam LaRoche, the brother of then-Dodgers third baseman Andy LaRoche, who went to the Pirates in today's deal. He played in 15 of Pittsburgh's 28 games in September due to tendinitis in his right knee.
- He made 142 starts in left field and despite an average (at best) arm, Bay ranked third among NL outfielders with a career-high 13 assists. Manny Ramirez had 8 assists in 2007.
- In addition to left, Bay has played center field in the past. He spent time DH'ing in the minors.
- He strikes out more than the average hitter, averaging 153 whiffs over a 162-game season. He is on pace for 130 this season. He averages 84 walks per 162 games, with a high of 102 in 2006.
- He's not exceptionally fast, but is an intelligent base runner -- his steal-to-caught stealing ratio is 50-11 for his career (caught four times over the past four years).
- This season, Bay is batting .282 with 22 homers and 64 RBIs while playing in all but two of the Pirates' games.
- Super important stats: Bay is hitting .421 lifetime (8-19) against Andy Pettitte, .429 (3-7) against Mike Mussina and .500 (1-2) against Joba Chamberlain.
- He wore No. 38 for the Pirates and No. 2 for the Padres. Curt Schilling said today he would give up his No. 38 -- for a fee, which would go to Schilling's Curt's Pitch charity.