Friday, December 30, 2011

yet another college bowl game

There are so many college bowl games, that I'm sure a lot of fans have wondered to themselves which other ones would eventually pop up. It used to be a lot simpler: the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, and a few others that might have been familiar to most folks. But now, there are so many, anyone would be hard-pressed to name them all.

Just to get it out of the way and off of my chest, here's one prospective idea that I find amusing:

The American Standard Toilet Bowl


ha ha ha! (probably an old idea, but still)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

long-term implications of beating the Rams...

The 49ers finish the regular season by playing against the St. Louis Rams this Sunday. Every 49er fan knows that in order to secure the 2nd seed in this year's playoffs, they either need to defeat the Rams, or the New Orleans Saints need to lose their final game. Getting the 2nd seed would give the Niners a first-round bye and home field advantage in their divisional game.

So beating the Rams would be all good, right? Perhaps not!

There could be bad consequences for years to come. Here's what I mean: the Rams are still in contention to 'win' the Andrew Luck sweepstakes against the Indianapolis Colts. They both have two wins this season so far, and one of the two will likely end up with the 1st pick of next year's draft. And all agree that Stanford QB Andrew Luck will be that first pick. What if the Colts win their game? Then wouldn't there be a negative to the 49ers beating the Rams, thereby qualifying the Rams for the top pick (Andrew Luck) in the 2012 NFL Draft?

Yes, the Rams already have Sam Bradford as their quarterback. But with the team's struggles this year, they just may be open to the idea of drafting Luck anyway. Maybe there would be competition for the QB position next season, or, the Rams could draft Luck and trade away Bradford. Should the Rams draft first overall, they may also trade away the pick and end up with a whole boatload of picks and what-not in exchange, which could always be a possibility. But I am more concerned about the long-term chances that Luck could end up haunting the 49ers for years to come, as the Rams, after all, are their NFC West rivals.

Just thought I'd mention it. Please correct me if I got my notions all twisted. To make it simpler, I guess I should just root for the Colts to lose, and think it wouldn't be so bad if they got Luck to follow future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Then, at least, he'd be in an entirely different conference.

Monday, December 26, 2011

game 15 - 49ers vs. Seahawks

Down to the wire.

That was a satisfying victory. It was on the road against a hot team in a loud stadium with a playoff-type atmosphere. It could have been the perfect storm but the 49ers pulled out a win. It was good for the long run when the playoffs start and it had me on the edge of my seat, but a nice runaway win would be good every now and then too...

What was of equal importance was the health of the players coming out of the game: how are Delanie Walker and Kyle Williams doing? I heard on the radio that they both may be back in time for the playoffs, which would be fantastic. As a testament to how extraordinarily tough these athletes are, even with a fractured jaw which has been wired shut (actually I don't know the extent of the injury), Delanie could still play in a few weeks. It's been done before by a player named Anquan Boldin. Delanie is such a key cog in making the Niner offense work.

And the Kyle Williams injury. I'm sorry, but he looked like a sacrificial lamb when he got hit. If ever there was a good rule being forced correctly by the NFL, that was it. He totally gave himself up and acted like the play was over and he was kneeling on the ground. To be hit by two guys from opposite sides, both in the head area, he's lucky he didn't get killed. Literally killed. Wasn't one of the 'hit men' a teammate of Kyle's last year? All he had to be was touched down, and if the Seahawks were going after the ball, they could have reached more for the ball. Brutal. Thank goodness Kyle looks to be recovered or is at least recovering.

Kudos to Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree for that clutch completion on the game winning field goal drive, and also to Larry Grant for pulling a 'Justin Smith' and causing that fumble to help seal the victory. Besides overall winning football, it's those key plays that add up to victory.

And one final note to this blog entry: Aldon Smith needs just one more sack to break the rookie sack record - here's hoping he gets at least two!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

game 14 - Steelers vs. 49ers

Good game. A win. Yes, a great game!

The blackout? I'm just glad that the crowd remained calm amidst what could have led to some very fearful thoughts, especially in today's climate. Kudos to the people who worked to get it all working again, and the game fully played. Thank goodness nobody got hurt, particularly during the original outage... it looked like quite a jolt of electricity preceded the stadium going dark.

There was much to like for 49ers fans in last night's game: the non-paralleled kicking game; the offensive line's performance against the vaunted Pittsburgh defense; efficiency by the offense, including some nice scores in the RED-zone!; and another shutdown game by the record-setting 49er defense.

And the first name that comes to mind? His name is Smith. A. Smith. Okay, Aldon Smith. I remember back to the lead-up to this year's draft. If the 49ers missed out on CB Patrick Peterson, then they should select the next most highly touted cornerback, Prince Amukamara. Fans really, really wanted Peterson, who's turned out very, very good. And if the Niners hadn't played so hard to actually WIN at the end of the season, they might have picked before the Arizona Cardinals and had a chance to draft him before they did.

Well, the 49ers ended up picking Aldon Smith instead, to bolster their pass rush. Working out pretty good, isn't it? The team has needed his abilities and production rushing the passer more than what they would have gotten in coverage. Smith's got the most sacks ever by a 49er rookie. And there are still two games to play. He may well end up breaking the NFL rookie sack record. And he's doing much more than producing sacks. He's creating turnovers and generating overall havoc too. He's the Cobra!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Spam on pizza?

Yes, I'm serious!

I happen to like Spam. The most I have in common with Hawaiians, I suppose, is my penchant for Spam. Spam, eggs, and rice... I could really go for that.

So for the last couple of weeks, the thought occurred to me that Spam on pizza would be delicious. And in what must be the power of thought, lo and behold there was an article in this past weekend's newspaper about a town in Minnesota that has the Spam museum. It's near where the headquarters for Hormel is located, and the town itself celebrates the tasty spiced ham product in general.

In the article, the writer mentions different eating establishments that have Spam on the menu, and there is actually a pizza place that serves it as a topping option. The most popular combination also includes pineapple, which makes sense; it's essentially a Hawaiian pizza with Spam instead of Canadian bacon. Sounds good to me!

Now, the writer seems to have some misgivings about the ingredient - obviously someone who doesn't already have a love for it. The Spam itself seems to have been cubed, thereby leaving it a bit spongy for the writer's taste. In my imaginings before the article, I was wondering myself how I would cut the pieces to best work on pizza. What I had decided was that thinly sliced strips, 1" x 2" in dimension, seemed about right. Diced cubes, I agree, may not be the best choice. Of course, experimenting with different cuts would be the best way to go until the best 'bite' was achieved.

Instead of thinking a local pizza place that served Spam as a topping into existence, I should probably just bake one myself. I could use a ready-made pizza crust like Boboli, get the mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, pineapple cubes, and naturally, the ingredient of the day, Spam. And add other ingredients to taste. Yeah!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

game 13 - 49ers vs. Cardinals

His name?

Frederick P. Soft, Esquire


According to Coach Harbaugh, Soft is a 4-inch tall guy who stands on the shoulders of people that are doing everything right and works on convincing them that they ought to ease up and take it easy: "Don't work so hard. You've already got it made in the shade!" I can imagine Soft saying.

Well, the 49ers don't; they've only qualified to play in the playoffs, and that's it. There's a long, long ways to go, with many areas in which to improve. Remember guys, touchdowns are better than field goals. More than two times better, in fact. I mean, if you are confident that your kicker can make a field goal, then he can surely make an extra point. 7 points vs. 3 points. Got it?

Not to take anything away from the Cardinals, who are playing much better than their W - L record indicates... it was a tough game. And the 49ers fought hard, I know that. They lost by only 2 points. But they will have to play much better if they want to go very far in the playoffs, and now in the regular season to make their postseason easier.

Is Freddie P. Soft necessarily a lawyer? No - he just strikes me as the lawyerly type. Someone with the gift of gab that either uses it for good or for evil. Soft uses it for evil. Hey, Freddie, how about getting into the ears of the Packers??

Monday, December 5, 2011

game 12 - Rams vs. 49ers

142.3

Now that's a number I can live with!!! That was Alex Smith's quarterback rating in yesterday's victory over the St. Louis Rams, the highest of his career. I know, I know, numbers and statistics can be misleading, but he did play a very good game yesterday. What was really satisfying were the accuracy of his passes, which speaks of his confidence this season. It'd be easy to wonder what if he came into this very system with these same coaches the year he was drafted... but they weren't coaching the 49ers back then anyway, and things happen for a reason (or so they say). But isn't it a feel-good story? Comeback Player of the Year, perhaps?

Many of his passes were so spot-on, they made me think of the best of the best in the NFL today: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. Nestled in there perfectly, perfect arc, perfect speed, perfect anticipation and location. And what's perhaps even more exciting is he still seems to be improving each and every week! And really, he's still young enough where he could almost be thought of to be just starting out in the league. Right system, right circumstances, right team... How much better can he get? I can't wait to see. The best is yet to come.

********

Now I mentioned wide receiver Kyle Williams in a previous game entry; I'd like to give a shout-out to Michael Crabtree today. I happen to like his attitude and demeanor. He seems both humble and team-oriented to me. Yes, his career with the team got off to a rocky start with the hold-out and missing pre-season games. And I've heard he has a thing for fashion and shoes (I mean really); no matter though - I happen to like how he comes across in interviews. He appears soft-spoken and positive. Of course, what is most important to fans like me is he has good hands, runs crisp routes, is good at avoiding tackles, blocks downfield, and the West Coast offense fits his abilities to a 'T'. All these positive vibes emanating from the Niners this season are blossoming everywhere!

Friday, November 25, 2011

game 11 - 49ers vs. Ravens

I've read or heard some of the quotes given by the 49ers, from head coach to players, after yesterday's loss, and they have the right attitude: they'll just have to come back stronger and better.

As expected, yesterday's game was a smash-mouth, in-the-trenches affair, and if that's what you're into, then it didn't disappoint. Me, I prefer more offensive fireworks by the 49ers, but it was not to be. Still, I'm glad it was a regular season game and not an elimination game in the playoffs. It will give the 49ers a chance to remedy what needs to be worked on before they play their remaining games.

For all the disappointment in the loss, fans have to remember where the 49ers are coming from: a 6 - 10 record last season and no playoff appearances for many, many years. Now, they have a coaching staff that is actually taking the team places and instilling a winning culture! They're 9 - 2 for gosh sakes. And it would be wise to recall that even during the Super Bowl championship years, there were regular season losses, games in which the team didn't look like they had to take to win it all. But win it all they did.

Time will tell with this team.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

fancy chef-speak

I enjoy watching cooking competition shows, especially 'Top Chef' and 'The Next Food Network Star.'

One thing I find amusing is the haughty vocabulary that chefs often use.

For example, here is a phrase as a chef might say it:

"Are you done with the mise en place on the hericot verts for the amuse-bouche?"

Translation: "Are you done cutting the green beans for the appetizers?"


And another thing: what's with all the tattoos? Geeez.

Monday, November 21, 2011

game 10 - Cardinals vs. 49ers

Prior to yesterday's game, I had read that field-goal kicker David Akers was on pace to break Jerry Rice's 49er single season record for points scored, to which my immediate reaction was: "I hope not!!!" It's not because I have anything against David Akers, nor is it because I never want to see one of Jerry Rice's records broken by another 49er. It's because the 49ers shouldn't be settling for so many field goals. Ideally, he should be kicking PATs instead of field goals every time. Which would amount to a single point attributed to the field-goal kicker, not three. I'd say four or five (at least) PATs per game would be just about right. I'm all for comfortable three score victories.

This past game might be a poor example to use to bring that up being that Akers was only 3 for 6 in field goal attempts; however it is as much the entire field goal kicking unit that should be held accountable for the bad showing as it is the kicker. Akers missed one wide-right, but that was on a 49-yard attempt, pretty long and not exactly a chip shot, and the other two were blocked. Although special teams play has been exemplary in previous games, yesterday let the team know that there are still many things to be ironed out if they want to be the best in the league. Fortunately, they won the game in spite of the missed field goals and lack of touchdown drives that would have been much better than field goal attempts in the first place.

Another thing that came to light was the productivity of wide receiver Kyle Williams. He's about the same size as New England Patriots slot receiver Wesley Welker, and many people were comparing Williams to Welker when the Niners drafted Williams last year. I certainly was envisioning Williams becoming the 49ers version of Welker: quick, fast, elusive, great hands, tough. And before yesterday's game, I was wondering what the Niners needed to do to make that part of their arsenal. Was it the game-planning? Did Alex Smith and Williams need to develop more chemistry together? Was it just a matter of getting the opportunity, such as more three receiver sets? Before the terrible loss of Joshua Morgan for the rest of the season in the game against Tampa Bay, I wondered if Williams would even have much opportunity to show what he can do. But he's the next man up now, so let's start developing our own Brady-to-Welker connection! The more weapons the 49ers have for opponents to account for, the better off we'll be!

Oh yeah... yesterday's best play? In my opinion, it was when Vernon Davis scored his touchdown and afterwards hurdled a photographer so as not to hurt anybody. Excellent athleticism and great move! I've seen other players before hit an innocent bystander and immediately pass it off and forget about it as they played to the crowd. What Vernon did was much appreciated not just by the photographer, but by fans like me.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Marian the librarian

I was watching a Music Choice channel not long ago and enjoyed a song by one of my favorite bands, Heart. Besides playing songs, Music Choice also offers little tidbits and factoids about the artists, their songs, albums, and various other trivia to add to the interest of whatever they're playing.

In this case, one of the bits of trivia they showed is that when lead singer Ann Wilson joined the band, Heart was 'an all-male band from British Columbia' or something like that. How I sometimes like to keep myself entertained is I alter information. In this case, instead of 'all-male band,' I substituted 'all-male barbershop quartet.' (!) Then beyond that, I imagined something like: 'At the time, Heart was known mostly for performing in local Vancouver and Seattle-area productions of 'The Music Man' as the Barbershop Quartet (the school board).' If you're familiar with Steve Fossen and Roger Fisher from early Heart, as well as the musical 'The Music Man,' maybe you can picture this in your mind too, although Steve and Roger aren't known for their singing.

Then with this idea still on my mind a few days later, I completed my revisionist history: 'Ann met the other band members when she was cast as Marian the Librarian in one of these productions.' And so I've been imagining young Ann Wilson acting and singing the role made famous by Shirley Jones ever since. Cute and quite good!

Monday, November 14, 2011

game 9 - Giants vs. 49ers

Remember folks, it's a process.

I feel like I need to constantly remind you that it's going to take time for this 49er team to fully realize its potential: new coach, changes to the staff, new game plan, new plays, new direction... and to cite an old and worn cliche - Rome wasn't built in a day.

There are so very many wrinkles yet to install into the game calling and so much practicing yet to do. These players haven't had all that much time together and with the shortened off-season, well, it's a lot to ask for a team to come together and play like a cohesive unit in so relatively short a time.

Now, with all that being said... the Niners are 8 - 1!!!

Point being, if they are this good now and they haven't even begun to tap into what they can ultimately become, then what are we going to do with ourselves? As fans, that is. As for the team, keep pushing to get better. The season is barely half over, and the playoffs are a whole other mountain to climb. But us fans will just have to grin, dance, and bear it!

Monday, November 7, 2011

game 8 - 49ers vs. Redskins

It's all a matter of exceeding expectations, isn't it? Going into this season, the 49ers had no expectations, just anticipation. So simply winning at all was such a thrill. And the post-game celebrations were full of joy. But after yesterday's victory over the Redskins, I heard the 49ers locker room was rather subdued... because now they expect to win and are approaching the rest of this season in a workman-like manner.

I think I wrote this somewhere in this blog in the past, the idea of simply exceeding expectations being almost better than the end result. The example I may have used at the time involved how a figure skater not expected to medal at all and getting the bronze can actually be congratulated and lauded more than the skater whom got the silver, but was expected to get the gold. For the Niners, after almost 10 years of missing the playoffs and pretty much stinking up the gridiron, they are now virtually assumed to be going to the post-season, and with their record of success so far this season, are pretty much expected to go deep into the playoffs. Anything less then playing in the NFC Championship Game will probably be looked at as a disappointment.

No matter how the rest of this season progresses, I hope that I am able to enjoy their raised level of play. Am I thinking lofty thoughts? Sure! Do I have dreams of a sixth Lombardi trophy? Yes, I certainly do! But what's important is how the team is being put together for the long run. If Jim Harbaugh remains the head coach for the next 10 years or more, I'm thinking that obtaining several more Lombardi trophies is awfully realistic. Just as Bill Walsh brought a style of football that the rest of the league had to adjust to, Jim Harbaugh is doing the same now. It's an exciting time to be a 49ers fan and I hope I remember to enjoy it for all that it is, regardless of how far they go this season (Super Bowl victory).

Monday, October 31, 2011

game 7 - Browns vs. 49ers

Winning is fun!

As I write this, I'm listening to people on TV commentating on how yesterday's game and the 49ers aren't fun to watch. Well, after so many years of losing and futility, isn't it enough that the team is winning? As the offense starts to gel even more and schemes get implemented, it will get more exciting. Fewer three-and-outs, fewer punts without gaining at least some valuable field position, fewer drives that end at the opponent's one-yard line without scoring some points. At this point, it's just important that they win... period. Heck, they won by 10 points!

What I saw, and knowing how intellectual and scheme-oriented the coaching staff is, are situations that will serve as means for learning. Sure, the third quarter was largely ineffectual, but I know that they'll learn from it. Not scoring right near the opponent's goal line? Time to implement new ideas! I am so impressed that this year's version of the 49ers keeps improving all the time. And they won - so that's a plus.

Just watching offensive tackle Joe Staley and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga actually catching passes shows that this team is fluid in its play-calling. It's fun imagining that other teams will now have to adjust their coverages to make sure the big linemen are being covered for pass plays. Which will open other things up! And it mustn't be forgotten that tight end Justin Peelle caught a pass too. If the Niners can manage to more-or-less control a game without utilizing tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker for more than blocking, other teams have a LOT to be worried about in the future. I can't wait until San Francisco puts it all together!

And isn't it nice to have both the Defense and the Special Teams playing at such a high level already? ALL the units are playing so well! So many budding stars! If it's true that defense wins championships, then it would appear that the 49ers actually have a shot of going far in the playoffs, if not reaching the Super Bowl. As long as Freddie P. Soft doesn't mess things up.

Looking back at the championship teams during the Bill Walsh and George Seifert years, they didn't win every game. And all their games weren't exciting. It's easy to look back and remember only the great plays and the great wins, but there were tough games that were won in a blue-collar way... just like they're winning some of their games now. If this is how well they're playing in Coach Harbaugh and staff's first seven games, just wait until they've been at it even longer!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

reading is fun

For several months now, I've been using a stationary bicycle to up my fitness level. It's my bicycle propped up on a stand for the purpose of making it a stationary bicycle. I'm not comfortable riding it outside. I'm such a homebody.

It's not necessarily to up my fitness level either, but more specifically in an effort to improve my blood levels. I guess it's helping my health overall though. I'm up to 30 minutes a day.

What's difficult for me is what to do with my mind as I'm peddling. My strength is slowly improving and I've been able to pedal at more strenuous gears, so that's nice. But it's kind of boring. I know, if I rode it outside, that wouldn't be so much of a problem anymore; I'd rather deal with the boredom, thank you.

And how do I do that? By reading! Left to it's own devices, my mind will try to keep me otherwise occupied, then when I check my timer, only about 3 minutes has elapsed. Ugh. But when I read a book, 10-15 minutes has elapsed by the time I check the timer. It'd be even better if I had some sort of bookstand attached to the handlebars so I didn't have to hold the book with my hands, which leaves me in an awkward position which leaves my buttocks kind of sore - but that's getting picky. It's good to have the time pass more quickly... hmmm... however if I did have a stand to hold my book, then I'd probably be willing to go 45 minutes at a time.

In any case, the moral of the story would be that old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun!"

Monday, October 17, 2011

game 6 - 49ers vs. Lions

Whoa! Now that was a good game to watch. Especially since it ended in victory. What was so satisfying about yesterday's game is how much the 49ers had to overcome: a very loud and boisterous Detroit crowd and the subsequent penalties that came with it, an early deficit, and a slow start to the offense which included a turnover on the 49ers' very first play from scrimmage. Heck, it took awhile for the offense just to get their first 1st down of the game. But the Niners persevered throughout and made the key plays when they counted.

What a defense! They came through time and again, front to back. And against a team in the Lions that were undefeated until yesterday. The defensive line puts on the pressure while stopping the run, the linebackers are fast and instinctive, and the secondary is really meshing together. Whereas there were so many question marks entering the season, it looks like all the pieces necessary for winning are there: the right players in the right system with the right coaching staff. It's been a long time waiting to feel this good about the team!

The special teams continue to make a difference. It seems that last year, I had to hold my breath that nothing bad was going to happen during every punt that came to us; now, it's not unusual to have a spectacular return. And thankfully, the Niners kicking game is rock-solid again this year – perhaps the only steady part of the team for years. Always solid snaps, staunch line play, great kicks by our punter along with excellent coverage that make our opponents go the length of the field, and another steady and reliable field goal kicker. Always appreciated.

As for the offense, it's good to learn on the job, improve every week, and still pile up the wins. To complete a perfect pass on the THE play of the game, on 4th down no less with the game on the line and needing a touchdown – pure bliss! Maybe the particles that were part of the Giants' World Series run last year have settled on the 49ers this year... there's a little something in the air.

********

Now for the post-game handshake that shook the world. It's turning out to be the story of the football weekend. It's difficult not to be subjective; Lions fans will feel one way, 49ers fans will feel another, and as for the rest of the fans, perhaps their more objective opinions would give the most perspective. I would like to say that Jim Schwartz's behavior during the game seemed to go beyond proper 'protocol' (his word) during a review of a play red-flagged by Jim Harbaugh. Coach Schwartz's sense of decorum didn't exactly remind anyone of Tom Landry either. Although his voice could hardly be heard above the din of the crowd, Schwartz was shouting some choice words directly at Harbaugh during the replay review by the officials. So maybe what led to the post-game incident actually started a lot earlier.

I'm just saying...

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

the quarterback whisperer

Some have called Jim Harbaugh 'The Quarterback Whisperer.' If Alex Smith's career continues on its current trajectory, that description will seem particularly apt, won't it?

Everyone agrees that having too many good quarterbacks is better than not having enough, although that would mean dealing with the inevitable and dreaded 'quarterback controversy.' Yet I get really excited thinking of the 49ers having a roster full of excellent quarterbacks in the years to come. In addition to Smith, whose stock is rising, there are recent 49ers draft pick Colin Kaepernick, undrafted rookie pickup Scott Tolzien who played exceptionally well against the 49ers this preseason as a member of the San Diego Chargers but is now a Niner, and even the prospect next year of possibly landing former Harbaugh pupil Josh Johnson as a free agent from Tampa Bay. All this without having much of a chance of landing next year's big fish in the draft, quarterback Andrew Luck out of Stanford, Harbaugh's quarterback from his coaching tenure there. I feel so secure having Harbaugh coach all the quarterbacks that are brought to the 49ers. And leading the system being run by Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and the rest of the staff. It's all good... so far.

But getting back to the imagery of 'the quarterback whisperer' motif. I can't draw, but I can imagine. And what I picture is a drawing made by a cartoonist that has the following: on the left panel is a Robert Redford-looking character standing next to a horse with the words 'the horse whisperer' written below it; in the middle panel is a Cesar Millan-looking character standing next to a dog with the words 'the dog whisperer' written below; and finally, in the right panel, is a Jim Harbaugh-looking character wearing a cap with an 'SF' sewn on it standing next to a football player with the number '11' on the front of his jersey, and below, naturally, are the words 'the quarterback whisperer.' Maybe some day, someone who can actually draw will submit this to the newspaper. The season is still young though and we'll see how it unfolds for the young Jedi Smith.

Monday, October 10, 2011

game 5 - Buccaneers vs. 49ers

Did that really happen? I'm worried that I just woke up from the most marvelous of dreams and the game between the Buccaneers and the 49ers, in actuality, has yet to begin. But for now, I'll let myself believe that the game was in fact played yesterday and the 49ers really did defeat Tampa Bay 48 - 3.

Obviously, I really like the attitude that Coach Harbaugh has instilled in the team. It's a process and they're good but they need to get better - better tomorrow than today, and even better the day after that. All this after the oft-mentioned shortened off-season and a new coaching staff and game-plan to install. It feels like the most exhilarating of trajectories and they're only getting started! And yes, I realize it's only 5 games into the season with 11 more to go.

In keeping with what I've read about Coach Harbaugh's approach, last week's come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Eagles had me coming up with this analogy: if winning the Super Bowl is akin to climbing Mt. Everest, then last week's win put the 49ers solidly at base camp. Considering where the Niners have been the last 10 years, that's quite an accomplishment right there. It means that they are serious about climbing to the top. But that's all it is - base camp. With yesterday's sound victory? The team is beyond base camp! Yay! And now the real challenge begins. The air will get thinner and things will only get more treacherous. They'll need to forge through the rest of the season and qualify for the playoffs before they'll even be able to see the summit. Keep improving guys, it's all within your desire.

********

And how about that Alex Smith? He's showing why he was picked #1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft - it just took the right coaching and game-planning. I'm so happy for him to be able to prove his capability to the masses. I've certainly been waiting, er, more like hoping, for this to happen. There were those times I threw my hands up in the air and gave up on him. I'm so glad he didn't give up on himself, and so glad that Jim Harbaugh recognized his potential. Not only did Alex Smith lead the unofficial practices during the lock-out, he showed class in wanting to help out understudy Colin Kaepernick too. He could have shunned the newly drafted quarterback, but instead applied himself to being the best he could be. I know the season is still young, but it's encouraging all the same.

********

I'm hoping someday everybody, as in all opposing coaches, will ask Coach Harbaugh after being soundly defeated, "What's your deal?"

Monday, October 3, 2011

game 4 - 49ers vs. Eagles

Big, big win! And I missed most of the excitement. I did manage to see the 49ers fall behind 23 - 3 though. Maybe they play better when I don't watch. After the game, when I came back to my computer to find out the final result, I was so heartened to see the score!

While I was listening to the radio this morning, I was reminded of something that happened at the end of the second quarter that I had forgotten about. The 49ers had the ball short of midfield, time was running down to the last few seconds of the first half, and head coach Jim Harbaugh called a time-out as most of the players started running towards the locker rooms. Come back everybody! One more play (?). Was it so the Niners could throw a hail-Mary pass or something? No, they just ran the ball for several yards, after which everybody could then head in for half-time.

It made little sense at the time, I mean, what was the point of that? Well, looking at how the 49ers made up a 20-point deficit in the second half and pulled out a victory, Harbaugh was impressing a lesson on his team. Something about having a blue-collar work ethic and playing hard without compromise. Excellent message, Coach!

Another valuable lesson that came from this game is learning how to prevail even with questionable calls by the officials. Last game, it was a befuddling call against Michael Crabtree for stepping outside of the playing field and then being the first to touch the ball, a touch of the ball that happened to be a rather spectacular touchdown catch. Looking at the delayed replays, it seemed he clearly never stepped outside of the end zone before making his grab. Then in yesterday's game, an Eagle defender very noticeably pushed himself up to try and block a field goal attempt by stepping on another player's body, I think in this case, up off of the 49ers center after he snapped the ball. The replay showed an official with his head pointed right at it as it happened, and yet, no call. Our kicker may well have kicked the ball a little to the side to avoid being blocked by this unusually high leaping player and therefore kicked the ball just wide of the uprights. I can handle botched plays, but I can't stand botched calls by the officiating crews. I hope the league office provides some answers for all the bad calls made in games.

Back to the happy, happy, joy, joy though. I've tried to catch what highlights I could and though I've been able to see the actual touchdown scores made late in the game and the crucial play by Justin Smith that caused the decisive Eagle fumble, I've read about other key plays that led to the San Francisco victory. Rookie running back Kendall Hunter and receiver Michael Crabtree had great games, as did many other players. 1st-round draft pick Aldon Smith sacked the elusive Michael Vick, who throughout the first half seemed as slippery as a fish.

Before the end of the game, a cousin of mine told me that an Eagles scribe was so certain of an Eagles victory that he'd ride his bicycle home if they lost. Happy peddling Philly fan.

Monday, September 26, 2011

game 3 - 49ers vs. Bengals

Mostly a snore, but I managed to stay awake throughout this game to the very end and watch the 49ers pull out a win! Even with a victory, I'd like to imagine that the Niners will only continue to improve. Their defense looks stout enough... we'll see how well they do with each new challenge.

Special teams look solid too; it's the offense that I'm concerned about. But time spent working together while incorporating a new system and the game-planning of their (mostly) new coaching staff should see the team improving each and every week. I still have a very good feeling about the Jim Harbaugh-era although it will take some time. Someday I hope that they'll be able to run up the score at will - now wouldn't that be fun?

Next up: the Eagles on the road in Philadelphia.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

in a galaxy far, far away...

Here's a story I sometimes reflect on when I'm living in the past:

I wrote about this woman awhile ago; actually she was a student back at my high school, in the graduating class a year behind mine. She was a gorgeous sex-symbol type that I wasn't alone in thinking should have been a Playboy Playmate. So hot, it was pure folly for me even to think about having a crush on her. Naturally, I never met her, but I sure noticed her.

In a classic case of 'birds of a feather flock together,' at school she frequently walked around with another one of the school's hotties, a girl whose blonde hair complemented her own brunette hair. They just needed a third girl to complete their own set of Charlie's Angels.

After school, I would often find myself in the high school parking lot, hoping to get a ride either from my older brother who participated in track and thus might not be able to accommodate me or an acquaintance who would often be able to. In any case, I can remember standing there and looking for these two girls heading out to the blonde girl's light eggplant-colored Carmen Ghia and watching as they exited the parking lot heading off to what must have been another universe. To me, it was truly the 'unknown universe.'

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

all I have to do is mention it

I can't take all the credit, but the website for CSNBayArea has been redesigned! Okay, so I can't take any of the credit. Still, soon after I mentioned how visually unappealing their old website was, it looks much, much better. Now, I won't hesitate to read Matt Maiocco's articles about my beloved 49ers anymore. Nor those of other CSNBayArea reporters. As long as those annoying pop-up online commercials are gone too. Those were getting irritating on the old site, and given how old and slow my computer is, they really tested my patience. All in all, though, exemplary job with the new design... good work!

Monday, September 19, 2011

game 2 - Cowboys vs. 49ers

That could have turned out better.

It's easy before the season to say that the 49ers will go through some growing pains installing a new system, but it's not so easy watching it happen. The Niners had set themselves up for a big win yesterday, but managed to lose the game anyway. Although the Cowboys were beat up and gimpy with all of their injuries, both in players that didn't even suit up for the game as well as players that were hurt during it, they still managed to come up with a victory. Perhaps that shows what having an already installed system can do for a team. A sense of confidence in being able to make the big plays when needed.

There's been a lot of discussion about a decision that Coach Harbaugh made in the 4th quarter – the 49ers had just made a long field goal when they were given a choice of taking the points off of the board and advancing the ball 15 yards due to a Cowboy penalty. Since it was the 4th quarter and the points would give the Niners a 10-point lead, Harbaugh opted to decline the penalty and take the field goal. Now in hindsight, it's natural to say that he should have taken the penalty and taken a shot at maybe scoring a touchdown, or at the very least, take some more time off of the clock by running some plays and making a closer field goal, hence still getting the 3 points.

Kicker David Akers is new to the team, but I trust that he would have made a closer kick. I suppose that there was the possibility of something going wrong, like a turnover... as it was happening, I didn't feel too strongly either way. Yet it gave me the same feeling I get while watching the 'prevent defense.' Even though it might work the majority of the time, that kind of strategy never projects an air of confidence. As I understand it, the Cowboy penalty on that field goal attempt would have placed the ball inside the Cowboy 25-yard line. Given a fresh set of downs, it would have been nice to see the 49ers try for a touchdown while at the same time saying to Akers, we know you can make another field goal anyway. Making another field goal certainly wouldn't have been high-risk.

Given the newness of the 49er roster this season and the new coaching staff and playbook, communication is of utmost importance. And it's clearly showing in two of the most crucial areas of the team: the offensive line and the defensive backfield. One of the reasons football is my favorite of the major sports is the coordination and synchronization necessary in all of the units. It's all about teamwork. The running game needs improvement and so does the passing defense. One blown assignment can change the entire outcome. As the season progresses, I expect that all the adjustments will be ironed out.

And finally, kudos to Tony Romo. Whereas last week he was criticized yet again for playing a good game only to make critical mistakes to lose the game in the end, this time he rallied the team for a comeback victory. With fractured ribs, no less. I'd hate to think that his coming out party was at the expense of the Niners, but this could be the start of something special for him. Still, I'm sick of the Cowboys...

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

a fishy baseball team

One of the new stars of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team is outfielder Mike Trout. When I heard his name earlier this year, I couldn't help but think of other players that would complement his name while playing beside him in the outfield. I remember thinking wasn't there a player named Salmon? Oh yeah, Tim Salmon. Okay that's one... and then right away, I remembered a player named Kevin Bass.

So that's my outfield: Tim Salmon, Mike Trout, and Kevin Bass. I guess I'll have to let them decide who plays left, center, and right. Of course, Salmon and Bass are retired now, but I like to imagine the three of them all playing at the same time.

There is yet another player, currently playing, whose name is Mike Carp (no, really!). He can play the infield.

And what team would they play on? Why the Florida Marlins, of course!

Monday, September 12, 2011

game 1 - Seahawks vs. 49ers

While reading the various articles about the 49ers victory over the Seahawks yesterday, I've made little mental notes to myself about what I would like to mention in today's blog entry... knowing full well that I wouldn't remember most of them. So I'll do some sort of stream of consciousness, which is what most of my thoughts have seemed like lately anyway.

Hmmm... Ted Ginn, Jr.! Most excellent - and I missed watching his big plays in the 4th quarter because of a phone call. A bit of Niner history there, Ginn being the first 49er to run back both a kickoff return and a punt return for touchdowns in the same game. Oh well... I saw most of the game anyway. It was beginning to become a nail-biter after the Niners had built up a 16 - 0 lead. I hadn't realized that it had become a 2 - point game before the first of Ginn's special teams touchdown runs. When I was done with the phone call, I came back to find that the final score was 33 - 17 and my first thought was that the Niner offense had drummed up some points. Special teams points instead? I'll take it!

But I'll take some touchdowns by the offense in future games too! I have to keep reminding myself that installing Harbaugh's version of the West Coast Offense (WCO) will be a process. And has often been mentioned by myself and others over and over again, it was a shortened off-season this year, giving less time for this installation. The play-calling even seemed rather drab and unimaginative at times, but a fully realized WCO will show itself in the weeks and months to come. Besides, since the 49er defense was playing so well, it does seem feasible that they were keeping the offense a bit under wraps for future opponents. Pretty sly isn't it, keeping their cards close to the vest, even now in the regular season?

The defense also seemed to be keeping some secrets. And why not? They were playing quite effectively without having to employ risky blitzes and the like. These can start being unveiled in future games, thus giving future opponents less game film to study up on. Although Seattle is going through their own growing pains with rookies, new players and new coaches and schemes, it was still a well-earned victory for the 49ers.

Alex Smith! I'm no biologist, but maybe he can be seen as a molecule who has spent years waiting for the right catalyst, and that catalyst may well be Jim Harbaugh. How's that? His numbers were pretty modest, but like the rest of the team, maybe over time, the production will get greater and greater. Nothing like going through growing pains while winning at the same time! Next week they'll be tested by going against the Dallas Cowboys.

After Alex Smith ran in for a touchdown then was greeted and hugged by Coach Harbaugh on the sidelines, I imagined Harbaugh saying, "I LOVE you, man!" as they embraced.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

interchangeable exteriors and interiors


Here's something I've wondered for a long while: why not take the coolest looking car exteriors from years ago and simply put into them the most modern and efficient interiors? For example, I think the best looking cars were from the 1960's... the Barracuda first comes to mind. Yes, I would say as a class of cars, the muscle cars of the 60's (and early 70's) are the most awesome and rad to look at.

But being muscle cars and not exactly designed to get the most mileage nor the best safety and crash test results, they are outdated to modern concerns and needs. It would seem to me that it wouldn't be impossible to outfit new cars with the best that modern technology has to offer, even including hybrid technology, yet keeping the awesome exteriors of yesteryear. Of course, it's not as simple as snapping an outer shell on and off like a toy slot car, although wouldn't that be neat?

I realize the materials used in modern car manufacturing are different and that would play a big role, as well as other complications that I'm not aware of, but it still sounds good to me. As you can tell, as far as I'm concerned, how fast a car goes or how it sounds (like a muscle car) isn't as important as how it looks. Actually, I'm not all that interested in driving period - it's all about the looks! Er, as long as they're aerodynamic and not shaped like boxes, if you've been reading my recent blog entries.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

easy to read

I am on Twitter to help me keep up with my favorite sports teams, primarily the 49ers. I follow a dozen or so people right now. Besides their respective abilities to keep up with the latest news and information, aka getting the 'scoops,' one of the things that makes one person's blog more appealing than that of another is the typestyle that is used and how large it is. I am very responsive to the visual appeal of one layout over another and how easy it is to read for aging eyes like mine.

For example, I used to find Matt Maiocco's online articles more appealing when he wrote for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat than now where he writes for CSN Bay Area. The Press Democrat's website is less busy looking and simply more attractive. The typestyle is larger and makes current writer Grant Cohn's pieces look even better. I enjoy seeing what he has to say as it is, and his articles are easy on the eyes too.

Presentation matters.

Friday, September 2, 2011

preseason game - 49ers vs. Chargers

Going 2 - 2 in the preseason? Pretty good, I'll take it!

What was most important in last night's victory, in my humble opinion, is that the 49ers came away from it feeling confident. Especially after their confidence sapping loss to the Texans the week before. What this all means is finally on the horizon - the next game counts! And it's against a division rival, the Seattle Seahawks.

Also of major significance was the paucity of injuries. The only serious one was to linebacker Keaton Kristick... serious in that he was carted off the field. What this means to his chances of making the roster, time will tell. Unfortunately, it cost him a valuable opportunity to show the coaching staff that he deserves a place on the team, opening the door for players such as Alex Joseph to impress - which he did. The team has one final week or so to decide on their opening day roster and to prepare for the first game of the season.

It's a roller coaster ride of emotions, feeling good about the team's prospects and also feeling bad. Right now, things are looking up (or 'arrow up' to borrow a phrase from Coach Harbaugh) - but next week's game will really determine where they stand. And yet, so will the following 15 games. It's a long, long road, and while it would surely be neat to win the division and go to the playoffs, I just need to see things improving this year with some light at the end of the tunnel, that light being several Super Bowl Championships in the years to come!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

boxes on wheels

There was a time when maximizing aerodynamics in car design was paramount to getting the most out of fuel efficiency and minimizing drag. As I understand it, there would be wind tunnels designed specifically for this task and it always made complete sense to me. There is something so elegant about seeing air flow as it streams smoothly around a solid object.

But in recent years, all that seems to have been thrown out the window with some of the new motor vehicle designs. Have you seen them on the roads? They are shaped like boxes, apparently designed to maximize the buffeting of the air fighting its way around them while minimizing flow and efficiency. Or simply with the goal of making some sort of visual statement, physics be damned.

Sure, they might be better for packing and moving - think moving truck - but I wonder whatever happened to the science and engineering behind the study of aerodynamics?

Sunday, August 28, 2011

preseason game - Texans vs. 49ers

Another massacre!

Today's entry might as well be the same one I typed up after the big loss to the Saints a couple of weeks ago. And now, just as then: no worries. In the short term, sure... there might be worries, but that's only if I don't want to give the new coaching staff any time to implement their changes. It will take time, to be sure. We're only three weeks into the preseason, for all those sourpusses out there.

Now, I happen to think that the 49ers are working with more talent and a better situation than Bill Walsh inherited when he took over the team back in the 1970's. Even so, this year the Harbaugh regime missed out on an important off-season of activity due to the situation with the CBA.

As the regular season gets going though, what's important is how do the Niners compete with the rest of the league in general? Clearly, they don't measure up with a team as good as the Houston Texans, but to have shown improvement, the Niners should at least be in the middle of the league - that's what I hope anyway. But if not, as long as they're putting something great together, I'll be fine. No one should expect them to win the Super Bowl this year or next year. Going with the Bill Walsh comparison, it'd be nice if they won it all in three years, but those are lofty expectations. Will they be contenders - that will be a more realistic hope.

What came to my mind as I watched the game last night are the Jimmy Johnson-era Dallas Cowboys with a young Troy Aikman being installed at quarterback. As I recall that first year, they went 1 - 15. It took a few seasons for them to become champions. So as long as the Jim Harbaugh-era shows the same potential of building a champion, let's all be patient.

That's not to say that all coaching regimes should be given at least three years to win the Super Bowl. Looking back, I have to agree that recent 49ers coaches had to go. But I continue to be VERY excited to have Harbaugh as head coach. Even Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. had some missteps when he first ran the team. And he stuck with Bill Walsh even after his team went 2 - 14 his first year as head coach. As long as we know that the right system is being put in place and that things will jell eventually, well, however much we can 'know' something like that, it should be an ultimately satisfying ride for 49ers fans!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

preseason game - Raiders vs. 49ers

Harbaugh's first win!!!

As head coach that is. It was a team victory, of course. And a preseason victory, which makes it a bit like a grain of salt. But it feels so good!

Just as last week's awful defeat to the Saints, I have to tell myself not to make too, too much of this week's victory over the Raiders. Have I used the word 'victory' enough times? It was a victory after all...

I am a bit fearful of next week's game against the Houston Texans. It appears that they have a very high-powered offense. But it will be a good test for us, as is every game. I am liking very much the play-calling by Harbaugh's coaching staff - it seems varied, flexible and opportunistic. And not just in that it was effective. I'm rambling, aren't I? Just typing thoughts as they come to me... I'm watching the Giants game right now. Now their season seems to be at the tipping point.

Friday, August 19, 2011

the king retires

Or rather, is retired.

I just read online that Burger King is changing its marketing campaign and retiring that gosh-awful King mascot... you know, that shiny, big-headed monstrosity that is the stuff of nightmares. He, or it, has been thrown into other situations outside of just television commercials, such as football promotions. It's been such a horrid and almost ubiquitous character that I'd really grown to dislike Burger King. And I've always preferred its food to many other fast-food chains.

Some commercials that come to mind: a couple is lying in bed having woken up with the daylight, one of them gets up to draw up the blinds... and there's the King looking in the window! I always pictured myself grabbing a baseball bat and chasing after him, yelling "Did you get a good look at my wife?" Another showed a construction worker, high, high up on a steel girder, and the King appears suddenly in front of him. What the... ? This is supposed to be, what, edgy?? Because I thought it was at the very least creepy.

I don't often eat fast food, but there have been those rare occasions when I possibly could have chosen to eat at Burger King and didn't because of that darned 'King' thing – on posters and wall hangings for example. But now, if I want a Whopper, it may be an option. Yes, disturbing, offensive, or otherwise unappealing ad campaigns and commercials are enough for me to quietly boycott businesses and companies.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

talk to the hand

Years ago, when my eldest niece was in her early or mid-teens, I remember saying something to her while we were seated in the living room of my mother's house during a family gathering. Boring adult that I am, I'm sure that what I had to say wasn't exactly scintillating or very interesting.

Now, she was being more playful than anything (I think), but at one point she held up her hand and said, "Talk to the hand!" I remember not being offended, but decided to try something else... I started focusing on her hand and seriously talking to it. And after a moment of two, she got icked out and said, "Ooh, stop that!"

Score one for the adult!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

preseason game - 49ers vs. Saints

Wow, we got massacred!

But, no worries. Going into this season, people were doing pretty good accepting that the Niners were going to go through some adjustments and growing pains, what with their new coaching staff and all. Plus there was the prolonged lockout due to having to come up with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the owners and players. Which meant a rushed and abbreviated off-season which put the teams with new systems to implement at an even greater disadvantage. Particularly the teams with not only new head coaches, but new head coaches whom had never been head coaches at the NFL level. Not to over-dramatize the situation, but it's kind of a perfect storm.

I'm reminded of last season, when Mike Singletary actually thanked the Seattle Seahawks for the whooping his team gave the 49ers early in the season, maybe even the first game... I don't remember. But that 'thanking' didn't portend much in the way of turning the Niners' fortunes around for the rest of the season. Well, I don't imagine that Coach Harbaugh is planning on thanking the Saints for the a$$ beating last night, but it was one heck of a drubbing that sends the 49ers back to the drawing board. Now, will the team respond by learning and becoming adept at handling the blitz? That's the lasting image I'll take from the game anyway. A pretty aggressive approach to lay on the first game of the pre-season, against a team with so much to do. Not that I'm looking for excuses, but geez!

Let's just hope that the 49ers come out of this loss stronger and more resilient. Particularly the quarterbacks. Both Smith and Kaepernick looked bad at first glance, but I can't imagine any other quarterbacks functioning any better under the circumstances. With the pressure from the rush that the Saints were putting on, what else could the quarterbacks have done? Perhaps the Niners will have 'hot' reads in place in the future, but that will take some more coordination with the receivers. Practice, practice, practice.

And just as the offense was facing an unusually blitz-happy package by the Saints defense, I wonder if the 49er defense was facing an unusually bland and straightforward Saints offense. Our offense is taking a lot of lumps for their performance, while the Niners first-string defense is getting praised. While I certainly hope they have continued success on the field, I wonder if they only looked good because of the Saints playing conservative on offense, at least conservative compared to their defense. Oh well, next week's game will tell a whole lot more about how competitive the 49ers look to be this coming season.

In the end, though, preseason games are preseason games. Last year, the 49ers under Singletary went 4 - 0, and look where that supposed success got them... a 6 - 10 record and outside looking in at the playoffs. So, again, I'm not worried - just very interested, and happy that we've got some football going on!

Friday, August 12, 2011

half deaf

Here's a dubious advantage to being deaf in one ear:

Whenever I need or want to plug my ears, I only have to plug one of them now. That seems rather obvious, but it's just that I can do it more inconspicuously now. When one has both ears to plug, it looks oh-so-obvious – reaching with both hands on either side of the head and pressing a finger into each ear. There's no subtlety at all to that gesture, and everyone knows, "Hey, he's plugging his ears!"

On the other hand, I've found that all I have to do now is tilt my head down to one side, and use one hand, one finger. I haven't yet tested this theory by looking at myself in the mirror, but I'm imagining it is much more nonchalant and casual looking compared to when I could hear out of both ears, and thus having two ears to plug.

Yes, it's quite a reach finding this advantage, but better to focus on the positives of my condition than the negatives...

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

on my desktop


Here is one of my prized plants, a Rhododendron occidentale, or Western azalea. Not my actual plant though; it's a photograph of my ideal specimen, taken by James Gaither, and used without permission (sorry!). Considering how widely read this blog most surely is (ahem), that could be a real problem... in any case, it is what I currently have on my computer's desktop.

The Western azalea is from the California Floristic Province, and although it is not locally native to where I live, I am attempting to grow it anyway. I have read that it is a slow grower, and it has been; it isn't much bigger than when I bought it through mail order a few years ago. Its flowers vary somewhat in their coloring, but today's photograph shows what I am hoping for when it has its first blooms, next season, I hope.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

oh no, football talk!

It's been awhile since I was really active with this blog; there was a time when I tried to have an entry every day. And now, it might be once every week. Both a sister and a friend have commented that they aren't particularly into sports, but that's been my go-to topic whenever there hasn't much else I wanted to really write about. And this Friday, the 49ers play their first exhibition game of this new 2011 season.

With the start of football, it's a very convenient way to get in my weekly entry... a game every week, right? Sometimes when I'm lying around, a non-sports related subject will dart through my mind and I might make a mental note that that would be a good thing to 'muse' about in this blog, but then it's often gone by the time I sit down at my computer and try to remember what it was. Am I the only one that thinks better, imagines better, and is more creative while lazing in bed than while sitting at a desk in front of a computer?

I haven't talked about Coach Jim Harbaugh much since his hiring back in January, and to think of all the entries I went through when Mike Singletary was the head coach. And no, the 49ers didn't end up signing Nnamdi Asomugha off of the free agent market. But after the first wave of free agents were signed, the 49ers were very active on the market. There are a LOT of new names and faces on the team. And apparently none with contracts that will hamstring the team for years to come. I'd like to think that the Niners took a very wise and value-driven approach to their new acquisitions this off-season.

But I think what it really comes down to is the new coaching philosophy. I'd like to think that the team's new coaching regime will bring out the very best in quarterback Alex Smith and jibe perfectly with his talents. That the overall philosophy will bring out the best in every member of the team, utilizing what they do best – no more square pegs jammed into round holes. A fluid and adjustable game plan that will be capable of taking whatever the defense is giving on any given game day. To imagine a team that not only makes half-time adjustments, but one that makes in-game adjustments... it's all very exciting to think about!

Yet just as with the recent free agent activity which at first seemed to be going nowhere, I will have to remind myself that it is a process, that while Harbaugh and company are implementing their changes and molding the team's makeup and atmosphere, it could take some time. If they're building Rome, it will take more than a day or even a single season (or two). But I tell you, I can't wait to see how it all pans out!!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

have you heard of... ?

Recently, I was talking with one of my nieces. She's in her early 20's. I had a Music Choice channel on the television and Linda Rondstadt was singing. I asked my niece if she had heard of Linda Rondstadt, and I wasn't too surprised when she shook her head 'no.' And because I thought it was an interesting bit of trivia, I told her that Ms. Rondstadt was Governor Jerry Brown's girlfriend back when he was the Governor of California the first time around. My niece politely listened.

So, later that same conversation, I was describing to my niece about the parlor game 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.' How depending on how one defines a degree, we're all six degrees of practically anyone or more interestingly in my view, any celebrity. And I asked her if she had heard of Kevin Bacon. And she shook her head 'no.'

I kept right on talking... one of the celebrities I'm sort of two degrees from is Kevin Costner. My brother has a friend from high school, Reed, whom I know too although it's been years and years, and Reed is now a Hollywood producer and writer and he happens to know Kevin Costner - in fact, the story I heard is that they've been bowling together! Anyway, I asked my niece if she had heard of Kevin Costner, and she politely shook her head 'no.'

I feel so old.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Nnamdi

Well, I may as well weigh in on the Nnamdi saga: I want him to play for the 49ers!

It's reminiscent of the nail-biting days we waited on Jim Harbaugh to make his decision on where he was going to be head coach. Each Twitter update went every which way: he's going to Miami was the biggest scare I remember before he made the choice to stay home in the Bay Area. I can only hope that Nnamdi makes the same decision. He's made his home in the Bay Area ever since his college playing days and has done so many things for the local community. How could he leave that?

Friday, July 22, 2011

Panda-monium

My eldest niece has worked as a teacher on the SF Peninsula. She found the cutest Panda hat to wear on the site Etsy because she likes Panda bears. But she's not a fan of baseball, even of the World Champion Giants just up a ways from wear she resides.

She's told us of wearing her Panda hat and how it automatically generated responses from her students like: "Pablo!" and "Go Giants!" And she used to wonder to herself: "Why are people calling me Pablo?" and "Why do people think I'm a Giants fan?"

And for those of you also in need of an explanation, there is a very popular player on the San Francisco Giants named Pablo Sandovol. At some point in his young baseball career, his teammate Barry Zito dubbed him the 'Kung Fu Panda,' which is an on-the-nose nickname for Pablo - he does resemble the movie character Kung Fu Panda. And being the perfect nickname for him, it stuck. Now fans from all over wear Panda hats in support of Pablo.

My niece's hat is different, more delicate looking than the popular hats/plush pets that fans wear at the ballpark, but in Giants territory it still evokes the same reaction. After learning about the Kung Fu Panda of the Giants, at least my niece now knows why she gets the reactions she does!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

voices

I've been stuck listening to my own voice lately... my current aspiration is to become a Personal Historian - recording people's memories and writing them into a narrative for posterity's sake - and in listening and transcribing my first interview with a helpful cousin, I had to listen to me talking in addition to her. I realize that I'm not the first to say this, but I don't like the sound of my voice!

It's always surprising to me which other people don't like listening to their voices; two recent celebrities that I've learned feel this way are actress Charlize Theron and R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. I think Charlize's voice sounds intelligent and sexy and there is nothing wrong with Peter's voice. They have no reason not to like their voices!

But mine, on the other hand...

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

cereal alchemy

Yes, I like eating breakfast cereal in the mornings. Not every morning, but maybe every few days when I have a taste for it. There were many years when I couldn't because of my lactose intolerance, which started sometime in my mid-teens. I'd be so jealous of people that could enjoy cereal, such as when I was in the dining hall in college and other students could choose cereal whereas I couldn't.

I posted on this blog sometime ago a product that has allowed me to enjoy cereal again called 'Rice Dream.' Being completely non-dairy, it works for me! It tastes good and substitutes for milk very well.

What I've noticed as I've gotten older is my inability to eat sweets as much as when I was younger. Not so much in a dietary sense, but I just don't like the taste of food that is too sweet. So when it comes to cereal, for example, I don't like a bowl full of straight frosted flakes, but rather I prefer frosted flakes 'cut' with regular corn flakes, something like half and half.

And more so than when I was growing up, I enjoy mixing and matching different cereals into the same bowl. I'm getting more like my late mom, who would mix all kinds of different cereals together. I'm not yet to the level in which she would do it, but I sense that I am getting closer and closer. For now, different kinds of flakes mixed together works pretty well, but I can see myself enjoying a real mixture of flavors and textures as time goes on, i.e. flakes mixed with chex mixed with puffs, etc.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Tim Lincecum lookalike

There was a nice segment on the local cable sports channel about a cab driver from Brazil who seriously looks a LOT like Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. He's a tad bit shorter, speaks with a rather strong accent, and I guess his nose is a little different as well – but at quick glance and even after some time spent studying him, he really looks like he could be 'The Freak'!

The segment showed this guy, Luiz Lins, walking around San Francisco wearing a Giants cap and a Giants jersey, getting all kinds of looks from fans and non-fans alike. I don't know how much of it was for this particular show, but people on the street were asked who he was and they replied unilaterally, "That's Tim Lincecum." Many folks were taking pictures with him as well.

Now this Luiz guy says that he never lies to people claiming to be the baseball star, but he still causes a stir with his appearance. And he also states that he's been wearing his hair long ever since he was in high school; his flowing locks make him look even more like the real Tim Lincecum as well. Still, one must ask: 'Would the real baseball star walk around in public wearing a Giants baseball cap and jersey?' I don't think so.

Which leads me to an idea: wouldn't it be fun if the real Tim Lincecum worked on appropriating a Brazilian (Portuguese?) accent and insisted to fans that his name is really Luiz and that he's not Tim Lincecum? He could even don a store-bought Giants cap and jersey to look even more like he's not the actual baseball player. I imagine that once he's insisted to someone that his name isn't Tim/Timmy but rather Luiz, that someone would point out that the real Timmy wouldn't walk around with that silly cap and shirt advertising his presence, and that they've heard about a lookalike anyway. If Tim were able to ace the accent, then this sort of ruse just might work!

And more than that, wouldn't it be even more fun to imagine Tim trying to fool his teammates?

Monday, July 4, 2011

NL All-Stars

Well, now the shoe is on the other foot... and it feels so good!

To my knowledge, it's the prior baseball season's world series managers that are given the choice of whom to select for the All-Star game, aside from the starting position players. So Giants manager Bruce Bochy was given the honor (and headache) of filling out the National League roster this year. Besides closer Brian Wilson, chosen by his peers I believe, Bochy went ahead and made three Giants starters All-Stars for this year's Summer Classic: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Ryan Vogelsong.

In previous years, I've only looked at whether or not a player deserved to go based on their performance for the first half of the season leading up to the All-Star game. Leading up to this year's contest, however, I was finally made privy to the other school of thought that says that selection should be based on the second half of the previous season in addition to the first half of the current season.

Well, in that case, then, stellar post-season performances should weigh in too! I'm all in favor now of rewarding players that were part and parcel of a championship run. It makes sense now... I've seen the light. Lincecum and Cain are stars in the league and should be recognized by their manager for helping their team win the World Series last year. Go Giants! And as for Vogelsong, of all the San Francisco players, I wanted him to go most of all. One of the best stories in baseball.

Those who follow the Giants could even look back now and say that Barry Zito's injury that caused him to be placed on the disabled list in the first place was a most fortuitous event: it gave Vogelsong the opportunity to take his place in the rotation, solidify it, and accomplish all that he did. Plus, it gave Zito a chance to go back and recapture his 'stuff' to become a more effective pitcher himself. Win-win. If Jonathan Sanchez also comes back from the DL stronger than ever, well, I'd rather have too many good pitchers than not enough. A great problem to have.

Giants fans and players have gone through years and years of slights by World Series managers playing favorites in choosing their own players – now the Giants are in that position to have the choice, so go ahead and take it! Maybe in future years, I'll be more understanding of the obvious bias. And sad but true, managers do have to live with their own players after All-Star selections and snubs, so why make things difficult?

On another note, should the results of the All-Star game decide home-field advantage for the World Series? I prefer the idea I heard the other night that whichever league has the better win-loss record for interleague play during the season should be awarded home-field advantage. If that results in a tie, then perhaps they can go to the winner of the All-Star game, but hopefully it would never come to that.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

hit the ball and run!

I'm watching the Giants play the Cubs right now, and am reminded of the biggest hit of my baseball playing days:

I was in my first season in the league, playing for the Braves. Okay, okay, so it was Jr. Optimist, akin to Little League, and I was in grade school. Now back to my reflection: I was playing in a game and I was at bat - and this one time I hit the ball harder than I had ever hit a ball before. I hit that ball fully square and it felt good... it felt right. And I put my head down and ran.

I rounded first base, and then kept running towards second base. And being that I had put my head down and ran from the time I hit the ball, I had no idea where I had hit it. NO idea. And luckily the kindly man that was umpiring at second base that day, and who I happened to know because he was the father of one of my teammates, said: "Congratulations Arthur! You hit a ground-rule double!"

It was a good thing he told me that. Mostly because, like I mentioned, I had no idea where I had hit the ball in the first place, and I likely would have kept running until someone tagged me out. And also, well, I've never hit a home run, ever, in my life, but a ground-rule double was a nice consolation prize! That means it must have been darn close to being a home run. Not a home run, but pretty close! Right?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

what Willie Mays would make today

So this is the story I heard:

Willie Mays, in my opinion, the greatest baseball player ever, was recently asked what he thought he would be paid (per year) if he played baseball today. And he replied, "Oh, I'd say about $300,000."

Aghast, the questioner told him, "But Willie, players nowadays are making millions of dollars!"

And Willie said, "Well, I am 80 years old!"

Friday, June 24, 2011

three picks

In yesterday's NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors selected three players: Klay Thompson, Jeremy Tyler, and Charles Jenkins. I had forgotten that in last year's draft, the Warriors sold their 2nd round pick, so this year they made up for it by purchasing an additional 2nd round pick! New ownership, indeed.

Klay Thompson was the name I was expecting to hear announced as the Warriors pick when he was still available at #11. Although one never knows for sure in drafts! But he was being mentioned as the guy the team had their eye on, as well as a favorite of Jerry West's, which is an added feather in Thompson's cap.

He too is the son of a former NBA player, Mychal Thompson, who won several championships with the Lakers some years ago. Which got me wondering if Stephen Curry's father, former NBA player Dell Curry has any kind of history (teammates, or rivals in any memorable games, etc.) with Mychal Thompson. I'll have to look that up...

Even though there is plenty of talk that Thompson plays the same position as SG Monta Ellis, and therefore increases the likelihood of Ellis being traded, I buy the explanation that Thompson strengthens the bench and Curry, Ellis, and Thompson can all make for a very strong backcourt. Besides, Curry and Ellis can't play entire games without getting some minutes of rest, especially during a long NBA season. Plus, the Warriors coaching staff and management should get at least a season to see how they mesh with each other on the court. It's still June, of course, so anything can happen.

The trade for the rights to sign Tyler (that extra second pick they purchased in the 2nd round) came as a surprise. When the Bobcats chose him originally, I was barely paying attention to what the commentators had to say about him. I wish now that I was listening; all I caught was something about how he's been around, including playing in Japan. What I've read since is exciting - he's got a lot of size and raw talent that if harnessed and developed correctly, could be the presence the Warriors have been looking for near the basket.

The Warriors' final pick in the draft got plenty of cheers from the crowd. 'What?' I thought to myself. Well, it turns out he's from Hoftstra, and there were plenty of Hoftstra supporters in the crowd, waiting to hear the name 'Charles Jenkins' announced. Reading about him too, he could well be a steal himself. We'll just have to wait and see how things all pan out. As an aside, I wonder if his nickname is 'C.J.' Back in the '70s, the Warriors had a player named Charles Johnson, whom was known as 'C.J.'

Monday, June 20, 2011

basketball draft

The NBA draft is this Thursday and although I'm not nearly as excited about this draft compared to the NFL draft, I am looking forward to it. After all, there have been some awfully important hires lately, particularly in Jerry West and new head coach Mark Jackson. The new ownership has been making big, decisive changes to the team and I can't help but look forward to big improvements.

To my knowledge, the NBA draft only goes for two rounds; I don't know if it's always been this way or for how long. As opposed to the NFL draft which lasts seven rounds (way, way down from years ago where it lasted more than ten rounds), and the MLB draft, which I hardly follow at all - draftees head to the minors first in a process that is completely different than for basketball and football. Anyway, the Warriors as it stands have the eleventh pick in the first round going in and I've only read about a handful of possibilities that are likely to be chosen. Hey, they all sound good to me. The difference this year is I expect the decision to be more spot-on than in previous years, precisely because of the new ownership and management team.

And as usual, only time will tell...

Monday, June 13, 2011

simply huckabee

There is a politician named Mike Huckabee. For the longest time, whenever I heard his name, I would think to myself that his name would sound better if it was Mick Huckabee. I didn't know why I would have that reaction. What I eventually settled on is both 'Mick' and 'Huckabee' have first vowels that are 'short.' As opposed to sounding like 'Mike' and 'Hewkabee' or 'Hughkabee,' if that makes any sense.

Then it finally occurred to me when I either heard a song by the band Simply Red, or they otherwise popped into my head. Their lead singer is named Mick Hucknall. That's it!

Perplexing, how the mind works.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

the bench coach

In baseball, most of the coaches' titles are self-explanatory: the Hitting Coach coaches hitting; the Pitching Coach coaches pitching; the Bullpen Coach is in charge of the bullpen; etc.

Then there's the Bench Coach... ?? I could look it up, but until then I can only imagine what a Bench Coach does, and this is what I imagine a Bench Coach typically says:

"Hey, are you done sitting there? Then clean up after yourself! My bench... what a mess... were you eating sunflower seeds?"

"You two - sit up straight! Show some respect for the game."

"How rude! Now that's a disgusting habit."

"Hey, if it's so funny, then why don't you say it loud enough so everyone can hear it?"

"We'll have none of that. Go to the clubhouse... go to the clubhouse!"

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

acronyms

Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation is nearby to where I live. And it's rather obvious that the acronym for that name was taken into account: ARF. I think it's perfect! Whenever I hear it, I imagine little puppies yelping arf! arf! arf!

Having a good acronym is important, as important as naming the business itself. Because if a business is carelessly named, the resulting acronym can be a source of embarrassment. Case in point: let's hope no one comes up with Bay Area Rescue Foundation.

I know, I know, it's a juvenile thought, but something to keep in mind nonetheless!

Friday, May 27, 2011

play at the plate

I've been putting off writing about the horrific injury to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey on Wednesday night, listening to various thoughts about what happened and what can be done (if anything) to prevent such awful outcomes in the future. And there have been lots of opinions thrown around.

There is the school of thought that says it's just an unfortunate part of the game, but it's always been a hazard and nothing should or can be done to change it (that is, crashing shoulder first into the catcher while trying to score). That way of thinking swirled in my mind for a little awhile, but then I learned on the radio that such crashes have somehow been regulated at the high school and collegiate levels of baseball, so as to prevent injuries. Just because collisions at the plate have been done since the beginning of major league baseball doesn't mean changes can't be made now.

Others are saying it's only an issue this time around because the injury happened to one of the game's biggest stars. Well, yes, greater publicity is allotted to the biggest celebrities, so there's really no argument there. What if it was a backup catcher that was injured? I would hope that the issue would still be important enough to seriously weigh the different options, because this kind of incident can certainly happen to any baseball player... although I'm sure people would probably think to themselves that it could be put off until later when it happens to 'somebody important.' But if something good can come out of Posey's injury, maybe it will be to prevent it from happening again to another athlete.

What if there is an instance where the catcher dwarfs the runner? The catcher is blocking the plate and the runner decides that the best option is to try to knock the ball loose and go in hard, shoulder first? It's likely the runner would be the one seriously injured and out for part of the season. That's not baseball to me. I don't watch for the specter of such violence. The league changed the rules so big collisions were less likely to occur at the other bases; there must be a way to stop them from happening at home plate.

It's all too easy to vilify the player that crashed into Posey, but it could have been any hard-nosed player that crashed and injured an opponent's catcher. It could have been a Giant that was trying to score. If Posey had simply absorbed the force and been thrown backwards, instead of having his left foot planted and caught in the ground, he wouldn't have been so hurt and probably not broken anything. In any case, in the rules and spirit of the game, the Marlins player was not conducting himself in a 'dirty' manner - from what I've read, he is a real stand-up guy. Moreover, if he didn't crash into Posey, he may have been painted as a wimp and perhaps even put his spot on the roster in jeopardy (he is a backup outfielder).

Buster Posey is one of the absolutely most popular players on the Giants, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, and one of baseball's brightest young stars. It is bad for the sport to lose someone like him for the better part of the 2011 season, if not all of it, and it's been particularly difficult to hear how young children have reacted to his injury. Many even dressed as him for their Halloween costumes last year. Enjoying the game of baseball doesn't require collisions at the plate - that's not what the game is about. And to reiterate, if such violence has somehow been regulated at other levels of the game, then there must be a way to do the same at the Major League level.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

the Logo


Or should I say, Mr. Logo?

The Golden State Warriors held a press conference today to announce the hiring of Jerry West to their organization. Jerry West is an NBA icon as both a player and his work in the front office of two organizations, most notable the Los Angeles Lakers. He has known championships throughout his illustrious career. And now he is a part of the Warriors! And when I say icon, that also includes how his likeness was the inspiration for the current NBA logo - in a way, one could say that it is Jerry West, which is why his nickname is 'The Logo.'

As I watched the press conference, I got increasingly excited. All these years, I've had to wonder what was the secret to the continuous success of the Los Angeles Lakers: was it good karma? positive particles? a deal with a nefarious sort with horns and a pitchfork? What was it? And now, I believe it could be simply solid visionary ownership plus a guy like Jerry West. Well, now the Warriors have what could be just such an ownership group, and they have The Logo. Whatever knowledge he could impart would be invaluable, not only in the present but for the eventuality that he leaves the organization sometime in the distant future; I want the Warriors to be competitive for decades to come.

But for now, it is imperative that the very best decisions are made in the hiring of the new Warriors head coach, his new staff, and of course, the roster including what happens with the upcoming draft. His voice won't be the only one heard, but it should speak volumes. Things are certainly looking up, and I hope someday, the Warriors will be mentioned in the same breath and reverence as the Lakers and the Celtics. A storied franchise... !