Gold Mountain Musings

the willows

2012-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had lunch with a couple of my siblings. We went to a local shopping center for some delicious Indian-Pakistani food. What caught my attention outside were the landscaping choices: plants that are suitable for the Mediterranean climate, many of which are California natives and several that I have in my garden too: Chaparral currant (flowering currant), Ceanothus 'Concha' (California lilac), Salvia spathacea (hummingbird sage), and perhaps some I have forgotten. There were also various other natives such as a Manzanita, which I hope flowers since mine haven't yet.

What was also impressive were the signs that were posted in each planting area that described the different plants, all of which were designated as UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars. I've been up to Davis, about an hour away, and visited their splendid arboretum, which was a peaceful and yet vibrant space to walk through. I'd heard of their list of All-Stars before, so I was pleasantly surprised to see them featured in one of the spaces of Concord's Willows Shopping Center.

I don't know how long ago this space was planted, but the plants looked young so I will be curious as to how well they do as the seasons go by. Their demands will be much lower and I hope that they don't get overwatered or overfertilized. Too much of either would actually be detrimental to their health. They should also attract lots of insect and bird life, which will further enliven them. In my experience, the bees, birds, etc. keep to themselves and have never bothered me, so they shouldn't bother the shoppers.

One note though to whomever it may concern: I noticed also the hummingbird feeder near one of the plantings. The nectar was dyed red... food coloring is not necessary and there may even be a slight chance of harming the little birds' systems. The red coloring on the feeder itself is enough to attract our little friends!

I am so excited to see a shopping center go in the direction I have been a proponent of... or to use a popular catch phrase: "That's what I'm talking about!"

the mask

2012-02-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

As far as I'm concerned, football season ended after the NFC Championship game. So now, on to baseball! Well, okay, I follow the Warriors too, but today's blog is about baseball.

I recently signed up to follow San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey's Twitter feed and also 'liked' him on Facebook. Naturally, people want to know how he is doing and if he will be in top shape after last year's season ending injury to his ankle. We all wish him the best, hope that he remains healthy, and that the offense scores LOTS of runs when he's in the lineup again.

Aside from the horrific injury he suffered due to the collision at home plate, I recall that there was a lot of concern about his health even before then. You see, when Buster fields his position as catcher, he wears the more modern style mask that looks like a hockey goalie's mask. And last year he was taking multiple hits from foul tips and what-not that looked quite worrisome. There was talk of him taking games off from catching to minimize the possibility of him getting concussions as it was.

The Giants' broadcast last year showed how the old-fashioned masks absorb shock and thereby energy better by coming off the head of the catcher entirely after getting struck by hard foul tips. So even though the hockey style masks test that they absorb shock just as well, I personally think it's better to have it flying off rather than staying put. I'm curious to see what style mask Buster wears this coming season. I may have to ask Amy G. about it...

Google grounds

2012-01-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

Sounds like the name of a special coffee blend for Google, right? However, I am referring to their campuses.

As a company that has already shown a commitment to the environment in its core values, such as reducing their carbon imprint, offering shuttle services to take cars off of the road, constructing healthier buildings and so on, I would like to see Google take another big step further: institute green policies in its very landscaping.

When I first learned of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) several years ago, I thought it was a rather quaint little organization of nature-lovers that wanted to preserve this pretty little flower or that rare plant. However, it’s much more than that. Although it can be said that Mother Nature starts in the soil, people can more readily see the plants that grow out of it. And it’s the native plants that are most able to provide the food and livelihood: the leaves, nectar, pollen, flowers, berries, etc. for the critters around them: insects, birds, mammals, and so on. And this web of life continues on up the chain. These living organisms have been evolving together for thousands of years and the web of life is disrupted by introducing non-native species.

With each new commercial and residential development comes the energy intensive and non-native landscaping that has become ubiquitous: huge expanses of lawns and the rather limited palette of shrubs and flowers that require copious amounts of water and fertilizers, if not poisonous insecticides too. They’re certainly not soil-friendly. In the case of the corporate campus, I do see how grass can be such an aesthetic as well as functional part of the working day: a soft, cushy surface to walk on after too much time spent indoors, as well as a comfortable spot to sit on while reading or eating lunch.

However, I’d like to see the use of manicured grass and lawns minimized. There’s little wildlife value to be gained from patches of grass, and the cost of lawn care is much more than monetary. Lawnmowers use either electricity or gasoline and therefore pollute the air. If mowers are utilized, then why not make a huge statement and authorize the use of only manual lawnmowers? It’s much more labor intensive and probably difficult to find a lawn maintenance company willing to do that, but a statement nonetheless. And then rake the clippings and put them in compost piles. Just as there are ‘greener’ practices when designing buildings such as using energy efficient glass and solar paneling, the very plants we choose and how we care for them have an enormous imprint and play a vital role in our environment.

If Google, for example, as an internationally known company were to lead the way in landscaping its grounds, it could play a huge role in saving the world. I’m serious. Much of the acreage on its campuses could be devoted to the native fauna and flora of their locations. They could be at the forefront of supporting native bee populations, or even gain some positive publicity for helping bring back a rare and declining butterfly population: is there a similar butterfly in the Mountain View area to the fabled Mission Blue? Are there native lupine flowers that would support such butterflies? What about stands of locally native manzanitas and lilacs? Mountain View is situated in the South Bay near the San Francisco Bay itself. There must be a lovely and vital palette of plants to choose from.

I’d like to imagine that corporate campuses all across the country would soon follow suit - the headquarters as well as all facilities of Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Adobe, etc. with Google leading the way. Business parks such as Bishop Ranch in San Ramon and Shadelands in Walnut Creek could also re-landscape their properties, thereby reducing water usage and bringing our native wildlife back. Reducing water usage – that would be a key objective; imagine how much water can be saved by reducing as much outdoor watering as possible!

Google is so international, they could do the same in all their offices around the world. Because it’s certainly not just in the United States that local flora and fauna is important. I’ve read that the translucent and beautiful California poppy is now a pest plant in Australia, perhaps in retribution for what harm the eucalyptus has done in taking over so much of our landscape here. In all seriousness though, this is a case of how two wrongs don’t make it right.

If I could work with Google in landscaping their Mountain View campus, I’d contact the Santa Clara Chapter of the CNPS and find out their recommendations for how to best incorporate environmentally responsible plantings with employee-friendly outdoor areas. I’d want to find out which plant communities are represented in that part of Santa Clara County, and how to re-create them while making the spaces eminently vibrant and relaxing for people. There could even be more remote parts of the campus devoted to different ecosystems, such as ponds brimming with native aquatic life; or restoring wetlands that may have existed near the bay (if the Google grounds should include the shoreline).

In such a modern and high-tech environment as Google, wouldn’t it be wonderful to not only be socially responsible and current with ‘green’ technology, but also in fine-tune with the natural environment? Many of the latest studies show that people respond positively to exposure to vibrant and balanced outdoor spaces. I can envision employees stepping just outside the confines of their buildings and basking in the native life happening around them: bees buzzing, butterflies fluttering, birds chirping, frogs croaking, and drawing immediate inspiration from such vital energy in addition to the rich oxygen. There could be little enclaves dedicated to attracting hummingbirds by the dozens, some species year-round and others during their migrations. Not to say I’d be creating a South Bay jungle or forest, but it would certainly be more alive than the familiar manicured lawn and precisely trimmed landscape of the typical office complex.

From what I’ve read of Google, they are more open-minded than most companies: I found an article about the ‘Hiveplex’ whereby they had bee hives delivered to one of their campuses. How neat is that? The higher-ups quickly approved the idea, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability, and providing a touch of honey for its employees at the same time. I can envision Google going on to inspire many of its thousands of employees to rethink their own landscaping practices where they live, replacing resource demanding ornamental shrubs with ecology boosting natives. Think globally, act locally, right?

playoffs - NFC Championship - Giants vs. 49ers

2012-01-23T11:37:00.000-08:00

Well, that was disappointing...

Still, the 49ers brought thrills and excitement to its starving fan-base this season and the future is looking bright. When Jim Harbaugh was hired as head coach, he brought with him the right role model for his aspirations: Bill Walsh. And although it's not fair to bring up comparisons because both inherited different situations, Coach Harbaugh is still way ahead of schedule. On the brink of a Super Bowl berth in a lockout-shortened first season is more than awesome. "THANK YOU" Forty-Niners for a GREAT SEASON!!!

Coach Walsh signed on to a 2-14 team that needed to be molded from top to bottom, inside and out, with dubious draft prospects to look forward to and no championship trophies filling the shelves; Coach Harbaugh came to a much stronger roster with a win-loss record of 6-10 the previous season. So, I don't think he's had nearly the mess to clean up. But going as far as they did was not projected at all. He's instilled a wonderful team-first attitude, and is working with a master alchemist in Trent Baalke, the general manager for the team.

I'm looking forward to what magic they can conjure up for next season. They've put together a fantastic coaching staff, a league-leading defense, and a talented special teams unit. If they can only put together that third piece, a high-scoring, score-at-will offense, then there will be no stopping them! And why not? I don't understand why professional teams can only seem to put together part of the puzzle (okay, well, money). Baseball teams are either pitching-first or hitting-first teams. I can understand basketball teams limiting their focus since their squads can only have five players on the floor at one time. But for my Niners, I want it all. Naturally, the defense can always get even better, the special teams units can get stronger too, but I want to see more synchronicity within the offense. More time spent together with the playbook should account for most of that; improved personnel and execution should take care of the rest.

Now on to an exciting off-season of improvement!! Free agency. The college senior bowls and the all-star games. The scouting, the combine... the draft! Didn't I use the word 'alchemy' above? Maybe that's what I find so fascinating. It's like trying to turn straw into (red and) gold.

playoffs - NFC Divisional round - Saints vs. 49ers

2012-01-15T12:27:00.000-08:00

excitement, anxiety, exhilaration...

Victory! And considering how awesome a team the Saints are, it's easy to imagine that the 49ers are capable of beating anybody now... what a great feeling!!!

I wrote a little about Alex Smith in a previous post, so I'll just write a little more today. He's still improving! He's consistently making precise passes and playing beyond what I had grown accustomed to seeing from him. It reflects what I've believed for a long time: we all respond differently to different teaching methods, or in this case, coaching methods. We're all human.

Some people do better being belittled and challenged (something I don't understand). For example, I've heard people say that when they're told they can't do something, they push harder to prove their skeptics wrong. Whereas it appears all Alex Smith needed was someone to build him up and believe in him: Coach Jim Harbaugh. Ahhh, that's more like it! Now, it's clear to see all the potential that was waiting to be tapped; Alex is coming through in the clutch. Clutch, I said, CLUTCH!!!

********

Vernon Davis. It's all coming together, I say while rubbing my hands together. Excellent. All the pieces are coming together. He had the game we've all been waiting for, the kind of performance we've all known he is capable of. I've read recently that he's had a difficult time adapting to the new game plans and implementations by the new coaching regime, but that he's been gelling with it over the past month or so. Understanding it. And if that's truly the case, then we can look forward to similar production from here on out. How great would that be? What a difference sophisticated, smart game-planning makes. Imagine what things will be like if it actually carries over from season to season for years to come. For Alex, for Vernon, for the entire offense. Excellent. Bwaaahaaahaaa!!!

********

Now for some commentary about crap. I've read that some fans at Candlestick assaulted some Saints fans at the game. A father and his two daughters. I didn't read the details, but even being just obnoxious towards them is crap. All the action should take place on the field of play, and even then, in a sportsmanlike manner. Given what happened to San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stowe at Dodger Stadium last year, it'd be nice knowing that civility would be the new rule of conduct, but I guess that's too much to ask of humanity. I understand a similar incident happened to Vancouver Canucks fans at a San Jose Sharks home game too. Simply for wearing their favorite team's jerseys to the rink. Show some class to fans of other teams folks. Rise above it. Geeez.

game 16 - 49ers vs. Rams

2012-01-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

bye bye BYE

That's what almost happened on Sunday. Yes, the game got most interesting towards the end when the Rams scored 2 touchdowns within a half-minute or so of each other. Quite scary. But the 49ers prevailed and came out with some important lessons of well, you know, the football-type. How to protect the lead better and things like that.

The masterful trick play on the field goal attempt from Akers to Crabtree could almost have seemed a little bit like piling on when the game seemed to be in full control, but it sure turned out to be a vital 7 points, didn't it? Some fans probably feel the Niners should have saved such sleight-of-hand for the playoffs, but I'm glad that it helped give the 49ers a rather crucial and much welcomed bye week in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Wow... PLAYOFFS! It's been so long, I've forgotten what it's like. For the last 9 years, the season would be over for the Niners right now and all there would be to do is look forward to the next draft. As it is, I have been taking a peek at some of the mock drafts that have been postulated for months now, but with the idea that the 49ers would be picking somewhere in the twenties (or maybe even later, if all went well). Of course, drafting higher would be better, but picking lower usually means that a team has done really well the previous season. Picking high year after year means failure after failure. Generally speaking. But that's how it typically works.

The 49ers with the 32nd pick (note: if you don't follow football nor the draft much, picking 32nd would indicate that the Niners won the Super Bowl!). I could go for that.

yet another college bowl game

2011-12-30T12:47:00.000-08:00

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)

long-term implications of beating the Rams...

2011-12-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

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.

game 15 - 49ers vs. Seahawks

2011-12-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

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!

game 14 - Steelers vs. 49ers

2011-12-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

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!

Spam on pizza?

2011-12-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

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!

game 13 - 49ers vs. Cardinals

2011-12-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

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??

game 12 - Rams vs. 49ers

2011-12-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

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!

game 11 - 49ers vs. Ravens

2011-11-25T11:45:00.000-08:00

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.

fancy chef-speak

2011-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

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.

game 10 - Cardinals vs. 49ers

2011-11-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

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.

Marian the librarian

2011-11-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

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!

game 9 - Giants vs. 49ers

2011-11-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

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!

game 8 - 49ers vs. Redskins

2011-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

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).

game 7 - Browns vs. 49ers

2011-10-31T11:12:00.000-07:00

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!

reading is fun

2011-10-26T11:48:00.001-07:00

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!"

game 6 - 49ers vs. Lions

2011-10-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

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...

the quarterback whisperer

2011-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

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.

game 5 - Buccaneers vs. 49ers

2011-10-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

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?"

game 4 - 49ers vs. Eagles

2011-10-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

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.

game 3 - 49ers vs. Bengals

2011-09-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

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.

in a galaxy far, far away...

2011-09-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

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.'

all I have to do is mention it

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

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!

game 2 - Cowboys vs. 49ers

2011-09-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

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...

a fishy baseball team

2011-09-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

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!

game 1 - Seahawks vs. 49ers

2011-09-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

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.

interchangeable exteriors and interiors

2011-09-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

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.

easy to read

2011-09-04T10:42:00.001-07:00

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.

preseason game - 49ers vs. Chargers

2011-09-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

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!

boxes on wheels

2011-08-30T11:04:00.001-07:00

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?

preseason game - Texans vs. 49ers

2011-08-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

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!

preseason game - Raiders vs. 49ers

2011-08-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

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.

the king retires

2011-08-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

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.

talk to the hand

2011-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

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!

preseason game - 49ers vs. Saints

2011-08-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

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!

half deaf

2011-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

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...

at the end of the day...

2011-08-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

the sun sets.

on my desktop

2011-08-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

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.

oh no, football talk!

2011-08-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

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!!

have you heard of... ?

2011-08-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Nnamdi

2011-07-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

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?

Panda-monium

2011-07-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

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!

voices

2011-07-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

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...

cereal alchemy

2011-07-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

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.

Tim Lincecum lookalike

2011-07-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

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?

NL All-Stars

2011-07-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

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.

hit the ball and run!

2011-06-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

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?

what Willie Mays would make today

2011-06-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

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!"

three picks

2011-06-24T09:27:00.001-07:00

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.'

basketball draft

2011-06-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

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...

simply huckabee

2011-06-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

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.

the bench coach

2011-06-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

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!"

acronyms

2011-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

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!

play at the plate

2011-05-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

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.

the Logo

2011-05-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

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... !

my happy place is in... Croatia?

2011-05-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of that meditative exercise of going to your 'happy place' whenever you feel stressed or otherwise need to get away from reality? There was a link on Yahoo! recently that pointed readers towards the most beautiful places on Earth and I was swept away by a place called Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

From the very first photograph, I was reminded of my idea of what paradise must look like, the kind of visuals that I've tried imagining in the past. A place like this actually exists! Of course, in my mind at least, I would add to it: magically natural lighting for the nights; water temperatures to suit whatever mood I'm; and hummingbirds, lots and lots of hummingbirds. Plus I can fly, swim like a dolphin - I could go on, but you should take a look and maybe dream of your own world!

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

warriors and generals

2011-05-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Lakers made a fairly early exit in this year's NBA playoffs and thus aren't going to repeat as champions three years running ("Oh no, the sky is falling!"). It reminds me of an ex co-worker of mine that practically lived and died with how the Lakers did. And here I am, a Warriors fan. In my lifetime, there was that one time, back in 1975...

So as I laid in bed the other morning, it occurred to me how the Lakers are like the Harlem Globetrotters and consequently the Warriors are like their perpetual patsies, the Washington Generals.

I've got a very handsome looking Warriors T-shirt that I recently received from a cousin. I love wearing it around, and yet I'm beginning to wonder how it's almost like proudly walking around wearing a Washington Generals t-shirt. "Yeah, Go Generals!" I might as well be shouting as I shake my fist high up in the air.

"Go Warriors!"

$4.19

2011-05-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

The price sticker adhered to the plastic case is more red than orange. The case is comprised of a black base to which the car is securely attached and a clear plastic top which showcases the beauty of this object of my affection; at my age then, nothing captured my imagination more.

I’m not certain how old I was at the time I was scoping out this car. Let’s see what I can remember: it was before Magna-traction, a new chassis design that utilized the already existing magnets in the rotor by exposing them through cutouts so the cars would ‘cling’ to the tracks better (when Magna-traction came along, the cars jumped in price to $4.55 - a virtual king’s ransom!); it must have been after my best friend Stephen clued me into the King - that is, Richard Petty; and I had been into AFX slot cars for a little while already. It was the early ‘70s.

The little beauty caught my attention at a store called the Palace of Sporting Goods, which was located on Chestnut Avenue, within walking distance from my house. There was one summer when I would walk daily with my cousin Darryl to our favorite stores along an old section of Clayton Road: first to Top Notch Variety; then sometimes to Iron Horse Hobbies, whose owner wasn’t too fond of us kids walking into his store until we were a bit older; and finally across Chestnut to the Palace of Sporting Goods. I never did know why a sporting goods store would sell slot cars, but there they were inside the glass case that was set in the middle of the floor.

The one I was eyeing was perfect: it was the Plymouth Road Runner model, with the number 43 on it... naturally, it was Richard Petty’s car! The colors were blue and red, and although a race car fan would assume it had to be those two colors (or all blue), I’d seen photos in my prized AFX catalog that showed the same #43 Road Runner model in the colors yellow and orange... yellow and orange? Gross!

So I remember looking and admiring this car day after day until I summoned the courage to buy it - courage probably being measured in dollars and cents. I was thrilled with what turned out to be one of my lifelong prized possessions. And to better mimic Richard Petty’s race car, I applied two small ‘STP’ decals from a stash of decals I’d collected from old plastic modeling kits that fit perfectly on the rear fenders of each side.

I wonder now what would have been the effect had somebody else bought this slot car while I was hesitating for so long to buy it myself? Maybe I simply wasn’t thinking of that as a possibility. Or the $4.19 was a lot of money and I was looking for an excuse not to spend it. In the end though, when I was ready to buy it, there it was sitting in the case waiting for me.

Sure, there were the Sizzlers (other cool electric toy cars) that I loved playing with; there were the SSPs that were fun - the fastest car in the neighborhood was the purple Laker Special I had bought for my brother one year as a gift; and the usual Hot Wheels; but my favorites were my AFX slot cars. I can still picture the celebrity race drivers that endorsed Aurora AFX slot car racing: A.J. Foyt, Richard Petty, and Jackie Stewart. I spent hours sketching how I would put together my pieces of track when I tired of my current layout, always trying to make it evenly divided for each of the two lanes or ‘slots.’ Being on the outside lane was actually faster because you could hug the rail and not wipeout as was so easy to do on the inside lane.

I have my cars still, all kept in the blue colored plastic tackle box I bought so many years ago. I don’t remember where I first read it, but it was recommended that the best way to store and carry slot cars was in a tackle box, the kind used for fishing. Shopping around for one took some time too - it had to be just right. The metal ones were sturdier, but clanky and heavy, so I knew that plastic would be better. Some boxes were naturally too expensive, besides being too garish and fancy anyway. I wanted a simple, clean design, and I found it. It’s medium blue, with a white handle on top, and two white trays inside. And they were right, the trays are divided at the perfect width to hold AFX cars.

There was also the plastic white latch in the front - what to do with that? Oh yeah, it needed a sticker! Which sticker? Do I put on an A’s sticker or a Giants sticker? In the end, I went with the Giants.

********

I wrote the above for a writing class I am taking. I got some very nice comments and suggestions for edits, many of which I made. Thanks to my instructor and classmates! I took photographs so readers can see my prized #43 Plymouth Road Runner, as well as my other AFX cars and the case I keep them in. Regular readers might remember that I wrote a musing about this subject awhile ago.

Sharp-eyed observers will see that I have a G-Plus car in my collection. And yes, I used to switch out chassis and shells all the time, so I don't know anymore just which chassis originally came with my Richard Petty car. As one might have noticed, the chassis I have with my Road Runner right now has a couple of extra welds which came with a special model that originally sported 'headlights.'

lovely lyrics

2011-05-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've written before in this blog about lyrics that I really liked. In today's entry, I'm including lyrics from the song 'Pretty Ballerina' by the Left Banke, one of two songs that I pointed out in my previous entry:

I called her yesterday,
It should have been tomorrow

I could not keep
The joy that was inside

I begged for her to tell me
If she really loved me

Somewhere a mountain is moving
Afraid its moving without me

by Michael Brown

How gorgeous is that?

Prior to typing today's entry, I did a little looking around the Internet for these lyrics and I guess I missed some of the meaning behind those last couple of lines - they can be interpreted as being akin to 'feeling the Earth move.' Wow! And I just knew that I liked them.

the left banke

2011-05-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Music Choice the other day and heard a song that seemed instantly familiar yet I don't think I'd heard it all that much growing up. It is by the '60s group, the Left Banke, and the song is called 'Pretty Ballerina.' The melody is so incredibly gorgeous and the performance perfect.

I was so intrigued by this wondrous bit of music that I spent some time online looking for information about the band. I suppose they could be called a 'Two-Hit Wonder,' their other more famous song being 'Walk Away Renee.' The Left Banke's career trajectory should have gone on much longer, but they were very young and their management wasn't a good match for them.

From the bit I've read, the song 'Walk Away Renee' was inspired by a real woman named Renee ('Pretty Ballerina' was also inspired by this same woman, as well as at least one other song by the same songwriter). The songwriter was but a teenager at the time he was smitten by her when she first showed up with the bass player.

Here are a couple of YouTube clips:

Pretty Ballerina

Walk Away Renee

There's a Left Banke website with lots of information about them... if you find yourself as curious as I am! There's even mention of a singer named Steven Tallarico in one of the articles, better known today as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. And the Wikipedia article mentions both he and actor Michael McKean from Spinal Tap.

Washington's baseball team

2011-05-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, the guys on the radio called the Washington Nationals baseball team 'the Nats' - abbreviating their name as people so often like to do with words. Okay, I knew the context of their conversation, so I knew which team they were referring to. But as I laid in bed, I started picturing not 'the Nats' but... 'the Gnats' instead. And considering that later that day, the Nationals ended up taking three out of four games against my Giants, calling them the Gnats seems all the more appropriate.

So with them being the Gnats in my mind starting yesterday morning, I pictured what a good logo would look like... unfortunately, I can't draw but it's along the lines of what the New Orleans Hornets logo looks like:

And then given that Washington baseball teams in the past were known as the Senators, I then pictured these gnats dressed up formally as one might imagine a Senator would dress, in a suit and tie, as a member of our Legislature. Then give it a prop like a baseball glove or a bat, and there you go!

Who knows, maybe Washington Nationals fans already have their choice of t-shirts that playfully show their Gnats in such a get-up. It's fun to imagine, don't you think?

naming rights

2011-05-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

From what I've heard, the stadium where the Oakland Raiders play their home games has sold the naming rights to Overstock.com, so ostensibly the venue will be called 'Overstock.com Coliseum' or some such name next year. I miss when it was simply called the 'Oakland Coliseum' (or 'Oakland-Alameda Coliseum' I suppose).

For awhile now, my idea has been: why doesn't a company, oh, say, Apple (a favorite of mine, by the way!) buy the rights to the stadium at Candlestick Point where the 49ers play their home games, and call it 'Candlestick Park' like in the good old days? Sure, the name 'Apple' won't be splashed all over the place and won't get mentioned all the time, but as a measure of good will or gift to the fans... Plus, I'm sure people will be well aware that it is Apple Computer that is doing such a thing.

So going forward, perhaps when/if the new 49ers stadium is built in the South Bay some years from now, the same idea can apply. Maybe Apple can pay for the rights to the name and have it called '49ers Stadium.' We'd all still know it's Apple (or whichever company goes for this idea), but it will be officially named '49ers Stadium' or 'Niners Stadium' for short.

Brilliant, huh? :-)

after the third and final day of the draft...

2011-05-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Seven picks made by the 49ers yesterday! It's nice to have had the luxury of so many picks, even in the late rounds. Now I didn't know any of the names and from what I've read, many of the choices are going to be looked at at different positions than what they played in college; what was emphasized in the post-draft news conference was that the Niners were looking for great athletes with exceptional character first and foremost. They are anticipated to be very 'coachable.'

This is a different approach than what I am used to, but with a new coaching staff I am going into the new season with an open mind. We'll see how this first draft in the Harbaugh era goes; we won't know for a few years how well they drafted!

********

In addition to the draft, there is also the speculation that Alex Smith is virtually assured of signing up with the 49ers for at least one more season. If that is what Jim Harbaugh desires, then I am all aboard with it as well. Coach Harbaugh has been stressing that he wants Smith back as quarterback for awhile now. Who knows, looking back, maybe Harbaugh would have drafted Smith with the #1 overall pick back in the 2005 NFL draft too. I am willing to believe that Smith can excel once he works in just the right system, and I hope that Harbaugh and his staff can offer that system.

Coach Harbaugh is the first head coach to come from the offensive side of the ball, and I am looking forward to a more multi-faceted and flexible approach to their plan of attack. If only the same system will stay in place for many seasons in a row too (as long as it is effective!).

Now we just need for the lock-out to end. Let's get this show on the road!

after the second day of the draft...

2011-04-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

There is a word I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry: reach. I don't like it.

If you like to gamble, then you don't feel the need to ever 'reach' for a player. On the other hand, if there is a player that you like, go ahead and draft him even if there is the chance that you might be overdrafting him (overdrafting being synonymous with reaching... I think).

I was thrilled yesterday when the 49ers moved up in the 2nd round to draft who could be their quarterback of the future: Colin Kaepernick. He is one of the quarterbacks I mentioned wanting to get a couple of entries ago. And the Niners gave up some picks to get him. Some were surprised that they did so, but if he was the guy that Baalke and Harbaugh wanted, then they made sure to get him. Because it only takes one team to take a player that you want.

There has been discussion on my favorite 49ers board on whether or not it's fair to criticize a team for drafting a player before they were forecast to go. Taking Kaepernick wasn't even as big a deal as when the Niners drafted DB Chris Culliver in the third round. When draft guru Mike Mayock announced that he had Culliver slated to go in the fifth (or sixth) round, then it made the Niners look like they made a major reach. A MAJOR reach. Yet, it appears other draft boards had Culliver going anywhere in the 3rd and 4th rounds. And the 49ers took him in the 3rd round. Hey, that means they really wanted him. And they did trade for another sixth round pick while losing 4 spots before they took him.

As I mentioned not long ago, GM Trent Baalke doesn't like to gamble; if he wants someone, he makes sure to get him.

There's another phrase that is used when evaluating players: high risk-high reward. The fact is, there are only so many players that can make the final team roster. Not every player that is drafted is going to make the team, thereby bumping a veteran off the roster. Obviously, every fan wants their team to improve from year to year, but cuts will be made. And if the 49ers take a flyer on a potential star with all the tools that just need to be coached up correctly, I say, Go for it! And it appears that Culliver has all the tools.

Even though he is a rookie coach with no NFL head coaching experience, I thoroughly trust Jim Harbaugh's ability to put together a winning team with the players he is working with and the coaching staff he has put together. Naturally, it remains to be seen, but I'm excited!

after the first day of the draft...

2011-04-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

After the 49ers made their first pick of the draft, I was thinking: "Who?" "What?" "Aldon Smith?"

Not what I was expecting after the first six picks were made, so I started looking him up online - and now, I'm happy! Going into this draft (as I have been training myself to do over the last several drafts), I was prepared to accept whatever decision the 49ers brass made, so I didn't flip out or slap my head when his name was announced as many other Niners fans apparently did.

Aldon Smith was not on my radar at all; I only recognized his name as being one of the two Smiths (Tyron is the other, an offensive lineman drafted by the Dallas Cowboys two picks later) mocked to be taken in the first half of the first round. Good for the Niners for keeping their plans such a secret.

One thing I've noticed from the past two drafts, this year and last, is GM Trent Baalke sticks to his guns when he wants a particular player. Last year, he gave up a 4th-round pick just to move up two spots in the first round from 13 to 11 so he could take offensive tackle Anthony Davis. Baalke didn't want to take any chances even at such a price. He saw his player and moved up to get him. Similar to this year and Aldon Smith (if Alex Smith comes back, will they have their first and last names printed on the back of their jerseys?); Baalke couldn't safely trade back and still make sure he got Smith. Some people called drafting him a 'reach' but as the old cliche goes, it takes two to tango; it seems Baalke couldn't find a suitable trading partner, so he just stayed pat and got his man, who was projected to be taken just three or so picks later anyway.

And now the second day of the draft - how fun is that? What will they do? Move up to get one of their targeted quarterbacks? Sit and wait and take a cornerback when their turn comes... maybe they've already decided that their best bet is to resign Alex Smith or some other veteran free agent quarterback, if and when that is allowed to happen by the league. Maybe they are going to do this or do that... I don't know! Nobody knows, not even them because it depends on what happens with all the other teams. Only the nose knows. :-)

3 days and almost there...

2011-04-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

How excited am I and how tired of waiting? For the NFL draft, of course! This lockout is really messing things up, but forge on we must. With so much more in the air, at least it is making things that much more interesting. Free agent signings will just have to fill in the holes in the roster instead of vice versa.

As always, my opinions may be in a particular direction but my faith will go with whatever the 49ers brass decides is best. Especially with the blank slate we have now - we don't know what the new coaching staff is all about yet. But for now and from what I've read, the expected players on the Niners draft board (and still available when they pick) would have to be: Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara at cornerback and Robert Quinn as a prospective outside/rushing linebacker. To be honest, I would be more excited about drafting a later round quarterback than one of the two projected best quarterbacks, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert, either of whom could also be available when the 49ers pick. The Niners may have to move up from where they pick in the 2nd round to be able to draft one of the so-called second-tier quarterbacks; from what I've been able to gather, I am most interested in getting either Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, or Colin Kaepernick.

But we'll see how the draft goes. In spite of the sound decisions that teams will be trying to make, there could be a certain vibe that takes over the proceedings. A domino effect. If one team drafts a quarterback sooner than expected, then there could be rush of quarterbacks taken and who knows what will happen then? Fortunately, the 49ers have plenty of picks to work with if they need to trade to move up in order to get their guy (and as I mentioned in my previous post, hopefully they will have a handful of guys/quarterbacks they would be more than happy to draft).

Another thing to keep in mind is how the draft is broken up into three days, as was started with last year's draft. That means that all the teams will have a night to go over what just happened with Thursday evening's first round and prepare for the second and third rounds to take place on Friday. More time to analyze and strategize... and second guess too! Calls will be made and trades discussed. By Thursday night, each team will have (on average) one first round pick; did the 49ers trade up? Trade down? What about Friday and Saturday? Saturday should be fun because the Niners have so many picks this time around. Such intrigue!

And do I hope that Alex Smith returns for another year as well? I don't know, I just don't know...

10 days and counting down...

2011-04-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

Back to talking football: even though there is a lockout going on now because of the need for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the players and the owners (it's so complicated, I don't want to know the details - I just want me some football!), the NFL draft is nevertheless coming up and it starts 10 days from today on April 28th.

And as you all know by now, I'm a 49er fan. So what will they do? Realistically speaking, only they should know and nobody else. Shhh... it's a secret! Because the draft is another game, just another aspect of the all-encompassing competition that is professional sports. The less the other teams know about 49er plans the better (unless other teams are fed enough right or wrong information to help serve Niner purposes... bwahahahah). I find it endlessly fascinating because there are 31 other teams trying to do the same thing. We (I'm going to go ahead and say 'we' and 'us' although I'm just a fan, okay?) need to have the better plans and the better instincts as to which players will perform better as NFL players. And there need to be contingency plans in place; after all, we can try to project which players will even be available for us to pick at what times, but any of the other teams may well draft them ahead of us.

Since there isn't a new CBA in place right now, teams aren't allowed to sign players or make trades involving players. So teams will be going into the draft with less knowledge about their rosters than in normal seasons. And the 49ers have a new head coach, a mostly new coaching staff, and an unsettled quarterback situation. I've read articles stating that new coach Jim Harbaugh should know exactly which quarterback to target in the draft come draft day; however I contend that maybe he'll have several quarterback prospects he would like to work with and believes he can mold into champions. If two he likes get snagged by other teams, then the third will work just fine. They each have their different strengths, and Coach Harbaugh can coach each one of them up, as long as they are within the pool of quarterbacks that he approves of. The way I see it? Whichever players the Niners draft are the fortunate ones, especially the QB(s)!

photo of my friend the lizard

2011-04-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was able to take a photograph of my friend from my previous post. When I took it, it already seemed a bit bigger then the 2 and a half to three inches (including tail) I estimated before. Maybe lizards really do grow that fast? I'm still wondering what species it is. Is this one nearing full adult length? Or will it get a lot bigger?

my friend the lizard

2011-04-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

Outside my front door and encompassing the little patio space is my new friend of about a week and a half - a lizard. It's a tiny one, I'm guessing two and a half to three inches long, tail included. I don't know the species, but I don't see any bright color on its belly.

Whenever I go outside and when the sun is shining brightly on the patio, I can't help but look for it. What's particular about this one (I think it's always the same one, although I've spotted three lizards at the same time on opposite sides of the house wall; one of those three though has had its tail pulled off) is when I go out and stand and look for it, it usually comes out from under the plants and makes itself visible to me. It's as if we have a connection and it isn't frightened of me.

I've sat down on the concrete within a couple of feet from it and we keep each other company for a little while. Just yesterday, it eventually leapt up into the branches of a still young Mt. Diablo manzanita shrub that I'm hoping will flower for the first time next year. I didn't know our local lizards climbed into branches like that. I really don't think I'm imagining more than there is... I think this particular lizard recognizes me and that we're compadres!

small ball and athletes

2011-04-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

Roll my eyes and shake my head... that's what I end up doing when I hear sports announcers describe a basketball team as having gone small with their lineup. A lineup whose height averages, what, something like 6 feet- 7 inches tall? Maybe as 'short' as 6 feet- 5 inches?

Maybe I've mentioned this before, but wasn't Nate Archibald (former NBA point guard) given the nickname of 'Tiny'? All 6 feet plus of him? I know, I know, basketball players are often 6 feet- 10 inches and taller, so it's all relative, but it's still tough for me to hear.

********

With the NFL Draft fast approaching, it's interesting to read that a prospective draft pick is not athletic. What's that supposed to mean? I have yet to hear what a non-athletic athlete is. Maybe it's too subjective to define and it's simply a matter of swiftness or something, but as long as they make plays and help the team win, I really don't care how athletic they are.

football more than baseball

2011-03-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, do I pay attention to football more than baseball! The NFL Draft begins on April 28th, which I've known for months; the baseball season starts a little earlier than I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry - it starts today!

I wonder if I should admit this but I like the NFL Draft so much, I might even like it more than... football itself. There's something about the anticipation and the potential of newly drafted players, a sense of optimism for the seasons to come (if this collective bargaining agreement mess ever gets settled) that's sometimes better than actually going through the reality of the football season. I'd rather dream.

And getting back to baseball, I read in today's paper that a Giants fan has spent $1000 for a small plane to pull a banner over Dodger Stadium today that says something like "The Dodgers suck..." in its brief message. As much as I don't like the Dodgers, I really disagree with doing this. It's their opening day after all (it is a Giants-Dodgers game), and if it's supposed to be a reaction to mistreatment by Dodger fans all these years, why not be better than them? Why not show a little class (if you want to think silently to yourself "Dodgers suck!" - then fine). They've still won more World Series championships than the Giants, at least since the move to the West Coast, and besides it smacks of desperation and bitterness.

********

I think I saw a female Allen's (or rufous) hummingbird this morning - their flight is quiet compared to the whistle that the male counterparts of their species make. I hope it was what I think it was; I just don't see them enough anymore.

name and number

2011-03-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

With the NFL Draft fast approaching (but not fast enough), my mind will be increasingly on football. And at the same time, with the MLB season just days away from starting, I'll also be thinking about baseball! Today's entry will involve both sports:

If you're a 49er fan, as I am, you are familiar with the running back Anthony Dixon. As far as I'm concerned, he was a late-round gem that the Niners drafted last year. As last year's pre-season progressed, we started becoming accustomed to him wearing the number 33; in football more than in other sports, the numbers they wear on their jerseys help us quickly identify who they are; after all, their faces are hidden behind their face masks, their bodies are covered by protective padding, and there are so many of them running around the field at the same time. Even though number 33 is Roger Craig's old number, I think there's been enough time since he was on the team to allow another running back to wear it.

Still, after running back Michael Robinson left the team, Dixon quickly assumed Robinson's old number, 24. Which was an adjustment for me... I had so closely associated Robinson as 24 and Dixon as 33. So okay, I suppose that after enough time, I'll know Dixon as number 24. Yet, there is another 49ers player that I would have much preferred to take over the number 24 when Robinson was no longer wearing it: Taylor Mays.

Are you on to the reason why yet? Taylor Mays wears the number 23 for the 49ers, but imagine if he wore the number 24 instead. A San Francisco athlete named Mays wearing the number 24. How perfect would that be? (for those of you too young to remember what I am referring to, the great Willie Mays wore number 24 when he played for the San Francisco Giants). And Taylor Mays playing the position of safety, otherwise known as playing 'center field' in a defensive set, well, it's fun to imagine.

breathtaking beauty

2011-03-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, I heard on the radio that Academy Award-winning actress and screen legend Elizabeth Taylor had passed away. There will surely be coverage in all of the media in the days to come, such as pages dedicated to her life and career in many magazines. As for today's blog entry, I'll just go over some of my own thoughts about her.

The guys on the radio this morning mentioned that those under 30-years of age would for the most part be unfamiliar with her; I'd have to agree, as I didn't know much about her when I was younger. I'd heard her name, sure, back in the 1970's, but didn't really know what all of the fuss was until I looked at pictures of her when she was young. WOW!

I remember when I was in my twenties, I'd go to an occasional antique show in San Mateo with my cousin - not really knowing what to do with myself in such a place (I went mostly to give my cousin some company), it wasn't difficult to while away the time looking for photos of Ms. Taylor. And then when ebay came along, I found myself bidding on photos of her. It's so fitting that she once portrayed Helen of Troy!

There was also a time, back before DVDs, when I started a mini-collection of her movies on VHS. I ended up getting no more than half a dozen ... I'd have to say that my two favorites are A Place in the Sun (with Montgomery Clift) and Giant (with Rock Hudson and James Dean). If you're familiar with A Place in the Sun, sometimes when I think of the young and ravishing Elizabeth Taylor, the name 'Vickers' flashes over and over in my mind too!

March madness

2011-03-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

I really don't understand the popularity of NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness. That it's popular, okay, no problem. But for it to be as popular as it is? I've just never been aware of people following college basketball all that closely throughout the regular season... and then it seems suddenly, people are drawing up brackets and are glued to their television sets.

age and perspective

2011-03-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Back when I was in my teens, I remember just not understanding why the father of the bride would be sobbing and getting so emotional about 'giving away' his daughter on her wedding day. I thought "She's an ADULT! What's the big deal? She's an adult and now she's getting married - quit your blubbering!"

Well, now that I'm quote-unquote grown-up myself, and having watched my nieces and nephews become adults, yes, I see it now. When I look at them, I see the past when they were little children, when they were babies, and I feel so sentimental.

What brings this up is my favorite current television commercial. I believe it's by Subaru, the car-maker. It shows a father leaning in the passenger side of a car speaking to his daughter as she's about to head off somewhere, giving her pointers on how to drive safely. But the daughter is a little girl. She's so cute! "Yes, daddy!" (or something like that). And even the first time I saw this commercial, after getting caught up in seeing this little girl in the driver's seat, I think I started knowing what was going to happen next... that the daughter is actually in her teens of driving age. The father was picturing her back when she was young. Awww... so sentimental. But now I get it.

I've seen other commercials using the same premise before, but this one is so well cast and directed. And it's not even being overplayed (like some commercials that I won't mention today - maybe next time). My mother passed away several years ago, but I better understand now how she must have looked at me and I wish I could go back and somehow convey that same love back to her. I suppose, in my case anyway, it just takes longer for guys to understand a parent's love.

garden grown

2011-03-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

This morning I ate an orange for breakfast; well, not just an orange but I had one for 'dessert.' Lucky Charms were the main course. Anyway, the orange was oh, so delicious! What made it so delicious, you ask? It was from the tree of somebody's garden. Garden fresh from the paternal grandmother of my nieces and nephew. Just as utterly scrumptious as the oranges from one of my aunt's trees. Twice as juicy and twice as sweet as the oranges bought from the grocery store. Heck, even the pulp goes down easier. Reminds me of the tomatoes that one of my sisters grows - they are so much better than the ones that are store bought, it's as if they are different vegetables/fruits altogether.

Wall Street casting

2011-03-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

I suppose all the recent news about actor Charlie Sheen is quite interesting, but I'm finding the machine that drives celebrity gossip just as interesting. I'm fully expecting that there will be an 'expert' brought in to examine whether or not all the attention is somehow exacerbating the situation. Which is just another angle, isn't it? And the beat goes on...

Anyway, I've been thinking lately about the movie Wall Street, in which Charlie Sheen starred with Michael Douglas. If you are familiar with the movie, they cast the perfect actor to portray Charlie Sheen's character Bud Fox's father: Martin Sheen. There are several scenes in which the father gives advice about life to his son - I bet those scenes would be rather poignant to watch right now.

actors and roles

2011-02-23T15:40:00.000-08:00

Recently, it was actor Alan Rickman's birthday. And the other night, I happened to catch part of the film 'Die Hard' playing on TV. Rickman portrayed the uber-villain Hans Gruber. As far as bad guys go, Hans Gruber is like an icon.

Many years after 'Die Hard,' the Harry Potter series of movies started coming out. And in the role of Severus Snape? Alan Rickman! For me, I can't help but think that it's Hans Gruber in the role of Severus Snape; I suppose for others who see him in Harry Potter first and then in Die Hard, it's more like seeing Severus Snape playing Hans Gruber. Of course, as an actor, I'm sure that Mr. Rickman would just as soon people not recognize him from any other role he's played, yet for the viewer it's a natural thing to do. And in this case, neither role is exactly the protagonist...

It's amusing to think that for an entire generation, Sir Alec Guinness was the guy who played Obi-Wan Kenobi - for me anyway. Yet, he had made a name for himself as an actor long before Star Wars. I wonder what all the people who knew him for such films as 'The Bridge On the River Kwai' thought when he became more popularly known as a Jedi Master!

short and negative

2011-02-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the TV commercial for 'FreeScore.com?' It features two tall guys with full heads of hair that represent excellent credit scores standing next to a balding short(er) guy representing a low credit score. I guess this sort of thing has been going on since forever, including for example, the lovely Cinderella as our heroine being mistreated by her frumpy evil stepsisters. So the bottom line is: physically attractive = good, whereas short, frumpy (and for guys, bald) = bad.

FreeScore.com takes it a step further and has the short guy wearing a hockey mask. Either that's piling on the effect, or it is trying to amend the idea - it's actually the mask that symbolizes bad credit, and not necessarily that the guy is short, balding, and out of shape.

And at the end of the commercial, the short guy gets replaced by a third tall guy with a full head of hair, as if to say "Yay!, his credit's been repaired!"

excellent ice cream floats

2011-02-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've rarely used this blog to promote products (I've mentioned before that the hummingbirds around my house prefer C & H granulated sugar in their nectar mix), and the weather is a bit too cold to be talking ice cream floats, but why not... while it's on my mind?

Trader Joe's has a couple of bottled drinks that go perfectly with vanilla ice cream: Clementine Sparkler and Sparkling Blueberry Juice. Yes, even better than root beer... seriously! They're not quite as carbonated and are simply delicious. They're good without ice cream too of course, but I for one love them as floats. They have other flavors (apple and pomegranate) that I'll have to try with ice cream too.

Also, while I'm thinking about it, ice cream that is, an excellent flavor for the hot summer months is lemon chiffon. It's the perfect flavor and smoothness for when it's hot. I'm anticipating trying the combination of lemon chiffon ice cream mixed with Sparkling Blueberry Juice. Sounds good, doesn't it?

I do like spiders and snakes

2011-02-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Maybe you remember an old song by Jim Stafford called 'Spiders and Snakes'... or maybe not.

In any case, growing up I thought of spiders as mere pests, particularly when they were in the house. And regrettably (looking back now), I used to kill them with a facial tissue and throw them in the trash. Well, I don't do that anymore. If I bother to do anything now, I've found that I can usually trap them in a plastic cup, slowly slide a stiff piece of paper/card under the cup, and safely transport them outside where I let them go. The thought of spiders and especially the way they look still gives me the heebie-jeebies, but I realize that they are a very important part of the balance of nature.

I don't even like to kill flies anymore. And I use the same plastic cup method to catch and release them. That is, only if they are parked on a flat surface that I can press against with the cup. But it's actually often easier to do than swatting them with a swatter. And once they're outside, I figure that they're again part of the cycle of life, even if they get gobbled up by a bird (or caught in a spider's web).

Snakes are cooler - I've always liked them. For reasons unknown, when I was little I decided that the anaconda was my favorite kind of snake. I even did a school report on them back in elementary school. Even now, I'd love to find a gopher snake in the garden. Of course, I'd give it plenty of room and not grab it or otherwise annoy it too much. Although several years ago, there was a small one making its way across the porch and I went ahead and grabbed my camera and took pictures as I laid on the ground. So neat!

Not long ago, the local wildbird store featured a talk being given by a naturalist, this time to give a presentation about reptiles and amphibians. And he brought maybe three snakes, one of which was gentle to handle. So he let us members of the audience hold it! It was a king snake, one that was used to being handled by people. So I was able to hold it myself too at some point. Awesome! On the other hand, if the guy had been talking about tarantulas, I'd have to stay away... like I said, heebie-jeebies.

Think about it though, where would we be without spiders and snakes? Without them, the world would be overrun with flies and rodents and other pesky things. Nature out of balance.

the category is 'group'

2011-02-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl being today brought back a memory for me - involving a game show. It was a proud moment for me, my greatest triumph ever while watching 'Wheel of Fortune': I guessed correctly on a puzzle with ZERO letters! How is that possible you ask? Well, I'll tell you...

It goes way back to my days at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. A bunch of us were watching 'Wheel of Fortune' in our apartment (we were not regular watchers, by the way) and a puzzle came up and the category was 'group.' There were two words. And a thought suddenly occurred to me: Washington Redskins. So I quickly counted out the number of letters (the blank, unlit puzzle blocks) in each word: 10 in the first word, and 8 in the second. Yup, it worked out like the answer to the puzzle could very well be 'Washington Redskins.' And as the game played out, I was right!

Now, you may be wondering, how did I do that? It turns out that watching Wheel of Fortune several times before (not every night, mind you) helped me out. I recalled that less than a year earlier, the category was also 'group' and the solution to the puzzle was whichever team was the current World Series champion in baseball at the time. So when I watched this particular show, the Redskins happened to be the current Super Bowl champs. Pretty snazzy, huh? I solved the puzzle with zero letters showing.

I gotta take my triumphs whenever I can get them.

more lyrics

2011-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

This morning, I heard Bob Dylan singing his wonderful song "Mr. Tambourine Man" on the radio. His performance of it isn't one I've heard very often. Rarely, in fact. Back when my computer was able to handle YouTube videos, I watched him singing the song while standing behind a lectern, as I recall. It was in glorious black-and-white.

Most of us (in the older generation anyway) are quite familiar with the Byrds' version of the song. Which I observed one day as being quite unique in that it simply goes chorus-verse-chorus, as opposed to what I imagine to be the more common verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus of most popular songs on the radio. I'd actually read that there were more lyrics to "Mr. Tambourine Man" than were used by the Byrds when they recorded it, which is probably why I looked it up and Dylan's performance in the first place.

Of course, I love the Byrds' arrangement and that gorgeous opening by Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacker guitar and the trademark vocal harmonies - just a beautiful rendition. It helped define the music of a generation! But listening to Dylan sing the song with its additional lyrics seems to give it more perspective. Here is one site's listing of the lyrics for "Mr. Tambourine Man ."

Another song whose lyrics are stunning to read and moreover to hear performed is "Hallelujah" by the singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. My first experience with it came from listening to Jeff Buckley's version on his album "Grace." Stunning, absolutely stunning. Over the years, I pay attention whenever I hear the song and also found myself looking for performances on YouTube and more information in general. Before Jeff Buckley, it seems that the singer John Cale first revived the song to greater popularity and what I believe is the arrangement that most contemporary performers more or less follow now.

The story I read is that John Cale contacted Leonard Cohen about wanting to perform the song and asked for the lyrics; Cohen generously faxed Cale the lyrics in their entirety and there were verse after verse, maybe even more than ten in all! So it came down to Cale choosing which ones he wanted to include. Here is the same above site's listing of the lyrics for "Hallelujah" (I wonder if there are even more written down somewhere in Cohen's possession?).

Billie Jean Moffitt

2011-01-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, you're probably wondering - "Who's Billie Jean Moffitt?"

Back in the day, and if you're a long-time fan of the San Francisco Giants you'll remember him, there was a pitcher on the Giants named Randy Moffitt. I was just a kid when he was on the team, but I remember him being a relief pitcher. In fact, I can still picture how he looked from one of my baseball cards. Well, he had a sister named Billie Jean.

Exciting, isn't it?

Well, there's more... living here in the Bay Area, I recall how my family would drive past these particular apartments near Emeryville and someone would invariably say that Billie Jean lives there. Just a little something that caught my imagination at the time.

Oh, wait a minute, this story is only interesting because Billie Jean Moffitt is better known as Billie Jean King. Pretty neat, huh? Impressive that they both achieved such high levels in their respective sports.

worst call in football

2011-01-26T11:36:00.000-08:00

This call may sound good, but it's rather silly:

"What a catch!!! He just reached his arms out... and snatched that ball right out of the air!"

Wait, so you mean he caught a pass? That's what catching a pass is, isn't it? The ball gets thrown into the air, and it gets caught. It's not a hand-off; it's a pass. It's like describing a run by saying, "Wow - what a run! He just kept putting one foot in front of the other over and over again." Or describing throwing a pass with, "What a throw! He flung his arm forward and then let go of the ball!"

I suppose by describing a great catch by saying that a player 'snatched the ball out of the air,' it distinguishes it from plays where the ball is allowed to hit the chest, cradled from falling to the ground, and caught that way. Still, the 'snatched the ball out of the air' call makes me roll my eyes a bit. Now, if something else about the catch was extraordinary, then describe that...

those were the days (with hair!)

2011-01-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, I had a blog entry (rock and roll photographs) that included a picture of the band U2 when they were much, much younger... back when they were teenagers! Difficult to believe that they are the same set of people that we see today. Of course, I've aged over the years as well, but that's not the point.

Anyway, I thought I'd give equal photo time to another band that has meant a lot to me and was a big part of my life, particularly in my 20's and 30's: R.E.M. I suppose that for the many people that are too young to remember, Michael Stipe has always kept his head clean-shaven, whereas for me, I still have a picture in my mind of the long locks he used to have... seriously! Not just a head of hair, but his hair was beyond shoulder length.

So, I found a couple of photos online, one that shows approximately what they look like today: contemporary R.E.M. (left to right: Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)

and yesteryear R.E.M. (left to right: original drummer Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck)

Over the years, it's been interesting for me to see their looks change - Peter for awhile wore his hair longer than shoulder length himself, Mike started wearing his hair longer, lighter, and wavy (and even more striking were the shimmering clothes he started wearing on stage), but the biggest adjustment was getting used to a bald Michael.

It's a lot of fun going back through the years and remembering each album release, the articles about them, the I.R.S. years, the years with their original drummer Bill... those were the days.

mammoth park

2011-01-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Crazy people - what are they thinking?

There is an article on the Yahoo! home page today that states that Japanese researchers are planning to resurrect the extinct mammoth from tissues that have been preserved and discovered in the permafrost of Siberia. Sure, I doubt that having living mammoths among us would be as harrowing as the bringing of dinosaurs back to life in the movie Jurassic Park, but I don't think this is a good idea. It might seem like a 'neat trick' and a cool challenge but it spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E to me.

Even if the mammoths themselves cause no obvious outward signs of problems, where would this new game end? What other extinct species would scientists strive to bring back just because... it's fun to play the role of creator? Why not put their energy, our energy, into restoring the balance to and preserving what's here now?

Here's the link to the article.

learning chess

2011-01-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's newspaper featured an article about young chess players and the popularity of the game. It reminded me of when I first learned how to play:

As I recall, I first learned how to play back in fourth grade. The teacher had arranged for a guy to come in and teach us - I can still picture what he looked like (imagine a slighter Eddie Money). Anyway, he taught us how each of the pieces moved and the basic rules, probably up to castling but short of en passant. What he didn't emphasize, probably because he didn't think he needed to, was that pawns can't move backwards.

I remember our first foray into playing games - my classmate and I would move a pawn a square forward and on our next turn, move it back again. Ah, those were the days. Non-aggressive, non-obtrusive, so peaceful. Nice, neat and tidy. Move a pawn forward, then move it back; then maybe next time, move a different pawn forward, then move it back again. I loved it.

Then that teacher guy happened by where we were playing and he broke the news to us: pawns only move forward. How horrifying! Looking back, that change to the rules, to the correct rules, ruined the game for me. There was no more retreating; the game became so much more, well, war-like. There would be no more peaceful co-existence and live and let-live platitudes.

I'd rather go bird-watching.

misnamed birds

2011-01-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

Here are only a couple of examples, but who named these birds? Were they being ironic or something? Bird-watching is serious business, so this kind of humor is unappreciated:

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Okay, maybe there is a subtle, rosy-colored blush on its belly at certain angles, but if someone actually went looking for a woodpecker with a red-belly, this isn't the bird that would be focused on.

Hooded Oriole

So the entire bird is a yellowish-orange with black highlights (facial mask, wings, and tail) and it's called a Hooded Oriole? What's up with that? Why isn't it called something like the Black-masked Oriole?

Well, I don't really mean that bird-watching is serious (although it can be) - it should be relaxing and bring people closer to nature. But the naming of certain species leaves a lot to be desired.

Dance of Joy!!!

2011-01-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Well, the 49ers landed their big fish - Jim Harbaugh has just been announced as their new Head Coach... Whew!

Things were getting scary there for awhile with stories going every which way. No one was really sure just what to report, so everything was being reported: the 49ers are out and Miami is in; Elway and the Broncos are scheduling an interview; the 49ers are moving on to their second and third choices; Harbaugh is considering remaining at Stanford; etc. Having gotten hyped up with all the talk about getting Harbaugh as new head coach of the Niners, that's who I wanted and now he's signing his contract this afternoon!

Now that he's the guy, I can say that I'm okay with how it was handled. I actually liked how he had the media running around not knowing what was going on. They got played - which is what I look forward to happening to opposing defenses in years to come: running around not knowing what's going on. I am SO excited about this.

I love his history and ties to the Bill Walsh legacy, I love his offensive savvy, I love the prospect of looking forward to his twice-a-year facedowns with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, just off the top of my mind. And his decision makes sense to me - why uproot his family and move out of the beautiful Bay Area and relocate across the country? This is the most excitement I've felt for the team since their last appearance in the playoffs. Mad props to Jed York, Trent Baalke, and the 49ers organization for getting this done.

And now cousin Balki and cousin Larry are doing the 'Dance of Joy!'

"don't be ridiculous!"

2011-01-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

So the 49ers have chosen Trent 'Baalke' Bartokomous to be their new general manager (sorry, but I saw the 'Perfect Strangers' reference on a website and couldn't resist!). Not surprisingly, a whole lot of discussion and fuss is going on right now; I might as well throw in some of my thoughts too:

I'm fine with it! As has been said, Baalke has been unofficially interviewing for the job ever since former G.M. Scot McCloughan left the team, and after all that, if Jed York believes he is the best choice, then there it is. It appears that many other people throughout the league think very highly of Baalke as well.

The time is not now to assume that he's the wrong choice as many fans are doing... we won't know for several years. And more immediately, will he be able to produce the popular pick of Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh as new Niner head coach? Well, it will reflect well on his ability to get things done if he can, although it appears that Jed York has been working on the prospect of getting Harbaugh for some time now. I've read too that Harbaugh himself has 'approved' the hiring of Baalke, even though that's kind of backwards. Harbaugh has that much clout right now, doesn't he? After all, the Stanford Cardinal did just win the Orange Bowl!

It wasn't long ago that fans and pundits were wondering why Mike Singletary was shown the door with one game in the regular season remaining... why not just let him finish out the season? Well, if the Niners have Harbaugh in their sights, then they had no time to waste in getting everything into place including the interviewing and selection process for the general manager position which Jed York wanted to have done first.

Was Jed York running a little 'misdirection' in the process of choosing the new G.M., stating that he wanted to run extensive interviews with every good prospect available? Well, if he wanted a realistic chance of getting Jim Harbaugh as his coach, he couldn't very well wait until he could interview every good prospect because he would have had to wait for the post-season to end. He doesn't have to tell the press everything that's going on in his mind, does he? If he's a little bit wily, and as long as everything turns out alright, I'm okay with it!

Which leads to the big question: Is Harbaugh worth it? NFL history is littered with successful college coaches that failed at the NFL level - why would Harbaugh be any different? Well, it's said that he runs an NFL-style of football at Stanford, and his coaching staff has many years of NFL experience among them. Harbaugh has coached (albeit briefly) at the NFL level as an assistant, so he knows the pace of the game. If he is hired, perhaps he would be bringing several of his assistants with him - I am particularly excited at the prospect of him bringing his offensive coordinator... in the Orange Bowl, Stanford proved themselves of utilizing tight ends in their offense: Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, anyone?

Even though Jed York seems to be moving really quickly, I wouldn't draw too many parallels with his hiring of Singletary a few years ago; Harbaugh and Singletary seem to be polar opposites in their qualifications and approaches to the game. Of course, as of this writing, no decision has been made on the head coaching position, but I am excited at the prospect of landing Harbaugh. Time will tell...

Week 17 - Cardinals vs. 49ers

2011-01-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

What to say? Should I admit how uninvolved I felt while watching yesterday's game? It's like watching a suspense movie after knowing how it ends, or reading a book already knowing how things turn out - there wasn't much to root for. It was only after the game and reading how excited the players were to get the victory that I was happy about the win.

(Interim) head coach Jim Tomsula brought joy to the team, something that had been missing for years. Joy as in playing the game. He was smiling, players were smiling, even before the outcome of the game had been decided. And the Arizona Cardinals were in the same boat as the Niners: record-wise, disappointing season-wise, etc. So it's not like they had that much more reason to play sullen yesterday.

As far as draft position goes, the victory only meant losing two spots, from the 5th overall pick to the 7th, so I do believe that the win meant more to the team than what might have been gained in April's draft. Trading up from 5th to the 1st overall pick is about as daunting as up from the 7th pick - it could well be impossible anyway. If QB Andrew Luck declares for the 2011 draft, I'm part of the vast majority that believes that he will be picked first. After that, teams just have to pick wisely; one never knows if the 7th pick will have a much better NFL career than the 5th pick.

And much more important to the future of the 49ers is the hiring of their next general manager and head coach. I'll just have to trust the Niners ownership and brain-trust to make the right decisions. And the jury, so to speak, will be out on them for a few seasons anyway. We'd all like the next Bill Walsh to be found and hired, but even he had a couple of disappointing win-loss records to begin his career as the 49ers head coach. I wonder if in this day and age of the Internet, Bill Walsh would have gotten another season after going 2-14 and 6-10 his first two seasons. Would Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. have been seen as such a genius for hiring Walsh in the first place? What if Walsh hadn't been able to draft Joe Montana because some other team had beaten him to the punch?

Thank goodness things worked out from top-to-bottom back then! Now... can it happen again?

electric cars

2010-12-30T10:52:00.001-08:00

The other day, there was an article about a new electric car called the Triac. I love the idea of electric cars and anything that reduces our dependence on oil and reduces the pollution generated by combustion engines, although I am wary of whatever other problems and challenges may arise as a result. In the case of electric cars, I wonder: what becomes of the batteries after they have outlived their usefulness? is electricity easily enough generated to recharge these vehicles? But all in all, it seems to be the right direction in which to go.

In my case though, I'm afraid that I'd be too self-conscious to drive around in a vehicle as conspicuous as the Triac - it's awfully unique looking. Perhaps someday when there are many more on the road, I'd be comfortable being seen in one, but I know that for awhile, vehicles such as that would get many looks and nearly just as many people pointing. The Prius is unique enough; why can't hybrid/electric cars be designed to look more traditional?

Now in my Utopian vision, I'd be okay if everyone drove around in electric vehicles. Then I wouldn't stand out for driving something that looked so odd, and wouldn't it be nice if we all drove cars that didn't spew smog into the air and weren't such a big part of our dependence on foreign oil (and all the political and war-related conflicts that come with that?). As long as they are safe to drive around and aren't worse for our environment than cars already are... including after they are put out to junkyards, the aforementioned used and dead batteries, etc. the world could be a better place. Maybe someday, the technology will be such that electric vehicles will be large enough for practical uses such as moving trucks and cement mixers - I know a lot of people would take one look at an electric car and think, "What can you get done with that?" It's a good start though.

tears and sniffling

2010-12-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Last night was the annual Kennedy Center Honors - at least the broadcast on television was; they actually took place earlier this month. And just like every year, I found myself welling up with tears. I just love these kinds of tributes.

In one instance, a moment reminded me of something else entirely, but this show does that to me. During the tribute to Oprah Winfrey, her partner Stedman, who was sitting behind her, leaned forward and put his hands on her shoulders. I thought he was about to rest his head on her shoulder (well, realistically he wasn't going to) - and it brought me back to when my mom was in a wheelchair in her last year with us, after she had suffered a stroke and also had brain cancer. To prop her head straight up, I sometimes found myself sitting behind her tiny wheelchair and placing my head upon her shoulder; she would then lean her head next to mine. I was fearful of putting too much weight upon her shoulder and wouldn't do this for too long, but now that she has passed on, how I wish I could do so again. Anyway, this was a moment I found the tears welling up - in fact, they are welling up as I type this.

There were other moments I found myself getting emotional during last night's telecast, not so personal in nature, but still touched all the same. The tribute to Paul McCartney was quite special, and I really enjoyed the performances. They did a nice job with the video too - when so much has already been done to honor the Beatles, how can one possibly create something new? But they managed to.

I found myself wondering last night how much of the show was shown on television and whether the performances were actually longer at the time they occurred. Did Chris Rock's comedy bit for Oprah last longer but was edited for TV? He was funny, and it seemed to be too brief.

Week 16 - 49ers vs. Rams

2010-12-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

Well, a loss isn't just a loss, but a new regime for the 49ers... Mike Singletary was let go as head coach of the team after yesterday's game. In losing to the St. Louis Rams, the Niners were officially eliminated from playoff contention which was tenuous at best anyway. Considering it was highly unlikely that even had the Niners made the playoffs that they would have gone very deep, it was probably for the best future-wise.

Will I be rooting for the 49ers to win next week's game? Of course I will! I rooted for them to win yesterday - it's instinctive. "You play to win the game" - Herm Edwards.

It will be an interesting time watching a new head coach on the sidelines and I wonder where the team's emotions are going to be. Will they play more loosely and driven? On the other hand, just like yesterday, there will be an easy fall-back going on in my mind... if they lose, I can't help but think, it could only help their draft status in next year's draft. And next year, there is likely to be a clear cut number one choice, Andrew Luck of Stanford (should he choose to leave school early). He is a prospect at quarterback, the likes of which isn't seen too often. For the 49ers to have even the remotest chance of drafting him, the stars would really have to align (Luck declaring this year, draft day trades, etc.). Then again, with the season yet to finish, any thoughts are wayyy too premature.

Strange how much things can change in just the course of one season. I can still picture in my mind a team function that was put on for the fans before the season began. It was team president Jed York, Coach Mike Singletary, newly appointed man in charge of the draft Trent Baalke, and one or two others on stage for a sort of team pep rally. And Coach Singletary got the most rousing ovation - I think many fans stood up and clapped for him (I watched on television). After an 8-8 season and expectations of even more improvement, it was such a time full of promise and visions of a team headed for greatness...

And then the team crashed and burned. And Singletary fired before the end of the season.

I watched today's press conference that featured Jed York making the formal announcement of Singletary's firing and the promotion of coach Jim Tomsula to interim head coach. And I remain impressed with Jed York as the leader of the team, his resolve and poise in the face of difficult circumstances. Throughout this tough season, many people have blamed him most of all for the team's difficulties. But I can see his desire to improve the team and make the right choices; he's still learning on the job himself. And most of all, for my own peace of mind at least, I can see a lot of his uncle Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. in him. As long as Jed doesn't go crazy and want to change the team logo, I am confident things will turn out all right!