Tuesday: Rock & Hoch
Mike Helton et al.
SO NEEDY, THIS NASCAR: We ran AP commentary in today’s paper with the following headline: “NASCAR needs old Kyle Busch back.” I stopped reading at “NASCAR needs…” In what other sport is there so much written on what that said sport needs? Why do we care so much about the health and well-being of a multi-million dollar business? Isn’t it NASCAR’s job to determine what NASCAR needs?
GLASS HOUSES: I’ve written a bunch of columns and blog posts about what NASCAR needs. I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t want to write any more of those.
A-MAC’S WHEELHOUSE: We have O-line news outta Blacksburg! Yes, sir! Michael Via is challenging Brent Benedict for the right guard spot.
MR. ED: Yahoo! Sports has a feature on everybody’s favorite ripped ref, Ed Hochuli. In the gym, Ed Hochuli does an hour of cardio daily and lifts weights for another four days a week. His wife, Cathie, doesn’t ask if he’s going to the gym; she asks when. You can say this is about vanity, but to him it’s part of his profession. “I ought to look like an athlete,” he says.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ed Hochuli also is a practicing attorney. Should have had him drop by and clear up that arbitration discovery debate on Lance on Friday. Speaking of Lance…
LANCE: From Yahoo! Sports: Lance Armstrong’s former team captain and close confidant George Hincapie begins life in cycling retirement this week, leaving behind the burning question: Was his cooperation with doping investigators the reason Armstrong decided last week to quit trying to clear his name?
WHERE IS EVERYBODY? Fewer than 11,000 attended Baltimore’s stirring, come-from-behind victory over the White Sox at Camden Yards last night. I know it was the first day of school up there and all, but…my family drove 4.5 hours to be there Saturday (great time, BTW). Charm City residents, I know your fear that this is a mirage. I understand it. But I promise you, this year is different, regardless of whether the O’s make the playoffs or not. This team’s impossibly cool to watch.
NO COMMENTARY NECESSARY: Penn State removes “Sweet Caroline” from its stadium playlist, saying the lyrics had nothing to do with it.
OK, COMMENTARY NECESSARY:
Regardless of what they say, I’m pretty sure they removed it because of the lyrics (“touching you, touching me…), which is ludicrous. My kids will still hear me call myself the “Tickle Monster” at times; Jailbird Jerry’s got no trademark on that phrase. Change your oversight procedures, yes, but this kind of thing is just ridiculous.
The sun is setting on the Carolina League season.
IDENTIFY THE MOVIE
“How many?”
“Ten thousand strong at least.”
“Ten thousand?”
“It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall.”
“Let them come.”
NAME THAT TUNE
Life’s kinda always been messing with me
You wanna see the light?
Can’t they chill and let me be free?
So do I
Can’t I take away all this pain?
You wanna see the light?
I try to every night, all in vain, in vain
Sometimes I cannot take this place
Sometimes it’s my life I can’t taste
Sometimes I cannot feel my face
You’ll never see me fall from grace…
August 28, 2012 - 8:43 AM
That movie line is from “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Tower.”
One of my favorite movie trilogies for sure.
I thought Ron Cherry was the most vilified referees in football.
Let see, there are Ed Hochuli, Ron Cherry, and Joey Crawford as the most despite referees. What is interesting to note is how buff those guys looks on TV; Joey Crawford could probably be the spokesman for Bosley if he decided that he needs hair.
Or not.
NASCAR-Don’t care.
UVA avoids a QB controversy for the time being by picking the veteran. That doesn’t mean that London is going to avoid it all season. I’m reminded of when a young hot shot named Tyrod showed up in B’burg. The moment UVA loses a game because of questionable QB performance, Wahoo fans will be screaming for Sims to start.
Nice movement on the VT o-line. It looks like things are getting set. I will remain worried about beating GT until the game is over. They’re a dangerous crowd and the VT defense has to play almost error free to stop ‘em.
AMac, nice obersvation about the crowd in Baltimore last night. During the 5th inning, my 11 year old commented on how empty the stands looked. I defended the attendance with “well, it’s Monday night.” The 14 year lod chimed in with “Did they start school today?” I think that the majic is back and the fans need to embrace it. As I told my girls, Baltimore hasn’t been relevant this late in the season for years. Maybe the fans just forgot how to go to Camden in September. Even if this year comes up short the future looks bright for the O’s.
I remember going to Camden Yards when it was new and you had to pay scalpers even for the cheapest seats. How times have cahnged. Yeah these refs are ripped but what about the replacement guys? Loikeb the Salem Red Sox but for me the minors season may as well end July 31st because come August it is time for football.
As a bitter Boston Red Sox fan all I can say is that I hope we can make the O’s feel the pain of missing the playoffs in Sept. the way they did it to us last year. Glad to return the favor.
Conversation between Theoden and Aragorn in the Two Towers. Song is Freak on a Leash – Korn.
Just a few days away for the Hokies and Jackets. Hokie fans should be worried, the Jackets will sting!!!! They will be mentally ready for this one, I am not sure the Hokies will. Lots of chaos on offense for VT this time around.
Right on about NASCAR Aaron. NASCAR could easily fix it’s own problems if they remember what made them in the first place. Good hard door to door racing in cars that looked alot like the ones people drive on the road. Long gone is the “stock” from stock car racing and right after that the drivers with the most talent. The best drivers are the ones at the local or regional level because they don’t have the right look or speak well enough to be in a commercial. If Dale Sr. were a young driver today he would never ever get a sponsor in Cup. The same goes for Petty, Pearson etc. NASCAR is all image and NO substance.
Barry, are you a GT fan? Or just another dime-a-dozen VT hater?
Just wondering if you’re gonna be blabbering on about bees stinging, panthers biting, bearcats scratching, etc all season long.
Song and movie both nailed. Good job, Blog Crowd.
Korn, Freak on a Leash…a song I know very well (actually ran through on Pandora this morning), but I see someone else already got it. Excellent music video too, by the way.
Nascar? Meh, I haven’t really cared in a decade.
And no offense, but I need your O’s to tank so my Tigers can make the post-season, if they can’t catch the ChiSox…
Barry will be quiet on 3 September. He should be quiet now as he has not taken my bet although offerred many times.
Still there Barry. $1K that Tech is better than the 7-5 you predicted.
Put up or shut up.
I don’t get the attraction to NASCAR. I do enjoy the science and engineering behind improving the cars, but all of the high school drama between the drivers ruins it all for me. I still say that it’s only a matter of time before we find out that it’s all a little more like WWE than anyone would like to admit.
Can you imagine if a baseball player took his bat to an opposing players car just because he was having a temper tantrum (kinda like Tony Stewart throwing helmets)? Or if a basketball player started launching basketballs at point-blank range at the opposing bench? Can you imagine what the outrage would be like? That crap wouldn’t be as accepted as part of NASCAR if it weren’t just a little “encouraged.”
Redskins release Chris Cooley this afternoon. Really hate to see him go but with all the injuries and Fred Davis not a big surprise.
hokie24, WWE doesn’t happen at 200 MPH.
NASCAR isn’t anywhere close to WWE. Did you see how close Mark Martin came to being killed a week and a half ago? Neat how he was just able to keep that car 12 inches farther ahead and not take that concrete wall in his side. Nobody ever died in a rasslin’ match, only really poorly built prop chairs ever suffered any noticeable damage.
You don’t watch much baseball, do you? Guys charging the mound after a high, hard one . . . . Never watched Ron Artest, or countless other NBA thugs mix it up?
Rick H,
Google Owen Hart.
AMcF,
Fearless forecasters page? Or or they going to wait until after the games for us to make picks?
“hokie24, WWE doesn’t happen at 200 MPH.”
What does this have to do with the price of tea in China?
“Nobody ever died in a rasslin’ match…”
Owen Hart??
I didn’t say that NASCAR drivers weren’t skilled at what they do. And I do enjoy the engineering efforts behind the scenes. But all of the attention-getting antics is just too much not to have some theatrical encouraging involved.
“You don’t watch much baseball, do you? Guys charging the mound after a high, hard one . . . . Never watched Ron Artest, or countless other NBA thugs mix it up?”
I don’t watch a lot of baseball. But I watch enough to know that a batter charging the mound is never celebrated as a reason to watch more baseball. Same with players like Artest. Their behavior isn’t celebrated as a way to bring in fans the way that it would be in NASCAR.
I’m not saying that it’s AS BAD as WWE. But I think there’s more WWE-like activities in NASCAR than many would admit.
Rick H, actually, there have been deaths in wrestling before. Story here.
I haven’t thought about this in years until now.
barry- dont forget your prediction that tech will lose to ga tech, clemson, unc, and fla st. i heard once that crow tastes good with hot sauce. never tried crow but i hope paul johnson gets a nice crack back block on the sidelines by mistake. good luck to your jackets- opening game at nite at tech. no way….
hokie24 a little heated today.
Barry, are you a GT fan? Or just another dime-a-dozen VT hater?
Just wondering if you’re gonna be blabbering on about bees stinging, panthers biting, bearcats scratching, etc all season long.
Comment by hokie24 — August 28, 2012 @ 10:33 am
Andy has put out some information about all of the GT players that won’t be in the game but that will not change the outcome, GT wins this game by at least 17, even with second stringers. VT’s offense is in disarray, even with the big QB. He doesn’t have anyone to throw to and he can’t run all of the time. You Hokie fans do the math, what is it that is going to ensure you win more than 7 games this year? Heck, UNC might even go undefeated, that is a very real possibility.
hehehe… naah not heated. Barry has quickly become the blog poster that’s always good for a laugh.
I was just wondering if he’s gonna play his little game all season, because I don’t think he’s particularly a GT fan.
technically speaking, Owen Hart died prior to the match starting.( getting into the ring) but don’t let the truth get in the way of making your point.
please continue…