The Arizona Cardinals had not won a playoff game since 1988, when they played in St. Louis. They had not hosted a playoff game at home since 1947, when they were in Chicago.
That's amazing. Forty-one seasons without a playoff home game. And it's not so hard in the NFL. Look, even Detroit hosted playoff games during that span. (Although not this decade, I'm afraid.)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Vikings barely sell out home playoff game
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-7-16/Why-was-it-so-hard-to-sell-out-the-Metrodome-.html
This story had me scratching my head for a number of reasons.
1. The Vikings hadn't even made the playoffs since 2001 or so, let alone played a home playoff game in that time.
2. Complain about the harsh Minneapolis weather? It's 70 degrees in there. Oh, the parking is awful? Wow.
3. Vikings fans seem to be pretty dedicated. I would think they would want to show up to support their team.
4. The Vikings won their division, giving them the #4 seed. They weren't favored against the Eagles, but they had a decent chance of winning the game.
What really had me wondering was the complaints from Vikings fans about the 26-year-old Metrodome being such a dump and a bad place to watch a game. And then people laugh at me for calling 92-year-old Wrigley Field similar names!
This story had me scratching my head for a number of reasons.
1. The Vikings hadn't even made the playoffs since 2001 or so, let alone played a home playoff game in that time.
2. Complain about the harsh Minneapolis weather? It's 70 degrees in there. Oh, the parking is awful? Wow.
3. Vikings fans seem to be pretty dedicated. I would think they would want to show up to support their team.
4. The Vikings won their division, giving them the #4 seed. They weren't favored against the Eagles, but they had a decent chance of winning the game.
What really had me wondering was the complaints from Vikings fans about the 26-year-old Metrodome being such a dump and a bad place to watch a game. And then people laugh at me for calling 92-year-old Wrigley Field similar names!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
NFL Wild Card: home teams are 'dogs!
This is pretty amazing: oddsmakers have made the lower-seeded road team the favourite in each NFL Wild Card game this weekend. Is this a first for all four games?
Atlanta (-2) at Phoenix
Indianapolis (-1½) at San Diego
Baltimore (-3½) at Miami
Philadelphia (-3) at Minneapolis
BTW I like changing the names of teams' names to cities instead of states. Just because. More accurate.
Atlanta (-2) at Phoenix
Indianapolis (-1½) at San Diego
Baltimore (-3½) at Miami
Philadelphia (-3) at Minneapolis
BTW I like changing the names of teams' names to cities instead of states. Just because. More accurate.
Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4
Nine hours after leaving Andersonville early Thursday morning, I parked on Argyle Street to meet my friend for the game viewing party we were to attend in Lakeview. What a beautiful place these guys had! It was on Waveland Avenue, just across the street from Wrigley Field Gates J and K, which are bleacher entrances. The Waveland Avenue circus atmosphere before and after Cubs games was in full force today. I saw the fighter jets roar overhead after the national anthems, and I could hear the crowd after the (too few) Blackhawks goals. I walked right past the NHL refrigeration truck that controlled the ice temperature.
When are the Blackhawks going to beat the Red Wings? Sometime this season, please? They seem to have "two-goal-lead-itis." They had a two-goal lead Dec. 6, too, and that one was in the third period. Today's only lasted until the second. The Red Wings are a far superior team; they're 4-0 against the Blackhawks so far this season. The Hawks need to figure out how to reach the Wings' level of play.
The NHL worked hard to dress up that dump Wrigley Field as much as possible for the Winter Classic today. One nice addition was the two video screens the NHL installed for the fans' benefit. Could the Cubs possibly do the same? Nah....more fun to keep fans in the dark!
From my vantage point across from that bleacher entrance, I could see the queue for the men's room. This reminded me again how disgusting the men's rooms at Wrigley Field are. There aren't enough of them, and they have troughs instead of individual stalls. What a horrid health code violation! I firmly believe once the Cubs receive permission from the city to renovate the ballpark, they should completely raze the main grandstand and rebuild it. Fans need modern amenities and conveniences, such as: clean restrooms, wide concourses, more concession stands, decent gift shoppes, comfortable seats with cupholders and decent, unobstructed views, and seat numbering systems that actually make sense. The main grandstand was never designed to hold 35,000 people 81 times a year. That's what the Cubs demand of it, and it's not holding up its part of the bargain. Not at all. (Actually, the Cubs added the upper deck 22 years after the ballpark opened, so it's not surprising they don't work together well.) "Disgusting" is not the same as "charming." Please.
I love hearing Red Wings fans crowing about their city. None of them live in Detroit. They live in East Side suburbs. None of them ever set foot in Detroit unless they're visiting MGM Grand or attending a game (Lions, Tigers and Wings, oh my!). They're terrified of their crime-ridden city. Two entire generations of Detroit-area suburbanites have lived outside of Detroit their whole lives--since 1967. Very sad.
When are the Blackhawks going to beat the Red Wings? Sometime this season, please? They seem to have "two-goal-lead-itis." They had a two-goal lead Dec. 6, too, and that one was in the third period. Today's only lasted until the second. The Red Wings are a far superior team; they're 4-0 against the Blackhawks so far this season. The Hawks need to figure out how to reach the Wings' level of play.
The NHL worked hard to dress up that dump Wrigley Field as much as possible for the Winter Classic today. One nice addition was the two video screens the NHL installed for the fans' benefit. Could the Cubs possibly do the same? Nah....more fun to keep fans in the dark!
From my vantage point across from that bleacher entrance, I could see the queue for the men's room. This reminded me again how disgusting the men's rooms at Wrigley Field are. There aren't enough of them, and they have troughs instead of individual stalls. What a horrid health code violation! I firmly believe once the Cubs receive permission from the city to renovate the ballpark, they should completely raze the main grandstand and rebuild it. Fans need modern amenities and conveniences, such as: clean restrooms, wide concourses, more concession stands, decent gift shoppes, comfortable seats with cupholders and decent, unobstructed views, and seat numbering systems that actually make sense. The main grandstand was never designed to hold 35,000 people 81 times a year. That's what the Cubs demand of it, and it's not holding up its part of the bargain. Not at all. (Actually, the Cubs added the upper deck 22 years after the ballpark opened, so it's not surprising they don't work together well.) "Disgusting" is not the same as "charming." Please.
I love hearing Red Wings fans crowing about their city. None of them live in Detroit. They live in East Side suburbs. None of them ever set foot in Detroit unless they're visiting MGM Grand or attending a game (Lions, Tigers and Wings, oh my!). They're terrified of their crime-ridden city. Two entire generations of Detroit-area suburbanites have lived outside of Detroit their whole lives--since 1967. Very sad.
NYE in Lakeview
As a matter of principle, I don't pay for parking unless it's absolutely unavoidable. When I want to park in Lakeview, if I don't have a guaranteed space (HA!), then I park in Uptown or Andersonville and take a bus down. On New Year's Eve, I gingerly drove down Broadway and parked when I was far enough south that there was only one space available in an entire block. This was just south of Argyle - sort of an Uptown/Andersonville border.
The party I attended was very nice. Credit to the host, who left for Israel the day after the party! Very impressive because I'd be pulling a Pack-Up All Nighter. The kosher brie was outstanding. I do enjoy watching the Times Square Ball Drop on television. Unfortunately Dick Clark does not look good. Is he going to keep doing this until he goes on to olam haba (the next world)? Other than this annual gig, I think he has been off tv for about 20 years. The Chicago fireworks looked pretty, but nothing new. The midnight surprise was a motorcycle stunt at The Mirage in Las Vegas. It was nice of Fox to wait until 12:15am CST for the jump - after the Chicago fireworks were over! Robbie Knievel, Evil's son, was to ride his motorcycle over the famous volcano in front of The Mirage. In advance of the jump, the announcer showed several deadly scenarios should the stunt not go as planned. One of them was rider incineration if he falls into the erupting volcano. I read on Twitter that this was not possible as his jump was near, but not over, the volcano. It was still an impressive jump, but I feel a little cheated, and the announcer was lying to the viewers if Knievel did not really jump over the volcano.
Knievel was emulating his father's famous jump over the fountains in the driveway at Caesars Palace 41 years ago - New Year's 1968, I guess. The Mirage and Caesars are next-door neighbors.
Was it very cold Wednesday night in Chicago? Either my tolerance for cold weather is not what it once was, or it was colder than I thought. I believe it was 12 degrees when I left the party to catch a bus back to my vehicle. I was not dressed for that. I should have worn my Very Heavy Winter Coat. In the car on the way home, I think I counted 10 Chicago cop cars on the road, including one lying in wait near Pete and Sac. I've never seen a speed trap there despite having driven by that intersection at least 100 times.
Lincoln Avenue between Peterson Avenue and McCormick Boulevard is like a war zone. Good luck keeping your vehicle in one piece as you navigate the numerous potholes that broke out last week on the already-horrible pavement.
NYE drinking perk: Chicago offers free cta rides, but Las Vegas has a drive you-and-your-car service--free!
The party I attended was very nice. Credit to the host, who left for Israel the day after the party! Very impressive because I'd be pulling a Pack-Up All Nighter. The kosher brie was outstanding. I do enjoy watching the Times Square Ball Drop on television. Unfortunately Dick Clark does not look good. Is he going to keep doing this until he goes on to olam haba (the next world)? Other than this annual gig, I think he has been off tv for about 20 years. The Chicago fireworks looked pretty, but nothing new. The midnight surprise was a motorcycle stunt at The Mirage in Las Vegas. It was nice of Fox to wait until 12:15am CST for the jump - after the Chicago fireworks were over! Robbie Knievel, Evil's son, was to ride his motorcycle over the famous volcano in front of The Mirage. In advance of the jump, the announcer showed several deadly scenarios should the stunt not go as planned. One of them was rider incineration if he falls into the erupting volcano. I read on Twitter that this was not possible as his jump was near, but not over, the volcano. It was still an impressive jump, but I feel a little cheated, and the announcer was lying to the viewers if Knievel did not really jump over the volcano.
Knievel was emulating his father's famous jump over the fountains in the driveway at Caesars Palace 41 years ago - New Year's 1968, I guess. The Mirage and Caesars are next-door neighbors.
Was it very cold Wednesday night in Chicago? Either my tolerance for cold weather is not what it once was, or it was colder than I thought. I believe it was 12 degrees when I left the party to catch a bus back to my vehicle. I was not dressed for that. I should have worn my Very Heavy Winter Coat. In the car on the way home, I think I counted 10 Chicago cop cars on the road, including one lying in wait near Pete and Sac. I've never seen a speed trap there despite having driven by that intersection at least 100 times.
Lincoln Avenue between Peterson Avenue and McCormick Boulevard is like a war zone. Good luck keeping your vehicle in one piece as you navigate the numerous potholes that broke out last week on the already-horrible pavement.
NYE drinking perk: Chicago offers free cta rides, but Las Vegas has a drive you-and-your-car service--free!
Can Criss Angel's show at Luxor be saved?
The author of one of the blogs I subscribe to, Richard Abowitz (Movable Buffet, at latimes.com), has mentioned numerous times that the show Criss Angel: Believe, which opened at Luxor Las Vegas a month or two ago, (1) has suffered horrible reviews and has yet to receive a positive review; (2) is offering deep discounts on seats and may include complimentary tickets to local residents; and (3) is going to undergo extensive revisions to the show.
If you go, buy the cheap tickets. You'll be able to move down.
Two facts stick in my mind:
1. Criss Angel is an extremely talented magician and entertainer. His show on A&E was very successful, if I recall correctly.
2. Cirque du Soleil has five shows on the Las Vegas Strip in addition to Criss Angel: Believe. They are all very successful. O just celebrated 10 years at Bellagio.
This leads me to conclude that surely Angel and Cirque can put their heads together and figure out how to stage a popular magic show. Luxor executives would like to be happy they signed Angel to a 10-year contract. Angel would like to avoid being an embarrassment to himself and his fans. Cirque doesn't want to close a show. There must be a happy solution.
On that link to the Believe page on Luxor's website: Holly Madison is Criss Angel's girlfriend. It's fine for her to be quoted as offering her opinion of his show. But Luxor should say, for disclosure purposes, "Miss Madison is in a romantic relationship with Criss Angel." That may mean her opinion isn't worth much. (It isn't.) But it should be up to the site viewers to make that determination. Luxor shouldn't keep such information secret, as though Madison's opinion were balanced.
If you go, buy the cheap tickets. You'll be able to move down.
Two facts stick in my mind:
1. Criss Angel is an extremely talented magician and entertainer. His show on A&E was very successful, if I recall correctly.
2. Cirque du Soleil has five shows on the Las Vegas Strip in addition to Criss Angel: Believe. They are all very successful. O just celebrated 10 years at Bellagio.
This leads me to conclude that surely Angel and Cirque can put their heads together and figure out how to stage a popular magic show. Luxor executives would like to be happy they signed Angel to a 10-year contract. Angel would like to avoid being an embarrassment to himself and his fans. Cirque doesn't want to close a show. There must be a happy solution.
On that link to the Believe page on Luxor's website: Holly Madison is Criss Angel's girlfriend. It's fine for her to be quoted as offering her opinion of his show. But Luxor should say, for disclosure purposes, "Miss Madison is in a romantic relationship with Criss Angel." That may mean her opinion isn't worth much. (It isn't.) But it should be up to the site viewers to make that determination. Luxor shouldn't keep such information secret, as though Madison's opinion were balanced.
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