belicheat

Now baseball has their “hoodie”

Jeromey Balderrama

OriginalHoodie McDHoodie

Quick Reaction: Even though we’ve grown tired of Bill Belicheat’s hoodie (which has also spawned Josh McDaniels taking that tradition to Denver), it seems that another coach has decided to join this exclusive club of fashion-insensitive coaches: Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays coach Joe Maddon (Maddon, not Madden):

TBHoodie

Maddon’s hoodie however, has caused much more controversy, since baseball still insists that baseball managers need to wear the same uniform that their batters and pitchers have on.  Yes, they may be permitted to wear a team coat if it’s cold, but certainly not a hoodie.  All that changed this month when MLB Brass decided that Maddon wearing a hoodie would not ruin the tradition of the game, and reversed their original ruling.

Belicheat, inspired by Maddon’s courage, decided to send him a Patriots hoodie.  However the story didn’t specify whether Belicheat chopped off the sleeves before he sent it.

This story reminds me just how ridiculous it is to see these middle-aged & older men wearing these baseball uniforms as if they’re going to step into the batter’s box.  This makes as much sense as having Josh McDaniels or Mike Shanahan strap on some shoulder pads, or George Karl putting on some baggy shorts.  I’m glad baseball’s loosened the reins a bit for cold weather gear, but they should really relax these rules for all games.  Maddon admitted he didn’t want to wear a shirt & tie, but it’d be nice to see these managers in a nice polo or something.

Super Bowl Recap

Jeromey Balderrama

SadSeau

 

I would be remised as a football fan if I didn’t offer my humble observations on the Pats/Giants Super Bowl on Sunday.

I hosted a Super Bowl party with a dozen family and friends over at my place (thank you guys for coming!).  While I was a little nervous for the large crowd in my seemingly small living room, I think we all had a good time.

24 hours later, here are some observations I’d like to make about the Super Bowl experience, including the game, personal reflections from the game, and my experience in watching the game.  These are in no particular order.

  • I love fly-overs after the Star-Spangled Banner, but do you realize they flew over a stadium where the roof was closed?  Sitting in the upper levels at Mile High I can tell you that the open field is what makes the fly-over.
  • The first two series of the game resulted in scoring.  After that, we went 11 possessions until the next score in the 4th quarter (don’t ask me why I know this, I can only tell you many weren’t happy).
  • Seeing Giants TE Jeremy Shockey sitting up in a suite drinking beer, while his team-mates were duking it out only made me despise him more.  I realize he got hurt at the end of the season, but at least stand on the sideline with your teammates.  He better be in the crowd during the parade as well.
  • Watching Belicheat storm off the field with 1 second left to play was about the most classless thing a coach can do.  I realize nothing’s going to happen in that one second left, but when you blow out people the way you did all season, you need to take your medicine as well.
  • Fox’s Chris Meyers had about the crappiest job in interviewing Belicheat in the locker room. I bet he would have much rather been cleaning the toilets in there than having to deal with the awkwardness that was the bitter Hoodie not saying more than 7 words.
  • By brother-in-law-to-be (how’s that for hyphens) was rooting for the Pats to win, solely because he wanted to see the ’72 Dolphins go away with their antics.  With the way they did the ’98 Broncos, I can understand that.  But after thinking about it, I would much rather deal with the ’72 Dolphins for part of my life than the ’07 Patriots for most of my life.
  • The commercials weren’t all that good but if I were to pick my top 3 I would say it would be PepsiStuff with Justin Timberlake, the Budweiser Rocky Clydesdale, and the ETrade baby with the clown.
  • SadBrady2Watching that smug look wiped off Tom Brady’s face was the best part of the game. I love watching him lose his cool.  I bet that Brady hates Mannings.
  • Someday I’m going to be telling my kids about that catch between Eli Manning and David Tyree.  That was legend.
  • Take & Bake Pizza was definitely the way to go for the party.  There was minimal cooking involved, no stress on delivery, and not to mention the pizza was very good.
  • The next time I want to carry my TV down-stairs to give people a Wii-playing alternative during the Super Bowl – please talk me out of it.

Oh, and this isn’t technically a Super Bowl ad, but this was the "Perfect" way to end the Super Bowl.  This goes out to my future brother-in-law, Tony: