Am I starting to bore you non-sports fans with all these weekend blogs about basketball? I know that many of my predictions are about teams/games that the vast majority of you have no interest in, but I figure I need to keep you all informed and well rounded. We can’t have a bunch of homers that only think about the Badgers. Nothing worse than a sports fan who doesn’t see the big picture and thinks the sporting world begins and ends with his/her favorite team. Plus, I am giving you great bits of information that can be used as conversation starters over the weekend. I am sure your friends and/or dates would be very impressed if you told them that the Ivy League title and the 1st NCAA tourney team will likely be determined tonight in Ithaca, New York. If that doesn’t work try explaining to them how Pitino and Calhoun will be facing off to keep their team’s tournament dreams alive. How about the fact that Syracuse and Villanova will be battling in front of a record crowd at the Carrier Dome? Come on, something has to get you as excited as I am about the college basketball season approaching March Madness!
Princeton at Cornell: As mentioned this game has NCAA tournament implications. A Cornell Big Red home victory will pretty much seal the deal for a regular season conference title. For those of you that do not know, the Ivy League is the only Division 1 league that does not have a conference tournament. In my opinion this is a great thing for a league that is unlikely to receive any at large bids. With this format every game during the regular season matters and the team that has played the best over the course of the conference season is rewarded with a ticket to the dance. I may be biased, as I was fortunate enough to be a part of 2 championship and NCAA tournament teams, woot woot Big Green. Cornell 71 vs. Princeton 64
Texas at Texas A&M: Texas is starting to regain its form as a top tier team just in time for the conference and NCAA tournament. Despite the Longhorns experience up front their guards are young and the pressure of being the “hunted” got to them. There fall from grace was well documented and now they must do everything they can to right the ship before the tournaments begin. The Aggies are talented and are tough team to play in College Station but I expect Damion James and Dexter Pittman to own the paint. Sorry TAMU (shout out to Sydney Scott, who used to call out our TAMU defense with such grit and determination that it even inspired me to play defense…well maybe not).
Texas 74 vs. Texas A&M 68
Kansas at Oklahoma State: This is my big upset of the weekend. The Cowboys have a great guard/forward in James Anderson—he will be out to prove he can play with the big boys of Kansas. KU’s bid for an undefeated conference season will come to a screeching halt at Gallagher Iba Arena. Oklahoma St 75 vs. Kansas 71
Villanova at Syracuse: The Carrier Dome will be rocking Saturday evening as the College Game Day crew makes its way to Syracuse. I expect Villanova’s guards to struggle with penetrating the ‘Cuse’s 2-3 zone. The Orange also have Wesley Johnson, who is perhaps the best guard/forward in college basketball. He will be a tough match up for ‘Nova’s undersized guards. Syracuse 76 vs. Villanova 68
Michigan State at Purdue: Purdue will not have much time to sulk about the recent loss of Robbie Hummel. You hate to see anybody get injured but Hummel was the heart and soul of the Boilermakers. He will be missed big time. I expect Matt Painter to rally his troops and get them up to play this game. However, in the long run I do not see them making a deep run without their glue guy. Michigan State has been shaky all year and I do not see that changing on Sunday. Boiler Up! Purdue 63 vs. Michigan State 58
Quick Hits:
Kentucky over Tennessee
UConn over Louisville
Marquette over Seton Hall
Illinois over Minnesota
USA over Canada in Men’s Hockey
Badger Women over Iowa
That is it for this weekend. Give my conversation starters a try and let me know how it goes.
Remember Basketball is Life,
The Bean Spiller
PS just kidding on that but does anyone else remember those t-shirts we wore growing up that said Basketball is Life or Baseball is Life??? Anybody???
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Flying Solo
I do not want to get in the habit of making excuses for the lengthy delays between postings, so I will just say that this week I was pretty busy with work and a crazy wild night life. If you have been unable to function due to a lack of Bean Spiller thoughts and write ups, I apologize. Not likely, but at least I can pretend that people are bummed out that I haven’t blogged in awhile. So without further ado I will spill the beans. As mentioned in a previous blog, I committed a social blunder a few weekends ago…Well some would consider it quite the faux pas, I on the other hand thought it was perfectly normal.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I was in the mood to go to the movie theater. I did not really care what I saw, I just knew that I wanted to go. Lately, it seems that I have a tendency to get fixated on things and feel that I have to follow through even if it is something as silly as going to a movie. It was inevitable; I was going to a movie that afternoon. Unfortunately, my usual movie companions were out of commission with sicknesses and did not want to join me. I was also being lazy and did not try to find other people to go with me. Decision time…Go to the movie solo or somehow get the brain to stop telling me that I do not have to go to the theater today. There was no talking myself out of it, as there was nothing on TV, Kris was napping and then going out of town, Laura was napping, and I was bored. So I went to the movie by myself.
This is definitely not the first time that I have gone to a movie by myself, but I took a lot of crap for this particular decision. I guess I should mention that it was February 14th, which for those of you that don’t know, the 14th is Valentine’s Day. So a movie by yourself on Valentine’s Day isn’t that bad, is it? Well, I made matters worse by choosing to go to the movie Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day by yourself, SWEET. As you can imagine the theater was packed, mostly with couples happily enjoying their dates. I tried to get there early so I could pick a seat in a corner or in a less noticeable area. I scanned the seats and saw 2 open seats right next to the aisle about midway up. There was a guy sitting in the 3rd seat with an open seat to the right of him. I thought perfect I can sit on the aisle and then there will be a gap between me and the happy couple. I took my seat and was anxiously awaiting the previews. No matter how many movies I have gone to alone, this is always the most dreadful time. I cross my fingers and hope that no one will recognize me. Phew, the lights went off. Somehow I failed to realize that this guy was not just with his date but 2 other guys and their dates. The girls were out getting concessions and filed in to the seats conveniently left open in between each guy. Great, I had inadvertently become part of a high school triple date. Nothing like being the 7th wheel with people you do not even know. Being the mature person I am, I avoided all eye contact and thought to myself, “hmmm, I wonder what they are thinking right now?” The movie came and went and for those of you that have not seen it yet, you are not missing much.
While there are occasional moments of embarrassment and the fear of being recognized, overall, I do not understand why some people consider going to a movie alone to be a form of social suicide. If you haven’t done it before, try it and you might be surprised. It is actually quite relaxing and enjoyable. I am quite confident that I will see many more movies by myself and if that makes me a loser, oh well!
Until next time,
The Bean Spiller
It was a Sunday afternoon and I was in the mood to go to the movie theater. I did not really care what I saw, I just knew that I wanted to go. Lately, it seems that I have a tendency to get fixated on things and feel that I have to follow through even if it is something as silly as going to a movie. It was inevitable; I was going to a movie that afternoon. Unfortunately, my usual movie companions were out of commission with sicknesses and did not want to join me. I was also being lazy and did not try to find other people to go with me. Decision time…Go to the movie solo or somehow get the brain to stop telling me that I do not have to go to the theater today. There was no talking myself out of it, as there was nothing on TV, Kris was napping and then going out of town, Laura was napping, and I was bored. So I went to the movie by myself.
This is definitely not the first time that I have gone to a movie by myself, but I took a lot of crap for this particular decision. I guess I should mention that it was February 14th, which for those of you that don’t know, the 14th is Valentine’s Day. So a movie by yourself on Valentine’s Day isn’t that bad, is it? Well, I made matters worse by choosing to go to the movie Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day by yourself, SWEET. As you can imagine the theater was packed, mostly with couples happily enjoying their dates. I tried to get there early so I could pick a seat in a corner or in a less noticeable area. I scanned the seats and saw 2 open seats right next to the aisle about midway up. There was a guy sitting in the 3rd seat with an open seat to the right of him. I thought perfect I can sit on the aisle and then there will be a gap between me and the happy couple. I took my seat and was anxiously awaiting the previews. No matter how many movies I have gone to alone, this is always the most dreadful time. I cross my fingers and hope that no one will recognize me. Phew, the lights went off. Somehow I failed to realize that this guy was not just with his date but 2 other guys and their dates. The girls were out getting concessions and filed in to the seats conveniently left open in between each guy. Great, I had inadvertently become part of a high school triple date. Nothing like being the 7th wheel with people you do not even know. Being the mature person I am, I avoided all eye contact and thought to myself, “hmmm, I wonder what they are thinking right now?” The movie came and went and for those of you that have not seen it yet, you are not missing much.
While there are occasional moments of embarrassment and the fear of being recognized, overall, I do not understand why some people consider going to a movie alone to be a form of social suicide. If you haven’t done it before, try it and you might be surprised. It is actually quite relaxing and enjoyable. I am quite confident that I will see many more movies by myself and if that makes me a loser, oh well!
Until next time,
The Bean Spiller
Friday, February 19, 2010
Another Weekend, Another Round of Picks
With March Madness quickly approaching there are only a few more weeks of the regular season remaining in college basketball. This brings a tear to my eye! I wish that college basketball was a year round sport. On any given night I should be able to turn the tv on and catch a game. I guess that is a little unrealistic but I can dream, can’t I?
The race for first place in many conferences i.e. the Big Ten, ACC, Ivy League, SEC, etc. is still up in the air, which should make for an interesting finish. Unfortunately, I think the Badgers gave up any shot at a conference title with last night’s lackluster performance at Minnesota. Granted, the Gophers have had the Badgers number the last couple years and they are a lot more talented then their record indicates; but, it was obvious to even the casual observer that the Badgers did not have their A game. I hate to critique them too harshly after just one game, as I bleed Badger red and have a really hard time saying negative things about Bo Ryan’s squad, but last night was a huge disappointment for me and Badger fans alike. Watching from afar, the Badgers looked a step slow and did not appear ready for the intensity and effort that Minnesota brought to Williams Arena. It is hard to imagine that with a Conference Title still within reach that Wisconsin would play so poorly. A Badger apologist may chalk it up to a lack of continuity due to the return of Jon Leuer or poor officiating. I, on the other hand, am going to say that the Badgers played bad and did not deserve to win, plain and simple. While the hopes of a Big Ten title are meager, the Badgers will have a shot at redemption on Sunday against Northwestern. This should be a good opportunity to gain some confidence and right the ship.
Enough Badger talk for now, lets get on with the picks:
Baylor at Oklahoma State. It seems that Baylor is always teetering on the proverbial NCAA bubble. Side note: Does anyone else hate how often the word bubble is used during late February/early March? Can the powers that be not come up with another term that would have the same affect as bubble? I mean seriously there has got to be something else right? Hmm, I just looked up synonyms for bubble and found these options: fizz, effervescence, boil, simmer, gurgle. Err, I do not see any of these working; I guess we are stuck with bubble. Anyways, a road win here would help to strengthen the Bear’s case for the Dance. Baylor has talented guards and an ex-Wolverine at power forward that are playing great basketball. I expect Baylor to fly back to Waco with smiles on their faces. Baylor 78 vs. Ok. St. 72
Illinois at Purdue: If Illinois wants to keep its title hopes alive, a road victory is a must. I’ll be blunt; I do not see this happening. Purdue is one of the hottest teams in the country and holds a significant home court advantage. The game might be close if Tisdale and McCamey come out on fire but I expect the Boilermakers to pull away and win easily. Boiler up. Purdue 75 vs. Illinois 61.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt: Another game with huge title implications, as Vanderbilt is playing for a share of first place in the SEC East. If they are able to contain John Wall and keep DeMarcus Cousins off the glass, the Commodores will have an excellent chance of knocking off the number two team in the country. The fact that Kentucky has been shaky on the road should further Vandy’s home court advantage. With that being said, Vanderbilt will need to play a near perfect game to defeat John Calipari’s Wildcats. Vandy 74 vs. Kentucky 69
Ohio State at Michigan State: Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but this is another game that will go a long way in determining a conference champion. Ohio State can remain in the race if they defeat Sparty. However, a loss will leave them with 5 conference defeats and they can join the Badgers in the club that wonders what could have been. Michigan State will need a victory to keep pace with Purdue. I expect the fighting Izzo’s to take care of business on their home court, which will set up a first place showdown at Mackey Arena. MSU 74 vs. OSU 65
Quick Hits:
Wisconsin over Northwestern
Duke over Virginia Tech
Marquette over Cincinatti
Pittsburgh over Villanova
Texas over Texas Tech
West Virginia over Seton Hall
Over/Under:
Times the Bean Spiller falls while snowboarding Saturday-34
Times Kris jumps of fear during Shutter Island-4
Times the Bean Spiller wishes she could eat Bri’s candy-104
Number of chocolate peanut butter ice cream dishes the Bean Spiller eats Sunday-1
Until next time,
The Bean Spiller
The race for first place in many conferences i.e. the Big Ten, ACC, Ivy League, SEC, etc. is still up in the air, which should make for an interesting finish. Unfortunately, I think the Badgers gave up any shot at a conference title with last night’s lackluster performance at Minnesota. Granted, the Gophers have had the Badgers number the last couple years and they are a lot more talented then their record indicates; but, it was obvious to even the casual observer that the Badgers did not have their A game. I hate to critique them too harshly after just one game, as I bleed Badger red and have a really hard time saying negative things about Bo Ryan’s squad, but last night was a huge disappointment for me and Badger fans alike. Watching from afar, the Badgers looked a step slow and did not appear ready for the intensity and effort that Minnesota brought to Williams Arena. It is hard to imagine that with a Conference Title still within reach that Wisconsin would play so poorly. A Badger apologist may chalk it up to a lack of continuity due to the return of Jon Leuer or poor officiating. I, on the other hand, am going to say that the Badgers played bad and did not deserve to win, plain and simple. While the hopes of a Big Ten title are meager, the Badgers will have a shot at redemption on Sunday against Northwestern. This should be a good opportunity to gain some confidence and right the ship.
Enough Badger talk for now, lets get on with the picks:
Baylor at Oklahoma State. It seems that Baylor is always teetering on the proverbial NCAA bubble. Side note: Does anyone else hate how often the word bubble is used during late February/early March? Can the powers that be not come up with another term that would have the same affect as bubble? I mean seriously there has got to be something else right? Hmm, I just looked up synonyms for bubble and found these options: fizz, effervescence, boil, simmer, gurgle. Err, I do not see any of these working; I guess we are stuck with bubble. Anyways, a road win here would help to strengthen the Bear’s case for the Dance. Baylor has talented guards and an ex-Wolverine at power forward that are playing great basketball. I expect Baylor to fly back to Waco with smiles on their faces. Baylor 78 vs. Ok. St. 72
Illinois at Purdue: If Illinois wants to keep its title hopes alive, a road victory is a must. I’ll be blunt; I do not see this happening. Purdue is one of the hottest teams in the country and holds a significant home court advantage. The game might be close if Tisdale and McCamey come out on fire but I expect the Boilermakers to pull away and win easily. Boiler up. Purdue 75 vs. Illinois 61.
Kentucky at Vanderbilt: Another game with huge title implications, as Vanderbilt is playing for a share of first place in the SEC East. If they are able to contain John Wall and keep DeMarcus Cousins off the glass, the Commodores will have an excellent chance of knocking off the number two team in the country. The fact that Kentucky has been shaky on the road should further Vandy’s home court advantage. With that being said, Vanderbilt will need to play a near perfect game to defeat John Calipari’s Wildcats. Vandy 74 vs. Kentucky 69
Ohio State at Michigan State: Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but this is another game that will go a long way in determining a conference champion. Ohio State can remain in the race if they defeat Sparty. However, a loss will leave them with 5 conference defeats and they can join the Badgers in the club that wonders what could have been. Michigan State will need a victory to keep pace with Purdue. I expect the fighting Izzo’s to take care of business on their home court, which will set up a first place showdown at Mackey Arena. MSU 74 vs. OSU 65
Quick Hits:
Wisconsin over Northwestern
Duke over Virginia Tech
Marquette over Cincinatti
Pittsburgh over Villanova
Texas over Texas Tech
West Virginia over Seton Hall
Over/Under:
Times the Bean Spiller falls while snowboarding Saturday-34
Times Kris jumps of fear during Shutter Island-4
Times the Bean Spiller wishes she could eat Bri’s candy-104
Number of chocolate peanut butter ice cream dishes the Bean Spiller eats Sunday-1
Until next time,
The Bean Spiller
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
His Airness
I am sorry for the delay between now and my last blog. I am sure all of you have been waiting on pins and needles for the posting of another profound write up. Things have been a bit hectic this week. Work has been busy and I’ve had something going on every night this week from Team Fitchburg Dental kicking ass and taking names on the basketball court to an hour and a half spent at the dentist for three fillings (2 cavities + 1 chipped tooth) followed by my first ever experience in a bowling league. Needless to say, I have not had a ton of time to spill the beans, which is not to say I have not been thinking about the blog and possible subjects. I had planned to write on a social blunder that I committed over the past weekend but that will need to be delayed, as this blog will pay tribute to the greatest basketball player of all time.
For those of you that don’t spend the vast majority of your day listening to sports talk radio or are not up to speed on celebrity birthdays, I will cue you in on some important information. Today is Michael Jeffrey Jordan’s birthday. MJ turned 47 years old today. It is hard to believe that he is nearing fifty years of greatness. Despite his age, I am a true believer that MJ could still play in the NBA and hold is own against the vast majority of the current players. Not only is Jordan the best player to ever display his skills on the hard-court, but in my opinion he is the founder and face of the greatest sports clothing and shoe line to ever exist.
As some of you may know, I was slightly; ok extremely is probably a more accurate term, obsessed with Jordan shoes. My infatuation with owning Jordans, which for some odd reason I started calling Jimmys began when I was in middle school and continued through my college years. Side note: I am still a big fan of Jordans but it is difficult to justify paying $150 plus for a pair of shoes that I maybe will wear 10 times a year. Ahh, the dilemmas that a retired baller with a shoe fetish must face! In my prime I tried my best to obtain every new and retro pair released. For the Jordan novices out there I should point out that Jordans usually sell out within a couple days and can be very difficult to find. Over the years of collecting these prized possessions, I developed a friendship with a guy named Larry who worked at Nike Town in Chicago. I guess I am not sure if I would classify it as a friendship but we spoke on the phone many times and he even came to watch my game when we played the University of Illinois Chicago. Larry was very helpful in feeding my addiction. If a new Jordans were being released, Larry would give me a call and allow me to pre-order a pair of size 9.5s. It was definitely nice to have someone on the inside helping me out!
In honor of Michael I will offer my rankings of the Air Jordan basketball shoe. The above images correspond with this list of Jordans:
1. Jordan 11
2. Jordan 13
3. Jordan 10
4. Jordan 12
5. Jordan 3
6. Jordan 4
7. Jordan 9
8. Jordan 1
9. Jordan 7
10. Jordan 8
11. Jordan 14
12. Jordan 6
13. Jordan 5
14. Jordan 20
15. Jordan 2
16. Jordan 16
17. Jordan 17
18. Jordan 15
19. Jordan 18
20. Jordan 19
Ahh, doing this blog and ranking these great shoes really brought up a lot of memories. I have much more to write but need to go to bed. Be on the lookout for a follow up blog! Enjoy and let me know what your favorite Jimmys were.
MJ 23 Forever,
The Bean Spiller
Friday, February 12, 2010
Weekend Sports Picks
Not much time to work on my picks during the day but thankfully I have turned into a bit of a loser and am spending most of my Friday nights on the couch writing blogs. So if you happen to be at home playing on your computer than you can enjoy the picks tonight. Get yourself prepared for another great weekend of roundball.
Before I hit you with my knowledge, I must sidetrack and get everyone’s opinions on how to handle a situation that Laura and I are currently experiencing. My condo is on the 3rd floor of a four-story building and our neighbors to the north are extremely noisy. Now, this is not just the occasional noise. Rather it is all sorts of racket at random times through out the day and night. For example, one day in the middle of the afternoon Laura complained to me about their blaringly loud music. The music was loud enough that Laura was able to sing along to the Journey’s Don’t stop believing that was coming from the condo above. A little odd? I think so. I hear them in the morning at 6 am and every night before bed clogging around with what seems to be cement blocks on their feet. On the rare nights that we go out until bar time, we can expect to pass out to the audible annoyances coming from above. As for tonight it appears that there is an adult dinner party going on in combination with a kindergarteners birthday party. We’ve got music, loud talking, children running across the floor, objects crashing to the floor, and just about every other sound possible. Sometimes I am not sure what is worse, the train blaring its horn as it pulls into the factory or the neighbors above.
I am blogging about this because I need your advice on what to do. Do I go up there now and ask them to please be a little more considerate and keep their loud sounds to a minimum? Should I wait until tomorrow to introduce myself and ask if they can try to be a bit quieter? How effective would it be if I shot a basketball into the ceiling every night before bed and when I get up in the morning? Would it be wise to leave an anonymous note asking for some peace and quiet? Do I continue to bitch and complain about it with Laura and not say anything at all? I need some help, please! I am sure some of you have been in similar situations. At this point, I am willing to try anybody’s suggestions so please share your advice with me asap.
Now on to the picks…
West Virginia at Pittsburgh: The Mountaineers need a bounce back win after suffering a home loss against Villanova. Huggy Bear will have his squad ready to go and WVU will steal a tough road game. WVU 75 Pitt 67
Tennessee at Kentucky: Expect a blow out at Rupp Arena on Saturday. Kentucky, with Wall and Cousins, is just too talented. The Vols are still playing short handed and with limited scholarship players and the tank is running on empty. Bruce Pearl always seems to have some magic up his sleeve but not this weekend. Kentucky 78 Tennessee 57
Missouri at Baylor: Mizzou should be able to get a road win, as long as they are able to avoid foul trouble and play their style of basketball in Waco. Both teams have great guards but I believe Missouri’s JT Tiller, Zaire Taylor, and Kim English will have the upper hand. Quick thought: How do people think Missouri would fit in the Big 10? They have solid football and basketball programs but does Columbia Missouri have much appeal? Mizzou 72 Baylor 66
Ohio State at Illinois: Other than the Illini, the Buckeyes are probably the hottest team in the Big 10. I expect Illinois to have a letdown game after two big wins against Michigan State and Wisconsin. Combine that with the fact that Ohio State has Evan Turner, arguably the best player in the Big 10 if not the country, listed on its roster. This should result in a victory for the crazy gummy chomping Thad Matta.
Louisville at Syracuse: The Orange will go down at the Carrier Dome this weekend. They are 24-1 and are due for a loss. The Cuse has survived a couple close calls recently and Louisville is a team that could pull off the upset. Maybe Rick Pitino will bust out his all white suit and shoe combo for the road game. Well, probably not but we can wish can’t we? Go Cards. Louisville 77 Syracuse 71
Quick Hits:
Wisconsin over Indiana
Duke over Maryland
Virginia over Virginia Tech
I am starting to feel like the Nostradamus of the Sports World,
The Bean Spiller
Before I hit you with my knowledge, I must sidetrack and get everyone’s opinions on how to handle a situation that Laura and I are currently experiencing. My condo is on the 3rd floor of a four-story building and our neighbors to the north are extremely noisy. Now, this is not just the occasional noise. Rather it is all sorts of racket at random times through out the day and night. For example, one day in the middle of the afternoon Laura complained to me about their blaringly loud music. The music was loud enough that Laura was able to sing along to the Journey’s Don’t stop believing that was coming from the condo above. A little odd? I think so. I hear them in the morning at 6 am and every night before bed clogging around with what seems to be cement blocks on their feet. On the rare nights that we go out until bar time, we can expect to pass out to the audible annoyances coming from above. As for tonight it appears that there is an adult dinner party going on in combination with a kindergarteners birthday party. We’ve got music, loud talking, children running across the floor, objects crashing to the floor, and just about every other sound possible. Sometimes I am not sure what is worse, the train blaring its horn as it pulls into the factory or the neighbors above.
I am blogging about this because I need your advice on what to do. Do I go up there now and ask them to please be a little more considerate and keep their loud sounds to a minimum? Should I wait until tomorrow to introduce myself and ask if they can try to be a bit quieter? How effective would it be if I shot a basketball into the ceiling every night before bed and when I get up in the morning? Would it be wise to leave an anonymous note asking for some peace and quiet? Do I continue to bitch and complain about it with Laura and not say anything at all? I need some help, please! I am sure some of you have been in similar situations. At this point, I am willing to try anybody’s suggestions so please share your advice with me asap.
Now on to the picks…
West Virginia at Pittsburgh: The Mountaineers need a bounce back win after suffering a home loss against Villanova. Huggy Bear will have his squad ready to go and WVU will steal a tough road game. WVU 75 Pitt 67
Tennessee at Kentucky: Expect a blow out at Rupp Arena on Saturday. Kentucky, with Wall and Cousins, is just too talented. The Vols are still playing short handed and with limited scholarship players and the tank is running on empty. Bruce Pearl always seems to have some magic up his sleeve but not this weekend. Kentucky 78 Tennessee 57
Missouri at Baylor: Mizzou should be able to get a road win, as long as they are able to avoid foul trouble and play their style of basketball in Waco. Both teams have great guards but I believe Missouri’s JT Tiller, Zaire Taylor, and Kim English will have the upper hand. Quick thought: How do people think Missouri would fit in the Big 10? They have solid football and basketball programs but does Columbia Missouri have much appeal? Mizzou 72 Baylor 66
Ohio State at Illinois: Other than the Illini, the Buckeyes are probably the hottest team in the Big 10. I expect Illinois to have a letdown game after two big wins against Michigan State and Wisconsin. Combine that with the fact that Ohio State has Evan Turner, arguably the best player in the Big 10 if not the country, listed on its roster. This should result in a victory for the crazy gummy chomping Thad Matta.
Louisville at Syracuse: The Orange will go down at the Carrier Dome this weekend. They are 24-1 and are due for a loss. The Cuse has survived a couple close calls recently and Louisville is a team that could pull off the upset. Maybe Rick Pitino will bust out his all white suit and shoe combo for the road game. Well, probably not but we can wish can’t we? Go Cards. Louisville 77 Syracuse 71
Quick Hits:
Wisconsin over Indiana
Duke over Maryland
Virginia over Virginia Tech
I am starting to feel like the Nostradamus of the Sports World,
The Bean Spiller
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Birthday Bonanza
Today, February 11th, marks the birthday of two of my most favorite people. Laura Jane, my read headed sister, turned 23 today, while Kris, who is unfortunately suffering from a wicked winter cold, celebrated his 28th birthday. Laura and I toasted her birthday Monday evening over a pasta bake and peach cobbler at her request. She is now out with friends at the Nitty Gritty; hopefully, she is enjoying her fair share of free beer in the Gritty Mug. You really have to love the great tradition of the Nitty Gritty—a keepsake mug, free drinks, and an ice cream sundae. Doesn’t get much better than that! Unfortunately, the working world and my 6:00 am wake up call kept me from joining the young-ins at the bar. Luckily for me, the party girl will also be going out tomorrow. I am crossing my fingers that we start the party at Slices with stale beer and greasy fried food.
Kris and I went to the fabulous Johnny Delmonico’s steak house in honor of his special day. As usual the meal there was fantastic, we each got steak, potatoes, and a salad. The all-American meal! Needless to say I am still pretty stuffed. While each of them celebrated their birthdays in different ways, my wish for each of them is the same, “I hope you had a fantastic day and may this year be great.”
Happy Birthday to my February 11s,
The Bean Spiller
Kris and I went to the fabulous Johnny Delmonico’s steak house in honor of his special day. As usual the meal there was fantastic, we each got steak, potatoes, and a salad. The all-American meal! Needless to say I am still pretty stuffed. While each of them celebrated their birthdays in different ways, my wish for each of them is the same, “I hope you had a fantastic day and may this year be great.”
Happy Birthday to my February 11s,
The Bean Spiller
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Lesson of the Day is to Never Assume!
The first occurrence of this lesson happened at work this yesterday afternoon. I learned that it is not a good idea to assume that things will turn out the way you expect or need them to. Assumptions can really come back and bite you in the butt as a contractor. For example, one may presume that a vendor is going to follow up on your request for a color sample or that a delivery is going to occur on schedule. There are quite a few assumptions that can be made in the world of construction on a daily basis. In fact it would be pretty hard to get through the day without making any assumptions. However, it is going to be important for me to learn what I can and cannot assume. Right now, as a novice project manager, it seems wise to assume very little and to always follow up on issues/items until I have the answer I want and need. My dad offered this advice, "Trust, but verify." After the past couple days, I definitely plan to implement this into my daily work.
Unfortunately, today I was guilty of making assumptions that may prove to be costly. I made the mistake of assuming that we would be compensated for some added work that we will be forced to do on a project. The people of authority had made several remarks through out the course of the project that made me think we would get paid for the extra work. In my mind paying us also seemed like the natural thing to do, as we were not responsible for causing the additional work. In fact, we had made adjustments to our scheduled plans to accommodate the other contractor’s requests. Unfortunately, we may end up eating the cost of those changes and for making assumptions. I won’t know for a while if this assumption was justified; however, I do know that if I encounter a similar situation in the future I will be hesitant and careful not to assume anything. Prior to making decisions, I will need to understand the best and worst case scenarios. Ultimately, I need to avoid making assumptions even if things seem crystal clear.
The lesson of the day also applied to my night at the Kohl Center. I, like most Badger basketball fans, assumed that a home game would equate to a Wisconsin victory over Illinois. With a win and a Michigan State loss to Purdue, the Badgers would be in a tie for first place. As most basketball fans know, the Kohl Center has become one of the toughest places in the country to play during Bo Ryan’s tenure. It is very rare that a visiting team leaves Madison with a victory. I think the stat I heard today was that Wisconsin had won 56 straight home games over non-ranked opponents, which Illinois was at the time. The Red and White had yet to lose a home game all season so I do not think anyone expected that defeat would come against the Illini. After all, the Badgers had already dispensed of Duke, Purdue, and Michigan State at the Kohl Center this year. Regrettably, Illinois seemed to have the Badgers number last night and did exactly what no one expected--they took out the Badgers on their home court. After a slow start, they quickly reversed their fortune and shot lights out while forcing the Badgers to shoot a woeful percentage from the field.
The Badgers and Coach Ryan have spoiled the Wisconsin faithful over the years with all their successes. Wisconsin fans expect nothing less than a victory when the game is played at the Kohl Center. With the parity in college basketball and the talent within the Big 10, it may not be fair for fans and myself to continue to make this assumption. That being said, I think the Badgers are a great team that will bounce back from this game and finish the Big 10 season strong. They have a very favorable remaining schedule and in turn, should earn a great seed for both the Conference and NCAA tournaments. Does a prediction count as an assumption? If not, I am going to predict that the Badgers will not lose another home game, will only suffer one more defeat during the conference season, and will make a deep run in the NCAA tournament! Go Badgers!
Remember to avoid assumptions otherwise you may end up making an ASS of you and me (that’s "assume" for those of you who haven’t heard that saying),
The Bean Spiller
Unfortunately, today I was guilty of making assumptions that may prove to be costly. I made the mistake of assuming that we would be compensated for some added work that we will be forced to do on a project. The people of authority had made several remarks through out the course of the project that made me think we would get paid for the extra work. In my mind paying us also seemed like the natural thing to do, as we were not responsible for causing the additional work. In fact, we had made adjustments to our scheduled plans to accommodate the other contractor’s requests. Unfortunately, we may end up eating the cost of those changes and for making assumptions. I won’t know for a while if this assumption was justified; however, I do know that if I encounter a similar situation in the future I will be hesitant and careful not to assume anything. Prior to making decisions, I will need to understand the best and worst case scenarios. Ultimately, I need to avoid making assumptions even if things seem crystal clear.
The lesson of the day also applied to my night at the Kohl Center. I, like most Badger basketball fans, assumed that a home game would equate to a Wisconsin victory over Illinois. With a win and a Michigan State loss to Purdue, the Badgers would be in a tie for first place. As most basketball fans know, the Kohl Center has become one of the toughest places in the country to play during Bo Ryan’s tenure. It is very rare that a visiting team leaves Madison with a victory. I think the stat I heard today was that Wisconsin had won 56 straight home games over non-ranked opponents, which Illinois was at the time. The Red and White had yet to lose a home game all season so I do not think anyone expected that defeat would come against the Illini. After all, the Badgers had already dispensed of Duke, Purdue, and Michigan State at the Kohl Center this year. Regrettably, Illinois seemed to have the Badgers number last night and did exactly what no one expected--they took out the Badgers on their home court. After a slow start, they quickly reversed their fortune and shot lights out while forcing the Badgers to shoot a woeful percentage from the field.
The Badgers and Coach Ryan have spoiled the Wisconsin faithful over the years with all their successes. Wisconsin fans expect nothing less than a victory when the game is played at the Kohl Center. With the parity in college basketball and the talent within the Big 10, it may not be fair for fans and myself to continue to make this assumption. That being said, I think the Badgers are a great team that will bounce back from this game and finish the Big 10 season strong. They have a very favorable remaining schedule and in turn, should earn a great seed for both the Conference and NCAA tournaments. Does a prediction count as an assumption? If not, I am going to predict that the Badgers will not lose another home game, will only suffer one more defeat during the conference season, and will make a deep run in the NCAA tournament! Go Badgers!
Remember to avoid assumptions otherwise you may end up making an ASS of you and me (that’s "assume" for those of you who haven’t heard that saying),
The Bean Spiller
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Bean Spiller Officially Hates Winter
Well, today is Friday so it is time for another round of My Weekend Sports Picks, but first, I must rant about Mother Nature and winter weather. Never have I ever been so frustrated by winter weather conditions and their effects on my plans than today. Apparently, the weather God’s forgot that Laura and I had plans to fly to DC for the weekend to visit my mom and George. The trip has been scheduled since November and every detail from the time we touched down to wheels up had been carefully planned.
What are the odds that one of the worst blizzards is scheduled to hit DC on the same weekend that we are planning to watch the Hoyas take on the 2nd ranked Wildcats of Villanova??? You would think not probably, right? I went to work this morning with a positive attitude and really thought I would be spending the weekend eating at my favorite DC establishments, watching two great teams battle on the hardwood, and hanging with my family. This outlook was warranted as the worst weather was not supposed to start until late afternoon/evening. Well, my mood quickly soured when I received a text from my mom at 7:36 a.m. It read, “I am so sorry, but your flight has been canceled.” I am pretty sure my jaw dropped about 4 ½ inches at this point and I can confirm that my eyes instantly welled up and I had to fight off the urge to bang my fists on the desk. I had to keep in mind that I was at work. I immediately logged onto the Delta website. I needed to see it to believe it. After all, the flight was not supposed to leave until 1 p.m.—5 ½ hours later; they could not be canceling it this early. Much to my dismay, the website confirmed my mom’s text. I was so frustrated I could scream. I broke the news to Laura and George that there would no longer be a Cullen gathering in the nation’s capital this weekend. It should be noted that we explored every possible option from Amtrak to driving the 14.5 hours to flying to Newark or Philly to get to DC. Unfortunately, with each alternative transportation method researched, the likelihood of getting to DC dwindled. At about 9:00 a.m. we called off the dogs and accepted the fact that Mother Nature had the cruel ability to create blizzards and disastrous winter weather; thus, leaving you helpless and unable to travel. As you can tell this was a pretty devastating day, so if my picks seem a little lackluster you know the reason.
Villanova at Georgetown: Why not start with the game that I was supposed to watch in person. Two teams within the Top 10 meeting head to head should result in a very competitive and exciting basketball game. Both teams have great guards in their starting five, but I expect Greg Monroe to be the difference maker. He is continuing to prove himself every week and this is another opportunity for him to do so on a national stage. Plus, the Hoyas need a win after South Florida pulled up a surprising upset earlier in the week. Hoyas 73 vs. Wildcats 68.
Michigan State at Illinois: Sparty should plan on picking up its second straight conference loss down in Champaign this weekend. Combine the loss of Kalin Lucas and a Big Ten road game and you have a vulnerable MSU team. Illinois is currently in the logjam for 2nd place in the Conference and a win would keep them right in the hunt. Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio State would appreciate an Illinois victory as well. Hopefully, the Orange Crush can bring its A game and take down the fighting Izzos. Illini 68 vs. Spartans 61
Texas at Oklahoma: This Red River Rivalry is always a spirited battle and will be no different this weekend. Texas has been reeling lately and can be shaky on the road. The Sooners have been a disappointment since the departure of Blake Griffin. It is time for Willie Warren and Tiny Gallon to step up and take down a ranked team. Sooners 76 vs. Longhorns 74
Gonzaga at Memphis: I just have a hunch that the Tigers may beat up on the Zags tomorrow. Memphis is very athletic and should be able to compete with the talented Gonzaga roster. Expect an up and down game with loads of offense and not a ton of defense. My kind of game! Tigers 78 vs. Bulldogs 71
Temple at Richmond: I do not know enough about these teams to pick a score but Richmond will shock the #18 Temple Owls this weekend.
Vanderbilt at Georgia: The Bulldogs will pull off another home upset of a ranked opponent. Expect the Commodores to travel back to Nashville disappointed.
I am refraining from picking the Wisconsin/Michigan game as I have a bit of a conflict of interest. My mind is telling me that the Badgers are prime for an upset, as the Wolverines play a lot better at home. They also have great talent in Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims that do not always show up on the road. However, my heart is telling me that I love the red and white and cannot pick against the Badgers. So, I am not going to do it. Go Bucky.
Super Bowl Pick: Indianapolis Colts. My only wish is that this game lives up to the hype. Two dynamic offenses that are each lead by outstanding quarterbacks should result in a high scoring, entertaining affair. Defensively, I give the edge to the Colts with or without Dwight Freeney. If he plays Indianapolis will have a much easier time putting pressure on Brees and disrupting the high flying scoring attack of the Saints. Furthering my argument is number 18 in blue and white; it would be really hard for me to pick against Peyton Manning, who with a victory will cement his legacy as one of the greatest, if not the best, quarterbacks of all time. Colts 31 vs. Saints 27.
Call your bookie immediately,
The Bean Spiller
What are the odds that one of the worst blizzards is scheduled to hit DC on the same weekend that we are planning to watch the Hoyas take on the 2nd ranked Wildcats of Villanova??? You would think not probably, right? I went to work this morning with a positive attitude and really thought I would be spending the weekend eating at my favorite DC establishments, watching two great teams battle on the hardwood, and hanging with my family. This outlook was warranted as the worst weather was not supposed to start until late afternoon/evening. Well, my mood quickly soured when I received a text from my mom at 7:36 a.m. It read, “I am so sorry, but your flight has been canceled.” I am pretty sure my jaw dropped about 4 ½ inches at this point and I can confirm that my eyes instantly welled up and I had to fight off the urge to bang my fists on the desk. I had to keep in mind that I was at work. I immediately logged onto the Delta website. I needed to see it to believe it. After all, the flight was not supposed to leave until 1 p.m.—5 ½ hours later; they could not be canceling it this early. Much to my dismay, the website confirmed my mom’s text. I was so frustrated I could scream. I broke the news to Laura and George that there would no longer be a Cullen gathering in the nation’s capital this weekend. It should be noted that we explored every possible option from Amtrak to driving the 14.5 hours to flying to Newark or Philly to get to DC. Unfortunately, with each alternative transportation method researched, the likelihood of getting to DC dwindled. At about 9:00 a.m. we called off the dogs and accepted the fact that Mother Nature had the cruel ability to create blizzards and disastrous winter weather; thus, leaving you helpless and unable to travel. As you can tell this was a pretty devastating day, so if my picks seem a little lackluster you know the reason.
Villanova at Georgetown: Why not start with the game that I was supposed to watch in person. Two teams within the Top 10 meeting head to head should result in a very competitive and exciting basketball game. Both teams have great guards in their starting five, but I expect Greg Monroe to be the difference maker. He is continuing to prove himself every week and this is another opportunity for him to do so on a national stage. Plus, the Hoyas need a win after South Florida pulled up a surprising upset earlier in the week. Hoyas 73 vs. Wildcats 68.
Michigan State at Illinois: Sparty should plan on picking up its second straight conference loss down in Champaign this weekend. Combine the loss of Kalin Lucas and a Big Ten road game and you have a vulnerable MSU team. Illinois is currently in the logjam for 2nd place in the Conference and a win would keep them right in the hunt. Purdue, Wisconsin, and Ohio State would appreciate an Illinois victory as well. Hopefully, the Orange Crush can bring its A game and take down the fighting Izzos. Illini 68 vs. Spartans 61
Texas at Oklahoma: This Red River Rivalry is always a spirited battle and will be no different this weekend. Texas has been reeling lately and can be shaky on the road. The Sooners have been a disappointment since the departure of Blake Griffin. It is time for Willie Warren and Tiny Gallon to step up and take down a ranked team. Sooners 76 vs. Longhorns 74
Gonzaga at Memphis: I just have a hunch that the Tigers may beat up on the Zags tomorrow. Memphis is very athletic and should be able to compete with the talented Gonzaga roster. Expect an up and down game with loads of offense and not a ton of defense. My kind of game! Tigers 78 vs. Bulldogs 71
Temple at Richmond: I do not know enough about these teams to pick a score but Richmond will shock the #18 Temple Owls this weekend.
Vanderbilt at Georgia: The Bulldogs will pull off another home upset of a ranked opponent. Expect the Commodores to travel back to Nashville disappointed.
I am refraining from picking the Wisconsin/Michigan game as I have a bit of a conflict of interest. My mind is telling me that the Badgers are prime for an upset, as the Wolverines play a lot better at home. They also have great talent in Manny Harris and Deshawn Sims that do not always show up on the road. However, my heart is telling me that I love the red and white and cannot pick against the Badgers. So, I am not going to do it. Go Bucky.
Super Bowl Pick: Indianapolis Colts. My only wish is that this game lives up to the hype. Two dynamic offenses that are each lead by outstanding quarterbacks should result in a high scoring, entertaining affair. Defensively, I give the edge to the Colts with or without Dwight Freeney. If he plays Indianapolis will have a much easier time putting pressure on Brees and disrupting the high flying scoring attack of the Saints. Furthering my argument is number 18 in blue and white; it would be really hard for me to pick against Peyton Manning, who with a victory will cement his legacy as one of the greatest, if not the best, quarterbacks of all time. Colts 31 vs. Saints 27.
Call your bookie immediately,
The Bean Spiller
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Learning the Ropes
I was planning on blogging about my all-time favorite basketball shoes this week, but after the last couple days at work I changed my mind. (Sorry mom! I promise I will get you the list of the sweetest kicks soon.). What follows is a blog about how this week has served as a forecast for what my future as a project manager in the construction industry may involve. Basically, I learned that construction is filled with highs and lows that occur on a weekly, daily, and sometimes hourly basis. For example, I was sitting in a meeting the other day and everything had gone well and seemed to be on track. Then all the sudden it was like the roof was caving in on me and one thing after another went wrong—deliveries were late, the building was behind schedule, the owner wasn’t going to pay us for a change order. It was not fun and I walked out of that meeting feeling pretty crappy!
Through out the course of a building project you are going to encounter numerous, and I mean NUMEROUS road bumps/obstacles. I like to call these fire drills because when the problems arise, the people that explain them do it in a manner that makes the issue seem so insurmountable and complex that there is no way it can get fixed. Sometimes these are somewhat minor fire drills despite the way the problem was described. In these cases, I think to myself, “Hey, we can fix this. It is not too big of a deal” and we quickly move on to the next issue. While others are more like “FML, pull my hair out, how can this possibly be happening right now” fire drills. With these particular fire drills it seems that everything is going wrong at the worst possible time. There are no answers or possible solutions within sight and panic begins to take over your sense of logic.
One of the biggest things I am learning to do is manage and prioritize these fire drills. It is clear to me that a successful project manager is a person that can predict and handle crises, juggle and complete multiple tasks, and communicate and facilitate any information that is necessary to get the job done and make money! This may not be too much different from other industries but I’ve only worked in the construction industry at this point. Another key is having confidence and speaking with conviction. A project manager really needs to be able to sell what he/she is saying and get everyone to buy in, even if it may be b.s. Both fortunately and unfortunately, my job as project manager puts me in situations with fire drills all the time; so, I am learning quickly how to successfully overcome these obstacles regardless of their magnitude.
Here is a quick job description for those of you that I don’t talk to on a regular basis or aren’t aware that I have finally finished school and am in the working world. Yes, I completed seven years of college/graduate work and no, I am not a doctor. Don’t tell my dad but I am actually contemplating going back in a few years to get an MBA. What can I say; I am a nerd and love school!
So, I started full-time in August 2009 as a project manager for a mechanical contracting firm that focuses on Heating and Air Conditioning systems. As of Monday, I was the project manager for 1.5 projects. I say 1.5 because I am the full-on PM for a job in LaCrosse and a PM intern for a job in Downtown Madison. They needed an intern to comply with the University’s contract so I get to do the not so fun tasks of updating plans, submittals, RFIs, etc. On my other project, I am responsible for scheduling, budgeting, billing, and basically doing anything to make my field crew’s jobs easier. I act as the bridge between the office and the field. I get to attend weekly progress and construction meetings and interact with other contractors, owners, and design professionals. I also do odds and ends around the office to help out the other project managers. If anything needs to be typed up quickly they usually come to me as they think I am a pretty efficient typer. I have also been coined the resident computer guru and am called into action anytime there is a computer question. Side note: My family members also frequently ask me for help with their computer/technology questions. I am not quite sure where anyone got the idea that I am a computer whiz kid, but hey, I try and sometimes pull something out of my butt and get it fixed.
Overall, it has a great experience, the people and the company I work at are both great. Hopefully, I can keep the fire drills to a minimum and contain the inevitable ones.
Over and Out,
The Bean Spiller
Through out the course of a building project you are going to encounter numerous, and I mean NUMEROUS road bumps/obstacles. I like to call these fire drills because when the problems arise, the people that explain them do it in a manner that makes the issue seem so insurmountable and complex that there is no way it can get fixed. Sometimes these are somewhat minor fire drills despite the way the problem was described. In these cases, I think to myself, “Hey, we can fix this. It is not too big of a deal” and we quickly move on to the next issue. While others are more like “FML, pull my hair out, how can this possibly be happening right now” fire drills. With these particular fire drills it seems that everything is going wrong at the worst possible time. There are no answers or possible solutions within sight and panic begins to take over your sense of logic.
One of the biggest things I am learning to do is manage and prioritize these fire drills. It is clear to me that a successful project manager is a person that can predict and handle crises, juggle and complete multiple tasks, and communicate and facilitate any information that is necessary to get the job done and make money! This may not be too much different from other industries but I’ve only worked in the construction industry at this point. Another key is having confidence and speaking with conviction. A project manager really needs to be able to sell what he/she is saying and get everyone to buy in, even if it may be b.s. Both fortunately and unfortunately, my job as project manager puts me in situations with fire drills all the time; so, I am learning quickly how to successfully overcome these obstacles regardless of their magnitude.
Here is a quick job description for those of you that I don’t talk to on a regular basis or aren’t aware that I have finally finished school and am in the working world. Yes, I completed seven years of college/graduate work and no, I am not a doctor. Don’t tell my dad but I am actually contemplating going back in a few years to get an MBA. What can I say; I am a nerd and love school!
So, I started full-time in August 2009 as a project manager for a mechanical contracting firm that focuses on Heating and Air Conditioning systems. As of Monday, I was the project manager for 1.5 projects. I say 1.5 because I am the full-on PM for a job in LaCrosse and a PM intern for a job in Downtown Madison. They needed an intern to comply with the University’s contract so I get to do the not so fun tasks of updating plans, submittals, RFIs, etc. On my other project, I am responsible for scheduling, budgeting, billing, and basically doing anything to make my field crew’s jobs easier. I act as the bridge between the office and the field. I get to attend weekly progress and construction meetings and interact with other contractors, owners, and design professionals. I also do odds and ends around the office to help out the other project managers. If anything needs to be typed up quickly they usually come to me as they think I am a pretty efficient typer. I have also been coined the resident computer guru and am called into action anytime there is a computer question. Side note: My family members also frequently ask me for help with their computer/technology questions. I am not quite sure where anyone got the idea that I am a computer whiz kid, but hey, I try and sometimes pull something out of my butt and get it fixed.
Overall, it has a great experience, the people and the company I work at are both great. Hopefully, I can keep the fire drills to a minimum and contain the inevitable ones.
Over and Out,
The Bean Spiller
Monday, February 1, 2010
January in Review and February Preview
Another winter month has come and gone here in Madison. Despite the frigid temperatures and lack of sunshine for much of the month, January flew by for me. For the most part it was a pretty good month. I gave up drinking pop, joined the Princeton Club, started another season of city league basketball, and baby sat Scout for a week with the help of Laura. In addition, things at work are progressing nicely. I have to become LEED certified this year and I have set a goal to take the test in April. January did mean saying bye to my parents and George for the next couple of months. I miss having them in Madison, but luckily with our iPhones we can stay in touch quite easily. Though when my dad told me he instituted a “No Cell Phone on the Beach” rule, I took it as a hint to send a few less texts per day. Sorry Dad, this is just me getting back at you for all your email forwards. Isn’t your crackberry great? Sorry, I’ve digressed a bit. Back to the subject at hand, here is a recap of what I consider to be the highlights of January:
Best Weekend Activity: Kickball on Ice Tournament on Lake Waubesa. The Rubber Souls kickball team plus a few additions took their kicking and fielding skills from the rocky infield at Demetral field to the frozen lake. The event was great fun and turned out to be a killer workout. I am pretty sure I worked muscles that I did not even know I had. We played a total of five games through out the day and ended up finishing in 2nd place. I am quite convinced that we would have won the championship had the game not been called after the 3rd inning due to poor lighting conditions. The sponsoring bar also gave each team 10 pitchers of beer and multiple cups of chili. I’d definitely like to make this an annual event and if you ever have the opportunity to play ice kickball do not pass it up.
Best Sporting Event Attended: UW Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue. This was a great game to be at, as the Badgers played great from start to finish. The Kohl Center was rocking through out the game and it is always fun to send the Boilers home with a loss. This is especially true given our recent struggles against Purdue. Only downfall with this game was that the Badgers lost Jon Leuer indefinitely to a broken wrist.
Best Sporting Event Watched: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints. Anyone that watched this game would have to admit it was a great football game minus the sloppiness of all the turnovers. I’ve mentioned it before, but this game also had the perfect ending!
Best Book: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. This is sort of an award by default, as I only read 1 book this month. Even so, Shutter Island is a very entertaining book and definitely worth reading. If you get the chance read it soon, as the movie is coming out in late February. I always find it hard to read a book after seeing the movie.
Best Movie: Avatar 3D IMAX. Hopefully, everyone has had a chance to see Avatar. The 3D IMAX experience was amazing and well worth the $15. If you have not made it to the theater, what are you waiting for?
Best Meal at a Restaurant: Ruth’s Chris. Laura and I decided to take full advantage of Restaurant Week and treated ourselves to a fabulous steakhouse meal. I have to admit we did not strictly follow the $25 Restaurant Week menu, as we both made a few additions to our meals. However, we were still well below the cost for a typical night at this fine establishment. The whole meal was phenomenal and just the right amount of food. If you are debating what restaurant to try during the next Restaurant Week go with Ruth’s Chris. It is hard to find a salad, steak, a side and dessert at a top-notch restaurant for around $25.
January was a great month but I am expecting February to be even better. There will be many great activities and events taking place in the shortest month of the year. Here’s what I am looking forward to:
#16 Badgers vs. #5 Michigan State Spartans at the Kohl Center-2/2/10
Weekend trip to DC to see George and my mom. This trip, like all mine to DC thus far, should be fantastic. We will be seeing #7 Georgetown vs. #2 Villanova. In addition, we will be hitting all our favorite restaurants: Tombs, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Mexican, and Italian at Palominas. Can’t wait.
Birthdays: I am sure I will forget some but just to name a few…Laura and Kris on 2/11/10 and my mom on 2/26/10.
Bowling League: Yup, that’s right I have decided to join a bowling league. Never thought I would say that but it should be a lot of fun. We even get to customize and keep a bowling ball!
Stay Warm and Go Badgers,
The Bean Spiller
Best Weekend Activity: Kickball on Ice Tournament on Lake Waubesa. The Rubber Souls kickball team plus a few additions took their kicking and fielding skills from the rocky infield at Demetral field to the frozen lake. The event was great fun and turned out to be a killer workout. I am pretty sure I worked muscles that I did not even know I had. We played a total of five games through out the day and ended up finishing in 2nd place. I am quite convinced that we would have won the championship had the game not been called after the 3rd inning due to poor lighting conditions. The sponsoring bar also gave each team 10 pitchers of beer and multiple cups of chili. I’d definitely like to make this an annual event and if you ever have the opportunity to play ice kickball do not pass it up.
Best Sporting Event Attended: UW Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue. This was a great game to be at, as the Badgers played great from start to finish. The Kohl Center was rocking through out the game and it is always fun to send the Boilers home with a loss. This is especially true given our recent struggles against Purdue. Only downfall with this game was that the Badgers lost Jon Leuer indefinitely to a broken wrist.
Best Sporting Event Watched: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints. Anyone that watched this game would have to admit it was a great football game minus the sloppiness of all the turnovers. I’ve mentioned it before, but this game also had the perfect ending!
Best Book: Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. This is sort of an award by default, as I only read 1 book this month. Even so, Shutter Island is a very entertaining book and definitely worth reading. If you get the chance read it soon, as the movie is coming out in late February. I always find it hard to read a book after seeing the movie.
Best Movie: Avatar 3D IMAX. Hopefully, everyone has had a chance to see Avatar. The 3D IMAX experience was amazing and well worth the $15. If you have not made it to the theater, what are you waiting for?
Best Meal at a Restaurant: Ruth’s Chris. Laura and I decided to take full advantage of Restaurant Week and treated ourselves to a fabulous steakhouse meal. I have to admit we did not strictly follow the $25 Restaurant Week menu, as we both made a few additions to our meals. However, we were still well below the cost for a typical night at this fine establishment. The whole meal was phenomenal and just the right amount of food. If you are debating what restaurant to try during the next Restaurant Week go with Ruth’s Chris. It is hard to find a salad, steak, a side and dessert at a top-notch restaurant for around $25.
January was a great month but I am expecting February to be even better. There will be many great activities and events taking place in the shortest month of the year. Here’s what I am looking forward to:
#16 Badgers vs. #5 Michigan State Spartans at the Kohl Center-2/2/10
Weekend trip to DC to see George and my mom. This trip, like all mine to DC thus far, should be fantastic. We will be seeing #7 Georgetown vs. #2 Villanova. In addition, we will be hitting all our favorite restaurants: Tombs, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Mexican, and Italian at Palominas. Can’t wait.
Birthdays: I am sure I will forget some but just to name a few…Laura and Kris on 2/11/10 and my mom on 2/26/10.
Bowling League: Yup, that’s right I have decided to join a bowling league. Never thought I would say that but it should be a lot of fun. We even get to customize and keep a bowling ball!
Stay Warm and Go Badgers,
The Bean Spiller
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