Favre "Sticks It" to Teen Wolf
ESPN has a video interview up on their website where Favre puts Ted "Teen Wolf" Thompson on the end of a large pointy stick and roasts him like a marshmellow.
The Journal has the
details in pixel-print.
Some will say Favre has now gone too far.
Others will say that he is angling for a trade.
Other will even say that he's not coming back.
But if you think about it, why would Favre say ANY of this if he were actually undecided or planning to retire?
For example, let's say that 30 days from now he retires. Everyone will rightly assume that his retirement decision is 100% tied to his belief that the talent on the team sucks, that the GM isn't trying to win, and that the organization didn't do enough to try to keep him. Imagine the press conference where he'd be peppered with question after question about this very subject. And given his statements today, ...he wouldn't be able to plausibly deny any of it.
And I just don't believe Favre is like that.
I believe the following:
Favre has decided to come back. His tone of voice was not full of indecision as it has been in the past. He sounded resolute, strong, determined. That's a big change from just 3 months ago.
He doesn't like the decisions made by the man with a crouton head and beady little shrimp eyes (Teen Wolf). He let two of the best guards in football walk away, receiving nothing for them and not attempting to replace them (brilliant!). He fired Shermbutt, Favre's friend. He didn't attempt to bolster the offense or defense or special teams or coaching staff. After firing Shermbutt, he hired a novice. As of today, he's failed to bring in any talent whatsoever. Yes, I know he's brought in some players, ...but I said TALENT.
I believe that McCarthy and Thompson (through their many and frequent talks with Favre) know that he is most likely coming back, ...that's why they said some potentially negative things recently (they wouldn't risk it if he was still undecided). They believe he is coming back, but are frustrated that they cannot announce it and get everyone off of their backs.
So, why won't Favre just say he's coming back?
Because he is trying to force Thompson to spend some bucks on some new offensive talent, or to draft offensive talent at the top of the draft.
He's putting pressure on Thompson by outright saying that unless they pick up some real talent, he might not return.
He put the decision squarely on Thompson's square-shaped head.
While I like anything that causes Thompson discomfort, I think Favre should stop trying to be mini-GM and just go out there and play.
Garage Still Falling
So, last week I was calling around to get more quotes for my wonderful leaning garage and one very reputible company actually gave me a recommendation.
Like most bigger companies, they didn't want to touch my little-but-difficult job. They did, however, give me the number of a carpenter who is "a hard drinking, partying kinda guy. But he does excellent work. He's all business on the job, but when you meet him, ...he's not much to look at."
Oddly enough, I had the opposite opinion of him. He was very prompt and persistent about calling me back and showing up for an early appointment, and he was mostly polite and didn't seem like a loser at all. The hard lines in his face did give the impression that he's lived a hard drinking life, but I saw no evidence that he was presently anything but sober.
However, he seemed to not grasp the totality of the job. He looked confused and made suggestions without a lick of confidence.
It seemed he did not know how to fix my garage, and when asked if he'd done any jobs like this before, he answered without answering.
He did not give me an estimate, but said he would write something up and send it to me or call. Neither has happened and it's been two days.
Incidentally, the guy who verbally quoted 4k for the job has not sent me a written estimate as he said he would, and the guy who is improperly using the BBB and NARI logos in his yellow pages ad has not sent me a quote either.
Well, one of the companies I called last week was the Handyman Network. It's a nationwide company that has a local franchise. When I called, the women answering the phone attempted to suggest that the job was not something they could do, but I was desperate, so I convinced her the job was not as big as it sounded.
They made an appointment to look at my garage the following week, and that appointment took place today. Throughout the week I almost cancelled the appointment once or twice, but for some reason I didn't.
The guy came today and seemed to know what he was talking about. His solution was not the most thorough, but he has done these jobs before and seemed confident that it would work.
Also, his quote was around $1700.
Considering that a new garage would cost between $8100 and $11,000, that's a big relief.
I wouldn't have to pay any money until the job is completed, and I feel much safer about using this company because they do have a nationwide reputation to uphold, and they are a member of NARI. So, if there is a dispute, I have an avenue or two of recourse.
Decision is still pending.
Hotchie Motchie
Sakura Sakurada
Descision '06
Today I looked at the forecast for next week and had one of those moments where a small switch trips in the back of your brain and suddenly your color reception flips to black and white.
It happened as I stared down the seven cloudy day icons displayed in a prison line-up, each charged with warm-to-mild weather, rain, ice, and absence of sun.
And my mind re-remembered that there are many sunkissed cities where winter lasts fewer than five-and-a-half months.
And then I remembered the 17 consecutive days without sun we experienced in January.
Seventeen days with dark, oppressive mornings and dim afternoons. On the lucky 13th day I started to feel a few pangs of rot in my chest. That heavy, sinking weight that spreads to the back of your head. Depression.
And my mind said, "I no longer want to see winter."
Immediately, in self-defense, my mind starting rebuilding the foundation. Winter is a mental obstacle, not a physical one. Admitting defeat is a sure-fire prescription for exponential misery.
And that's where I’m at now.
I acknowledge the thought, but have to put it out of my mind for now.
I've got a garage to repair, a basement to finish, a job to worry about, a car that needs a new transmission, a dog that needs a bath, and a gaping hole in my heart where a gaming computer used to be.
So, what changes?
Well, instead of thinking, "someday I might again live in a sunny place", I will think, "I will move. It's just a matter of time."
Another Blue-Light Special
Scrooge McDuck "Teen Wolf" Thompson looks to pick up a
safety on the cheap.
The Packers have identified (Marquand) Manuel as the player they want as their other starting safety in ’06 from a free-agent list that includes Chris Hope, Tank Williams, Marlon McCree, Tebucky Jones, Lawyer Milloy and Marcus Coleman.
"All those other guys have been starters or logged starting time," one scout said. "Green Bay would be going with probably the most unproven or inexperienced guy of that bunch.I guess you could add "cheapest" to that last sentence.
My Garage is Falling Down
When we purchased our lovely estate, we knew the slanty garage was in need of repair. It is leaning towards the alley and will eventually fall over.
After fielding some quotes last year and ultimately deciding to put off the repairs for a year, we've noticed the lean is now more pronounced. So, our hand is forced.
Contractor #1 came over on Thursday. I found him in the phone book and decided to give him a call because he claims to be a Better Business Bureau and NARI member. Strangely, neither website lists him as a member.
Perhaps the membership listing is out of date, or maybe he once was a member and let his membership lapse. I'd check on that later, all I wanted was a quote.
He said he'd show up at 12:30. Called at 12:19 and left a message saying he was at an appointment way out west and would come to see me at 2. Odd, if he knew he would be far away from me at that late an hour, why not call me sooner? Why wait? Seems a bit irresponsible to me.
I called back and from the sounds in the background, he was clearly in a bar or restaurant. Maybe he was getting lunch.
He showed up a little after 3, told me a needed a new garage, and explained that the costs for fixing my garage would be just under 10k. He said a new garage would be 13k.
He said he'd done jobs like mine before, but that my garage was the worst he'd seen.
Later, I called NARI and asked if he was a member. Nope. Was he ever a member? Nope. I pointed out that he is using their logo in his Yellow Pages ad, and they vowed to look into it.
I won't be calling him back.
Contractor #2 I found in the NARI membership directory. Over the phone the guy was not rude, but his word choice and tone were completely stripped of any pleasantry.
He offered to come out on Saturday. I told him I would be gone in the late morning and early afternoon. He asked if 8am was ok. He gets one point for being an early riser.
He's a solid build, 55+, graying, hard-ass kinda guy. Stetson hat, black steel-tipped boots, denim pants and shirt. Name is Jim. I'm sure he swears a lot, jokes in frequently, and has punched out at least 4 men in his life.
He pointed out that the lean in my garage is not the real problem. He said my garage is actually twisting, and the roof is collapsing the walls outward. Looking at my roof, ...he's right.
He could fix it in two days, but they have to be "warm" days. May would be a good time, he said. Cost? 4k.
He said he's done this type of job dozens of times, and that mine isn't that bad.
I'm going to get more quotes. 4k is better than 10k, but is still more than I planned on spending.
A Duet of Pleasures
Uecker and the other guy start
broadcasting from Maryvale TODAY! They've only got 10 preseason games on the schedule, but they will be broadcasting every Saturday and Sunday from now until the season starts.
And I know we're expecting snow tomorrow, but John Malan is predicting temps will reach 50 by next weekend.
Warm weather and baseball.
For the Second Straight Year, Moeller is My Punching Bag
The Brewers
take two Friday afternoon, beating San Francisco and Oakland. Is it significant? Well, only for this reason:
From the link above,
Catcher Chad Moeller did not appear in either of the split-squad games Friday because of a bruise at the base of his left hand. Moeller suffered the injury when he was struck by a foul tip Thursday against the Giants but X-rays were negative, Yost said. Coincidence?
Moeller could sit out a few more days before returning to action. Mike Rivera started at Oakland in Moeller's place and hit a three-run homer.I like the part about Moeller sitting out a "few" more days. How about 210? And if we make the playoffs, 240?
Goodbye Packers, Hello ...
The dour and confusing dispatches from the ice-crusted plains of Packerland have not improved.
On the plus side, at least we've not been treated to any pictures of "Teen Wolf" Thompson sleeping at the combine. Although I'm not sure which scenario brings us a worse result, "Teen Wolf" working really hard, or slacking off.
On Brett: I don't know why he wants to publically force the Packers to kick him out to the cow pasture, but that's what he's doing. His comments make no sense, even for him (which is saying a lot). There are only three options here.
1) Brett wants the team to "force" him out or cut him, allowing him to save face and play for someone else, saying, "Hey, I wanted to play, they didn't want me."
2) It is known that Brett has been talking to "Teen Wolf" somewhat frequently. It's possible that he's fallen for "Teen Wolf's" frankenberry-like smoothtalk and believes that the Packers are about to put a better team on the field by bringing in some top talent. I wouldn't advise that he hold his breath on that.
3) Brett and "Teen Wolf" are playing an pseudo-intellectual game of battleship (probably with real plastic ships at their side), trying to pin the other down and force the other to make a move. Wrap your head around THAT one! A country bumkin with more guts than brains vs a beady-eyed, self-styled genius with a head like a crouton.
Anyway, it's all too depressing.
I don't even know what the Packers should do at this point.
Sign Drew Brees? Trade down in the draft? Take Williams? Take Hawk? Take the best QB left on the board?
I have NO idea, because I don't think anything can save them now. I mean, how good can a team be with Kurt Schottenheimer playing an important role?
I do know that according to the many things I've read about "Teen Wolf", he will stubbornly take the best player on the board at the time, regardless of position, OR trade down if he feels he can get similar value at a lower spot.
He will NOT draft for need, and normally I can see a blade of wisdom in that philosophy, but like everything else, "Teen Wolf" takes it to a dumb extreme.
Yes, the Packers have many needs, and yes I think it's wrong to draft purely on need and pass over more talented picks, ...but with SO MANY needs on their team, I think "Teen Wolf" has to prioritize. Otherwise, he's in a situation where ANY pick can be justified, and we all know that is not a reality.
His priority should be in this order: QB, Defensive line, linebacker, secondary, RB.
Why QB? Because it's the toughest position to fill, Rodgers is not the answer, and if there is a stud sitting at #5, take him.
But that's two months away and I'm too depressed to keep it in my mind for that long, ...so to finish the sentence in the title of this post ...hello
BREWERS.
