Tag Archives: Sports

A Long One or: No Interference

23 Monday Apr 2018

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Salutations™!!

So, this Thursday commences the 2018 NFL Draft. And, in celebration, or preparation, of this event our The Less Desirables Network show, Fan Interference, does our (almost) annual draft special. Faninterference.png

This is never a quick event. Most of the time, Fan Interference is about an hour long. Usually just shy. This special, though, is almost two and a half hours long. Yeah, it was a bit grueling but we did it.

Ty Collins didn’t do this one alone, either. He brought out some big guns for this podcast. He had SEC expert Gabe Austin call in from Atlanta as well as PAC10 expert and host of UCLA Network’s Bruins Insider, Bryan Fenley. Each talked with TC about prospects from their conferences, player bios, where they may land and what to look for from each. TC also gives his own analysis of the players all across the country and where they may go, as well. It was an in-depth show and if you’re a fan of the NFL Draft and what your teams may do, you can listen HERE. We’d appreciate the listen.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“As a sportscaster, whether it be from his time in Memphis, to prior stops in Spokane and Winston-Salem, North Carolina and even going back to his college days at UNC-Greensboro, Bryan has shown what it takes to carve out a path in this industry and climb up the ranks.” – Bryan Fenley’s website

Extra Innings or: The Night With 3B

12 Thursday Apr 2018

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Salutations™!!

Okay, so, I’m admitting this is late because we had a long night. But, there’s nothing like going to a baseball game with your teenage son, just the two of you and it’s especially nice when the home team wins. It’s even nicer when it’s a memorable game.

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Scorp and 3B with a photobomber (I made sure she was in focus)

 

So, 3B and I cooked a little dinner and ran over to Underdog Records to try and catch Jonathan and go over to the game with him. We got there about 6:40p but I didn’t realize that he had closed early, around 5:15p and we went ahead and walked on to the BB&T Ballpark where the Winston-Salem Dash, a farm team for the Chicago White Sox, play their home games and this was their home opener.

That was only a few blocks but the trek was rough on this fat man. We got in the ballpark and made our way over to our seats but they were occupied. The folks in the seats looked kind of official so I had to ask an usher if I was reading the tix right or wrong. It turns out they were in our seats and moved down a bit.

The guy sitting next to me was the video analyst for the Carolina Mudcats (the team the Dash were playing tonight) and he logged every single pitch into his computer and had 8 video cameras total around the ballpark. It was interesting to watch him work. There were several guys in the area that were doing “scoring,” either on paper, on laptops or on tablets, and that too was cool to watch.

The game started and the first few innings were scoreless. The Dash struck first, though scoring one run before closing out the side. The Mudcats came back a few innings later and scored two runs. In the eighth, the Dash pulled off another run and it was tied. They had an opportunity to win in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded but a ground ball to short stopped that run.

In extra innings, there is a new rule in minor league baseball where they place a “pinch runner” on second base to increase the chances of there being a score. This is to try and keep the extra-inning games manageable and they seem to think this is how to help. I have mixed feelings about it, but I totally understand. I thought I had lost track of minutes off my life until the analytics guy explained to me what had happened. That’s only in the minors.

Later in the top of the 10th inning, a guy went to first on a count of 2-1. I thought he had been hit by a pitch but analytics guy told me about the new rule in MLB and the minors where if someone is going to intentionally walk the batter, they can just award him the base, he doesn’t have to take four pitches. I’m actually okay with that. It always bored me to tears when they would do the pitchouts.

In the bottom of the 11th, the Mudcats tried some trickery and had the ball in the second baseman’s glove and tagged the Dash’s pinch runner. But, because the ball wasn’t live they didn’t count that. The Dash had runners on at least third base and first but it may have been a “bases-loaded” situation. Anywhat, the pinch runner actually stole home and was safe. Bottom of the 11th, game over. Dash wins! The modest crowd came alive for that.

It was a great and exciting game. The first time I’ve ever seen a home steal in real life and really I don’t remember seeing it on a game I watched on TV, either. Not highlights but watching in real time. That was awesome. And, again, I got to share that with The Boy. We had fun. I saw several folks that I knew and had a warm beer whilst 3B had a cherry lemonade. I can’t wait to go back because I need a few ballpark dogs. We had already eaten so I didn’t have any this time. I will, though.

Yeah, being able to do that with my son is amazing. The dinner wasn’t too bad either. He is doing really good with that. We walked back to Underdog with Jonathan and used his restroom. We hung out for a little bit and then we had to come home and clean up the kitchen since we had to run out so quickly. So, that threw me back writing this. Again, sorry about that.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Joel Booker stole home to give Winston-Salem a 3-2, walk-off win over the Carolina Mudcats on Thursday night.” – Winston-Salem Dash website

New Chapters or: Flying High

05 Monday Feb 2018

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Salutations™!!

I have about four different things to write about today, but since these two things are presently big news for me and one of the others I passed on Saturday to do the “Sounds Like Saturday,” I’ll go with the two and talk the other tomorrow. How’s that?

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©The Sporting News

 

First, last night the Philadephia Eagles finally got their Lombardi Trophy. That in and of itself isn’t the best news for me. The best news is that they got that by beating Whiney Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Yeah, yeah. Tom is probably the best modern-day player the game has seen since the early 70s. I concede that. But, I’m over him. I’m done with him. I am starting to loathe him. I don’t need to see him in any more Super Bowls.

Of course, I thought the Patriots were going to win. Everyone did. Well, everyone I know outside of Patriots fans (I know there are a couple of those) wanted the Eagles to win but knew it was a long-shot, especially with a backup QB in the mix. But, that backup QB showed up and slapped the defending champions, earning the MVP award in the process. Nick Foles has always been a good QB. Last night, he was a great QB, even getting to catch a pass for a TD! Congrats to him and the Eagles and the city of Philly for finally getting that.

Now, in other news.

The BCPF started her new job today. This past Friday was her last day in the ever-intensifying sinking ship that is Krispy Kreme. She loved her job but they are doing some snide shite over there and it’s not a great place to be, especially in the expected “non-move.”

So, today, she started at a non-profit that deals with the apartment communities in the entire Piedmont/Triad area. She will be the Director of Communications there. I’m leaving off the name for now; keeping with the somewhat anonymity that goes with being married to me. It’s a big jump in title and responsibility. Granted, she won’t be dealing with 6 million Facebook followers or 4+ million Twitter folk but she’s going to be managing the whole marketing direction of this non-profit. Again, that’s big news for her.

The only downside we see right now is she has to drive to Greensboro every day. Is there something wrong with Greensboro? Not at all. But, considering it took her 10 minutes to drive to work at her former employer, and only filling up her tank about once a month, she’ll have to make some adjustments.

I’m so very proud of her, though. She always comes through and makes positive waves no matter where she goes. She does take the bull by the horns and tames it to her – and whoever she works for’s – strengths and needs. She’s a gem of a person and a workhorse. I’m proud to be her hubs and I’m proud of everything she is. She’s going to be a perfect fit for her new employer, too. Big things are a-comin’!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Doug Pederson [Eagles head coach], a career backup quarterback, had his backup quarterback in the game, and he called those plays with such guts like he was calling them for himself after all of those years. It was just a phenomenal game. Tom Brady could not have done any more in this one.” – Cris Collinsworth

Fantasy or: The 202

22 Wednesday Nov 2017

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Salutations™!!

So, I’ve talked in the past about playing fantasy football. Well, this year, I suck. I suck really bad. I am playing in two different leagues and in both of them, I have abysmal records. These teams are atrocious. The worst part is, I had the #1 pick in both leagues. Fantasy-Football-badge

I won the first three games of The Less Desirables League and then have lost every game since. Part of that was that my top QB, the top rated QB in the league, went down for the season with a shoulder injury. So, I play my backup and I don’t even remember who that was. I dropped him and picked up another QB. He was doing awesome! Rookie of the Year candidate, even. The rest of the team was pretty bad but he was doing great. Then, he goes out with a knee injury in practice; untouched. I’m now on an eight-game losing streak and this week doesn’t look pretty, either.

The other league I’m 4-7. I’m not at the bottom but I’m close. Really close. But, this week, I pulled off the highest weekly total this entire season, thus far. My QB and main WR combined for 87.5 points. Then my DEF got 50.4 points. The rest of the team ended up with 64.2 points. That put me at 202.1 points total. Over 200. 160 is strong but 200 is crazy. I like it. Again, I suck. But this week that team felt good. It was good. And I probably won’t do it again. This week, in that league, I play The BCPF. And, in that league, she’s 11-0. I kind of hope I don’t beat her. I don’t want to be the one that does it. But, if it is me, she’ll still love me.

I hate loving fantasy football.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The vast majority of fantasy football fans, myself included, revel in the absurdity of it all.” – Max Handelman

The Network Again or: A Little More Less Desirables

30 Monday Jan 2017

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Salutations™!!

I’m sure you’re tired of me advertising my wares to you, Dear Reader, but you know what?15965142_1835119170033578_5923064517771265191_n That’s what I do. This is what I do. And, I just gotta do it. I piggyback on them all the time for this blog, but I think to myself: Self, I’ve already written a long-winded or recorded a longer-winded podcast of me saying a lot of things today. And whilst it may be true that I try to keep my entities somewhat separate in nature, and there are many, many pieces that I can keep separate, most of them are intertwined together.

Now, my views on this blog don’t necessarily go with the same views I may share on The Less Desirables or The Man Who Ate the Town. That’s because on this blog, I write the journal of a “character.” Scorp is a character. Tim, that’s me, is different than Scorp. Tim that hosts The Less Desirables is different than Scorp. Tim as The Man Who Ate the Town is certainly different than Scorp. Tim on Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking is different than Scorp. And, Beer Dad Tim is absolutely different than Scorp. I know that sounds like a plug for all my podcasts, at least the ones that I not only produce but also host/co-host, but every day and every second I’m awake, I am plugging those things. Because, those things are me.

I am certainly not saying that I am the end-all-be-all of these shows, not at all, because without Caitlin, Danielle, Jon, Paul, Jordan, The BCPF, Brian, Eugene, Bruce or any of the hundreds of guests we have had on any or all of these shows, I would be nothing. I unquestionably acknowledge that. I am proud of where they all stand. Some of them are in their infancy; some in serious veteran status and some may not even be thought up, yet. The Less Desirables is coming up on its seventh anniversary. That’s very veteran podcast terms. No one around here was doing it when Brian and I started it (and me doing other podcasting before that). Even if they were, they either didn’t continue or just let it fade away, but I’m not aware of anyone doing it longer than me.

I’m not going to get into the history of that because you’re going to get a big dose of it come Friday, just as a warning. I’m just proud of my stuff and where in the community it brings me. What I meant to say (425 words later) is that I want to reiterate the importance, the ease of use and convenience of the still mostly new The Less Desirables Podcast Network website. It’s your one-stop-shop for all four of the podcasts I listed earlier and for Fan Interference. I don’t want you to think I’m leaving them out, Dear Reader, because I’m not. I am not the owner, host or even co-host of that podcast although I always have plenty to say. I am the producer and try to make it the best darned sports podcast this area has. TC and Wali Alston do a great job at the sports talk thing. I know my NFL stuff, but other than that, I’m out of my element. But, Fan Interference doesn’t have their own website, so if you’re looking for info about a show, this is the best way. Yes, they have a Facebook page and they are most active in the Twitter market (they update almost daily). If you want to know the latest sports scoop, then definitely watch that, but if you’re wanting to know about the show, this site is your place; your hub.

On the Network website, we have descriptions of all the show episodes, mini-bios of all the podcasts and links to our appropriate social media for each, as well. You can still definitely subscribe to each show on iTunes, Stitcher and TuneIn. Your subscription won’t change. Just if you’re not into the subscribing thing and just want to hear individual shows on your computer or smart device, this is another option for you. So, I’d be greatly appreciative if you’d visit the page, like our Facebook Page, follow us on Twitter and enjoy the fine pop culture and libations-based podcasts we have to offer. And, look for new shows to be added. Thank you all so very much for listening and reading this rant. I apologize if my self promotion is over-the-top, but I love what I do and I love me some me.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Let’s have some new cliches.” – Samuel Goldwyn

May the Force be with You or: In a Theatre Far, Far Away

15 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Rant

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Salutations™!!

I am seriously conflicted about the new Star Wars. No, not about the movie itself. Not the crazy hysteria about it. Not the merchandising. The going to see it, that’s what I’m conflicted about. The other stuff? Actually, I truly welcome all the other stuff.

Some of the greatest memories I have of my childhood evolved around three things: KISS, sports and Star Wars. The KISS part I’ve talked about and I’ll pass on it this time. Sports is broad and really not what this post is about. But, Star Wars, I loved Star Wars. It truly consumed me (outside the aforementioned items). The Star_Wars_The_Force_Awakensaction figures (we didn’t have dolls), playsets, light sabers, cereals, lunchboxes, comics, commercials and so on, they were very present in my life. My existence, especially on Saturday morning, during the cartoons, was highlighted by the commercial of the “Sand Speeder” and Vader’s Tie-Fighter and the Tauntauns and the Hoth playset and Hoth Han Solo figure or Boba Fett figure or X-Wing Luke Skywalker figure. How about C-3PO cereal? The plastic light sabers that used its design to create the sounds from the air? The pajamas? The sleeping bags? Man… it was so… so, there! And, it was awesome.

My son seems to give two shites about Star Wars and its history or its place in my life. If it’s not Minecraft (or Mindless Craft, I say) or some stupid video of some guy and his foul-mouthed grandfather, then he doesn’t care about anything. But, I care. In fact, I care a lot. I love that we’re being saturated with Star Wars mania. I know we got some of it when the three prequels came out but this is different. This is the Star Wars that we grew up on, in continuance. I will go on record and say that I didn’t mind the prequels (Jar Jar inclusive) as a way to somehow give some perceived validity to the story line that none of us, outside of people who read the books (of which I knew no one), could figure out why we started at Episode IV. It wasn’t the same but it wasn’t awful, at least to me. But, this is beyond Return of the Jedi. Where we knew the story is where we’ll pick up. I’m very excited about that.

Now, back to my inner-conflict. I love movies. Love. Them. But, unless it’s something special that I figure there won’t be a lot of people involved, I hate going to the movies. They’re overpriced, there’s too many people crowding into a cramped, dark space, there’s people talking and checking their phones while the film is showing and so on. If I want to go to the bathroom, then I’m going to miss part of the film. At my house, I can put a good sound system together with a large screen, high definition television set, a comfortable chair, my bathroom and my food and my alcohol (should I choose to drink it) and I’m quite fine with that. Seeing it on the “big screen” matters very little to me. So, whilst the rest of the country (and world) are losing their minds finding tickets, camping out and just being way over involved, I’m going to wait until it either dies down, moves to a budget theater or just wait for the Blu-Ray or Amazon Prime or Netflix.

So, I reiterate, I love Star Wars but it’s not worth it being in the theater with all the other Star Wars fans. How about you, Dear Reader? Will you be one of the massive surge that contributes to the initial box office record (this is most likely going to happen) or just wait it out? Or, are you one that, like my son, gives two shites about it? I’d love to hear.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“One thing about ‘Star Wars’ that I’m really proud of is that it expands the imagination. That’s why I like the ‘Star Wars’ toys.” – George Lucas

In Square Circle or: Sports Fans Unite!

23 Sunday Nov 2014

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Salutations™!!

FanInterferenceTest2

Fan Interference

The next to show up in the realm of The Less Desirables Network is the sports review/preview/editorial show we call Fan Interference.  Ty Collins is the College Sports Guru for The Less Desirables.  He knows his stuff.  He and I had discussed doing a show all about sports with him.  We started in late winter/early spring 2013.  We recorded it in the evenings on Mondays.

Why Mondays?  Just like The Less Desirables recording on Wednesdays, there’s a method and reason to recording day.  The majority of major sports happenings is on the weekend.  Sure, basketball and baseball happens all during the week but most things can be recapped or put through the ringers on the weekends. And, of course, football happens mostly on the weekends.  Mondays, too, are the first day of the work week, so it’s an escape from the agony of returning to work.

Mainly, the topics are NBA, NFL, MLB, college sports, Wake Forest sports, etc.

Later that year, we added Brian Neal, a television producer, to add more flavor and insight.  Admittedly, while I love sports (except basketball), I don’t really keep up enough to provide point/counterpoint with Ty.  Brian’s inclusion has been a real enhancement to the show.  We have also moved the show to Monday afternoons as it’s more conducive to the scheduling of all involved.

So, if you like sports and want to hear editorial/talk show-like perspective on those sports, check out Fan Interference.  You can listen from The Less Desirables Network page on The Less Desirables site or from iTunes or Stitcher.  Enjoy and play ball!!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m a football fan, a sports fan, a fan of competition.” – Matthew McConaughey