As many people know, I was quick to want to fire a certain Maryland defensive coordinator a couple of years ago. While he is no longer at Maryland, his defense doesn’t look to bad in light of the 2-10 season Maryland just finished. With the University of Virgina firing Al Groh today, I wanted to lay out reasons why I think Maryland should bring back Ralph, even after a 10 loss season and losing records in 4 out of his last 6 seasons (even though one of those was a 6-7 season with the last loss in the Emerald Bowl to Oregon State).
1. Maryland, no matter what the Washington Post says, should not finance the approximately $4 million required to buy out his contract. That’s a lot of money. Not only would Maryland have to pay him, but they would also either have to give a 5 year contract to current Offensive Coordinator James Franklin or pay him $1 million. If they didn’t retain Franklin, they would have to come up with at least $5 million. That’s a lot of money in this economy, and when you can’t sell out the stadium or new luxury boxes.
2. Ralph is a good coach who had a very young and injured team this year. After success last year, including a Humanitarian Bowl win over Nevada, there were less than 20 seniors on this years team. While some might make the argument that so few seniors and such a poor record means there isn’t much talent in the lower classes, I would take the opposite position. While the Terps were certainly outplayed many times this season they showed flashes of brilliance that make me hopeful for next year. With almost all players returning and the opportunity to get a solid (or at least good) recruiting class, I think the team could be bowl eligible next year. I am encouraged by Jamarr Robinson’s play and would love to see him next year with consistent coaching.
3. The most important (and hardest for a alum) is to remember that we are talking about Maryland. While they have had success in football in the past (1952 National Championship, 3 ACC titles in the 1980s under Bobby Ross) football is not king. If the Fridge is fired, who are they going to get to replace him? If it’s a young coach who turns about to be like Kelly at Cincinnati then great, but it could also be another Mark Duffner or Ron Vanderlinden. Because Maryland is a middle of the road ACC school, you can’t expect a big name to leave their current job (even at a mid-major) for Maryland.
Just my thoughts. If the Fridge was fired I would understand, I just hope they give it another year.
Recently, Sarah was browsing at finewine.com in Gaithersburg when she saw a staff recommended 2007 Turn 4 Cabernet (our favorite varietal) for $20 with a sign that said “better than a Cab twice its price.” Turn 4 is a secondary label of Bennett Lane Winery in Napa Valley (there regular Cab goes for about $55 a bottle at the winery).
The Turn 4 Cab is excellent for its price point. While it could probably stand to age in the bottle for a couple of years, it has classic Cab characteristics with a nose of berries, and hints of spice, cocoa, and black cherry. I suggest that it could age for a couple of years because it is slightly tannic and might do well to mellow slightly. Overall, if you can find this wine, try it. It is worth more than $20 (but maybe not $40).
1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: “I wan’ all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan’ all the kids to copulate me.”
2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first”
3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the ‘Skin’s say: “I’d run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,” Matt Millen of the Raiders said: “To win, I’d run over Joe’s Mom, too.”
4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: “He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings..”
5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann: “Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.”
6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh : “I’m going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.” (Now that is beautiful)
7. David P Kalk, former MIT free safety, when attempting to guide his teammates in practice: “You guys line up alphabetically by height.” And, “You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle.”
8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison: “Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton .”
9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: “That’s so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes.”
10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: “He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is.”
11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: “My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt.” (I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)
12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player: “I told him, ‘Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?’ He said, ‘Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.’”
13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F’s and one D: “Son, looks to me like you’re spending too much time on one subject.”
14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious.
15. Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded: “Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye.”
I will seek and find you.
I shall take you to bed and have my way with you.
I will make you ache, shake & sweat until you moan & groan.
I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop.
I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I’m finished with you.
And, when I am finished, you will be weak for days.
I like the idea of a MacTablet. I think my record is fairly clear on this one, but I’m concerned that the expectations are too high for this one. It needs to have 3 crucial features in my mind:
1.) A differentiating app - a guiding purpose besides “check me out, I’m a freaking awesome touch screen computer! booyah, baby!” A media tablet wouldn’t be out of line, but it would have to more than iTunes. There are rumors about Conde Nast having “tablet-ized” their content for such a device and that’s great, but I think there needs to be more. A scaled down version of iMovie and iPhoto would be good; ensuring it works for the ARM/Atom processors. I’d say there probably needs to be more too, but if it was just that - perhaps with a webcam - some people would be fine with it.
2.) Networking - while I am fundamentally opposed to a mandated 3G card to make the device work, I would not be opposed to a subsidized model and a non-3G model. Either way, though, it should have WiFi. Ethernet port optional and, frankly, unnecessary on a computer of this kind.
3.) Price - It can not, can not, can NOT cost too much money. Learn from the lessons of the past. The cube failed for a variety of reasons but most of all it was too much cost for too little computer. I know this is not a “netbook” competitor - Apple keeps reminding us of that - but perception is a problem. If there is a computer that costs $999 with a full processor and DVD drive, why would someone twice as much for neither? My belief is it should be an $800 price point for maximum sales.
Now, according to the article above, it has been delayed. OLED touch screen? $2000 price? Nothing more than additional rumor mongering.
“Dear Apple, we need more information to get us excited! BRING THIS TO ME! Sincerely, Techie McHates-You”
Sorkin says that his next show will once again (like Studio 60 and Sports Night) be set in the world of television, a behind-the-scenes look at…something.
My love of Sorkin’s TV shows and movies knows no bounds, as my loyal readers know, and while I wasn’t as big a fan of Studio 60 as I was of Sports Night and West Wing, but if he gets back into the politics and opinion pieces he is so famous for, the show would be great.
…New Jersey ranks No. 1 in the U.S. in total solar installations per capita and No. 2 for electricity-drawn solar power, in large part because of an innovative system used to subsidize expansion. The state began subsidizing solar in 2002 by allowing utilities to raise rates a small amount in order to pay for solar installations, but now the program runs on a system of renewable-energy credits that allows homeowners to sell their excess power back to the grid. Solar power installations in the state increased from six installations in 2002 to 4,340 in 2009.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NFL has fined Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture at Buffalo fans while celebrating Tennessee’s victory over the Bills.
Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Adams of the fine Monday. League spokesman Greg Aiello said it is for conduct detrimental to the NFL. Adams was seen making the gesture while in his luxury suite and again on the field after Sunday’s 41-17 victory.
NEW YORK — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent’s defensive signals.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up its first-round draft choice next year if it reaches the playoffs this season, or its second- and third-round picks if it misses the postseason.
“This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field,” Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.
On our trip to Sonoma in August, we bought a half bottle of 2007 Schug Pinot Noir. We opened it tonight, and we should have bought a whole bottle. It is a wonderful example of Pinot Noir. Light, fruity, and very easy to drink. It is available nationwide and I encourage you to go out and find some.
So, I have decided that I am protesting. I don’t care. This is now officially ridiculous. It used to be that we started celebrating “the most wonderful time of the year” after Thanksgiving. Then it started the week before Thanksgiving. Now, the beginning of November?!?!? Are you kidding me?! Turkeys everywhere rejoiced when they thought people would forget about them to move straight to the Christmas ham.
Not this carnivore! No, I am protesting shopping at any company that advertises this early for Christmas. Thus, here are the following stores I will be avoiding during this season, and to the people who are getting things from me, if it can only be found at these stores, too bad. You’ll be getting coal.
1.) K-Mart
2.) Zales
3.) Wal-Mart
4.) CVS
5.) Snuggies (yes, I know it’s not a store, per se, but they advertise, thus, fail!)
6.) Food Network store.
Until Christmas, my list grows. Thus, if you have additional nationwide stores I need to avoid, let me know.
I happened upon this video. It is one of my favorite songs off of PJ’s new album “Always & Everywhere” … if you haven’t bought the album yet. Go and download it today. But enough from me, let the music speak for itself:
