On the Plate … 2/21/05

Daytona, Dead Presidents, Presidents & The Beginning of Judgment

It's President's Day, and yes, I didn't have to work, it's the beginning of ESPN's "Judgment Week" and I'm watching Kansas at OU. Am I happy? You bet.

Some quick observations from this game…1) Oklahoma always has dudes that can jump out of the building. Sweet Jesus, their kids attack, I mean f'ing attack, the glass. 2) Is Aaron Miles any good? For a senior who has been to 2 Final Fours and last year's Elite 8, he makes a lot of stupid-ass mistakes. 3) Does Bill Self know any plays? On several occasions tonight, his kids have looked absolutely clueless with the shot clock running down / on inbounds plays / frankly, in general. Actually, does Bill Self know anything about basketball? 4) Kansas' JR Giddens is officially a First Team All American on my "I Hate You" Squad. For the record, he accompanies Duke's JJ Redick, BC's Jared Dudley, ND's Chris Thomas, and Arizona's Salim Stoudamire. The Second Team? Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, UNC's Rashad McCants, 'Cuse's Billy Edelin, Florida's Matt Walsh, and Tennessee's Philip Fulmer. 5) How is Kansas this mediocre with all of this talent? I understand that playing on the road is tough. I also understand that 20-4 is not mediocre. But do you think this group of Jayhawks loses 3 in a row under Roy? Not a chance. That's my point.

Dale Jr's make you fat. I should know. I drank about 63 of them over the past weekend. And to add insult to injury, there's something about drinking Dale Jr's that makes you want to eat cheeseburgers. I should know. I ate four of them over the weekend. But so be it, Dale Jr's are friggin delicious and so are cheeseburgers. So there it is.

God, I love President's Day. What don't I like? Having, my boy, JJ Redick score a career high 38 points in a Duke romp over Wake after I took the Deacs getting 4 ½ at Cameron. Wake getting 4 ½? I mean come on. Easy money, right? Wrong, as usual. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have made the bet from a bar that was hosting a DC 101-sponsored NASCAR party. Yep, a full-fledged, real deal NASCAR "shindig", if you will. It was amazing. I hadn't seen so many mutants packed into one place since the last time I attended a bowling party in Glen Burnie as an 8-year old. (Actually, I've never been to a "bowling party" in Glen Burnie. I just straight up bowl in the "Burn." No parties. At least not yet. Travis hasn't decided if he'll let me rent the place out.)

I was floored by all of the NASCAR flare in this bar. Quite remarkable. Leather jackets, hats, t-shirts, golf shirts, button-down shirts - all bearing some sort of NASCAR patronage. (I now know what I'm getting my Dad for his birthday…obviously…a long-sleeved button-down shirt with Ricky Rudd's signature on the left front pocket. He can wear it to work…and to church.)

I tried to fit in with all of the apparel. I wore my Wrangler Jeans cowboy-style shirt that has a picture of a guy lassoing a bull on the front of it. I think I looked more like a jackass than a NASCAR fan, but I'm pretty sure the two aren't that far off from each other.

For the record, the whole scene was a blast. I f'ing love NASCAR. That's no joke. Dale Jr's were flowing like wine and people were yelling all kinds of stupid xrap. For example, one guy kept yelling at the TV "Hang 'em out! Hang 'em out! Yee-haw!" I'm pretty sure that he was referring to when the train of cars, who are drafting one another, leaves a certain car outside of that train, thus allowing the train to pass that certain car which consequently puts that driver several positions back from where he started. (That's some technical-ass NASCAR junk right-them-there for all you unedumucated. Yep.) Well, this cat would yell this poison every GD lap. It was numbing...and, frankly, I loved it…in an annoyed-but-isn't-that-sad-that-that-guy-is-that-into-the-race-but-I-respect-him-because-I-think-I-want-to-be-into-the-race-that-much-also kind of way. What?

In the end, though, it sucked watching that pompous, pretty boy Jeff Gordon win the Great American Race. Never liked him, never have. And not because I'm NASCAR boy. Gordon's like Duke. He wins too much and never acts cool when he does. In other words, he'll never own a gold tooth. Anyway, I swear my boy Dale Jr. had that damn thing won. He was leading with 3 to go! I don't know what happened. Why? Because I was too busy yelling "Hang 'em out! Hang 'em out! Yee-haw!"

Obviously.

On the way…the CSG's personal Judgment Week…BC at Nova ; Vandy at the Gators…Wednesday night…look for noise Friday…I'm sweating…sweating out cheeseburgers.