Choice Seats on the Bandwagon

Here's a picture from last Thursday's Game. John's team lost. But, he continues to get touches, show improvement and gain confidence. He's going to be a nice prospect when he's in highschool. The starting QB has a wrist injury, and now Junior's the player under center. On Saturday, he got into the weight room and benched 160 for the first time. He was pumped.

Speaking of getting pumped, click this link:
Ronnie Coleman with Brian Dobson: Spotter This is 7 Time Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman. Behind him is Brian Dobson, Trainer and Owner of Metroflex Gym in Arlington, Texas. I lifted at this gym throughout the 1990's. It is not an exxageration to say that all who enter are felons, strippers and professional bodybuilders. Both Brian and Ronnie were always very nice to my kids. So, I'll forgive all the rest.

MLB Notes I'm still waiting for all my propers to start rolling in. As many of you will recall, I have been touting the importance of TEAM ERA as the reason for The Tigers success as well as the White Sox demise. I have been harping the electrifying spark of Jason Tyner as the edge needed down the stretch for the Twins to carve a Wild Card berth. A quick scan of the MLB standings will illustrate that I have been spot-on in my analysis. Certainly, many will want to send compliments. Please be pithy. We don't want to over-work the server.

looking for daylight in Mauriceville

Political Note: My President's silence, after Iran's Ahmedanijad and Venezuala's Chavez belched out hubris and hatred towards Americans and their leader, is admirable. Sometimes a person baits another with such assinine vitriol that the best response is none at all; just let their remarks stand on their own. No need to dignify them.

Local Football: The Junior is expected to get equal touches at the I-Back position and the Wideout position tonight as his St. Anne's Wildcats take on Hampshire-Fannette. Last week, Junior led the team in receiving yardage. But, he coughed up the ball once on the five yard line as the defense salvaged a tie vs. Mauriceville.

Fantasy Football Update: At this point in the season, it becomes increasingly clear who the contenders are, as others fail to replace people who have bye-weeks. Important to keep the roster filled with active players. Still holding the #1 spot this week is Former Colorado All Stater, Paul Mefford. #2 Spot is held by a UT fan whose identity is a mystery to me. But, #3 is Chicago's Todd Projansky, the renowned student of box score.

Very Important Video Link from YouTube

Please click on this link to see an important video clip that my friend Laurie Harmon sent.

Get Ready.

My First Book Report in a While

I've had a lot of back trouble in the past month and a half. I've had doctors telling me that I have to make "lifestyle" changes, i.e.; I have to stop lifting weights. Simultaneously, I've been reading a book by Dave Dravecky, a former MLB pitcher who was an All-Star, went to the World Series, and had it all going on.

Dravecky developed Cancer in his throwing arm. Doctors amputated the arm in the peak of his career. The book is called Called Up. Dravecky uses his experiences to illustrate that we pin our faith on other gods. He: his arm. Me: vanity or selfishness; whatever. You? (Take your time, and be honest.)

God sometimes takes these false gods away from us to fix our focus on Him. Anyway, its a cool book for the Christian-Baseball fan/historian.

The Subtext for this Weekend

This photo is referred to me by our great friend, and football talent evaluator, Tim Phillips of Arlington, Texas. It depicts Pearl Harbor Survivor, Houston James, embracing Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr.. The Sgt. lost a leg, hand and an eye while defusing a bomb in Baghdad last year. What a sacrifice the entire armed forces make for us.

With that in mind, the Vicarious Life staff would like to express outrage over the gamesmanship played this week by Republican Senators, John Warner and John McCain for siding with Democrats to dissallow CIA interrogations of terrorists and give terrorist protection under the terms of the Geneva Convention. It was our current mode of information gathering that allowed England and the U.S. to stop the British 9/11, just a few weeks ago. When the next big attack on America happens, remember to blame the Democrats and Warner and McCain for applying rules of law and fair-play to a group of savages, who apply no standards of ethics, morality, truth or fairness to themselves. We owe better to our sons (like Graunke Jr.) for their sacrifice.

This Weekend's Big Games

Michigan vs. Notre Dame - Collin Cowherd of ESPN reported today that Michigan has received exactly none of the state's Top Ten Ranked Players' committments. UM just isn't sexy. A win at ND would be a real shot in the arm. But, it won't happen. ND by 6.

LSU @ Auburn - At Oklahoma State, Les Miles had a great deal of success. He's a good details guy, in the mold of Jimmy Johnson. But, LSU fans have an unmatched ability to display classlessness during both losses and victories. Their tailgaters are mythical in their debauchery. They'll be the fans watching the game with one eye covered. It just wouldn't be right for LSU to beat the Tigers. Auburn by 7.

Texas Tech at TCU - Last week, Tech escaped UTEP by only 3 points. There has been a working theory that they could insert the ballboy to run Mike Leach's offense, because it was the system that made Tech hard to beat. TCU is going to show them that you've also got to play defense. TCU by 10.

One Patriotic College Football Player

Thanks to our faithful friend, Travis Wilson, Texas A&M, Class of '89 for sending this link about Mark Dodge, college football player and Military Veteran:

Mark Dodge, Texas Aggie

Fantasy Football Standings

In the top spot, after Week One is former Colorado All-State Infielder, Paul Mefford. Take a look at this roster of solid pick-ups and dark-horses. Paul is now an engineer, who uses slide rules and computer programs, so it almost isn't fair.

Only 98 points behind, in the Number Two Spot is Chicago's Todd Projansky, a known sports minutiae expert. Mr. Projansky's deft selections include Peyton Manning and Larry Fitzgerald. The rest of the roster includes budget buys to fill out a top-flight group.

The Number Three Spot is held by Beaumont, Texas' Nick Soberon. He's in 7th grade. So, the rest of us are getting jobbed by a middle schooler.

While We Await UT vs. OSU...

Thanks to Vicarious Life roving reporter and State Farm Insurance Agent Travis Wilson for the link to the fantastic display of patriotism shown by the great Jim Leyland, (one of the reasons why Los Tigres are a team of destiny; discussed heretofore on August 24th) on September 1, 2006.

It seems that Leyland was quite capable of observing the Stars and Stripes, while concurrently chewing on the posterior of the plate umpire.

Leyland's Patriotism on Display

This week, my son's team will take on his former team, the Cathedral Warriors. There is a great deal of tension attached to this battle on the gridiron because John and Brandtley Wilson (Cathedral's two best players) jumped ship to play for their arch-rival, the Wildcats. The Warriors would take out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle if they could win this one on Thursday.

The world lost a great environmentalist in Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin. Many was the time that I found myself siding with the tree-hugging socialists on the topic of environmental consciousness while watching Irwin tell things from the animals' point of view. In most cases, the issue is habitat destruction. Irwin was the greatest ambassador for the cause because he used his big-eyed, child-like enthusiasm to disarm even the cynical.

No doubt, we can all remember times when we were absent-mindedly flipping through channels with the kids and stopped to watch the mesmoririzing Irwin straddling a giant boa constrictor or man-sized crocodile, while explaining their social habits. The Crocodile Hunter worked without a net, a guard, or the safety of a blue screen. He was the real deal, seeking nothing but his family's companionship, the audience's attention, the participation of dog, Sui and another day's dose of adrenaline. We at the Vicarious Life hold him in the highest esteem for doing nothing less than that which he loved the most.