University Of Miami @ MindSay

Current mood: happy
Category: Sports

THOUGHTS ON WEEK 6 IN THE NFL
I usually reserve this weekly post to all things NFL but the brawl that took place on Saturday's college game between the University of Miami and Florida International University marks not only another low point for chronically overrated Miami but should be an embarassment to all of college football. What bothered me most was not the herd mentality that players displayed in joining in with their teammates but that the officials and coaches lacked the ability to take control. For a few minutes it became a gang fight in football pads. And unlike the ugly brawl that marred the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers game two years ago this incident seemed to delght the fans who were there. Miami spirit squad members ran around the field waving the Hurricane flags as if this was a sanctioned UFC bout and a good many of the fans in the stands were on their feet cheering them on like a bunch of junior high school kids rallying around two kids going at it. What's done is done and the image of Miami once again of an outlaw college football program that has no standards with regards to the types of players it recruits, preparing them to become Oakland Raiders one day. The University President has come out in force and several of the players involved have been suspended; for one game, the easy game against Duke this week back in time for nationally ranked Georgia Tech and all will be forgotten. Tell you what they should do. Suspend each player involved in actual fighting and furthering the melee for the remainder of the season. Fire Coach Coker, who hasn't exactly done a good job this year now. All of those players involved in inciting more violence or going above and beyond simple pushing and shoving, like kicking opposing players on the ground and throwing helmets at opposing players heads should not only be suspended from the team for life, but should be expelled from the University. The Dade County district attorney should file criminal assault and battery charges, and inciting a riot. Send the message that such conduct has consequences beyond overnite ratings. ESPN should stop replaying bits of it on tv. It was a news story the first time, every time hence, treats it not as such but as entertainment and a spectacle to watch. Of course that means drawing a line between competitive sport and entertainment, and we all know in todays 24/7 global satellite media culture there's enough time and space to show everything. Over and over again until the next ever more outrageous clip of video comes along and we do it all over again.

REGGIE BUSH v. MARIO WILLIAMS
(Reggie Bush was the ..2 player chosen in the 2006 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints, after being widely regarded as the consensus ..1 pick by every expert in favor of Mario Williams by the Houston Texans)

Reggie Bush--RB
Stats for Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles; 11 carries for 26 yards, 4 catches for 35 yards, 3 punt returns for 29 yards, 0 touchdowns
Breakdown: 18 total touches for 90 yards total in helping Saints beat Philly as time expired by a field goal 27-24. Hasn't had that monster game we saw over and over again at USC, but has shown flashes of it when he has the ball in the open field and is a legitimate threat every time he touches the ball.
Impact: He makes it tough on opposing defenses because he can line up in the backfield, in the slot, out wide and gives N.O. so many options and formations that allows Drew Brees to make plays. It's no coincidence that WR Joe Horn and RB Deuce McCallister are having solid years in no small part because of what Reggue brings to the table, and I imagine as more and more defenses scheme up ways to stop Horn and McCallister, Bush will get more opportunities. He makes others better and that in turn will make him better. After going 3-13 all of last year the Saints are certainly better and more than just a feel-good story this year at 5-1 and in first place in the NFC South. The Saints are a bona-fide playoff team and will be playing this January.

Mario Williams--DE
Stats for Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys; 6 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 interceptions.
Breakdown: Houston lost to Dallas 34-6. After leading Cowboys 6-3 at halftime the Texans couldn't stop the run, couldn't pressure Bledsoe and couldn't contain Terrell Owens, who had his best game yet as a Cowboy.
Impact: Texans are 1-5, tied for last place in AFC South with Tennessee and getting worse each week. Is it basketball season yet in South Texas cuz' this team's heading nowhere and Mario Williams is no help.

SUNDAY TRIFECTA
San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Sporting Line: San Diego by 5.5
Breakdown: C'mon they demolished an improving San Franciso team last week scoring 48 points! They have the best RB in the game (LT not Larry Johnson), the best TE in the game (Gates not Gonzalez), the best front 7 outside of Chicago and an impressive young QB. KC is beat up and one dimensional. Sure it's a divisional game and on the road so I'll give KC the first half to hang around, but the Bolts have too many weapons, the Chiefs too few. The Bolts put too much pressure on opposing QBs and force mistakes and can stop the run. Onwards to 5-1.
My Pick: San Diego by 13; 33-20.

Denver Broncos @ Cleveland Browns
Sporting Line: Denver by 4.5
Breakdown: Denver (that other really good team in the AFC West) isn't explosive or sexy, but they have allowed only 1 defensive TD through 5 games and given up the fewest points. Cleveland is a game opponent with some fight in them (the Oakland Raiders they aren't), but can't establish the run on offense or attack with a vertical passing game. Denver's D and ball-control offense will take command of this game even if the score looks less impressive.
My Pick: Denver by 14; 20-6.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons
Sporting Line: Pittsburgh by 2.5
Breakdown: These are two teams headed in opposite directions. Pittsburgh's QB Ben Roethlisburger seems like he's finally emerged from his early season struggles and they have been able to run the ball again. And play pretty good defense too. Atlanta is fun to watch with QB Michael Vick and RB Warrick Dunn but is largely one dimensional. Pittsburgh is clearly getting better and about to hit its stride. Atlanta is not the same team that started 2-0.
My Pick: Pittsburgh by 4; 17-13.

Last Week: 3-0
Season: 13-3.

There were plenty of penalties for the Miami players.  Suspensions, indefinate or otherwise and just a few minutes ago I learn that there is something more that the Dean of the school, Donna Shalala, has imposed:

Miami officials have enacted a new rule that any athlete who fights will be dismissed from that team, a "new standard ... zero tolerance" policy.

Hmm.  Lets see where this goes.  Will Miami have the guts to kick off of the team a Brandon Meriweather?  Ken Nornton, Jr.?  A Jeremy Shockey?  A Ken Dorsey?  A Clinton Portis?  A Devin Hester?  Or a Willis McGahee?  Or maybe the better question is whether or not the players will respect the new policy regarding fighting on the field.  Maybe there is more to this story.  Or maybe this is the wrong way to go altogether.

So when does that policy start and when does it end?  Does it start like it did when the F.I.U. player pushes a Miami player or when they slam the place kick holder to the ground and start kicking and stomping on him?  Do they really think that any teammate for a team that has had a fight brought on them is going to turn the other way in an aggressive sport like football?  No they won't.  That is why the "thugs" of Miami reacted the way that they did.  Any teammate from any college would have reacted the same way, Miami or not!  Squares or Thugs it does not matter.

So does the rule start with the opponent initiating the brawl?  Does the recipient of the "swing" get to swing back?  Or does the recipient have to walk away?  What happens to the psychi of the player that walks away?  Does Shalala really think that during the next opportune play that there will not be a fist thrown to the groin or something worse to the recipient?  What happens then?

This decision by The Dean sounds good and all but it is nothing more than P.R. just to save face for the University for now with regards to the media.  Miami has had a "Bad Boy" image for many years now.  Thank God we have won many championships to save some type of face but the cloud still persists.  Here in Tennessee there are players here that deal drugs, beat their girlfriends, get arrested for public drunkeness, start bar fights, and many, many more things.  I say that to show that no Program is immune from adversity.  We as Canes Fans seem to get more of our bad share of publicity than the rest.  Just let us play football and be Miami Hurricanes.

So, it's all good now. I got the internet problem fixed yesterday but I had to wait the day it takes to connect and so, after watching Neighbors (an Australian soap opera that is horrible and yet, so addictive) with my flat's 'Neighbors Society' (which really just means that half the flat congregates in Aaron's room at half five everyday to watch the show. And I forgot what I was saying...oh, the internet! So, yes, I came back from Neighbors to find my internet working! After a few 'Hallelujahs!' and checking Myspace, I came on to blog. This won't be a real blog, though, I'm just going to copy and paste what I wrote my first week here.

WARNING: It will be long, because it's two days of crazyness. Only read on further if you're actually interested in my life...haha.

OCT. 3

England is insane... and I LOVE it. My Ma and her friend Jane (who came with and is our designated driver - though none of us is familiar with driving in the U.K. or on the left side of the road) don't seem to understand any of the road signs, which I don't understand because they're blunt. Other then the roundabouts, which I actually like, and the road signs, which seem to make sense only to me, the only thing that throws me off about driving in Britain is the whole driving on the left side of the road and the steering wheel being on the right side of the car. We actually had a discussion about this at the rental dealership, and none of us can figure out how, in a world ruled by right-handed people, there are countries with steerings wheels on the right side of the car so that everybody has to use their left hand to shift.

Good news is, I know Colchester very well after only 72 hours here (well, technically it's less than that but I'm not technical person anyway). I know where the superstores are, where the movie theater is, where Curves is, where the best shopping is, where my bank is, and, most importantly, where every single pub is. Haha, that's not a hard one actually because there's a pub every other store and at least 6 on campus alone. Also, in town, when excluding  the shopping areas where almost all the stores are clothing-type shops and restaurants, the streets look like this: [pub][grocer][pub][asian food][pub][fish'n'chips][pub][grocer][pub][indian food][pub]

Oh! That reminds me - I experienced irony today in a pub. On campus they gave us these special bracelets that indicate we're students or whatever and those bracelets get you discounts, including in the pubs of course. Well, one of the discounts that caught my Ma's and Jane's eye was a two for one special for Mud Vodka's (or Muddy Vodka's or something like that), so, and here's the irony, I had to buy them the alcohol. I actually laughed out loud at that one. On a similar note, my Ma kept trying to buy me pints. I know most teenagers would love to have this problem but, honestly, I don't want to get drunk right away. Besides, at least one of us has to remain sober so we know where the hell we are and where we're going. That and I have too much to do right now to go and get drunk. And I'm sick from all the roundabouts, which aside from being helpful, turns your stomach into liquid... it's like being on one of those kiddy rides that go in circles at the same speed for what seems like an hour so that your stomach almost permanately moves in next to your pancreas and on top of your right kidney (a place a stomach does not belong).

I'm actually writing this in my dorm room right now. It's very nice - a corner space - and is about as big as my room in Miami, except, it's a single. They're all singles and it's fabulous. OH! And there are boys on the floor too (if you go to a school that's completely co-ed in everything, then this won't make any sense)!!! HOT English boys and one Irishman whom I'm totally in love with. I'm so glad I got my hair done before I came. And I'm glad that English girls are more... urgh, how to say this without sounding mean... well, it can't be done. English girls seem a lot more plain than American girls. Though there are some gorgeous Keira Knightly types, most are just so... normal-looking and plain and it really makes me feel better, especially after living in Miami where most girls look like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez or Lindsay Lohan or in DeKalb where, like, half the girls in my high school were models (this is no joke either). I get to feel pretty here and I love it. And in Miami, the boys are on one floor and the girls are on another and we have some strict rules... and some of the RAs are total Nazis when it comes to keeping the rules. Though I know a few who managed to get around it by memorizing our RA's schedule... though I'm far too lazy to do that. So, whatever. It's better here!

I love everything here, really. The language (I love how articulate everybody is), the way they do things, just... everything. I don't ever want to leave. I especially love Essex - it's fabulous! If you're thinking about universities in England, seriously consider Uni.Essex cause it rocks. Now, the only thing I have to figure out is the kitchen situation... hm, I'll do that later. Right now I'm heading out to meet more people. Adios!

END

Right, that was super-long so I think I'll wait to post the rest till tomorrow.

 
 

So I went to my stylist today, Lori, and per-usual she did a fantastic job! I'm glad I followed her when she left the place she used to work with because I don't think anyone else could make me happy. Before I show the before and after pictures, I want to tell you all about how it goes down.

How You Know Your Stylist Kicks Ass

1. They make sure they're doing what you want to be done. They ask you specifically about color and cut and show you pictures of cuts and samples of color to make sure you know what the possibilities are.

2. They make you comfortable (whether it be with magazines, drinks, or chit-chat).

3. They're familiar with current pop-culture so that when you say something like "I like Mandy Moore's new cut", they know what you're talking about.

So Lori listened to everything I said, made suggestions in terms of face-shape and skin tone, supplied me with a Coke and a InTouch magazine and foiled me up as she asked what classes I'm going to be taking in England.

A little boy (like 10 or something) was in the seat next to me getting his hair highlighted and, not that I knew it at the time, was eagerly listening to every word we said. When the time came to go under the dryers with our caps on, we sat next to each other and discussed Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan. It was strange, because, I mean, he's a ten year old little boy. But he was nice. And he told me my cut and color looked good on me. Needless to say he was quite the little charmer. I'm pretty sure he had every female in the salon ready to do anything he asked.

Anyway, to the good stuff. MY MAKEOVER! I went from blonde, shoulder-length, curly hair to.... short, semi-straight and brunette (with a hint of red)!!

What do you all think?? Is it London or what? SWEET.

I'm currently eating some delicious buffalo wings coated in teryaki sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings. They just opened a place here in DeKalb and while they did gip us ($.35 cents for a paper napkin? PLEASE. Not too mention they charged us $.40 cents for a blue cheese dipping sauce that they never gave us). But the wings are good.

My Da took me to Woodfield mall in Schaumburg (3rd largest mall in the USA, I think) today. The only store I went to was Torrid and I've deemed it my favorite now. They have cool clothes for big girls and I love that. I mean, I'm not massive or anything cause I can still shop at places like Rue21 and all but it's nice to go to a store devoted entirely to plus-sized young women (Layne Bryant doesn't count because they make clothes for kangaroos, if you get my drift). Anyway, I got two pairs of jeans, a pretty blue sweater, a cool top, a silver studded holder for my iPod and a black wallet with stars on it for going out.

I'm glad I bought 'going out' clothes before I went to Memphis last month so I didn't have to buy them now 'cause I spent nearly $200 on just those things. Plus I still need boots, a coat and maybe one more sweater. If possible.

Oh! And I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target yesterday. At BBB, I got a nice blanket, little towels, a bathrobe, shower sandals, and some other stuff I can't remember. At Target I got a bunch of girl stuff 'cause it costs money to look as pretty as I do (haha).

Tomorrow I have my hair appointment where I'll be going from blonde to brunette and cutting about two inches off my already short hair. Luckily, I got an appointment with Lori, who is my favorite stylist.

Thursday is cleaning and packing day so that I'm ready to go on Friday (but I have a nighttime flight anyway so I'm not going to pack till Friday, hehehe). I haven't cleaned my bedroom since I left for school last year. So, you can imagine the mess it's in. Plus my bathroom hasn't been cleaned since my sister left for school because I got lazy and all my crap is all over our two sinks. One sink is now for morning and bed-time preparation and the other is for going out. They both serve a purpose and I'm going to feel empty when I have only one sink again.

What else... hm... I think that's all for today. I may make one last update before England (probably the day I leave).