Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Here is what the Brits think of Scranton.....
I couldn't agree more....The American Office is back on American TV. And all the Americans I know are rabbiting on about how it's the greatest show on TV ever.
It clearly isn't. Not when Star Stories is on BBC America. But you can see why they're excited. The Office deals with race and alienation and the sheer banality of everyday life in a way that is truly revolutionary for the American sitcom. And this excites a certain part of America greatly.
This year saw the second Office convention in Scranton - the boring town in northeast Pennsylvania that stands in for the Brit original's Slough (even though it's actually shot in California.)
Scranton has also become the new Peoria - the legendary political litmus test for the US presidential election. It came to prominence during the primaries as Hilary Clinton's (sorta) hometown. Turns out that Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden is also (kinda) from Scranton.
And so - with grim inevitability - "hard scrabble" Scranton changed from a boring shithole that nobody cared about, into a marvelous microcosm of authentic, blue collar, domestic beer drinking, "hard working" America; and was namechecked by Democrats and Republicans alike as exactly the sort of economically-depressed, white, working class dump Obama has to win to have any chance of becoming president.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Offense was offensive.. so were the Eagles fans
I reluctantly made the trip to Lincoln Obnoxious Field on Sunday to take in the Steelers-Eagles game.Much of the reason I took the trip was the fact that I ended up in the Verizon Luxury Box with the Honorable Jim Wansacz. It was safe in there.
It wasn't safe in the stadium though.
Exhibit A: Doc Mando and Iron Mike Lettieri sat in the lower level in what would be considered club seats at Heinz. The dynamic duo were not knadily clad in jerseys. Heck. Doc Beeper didnt even have a jersey or any Steeler garb on. Yet they needed to call security at some point of the game.
Exhibit B: Dave Barbetti was with the Frican Rican and his son, Frican Rican Jr. who were both Eagles fans. That trio was in the lower level of the endzone and Barbetti felt the rath. It didn't help that he had his own personalized Steelers jersey on, but that is still no reason to be abused. Especially if you are not acting like an idiot.
I must say the Eagles fans I tailgated with were great. The boys from VV were very friendly and didn't bust balls once. Not even after the game. They even stuck up for the honorable and I when a few Eagles fans walking by tried to goad us into a confrontation.
So I say good riddance Philadelphia Phootball. Maybe its bad karma why you do not have any Super Bowl titles. Your fans are JERKS, so you have no RINGS!
NONE OF THE ABOVE!!!!
Well it was bound to start sooner or later - The Presidential election. On one hand we have the Democrats with a young black candidate and and old man while on the other hand we have the Republicans with an old man and a young female candidate .
Obama is way too experienced to run the country - no matter his race - yet according to local historians and social experts, he would get to run it for too long, because they guess he will provide for a presidential assassination atttempt that we have not seen since the 80s.
That would leave the USA with Joe Biden who really isnt that bad of an alternative, except he was born and raised in Scranton and has served his country as a Senator from Delaware. One might say those two places are pretty inconsequential when it comes to presidential polictics and I would have to agree.McCain is probably a few days away from dying of natual causes or falling into senility. Other than that I like the man. And I probably would have voted for him until he selected his VP.
Sarah Palin. Now don't get me wrong. It has nothing to do with her being a woman. I would have stumped for Hillary had she been the Dem candidate. Heck. If McCain gets elected I cant wait for the Presidential Playboy pictorial when Palin is sworn in after McCain dies.
But just because Palin could be a playmate doesn't make her a viable veep. The woman is just plain dumb from what I can see. I mean how did she become governor? I know Alaska is inconsequential and only like 50 people are unfrozen enough to be able to vote, but cmon?
Charlie Gibson made her look like a nitwit. And Charlie is a nice guy reporter. Imagine if he was IMUS!!!
Anyway I digress. I know it sounds as if Im headed in the Obama direction, but there are just too many questions with him also.
Is he an American? African? Hawaiian? What?
Is he Christian? Muslin? Follower of Michael Jackson?
I mean if Slick Willie was a black guy in a white man's body, then Barry is the opposite. Did you see that guy play hoops on ESPN? Silk Parker has better moves.
SO I am here today to tell you to get informed with both candidates and to VOTE!VOTE NONE OF THE ABOVE!!!!!
That's right. Vote Monty Brewster! None of the Above!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooal
Cousin J scored the first goal of his varsity career on Thursday night with an unassisted blast from the right side of the field.The goal tied the Blue Devils match with Lakeland at 1. But the Chiefs proved to be too much and took the win, 3-1.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Omen Part XLIII
When I saw this photo on ESPN.com, the first thing that hit me was Steelers-Cowboys. But the second thing that hit me almost instantaineously as the first was the No. 7 and the No. 9
OR No. 79 - my number.
Let's cross our fingers for this matchup in Tampa on Feb. 1
Where's Waldo?
The following is my story on Saturday night's game that was SUPPOSED to be posted on the Dispatch Website (www.psdispatch.com)
When I posted it, it did appear on the site, but by Sunday morning it had been moved off of the site by some unknown mythical force.
So, here it is...
Hodick rallies Blue Devils to victory
BY RICK NOTARI
DISPATCH STAFF
Corey Hodick has only been the quarterback of the Old Forge football team for eight quarters. But if the final drive of last night's 21-14 come-from-behind victory over Holy Redeemer at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium is any indication, Head Coach Mike Schuback will not have to worry about production from the leader of his offense.
Hodick rallied the Blue Devils as he accounted for 75 of the Blue Devils 80 yards on a nine-play scoring drive that started with 4:25 left in the game.
“I'm glad we worked the two-minute drill in practice this week,” Schuback said after the game. “Hodick has a heck of an arm, and when he is confident, you can can see what he can do. He is a heck of an athlete. I am proud of the way he stepped up tonight.”
Trailing 14-13 and pinned at their 20 yard line, the Blue Devils calmly went to the two-minute offense and mixed in four runs and five passes as Hodick had the ball in his hands for seven of the nine plays.
The senior signal caller scrambled for nine yards on first down after his four receivers in Old Forge's spread package were covered downfield. On seco nd-and-1, Hodick handed to tailback Brian Morris for a two-yard gain and a first down.
Hodick then went to the air on three consecutive plays, hitting three different receivers for 39 yards. First Hodick hit Morris for an 18-yard gain, before finding Jon Kaville for six yards over the middle and Bob Vieira for 15 yards to set up a first down at the Holy Redeemer 30.
The first-year quarterback then used his feet to gain 15 yards as he was forced out of the pocket, scrambling to the Royals 15.
Hodick then hit Vieira again for a 10-yard gain, and after keeping it himself for a two yards on first-and-goal, Morris took the handoff and bulled up the middle for the three-yard touchdown.
“Before coach sent me out there he said, 'its gut check time,' said Hodick of the last drive. “The team stepped up. We dug down and showed a lot of heart.”
Old Forge holder Dustin Slack kept the ball himself on a designed two-point play, and the Blue Devils led 21-14 with 1:46 left in the game.
The game began in a steady rain with neither team able to do much with the football. But on Old Forge's second possession, Hodick hooked up with Gave Wilson for 18 yards and a first down in Royals territory.
Two runs for 23 yards by Morris set up the Blue Devils first-and-goal at the 3, but the Redeemer defense stopped Morris on the next play before two Hodick incompletions.
Schuback called for Matt Rava to attempt the 20-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked, turning the ball back over the the Royals.
After holding Redeemer to just six yards on six plays – including a sack by Niko Manetti and Mark Zambetti for a nine-yard loss, Old Forge (1-1) went on a 13-play, 61-yard scoring drive.
Morris started the drive with an eight-yard run, and rushing for 25 yards on four carries and caught one pass for 23 yards as Old Forge had first-and-goal from the Royals 5.
Kaville carried for two yards on first down, and on second down, Jim Tagliaferri picked up a fumbled snap and ran around his right side for his first touchdown of the season with 8:00 left in the first half. Rava booted the the PAT and Old Forge led 7-0.
Holy Redeemer answered thanks to two Old Forge turnovers on their next two possessions. The Royals intercepted Hodick on the Blue Devils next series, and when Old Forge forced Redeemer to punt, the hosts recovered a fumbled punt on the 3-yard line.
Three plays later, Redeemer cashed in and tied the game at 7-7.
Old Forge took the lead late in the first half after Slack intercepted a pass at the Royals 48 and returned it to the six yard line to set the Blue Devils up with 56 seconds left in the third.
Hodick scored two plays later after scrambling away from a rush for a 13-7 lead.
The teams played scoreless in the third quarter, but the Royals took its only lead of the game after intercepting Hodick for the second time in the game at the Blue Devils 26 yard line.
Six plays later, Redeemer tied the game on a one-yard run with 10:27 remaining in the game. The PAT put the Royals ahead 14-13.
“This day couldn't come fast enough,” said Schuback in reference to getting back on the field following last week's loss to arch-rival Riverside. “I don't know if the conditions and the wait had us a little squirrelly, but once we adjusted we were find.
“I give Holy Redeemer a lot of credit. They were tough tonight.”
When I posted it, it did appear on the site, but by Sunday morning it had been moved off of the site by some unknown mythical force.
So, here it is...
Hodick rallies Blue Devils to victory
BY RICK NOTARI
DISPATCH STAFF
Corey Hodick has only been the quarterback of the Old Forge football team for eight quarters. But if the final drive of last night's 21-14 come-from-behind victory over Holy Redeemer at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium is any indication, Head Coach Mike Schuback will not have to worry about production from the leader of his offense.
Hodick rallied the Blue Devils as he accounted for 75 of the Blue Devils 80 yards on a nine-play scoring drive that started with 4:25 left in the game.
“I'm glad we worked the two-minute drill in practice this week,” Schuback said after the game. “Hodick has a heck of an arm, and when he is confident, you can can see what he can do. He is a heck of an athlete. I am proud of the way he stepped up tonight.”
Trailing 14-13 and pinned at their 20 yard line, the Blue Devils calmly went to the two-minute offense and mixed in four runs and five passes as Hodick had the ball in his hands for seven of the nine plays.
The senior signal caller scrambled for nine yards on first down after his four receivers in Old Forge's spread package were covered downfield. On seco nd-and-1, Hodick handed to tailback Brian Morris for a two-yard gain and a first down.
Hodick then went to the air on three consecutive plays, hitting three different receivers for 39 yards. First Hodick hit Morris for an 18-yard gain, before finding Jon Kaville for six yards over the middle and Bob Vieira for 15 yards to set up a first down at the Holy Redeemer 30.
The first-year quarterback then used his feet to gain 15 yards as he was forced out of the pocket, scrambling to the Royals 15.
Hodick then hit Vieira again for a 10-yard gain, and after keeping it himself for a two yards on first-and-goal, Morris took the handoff and bulled up the middle for the three-yard touchdown.
“Before coach sent me out there he said, 'its gut check time,' said Hodick of the last drive. “The team stepped up. We dug down and showed a lot of heart.”
Old Forge holder Dustin Slack kept the ball himself on a designed two-point play, and the Blue Devils led 21-14 with 1:46 left in the game.
The game began in a steady rain with neither team able to do much with the football. But on Old Forge's second possession, Hodick hooked up with Gave Wilson for 18 yards and a first down in Royals territory.
Two runs for 23 yards by Morris set up the Blue Devils first-and-goal at the 3, but the Redeemer defense stopped Morris on the next play before two Hodick incompletions.
Schuback called for Matt Rava to attempt the 20-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked, turning the ball back over the the Royals.
After holding Redeemer to just six yards on six plays – including a sack by Niko Manetti and Mark Zambetti for a nine-yard loss, Old Forge (1-1) went on a 13-play, 61-yard scoring drive.
Morris started the drive with an eight-yard run, and rushing for 25 yards on four carries and caught one pass for 23 yards as Old Forge had first-and-goal from the Royals 5.
Kaville carried for two yards on first down, and on second down, Jim Tagliaferri picked up a fumbled snap and ran around his right side for his first touchdown of the season with 8:00 left in the first half. Rava booted the the PAT and Old Forge led 7-0.
Holy Redeemer answered thanks to two Old Forge turnovers on their next two possessions. The Royals intercepted Hodick on the Blue Devils next series, and when Old Forge forced Redeemer to punt, the hosts recovered a fumbled punt on the 3-yard line.
Three plays later, Redeemer cashed in and tied the game at 7-7.
Old Forge took the lead late in the first half after Slack intercepted a pass at the Royals 48 and returned it to the six yard line to set the Blue Devils up with 56 seconds left in the third.
Hodick scored two plays later after scrambling away from a rush for a 13-7 lead.
The teams played scoreless in the third quarter, but the Royals took its only lead of the game after intercepting Hodick for the second time in the game at the Blue Devils 26 yard line.
Six plays later, Redeemer tied the game on a one-yard run with 10:27 remaining in the game. The PAT put the Royals ahead 14-13.
“This day couldn't come fast enough,” said Schuback in reference to getting back on the field following last week's loss to arch-rival Riverside. “I don't know if the conditions and the wait had us a little squirrelly, but once we adjusted we were find.
“I give Holy Redeemer a lot of credit. They were tough tonight.”
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Stop the Stache!
From Blue and Gold Blog reader Steve Lacoe....
PS... Steve is a PSU fan. Thank god he is taking it easy on us Panther fans.
PS... Steve is a PSU fan. Thank god he is taking it easy on us Panther fans.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Soccer Sensations.....
Well... one varsity soccer game, one win.
The Blue Devils took care of business in their first ever match with a 4-0 win over Mid Valley. If this keeps up, OF soccer fans will be just as obnoxious as the rest of OF sports fans. Let's hope it happens.
Here are some photos, including one just before the first ever Blue Devils goal was scored. That was Jon Casey doing the honors. The other photos are of Matt Rava (23) and family members J Argonish (22) and Asst. Coach Woody "Renzi" Argonish with nephew Cyril.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
We made the INTERNET!!! Woo Hoo!!!
1. Old Forge, PA
28 up, 7 down
an extremely small, but awesome, town in Pennsylvania that barely made the map; the only establishments are pizza places; it is the Pizza Capital of the World; driving around is the fun thing to do; everyone knows where Eckerd & Pear Tree are; you run to T-Hill for cigarettes or gas; some people have Turkey Hill Ice Cream, this town has Turkey Hill itself, which sells the ice cream; everyone in Old Forge knows everyone else; it's just like the Cheers bar, except it's a town.
I'm from the town of Old Forge, PA, and I when I drive by my friends, I meet them at Pear Tree.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Old+Forge%2C+PA
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