So, as mentioned earlier, went to the Preseason NIT Tip-Off Classic or whatever it's called now-a-days the other day with my buddy Mike. Good times. Got to see two really good games; UCLA-Drexel & Duke-Memphis.
Drexel came within a point of upsetting #16 UCLA in the 3rd place game, which was really impressive. Definitely left me with a "Hey, they may not make the field of 65 out of the CAA, but people should watch Drexel this year" type of feeling.
Then, last night, UCLA beat Albany College by like 6 points, and were losing for a bit in the 2nd half. Now I'm retracting my statement about Drexel. It wasn't them. UCLA just isn't as good as people thought they were this year. This is a team that won't be in the Top 25 anymore once conference play rolls around.
As for Duke-Memphis, this game delivered. Just a great game. Memphis led for the first 19:30 of the first half before Duke took a 2 point halftime lead. (or 1 point. I forget.) Duke ended up winning by 3, while a last second 3 point shot by Memphis bounced off the rim. Great game. Confirmed that Memphis is a serious power out of a "mid-major conference" and that Duke really is the #1 team in the country.
But, moreso than that, it confirmed that Duke fans are insane. In the seat next to me was the biggest trash-talking fan of any sports team I've ever come across. Cool, I guess. He gets into it. But wait. It was a kid! He was ten! As soon as I sit down we get to talking, I find out he's rooting for Duke. I throw out a casual "Go Memphis!" because I wanted to toy with the little bastards emotions. Without even thinking, he countered with a quick "Memphis sucks." Wow. That was impressive. Seriously, it may not sound like a big deal, but the way he casually slid that into the conversation as if it were a natural response for a 10 year old in a sports conversation changed the entire night.
I wish I had a notebook with me so I could have jotted down everything he said. But I didn't. He said a lot of funny shit, though. The only one I really remember (and Mike eluded to this in his blog a few days ago) went something like this.
To set it up: Duke just had a big play. Don't remember what it was. Big rebound+dunk combo or something. Everyone is cheering, but the kid just looks at Mike & I and says "Are you guys hungry?" I'm not used to getting food offers from a 10 year old, so it took us both a minute to respond before one of us goes "Not really, why?" He came back with a loud shouting of "BECAUSE YOU JUST GOT STUFFED!"
That's it. I'm no longer allowed to trash talk at sporting events, because this 10 year old just outdid 23 years of work on my part.
But anyway, on to college basketball. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm a huge fan. I'm not. In february & march I love it. And I know a bit about it. But I don't really have a favorite team. I don't even know who this years Top 10 are.
So here's my "I don't know what I'm talking about 05-06 Predictions:"
*Duke really is that good.
*Memphis is also really good, but they have no inside game at all, which will hurt them come March.
*Villanova is everybody's preseason "sleeper" or favorite or whatever you want to call them. Too many people like them. They won't make the Sweet 16. Remember where you heard that.
*I don't like UCLA at all.
*The Big East is retooled & reloaded and ready for war this season. So who will win it? Well, I don't know who'll win the big east tourney, because there will be 7 teams that you can make a case for come March, but I know who will be the #1 seed. Don't laugh. It'll be Georgetown. This school is back, ready to re-stake its claim as a national powerhouse. Couple that with their insanely easy Big East regular season schedule this year. Because the conference is so big, they only have to play UConn, Syracuse & Villanova once, and don't play Louisville at all. Other schools, like Providence, USF, Rutgers, St. Johns, Seton Hall, they pop up multiple times on their conference schedule. They may not be the best team in the big east this year, but they'll go 12-4 or 13-3 in conference play and get the tourney's #1 seed.
*Everyone is going to love West Virginia this year after that run they had last year. This program is definitely on the rise, but it won't be as good as it was last year. I'd be shocked to see them make the sweet 16, and wouldn't be surprised at all if they were one-and-done in the tourney.
*Finally, onto my final four prediction. I don't have one. But I'll definitely have Duke in the championship game come March. As for the national champion? Memphis. That's right, Memphis. This is going to sound insane, but about two months ago I had a dream where I was hanging out with Darius Washington (a player on the Tigers) and we were talking about his team having just won the national championship. I have no idea what the hell that means. I'm probably losing my mind, and you all might be smart to commit me to some sort of hospital before things get worse, but that had to mean something. Right? I don't know. It probably didn't. I was probably doped up on NyQuil that night. You know how that stuff gives you wacky dreams. This was probably a result of that. But regardless, I'm going with my dream.
Memphis will win the 2006 Mens National Championship.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The Christmas Spirit
Don't mind the pause from sports for a day, but I'm in the Christmas spirit. Early? Maybe. But that's the calendar's fault. Once Thanksgiving ends, I go into full Christmas mode. Not my fault Thanksgiving was so early this year.
Love Christmas.
Made a three-disc Christmas Mix the other day. Each disc themed differently.
A Very Sharkey Christmas.
It rocks. Hard. Go here; http://www.letterstoyou.org/A_Very_Sharkey_Christmas to download it. The site will give you a full tracklisting for each CD. Just right click + save as each individual song to get them all. Pain in the ass, I know, but worth it.
Just found out I'm going to Florida in three weeks. How un-Christmas is that? Who cares, I'm excited. I leave the 17th and come back the 22nd. That's going to be great. Then I have to work the 23rd, and I'm off the 24th & 25th. Thinking about just taking the 23rd off too and giving myself a kick-ass December vacation. I deserve it.
That's basically all I have to say. I'll end this with a few strips of Calvin & Hobbes to get you in the winter spirit.
Love Christmas.
Made a three-disc Christmas Mix the other day. Each disc themed differently.
A Very Sharkey Christmas.
It rocks. Hard. Go here; http://www.letterstoyou.org/A_Very_Sharkey_Christmas to download it. The site will give you a full tracklisting for each CD. Just right click + save as each individual song to get them all. Pain in the ass, I know, but worth it.
Just found out I'm going to Florida in three weeks. How un-Christmas is that? Who cares, I'm excited. I leave the 17th and come back the 22nd. That's going to be great. Then I have to work the 23rd, and I'm off the 24th & 25th. Thinking about just taking the 23rd off too and giving myself a kick-ass December vacation. I deserve it.
That's basically all I have to say. I'll end this with a few strips of Calvin & Hobbes to get you in the winter spirit.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Shark Championship Standings VII
Phew, I'm finally back to posting on the site. Been a busy two weeks. I haven't done anything, really. But I assure you it's been busy.
That, coupled with the fact that I really haven't had anything interesting at all to say, means you haven't heard from me a lot lately.
I assure you, I'm back.
It starts now with the SCS. Only two polls left after this week before we crown the first ever SCS Champion.
Also this week you can look forward to me ranting like a lunatic about this afternoons Giants game, and the upcoming Giants-Cowboys showdown (the loser might miss the playoffs). And I'll have a review of the NIT Championships from this past Friday, which will include my abbreviated ncaa bball season preview, and a story on the coolest 10 year old ever.
But for now, onto the SCS.
Four "guest pollsters" this week (Pat, Mark, Scott & Andrew), as well as Logan, Tom, Matt & myself.
Makes for our highest total ever, a poll based on 195 points. And yes, you guessed it, once again USC has gotten all 195 possible points as they now have a strangle-hold on first place.
For the second week in a row we've seen a voter submit the Longhorns as the #3 team in the country.
Penn State is actually closer in voting to Texas than Texas is to USC.
And Virginia Tech is closer to LSU than LSU is to Penn State.
So it's starting to get interesting.
There seems to be a clear Top 13, and after that, everyone has two different teams in their 14th & 15th slots, which is also interesting.
But enough rambling, here is this weeks SCS Top 15:
1. USC 11-0 195 (last week: 1)
2. Texas 11-0 181 (lw: 2)
3. Penn State 10-1 168 (lw: 4)
4. LSU 10-1 153 (lw: 3)
5. Virginia Tech 10-1 139 (lw: 5)
6. Notre Dame 9-2 122 (lw: 6)
7. Ohio State 9-2 121 (lw: 7)
8. Oregon 10-1 97 (lw: 8)
9. Miami 9-2 83 (lw: 10)
10. Auburn 9-2 82 (lw: 8)
11. Georgia 9-2 64 (lw: 12)
12. West Virginia 9-1 60 (lw: 11)
13. UCLA 9-1 52 (lw: 12)
14. TCU 10-1 17 (lw: 14)
15. Alabama 9-2 14 (lw: 15)
Also Receiving Votes: Louisville (9), Michigan (2), Florida (1)
Next week will be the last SCS released until after the polls are over. Also, released simultaneously with next weeks SCS will be the announcement regarding the first ever Thesharkey.com College Bowl Challenge.
That, coupled with the fact that I really haven't had anything interesting at all to say, means you haven't heard from me a lot lately.
I assure you, I'm back.
It starts now with the SCS. Only two polls left after this week before we crown the first ever SCS Champion.
Also this week you can look forward to me ranting like a lunatic about this afternoons Giants game, and the upcoming Giants-Cowboys showdown (the loser might miss the playoffs). And I'll have a review of the NIT Championships from this past Friday, which will include my abbreviated ncaa bball season preview, and a story on the coolest 10 year old ever.
But for now, onto the SCS.
Four "guest pollsters" this week (Pat, Mark, Scott & Andrew), as well as Logan, Tom, Matt & myself.
Makes for our highest total ever, a poll based on 195 points. And yes, you guessed it, once again USC has gotten all 195 possible points as they now have a strangle-hold on first place.
For the second week in a row we've seen a voter submit the Longhorns as the #3 team in the country.
Penn State is actually closer in voting to Texas than Texas is to USC.
And Virginia Tech is closer to LSU than LSU is to Penn State.
So it's starting to get interesting.
There seems to be a clear Top 13, and after that, everyone has two different teams in their 14th & 15th slots, which is also interesting.
But enough rambling, here is this weeks SCS Top 15:
1. USC 11-0 195 (last week: 1)
2. Texas 11-0 181 (lw: 2)
3. Penn State 10-1 168 (lw: 4)
4. LSU 10-1 153 (lw: 3)
5. Virginia Tech 10-1 139 (lw: 5)
6. Notre Dame 9-2 122 (lw: 6)
7. Ohio State 9-2 121 (lw: 7)
8. Oregon 10-1 97 (lw: 8)
9. Miami 9-2 83 (lw: 10)
10. Auburn 9-2 82 (lw: 8)
11. Georgia 9-2 64 (lw: 12)
12. West Virginia 9-1 60 (lw: 11)
13. UCLA 9-1 52 (lw: 12)
14. TCU 10-1 17 (lw: 14)
15. Alabama 9-2 14 (lw: 15)
Also Receiving Votes: Louisville (9), Michigan (2), Florida (1)
Next week will be the last SCS released until after the polls are over. Also, released simultaneously with next weeks SCS will be the announcement regarding the first ever Thesharkey.com College Bowl Challenge.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Thanksgiving Ramblings
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I just wanted to personally apologize to the three people that read this site before I got on to more important matters.
I'll probably get back to my semi-regular updates (3 or 4 a week) starting next Monday with the SCS. Busy week for me. Thanksgiving on Thursday at my house (I wish I was kidding when I told you we had a 26 lb, a 19 lb, and a 10 lb bird, all which were being cooked on Thursday. Yea, I don't get it either. That's the beauty of having two ovens (our second was installed on Monday). We can now do ridiculous things just for the sake of doing them.
My mom has spent over $400 so far on food for Thanksgiving. And we're not in charge of the appetizers or desserts. And we still have a liquor store run to make (last year that was $140). God I love Thanksgiving.
A few random whatevers to contemplate while you give thanks for knowing me this week:
*If you haven't listened to The Refreshments or Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers yet, you're missing out.
*I still love Everybody Loves Raymond. And I'm not going to lie, I watch this show more than both the Simpsons & Seinfeld lately. I'm not ready to call it better than these shows yet, but it might just be on it's way.
*Can't wait for Lost tomorrow.
*Going to the NIT Pre-season Championship on Friday in NYC, that's gonna rock. Here's hoping for a Duke-Memphis championship game.
*Seeing OAR on Saturday in Camden. This will be my 2nd time seeing them this year. That's a far cry from the 20 or so times I saw them between August 2003 & November 2004. Sucks that their tickets are like $40 a pop now.
*It's official, I suck at fantasy football lately. I still love playing it, but I'm just not as good as I used to be. This doesn't bother me, I'm ok with it. I just don't really understand it. In my three leagues this year I'm 7-4, 7-3 & 6-5. Not bad, you may say. I'm disappointed. I went thru a 5 year stretch in one league a few years back where I went 61-10, or something absurd. I miss dominating. Mediocrity just isn't the same. I'm going to have to get used to this.
*On the plus side, in my one fantasy baseball league, I've won 4 of the last 5 championships. So I still got that going for me.
*I haven't watched a Devils game in over a month. Here's hoping I get into hockey after football season ends, because right now it's just not doing it for me.
*So, after one of Notre Dame, Ohio State & Oregon get snubbed out of a BCS Bowl Game (OK, we can't lie here, it won't be Notre Dame), do you think the NCAA will start to consider a 16 team playoff? I don't either.
*But you can't deny the fact that the SCS is far superior to the BCS.
*Last week I was wearing shorts & sandals. Tonight, it's snowing (well, flurries). Anyone else remember the good old days when there were 4 distinct seasons in a year? I miss fall & spring, they were my two favorites. When was the vote to eliminate them? I'd have definitely chosen to get rid of winter & summer.
*Mmmm, turkey.
Feel free to stop by my house at anytime on Thursday. Drinking & eating begin at 1ish, dinner isn't til about 7, and you'll get to watch me drunkenly try to carve over 50 pounds of bird. Guaranteed good times to be had by all.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I'll probably get back to my semi-regular updates (3 or 4 a week) starting next Monday with the SCS. Busy week for me. Thanksgiving on Thursday at my house (I wish I was kidding when I told you we had a 26 lb, a 19 lb, and a 10 lb bird, all which were being cooked on Thursday. Yea, I don't get it either. That's the beauty of having two ovens (our second was installed on Monday). We can now do ridiculous things just for the sake of doing them.
My mom has spent over $400 so far on food for Thanksgiving. And we're not in charge of the appetizers or desserts. And we still have a liquor store run to make (last year that was $140). God I love Thanksgiving.
A few random whatevers to contemplate while you give thanks for knowing me this week:
*If you haven't listened to The Refreshments or Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers yet, you're missing out.
*I still love Everybody Loves Raymond. And I'm not going to lie, I watch this show more than both the Simpsons & Seinfeld lately. I'm not ready to call it better than these shows yet, but it might just be on it's way.
*Can't wait for Lost tomorrow.
*Going to the NIT Pre-season Championship on Friday in NYC, that's gonna rock. Here's hoping for a Duke-Memphis championship game.
*Seeing OAR on Saturday in Camden. This will be my 2nd time seeing them this year. That's a far cry from the 20 or so times I saw them between August 2003 & November 2004. Sucks that their tickets are like $40 a pop now.
*It's official, I suck at fantasy football lately. I still love playing it, but I'm just not as good as I used to be. This doesn't bother me, I'm ok with it. I just don't really understand it. In my three leagues this year I'm 7-4, 7-3 & 6-5. Not bad, you may say. I'm disappointed. I went thru a 5 year stretch in one league a few years back where I went 61-10, or something absurd. I miss dominating. Mediocrity just isn't the same. I'm going to have to get used to this.
*On the plus side, in my one fantasy baseball league, I've won 4 of the last 5 championships. So I still got that going for me.
*I haven't watched a Devils game in over a month. Here's hoping I get into hockey after football season ends, because right now it's just not doing it for me.
*So, after one of Notre Dame, Ohio State & Oregon get snubbed out of a BCS Bowl Game (OK, we can't lie here, it won't be Notre Dame), do you think the NCAA will start to consider a 16 team playoff? I don't either.
*But you can't deny the fact that the SCS is far superior to the BCS.
*Last week I was wearing shorts & sandals. Tonight, it's snowing (well, flurries). Anyone else remember the good old days when there were 4 distinct seasons in a year? I miss fall & spring, they were my two favorites. When was the vote to eliminate them? I'd have definitely chosen to get rid of winter & summer.
*Mmmm, turkey.
Feel free to stop by my house at anytime on Thursday. Drinking & eating begin at 1ish, dinner isn't til about 7, and you'll get to watch me drunkenly try to carve over 50 pounds of bird. Guaranteed good times to be had by all.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Shark Championship Standings VI
On this day, the 23rd anniversary of my being, I present to you yet another SCS Top 15. Get excited.
This week we had two guests (Mark & Scott again), as well as the regular four. So 165 was the highest total a team could get.
USC received every first place vote, and got the 165 points that go along with being #1.
A funny thing happened at #2, though. Penn State stole one second place vote away from Texas. Texas is still firmly entrenched in second place, but you have to wonder if they would be if Michigan hadn't of beaten Penn State on the last play a month ago.
Three points seperate three teams from 5th-7th places, and three points seperate three teams from 11th-13th places.
Only three SCS's left (next week, post-conference championships, post-bowl season).
This week's top 15 is as follows:
1. USC 11-0 165 (last week: 1)
2. Texas 10-0 153 (lw: 2)
3. LSU 9-1 140 (lw: 3)
4. Penn State 10-1 136 (lw: 5)
5. Virginia Tech 9-1 109 (lw: 6)
6. Notre Dame 8-2 108 (lw: 7)
7. Ohio State 9-2 106 (lw: 8)
8. Oregon 10-1 81 (lw: 10)
8. Auburn 9-2 81 (lw: 11)
10. Miami 8-2 73 (lw: 4)
11. West Virginia 8-1 43 (lw: 12)
12. UCLA 9-1 40 (lw: 13)
12. Georgia 8-2 40 (lw: 14)
14. TCU 10-1 16 (lw: unr)
15. Alabama 92 8 (lw: 9)
Dropped out: #15 Michigan
Also receiving votes: Fresno State, Louisville, Michigan
This weekend's SCS Games:
Pittsburgh @ #11 West Virginia (Thu.)
#2 Texas @ Texas A&M (Fri.)
Arkansas @ #3 LSU (Fri.)
Virginia @ #10 Miami (Sat.)
North Carolina @ #5 Virginia Tech (Sat.)
#12 Georgia @ Georgia Tech (Sat.)
#6 Notre Dame @ Stanford (Sat.)
This week we had two guests (Mark & Scott again), as well as the regular four. So 165 was the highest total a team could get.
USC received every first place vote, and got the 165 points that go along with being #1.
A funny thing happened at #2, though. Penn State stole one second place vote away from Texas. Texas is still firmly entrenched in second place, but you have to wonder if they would be if Michigan hadn't of beaten Penn State on the last play a month ago.
Three points seperate three teams from 5th-7th places, and three points seperate three teams from 11th-13th places.
Only three SCS's left (next week, post-conference championships, post-bowl season).
This week's top 15 is as follows:
1. USC 11-0 165 (last week: 1)
2. Texas 10-0 153 (lw: 2)
3. LSU 9-1 140 (lw: 3)
4. Penn State 10-1 136 (lw: 5)
5. Virginia Tech 9-1 109 (lw: 6)
6. Notre Dame 8-2 108 (lw: 7)
7. Ohio State 9-2 106 (lw: 8)
8. Oregon 10-1 81 (lw: 10)
8. Auburn 9-2 81 (lw: 11)
10. Miami 8-2 73 (lw: 4)
11. West Virginia 8-1 43 (lw: 12)
12. UCLA 9-1 40 (lw: 13)
12. Georgia 8-2 40 (lw: 14)
14. TCU 10-1 16 (lw: unr)
15. Alabama 92 8 (lw: 9)
Dropped out: #15 Michigan
Also receiving votes: Fresno State, Louisville, Michigan
This weekend's SCS Games:
Pittsburgh @ #11 West Virginia (Thu.)
#2 Texas @ Texas A&M (Fri.)
Arkansas @ #3 LSU (Fri.)
Virginia @ #10 Miami (Sat.)
North Carolina @ #5 Virginia Tech (Sat.)
#12 Georgia @ Georgia Tech (Sat.)
#6 Notre Dame @ Stanford (Sat.)
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Yay Football Postseasons
Sorry for the lack of updates this week. I'd like to tell you I've been busy & just haven't had time, but that's definitely not the case. I just haven't updated. I know, I suck. Oh well, sue me. Or stop reading the site. It won't kill my ratings if the number of readers drops from 7 to 6.
Anyway, this isn't really an update, just like a "teaser trailer". Except this isn't hollywood, and I don't have any movie to tease you with.
Just keep an eye out to this site for info on "The Sharkey's First Annual College Bowl Challenge" & "The Sharkey's First Anual NFL Playoff Challenge".
Good times to be had by all, that's for damn sure.
Anyway, this isn't really an update, just like a "teaser trailer". Except this isn't hollywood, and I don't have any movie to tease you with.
Just keep an eye out to this site for info on "The Sharkey's First Annual College Bowl Challenge" & "The Sharkey's First Anual NFL Playoff Challenge".
Good times to be had by all, that's for damn sure.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The Superstitious Sharkey
So Sunday sucked. Giants lost. It's like I said a few weeks ago, the Giants I grew up loving always found a way to lose the games against the teams they had no right losing too. This continues. As long as this continues, I won't be able to fully say "Yea, this Giants team can win a championship."
Same thing happened with my Devils. In the late 90's, they choked in 4 successive seasons. Then, in 2000, they played a far inferior Panthers team in the first round. In the previous three seasons, they lost this season. But that team was on a mission, and it swept the Panthers. After that series, they went on to win an additional 6 in a row, and in the process won a cup, and lost another in a game 7. And then two years later, won another cup. Those Devils teams I felt could win any game, any day, no matter the circumstances.
If these Giants keep losing to the likes of the Lions, the Bears, the Vikings, etc, I won't be able to put them in that level, no matter how well they play against the Redskins & Broncos. (for the record, they played horrible against the Broncos, but what a win that was.)
Anyway, on to the point. After the Giants loss on Sunday a buddy of mine called me up & said "Dude, what'd you do?"
Yea, it was my fault. A quick rewind.
Back to the Devils. Way back to 1994, my first experience with playoff hockey. I was 12. The Devils played the Rangers in the Conference Finals (greatest 7 game series in sports history, but I'll save that debate for another day). It was in those two weeks, in the spring of '94, that I was introduced to "the playoff beard." Whoa. You mean guys did or didn't do a certain thing just to keep a good thing going? I wanted a part of this.
Over the next few years I tried different things so I could say I had superstitions. I eventually realized you can't create superstitions. They are their own beast, and they create themselves. I realized they had to find themselves.
During the aforementioned 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Devils beat the Flyers in game 1 of the East Finals. They went on to lose games 2, 3 & 4. I was devastated. As a superstitious person, I realized this had to be my fault. This may sound stupid, or like a stretch, but I was looking for something I did during game 1 that I didn't during any other game. The answer was simple.
Game one was a Saturday, we had a bbq that day. During the game, I snacked on chips & dip. How simple. Game 5 was set for a Monday. In school that day I boldly told anyone who would listen that the Devils were goign to the Stanley Cup Finals. They all laughed. That night, I ate chips. Devils won. Game 6, chips, victory. Game 7? You guessed it.
Can't stop now. Game 1 Cup finals, Chips & Win. Then dreaded game 2. I got cocky. I went to a friends house for the game, a friend who didn't have the necessary snacks. Obviously, the Devils lost. Wouldn't make the same mistake again. 3 & 4, chips & win. Game 5? Superstition on hold. I had tickets to watch the Devs win the cup. Obviously no chips. Devs lost in Triple OT. Two nights later, chips & cup.
A superstition monster was born.
During the Giants Super Bowl run the following season, I had the same breakfast every game day, starting in week 13 (Giants entered that week at 7-4 & on a 2 game losing streak.) They finished the season on a 5 game winning streak, and made the super Bowl.
I learned after the Ravens murdered the Gmen that superstition doens't guarantee victory. But without them, a loss is impossible to avoid.
During the Devils 2001 Cup run? Wawa sub & iced tea.
'03 cup run? I wore the same red boxers & blue OAR tshirt on every gameday. I'm not sure if this one really worked or not, because I was too afraid to try & not wear one of these on gameday. If I had work? This was on under my outfit. A fancy dinner date with my girlfriend & her parents? On under the outfit, and I had to wear a dark dress shirt so the blue of my tshirt didn't show through.
Yes. I'm insane. If I find something that works, I roll with it. I can think of at least 10 other instances of crazy superstitions for me. During Devils games during the 2000 & 01 cup runs, I always sat in the same spot on my couch, always held the remote, never changed channels during commercials, no bathroom breaks unless during intermission. During Giants games, no matter what the spread or how good or bad the giants or their opponent is, I will never EVER bet against the Giants. I've lost many points in my weekly pool leagues because the Giants suffered through a 4-12 season yet I picked them for 16 wins. Oh well. I don't watch Notre Dame games at home. Not sure why on this one, but I can't. I have to be at a friends, a neighbors, a bar, wherever. Not at home.
And now my newest one. After the Giants got destroyed by the Chargers in week 3, I inadvertantly wore the same outfit during week 4 that I did during week 2. Plax jersey, Irish hat, brown cargo pants & workboots. Giants won week 4. I caught on. The Giants lost in week 6, despite my wearing this same outfit, but won weeks 7, 8 & 9. Like I said, doesn't guarantee victory. But can't win without it.
So this Sunday, after they lost, my friend asked what I did wrong? The answer, simple. For the first time since week 2, I was at home to watch the Giants game. So I didn't have the boots on. I was barefoot. I didn't follow the code, and I screwed over the Gmen.
You may call me insane. But then, if you do, you really might not be as big of a sportsfan as you thought you were.
As for me? You can bet your ass that those pants, that jersey, that hat & those boots will be on me for every game from here on out, no matter what the results may be.
Same thing happened with my Devils. In the late 90's, they choked in 4 successive seasons. Then, in 2000, they played a far inferior Panthers team in the first round. In the previous three seasons, they lost this season. But that team was on a mission, and it swept the Panthers. After that series, they went on to win an additional 6 in a row, and in the process won a cup, and lost another in a game 7. And then two years later, won another cup. Those Devils teams I felt could win any game, any day, no matter the circumstances.
If these Giants keep losing to the likes of the Lions, the Bears, the Vikings, etc, I won't be able to put them in that level, no matter how well they play against the Redskins & Broncos. (for the record, they played horrible against the Broncos, but what a win that was.)
Anyway, on to the point. After the Giants loss on Sunday a buddy of mine called me up & said "Dude, what'd you do?"
Yea, it was my fault. A quick rewind.
Back to the Devils. Way back to 1994, my first experience with playoff hockey. I was 12. The Devils played the Rangers in the Conference Finals (greatest 7 game series in sports history, but I'll save that debate for another day). It was in those two weeks, in the spring of '94, that I was introduced to "the playoff beard." Whoa. You mean guys did or didn't do a certain thing just to keep a good thing going? I wanted a part of this.
Over the next few years I tried different things so I could say I had superstitions. I eventually realized you can't create superstitions. They are their own beast, and they create themselves. I realized they had to find themselves.
During the aforementioned 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Devils beat the Flyers in game 1 of the East Finals. They went on to lose games 2, 3 & 4. I was devastated. As a superstitious person, I realized this had to be my fault. This may sound stupid, or like a stretch, but I was looking for something I did during game 1 that I didn't during any other game. The answer was simple.
Game one was a Saturday, we had a bbq that day. During the game, I snacked on chips & dip. How simple. Game 5 was set for a Monday. In school that day I boldly told anyone who would listen that the Devils were goign to the Stanley Cup Finals. They all laughed. That night, I ate chips. Devils won. Game 6, chips, victory. Game 7? You guessed it.
Can't stop now. Game 1 Cup finals, Chips & Win. Then dreaded game 2. I got cocky. I went to a friends house for the game, a friend who didn't have the necessary snacks. Obviously, the Devils lost. Wouldn't make the same mistake again. 3 & 4, chips & win. Game 5? Superstition on hold. I had tickets to watch the Devs win the cup. Obviously no chips. Devs lost in Triple OT. Two nights later, chips & cup.
A superstition monster was born.
During the Giants Super Bowl run the following season, I had the same breakfast every game day, starting in week 13 (Giants entered that week at 7-4 & on a 2 game losing streak.) They finished the season on a 5 game winning streak, and made the super Bowl.
I learned after the Ravens murdered the Gmen that superstition doens't guarantee victory. But without them, a loss is impossible to avoid.
During the Devils 2001 Cup run? Wawa sub & iced tea.
'03 cup run? I wore the same red boxers & blue OAR tshirt on every gameday. I'm not sure if this one really worked or not, because I was too afraid to try & not wear one of these on gameday. If I had work? This was on under my outfit. A fancy dinner date with my girlfriend & her parents? On under the outfit, and I had to wear a dark dress shirt so the blue of my tshirt didn't show through.
Yes. I'm insane. If I find something that works, I roll with it. I can think of at least 10 other instances of crazy superstitions for me. During Devils games during the 2000 & 01 cup runs, I always sat in the same spot on my couch, always held the remote, never changed channels during commercials, no bathroom breaks unless during intermission. During Giants games, no matter what the spread or how good or bad the giants or their opponent is, I will never EVER bet against the Giants. I've lost many points in my weekly pool leagues because the Giants suffered through a 4-12 season yet I picked them for 16 wins. Oh well. I don't watch Notre Dame games at home. Not sure why on this one, but I can't. I have to be at a friends, a neighbors, a bar, wherever. Not at home.
And now my newest one. After the Giants got destroyed by the Chargers in week 3, I inadvertantly wore the same outfit during week 4 that I did during week 2. Plax jersey, Irish hat, brown cargo pants & workboots. Giants won week 4. I caught on. The Giants lost in week 6, despite my wearing this same outfit, but won weeks 7, 8 & 9. Like I said, doesn't guarantee victory. But can't win without it.
So this Sunday, after they lost, my friend asked what I did wrong? The answer, simple. For the first time since week 2, I was at home to watch the Giants game. So I didn't have the boots on. I was barefoot. I didn't follow the code, and I screwed over the Gmen.
You may call me insane. But then, if you do, you really might not be as big of a sportsfan as you thought you were.
As for me? You can bet your ass that those pants, that jersey, that hat & those boots will be on me for every game from here on out, no matter what the results may be.
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