Texas Tech

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It’s that time of the year…NASCAR and Football!!

I have been watching quite a bit of NASCAR lately trying to get pumped up for The Chase here in a few weeks.  Congrats to Tony for his win at Watkins Glen.  That makes three wins this year and 30 bonus points and he is securely in The Chase.  I was a little upset that Mark’s crew chief tried to play the gas mileage game last week at Michigan.  Mark was not in a position to go for the win last week unlike Jimmie Johnson.  It was not worth the gamble and well..Mark is now 12th in the standings.  Congrats to Brian Vickers last week for his first win in the #83 and his Red Bull team.  Plus his stock went up with me because frankly, Kyle needs his ass kicked.  He is a good driver don’t get me wrong, but enough already.  I agree with Brian Vickers…I didn’t get the memo stating either that it was the Kyle Busch show.  It’s called racing Kyle did you get THAT memo?  It’s great Kyle is passionate about his racing, but you aren’t going to win every single race.  Sometimes the mark of a good racer is the way you behave when you lose. 

I have my fantasy football set for this year.  This will be first time I have ever attempted fantasy football.  I didn’t go to the draft part because I was dealing with a cranky infant.  However I sent Postman with my game plan and budget and to be honest he did pretty good.  I really, really wanted Peyton Manning as my other quarterback, but he just went for too much money and to be honest that was not where I needed to put my money.  Besides I do have his brother Eli as my main QB so I am pretty OK with the team.  I would rather have a team with several good players than a team with one star and crappy players.  We shall see how things go for me—stay tuned.

Work has been somewhat interesting and stressful of late.  But hopefully things have turned the corner…as they say hope springs eternal

I am excited about how the Texas Rangers are challenging for the playoffs this year.  I have actually enjoyed watching them.  And now that Pudge is back it’s going to be interesting to watch that Wild Card race with Boston and Tampa Bay.  Go Rangers!  Hopefully the Cowboys are somewhat better than last year.  I think with TO leaving and Romo able to get focused on things on the field instead of what’s going on in the tabloids etc.  It’s going to be interesting as well for my Red Raiders.   I am excited though.  I don’t know if it will be as thrilling as last year, but I am sure the Red Raiders will have some surprises this year.

Little Smoke starts first grade on Monday!  Woo Hoo! We still have some issues we all have to work through, but he is improving and I think things will settle down once he gets into his school routine.  He is playing flag football this year and Postman will be his coach.   Postman may have to ban me from his games because I can get a little passionate about football and no I am NOT one of those moms either.  I respect what the coaches do and let them do their job.

Goin’ Bowling

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tech-cotton-bowlWell, my Red Raiders are headed to the Cotton Bowl once again.  This time they will be playing Ole Miss.  This will be our 4th trip to the Cotton Bowl.  Our first visit to the Cotton Bowl was back in 1939 where we lost to St. Mary’s (CA) 20-13.  The next trip wasn’t until 1995 where we got our assess handed to us by USC 55-14.  I was at that game and all I can say the best part of the whole game was our band.  By the end of the 1st quarter I was partaking of adult beverages.  Our third visit was just a few years ago where we lost right at the end to Alabama 13-10 on a last minute field goal.  I still don’t know how in the world that field goal kicker made that kick.  Perhaps this fourth trip to the final Cotton Bowl at Fair Park in Dallas.  Next year’s game will be played in the new Jerry Jones stadium–oops the new Texas Stadium.  I am hoping the Red Raiders can come away with a victory. 

It does boggle my mind how there are those who think the Red Raiders should be in a BCS bowl.  I disagree.  When you get your clocks cleaned on national television 65-21.  Yes, we beat Texas at home and are currently sitting at 11-1, but when you could have shown you weren’t just the same old Tech, you fell apart.  I am exicted about the Cotton Bowl.  I think we have a great shot at winning this game.  I won’t be able to attend the game even though I am only about 6 hours away.  I just can’t afford $100 tickets this time of year.  I know, I know, that doesn’t sound like much compared to the money I have plunked down for a NASCAR event, but that event was for three races, pit passes, free parking ($25 parking passes for the game).  I think I get my money’s worth at the NASCAR event. 

 

I have to say, I am excited about the BCS Championship game.  It is definitely going to be intriguing to watch.  I don’t really know who I would root for in the game.   I am not a fan of either team.  I could go with OU becuase of the whole Big 12 team, but they did beat my Red Raiders.  I just don’t think I could openly root for them.  They are from Oklahoma and well, I live in Texas.  So does this mean I will be rooting for Texas against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.  Nope.  I just can’t root for Texas.  I have been an Ohio State fan since I can remember (I was born in Ohio).  I grew up on Ohio State football.  Go Bucks!

Well..enough of the BCS.  I tried to watch the NASCAR Awards Banquet.  I honestly sat down in my recliner, flipped over to ESPN Classic and watched.  It last maybe 45 minutes.  Well, I watched until Tony spoke and then I flipped it over to something more entertaining.  I just think the whole thing with Mrs. France and Kevin Costner was very awkward.  Comedian John Pinette was hilarious.  There didn’t seem to be much laughter in the place.  Some of these people need to get a sense of humor.  Plus several of them looked like they were very bored and wished they could be at home watching something else.  Note to you at the banquet, trust me I felt your pain.

Trust me the Trixies will be posted soon.

Eatings, Football, and Christmas

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I hope everyone out there had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I spent Thanksgiving dinner with some wonderful friends again this year. I don’t know if I every mentioned it here at The Park, but I am an only child so I consider these friends my brothers and sister. They are my family. We got to watch some football (well, at least that what I thought it was in Detroit) as is tradition on Thanksgiving. I have to say the Dallas Cowboys are starting to get back some things they had early in the season. I caught a little of the UT/A&M game. Poor A&M…NOT! I didn’t dare venture out at o’dark thirty on Friday morning. I don’t like to give my sleep up for shopping escapades. I am sure everyone out there got some great bargains, I got caught up on some much needed sleep.

I didn’t do much on Friday except play a little PS3 Lego Batman. If you have a PS3 I highly recommended the game. I also like the Star Wars Lego game as well. I did watch my Red Raiders beat the Baylor Bears. They looked good in the first half, but we came back on them and won. We are now sitting at 11-1. Not bad considering the previous week, we got out assess handed too us in Norman on National TV. With that being said, Red Raider Nation was cheering on the OSU Cowboys to pull one out over OU. Why? Well, if by some chance OSU beat OU, my Red Raiders would move on to the Big 12 championship game against Missouri. Well, looks like the only way Red Raiders will see that game this year is either buy a ticket and head to KC or sit at watch like I will be next Saturday. Since OU, UT, and Tech had a three way tie, the tiebreaker (which is the 5th tiebreaker) was the highest ranking team in the BCS would head to KC. Well, I really thought UT should have gone since they did beat OU earlier in the year, but OU did score 60+ points in the last three games and thus…OU will be playing Missouri next week. Where does that leave Tech this year? Well…11-going into bowl season…where will we play? Can’t really say, but I have heard the Cotton Bowl. No matter where Tech ends up, it has been a great season. We did have a few casualties from last night’s game…Michael Crabtree out in the 2nd quarter, came back with a boot on his right ankle. Graham Harrell will have surgery on his fingers on his non-throwing hand. Here’s hoping everyone gets well by the time bowl season kicks off.

As tradition, I put up Christmas decorations and the Christmas during this weekend. This year was exciting because this would be Little Smoke’s first Christmas with us. As we kept pulling out the ornaments, he got more and more excited. Here are some pictures from our Christmas decorating day.

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Of course…I couldn’t forget those NASCAR elements to our Christmas tree and room decorations. I bought a new NASCAR ornament from Hallmark commemorating the 50th Daytona 500.
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Here are the NASCAR ornaments on the tree.  The tire ornament says “Gentleman Start Your Engines”.  Of course no Christmas tree of mine is complete without that ever popular Tony Stewart ornament.  I didn’t take a picture of it, but I do have a Redneck ornament on the tree…which states “You might be Redneck if you think the last four words of the National Anthem are gentleman start your engines.  Please note the sign behind the Christmas tree…”The Bar is Open”.  Actually it says, “The Tiki Bar is Open.” (part of it is hidden by the tree branch). This is a decoration from my birthday party back in June.  I like the sign so why not have it up year round.  Of course some of you may now be thinking…”you might be a Redneck if….and to which I respond…there is no “you might be” because I am one..and damn proud!
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Here are the stockings hung by the chimney with care…I am not going to say who’s stocking is who’s, but if you are a regular visitor to The Park, then you know which stocking is mine.
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I am still working on the 2008 Trixies. I have been through most of my postings and I am tallying the votes. I am hoping to have them posted this week, but as with anything sometimes it can get crazy.

Race 9: Phoenix

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Jimmie wins.  Carl is behind 141 points.  Jimmie must finish 36th or better.  I don’t like to call it this early, but I think Jimmie will win his 3rd championship in a row since Cale Yarborough did it from 1976-78.  I have never been a member of the Jimmie fan wagon, but I have to give his props.

See ya in Homestead everyone!

One more thing…Texas Tech is still #2 in the BCS rankings

For all of us Red Raiders

Texas Tech

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Today my #2 Red Raiders will play those Cowboys from Oklahoma State.  I know we can beat OSU, but OSU played Texas hard a few weeks ago.  If this was in Stillwater I would be more concerned than I am.  Coach Leach will have our boys ready for this week.  Some think with the big win last week we would have a hangover, but I don’t think so.  

Well, Penn State lost today to unranked Iowa.  So now maybe those who thought Penn State should be #2 can close their pie hole.  If you were that good, perhaps Iowa would not have won scored in last few seconds of the game.  Thank you Penn State.

Now, I am hoping LSU can beat Alabama.  We played Alabama in the Cotton Bowl a few years ago and lost on a last minute field goal.  I still am amazed the ball went through the goal post.  I am not a fan of LSU and never have been, but tonight I am.  If they beat Bama and we can beat OSU we could be number 1.  But we need to get through tonight.  

I have my Tech shirt on and ready to cheer on my Red Raiders.  Oh…for those that were wondering what that loud noise was last week…it’s was Lubbock erupting in celebration after Michael Crabtree scored the winning touchdown!

Wreck ‘Em Tech!!!

Update:  Alabama takes LSU to overtime.  Alabama wins 27-21.  Damn!  But it was a good game I have to say.  Alabama intercepted on LSU’s turn in overtime and well…that’s all she wrote..Alabama will be heading to the SEC championship game.