Why I admire the 2007 New England Patriots

There’s a lot to admire in the New England Patriots. I really admire the great play of their offensive line. It’s no stretch to say that Tom Brady is an excellent quarterback; he’s clearly one of the two best in the league and quite possibly the best. The Patriots’ run game is good and the passing game – well, enough said.

I think the New England defense is great (duh!) – Asante Samuel has recovered nicely from the victimizing that Peyton Manning subjected him to in that Week 9 game in the 2005 season to become a great cornerback. The linebacking corps is undoubtedly old, but plays so smart. They always come up with the key tackle.

I admire the Patriots’ attitude, most of all. I love the fact that stars play special teams. I like that they managed not to crow too much about going undefeated so far. Mercury Morris’ talk has been annoying – I haven’t heard too much responding. They have cute but meaningful traditions in training camp: to get a day off, special teams players have to teach young offensive linemen to catch a punt and not drop it. I admire Belichick’s stoicism; it speaks to a great deal of self-control.

Part II coming: Why I’m rooting for the Patriots to lose

Tornado in So Cal

Interesting ...

The last time I remembered a tornado touchdown in LA basin was I was a junior at Cal Poly. It also happened during a massive winter storm, although eventually they were not sure if it was a tornado or just a microburst or even a gustnado.


From WNDU:

A rare tornado has touched down in Southern California.

It started as a waterspout last night in the Pacific and came ashore at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station up the coast from Malibu, ripping a roof off a hangar. It scattered debris on a tarmac but nobody was hurt and flight operations were not affected.

The small tornado was from a much bigger storm system that's been causing problems in Southern California, pounding the region with heavy rain and deep snow and triggering at least two tornado warnings last night.

Hundreds of cars and tractor trailers had been left stranded on a major highway north of Los Angeles. One driver says he was stuck on the road for 24 hours.

Another storm coming up from Mexico is expected to dump up to an inch of rain in the Los Angeles area today.

Gummy Reaction

Seems interesting....

I liked it.

The Smith group's latest on their 2nd-gen synthesis of phorboxazole A is quite enjoyable reading. (DOI:10.1021/jo7018152) Note Taylor group alum and third author Jeff Ciavarri (aka Chico.)

Get Muffet on the Phone

Madeleine scored her very first basket last night in a thrilling triple-overtime victory. I tried to take a picture, but apparently I had the camera on the wrong setting and didn't take the picture, though the camera told me it did. I'm still confused myself.

She had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but her shot came about a second after the final horn sounded. Her line for the game: 2 pts, 1 for 3, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 0 knees to the midsection of opposing players.

Start the recruiting process now.

The Justice League...

Brady in Cast?

Maybe he will have to wear protection during the Super Bowl.....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3207592

Stand in the gap!

That was a great, great game. Eli Manning, you're my new hero.

Beat the Patriots, Eli Wan-Kenobi -- you're still my only hope.

Championship Weekend

Put your predictions in the comments. I'm getting crazy.

Nice game pretty boy...

Well lets get this ball rolling. Name EVERYTHING you hate about Tom Brady in the comments section. The picture of him getting paid to be handsome should be enough to inspire hatred.

Four reasons why the Patriots cannot win the Superbowl

1. Tom Brady would be allowed to get any woman in the continental US pregnant.
2. Randy Moss' car would have parking attendants as rim spinners.
3. For the rest of our lives, drunk Boston sports fans would be completely insufferable (except you, Bill), especially if the Celtics are any good this year. "Nomah!"
4. Belichick would be become Pope.

Put your division game weekend predictions in the comments.

UFO's in San Diego?

Did you see this Jim?

news:ufo footage near san diego 1_1_2008
Uploaded by sizemen

I for one welcome our Clintonian overlords.....

Not good....

I knew people were effected by women crying, but come on? And Slick Willy pandering for votes by spewing lies about records, and even playing the 9/11 card ( I thought that was reserved strictly for Rudy 9/11). I know the election season is early, but this just shows how easy it is to manipulate.

OBAMA in 2008!

New Hampshire!

Put your New Hampshire primary predictions in the comments.

Worth tooting.

Bruce is too modest to mention it, but I will. In an e-mail to me, he correctly predicted the Obama win in Iowa. And I quote:

"Obama 37%
Edwards 33%
Clinton 30%

btw, The Huckster is gonna walk with this thing."

Very nice, Bruce. I will have to settle for the consolation prize of having correctly predicted Fred Thompson's 3rd place finish. Ka-ching!

Anyone for predicting the playoffs? Mine in the comments.

I'll also get crazy and predict Dallas winning it all.

Iowa caucus speculation

I'm sure we can agree that if we were to design a primary, it would not look like the one we that have.

Nevertheless, place your Iowa predictions for both party primaries in the comments.