Mascot pecking order triumphs! I just want all you skeptics to know that I won week one in football picks. My dear husband's expert football knowledge was no chance for my mean skills.
Week two didn't go as well for me but by week three I'll be back again. Go Broncos!
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Monday, September 15, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
First Week Picks...Mascot pecking order strategy
I married Spencer last summer. Last Fall he commandeered the kitchen white board and started writing lists of sports teams on the board. These were "picks." I said something very naive like "You mean you know who wins and loses on every game?"
I don't remember what Spencer said. I think he just looked at me with a blank stare. Then managed a
"Yeah duh" (He would never actually say duh it was just slightly implied in his tone.)
I had NO idea. But after a few weeks of lists it looked like Spencer was having fun with out me. I HATE being left out on anything fun so I decided to make my own picks.
In the beginning I had NO idea what I was doing. I just picked randomly. Eventually I began developing my own strategies. Like if the mascot of one team could kill the mascot of the other team I would pick the stronger mascot. For example; an Eagle could kill a Raven so I'd pick Eagles. A Jaguar could take a Panther so obviously I would go with Jacksonville. A Giant could take a Cowboy etc. Sometimes it worked...sometimes it didn't.
Oftentimes this method of picking gets really complex. For example a Bangal Tiger could kill an Eagle in theory, however it isn't likely to have the chance as Eagles can fly and Tigers can't. So if a Tiger and and Eagle are together it most likely means that the Tiger was killed by some other top of the food chain and the Eagle is eating the carcass. Therefore I would pick the Eagle over the Bangal Tiger.
If I wasn't sure what mascot would win against each other like the Patriots and the Packers (what the h@$l are packers anyway?) So I pick my favorite color of the two. Green. Skeptics scoff at my methods of making picks however last season I did really well. I beat my husband the NFL uber-nerd THREE weeks in a row. It was awesome.
As time went on I relied on my mascot pecking order strategy less and less. I eventually learned what teams won and which didn't, which teams where injured, which teams cheated, which teams had the most excited looking fans (packers) and the most skantily clad cheerleaders (cowboys.) Picking became easier as time when on.
First Week Picks.
So with that being said here are my picks for Week One. If you are interested in seeing what the NFL uber-nerd picked you can click here.
Redskins @ Giants
Okay I remember that the Giants won the Superbowl last year so this one was a no-brainier. I picked the Giants.
Lions @ Falcons
I have to go with my "Strongest Mascot" strategy on this one. I pick Falcons. I know it would seem that a Lion could kill a Falcon HOWEVER Falcons can fly. So if the Lion and the Falcon are in close proximity it means that the lion is dead and the falcon is picking at its remains.
Bengals @ Ravens
I went with the Bangles on this one. I know that I usually have the birds of prey feasting on the large omnivores HOWEVER in this case I chose the Bengals because I believe they can work it with their tiger striped helmets. Those are HOT.
Seahawks @ Bills
Even 52 seahawks working together couldn't really do much against a mighty buffalo. Not that a buffalo would really have the ability to kill a seahawks either. This game won't be much competition either way. But just to be on the safe side I choose the massive Buffalo against the tiny birdies.
Jets @ Dolphins
I didn't need my Mascot strategy for this one. I remember that the Dolphins were the worst team in the NFL last year so naturally I chose the Jets.
Chiefs @ Patriots
Who could ignore the Patriots almost perfect season last year. This will be an easy win for the lying cheating Patriots. I hope the Cheifs do the rest of the NFL teams a favor and higher a sniper to take out the Patriots camera man.
Bucs @ Saints
I think the most important player in this game is Hurricane Gustav. Good luck Saints, but I'm going to have to go with the Bucs on this one. You guys are permanently on the road.
Rams @ Eagles
Last week in Jackson Hole Wyoming a Ranger explained how Eagles will dive bomb Rams (and other mountain sheep) on the edges of cliffs sending them to their deaths thousands of feet below. Yep that is right. I picked the Eagles to win.
Texans @ Steelers
Texans may talk big but the real Texas team is the cowboys. I think their opponents will steel the win from them in the last quarter.
Jags @ Titans
Even the Greek Gods could defeat the Titans. The Jags will do just fine.
Cowboys @ Browns
The Cowboys win this one hands down. They have three things going for them. Tony, Texas Pride and Jessica Simpson's Double D's. Don't mess with Texas.
Panthers @ Chargers
No mascot theory for this one. As long as the Chargers have LaDainian Tomlinson they will be wining for a while. Philip Rivers is too mouthy for my taste so I would hope that Panthers prevail.
Cardinals @ Niners
I'm not predicting this one to be a good game. The Niners haven't been good since Steve Young. As for the Cardinals the supposed QB all star party boy didn't even make it off the bench. What a loser, and a sore one at that.
Bears @ Colts
I think I remember the Bears being in or getting near to the Superbowl the year before I got into Football but they are nothing against my 2nd favorite QB Mr. Payton Manning. What a guy. He is sure to put those bears in their place.
Vikings @ Packers
The Exodus of Farve from Green Bay proved a few things. 1. That Brett is a Drama Queen in the biggest of ways. "I'm retired. I'm not retired. I'm retired" Its like he's pulling petals off of a daisy. 2. That there is such thing as too much of a good thing. No doubting that Brett was a good thing. 3. Packer fans are loyal to the team not the players. If I were Aaron Rodgers I'd hate Brett's guts. As it is Rogers played really well last time Favre got a hang nail. I am excited to see how far he can go. I vote Packers pull off a close win.
Denver Broncos @ raiders
Naturally I am going to pick the Broncos. The Broncos vs. Raiders game is like a religious ceremony in our house hold. Those Raiders don't stand a chance with Spencer and I cheering them on. Go Broncos.
I don't remember what Spencer said. I think he just looked at me with a blank stare. Then managed a
"Yeah duh" (He would never actually say duh it was just slightly implied in his tone.)
I had NO idea. But after a few weeks of lists it looked like Spencer was having fun with out me. I HATE being left out on anything fun so I decided to make my own picks.
In the beginning I had NO idea what I was doing. I just picked randomly. Eventually I began developing my own strategies. Like if the mascot of one team could kill the mascot of the other team I would pick the stronger mascot. For example; an Eagle could kill a Raven so I'd pick Eagles. A Jaguar could take a Panther so obviously I would go with Jacksonville. A Giant could take a Cowboy etc. Sometimes it worked...sometimes it didn't.
Oftentimes this method of picking gets really complex. For example a Bangal Tiger could kill an Eagle in theory, however it isn't likely to have the chance as Eagles can fly and Tigers can't. So if a Tiger and and Eagle are together it most likely means that the Tiger was killed by some other top of the food chain and the Eagle is eating the carcass. Therefore I would pick the Eagle over the Bangal Tiger.
If I wasn't sure what mascot would win against each other like the Patriots and the Packers (what the h@$l are packers anyway?) So I pick my favorite color of the two. Green. Skeptics scoff at my methods of making picks however last season I did really well. I beat my husband the NFL uber-nerd THREE weeks in a row. It was awesome.
As time went on I relied on my mascot pecking order strategy less and less. I eventually learned what teams won and which didn't, which teams where injured, which teams cheated, which teams had the most excited looking fans (packers) and the most skantily clad cheerleaders (cowboys.) Picking became easier as time when on.
First Week Picks.
So with that being said here are my picks for Week One. If you are interested in seeing what the NFL uber-nerd picked you can click here.
Redskins @ Giants
Okay I remember that the Giants won the Superbowl last year so this one was a no-brainier. I picked the Giants.
Lions @ Falcons
I have to go with my "Strongest Mascot" strategy on this one. I pick Falcons. I know it would seem that a Lion could kill a Falcon HOWEVER Falcons can fly. So if the Lion and the Falcon are in close proximity it means that the lion is dead and the falcon is picking at its remains.
Bengals @ Ravens
I went with the Bangles on this one. I know that I usually have the birds of prey feasting on the large omnivores HOWEVER in this case I chose the Bengals because I believe they can work it with their tiger striped helmets. Those are HOT.
Seahawks @ Bills
Even 52 seahawks working together couldn't really do much against a mighty buffalo. Not that a buffalo would really have the ability to kill a seahawks either. This game won't be much competition either way. But just to be on the safe side I choose the massive Buffalo against the tiny birdies.
Jets @ Dolphins
I didn't need my Mascot strategy for this one. I remember that the Dolphins were the worst team in the NFL last year so naturally I chose the Jets.
Chiefs @ Patriots
Who could ignore the Patriots almost perfect season last year. This will be an easy win for the lying cheating Patriots. I hope the Cheifs do the rest of the NFL teams a favor and higher a sniper to take out the Patriots camera man.
Bucs @ Saints
I think the most important player in this game is Hurricane Gustav. Good luck Saints, but I'm going to have to go with the Bucs on this one. You guys are permanently on the road.
Rams @ Eagles
Last week in Jackson Hole Wyoming a Ranger explained how Eagles will dive bomb Rams (and other mountain sheep) on the edges of cliffs sending them to their deaths thousands of feet below. Yep that is right. I picked the Eagles to win.
Texans @ Steelers
Texans may talk big but the real Texas team is the cowboys. I think their opponents will steel the win from them in the last quarter.
Jags @ Titans
Even the Greek Gods could defeat the Titans. The Jags will do just fine.
Cowboys @ Browns
The Cowboys win this one hands down. They have three things going for them. Tony, Texas Pride and Jessica Simpson's Double D's. Don't mess with Texas.
Panthers @ Chargers
No mascot theory for this one. As long as the Chargers have LaDainian Tomlinson they will be wining for a while. Philip Rivers is too mouthy for my taste so I would hope that Panthers prevail.
Cardinals @ Niners
I'm not predicting this one to be a good game. The Niners haven't been good since Steve Young. As for the Cardinals the supposed QB all star party boy didn't even make it off the bench. What a loser, and a sore one at that.
Bears @ Colts
I think I remember the Bears being in or getting near to the Superbowl the year before I got into Football but they are nothing against my 2nd favorite QB Mr. Payton Manning. What a guy. He is sure to put those bears in their place.
Vikings @ Packers
The Exodus of Farve from Green Bay proved a few things. 1. That Brett is a Drama Queen in the biggest of ways. "I'm retired. I'm not retired. I'm retired" Its like he's pulling petals off of a daisy. 2. That there is such thing as too much of a good thing. No doubting that Brett was a good thing. 3. Packer fans are loyal to the team not the players. If I were Aaron Rodgers I'd hate Brett's guts. As it is Rogers played really well last time Favre got a hang nail. I am excited to see how far he can go. I vote Packers pull off a close win.
Denver Broncos @ raiders
Naturally I am going to pick the Broncos. The Broncos vs. Raiders game is like a religious ceremony in our house hold. Those Raiders don't stand a chance with Spencer and I cheering them on. Go Broncos.
Monday, March 24, 2008
A blog is born...
I've been blogging for almost a year now. I started as a way to improve my creative writing skills. I feel like I've been able to get a little better and it is fun to have a creative outlet. It is also very fun to see who reads my blog and your comments.
So for all devoted readers of the life of the riddle (all 7 of you) that can't get enough of me (I'm not sure that anyone fits into that category)...you now have a change to read my husband's blog and get a different perspective of my life experiences other than mine.
Last week my little 4 year old cousin Joe asked "Does Spencer ever talk?" He is rather shy in social situations but yes he does talk and now he has started talking to the whole Internet! He has only one entry for now but save the link I can assure you great things are to come. Make sure to comment that will get him really excited!
This is what I expect from Spencer's blog:
More details on his obsessions
Facts and opinions about Football
Facts about biking
Great deals on out door equipment
Poems and sonnets to his wife.
So of any of those topics interest you then visit football crucible. If not please spend your time more wisely on the internet.
So for all devoted readers of the life of the riddle (all 7 of you) that can't get enough of me (I'm not sure that anyone fits into that category)...you now have a change to read my husband's blog and get a different perspective of my life experiences other than mine.
Last week my little 4 year old cousin Joe asked "Does Spencer ever talk?" He is rather shy in social situations but yes he does talk and now he has started talking to the whole Internet! He has only one entry for now but save the link I can assure you great things are to come. Make sure to comment that will get him really excited!
This is what I expect from Spencer's blog:
More details on his obsessions
Facts and opinions about Football
Facts about biking
Great deals on out door equipment
Poems and sonnets to his wife.
So of any of those topics interest you then visit football crucible. If not please spend your time more wisely on the internet.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
I am a U of U fan
and this is how it happened.
I NEVER paid the slightest attention to football before I got married. I'd been to 3 football games in my entire life and I never had the slightest idea what was going on. Now I'm becoming quite the connoisseur of football. I can follow every thing which is shocking even more shocking is that I enjoy it. No one ever would have guessed.
One thing has always confused me about sports fans. How do you pick YOUR team? Okay I can understand routing for the home team, but how else do you develop a die hard affiliation? You think the QB is hot? You like the logo? You met one of the players once and liked him? You play on that team?
Spencer makes fun of me all the time because although I'm happy when our team wins (Broncos) I always feel a little bad for the losing team. Also when players don't catch the ball or don't kick the field goal my heart can't help but go out to them (they are going to have horrible weeks looking at all that film.) I realize that most people are just happy when their team is up and don't waist time feeling bad for athletes who are already making millions of dollars a year (NFL)
How does this relate to being a U fan?? I'm getting to it. Spencer and I both went to the U of U however our mothers both went to the U's main rival Brigham Young University 30 miles south in Provo Utah. Spencer grew up being a BYU fan and his affiliation didn't change even thought the U had given him his degree.
I graduated from the U barely realizing they had a football team. (I was into music remember) However when I married Mr. Football I started to hear about the U's football team. And I realized that every time Spencer got excited that they lost I would feel bad for them. They were my school. So I decided I was a U fan.
My father flipped out. Both my parents routed for BYU and my father took it as a personal insult that I changed teams. Every week I would get some email telling me of the evil ways of my fellow U fans. I tried to explain that I wasn't against BYU per say I just wanted the U to win too. He didn't believe me.
So come November, day after my birthday and time for the big U of U vs. BYU game. My whole family turned out to watch. The first part of the game was boring but the end made up for it. The U had been leading for the forth quarter and it looked like they would win when at the last minute BYU scored a touchdown and scored the victory.
My family was screaming. Spencer was screaming (I was sitting in his lap) and then the weirdest thing happened which I did not anticipate:
I burst into tears. My family was screaming and yelling so excited to have BYU win and I was sobbing.....SOBBING. Me sobbing over silly football! I was shocked to realize I was crying which only made me cry harder. Sitting on Spencer's lap, sobbing into his neck over a football game. Weird weird weird! I've never cried at football before. I only became a fan this season! I'm going to blame my ultra dramatic reaction on girl hormones.
Any normal day I wouldn't have shed a tear but for that day with my family all routing for the opposing team and laughing in my face it just became to much. Anyhow, I guess it is true now. I really am a Utes fan.
You would think my father would be excited that one of his 5 daughters finally knew what an onside kick was but no...not when she has gone to the dark side.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Picks Week 5, 6 and 7
I don't want to toot my own horn, but I have to say that I've got this football picking thing down. I can call it. It is like my picking chooses the winners. I should place bets in Vegas. This is much to the chagrin of my dear husband who supposedly makes more educated guesses than I yet still somehow I out pick him each week. Hurray.
This is pretty impressive from a girl who didn't know the difference between offence and defence less than a year ago. The truth is I am really enjoying watching football and I had no idea I EVER would. Marriage brings out all kinds of surprises. Go Broncos!
This is pretty impressive from a girl who didn't know the difference between offence and defence less than a year ago. The truth is I am really enjoying watching football and I had no idea I EVER would. Marriage brings out all kinds of surprises. Go Broncos!
Monday, October 8, 2007
not so good on picks this week...
I didn't do so well in my football picks this week.
I was 3 -11 and Spencer was 11 - 3.
The bronco's did about as well as I did with a dismal score of 41-3. And it rained. Sorrow.
Monday, October 1, 2007
My Picks
A few weeks ago lists of teams started appearing on the white board in the kitchen. I questioned my sweet husband and learned that these were his picks for the week. “Picks for the week?” Oh right…the team that wins each game… "You keep track of every game?" I'm learning as I go....but like I’ve said before I’m figuring this whole football thing out. This week I’m SO SO SO happy to report that I made my own picks for week 4 and I BEAT SPENCER! (picture me doing a backflip!)
Thanks to the underdog winners I beat him! I had 8 wins he only had 6. Hurray! Here are our lists:
Ravens – Lost ------------------- Ravens – Lost
NY Jets – lost-------------------- NY Jets - Lost
Colts – WON ----------------------Colts -- won
NY Giants – WON------------------ Eagles - Lost
TOTAL WINS = 8 ------------------ TOTAL WINS = 6
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Week One
I never knew. I never had any idea. Before I married Spencer I had no idea the excitement and energy that went into football. It’s like a religion. I’d heard people talk about football weather. (Fall right?) I knew they had helmets and shoulder pads.
Basically I was clueless to everything concerning football. The only words I know were:
1. Quarterback:
(important player)
2. Linebackers:
(the big guys’ right?)
3. Cheerleaders:
(little skirts big smiles)
4. Touchdown: (points)
5. End zone:
(where the touchdown happens…I think)
6. Offense:
(something to do with football)
7. Defense: (opponents of the offense)
I had no idea when football season began and ended. I heard people talk about the super bowl but yawn yawn yawn SO many better things to do on a Sunday.
Then I got married to a man who is OBSESSED with football. Slowly he began teaching me. His favorite story before we were married is when he was explaining bye-week to me and I said “They have to BUY a week?” Amazingly enough he didn’t give up.
Slowly I began to catch on. Now I can name all the positions on the football team. I know what
2nd and Goal means and how exciting that point is in the game. I know what 1st down is, and that 4th down is a bad place to be if you haven’t scored a touchdown and aren’t in field goal range. I know what the QuarterBack does and what it means when he is sacked. If this happens then it’s possible to have 2nd and 17 (for example).
I know that special teams kick field goals and punts the ball to the other team after the offense fails to reach the 1st down. Field Goals are worth 3 points as opposed to that other time during the game when the ball gets kicked. That is just the extra point option after the touch down. I can define so many more special terms like: line of scrimmage, running back, fullback, tight end, linebackers etc.
So do I love it? It is growing on me. I can see why people love it. And when we just watched the Bronco’s game I admit the last 4 minutes were pretty exciting as
So now having survived one very exciting Sunday and one Thursday night my verdict is: it is kind of fun. I’m not sure I would watch it on my own, but I’m glad to watch it with my sweet husband and share in one of his many obsessions. What do you think Dad? Did you ever think it possible?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)