Quick Slants

Hi all --

Just wanted to post a long overdue update in this space to let you know where you can find me.

Since winning the Next Great Sportswriter contest on FOXSports.com back in February, I've been doing all of my writing elsewhere.  You can still access the Quick Slants blog by going to QuickSlants.com.  If you're interested in reading all my columns, you can do so by going to my archives.

Thanks again for all the great emails you've sent.  I've appreciated your support!


ndisdabest at 11:36:08 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

Over the past year and a half, you've helped me put together one of the best sports blogs on AOL. 

Now it's time to pit the creative wit of Quick Slants against other fine sports bloggers around the world. 

That's right, the fine folks over at FoxSports.com have arranged a good, old-fashioned "blog off" from now until the end of December.  To the victor will go the spoils:  the opportunity to write 20 columns as a contributing writer for its website.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your comments and support in this endeavor.  Check out Quick Slants: Fox Edition and let me know what you think!

ndisdabest at 8:40:40 PM EST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

Well, it’s been quite some time since my last post.  Again, the radio show is keeping me extremely busy.  I’m now accepting applications from readers that would like a position as my production assistant, a.k.a. my “lackey." It should be noted that this is a “pay your dues” type of industry and that you’ll have to endure a few jobs like this before you move up the ladder.  The position on my staff is unpaid and is only available to single females, ages 21-24 with above average looks.  Email all video footage to ndisdabest@aol.com.

Now that that’s out of the way, we can talk about some funny stuff, like the Bowl Championship Series.  I’m one of the few proponents of the BCS, simply because I enjoy seeing highly qualified teams against unqualified -- but qualified -- opponents.  Actually, I made up that last statement, but I have a hunch you can see where this is going.  For yet another year, the BCS has awarded a major bowl bid to a conference “champion.”  This year, it’s Florida State, who’ll laugh their way to the Orange Bowl and subsequently watch as their freshman quarterback gets dismembered by Penn State.  Granted, I didn’t think much of Marcus Vick or Virginia Tech’s jay-vee schedule, but there’s no reason other than their fluke win Saturday night that Florida State should be the ACC representative.  For the most part, conference “championship” games are just a ploy by Dr. Pepper to drum up business.

Speaking of which…  here are my top five underrated moments, things, games, etc, etc from Saturday.

5)  Dr. Pepper.

4)  Reggie Bush playing sports.  Let me explain.  I know there are some Vince Young supporters out there, but Reggie Bush clearly needs to win the Heisman Trophy.  It should be a unanimous decision.  He’s just toying with people at this point.  Do you think he sees everything in slow motion like Toby MaGuire in Spiderman?  Young definitely deserves to finish second, but Bush has been unstoppable since the Notre Dame game.  Just ask Fresno State.

3)  College Gameday.  If you watched it on Saturday morning, you witnessed one of the greatest moments of the modern show:  a student with a rope and canvas sign trying to scale a tree and hold up a sign directly behind Herbstreit’s head.  I emphasize the word “trying” because he struggled mightily for the duration of the show.  Simply priceless.

2) Learning that the Dodgers signed Rafael Furcal to a 3-year $40 million contract.  I did the math, they’re paying over $13 million a year for him.  I may hire his agent to help promote this blog.  Those three DUI convictions should work nicely with Jeff Kent and Milton Bradley in LA. 

1) Watching Marcus Vick throw 53 passes, most of which were over 20 yards in length came after Tech fell far behind Florida State.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  It was Joey Harrington-esque.  I don’t care that he threw for 344 yards, he’s still not a passer.  I also think it’s safe to say that Marcus is not his brother, nor should he be compared to him.  Instead, he should be categorized with other, less successful, sports siblings like Ozzie Canseco and Jeremy Giambi.

ndisdabest at 2:02:49 AM EST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

 I've been so busy with Yankee Fan Club Radio that I forgot my blog actually existed.  If you're reading this now, there's at least an above-average chance that you're in your mid teens and looking for stray anecdotes about the 2005 Video Music Awards.  If so, I apologize, I only do that once a year.  Thanks anyway.

Some random thoughts from the past two weeks...

-- Kudos to the Chicago Bears for successfully completing the "Gale Force" Madden Challenge against the Niners this Sunday.  By all accounts, this is worth at least 17,000 Madden points, maybe more.  Both kickers deserve a special bonus for taking part in that game, perhaps a few extra vacation days.  If you haven't seen the clip of Robbie Gould -- a fellow PSU'er -- trying to kick a field goal, I would suggest you find it somewhere online.  Instead of going through the uprights, the ball took off like a frisbee and sailed wide right by about 60 feet.  Likewise, the wind knocked down Joe Nedney's kick so much that Nathan Vasher actually got a crack at running it back... which he did...  for an NFL record.  Just an all around weird game, like something you'd expect in any Bears - Niners matchup.

-- I'd like to offer a special thank you to Eli Manning, or as I like to call him, Daunte Culpepper:  The Sequel.  Now obviously, it's a bit of a stretch anytime you compare someone's mediocrity to the outlandish lows set by Daunte earlier this season, but Eli has tried pretty damn hard to redefine inconsistency as we know it.  This bothers me for two reasons:  (1) I'm a Giants fan, and; (2) Eli is the quarterback on my fantasy team.  Sure, he puts up 250 yards every week and plays on an explosive offense, but he consistently finds ways to make me feel uneasy about starting him.  Maybe it's just me?

--  What was the over / under for "Number of times Monday Night Football will reference Terrell Owens?"  Someone could've made a lot of money.  Taking the over would've been like hunting in a zoo.

--  Speaking of TO, a local funeral parlor donated a casket for a mock ceremony to celebrate the departure of TO from the team.  Apparently, the event had a sizeable turnout, too, including WIP personality Howard Eskin..  I'm not kidding.  Furthermore, I can't figure out if this is funny or not.  What do you think?

--  The odds on Brodie Croyle TiVo'ing Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It" halftime piece on MNF every week:  Even Money.

--  Best television moment of the week:  Commercials for Boston Legal featuring "Tom Smykowski" from Office Space as a crooked, plastic surgeon.

--  Why did it take so long for the US Postal Service insist on lickable stamps for so long when sticker technology was already well-established and FDA approved?

--  Two words:  Samkon Gado

--  I'm going into hiding if the Yankees sign Brian Giles to play centerfield. 

...til next time.


ndisdabest at 11:08:06 PM EST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

As is often the case here at QuickSlants.com, my upstart podcast and other radio productions have slowed my ability to pump out any new written material.  For this, I half-heartedly apologize, but you all just aren't as important as you once were.  Okay, just kidding.  Strangely enough, my podcast is currently fourth on the sports list over at Yahoo Podcasts.  I have no idea how this happened; at one point I was as high as #2 on the list.  With over 500-some sports podcasts in Yahoo's database, I am completely perplexed as to why mine is so high on the list, but I'll take the free publicity until they work out the glitch in their system.  The sports broadcasting world hasn't seen a farce like this since "Baseball Night in America."  In the meantime, you can go to Quick Slants' home on Yahoo Podcasts and vote for my show.

I did, however, have time to jot down some "Quick Slants" on what's been going on...

* Over the past two weeks, I've attended a few, rogue Halloween parties with some extremely inventive costumes.  Halloween never gets old because of this Costume Factor.  For dorks, dweebs, and bloggers, it's the one time of year you get a legitimate "Get Out of Jail Free!" card since a clever, witty costume can boost your reputation to unchartered levels.  To some degree, I speak from experience; I was never cooler than the night I glued cotton balls to my face and went as a poor man's Sean Connery.  People just treat you differently when you're Sean Connery.  Too bad the adhesive didn't hold for longer than 20 minutes and that I looked stupid.  Guys with creative costume idea can instantly become the hit of the party.  On our part, it takes some effort to cash in on Halloween.

But, if you're a girl, Halloween requires far less effort and almost always boosts your stock value.  At this point, I think it's implied.  If not, it should be.  Anything remotely form-fitting on Halloween is like an extra half-point.  However, it never ceases to amaze me how some girls just can't get it right. Take for example, the two females this weekend that played the baseball theme and clearly struck out.  Both had apparently decided to go for the "Sexy Ballgirl" look.  Unfortunately, neither was good-looking and both ending up looking more like callgirls than anything else.  Adding to the drama, the more intoxicated friend was clad with Red Sox gear, which made her impossibly more unbearable with alcohol consumption, while the far less attractive other -- dressed in a Mike Lieberthal jersey -- earned the "1964 Phillies" moniker by night's end.  My point:  they tried WAAAAAAY too hard to make themselves look like a commodity and it backfired.  If they'd gone as bumble bees, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Oh yeah... this year, I broke out my "Single Guy In His Early Twenties" anti-costume.  It required zero effort or thought.  I was hoping someone would take the bait.  Sorry to disappoint.

* With all this Halloween talk, it kind of makes you wonder what Daunte Culpepper will dress as this year.  As a member of the Daunte Culpepper Fantasy Support Group founded by Bill Simmons, I've given much thought to this matter.  I've concluded that the perfect costume for Culpepper would be Aaron Stampler from Primal Fear.  Yes, that was Ed Norton's character in the movie…  the seemingly innocent, underprivileged defendant accused of a heinous crime who is exonerated because of alleged mental instability, but admits in the movie's final minutes that he is a cold-blooded, calculating killer that plotted his every manuever as part of a diabolical scheme to commit murder and dupe the general public.  The only difference is that when Culpepper announces in 20 years that he did this all intentionally, nobody will be surprised.

On a brighter note, I'm glad to finally add some closure to my fantasy team, which was fittingly renamed "Negative Points" after Daunte's inferno erupted for seven turnovers and -14 fantasy points earlier this season.  Culpepper, my second round draft pick, has now officially stolen my wallet and held me at gunpoint for eight weeks of my life.  I just want to move on and get a new start under the banner of Jeff Garcia or another questionable fantasy quarterback.  I don't even care, as long as it's not Daunte.  I also should point out that not only will I be dropping Culpepper, I'll also be seeking legal restitution.

* Don't look now, but the people here in eastern Pennsylvania are seriously worried about the the Birds.  Normally, the news stations are leading with Eagles' stories by now, but I've noticed significantly less Eagles "chatter" in recent weeks.  Maybe this is Philly's way of bracing for another let down, who knows?  It almost feels like a big injury to a key player is on the horizon, doesn't it?

* After watching Saturday's action, I'm convinced that a team of two -- Vince Young and Reggie Bush -- could score at least 21 points on any defense in America.  It doesn't matter which defense, either...  Baltimore's, Pittsburgh's, Karl Rove's... no offensive line needed.  Furthermore, who WOULDN'T watch an old school playground game of this magnitude?  They are far and away the best two players in college football since Michael Vick, no questions asked.  It's also evident after seeing Reggie Bush in person and Vince Young on television, that both will be the next great Madden NFL superstars; the kind of guys that will get "elusiveness" or "vision" added as a player attribute in next year's game.

* I'll be at the Penn State - Wisconsin showdown this weekend in Happy Valley.  From a football perspective, this game has countless conference and BCS implications.  Wisconsin got off the a shaky start, but seems to have righted the ship.  Plus, Barry Alvarez has all but owned Penn State in recent years.  The Lions, though, are getting better with each game and know that they control their own destiny and can clinch a BCS game with two more victories.  It'll be interesting to see what happens.  I'm steering clear of any predictions until after the game is over.

Also of note, I'm excited to be visiting my friend and former roommate, B-Daub, who has taken the Van Wilder approach to college life and re-enrolled (after a degree and a one year hiatus) to pursue another field.  No doubt the lifelong debts will be insurmountable, but on behalf of every single guy in America, he's officially the smartest man in the universe

 

In closing, there was no real reason for titling this piece "Trick or Treat."

ndisdabest at 11:58:30 AM EST Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

I had to work through some red tape and several booking agents, but after negotiating the right price, I was able to secure 15 minutes of SBL host Jamie Mottram's time for a recorded interview now found on http://podcast.quickslants.com.

Check out the site for the full podcast.


ndisdabest at 11:02:55 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

Yes, yes...  I was at the most prolific college football game of the year this past weekend in South Bend, Indiana.  I made the 10-hour haul with best friend and former MoreThanRandom Radio co-host and USC fan Curt Kirkpatrick, which made for an interesting experience.

I will have a much much much much much MUCH more detailed write-up very shortly, but as you'd imagine from nearly 24 hours of road travel since Thursday night and a crushing defeat of my Irish, I am beaten, broken, and looking to get as far away from civilization as possible.  Anyway, here are some quick highlights...

-- My 30-minute discussion with a former offensive lineman from Notre Dame was unbelievable.  I'm telling you, it was too good to be true.

-- There are benefits to knowing the Godfather of Notre Dame football reporting

-- For some reason, Curt likes eating a gas station-prepared cheesesteak at 8:30 in the morning

-- Two words:  College Gameday.

Now for the pictures...

A look at the Indiana countryside from I-80.  As you can see, it's riveting.

Yes, they call this "Touchdown Jesus."  It's actually the library on campus and not a subtle ploy by the athletic department to summon divine intervention on gameday.

The set of College Gameday, i.e. my paradise.  It should be noted, though, that there were a handful of bafoons blabbering around me that -- among other things -- USC "got lucky" by winning the championship last season.

If I could rent this guy for parties, I would definitely consider it.

Me, Mike Frank from IrishEyes.com, and Curt at the tailgate, minutes after I chatted it up with a former player.

The calm before the storm

If I would've known Steve Bartman was going to be there, I would've dressed nicer.

Matt Leinart at 50 years of age...

The sea of gold in the student section

ndisdabest at 9:45:54 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

It dawned on me today at the office, while I was sitting in a quiet, windowless room waiting for a phone to ring (don't ask), that I'll be at the biggest college football game of the entire season this Saturday.

As David Putty would say, "yeah, that's right."

Back when gas was less than $2.00 a gallon, the Popped Collar Movement was just gaining steam, and MoreThanRandom Radio was still in full-swing, I made some respectable contacts within the Notre Dame community.  As fate would have it, the folks at IrishEyes.com on the Scout.com network sought my omnipotent, home-made-internet-radio-with-no-ratings wisdom in putting together a show of their own.  Out of good faith, I gave them a hand and was the brains behind the technical architecture that now powers the Irish Eyes Power Hour and Podcast with legendary Irish reporter Mike Frank.  Once they realized that my intentions were true, and that I wasn't trying to steal the credit information of all their subscribers, the luck of the Irish swung my way and I secured two seats and this weekend's rivalry.  Right place; right time.

Jumanji.

As expected, I'm taking ex-MoreThanRandom Radio shock jock and Southern Cal sympathizer Curt Kirkpatrick along with me on the voyage, a decision that's sure to come back and haunt me if USC lights up Notre Dame Stadium with another 40-point thrashing.  Nonetheless, we're leaving on Thursday night and working our way west, hoping to complete the 10-hour drive, with a few stopovers, by Friday evening.  Given South Bend's disproportionately small airport and our late plans, it would've been far too expensive to fly out for the game, so we're opting to saddle up and hack the road trip instead.

I'll post again on Monday to fill you in on what takes place, but the stage is set for a ridiculous game that can't possibly live up to it's potential.  (Or can it?)  Lord knows I'll be dehydrated, road-weary, and raspier than Ja Rule all next week, but that won't stop me from giving you the goods:  biting, anecdotal commentary and corresponding digital images of historical landmarks and middle-aged men with mullets.

As for my prediction?  I don't want to be the jinx, so I'm staying away from this one.  I will say this, however...  Notre Dame, at HOME and with TWO WEEKS to prepare, is still nearly a 12-point underdog.  That seems like a lot of points if you ask me.  Vegas is obviously expecting a high-powered shootout.  If I were a betting man with more money and a better track record of picking games correctly, I'd be all over this game like it was Helen of Troy. 

In the meantime, I'll be pulling for my Irish to take down USC and make a run at the BCS.

ndisdabest at 11:07:47 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 3 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

If you would've experienced the same fallout I did after picking Ohio State to win in last week's blog entry, on Sports Bloggers Live, and on my Quick Slants radio show, you would've sworn I threw a brick through Joe Paterno's window.

I'll admit I have a problem:  I can't pick winners for beans.  Sign me up for the 12-step program.

In my defense, I still don't think Ohio State was a particularly bad pick, it was just the wrong one.  Looking back, the main reason I went with Ohio State was because I over-estimated Troy Smith's, Ted Ginn's, and Santonio Holmes' ability to make plays as well as Ohio State's ability to shut down the Lions' offense.  Translation:  the entire Buckeyes team.  Smith was less than impressive and seemed more confused than poised; Ginn and Holmes were given no running room.  When push came to shove, they simply could not move the ball against the Penn State defense and committed two costly turnovers; one lead to PSU points, the other sealed their fate late in the fourth quarter.

Likewise, I gravely UNDER-estimated Penn State's offense, particularly Michael Robinson.  I'll ask it again, but why wasn't he the quarterback for the past three seasons?  If someone could walk me through that decision making process, I would certainly appreciate it.  After Saturday's game, Robinson proved once again that you don't need bigtime stats or a prototypical pocket passer to win a meaningful college football game.  By scrambling under pressure, he kept the Buckeyes on their heals all night and mitigated the ability of Hawk and Carpenter to disrupt behind the line of scrimmage.  Most importantly, he didn't make any mistakes, which is essentially why Penn State won the game, and was just good enough to win.  Now three games removed from his debacle at Northwestern, Robinson seems to be coming out of the woods and has played spot-free football in two consecutive games.

And the defense...  well, I haven't seen that stellar a performance since my friend B-Daub attended a sorority function. 

So, kudos to you, Penn State, for one-upping me and my bold-faced predictions and relegating my prognosticating credibility to the same,mediocre platform it's always resided.  Everything I've said and will continue to say about this football team is irrelevant, you're 6-0.

I'm impressed, not sold.  But, you have the last laugh.

ndisdabest at 11:57:58 AM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

In the final installment of my PSU / OSU preview on Quick Slants, we'll be joined by Chris Nida from BuckeyeSports.com and my normal co-host Ricky Laderman.  For what it's worth, I have assaulted both sides and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Tune in tonight at 8:30 pm ET for all the fun at http://podcast.quickslants.com.

ndisdabest at 12:42:59 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own