Watching sports, and being a fan of sports can be such an exhilarating thing, but that is not what this post is about, quite the opposite actually. This is about the heart wrenching disappointments that also come with being a sports fan. I guess this is inspired by the disappointing loss by the Packers today, but it is something I have been thinking about writing for quite a while.
I would have to say that the Vikings have probably led to the most disappointment in my sports fandom life. 1998 was the first year where I truly got into football, and everyone remembers what happened at the end of that season. 15-1, losing in the NFC Championship, not even in the Super Bowl, but just the conference championship game. I have enough disappointment from the fact that the Vikings haven't even had the decency to lose in the Super Bowl, just love crushing my spirit in the conference championship.
We can move on to 2000 where I had gotten into football even more, And the Vikings once again make the conference championship only to be utterly destroyed by the Giants 41-0, and I watched every bit of that game.
And then of course there was 2009, the team that took the Vikings' style of crushing playoff defeats and added a whole new twist to it. That game was just rough, so many disappointments in one game. It is still rough to even think about that game.
The Vikings are just so great at getting your hopes up and then completely ripping your heart out. It is really hard to do the feeling justice through writing. Every time, you know it is going to happen, but through morbid curiosity you have to keep watching until they give you what you know is coming.
Now I can't say the Twins have been as disappointing as the Vikings, but you get excited year after year, and get knocked out by the Yankees or someone else, year after year, usually getting swept in the first round. Getting your hopes up that maybe, just maybe, this will be the year they do something in the post season, but of course they don't.
Disappointment is the risk you take by truly investing in a sports team, you feel the joy of victory, but also the agony of defeat. Risking that is what make sports so enjoyable, knowing you could get that rush from a victory, or feel like your heart has been ripped out by a defeat.
In the end it isn't about whether they win or lose, but that they play the game.
Showing posts with label Minnesota Twins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesota Twins. Show all posts
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Moneyball
I really can't write about Moneyball without looking at it from two angles. I will look at it as just a movie, then compare the movie to the book.
The movie, on its own, was quite good. I was not sure how they would make a compelling movie about a book like that. The dialog was definitely improved for more laughs and just generally better conversation overall in the movie. The characters were very likable, and there was quite a bit of emotion in the movie, which was definitely not that true for the book. The baseball action was quite enjoyable even though it was a little bit prolonged. I was not really sure how they would make the book into a movie, but they did a pretty decent job. I would recommend the movie to anyone, baseball fan or not. I was weirded out by Phillip Seymour-Hoffman playing Art Howe, but I actually thought that Art Howe was older than he actually is. He it only 64 now, I wouldn't have been surprised if he was 65 back then. He just looked that old I guess.
The movie really didn't go into the advanced statistics in the book, pretty much focused on walks. Much of the more in depth things the book goes into like the history of Sabermetrics, the development of the stats, Chad Bradford's life growing up, The draft that year, among other things. I thought the draft was a big point in the book, but it was literally not even mentioned in the movie. I would have loved to hear Brad Pitt say "Span fucked us!" referring to Denard Span who is currently on the Minnesota Twins, just for the simple fact that I like Denard Span and I think it would be a cool name drop. Billy Beane was not as likable a character in the book and I suppose real life as he is in the movie. I think they really needed to make him likable to drive the movie though.
I guess I just wanted this movie to do more preaching of advanced statistics, which would expose them to a new audience. I am not saying everyone would take them as gospel, but more people would have an idea where that half of the fans is coming from. I still think it was an interesting book, that was turned into an interesting movie that is worth seeing.
The movie, on its own, was quite good. I was not sure how they would make a compelling movie about a book like that. The dialog was definitely improved for more laughs and just generally better conversation overall in the movie. The characters were very likable, and there was quite a bit of emotion in the movie, which was definitely not that true for the book. The baseball action was quite enjoyable even though it was a little bit prolonged. I was not really sure how they would make the book into a movie, but they did a pretty decent job. I would recommend the movie to anyone, baseball fan or not. I was weirded out by Phillip Seymour-Hoffman playing Art Howe, but I actually thought that Art Howe was older than he actually is. He it only 64 now, I wouldn't have been surprised if he was 65 back then. He just looked that old I guess.
The movie really didn't go into the advanced statistics in the book, pretty much focused on walks. Much of the more in depth things the book goes into like the history of Sabermetrics, the development of the stats, Chad Bradford's life growing up, The draft that year, among other things. I thought the draft was a big point in the book, but it was literally not even mentioned in the movie. I would have loved to hear Brad Pitt say "Span fucked us!" referring to Denard Span who is currently on the Minnesota Twins, just for the simple fact that I like Denard Span and I think it would be a cool name drop. Billy Beane was not as likable a character in the book and I suppose real life as he is in the movie. I think they really needed to make him likable to drive the movie though.
I guess I just wanted this movie to do more preaching of advanced statistics, which would expose them to a new audience. I am not saying everyone would take them as gospel, but more people would have an idea where that half of the fans is coming from. I still think it was an interesting book, that was turned into an interesting movie that is worth seeing.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Meta has gone Meta
So I am not sure how much I am planning to write tonight, but I feel like writing something. I was thinking about Scream 4 for some reason, or Scre4m as they have shown it to be titled. The original Scream was the meta horror movie, being self aware of all the rules of other slasher films that had been made. Now Scream 4 is being self aware of the previous scream movies. It just seems like too over thought for me. It also seems like every character in the movie other than David Arquette is a slender girl, and other than Courtney Cox(Arquette) they are all in their low 20s. I guess sex sells when it comes to slasher movies. I have never had much of an interest in them. I used to watch the scream movies whenever they were on tv, until I had seen them all. The first was an original idea, then I think the other two were not really needed.
I am still my same old self, unsure of what it is that I want to do. Both professionally, and relationship-wise. I think I know what it is I was right now relationship-wise, but I am not 100% sure, but am I ever 100% sure?
I was looking through job postings earlier, and I realized that I still don't know what I want to do. I just need to find something else I am ok with doing, and something that will pay me some decent money. I don't need a ton of money, but I would like to pay down my student loans faster than they are required to be paid off. I just don't like having debt of any kind. I would love to be able to pay double what my required payment is every month, but right now that isn't feasible. I should feel lucky that I had a college fund set up for me so I didn't have that much in student loans, but I would still like to pay it off early.
Baseball season has been kind of a downer, the Twins offense has been non-existent which has not really been an issue in years. It really just seems that some of the players are still working off the rust. Cuddyer missed a lot of time in spring training getting a huge wart removed from his foot. Mauer missed time after surgery. Morneau missed time still recovering from his concussion, but looks so close to hitting so many home runs. I think the offense will be fine, and if the pitching stays like this, we will start getting things to go our way. I actually have a lot of confidence in our bullpen too. I wish Kevin Slowey was not injured because he had been pitching well too.
The Twins just have this issue with not being able to hit left handed pitchers at all, especially when Cuddyer and Young are not hitting well. They need to be able to pick up the offense on those days, or get them knocked out of the game early to face some bullpen righties. I think this is just my amateur analysis of the Twins first week and a half of games, and there are still a ton of games to play.
I have enjoyed being able to watch baseball though. Its always a fun time of year. And its something great to do while reading. Or while cooking. Just having it on in the background.
If the Indians can keep up their quality pitching, with a potentially healthy Grady Sizemore coming back, and Shin Soo Choo will eventually do something offensively for them, they could be spoilers. I think the same for the Royals. They have some good hitters up now, and will probably get another one of two of their very talented prospects coming up before the end of the year. They could really do some damage. I think the Central division is going to be a very weak division this year. Any of the 3 front runners could take it.
Movie: Cedar Rapids-- I really enjoyed this movie. I only say it last night, but even only having a day to reflect on it. I think it was really well made. I thought the cast did a great job, especially Ed Helms. He has not been the feature in anything he has done, but I think he really held his own. The movie was funny, but also showed some good character development. Ed Helms definitely when from the bright eyed and bushy tailed newbie, to something more imposing. Spoiler alter there is some man butt in the movie. I think the movie had some good jokes about things relevant to some of the actors. Isiah Whitlock Jr. made some references to The Wire, and he was in The Wire. I may be reading too much into it, but Anne Heche was once upon a time Ellen's girlfriend. In the movie she and others crash a lesbian wedding. I think its worth seeing if you have similar tastes to myself. Its also a way of showing some support for independent movies. I realize this is not a really small budget movie, but it was independently financed and produced. It was only bought by Fox Searchlight after it was shown as Sundance.
Tv Show: The Killing--I watched the first 2 episodes late at night on either Friday or Saturday. I really liked the slow and deliberate setup of the show. Its not like Law and Order where they are showing the body right after the credits. It took a long time to find it. Along they way they did a great job of introducing a bunch of characters/suspects. Many of the characters seem one way originally but we get shown another side later on. I like that the show does not move too fast. It is well paced so you have a chance to really think about everything as it is developing. I think the show so far has always left me wanting more, which is a good thing for a show to do, even if it is frustrating at times.
I guess I was on the Tv 13 news here in Eau Claire last night. I didn't think my footage would be used because I was so boring but you can find it here: http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Tax_deadline_looming_one_week_to_go_119630159.html
I am at about 1:05 into the video.
Well that is all I have for tonight, but I still hope to do this a bit more often. Right now I just write when I am inspired to do so.
Comments are always welcome, and if you don't already please follow my nonsense on Twitter @weckpd
I will leave you with Hipster Jake Peavy. Via @KeithLaw on Twitter.
Things I did during this entry:
Looked up Isiah Whitlock Jr. on IMDB
Was sitting in the back of the Entrepreneur Training Program that I run
Watched the Twins game on MLB gamecast.
Was frustrated that I couldn't even get a link directly to the Weau video of me. Silly Eau Claire News.
I am still my same old self, unsure of what it is that I want to do. Both professionally, and relationship-wise. I think I know what it is I was right now relationship-wise, but I am not 100% sure, but am I ever 100% sure?
I was looking through job postings earlier, and I realized that I still don't know what I want to do. I just need to find something else I am ok with doing, and something that will pay me some decent money. I don't need a ton of money, but I would like to pay down my student loans faster than they are required to be paid off. I just don't like having debt of any kind. I would love to be able to pay double what my required payment is every month, but right now that isn't feasible. I should feel lucky that I had a college fund set up for me so I didn't have that much in student loans, but I would still like to pay it off early.
Baseball season has been kind of a downer, the Twins offense has been non-existent which has not really been an issue in years. It really just seems that some of the players are still working off the rust. Cuddyer missed a lot of time in spring training getting a huge wart removed from his foot. Mauer missed time after surgery. Morneau missed time still recovering from his concussion, but looks so close to hitting so many home runs. I think the offense will be fine, and if the pitching stays like this, we will start getting things to go our way. I actually have a lot of confidence in our bullpen too. I wish Kevin Slowey was not injured because he had been pitching well too.
The Twins just have this issue with not being able to hit left handed pitchers at all, especially when Cuddyer and Young are not hitting well. They need to be able to pick up the offense on those days, or get them knocked out of the game early to face some bullpen righties. I think this is just my amateur analysis of the Twins first week and a half of games, and there are still a ton of games to play.
I have enjoyed being able to watch baseball though. Its always a fun time of year. And its something great to do while reading. Or while cooking. Just having it on in the background.
If the Indians can keep up their quality pitching, with a potentially healthy Grady Sizemore coming back, and Shin Soo Choo will eventually do something offensively for them, they could be spoilers. I think the same for the Royals. They have some good hitters up now, and will probably get another one of two of their very talented prospects coming up before the end of the year. They could really do some damage. I think the Central division is going to be a very weak division this year. Any of the 3 front runners could take it.
Movie: Cedar Rapids-- I really enjoyed this movie. I only say it last night, but even only having a day to reflect on it. I think it was really well made. I thought the cast did a great job, especially Ed Helms. He has not been the feature in anything he has done, but I think he really held his own. The movie was funny, but also showed some good character development. Ed Helms definitely when from the bright eyed and bushy tailed newbie, to something more imposing. Spoiler alter there is some man butt in the movie. I think the movie had some good jokes about things relevant to some of the actors. Isiah Whitlock Jr. made some references to The Wire, and he was in The Wire. I may be reading too much into it, but Anne Heche was once upon a time Ellen's girlfriend. In the movie she and others crash a lesbian wedding. I think its worth seeing if you have similar tastes to myself. Its also a way of showing some support for independent movies. I realize this is not a really small budget movie, but it was independently financed and produced. It was only bought by Fox Searchlight after it was shown as Sundance.
Tv Show: The Killing--I watched the first 2 episodes late at night on either Friday or Saturday. I really liked the slow and deliberate setup of the show. Its not like Law and Order where they are showing the body right after the credits. It took a long time to find it. Along they way they did a great job of introducing a bunch of characters/suspects. Many of the characters seem one way originally but we get shown another side later on. I like that the show does not move too fast. It is well paced so you have a chance to really think about everything as it is developing. I think the show so far has always left me wanting more, which is a good thing for a show to do, even if it is frustrating at times.
I guess I was on the Tv 13 news here in Eau Claire last night. I didn't think my footage would be used because I was so boring but you can find it here: http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Tax_deadline_looming_one_week_to_go_119630159.html
I am at about 1:05 into the video.
Well that is all I have for tonight, but I still hope to do this a bit more often. Right now I just write when I am inspired to do so.
Comments are always welcome, and if you don't already please follow my nonsense on Twitter @weckpd
I will leave you with Hipster Jake Peavy. Via @KeithLaw on Twitter.
Things I did during this entry:
Looked up Isiah Whitlock Jr. on IMDB
Was sitting in the back of the Entrepreneur Training Program that I run
Watched the Twins game on MLB gamecast.
Was frustrated that I couldn't even get a link directly to the Weau video of me. Silly Eau Claire News.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Letting the Weck Out
It has been about a week since my last post. I was sad that I was not able to get off of work to attend Dave Ehresmann's funeral, but I like to think I did my part in remembering Dave. I am no good at dealing with death, it is one of few things in the world that are able to render me speechless. With that said, I would like to move on to another topic this week.
This past weekend I got to spend lots of quality time with my father's side of the family. It had been over 2 years since the last time everyone got together. We were together to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday. Boy was there ever too much food, which is of course a good thing in my mind.There was of course a bevy of Weck laughter. Its just something that happens at every Weck event. I think it was much more laid back than the last Weck gathering which was my cousin Steven's wedding. That had an open bar and boy do the Wecks know how to abuse that.
It was nice to see everyone, and it was even nice to get lawyered by my cousin Dave. I think it was so much fun seeing everyone because this was not a common event. I truly believe that if we got together all the time we would get sick of each other easily. It was very nice to see my grandfather who has been degrading in condition at a much more rapid pace than I had expected. I think the Weck stubbornness is going to be a big issue for him, and it already is because he does not want to acknowledge that he needs some help to do certain things.
I tended to blend into the background at the party and observe. I talked to people, but I just was not in that talkative of a mood for some reason. I gave everyone the same update, but beyond that there is not that much to share about my life right now. Its always a good thing when you're bored with the happenings of your own life right?
It was nice to share the laughs with people and just joke around about every thing we could. That is the Weck way. I look forward to the next time we all get together, but it would probably be a little while before that will happen again. Til next time Weck Family!
In other news, I have been talking to a new girl lately. She really seems to understand me and we are on the same page on just about everything that has come up lately. She actually likes certain things that other girls have disliked in the past such as my tendency to correct grammar for example. I really have enjoyed getting to know her and I am looking forward to spending some time with her this weekend. Sorry to leave it vague, but that is just what I do on here.
Movie of the Week: Easy A--I really liked this movie. I thought it was very creatively done. I think Emma Stone is amazing in it, as she has been in just about every movie I have seen with her in it. She was in Superbad, Zombieland, and The Rocker(which I think is a very underrated movie) as well as Easy A. I had the movie from Netflix so I actually watched it twice before returning it, something that I literally never do. The main character's parents a fucking amazing, they have a few of the biggest laughs in the whole movie, even though they are not in more than maybe 15% of the movie. This is a movie that i definitely overlooked when it was originally released, because it didn't seem that interesting to me, but I am really glad that I went back and watched it after the fact. Definitely worth renting. Trust me on this one. If you want a comedy that is a little bit different, give it a try. What do you really have to lose? It could also be Amanda Bynes' last movie as well! It was brought to my attention while watching Easy A that Amanda Bynes' eyes are too close together, and now its all I think about when I see her.
Podcast of the week: Sklarbro Country-- I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I tend to fall behind on some then listen to a few weeks' worth in a row. Today I was listening to Sklarbro Country, its a podcast that is available on iTunes and at Earwolf.com as well. I really like this first few segments of every episode. They talk about weird stories that are in someway linked to sports. Then they have a guest on, usually a comedian of some kind, then they do quick hits which are shorter news stories with the guest. After those segments I sometimes just tune out. They usually have someone on who does an impression of someone, be it Owen Wilson, Jerry Jones, or Racist Vin Scully, I just don't enjoy that segment as much. When they have Jesse Thorn on to do his fantasy updates its awesome. He talks about all sorts of fake fantasy sports, like fantasy dog shows. I would highly recommend it to any fan of comedy or fan of sports. If you are a fan of comedy and a fan of sports, then you just have to check it out.
Album of the week: Showroom of Compassion by Cake--I really enjoyed the whole album, especially the first single that I head, Sick of You, and also Federal Funding. Federal Funding really reminds me of my job when different clients come in asking for the free government money that does not exist. Damn you Matthew Lesko! If you know who that is kudos to you. The album has a pretty normal Cake sound to it, maybe with a bit more country thrown in. Worth checking out for anyone who has not already done so. I think Sick of You is a great breakup song, of course that is just the interpretation that I have put on it.
I am really looking forward to the start of the baseball season. I had a great time 2 weekends ago having my fantasy baseball draft with the same group of guys I have been in a league with for so long. Had a blast seeing everyone, of course now I have to wait for the season to begin for it fantasy baseball to really start! There are few things more fun than stealing a player right before someone else was going to draft him. It should be another good year for Twins fans. I look forward to watching as many games as I can this year. We have a plan to go to a game with my fantasy baseball league, but that is not until August. I will probably find some time to go before that.
Well that is all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Stealing an idea from Patton Oswalt's book Zombie Spaceship Wasteland, I did the following things while writing this post:
Emailed back and forth with my mom.
Spell checked the word bevy.
Looked up Emma Stone on IMDB
This past weekend I got to spend lots of quality time with my father's side of the family. It had been over 2 years since the last time everyone got together. We were together to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday. Boy was there ever too much food, which is of course a good thing in my mind.There was of course a bevy of Weck laughter. Its just something that happens at every Weck event. I think it was much more laid back than the last Weck gathering which was my cousin Steven's wedding. That had an open bar and boy do the Wecks know how to abuse that.
It was nice to see everyone, and it was even nice to get lawyered by my cousin Dave. I think it was so much fun seeing everyone because this was not a common event. I truly believe that if we got together all the time we would get sick of each other easily. It was very nice to see my grandfather who has been degrading in condition at a much more rapid pace than I had expected. I think the Weck stubbornness is going to be a big issue for him, and it already is because he does not want to acknowledge that he needs some help to do certain things.
I tended to blend into the background at the party and observe. I talked to people, but I just was not in that talkative of a mood for some reason. I gave everyone the same update, but beyond that there is not that much to share about my life right now. Its always a good thing when you're bored with the happenings of your own life right?
It was nice to share the laughs with people and just joke around about every thing we could. That is the Weck way. I look forward to the next time we all get together, but it would probably be a little while before that will happen again. Til next time Weck Family!
In other news, I have been talking to a new girl lately. She really seems to understand me and we are on the same page on just about everything that has come up lately. She actually likes certain things that other girls have disliked in the past such as my tendency to correct grammar for example. I really have enjoyed getting to know her and I am looking forward to spending some time with her this weekend. Sorry to leave it vague, but that is just what I do on here.
Movie of the Week: Easy A--I really liked this movie. I thought it was very creatively done. I think Emma Stone is amazing in it, as she has been in just about every movie I have seen with her in it. She was in Superbad, Zombieland, and The Rocker(which I think is a very underrated movie) as well as Easy A. I had the movie from Netflix so I actually watched it twice before returning it, something that I literally never do. The main character's parents a fucking amazing, they have a few of the biggest laughs in the whole movie, even though they are not in more than maybe 15% of the movie. This is a movie that i definitely overlooked when it was originally released, because it didn't seem that interesting to me, but I am really glad that I went back and watched it after the fact. Definitely worth renting. Trust me on this one. If you want a comedy that is a little bit different, give it a try. What do you really have to lose? It could also be Amanda Bynes' last movie as well! It was brought to my attention while watching Easy A that Amanda Bynes' eyes are too close together, and now its all I think about when I see her.
Podcast of the week: Sklarbro Country-- I listen to a lot of podcasts, and I tend to fall behind on some then listen to a few weeks' worth in a row. Today I was listening to Sklarbro Country, its a podcast that is available on iTunes and at Earwolf.com as well. I really like this first few segments of every episode. They talk about weird stories that are in someway linked to sports. Then they have a guest on, usually a comedian of some kind, then they do quick hits which are shorter news stories with the guest. After those segments I sometimes just tune out. They usually have someone on who does an impression of someone, be it Owen Wilson, Jerry Jones, or Racist Vin Scully, I just don't enjoy that segment as much. When they have Jesse Thorn on to do his fantasy updates its awesome. He talks about all sorts of fake fantasy sports, like fantasy dog shows. I would highly recommend it to any fan of comedy or fan of sports. If you are a fan of comedy and a fan of sports, then you just have to check it out.
Album of the week: Showroom of Compassion by Cake--I really enjoyed the whole album, especially the first single that I head, Sick of You, and also Federal Funding. Federal Funding really reminds me of my job when different clients come in asking for the free government money that does not exist. Damn you Matthew Lesko! If you know who that is kudos to you. The album has a pretty normal Cake sound to it, maybe with a bit more country thrown in. Worth checking out for anyone who has not already done so. I think Sick of You is a great breakup song, of course that is just the interpretation that I have put on it.
I am really looking forward to the start of the baseball season. I had a great time 2 weekends ago having my fantasy baseball draft with the same group of guys I have been in a league with for so long. Had a blast seeing everyone, of course now I have to wait for the season to begin for it fantasy baseball to really start! There are few things more fun than stealing a player right before someone else was going to draft him. It should be another good year for Twins fans. I look forward to watching as many games as I can this year. We have a plan to go to a game with my fantasy baseball league, but that is not until August. I will probably find some time to go before that.
Well that is all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Stealing an idea from Patton Oswalt's book Zombie Spaceship Wasteland, I did the following things while writing this post:
Emailed back and forth with my mom.
Spell checked the word bevy.
Looked up Emma Stone on IMDB
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