Let's start off with a complete random thought. I was thinking about this on the way to school one morning, so just entertain me here. I happened to drive pass a hobo on the side of the street as he collected cans, and it got me thinking: Should people who pick up cans/bottles from the side of the road be considered hobos, or environmentalists? I even got to school and looked up two definitions:
Environmentalist-Someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution.
Hobo- One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
How do we classify people these days? By the job titles they hold, not their residence. I am considered a teacher, not an apartment dweller. If a hobo's means of livelihood is collecting cans and bottles, does that mean he doesn't classify as a hobo? What if he wanders the same places over and over, but has a permanent box he calls home? What is even considered a home??? Also, even if we decide a hobo should be classified as a hobo, can they still be environmentalists based on the definition above? They are indirectly working to protect the environment from pollution. I'd be curious to hear what you peoples have to say about this thought, as it's been bugging me for a few days now (Yeah, I've thought about this more than once...).
Let's start off with a little baseball. Diamondbacks, Indians, Red Sox, Rockies. I really think that Rockies/Diamondbacks series will be a great series...that no one will watch. Such a shame. Honestly I have no interest in any of these series. I don't like the Rockies because they beat my now second favorite team (Phillies). I don't like the Red Sox because, well, they're like the good cop gone bad. While the Yankees were out buying all their players a few years ago, the Red Sox stuck to their guns and didn't get into any bidding wars. Then of all a sudden they followed the Yankee Way and bought their team (Dice-K, Drew, Lugo). They went to the dark side. They aren't the Yankees, but they're damn close. I don't like the Indians because they beat out the Tigers. I don't like the Diamondbacks that much because I can't name their starting line-up (probably the only team in baseball I can't). All in all I'm just hoping for some good baseball. That's all you can ask for.
Is it just me, or did the chase to the baseball postseason and first round have a lot more excitement than the LCS? That's wrong in my head. Could the race for the wild card be a detriment to the game? I think baseball needs to generate some more excitement for the latter rounds of their tournament. How you go about doing that is a great question. I think you could start by making the wild card have a greater disadvantage. I'm really tired of seeing these red hot wild card teams make runs late in the season and have it carry over into the season. I think I would rather have consistency rewarded over streaky-ness. I would propose to give the wild card less home games. With the current playoff format, perhaps a 4-1 home field advantage for the division winner. Also, make the first round series longer! Home field advantage is virtually meaningless in 5 game series. Finally, allow the team with the best record to choose their opponent. This would allow a division winner to choose which team they match-up best against. Maybe the Red Sox (although this is a moot point now), would have rather faced the Yankees in a short series with home field advantage? Again, I like the consistent teams who have been at the top for the whole year to be rewarded. This also lets fans get familiar with the teams at the top, and aren't going to say things like, "I don't know anything about the Rockies". Just a few thoughts.
Okay, my weekly push for Michael Crabtree for the Heisman. This week the 5-1 Red Raiders of Texas Tech are up against the Texas A&M Aggies (also 5-1). This is a classic run versus pass match up. Tech is the number one passing offense, while the Aggies are the number seven rushing offense. Both, however, are accustomed to putting up points. Tech is second in the nation in scoring at 52.2 points, while A&M is 26th at 35.3. So despite the difference in styles, I expect points! And after reading a quote from an Aggie cornerback about the Tech passing attack ("I never actually flew F-16s in a dogfight, in a war, but I imagine that's about what it feels like...You've got seven or eight incomings coming at you and you're by yourself. And they're coming in fast."), I like Crabtree's chances. I was off by one yard last week, so I'll try and do better.
Prediction:
8 Catches
136 Yards
2 TDs
You ready for the upset pick? Cardinals over Steelers. Bears over Packers. Looking at the schedule this week it was hard to pick a giant upset. So this week you get the underdog Titans over the Bucs. I know Tampa is at home, and Garcia has been impressive thus far, but Tampa has no running game anymore (Williams and Pittman are both down). You are basically forcing Garcia to throw the ball downfield for big chunks of yards, and that is not his forte'. Couple that with a Tennesee defense that has been getting great pressure and penetration, and it's not looking good for the Buc's offense. Also, this just in, Vince Young knows how to win football games. And do you know what the Titans like to do? Run the ball. Do you know the weakness in the Tampa D? Run defense. 22nd in the league. Pick the Titans.
I am really excited to see this New England/Dallas game this weekend. Should be great. It's sad to think that this match-up will probably have more intrigue for me than whatever teams end up playing in the Super Bowl. Two undefeated offensive powerhouses meeting early in the season is more spicy than a couple of teams with a few losses surviving to the end. I expect fireworks from all these stars in this game. Should be a good one.
I still shall not speak of fantasy, even though I won last week. My team still makes me upset every time I look at it.
Fuck MSU for losing to Northwestern. Fuck them all.
~Mikey D
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Let's start off with this sentence. Let's start off with this sentence in the next paragraph.
I love the hobo/environmentalist thought.
I completely agree about the Red Sox, although I think their attempt to buy A-Rod as well as the Schilling, Dice-K, Gagne signings make better arguments for buying players than Lugo and Drew. They suck and I don't feel like they were top notch free agents that everyone wanted. They have a lot of great home grown talent, though, you have got to give them credit for that. Pedroia, Papelapplebon, Tek, Youk, and Jacoby Ellsbury (my favorite). They buy too many players, no argument.
Sad fact I discovered: Drew makes more than Ortiz, Varitek, and Schilling.
I am extremely excited for the ALCS... after all it is my 2nd favorite vs. my new "hometown team" (people in Columbus tend to bandwagon-it between Cleveland and Cinci. I PROMISE you, I have no allegiance to the Indians.)
I definitely agree about the excitement dying down. I have even noticed it and I am in one of the markets still in the playoffs. 4 reasons: A) Cubs lost and the media put too much excitement about their latest playoff run. 2) Steinbrenner stole all the attention with the Torre situation and the Yankees lost. III) The curse is over, so the Red Sox run isn't as dramatic. D) The World Series is going to involve the Diamondbacks or the Rockies, who can't even sell out an NLCS game.
I hate Dane Cook. What is Actober? I love that Bill Simmons called him out and challenged his Red Sox fandom.
Sad Fact 2: Midnight Madness is tonight and I didn't know until now. I wouldn't have known because OSU doesn't have one. They were in the f'n national championship game last year and they don't care about the program enough to have midnight madness.
Ok, I'm done writing my own blog in Mike's comments section.
I think you have to factor in intent to call someone an environmentalist. The guy picking up cans, or a $20 bill for that matter (Litter) is most likely not doing so to help the environment. The help is incidental.
The "hobo" term is not PC. We should use the term "dwelling-challenged"
I hate Dane Cook. I tried to like him, but I just can't.
See I wondered about intent too. But can't you be something you didn't intend to be? Like a role model for example. "A person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people." You might just live a normal life your way, but some people might look up to you as a role model because of the way you liv, whether you intended to be or not.
So could this apply to a hobo (excuse me, a "dwelling-challenged" individual)? Should more people perceive those people as environmentalists, regardless of the intent? You say no, but I wonder. There are so many unintentional "labels" given to people whether they are wanted, intended, or even needed. So why not in the same breath call a hobo an environmentalist?
Did anybody see Sportscenter tonight? I only saw the screen with no sound at a restaurant, but I saw a graphic that said the Tigers might be a surprise team to end up in the bidding war for A-Rod. Interesting...
Also, Jay Billas has his "10 games he'd pay to see" list. State made two of the games on this list, versus Texas and NC State. Surprised with the NC State one; kind of came out of left field.
Didn't you guys say you thought Dane Cook was okay last year? I swore you guys thought he was an alright comic. Maybe that was Grace. Either way, I'm glad you hate that no talent ass clown too! =)
I definitely used to like Dane Cook. When I first saw his act, I thought it was hilarious. Then it was overdone. When he started making movies, he grew a huge, arrogant sense of accomplishment for making a mediocre movie with Jessica Simpson. I think he is a pretty funny comic, but I think he is a dick in real life. Plus, I hate seeing celebrities act like diehard Red Sox fans in the months of September and October. I know that may seem hypocritical from me, but I wholly admit I began liking them in 03 and they are only my 2nd favorite team.
Didn't hear anything about ARod and Tigers. Thanks for making it up.
I swear I saw it!!!
Aren't celebritities the biggest bandwagon fans around? Makes sense they want to be scene with the best teams with the most coverage.
You can help the environment without intending to, but you can't be an environmentalist witout intending to. You can also inspire someone else to become an environmentalist without being an environmentalist yourself. My definition of environmentalism requires intent.
I liked Dane Cook's first stand-up special. His second one was okay, but not nearly as good. And then, as Adam said, he became way overhyped and made some terrible movies. And he looks like a fraud on the baseball playoff commercials.
I get where you're coming from, but notice the definition I have("Someone who works to protect the environment from destruction or pollution"), doesn't include the word "intend". There's no "Someone who works INTENDING to protect the environment..."
See the whole intent thing makes me keep arguing with myself internally, but:
1) He's protecting the environment.
2) It's his source of income.
3) He can be considered one without actually believing he is one, much like a leader, role model, etc.
I also think back to the muffin is a cake, not a bread argument. If it has all the components of cake, it must be cake, regardless of what somebody wanted it to be classified as (quick bread). If the hobo acts like an environmentalist picking up cans, he must be an environmentalist, right?
***
Michael Crabtree Update:
8 Catches
170 Yards
0 TDs
The 0 TDs hurts today. Looks like he must have been the decoy or the tripled teamed option in the redzone, because 4 different receivers caught balls. Still, my pick for Heisman!
"If the hobo acts like an environmentalist picking up cans, he must be an environmentalist, right?"
According to your definition of environmentalist, yes.
According to my definition of environmentalist, no.
Well I'm going off the one I got from the dictionary as my given.
Typical...
Post a Comment