Concerts

We went to see Zac Brown Band last night at the Meadows in Hartford (technically the Comcast Theater but it will always be The Meadows to me). I used to go to quite a bit of shows pre kids and we want to start hitting one or two a year again, then I started thinking about the shows I've seen..and here it is

Bob Seger with John Hiatt opening (Hartford Civic Center)

Creed with Sevendust opening (New Haven Coliseum)

104 fest featuring Sevendust, Creed, Veruca Salt and about 20 other bands I don't remember (Meadows Music Theater, Hartford)

Lynyrd Skynyrd with Deep Purple opening (we arrived late and missed Ted Nugent...Meadows Music Theater, Hartford)

Limp Bizkit with Godsmack and DMX opening (Hartford Civic Center)

Gargantua Soul and Swift (Hubbard Park, Meriden)

Pearl Jam with Sleater Kenny opening (Great Woods Music Theater, Mansfield,MA)

Ozzy Osborne with Rob Zombie opening (Hartford Civic Center)

Blues Traveler (New Haven Green)

Pearl Jam with some band I don't remember (Meadows Music Theater, Hartford)

Velvet Revolver with Hoobastank opening (Bridgeport Arena)

Green Day with Jimmie Eat World (Hartford Civic Center)

Meatloaf with Cyndi Lauper opening (Mohegan Sun Arena)

Guns n Roses with Mix Master Mike opening ( Hartford Civic Center)

Pearl Jam with another band I don't remember...(Meadows Music Theater, Hartford)

Lynyrd Skynyrd with .38 special (Oakdale Theater, Wallingford Ct)

Keith Urban with Jake Owen opening (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville)

Pearl Jam with Band of Horses (Hartford Civic Center)

Zac Brown Band with some suck opener that I never heard the name of (Meadows Music Theater, Hartford)

I tried to go in order but I'm sure I failed. The only thing I know for sure was Bob Segar was my first concert.

This is weird...

Means nothing but I've been playing Madden a lot lately and in the last five seasons the NFC Champion has either been Seattle (3 times) or the Giants (2 times). Seattle is 2-1 in the big game, NY is 1-1. The Patriots have been there twice (both times against Seattle and winning once), Chiefs once (loss to NY), Colts once (beat NY), and Houston once (lost to Seattle).
I'm addicted to Franchise mode, you pick a team and you are the GM, Coach, players. You fill the depth chart, compare players, offer contracts, sign free agents, and even draft fictional players. What makes it weird is after a few seasons you have a lot of players that aren't even real. Weird.

NFL Time!!!

With pre season officially kicking off tonight, I feel it is time to finalize my picks and get them out there. Personally, I have to say, I feel more optimistic about the Giants this year than I have in a while, I really feel they have the NFC East this year. I see a few teams that were in the playoffs last year not there this year, and maybe one or two new faces (or a former perennial playoff team back to form).  Toughest Division this year will be either the NFC South or East, walk in division winners will be New England and Green Bay, I don't see much, if any competition in the AFC East and the Packers are so far above the mediocre competition. Cutler being in a contract year could mean something for the Bears but I still see GB winning the North by at least two games.

The Super Bowl in cold weather....won't be an issue for either Conference winner, and as I said before I see a rematch from years gone by, with possibly similar results. Let's get to it.


AFC East- I really like what Miami has done but their schedule in completely unfair, they could easily start 1-4 before getting into winnable games (Cle,Ind,Atl,NO, Balt) to start. The Jets could easily start as bad as 0-9 but there are a few winnable divisional games in there to start but first half has NO,NE(2) ,ATL,PITT, CIN. The Pats, as usual as a decently easy schedule and even with missing two TE's they will easily win the East.

New England Patriots 11-5 (3)
Miami Dolphins 8-8
New York Jets 5-11
Buffalo Bills 2-14

AFC North- Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati...all playoff teams? Maybe. The Steelers haven't really shown great improvement this offseason, the offensive line and pass protection remains an issue and Cincy and Baltimore carry a better defense. I don't think the Ravens are even close to the team they were last February and will be struggling to race the Bengals to a division win.

Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (4)
Cincinnati Bengals 10-6 (5)
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8
Cleveland Browns 4-12

AFC South- This could be a tough division race, I like the Colts if Luck continues to develop quickly. Of all the young QBs in the league right now I still think Luck will be the most successful (although Kap is off to a quick start). The Texans are on the verge of being the new Chargers, a 12+ game winner that goes nowhere in the playoffs and I have no faith in them for January.

Houston Texans 13-3 (1)
Indianapolis Colts 10-6 (6)
Tennessee Titans 7-9
Jacksonville Jaguars 2-14

AFC West- Maybe the only division worse than the AFC East but with Alex Smith and Coach Reid in KC and a new start for the Chargers things could get tough. I really, really like big things to happen for Manning and the Broncos, I think this is their year.

Denver Broncos 12-4 (2)
Kansas City Chiefs 9-7
San Diego Chargers 7-9
Oakland Raiders 3-13

AFC Wild Card

(6) Indianapolis Colts at (3) New England Patriots   Pats win
(5) Cincinnati Bengals at (4) Baltimore Ravens        Bengals win

AFC Divisional

(5) Cincinnati Bengals at (1) Houston Texans             Texans win
(3) New England Patriots at (2) Denver Broncos         Broncos win

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Denver Broncos at Houston Texans            Broncos win the AFC


NFC East- Start every team in this division as 1-1 because this division of hard fought rivals are going to all split their games against each other. I love what the Giants have done in the draft and free agency, and have made more improvements than any other team in their division. They want to play the Super Bowl at home this year and have proved it to their fans. RG3? Down year, not as bad as Cam's sophomore effort but not as good as his rookie year. Big question mark in Dallas, they have the talent to be a 12 win team but can they play together for 16 games.

New York Giants 11-5 (4)
Washington Redskins 9-7
Dallas Cowboys 8-8
Philadelphia Eagles 5-11

NFC North- Green Bay all day. Sure, the Vikes have gotten a boost from a reborn AP but the Pack have Rodgers and that trumps all. I don't know what to think of the Lions and Bears, they could each win 6 or 10. To me, the only constant in the North is the Pack, everything else in a pure guess. The question for Green Bay is can they beat San Fran and NY? These teams have been an absolute thorn in the side the past few years and they have to pull them out. That LB crew has got to cover that middle and Rodgers needs better protection against these fast defensive fronts and LB's. They do that and January is their month to own.

Green Bay Packers 13-3 (1)
Chicago Bears 8-8
Minnesota Vikings 8-8
Detroit Lions 6-10

NFC South- Things are changing in the south, and number one is the Saints will be back to form this year, offensively anyway. I'm still not convinced on their defense to stop teams in their division like the Falcons and Panthers but they will return to the playoffs. The Falcons are a curious team, a winner that just can't get that one last step. Can they beat the Packers or 49ers in the playoffs? How about the Panthers? They hinge on the arm of Newton,if he can keep mistakes to a minimum this team can win 9 games. Tough, tough race...

Atlanta Falcons 12-4 (3)
New Orleans Saints 11-5 (5)
Carolina Panthers 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-12

NFC West- The division of defense. I like the 49ers and the Seahawks...and I kind of like the Rams to be a real pain in the ass, even the Cards play good defense they just don't have a QB who can lead. The top teams are led by young QBs who looked great last year, but can they repeat that success? Can the 49ers climb to a third straight NFC Championship? Eh...not likely.

San Francisco 49ers 12-4 (2)
Seattle Seahawks 11-5 (6)
St.Louis Rams 7-9
Arizona Cardinals 3-13

 NFC Wildcard

(6) Seattle Seahawks at (3) Atlanta Falcons         Seahawks win
(5) New Orleans Saints at (4) New York Giants  Giants win


NFC Divisional

(6) Seattle Seahawks at (1) Green Bay Packers    Packers win
(4) New York Giants at (2) San Francisco 49ers   Giants win

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers     Green Bay Packers win the NFC


SUPER BOWL

Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers

Once again the Broncos old man will take on the Packers young slinger....same results? I say, yes. I'm picking Peyton Manning to lead the Broncos back to glory over the Packers in as close as a match as Elway and Favre gave us in 1997.


 

NFL Picks coming....

I printed out a grid style schedule, went over each game marking wins and losses, put together playoff scenarios and keep coming to the same conclusion....I see a Super Bowl rematch from years ago. Different players, same teams. But only if things work right. The AFC team I'm locking up, it's the NFC that figures on seeding. How many big defense, mobile QB teams my projected winner has to go through is a factor.
I'm doing it one more time, but I think playing in a cold weather stadium will be just fine for the Super Bowl teams.

Things That Are Not In the U.S. Constitution

No God in the Constitution? Next you're going to tell me our founding fathers didn't print "In God We Trust" on money.

http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html

Teaser

I'm starting to look over teams schedules and draft picks/free agent signings. Last year was the first time I didn't correctly pick at least one conference champ and I don't want that to become a trend.
Teaser....the Jets, Cardinals, and Browns won't make the playoffs.

I am the downfall of society

I know I'm not good about blogging, but this news is so good I had to get on here to spread the word! I am the downfall of society!! Amazing, right? To think of the billions of people in America only I am the sole cause of its downfall. I am honored. Some background perhaps?

 Sure, why not. I saw a picture on the dreaded Facebook that Dunkin' Donuts is now going to offer a sandwich made from a glazed donut with egg and bacon inside. Of course there were thousands of comments saying how this is disgusting, nasty, a heart attack for breakfast, etc etc.

 Now, it isn't enough for people to say "wow, I'd never eat that, looks gross" no..it becomes "I hope whoever eats that dies". So of course I commented with this "of course I'd try it, CT keeps raising taxes on smokes and alcohol so this sandwich is all I have left". What hate I drew, it was simply amazing. I was told this by a woman "you smoke, drink, and eat this crap? You are what is destroying America, you make our healthcare horrible, you are the downfall of society!!!" Now, maybe a normal person would be upset by this, I don't know as I am far from normal. I responded in this way "I am the downfall of society? Serious? That is amazing! I had no idea that the country was so wrapped up in me! I am honored beyond belief and thank you greatly for filling me in. Thank you so much, I really appreciate this :)". Now, maybe I'm not wired like most people but I could not believe the response she sent back, she was angry. I said thank you and showed my appreciation and she got mad at me, why? She got very mad and wished me harm..."Screw you, I hope you choke on that disgusting sandwich and get lung cancer..oh wait, no I don't because then I would have to spend my money on your cancer because you are an inconsiderate asshole". So, now this wonderful woman was offering to cover my medical bills? Crazy, right? Only one way to reply to that..."Thanks for offering to cover any medical bills I may have, but rest assured I think I have any future issues figured out, I've been watching a lot of Breaking Bad lately".
 The back and forth kind of wrapped up after that, and I became uninterested. But this brings forth another point for me...when did people start getting so mad at smokers?

 I do want to say, for the record, that I actually quit smoking a while ago. I enjoy the occasional cigar or do bum a smoke once or twice a month but, why the anger? The local news channel has been posting a lot of articles lately to cause smoking debate. There was one that Starbucks was going to ban smoking within 25 of their doors. People loved the idea. They said they were tired of walking through a "wall of smoke" to get a cup of coffee. Has anyone actually walked through a wall of smoke? I've done a lot of traveling over the past 16 years and can honestly say I have never seen a gang of smokers in front of a Starbucks or any other business. Some suggested that smoking should be illegal and all things bad for us should be illegal, like in Demolition Man. In that movie all bad things are illegal, including the exchange of bodily fluids. Kissing and even sex were illegal because they spread sickness and unwanted children. Is this really what people want or are my fellow CT citizens crazy? Does anyone else believe in "sin tax"? Raising taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, fattening foods until people can no longer afford them? Or like what King Bloomburg tried to do? Making large surgary drinks illegal in NYC? The way I see it, this is America and if I want to suck down bacon with a can of beer while smoking I have every right to.
Yes, I am an American Asshole, and proud of it.