Travellinbaen

Entries tagged as ‘gambling’

Bowl Pickin Season II, The TBCS Featurin’ Sweet and RockStarRambler

December 27, 2009 · 12 Comments

Quote of the Day:

Cledus Snow: Hey Bandit. Me an’ Fred got a question.
Bandit: What you an’ Fred want?
Cledus Snow: How come we’s doin’ this?

By now you all know the Regular Season title in Thursday Pickin was won by Sweet, and by now you are undoubtedly weary of the unceasing hype in advance of the overall TBU Pickin Championship Series. But finally it is time for Sweet to try and take home the only crown that matters and TB has devised a formula specifically to make this task as difficult for him as possible. He must now defeat RockStar Rambler in a head to head battle in the First Annual TBCS. They head into this battle even–everything that has happened prior to now is not germane to the situation. “What do the GD Germans have to do with it?,” you are probably asking yourself. To that I say, “get yourself a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper, and make it snappy,” and figure it out for yourself. No Smily, we ain’t got time for any hush puppies. But I digress.

Our competitors are faced with the following task–pick 10 games (five preliminaries, four majors and the national championship) and a playlist consisting of two tunes each inspired by the states of Alabama and Texas and one tune with which to ring in the New Year. Any connection will do. The prelim games are worth 6 points each for a win and 6 for a loss, the majors are 12 points and the BCS is for 24. Best overall tunes list, taking in to account any factors you want to consider, including (but not limited to) personal tastes, enlightenment or spite, are worth 12 points to the winner and subject to your votes through midnight December 31. Everybody else needs to submit their picks as always both. “Why?”, you may be asking yourself? To that I’d say, “For the money, for the glory, and for the fun…..mostly for the money.” The fact that there is no money involved here is not germane to the situation. You might be asking yourself now, “What do the GD–”….but I digress. Here’s the TBCS picks and my own along with a little more about the competitors:

Sweet harbors a secret. You might be asking yourself “what kind of secret?”, but you know what, you’d do better to ask Sweet. Or just tune in if he wins and find out. One thing we do know about Sweet is that he considers TB a demigod of the TBU. I kind of like that designation, however, Sweet is under the impression if he wins I will lose the title. Though he is a faithful citizen of the TBU and a devoted Pickin man, he’d rather be partying with President Obama in Hawaii or reliving the 1987 Motley Crue Girls Girls Girls Tour stop in Biloxi. Even more than war, more than sickness, more than losing in a coin toss to TB, he hates the Big Bama Spellout. Sweet’s Preliminary Round Picks are:

  • Texas A&M  +7′
  • Virginia Tech -4′
  • Ole Miss -3′
  • East Carolina +7′
  • Auburn  -7′

Major Bowls:

  • LSU  +2′
  • Florida  -10′
  • TCU  -7′
  • Ga Tech  -3′

BCS Pick

  • Alabama -6′  (31-20 final score)

RockStar’s Preliminary Picks

  • Arkansas  -7′
  • other 4 are same as Sweet’s–A&M, Va Tech, Ole Miss, Auburn

RockStar’s Major Bowls

  • Penn State  -2′
  • She’s with Sweet on Florida, Ga Tech and TCU

BCS Pick–Alabama -6′ (28-21)

Even more than world financial chaos, worse than global warming, more heinous than a crummy, cliche-filled playlist, RockStarRambler hates Bama fans, especially the kind that send you texts to “cheer you up” when you lose, as if they themselves had a role in the outcome of “their” team’s football contest. RockStar loves Thursday Pickin and can’t wait to see how the games come out on New Year’s, skiing would still take precedence. And re-living Austin City Limits Music Fest in 2004 would top even that (see “the concerts list”). Or staring blankly at drying paint would do in a pinch. But RSR keeps pluggin away at Pickin because of the certainty that overall victory “will make all my wildest dreams come true.”

Oh, and if either competitor picks the exact score of the BCS game they win the game irrespective of all the other games, tunes, votes, smokies, etc.

Dang, its late. I’ve still gotta post their tunes and a couple other items of import. It’ll have to wait a day or two.

My Picks, in case you have made it this far (sorry S&M) are:

  • Texas A&M  +7′
  • Tennessee  +4′
  • Oklahoma St  +3′
  • Arkansas  -7′
  • Northwestern  +7′
  • LSU  +2′
  • Florida  -10′
  • Boise State  +7′
  • Iowa  +3′
  • Texas  +6′  (Texas 31 Bama 27)

Hey, how’d y’all like the Christmas snow? Not counting Zeek of course. TB’s finished for tonight. Over and out.

Burt Reynolds Laugh sound bite

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II Week 14

December 3, 2009 · 40 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“Please excuse my first picks. I messed up.” –BW Buzz, in route to a winless week.

It’s grind it out time for Thursday Pickin. Most of you took a break between desserts last Thursday to make your picks, though it is clear that interest is waning as the season leaves many of our schools licking their wounds and many of our pickin egos bruised from being out of contention for the Season II championship. Of those who played, there were 7 POTW winners and 11 losers. The Daily Wit and Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop have retired from the race in a badly mauled condition. Irv, Greeg and Fig couldn’t pick last week due to unknown causes, probably associated with a full day at their in-laws for turkey and dressing, but not the way their Momas made it, holiday politics and the Lions game. Any of those could cause a stomach illness severe enough to stay on the sidelines for a week.

This week’s standings are brought to you by the 2009 Egg Bowl Champion Mississippi State Bulldogs, who remind you all that there is one website in this universe that is on the rise. (Sorry, Rebs, you knew I had to get in one more reference–I’m finished now. Good luck in the Cotton Bowl.) Top 7 won their POTW, bonus picks in parentheses. Face won SOTW and RSR won theme. TB won my POTW and went 2-3 in bonus picks to run my season record to 7-5-1 in POTW’s and 37-27-1 in bonus picks. Zeek has vaulted into third place, in prime position now to challenge for a birth opposite Sweet in the TBCS. Of course, RSR and Mac still have something to say about that.

Last Week’s Results

  1. SmilyJ (4-1)  68
  2. Zeek  68
  3. Sweet  68
  4. Mac  68
  5. JLM  68
  6. TB  (2-3)  44
  7. S&M  (0-1)  44
  8. CTJ  (3-2)  26
  9. Q  (1-0)  26
  10. TKH (1-1) 20
  11. RSR  15
  12. Face  15
  13. Fish  10
  14. MD  10
  15. BR  10
  16. Larry  10
  17. Feidt’s Follies (2-4)  8
  18. BW Buzz (0-4)  -4

Season Standings

  1. Sweet  660
  2. RSR  613
  3. Zeek  604
  4. Mac  597
  5. SmilyJ  550
  6. CTJ  535
  7. Feidt’s Follies  518
  8. TB  504
  9. BW Buzz  496
  10. Fig E  496
  11. JLM  493
  12. Irv  490
  13. TKH  449
  14. Larry  443
  15. S&M  420
  16. BR  366
  17. Face  349
  18. MD  343
  19. Fish  342
  20. Q  325
  21. Greeg  280
  22. TDW  224
  23. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  180 who I expect to make a pick on the SEC Championship Game this week

Here’s the Link to Sheridan’s Odds for this week

My Week 14 Picks

  • Oregon State  +9′
  • USC  -7
  • Cincinnati -2
  • Houston  -2′
  • Ga Tech  E
  • Texas  -14

POTW

  • Alabama  +5′  I like them to win outright

My “on the rise” Tunes (Ok, NOW I’m finished with the Egg Bowl)

  • Elevation–U2
  • Bad Moon Rising–CCR
  • Back in the High Life–Steve Winwood
  • Sittin on Top of the World–Howlin Wolf
  • Ring Them Bells–Bob Dylan

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 12

November 19, 2009 · 39 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“I got two cases and a 30 pack plus a gallon of vodka and a bottle of Jagar. Probably pick up another case on the way just in case.” –Feidt’s Follies, official Gentleman of Leisure of the TBU, always on Third Week holiday, dubiously substituting vodka for bourbon

After all the sound and the fury, the whining and the crying, Sweet stepped up this week and voted for his only rival to winning the coveted Travellinbaen Universe Pickin Championship for musical bonus points. This set ol’ TB to ponderin the concept of sportsmanship. Was Sweet acting in a sportsmanlike fashion by helping RockStar gain a point? Was he being patronizing? Was it simply gentlemanly behavior? To be true sportsmanship, as TB sees it, the vote would’ve had to be because RSR’s theme was truly the best in his view, irrespective of how it affected the points. The theme was indeed good, but then RockStar is a rock star and always comes with some stout musical selections for those of us less clued in to the hipster world. TB believes in giving people the benefit of the doubt, even Sweet, so I’m calling out his courageous vote as one worthy of respect. My ruminations on the subject were merely academic.

Coach TJ wears the wreath of victory this festive Third Week. He won his POTW of course, then went a smooth 5-0 on bonus picks. Well done Coach. TB lost my POTW, but went 4-1 on bonus selections to bring my season tally to 6-4-1 (bowl eligible) on POTW’s and 30-24-01 on bonus picks. RSR and Sweet stayed at the top of the heap with all-in POTW victories and they each garnered bonus points in the lightly voted upon musical category. By the way, a shout out goes to Mac, Irv, and TKH for their videos and a special award to Fig E for making me blow soda out my nose with his SOTW. There were an impressive 14 POTW winners last week against only 7 losers. Of note, the losers went 14-5 on bonus plays collectively while the winners went 16-10. The top 14 below, as always won their POTW, the rest lost or overslept, and bonus play records are in parentheses.

Week 11 Standings

  1. Coach Tea Jay  (5-0)  80
  2. RSR (all in plus Theme bonus)  73
  3. Sweet (all in plus Song bonus)  73
  4. Larry  (4-1)  68
  5. Zeek  68
  6. BR  68
  7. Mac  68
  8. JLM  68
  9. Fig  68
  10. Feidt’s Follies (4-2)  62
  11. Irv  (2-2)  50
  12. SmilyJ  (1-1)  50
  13. S&M  (0-1)  44
  14. BW Buzz  (0-4, plus makeup to stay ahead of biggest loser) 39
  15. TB  (4-1)  38
  16. TKH  (3-1)  32
  17. Fish  (3-2)  26
  18. Greeg  (2-1)  26
  19. MD  (1-0)  26
  20. Q  (1-0)  26
  21. Face  10
  22. TDW  (hibernating near the North Pole)
  23. Harmony–Official DJ of Thursday Pickin
  24. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop–conducting a prostate screening

Season Standings

  1. RSR  588
  2. Sweet  582
  3. Mac  519
  4. Feidt’s Follies  508
  5. Zeek  485
  6. CTJ  476
  7. SmilyJ  472
  8. BW Buzz  449
  9. TB  446
  10. Fig E  445
  11. Irv  439
  12. Larry  423
  13. TKH  378
  14. JLM  374
  15. S&M  344
  16. Face  324
  17. BR  305
  18. Fish  300
  19. MD  282
  20. Greeg  254
  21. Q  248
  22. TDW  224
  23. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  180

Link to Sheridan’s Odds

My Third Week Picks

  • Purdue  -3
  • Texas  -27′
  • Cal  +7
  • Kentucky  +8
  • Vandy  +17

POTW  Ohio State  -12

Third Week Caroling

  • Never Been to Spain–Three Dog Night (didn’t think I was gonna go with Joy to the World, did you?)
  • One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer–George Thorgood and the Delaware Destroyers’ version
  • Three Little Birds–Bob Marley
  • I Saw Three Ships–Sting

SOTW–3 Strange Days–School of Fish

Bonus 3rd Week Video Caroling

Three Blind Mice

Buckwheat sings Fee Times a Mady

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II Week 11

November 12, 2009 · 45 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” –Sir Francis Bacon

Here’s a little Friday the 13th trivia:

  • The word for fear of Friday the 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia. I challenge you all to use this word in conversation tomorrow and report back here on the reaction.
  • The theory for the origin of Friday the 13th as unlucky which is the officially endorsed one by TB is that the Knights Templars were ordered to be destroyed by the Pope for becoming too powerful and wealthy and probably also because they held secrets the church did not want disseminated to the masses. On Friday, October 13, 1307, the Pope’s secret order to King Phillip of France was carried out and mass arrests of the order’s members took place. The church conveniently took possession of the Templars’ vast treasure and executed the membership as heretics. TB believes the University of Alabama has become too powerful and wealthy over the years and has brought this to the Vatican’s attention through numerous, as yet unacknowledged emails.
  • The TBU is willing to entertain the notion that Friday the 13th is in fact lucky because this was the pagan belief prior to the Norman Conquest of England. Since the pagans also brought us Christmas, Stonehenge and the point spread, I believe it is important to give full consideration to their lost culture and beliefs.
  • Superstitions are a very important aspect of the gambling/entertainment-only-consideration-of-the-point-spread world. A few examples–I mentioned last week in response to Feidt’s Follies’ braggadocio l’amore that one should never screw with a winning streak, a truism made famous by the great Crash Davis. Other knowledge that may assist you in overcoming your paraskevidekatriaphobia (there, that was easy) as it applies to sports entertainment is to never assume a PAT will be good if you need it, always lie on your belly before the television in crucial situations and never mark up a “W” on your sheet or even in your innermost private thoughts until the last second has ticked off the clock. Please add to this list in your comments.

On to the game. Q was the weekly winner as best I can tell. He picked opposite of SM who picked opposite of Sweet, but added one pick of her own, who picked opposite of Feidt who choked under the pressure of perfection without even giving the C boys a chance to doom him. Check that, Fig was the weekly winner thanks to his LOTW victory, but I’m not retyping the previous sentence because it took me ten minutes to figure all that out. A lot of you tried your hand at the all-in strategy and took your lumps. The song of the week went to Mac with 2 votes and list went to Fig with 1.5. On the year, TB is now 6-3-1 on POTW’s and 26-23-1 on bonus plays. The top ten below won their POTW, everyone else lost, and as always bonus pick results are in parentheses.

  1. Fig  (all in, plus bonus points for LOTW, plus makeup points to equal top picker with bonus selections)  67
  2. Q  (4-2)  62
  3. RSR  (all in plus make up points to tie Q)  62
  4. Sweet (3-2)  56
  5. Irv (2-2)  50
  6. BW  Buzz/aka Even Steven (2-2)  50
  7. JLM  (2-2)  50
  8. CTJ  (2-3)  44
  9. TB  (2-3)  44
  10. Lucky Larry  (1-4 plus bonus points to stay ahead of the biggest loser)  39
  11. TKH  (3-0) should’ve gone with Navy  38
  12. Mac  (all in plus SOTW)  15
  13. Feidt’s Follies  (2-3)  14
  14. Greeg/TBU’s official point man on beer legalization  (1-2)  14
  15. Fish  (1-2)  14
  16. MD  10
  17. SmilyJ  10
  18. Zeek  10
  19. BR  10
  20. Face  10
  21. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  10
  22. S&M  (2-4)  8
  23. TDW  (Fishing in Alaska)

Season Standings

  1. RSR  515
  2. Sweet  509
  3. Mac  451
  4. Feidt’s Follies  446
  5. SmilyJ  422
  6. Zeek  417
  7. BW Buzz  410
  8. TB  408
  9. CTJ  396
  10. Irv  389
  11. Fig E  377
  12. LLLarry  355
  13. TKH  346
  14. Face  314
  15. JLM  306
  16. S&M  300
  17. Fish  274
  18. MD  256
  19. BR  237
  20. Greeg  228
  21. TDW  224
  22. Q  222
  23. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  180

Link to Sheridan’s Odds

My Picks:

  • Iowa  +17
  • Cal  -2′
  • Houston  -4′
  • Kentucky  -3
  • Texas  -23′

POTW

  • Florida  -15′

My Tunes

  • Elvis is Everywhere–Mojo Nixon
  • Drinkin Song–Jason Boland and the Stragglers
  • Ain’t Superstitious–The Yardbirds
  • Black Cat Moan–Beck, Bogert and Appice

SOTW–Mr. Lucky–John Lee Hooker

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 10

November 5, 2009 · 73 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“This is for FF, when the power rears its evil head around 2:00 Saturday.” –Coach TeaJay

As you may have guessed, FF won his POTW again, now 8-0 on the season. Known far and wide as the South’s preeminent “Gentleman of Leisure”, the question is, is he feeling the pressure. The other question is, will it get to him? I also wonder, are Waldo and Sweet on this train yet? Another question is, to be or not to be? TB has lots of questions actually. For instance….uh-oh, I feel a digression coming on. Better just skip ahead to the results.

Last week saw 12 POTW winners and 11 losers.  As always, the 12 winners appear first, bonus picks in parentheses. SOTW was divided up with a point apiece to Coach TJ, S&M, Sweet and Larry. A point was left over so I’ll give it to Mac for voting for his post 12 times and giving everybody else one star. Theme points are split between Irv and Smily 2 apiece and I’ll give Zeek my point since he really wanted to vote for himself anyway. Smily’s extra bonus point vaulted him to his first weekly win in a quietly successful overall campaign.

  1. SmilyJ  (4-2, plus bonus) 64
  2. Sweet (all-in plus makeup points plus bonus) 63
  3. Mac  63
  4. Zeek 63
  5. BR  62
  6. Greeg (2-1)  56  (Is this Greeg’s first ever winning record?)
  7. BW Buzz (2-2)  50  (Should BW Buzz change his moniker to Even Steven?)
  8. Irv (1-2, plus bonus)  46
  9. S&M  (0-1, plus bonus  45
  10. Feidt’s Follies (2-3)  44
  11. TB  (2-3)  44
  12. CTJ  (1-4, plus bonus)  33
  13. JLM (3-1) 32
  14. TKH (2-1)  26
  15. Q (1-0)  26
  16. Larry  (2-3)  14
  17. Face  10  (Should the all-in penalty for losers have been harsher?)
  18. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  10
  19. MD  10
  20. RSR  10  (Is RSR unfairly handicapped in tuneage bonuses?)
  21. Fish  10
  22. TDW  (1-4)  8
  23. Harmony  (kept a spot on the bench nice and warm)

Season Standings

  1. Sweet  453  (Will TB “let” Sweet win?)
  2. RSR  453
  3. Mac  441  (Will Mac think he got screwed on the tunes again?)
  4. Feidt’s Follies   436
  5. SmilyJ  422
  6. Zeek  407
  7. TB  364
  8. BW Buzz  360 (Should we call you “Even Steven”)
  9. CTJ  352
  10. Irv  339  (Can he adequately service both his love of music, the TBU and his girlfriend?)
  11. Lazy Larry   316 (Will he chant at the end of Dixie?)
  12. Fig E  310  (Is Jimmy Johnson the greatest driver ever?)
  13. TKH  308  (Navy again?)
  14. Face  304
  15. S&M  292  (Does she like us, really really like us, or is she just being nice?)
  16. JLM  262  (Does she like us, really really like us, or is she just being cruel?)
  17. Fish  260  (A Notre Dame alum or what?)
  18. MD  246  (Any record highs today?)
  19. BR  227
  20. TDW  224
  21. Greeg  214
  22. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  170  (Do they have internet in Rocky Creek?)
  23. Q  160

TB’s record on the season is now 5-3-1 on POTW’s and 24-20-1 on the bonus. Here’s the link to Sheridan’s Odds.

My Week 10 picks:

  • LSU  +7′
  • Oklahoma  -5′
  • Illinois  +7
  • Syracuse  +21′  (Why do I EVER take the ‘cuse?)
  • Connecticut +16′

POTW–Houston +1

Some tunes:

  • So This is Love?–Van Halen
  • Can I Sit Next to You Girl?–AC/DC
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go?–Clash
  • Is This Love?–Bob Marley
  • Where Do You Go To My Lovely–Peter Sarstedt (from the Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack)

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 9

October 29, 2009 · 49 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“Why don’t y’all just make some picks already?”     –Greeg

Is anybody paying attention yet? Another solid week by the TBU, 12 POTW winners against only 8 defeats and one tie. S&M forgot to post but I still put her down as opposite of Sweet and Q as opposite of S&M. If you add these standing picks in that makes it 13-9 for the TBU-POTW’s. TB took the prize this week with a POTW winner and a nice 4-1 bonus record to run my ledger on the year to 4-3-1 on POTW’s and 22-17-1 on bonus picks. Very Swami-esque numbers. Feidt’s Follies drew from the genius that is a Saturday mornin coming-down-but-getting-ready-to-go-back-up gentleman of leisure once again. Friends, if you like to be entertained only by college football games you need to tune in on Saturdays and get FF’s last minute selections. He is now an astounding, astounding I tell you, 7-0 on POTW’s and would be leading this little game if he’d played in Week 1 instead of giving “everybody a head start.” For your further entertainment, I checked on FF’s bonus record. He is 21-14-1 on those picks.  Feidt’s Follies, you know what’s coming. Let us know how it feels carrying around the two go-rillas Sweet and Waldo on your back this week. RSR resumes the lead running her all-in record to 6-2. To the scoreboard, the top 14 won their POTW’s, Larry tied and everybody else lost. Irv busted the curve for the losers going 0-4 on bonus picks while winning the all important POTW. SOTW to Sweet for his excellent find from the blues vault and Theme/List to Irv and/or his girlfriend.

Week 8 Results (bonus picks in parentheses)

  1. TB  (4-1) 68
  2. Zeek (all in, plus make up points) 68
  3. RSR  68
  4. Fig is Back 68
  5. SmilyJ 68
  6. S&M  68
  7. Mac (3-1) 62
  8. Feidt’s Follies (4-2)  62
  9. BW Buzz (2-2)  50
  10. TDW (2-3)  44
  11. TKH (1-2)  44
  12. Irv (0-4 plus Theme/List bonus) 41
  13. CTJ (1-3)  38
  14. Larry (2-3) plus make up points to stay even with POTW top loser MD)  26
  15. MD (2-1)  26
  16. Fish (2-2) 20
  17. JLM (2-2)  20 A shout out to JLM for taking Kansas as POTW and Oklahoma as a bonus bet
  18. Sweet (all in plus SOTW bonus)  15
  19. BR  10
  20. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop 10
  21. Face 10
  22. Q (opposite S&M opposite Sweet) 10
  23. Greeg (0-2)  8

Season Standings

  1. RSR  443
  2. Feidt’s Follies 392
  3. Sweet  390
  4. Mac  378
  5. SmilyJ 358
  6. Zeek  344
  7. TB  320
  8. CTJ  314
  9. BW Buzz 310
  10. Lucky Larry 302
  11. Fig E  300
  12. Face 294
  13. Irv  293
  14. TKH  282
  15. Fish  250
  16. S&M  247
  17. MD  236
  18. JLM  230
  19. TDW  216
  20. BR  165
  21. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop 160
  22. Greeg  158
  23. Q  134

My Picks for this week:

Link to Sheridan’s Odds

  • Boston College  -6
  • Ole Miss  -4
  • Georgia  +15
  • Navy  -6′
  • Kansas State  +28

POTW

  • Texas  -9

My Guy Fawkes Tunes

  • Penny Lane–The Beatles
  • Light It on Fire–Cowboy Mouth
  • A Conspiracy–Black Crowes
  • Give Up the Funk–Parliament

SOTW

  • Remember–John Lennon

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 8

October 22, 2009 · 56 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“I haven’t gotten to spank anyone in a long time.” –Jessie Lou McFall

Also worth repeatin’:

“I’m corn-fused. Is this football-ese? –Calicobebop

“The highlight of the game was when Millimeter somehow got into the suite and almost rallied the team to victory with his dancing Homer impression.” –Undefeated, Untied, Feidt’s Follies

If any of you are gamblers, and I hope none of you are unless you are in Vegas, because its illegal otherwise, I hope you are paying attention to the Picks of the Week coming out of the Travellinbaen Universe. Last week was the best yet with seventeen winners against only 4 losses and a tie. TB, for the record, won my POTW and went 3-1-1 on bonus picks. This put me just over the Mendoza line for the year with the record standing now at an even 3-3-1 on POTW’s and now 18-16-1 on bonus picks. Mac’s reign at the top was a brief one as he lost his POTW and came in dead last for the week, while Sweet won his and went 2-0 on bonus picks to assume a tie for the lead with RSR who regained the other half of that lofty perch at the midway point of season two. Notably, BR won his second POTW in a row after starting the season 0-5. Song of the week goes to Larry’s Charlie Mars pick and list goes to Jessie Lou. Here are the numbers.

Week 7 Results (top 17 POTW winners, Greeg Tied, the rest lost; bonus record in parentheses)

  1. Fish (4-1) 68
  2. Sweet (2-0) 68
  3. Smily  68
  4. Face  68
  5. Special Guest Picker, Doc Scoop 68
  6. RSR  68
  7. Q  68
  8. Feidt’s Follies (3-1-1) 62
  9. TB (3-1-1)  62
  10. Larry (3-2 plus SOTW) 61
  11. TDW (3-2) 56
  12. Zeek (3-2)  56
  13. Fig E (3-3)  50
  14. Coach TJ (2-2-1)  50
  15. BR (0-1)  44
  16. BW Buzz (1-3)  43
  17. TKH (1-3 )  43
  18. Greeg (1-3)  43
  19. JLM (4-1 plus bonus 43)
  20. MD (2-1)  26
  21. S&M  10
  22. Mac  (1-3)  8
  23. Irv (distracted by his girlfriend a la Tony Romo) 0

Season Standings

  1. Sweet  375
  2. RSR  375
  3. Feidt’s Follies  330
  4. Mac  316
  5. Smily J  290
  6. Face  284
  7. Zeek  276
  8. CTJ  276
  9. Leapin Larry 276
  10. BW Buzz 260
  11. Irv  252
  12. TB 252
  13. TKH  238
  14. Fig E 232
  15. Fish  230
  16. MD  210
  17. JLM 210
  18. S&M 179
  19. TDW  172
  20. BR  155
  21. Greeg 150
  22. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop 150
  23. Quail  124

Before I make the picks for this week I want to take this one last opportunity to revel in the fact that the Florida Gators have not won a game in Starkville in over twenty years. After beating the Dogs in 1985, the Gators lost there in 1986 when the Wayne Peace led team was upset 16-10, in 1992 when the Dogs crushed Shane Matthews’ Heisman hopes 30-6 on Thursday night, in 2000 when the Bullies rolled 47-35 (remember that one Smily?) and the Gators faced the infamous 3rd and 57 from their own goal line and finally 2004 when the Ron Zook-led Gators got Croomed 38-31. These games all had one thing in common–TB didn’t think we had a chance in any of ‘em. No chance this week either, and so, I gloat. One last time. But we will cover the number, so we’ll have that going for us. Which is nice.

Link to Sheridan’s Odds

  • Vanderbilt  +13
  • Tennessee  +14
  • Kentucky  -14′
  • Mississippi State +22′
  • Auburn  +7

POTW–Oklahoma  -7′

My Weekend Tunage

  • You Give Love a Bad Name–Bon Jovi (1986)
  • Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)–Cracker (1992)
  • Kryptonite–3 Doors Down (2000)
  • Cold Hard Bitch–Jet  (2004)
  • Do It Again–The Beach Boys

  • Do It Again–Steely Dan

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 7

October 15, 2009 · 52 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“Some people just don’t understand the art of being a “Gentleman of Leisure”, do they?” –Feidt’s Follies

There were 9 POTW winners last week, the top 9 in the list below, led by TKH’s stunning performance on bonus picks at 4-0. TB’s record on the year fell to 2-3-1 on POTW’s and 15-15 on bonus picks. A big Bama spellout to BR for winning his first game of the season in the big showdown up in Oxford. Mac took over the season lead with a well timed and chosen “all-in” on the Tide. Last week’s results:

  1. TKH (4-0) 74
  2. BR (all in, plus bonus, plus SOTW) 67
  3. Mac (all in plus bonus) 62
  4. Sweet (3-1) 62
  5. Fig E (3-2) 56
  6. Q (3-2) 56
  7. Irv  (2-2) 50
  8. Fish (2-3) 44
  9. TDW (1-4 plus TOTW bonus) 37
  10. Feidt’s Follies (1-4) 32
  11. Coach TJ (1-4) 32
  12. SmilyJ (2-1)  26
  13. BW Buzz (2-1) 26
  14. Larry (1-0) 26
  15. Zeek (2-2) 20
  16. TB (2-3) 14
  17. S&M (2-3) 14
  18. Face 10
  19. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop 10
  20. MD 10
  21. RSR 10
  22. JLM (1-3) 8
  23. Greeg (1-3) 8
  24. Mac (tweaked hammie)

Season Standings

  1. Mac 308
  2. RSR  307
  3. Sweet 307
  4. Feidt’s Follies 268
  5. Irv 252
  6. SmilyJ 222
  7. BW Buzz 222
  8. Zeek 220
  9. Face 216
  10. CTJ 216
  11. Larry 216
  12. TKH 195
  13. TB  190
  14. MD 184
  15. Fig E 182
  16. S&M 169
  17. JLM 167
  18. Fish 162
  19. TDW 116
  20. BR 111
  21. Greeg 107
  22. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop 82
  23. Quail 56

My Picks:

  • Texas -3′
  • S Carolina +17
  • Arkansas +24′
  • Louisville +13
  • Georgia  -8

POTW–Mississippi State  -4′

Some tunes while Saturday Football Bloggin by myself

  • Oh, Lonesome Me–Kentucky Headhunters
  • Lonesome, Ornery and Mean–Waylon
  • London Homesick Blues–Jerry Jeff Walker
  • Poor Poor Pitiful Me–Warren Zevon

SOTW–Desperados Waiting for A Train–Guy Clark

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Week 6 Season II

October 8, 2009 · 37 Comments

Quote of the Day:

“I think I came in a little hot.” –Fig E, describing his recent encounter with Baseball Legend Eddie Murray

Last week’s Thursday Pickin was impressive. This week, even better. If any of you are in Vegas, you might give serious consideration to using the POTW’s you will find below. Well, I guess it depends on if you’re an optimist–in which case you’d want to ride the TBU wave–or a pessimist–in which case you’d assume we’ve peaked and are due for a big fall. Last week the TBU went a collective 17-6 on Picks of the Week. Time will tell, it always does. Notable and worthy of a shout, The Daily Wit rejoined Pickin last week with a two-fer POTW that sent me scurrying to the Rules Committee and 10 picks. Of itself, this was of little consequence. But his bonus picks were an astounding 9-1. A hearty “well done” TDW, from the whole gang. Here are last week’s rankings, the top 16 won their POTW (TDW went 1-1), the bottom 5 lost, and bonus pick results are in parentheses, while Jessie Lou and Mad Dog were awarded the tunage bonus:

  1. TKH (3-1)   62
  2. RSR (all in)  62
  3. Face  (all in) 62
  4. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop (all in) 62
  5. TDW (9-1)  58
  6. Feidt’s Follies (3-2)  56
  7. Fig E (3-2)  56
  8. Larry (3-2)  56
  9. Mac (2-2)  50
  10. BW Buzz (2-2)  50
  11. Sweet (0-1) 44
  12. TB (2-3)  44
  13. Smily J (1-2)  44
  14. JLM (1-4 plus bonus) 37
  15. Irv (1-4)  32
  16. Greeg (2-5 plus make up points to stay even with the top loser)  32
  17. Zeek (3-1)  32
  18. S&M (1-0)  26
  19. MD (1-1 plus bonus) 25
  20. CTJ (2-2)  20
  21. BR  (all in)  10
  22. Harmony (goin with the Patriots next week)

Season Standings:

  1. RSR  297
  2. Mac  246
  3. Sweet  245
  4. Feidt’s Follies 236
  5. Face  206
  6. Irv  202
  7. Zeek  200
  8. Smily J 196
  9. BW Buzz  196
  10. CTJ  184
  11. Larry  184
  12. TB  176
  13. MD  174
  14. JLM  159
  15. S&M  155
  16. Fig E  126
  17. TKH  121
  18. Fish  118
  19. Greeg  99
  20. TDW  84
  21. Special Guest Picker Doc Scoop  72
  22. BR  55

My Picks For This Week:

  • Indiana  +6′
  • Ole Miss  +4′
  • Florida  -8
  • Kentucky  +9′
  • Georgia  +2

POTW

  • Auburn  -2

LINK TO THE ODDS

My Tunes for dodging Reb fans, Bama RV’ers and raindrops and lightning strikes in Oxford Town

  • High Voltage–AC/DC
  • Purple Rain–Prince
  • Shelter From the Storm– Bob Dylan
  • Thunder Road–Bruce Springsteen
  • Shout Bamalama and Dixie Rock–Wet Willie (these are for you Q)

My SOTW, which mainly Smily will appreciate, but Reb fans might find soothing come Saturday sunset

  • Blame it on the Rain (yeah, yeah)–Some Army dudes I heard–always wondered why they didn’t get their own recording contract

Categories: Music · Sports
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Thursday Pickin Season II, Week 5

October 1, 2009 · 48 Comments

Quotes of the Day:

All of these gems appeared in last week’s Thursday Pickin commentary, and deserve to be honored by seeing them once again.

“I have often felt that if we could track those LSU fans down and just pay up on the bet, the curse would be lifted.” –Smilyj

“The Miss/S Car line sure looks like its for SUCKAS.” –Sweet

“In case any Ole Miss fans are wondering, the Independence Bowl is Monday, December 28th this year.” –Fig

“Last nite (sic) was great! I think now I will watch the game again and rub peanut butter all over myself.” –Smilyj

Well friends, the only thing I can say about last week is, “its over.” Four POTW winners and seventeen losers. Personal heartbreaks galore. All we can do is go back out there and play our game. Last week is history. It only counts as one game, no matter how bad the score. From here on out, we just have to recommit ourselves and take them one at a time. (Insert your loser cliche of choice here.)

Dropping from the ranks of the unbeaten were RSR, Sweet, Irv, Coach TJ, and Smilyj, leaving only Feidt’s Follies unbeaten on the year. (with one week unplayed to “give the rest of us a chance.”) BR is still winless.

Last week’s results, top four won their POTW, bonus picks in parentheses.

  1. Face (all in plus 6 catch-up bonus points to tie Feidt and Sam’s Mama) 56
  2. S&M (opposite Sweet 1-0) 56
  3. Feidt’s Follies (3-2) 56
  4. Mac (2-2 plus Theme of the Week bonus) 55
  5. Larry (4-1) 38
  6. TKH (3-1)
  7. RSR (1-0) 26
  8. TB (3-2) 26
  9. Zeek (2-2) 20
  10. Greeg (2-2) 20
  11. SmilyJ (1-1) 20
  12. BR (all in plus SOTW bonus) 15
  13. Sweet (0-1) 14
  14. BW Buzz (2-3) 14
  15. JLM (2-3) 14
  16. Fig (2-3) 14
  17. CTJ (2-3) 14
  18. Special Guest Picker, Doc Scoop 10
  19. MD (0-2) 8
  20. Fish (1-4) 2
  21. Irv (1-4) 2

Season Standings

  1. RSR 235
  2. Sweet 201
  3. Mac 196
  4. Feidt’s Follies 180
  5. Irv 170
  6. Zeek 168
  7. CTJ 164
  8. SmilyJ 152
  9. MD 149
  10. BW Buzz 146
  11. Face 144
  12. TB 132
  13. S&M 129
  14. Larry 128
  15. JLM 122
  16. Fish 86
  17. Fig 70
  18. Greeg 69
  19. TKH 59
  20. BR 45
  21. TDW 26 (pulled a Palin on Thurs Pickin)
  22. Doc Scoop 10

My picks this week:

  • Indiana +17
  • USC -5
  • Iowa -21
  • Georgia -3
  • Miami FL +7

POTW

  • Auburn +2′

My Weekend Playlist, I haven’t gotten over last week yet

  • Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain–Willie Nelson
  • Crying Shame–Jack Johnson
  • Man of Constant Sorrow–The Soggy Bottom Boys
  • Cry, Cry, Cry–Johnny Cash
  • Jamie’s Cryin–Van Halen

SOTW

  • Malfunction Junction–Drivin and Cryin

Categories: Music · Sports
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