The Week in Review

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The New Year started with a bit of a whimper. I left Virginia sunsets like the one above to roll into Philly on Sunday, just in time to make it down to the Eagles game. It was fun, though they replaced their starters so it was sort of an exhibition. After the game, I was exhausted (sort of like Britney on New Years), so I headed home and was in bed by 10:30 p.m. I’ve never been that big on New Year’s Eve anyway. I was pumped for the Mummers on New Year’s day, but that was a washout, so I just watched a lot of football instead.

Enough about me, let’s talk about quizzo. We got the New Year started on Tuesday at a surprisingly full O’Neals. January 2nd is usually the slowest day of the year, but you wouldn’t have known it on 3rd and South. Dork Sided cruised into the New Year with an impressive performance, finishing with a 107 and edging Saddam’s Last Dance by a single point..

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Ginger Thursdays on Friday

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Truman Capote once said, “In this profession, it’s a long walk between drinks.” Tis true, as I discovered in the December chill last week.

I knew my night would end up at Grace’s to see my friend behind the tender bar there, but first I decided I would end my three year boycott against Chaucer’s, a neighborhood pub located at 20th and Lombard. It is named for the great writer of the Canterbury tales, Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer’s used to be a great place, oozing character with plants aplenty, free drinks for birthday patrons, and enough dollars bills taped to back bar mirror for the bartender, Jack, whose been pouring there for 26 years, “to start a retirement fund.” But when the owner suddenly died and the place was sold to the owner of South Street Souvlaki, things started to change. Treasured employees left, the plants left, and a lot of the people that had been coming there for years left. But last night, I just got over it. Maybe it was Jack (who played Creedence all night and looked like a band member himself), or maybe it was my perfectly poured O’Reilly’s stout. But, alas I will return, and I might even bring my beer club along with me.

Here comes my long walk. ‘Twas spent scratchin’ me noggin’ on what to write about this week. I am actually so indecisive that my roomate bought me one of those Magic Eight Balls that you turn upside down to get a decision on whether or not you should like the boy sitting next to you in math class. It’s been g-r-e-a-t. I just asked the brainy ball if I should go for a run today, “Outlook not so good.” Perfect!

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Cute Little League Story

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As many of you know, I am currently coaching a little league basketball team. Well, we had a tourney following the first half of the season, and before the semis, I told the guys, “If we win the whole tournament, I’ll take you guys out for pizza.” One of the guys chimed in. “And Slurpees?” I told them that yes, also Slurpees. We won the semi-final game. In the finals, the team looked sluggish and tired, and we trailed in the 3rd quarter. I called timeout and the team dragged themselves over to the bench. I didn’t say much. I just looked them in the eyes, and I asked, angrily, “Am I the only one around here who likes pizza?” Their eyes lit up. “I forgot about that!” said one of them. They stormed back out onto the floor, and won with a jump shot with 30 seconds left. We’re going out for pizza on Saturday.

Around the Horn

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-I pulled the completely classless move of sneaking a few Doritos into my mouth last night at Doobie’s while Ginger turned her head in disgust. I would like to apologize to Doobie’s for my act. I promise to buy a burger at your bar soon to make up for my rudeness.

–This is off the freaking chain. You gots to peep this. I’ve watched and listened like 4 times. (SFW)

-I was one of those people who always thought that Supreme Court justices were boring old people who were way too normal. Then I read this on CNN.com. “A doctor was cited as saying that (William) Rehnquist, an associate justice of the Supreme Court at the time, tried to escape the hospital in his pajamas and imagined that the CIA was plotting against him.” The Chief Justice was lurking in the shadows in his PJs (preferbly with a tin foil hat), trying to stop the CIA from carrying out their sinister plot! The Supreme Court rules! No pun intended!

–Historical geography of religion in 90 seconds. This is pretty awesome.

Baby Name Wizard Name Voyager

Here’s a fun little site. It shows you how popular people’s names are now, and how popular they were in the past. In other words, if you type in “Bertha” the graph peaks in like the 1920s and goes down to 0 today, while there were almost no “Madisons” 20 years ago but there are a ton today (Johnny peaked in the late 40s). So type in your name and see when it was “kool”. The best part about it, though, is that it’s called the “Baby Name Wizard NameVoyager”, which is totally sweet. Enjoy!

Should Boise State play for the National Title?

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The game between Boise State and Oklahoma was one of the greatest I’ve ever seen, and had possibly the greatest finish I’ve ever witnessed. The hook and ladder has always been my favorite play and I have used it at least once every time I play football. To use it on 4th and 18, then to run the QB in motion on 4th down so your running back could throw the football, then to run what wasn’t really a Statue of Liberty but that’s what everybody’s calling it (I say we call it the Boise State Backhand) was more ballsy than any group of plays that I’ve seen a coach call ever. It was as if the coach not only wanted to win, but he wanted to win in style. So now the question, “Is this the way we should remember Boise State? Brilliant play calling, a thrilling finish, the RB proposing to his girlfriend? Or should we see what Boise could do against Florida or Ohio State?”
RELATED:Will Bunch at Attytood has a pretty interesting idea.

Johnny’s New New Year’s Resolution

My New New Year’s Resolution is to not talk about Anthony Dimeo for the remainder of 2007. I have a number of goals set for 2007, and he has nothing to do with any of them, so I am done with this thing we’ve had going for a couple of years. Of course, if he does something completely outrageous, I might have to reconsider.

Your New Year’s Resolution

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After getting involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in 2006, I realized that so many of the guys who play quizzo would make great role models for the young people of Philadelphia. Then, when I heard that there is a critical shortage of Big Brothers in the program (the waiting list for Little Brothers who want a positive male rodel is rather long), I felt the need to do something. (While we may look for more Big Sisters in the future, it was felt that right now the biggest demand is for men in the program.)

After meeting with several people from BBBS, we agreed on a reasonable goal: I want to get 100 males involved by the end of the year. Of course, it will be impossible without your help. I will have more details on the program and how you can get involved later in the week. This program has become an extremely positive part of my life in the past year, and I want it to be a positive part of yours as well.
RELATED: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania Website.