The Vig

Busy busy busy.  It’s a good thing.

Beer and Blog: It’s become a Friday tradition in the local tech community.  How on earth have I never been?  I had a great conversation with @dieselboi about beer and the future of the Dragon.  Hopefully the folks at Rogue will elect to keep the place weird, or whatever.  It’s fantactic.  Anyway, Dieselboi got me set up with a Jubelale and sent me on my way.  I also spent some time with @betsywhim and @ahockley, with whom I shared a spirited political conversation.  A good time was had by all.  Clearly I need to attend this more often.

Portland Winter Hawks: They went 2-1 on the weekend, picking up 4 points.  Going into the sale, I kept hearing that all the team needed was a few minor roster adjustments and a fresh approach at the top.  I didn’t believe it could be that easy.  And maybe it’s not.  The early returns are extremely encouraging though.  We’re watching a different team on the ice.  And I think it’s taking.  Even though they came up short against Vancouver last night, they competed.  This wouldn’t have happened a month ago.  They’re on the road until after Thanksgiving, playing in Everett three times in nine days.  Wow.  Did they bring in an ECHL scheduler this season?

Portland Trail Blazers: This season is going to be bi-polar for the Blazers, particularly for Oden.  The single best thing we can do for him at this point is quit looking at the stat sheet.  Seriously, just don’t.  Let him play.  Let him get accustomed to playing in the NBA.  At the end of the season we can open up the stat sheet and see what it is we have.  Believe me when I say everyone would sleep better if we did.

UFC: Brock Lesnar was just too big for Couture.  I’d like to see someone take on the big guy who could expolit his obvious lack of conditioning.  That requires taking him deep into the third round and beyond.  The problem is he’s liable to kick your ass before then.

Eisenhower dollars: Anyone know where I can get a couple rolls of these locally?  Ideally I’d like to pick up a couple rolls every few weeks.  I’ve been getting the presidential dollars, but they’re just not the same.  I prefer the heft of the Ikes.  The whole silver thing has kind of spooked me.  Turns out a dollar coin will always be worth a dollar.  An ounce of silver, not so much.

Arizona Cardinals: Thanks to the generosity of a friend of mine, I was able to take in the Seahawks and Cardinals yesterday.  We had primo seats down in the south end zone.  The game obviously looks much different down there than it does on TV.  As does my team.  In the first half, they were one score away from taking the crowd completely out of the game.  They got the Seahawks to punt in the second quarter and ended up getting bogged down just outside the red zone.  Had they managed to get a touchdown there, the Seattle faithful would have turned on their team.  Instead, they could only manage three, and the Hawks mounted a valiant second-half comeback.  Up by only six with five minutes to go, I figured we were sunk.  But they forced a three-and-out, and that was the game.  Seattle never threatened again.  It’s eat, drink, and be merry for the time being because they get the Giants in the desert next weekend, then it’s at Philly on Thanksgiving night.  But for one night, all is well.