Wrapping Up, Winding down

Having completed my Anthropology final on monday, I have just 2 days and 2 finals remaining in my first semester of college. And I gotta say, it feels great. My past few days have been comprised of much more mario kart than studying, that's just how we do. Also, staying up until 7 AM is not all it's cracked up to be, but sleeping in until 4:30 PM definitely is.

Anyways, as the academic year winds down, baseball season is just taking off. We are more than a month in and, although I acknowledge it's still very early, you can't tell me what has happened so far doesn't matter whatsoever. Open up your knowledge basket because here it comes. The San Diego Padres are 20-12 (a sultry .625 winning percentage) tied for the best in the NL (and tied for 4th in the entire MLB behind only New York, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota). They have thrown 8 shutouts, and have given up 3 runs or less in 18 of the 32 games. For those of you who aren't math majors, that's more than half. Correia, Garland, and LeBlanc are a combined 10-4. And lastly, so far the Padres have given up 99 runs on the season. You know who else has that? NO ONE! I don't care if San Francisco is at 100, this is proof that right now that the Padres pitching staff is the best in baseball. And you can't even argue it. We have the lowest number of runs allowed. End of argument.

And when you have that kind of pitching, 140 runs scored is a respectable number, despite being in the lower half of the league. I'm not gonna lie and say I wouldn't mind some higher batting averages and less men left on base (11 last night against SF). Wouldn't it be nice if Chase Headley wasn't the only position player batting over .300? (I say "position player" because technically Wade LeBlanc is batting .500 (5 for 10) and Mat Latos is batting .300 (3 for 10). But I digress. I couldn't be more pleased with the current 8 games over .500. I know I shouldn't get sucked in but I can't help feeling hopeful about our young pitching. And we all know Adrian Gonzalez can hit better than his .275 average indicates. Just saying.

Let's switch gears real quick to football. Here was my initial reaction to the Chargers big draft move: "WOOO!! Ryan Mathews!!" And here was my reaction as Chris Berman and the gang struggled through the lack of information in telling me exactly what the trade was: "We gave up WHAT???" And finally here was my reaction as I checked and confirmed the trade "F*CK!" It seems to me as though the Chargers jumped the gun a little bit in giving up multiple draft picks, a decent linebacker (Dobbins) and the rights to play "We got more bounce in California" every frickin' time they score. I understand that Mathews (the 2nd ranked RB) would not have stayed on the board until the Chargers original pick (28), what with C.J. Spiller going 9th to Buffalo (poor chap). But did we really have to give up THAT much to move up THAT early? Only time will tell. I'm hoping Ryan Mathews turns out to be the next LT (although I think we would need a more creative nickname than RM).

One last note, I implore all of you out there to give a listen to the Ocarina of Rhyme by Team Teamwork. Great mash-up, and an even greater IDEA for a mash-up. I approve.

Did you miss me?

So... I've been gone for awhile but you are going to have to cut me some slack here. Since my last post, I moved into my dorm at Berkeley, began my classes, took multiple midterms, contracted pink eye and scratched my cornea (don't ask, seriously), flew home for spring break, ate 5 burritos in 8 days, bowled a 112 (yeah that's right, you heard me) and flew back to Berkeley where i was greeted by thick clouds, low temperatures, and rain. And yes, right now that all seems completely pertinent.

Anyways, I have decided to make my triumphant blogging return RIGHT NOW! Just for your enjoyment... You're welcome.

So we are deeply entrenched in the bowels of the ncaa tournament, and if anyone out there still has a reasonably decent bracket, you can shove it up your John Wall because I do not care anymore. Despite losing 2 of my final four (including my champion) in the second round, and despite all the upsets and general madness, I was still in contention this past weekend. But who is it who had to spoil my day once again? Well, it was actually Ohio State but I'm gonna go ahead and blame Duke.

Now, I will not be unreasonable and refuse to admit that Duke has some redeeming qualities. For instance, they are.. umm... well... they have... yeah I got nothing. My apologies to Edward Scheyer McCarthy but if I were to make a most hated list, it would go something like this:

1. The choir at the beginning of "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

2. The New York Jets

3. Duke University

Congratulations Duke!! You have managed to crack the top 3, just barely edging cancer and people who continue to argue that Kobe is better than LeBron. It's over ok?? LeBron is an effing god on the court. Let it go. But seriously, look at number 2 on that list. Do you realize how hard they had to work to get to that spot? They squeaked into the NFL playoffs because the Colts did not care about beating them, then promptly went on to beat my beloved Chargers with a mediocre rookie QB. And if that wasn't enough, they then went on to acquire the greatest Charger in history mere days after his release. Quite a résumé for my 2 seed. And as for the 1 seed, come on... it's just awful, always has been, always will be. The song doesn't need it. Tell me one way in which the choir improves that song. You can't because it doesn't!

But I return to my main point: I cannot handle this Duke success. Maybe it's because they beat my newly beloved Cal Golden Bears handily. Maybe it's because I had a chance of winning if they had lost to Baylor (again, I would have needed Ohio St. to beat Tenn as well but just humor me here). Maybe it's because I have a close friend who attends there, creating somewhat of a rivalry. Who knows why we feel such animosity towards certain teams? All I know is that I am 100% behind the West Virginia Mountaineers this weekend and if THIS Duke Blue Devils team (the one that can't shoot 3's to save their lives and had the easiest road EVER to the final 4) makes it to the championship game against a 5 seed (Butler or Michigan State) I am going to lose it.

Stay tuned.