Why are you asking ME what's cool

A freind of mine, Bud, was recently visiting from Chicago. In order to really grasp this story you have to understand that he is one of those people that is constantly on the move; both mentally and phyically. There is always somthing to be gleaned from every person, environment, and situation.
Just before we left for the airport Bud up and decides he's getting on Twitter. I'd basically given up on talking him into it a while ago. Our discussions basically centered around the fact that I thought Twitter was AWESOME, and might even be more useful than it is a time-vacuum. He couldn't see any productive use for it. (This from a guy who plays scrabble on facebook through his iphone).
With only a standard image up on Twitter, I started pimping @budwierenga5 with a tweet before we headed off to LAX. On our way Bud says half-jokingly "well I guess now that everyone is on Twitter I will get on too" without much thought the words "At this point, I wouldn't have bothered, it'll be something besides Twitter in 6 months"
This banter suddenly became a legitmate discussion of Twitter's groundswell into mainstream. I have been on Twitter since January 2007. Not nearly early enough to count as in from the begining but certainy early enough to count as ahead of the curve. That being said I couldn't answer his simple question as to how Twitter suddenly became this moment's hammer-pants.

I have no idea why so many people use it, I have a hard time quantifying why I use it. But one thing I know for sure I am way to G33K to be deciding what's cool and what isn't.

So; Why do you use Twitter? How did you find it? If you have been on it for a while are you enjoying the influx of new blood or do you find it cumbersome?

I love the Vikings. I was born in Minnesota and my earliest memories are of me and my father watching games together. I will never root for another team or waiver in my love for the purple. But that doesnt exclude me from frustrations. And by frustration I mean "don't talk to me on days we lose" type frustration.

As a reasonable fan I don't need to win a Superbowl every year. But in my life time we (yes WE. I get to say We because I have more time invested in this team than any player.) have never won and we have had one top 5 pick.

It's the mediocrity that kills me. By week 6 of this year there was not a Lion fan that was still holding on to hope. I can't say the same. We all started out the year listening to the talking heads predictions of our superbowl chances. Then we experienced the ups and downs and squeeked into the pllayoffs.

The difference between us and the Lions now. 21, there are 21 spots between there draft selection and ours. So now who's happier; Lions fan or Vikings fan. Ok we're still happier I mean seriously they're the Lions. But did you really savor that first round playoff game, will you be wearing your 2008 NFC North Championship shirt with pride. Not I.

So Vikings I have a simple request. Progress. I want a draft pick that is top 5 or a Superbowl. NOTICE: I did not say TRIP to the Superbowl. I do not want to be a fan of the team that went 0-5.

Way to Start Out Sadness

I have been thinking of re-starting my new blog for a little while now. I no longer write for work so I have found my skills dulling. I do take some pride in writing so I have been waiting for a topic that I really felt would be an entertaining post. Unfortuantely instead I ran into a topic that I couldn't let go by with out sharing a little on. The sad passing of NC State womens basketball coach Kay Yow.



I am not a big fan of womens basketball. For the 12 of you that are, that is an argument for another time. Yow was an incredible woman. Not only did she stay at the same school since 1975, a run that is second only to Pat Summit's at Tennessee, she did it while fighting through multiple battles with breast cancer.



In 1987 she was first diagnosed with cancer. She had already accomplished great things, leading the US to a victory over Russia. It isn't really what she did to that point though. It was jsut a year after her battle with cancer began that she again led the US team to a gold in the 88 Olympics.



Her on the court success continued, resulting in 657 wins at NC State. She did her best work off the court. Promoting awareness and lending her name and time to the V-foundation. The foundation is the legacy of fellow NC state head coach Jim Valvano who fell to cancer several years ago.

Don't call it a... Ok let's try to hold on to my self-respect

So I haven't blogged a post in almost a year. Needless to say I am sure you will be suffering through some rust over the next few posts. Also I am planning on expanding the scope of my posts. I mean I love sports but I am a little more rounded than that so these posts will be as well.

Phoenix: Apparently In The Molting Process.

phoenix (fē'nĭks)
1. Mythology. A bird in Egyptian mythology that lived in the desert for 500 years and then consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed from its ashes.

This name is getting more and more appropriate every game. Since the trade that brought Shaq over from Miami the self consumption has continued. Apparently the fire that will consume this Phoenix will be fueled by all the gas coming from Shaquille O'neal.

I was one of those who doubted that this was a good trade. In fact I knew it wasn't. As a Laker fan I watched Shaq peak in LA. Then I watched the decline begin in Miami. This season the downhill slide became a drop off of a cliff. Shaq's promises of a ring in Phoenix didn't bother me. What else was he supposed to say. "You all are a bunch of suckers for taking on the Big Grand Canyon of Talent" isn't really a reasonable thing for him to shout over the microphone when they introduce him. So instead he stands up and points to one finger. The crowd thinks championship. Shaq was thinking 1st man off the bench sounds good to me.

Those were just the beginnings though. The real sign of trouble came against Detroit the other night. After a game that included Steve Nash whining to the officials—everyone made this out to be rare, I think he is whiny little punk—Grant Hill even complained, that actually is rare.

Grant Hill's whining was at least humorous. He said he knew it had gotten bad when even Rasheed Wallace was agreeing with him on calls that favored Wallace's Pistons.

Whether the game was officiated poorly or not—I think a lot of NBA games are— isn't the point. The point is that when you start complaining about the officials, the game is over. In this case the name of the game is "Will Phoenix Get That Ring Shaq promised". They're still playing but, like I said...GAME OVER.

Phoenix may win in the court of public opinion. But I have never seen on old retired NBA players reminisce about his wins there. They usually get nostalgic while they are rubbing their rings. If Phoenix can they should suck it up and worry about what they are doing not what the refs are doing, and what the other team thinks about what the refs are doing. Neither helps them. In fact both hurt them.