Cheeseheads Everywhere

So I'm finally on my first trip for work! This morning (at a ridiculously early time) I headed to the airport for my first event of the tour - Green Bay.

After a quick layover in Minneapolis I landed in GB to a sea of Packers gear.

My boss, Mr. Jay (not to be confused with Mr. or Ms. Jay from top model), took me to see a bit of Green Bay. For those of you who are not familiar with the area, GB is like a really big version of a small town.

We tried to make it to the actual bay, but we couldn't find a dock. We settled for an amusement park right next to the water.

As we get out in the parking lot I see a bright orange sign that says attention hunters, and I thought you've got to be kidding me. I snapped this photo with my phone and please notice the playground in the background.

Little did I know that this is in fact a problem in the area. Not more than 100 feet away from the playground was the bay, where I saw a man carrying a rifle with a dead goose in his hands. Turns out that in GB it is illegal to shoot a firearm, but the city's limit ends at the shore.

After that we went to see Lambeau Field. I've heard a lot of stories about the field and about this the Packers - but this was awesome. There is literally hardly anything around the field except for trees.

I don't understand how they can pack that place because there is hardly anyone around here - but these people are die-hard fans of a variety that I have never seen before (the people of GB literally own the team - the only team in the NFL like it).

I got an official cheesehead in the pro shop before we headed to Curly's for dinner (it's inside the stadium). The restaurant atmosphere was really cool. We sat in the pub area and nibbled on the most amazing pretzel bites I've ever had. Thanks to Heather B. I've been in love with pretzel bites for a while but these were so good. The dough was almost like a pastry dough because it was slightly flaky. They were crisp at the edges but really soft at the same time. I'm assuming that the pounds of butter they were drenched in put me way over my allotted calories but it was worth it.

I, of course, had a diet coke and it was in the most amazing glasses. They look like any bar glass with the logo on the side but the bottom has a cut out of a football that you see as your drink gets low.

Plus while we were there they filmed the weekly show, Inside Lambeau, with guest star Packers WR Jordy Nelson. This picture is hard to see but I wanted to remember it.

I wanted to get the baked mac 'n cheese but decided after the pretzel bites I should go with the salad. I got the buffalo wings salad. It was deceptively large and the buffalo sauce had the prefect amount of spice.

There was a great looking burger with a Louisiana hot link and sauerkraut that I wanted to get but felt like it wasn't the best choice.

The service wasn't great but the experience more than made up for it. I would highly recommend it for anyone who finds themselves in GB.

Groundhog Day

It must be acknowledged in my blog that the Steelers have won the Super bowl. The biggest sporting even in America. That is all that I will say about if for now. 

I would like to turn my attention to the phenomena of Groundhog Day. 

First off, there is a kick-A movie about the strange holiday. It is one of my dad's favorite movies and it is always on TV. I used to despise watching it, but I find myself tuning into it whenever it is on now. It is funny how we tend to like things that remind us of our childhood, and that movie is just one of those things. 

Secondly, I think it is amazing of this ritual has survived over time. It isn't known exactly how the tradition began, but its current form originates from the early 1800's in Pennsylvania. I love how the tradition stands the test of time. 

I was just reading about about an American immigrant and I marveled at his home country's customs that carried over into his American life. From the food he ate, the company he kept and rights of passage that survived from his former life. As I read about this, I wondered what customs from my culture do I carry with me, there are many but Groundhog Day counts as one of them.

In 2008 14 different groundhogs predicted the fate of the cold winter.  Punxsutawney Phil is the  most famous groundhog and last year he predicted six more weeks on winter. While I realize that it is ludicrous to assume that a small animal can tell how longer winter is going to last, I distinctly remember media day with the Salt Lake Bees on April 1, when it had snowed so much the day before. In my mind a long winter was just the right assessment. 

So tomorrow morning a little groundhog will tell me whether or not I will not need to scrape the ice of my windshield every single morning from now until June. I am hoping that tomorrow is a cloudy day and Phil does not retreat to his burrow because I don't know how much more of the freezing cold winter I can take. 

It Is What It Is -- Broncos Fire Shanahan

Well, it's been a nice ride.

138-86, two Super Bowl titles and three straight years out of the post-season.

I can't say that I am at all surprised. There were many people calling for his replacement after last season, but the Bronco's season-ended debacle led to the decisions that owner Pat Bowlen had to make.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

News conference tomorrow.

To All You BYU Fans...

Well, that wasn't so pretty.

I sat in my office trying to get some homework done and watching the Holy War (because the next three weeks are going to kill me), but instead I couldn't focus on anything other than the game.

I was hopeful through the first three quarters, we were still in it.

Then the fourth quarter hit.

I am going to refrain from talking in detail my feelings about the end of the game, the team's performance and my overall feeling about our fans.

I want to represent my university and my department so I'm not going to publicly declare how much I don't like BYU fans. I'm not going to say that they are wretched, fair-weather fans who only wish to be affiliated with the team when they are doing something miraculous. I'm not going to talk about how the sold-out stadium is a mix of colors (when it should be all blue), and I'm not even going to mention the lack of signs, unruly behavior and true-blue fans.

I bleed blue. But like I said, I'm not going to mention my feelings.

I am going to lament the loss, but football is one small part of a bigger picture. I am going to support my Cougars, cheer them on in the Bowl game (even if the BCS system is crap). I'll be happy for the MWC, because in the end it will help BYU.

I'll Rise and Shout (even though as a member of press row I'm technically not allowed to cheer).

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't like the Red Sox. I don't like them because of all bandwago fans that jumped on in 2004 when they won the World Series.

I don't like Red Sox fans, but I respect their real fans, the ones who suffered through years and years of their team falling apart in the postseason. They made it through and two World Series titles later, saw their team develop into one of baseball's powerhouses.

I can't believe I am going to say this, but why can't BYU fans take a look at a die-hard fans and develop fanhood like that.

Your cheer for your team when they are up, and you mourn with them when they lose. You don't disown them.

Oh dang, Oakland is about to score. Gotta Go.

The Rivalry, a Parody

Friday Night Lights

Now I'm not a huge proponent of people who can't get out of the glory days of high school, but this post stands in tribute to my alma mater Douglas County High School and the school's quarterback and my cousin Eddie Williams.

During my days in High school our football team sucked. They never finished above .500 any of the years I was there.

But shortly after my high school departure in 2004, head coach Jeff Ketron managed to turn everything around. Ketron carried the team on his back during the rough years, but talent caught up with his schemes and DCHS managed to win a Colorado State Championship in 2005.

The winning continued, in 2006 they fell in the semi-finals to Mullen and in 2007 they went to the Championship game before falling to Grandview.

Last weekend I made the seven-hour drive to Fort Collins to see my cousin Eddie make his final high school championship run. The Huskies fell to Poudre (like poo-der) in the quarterfinals and Eddie had an emotional farewell to a game he has loved since he was a boy.

I loved watching Eddie play and I am sad to see his football career end, but happy that his four years in high school were filled with the football glory that makes high school so unique and fun.

I Could Tell From the Minute I Woke Up...

Hello World,

Please forgive me for not updating my blog for over an entire month. I've been trying to decide what direction to take this thing, and as I was deciding I got really distracted by this evil little thing called school.

Here is a brief update:

I have one semester of school left.

I'm applying to a number of internship programs for my first post-graduation year, I won't really know if I am leaving this little Provo town until I just before I leave.

If I don't get accepted, I'll stay with BYU Athletic Communications for another year, yeah more time in Provo but hey -- it's a job. Maybe I'll be back with the Bees too.

Anyway, I don't have much time so I will just leave you with a quick reminder of my excitement over David Price, the man's a stud. He can't help that he is just that talented. The Phillies may have won the world series, but everyone will remember the Rays of 2008.

Matt Holliday is to become a member of the Oakland A's. Smart move for the Rockies? I think so. They can get some pitching out of the deal and they move the all-star while they acquire something from him. I'll always be a Holliday fan. Do you think it was right?

I'm waiting for the Angels to sign Mark Teixeira. I think it would be the best free agent sign of their off-season. They exercised options on Valddy and Lackey, but they are still fitting the pieces together. It looks like they won't sign Garland, opening the fifth starter role to one of my boys out of Triple-A, I'm hoping they keep Loux in the bullpen and the starter spot goes to one of the Nick's (Adenhart or Green). It would be cool for Ortega, but I'm rooting for Salt'n peppa.

BYU is no longer a BCS buster, but what I think all the fans are forgetting is that Bronco is trying to establish a foundation for the program to return to greatness. This is only his fourth year as head coach and BYU is 9-1 right now. Stop complaining, because next year when the team is amazing y'all be back on the bandwagon.

Hello Little Boys Little Toys

So I am fairly certain that September 2008 has been the longest month of my life. I feel like I could have fit my entire summer in stupid September. I only curse the month because it yielded the return of school, chilly weather, and the end of the Bees season.

I tried very hard to let go of my poor disposition, and after having crappy terrible days where I fought with my apartment complex and got parking tickets (ala BYU Police) I decided that it was time for sending positive vibes out into the universe.

So here are the positive things on my mind that have to do with September.

1.David Price - 2007 overall No. 1 draft pick makes his ML debut and makes his first start. After tossing four scoreless innings in his first start he struggled and allowed two runs in the fifth, quite the promising outing for the Rays' pitcher. I find in unlikely that the lanky lefty will make the post-season roster, but I relish in the debut of a young prospect. I find in remarkable that he could begin his first professional season in Single-A and make his way all the way to the majors.

2. BYU Football - Despite the chaos of losing the SID days before the season opener, the season has gone quite well. We've had an incredible amount of media attention this season (check out the upcoming issue of ESPN mag). The team is still undefeated and I'm looking forward to TCU and Utah.

3. Denver Broncos /Jay Cutler - Don't let anyone fool you, not many analysts thought the Broncos would be 3-0. People suspected that Cutler would have a breakout season, but even with the expectations Cutler's performance is nothing shy of dazzling. Its about time Denver had some luck.

4. Peach as a baking ingredient - Justin's home owners brought over an amazing peach pie that I could not get enough of. Since then I have discovered the joy of baking with peach. I've made a tart, cobbler (amazing!) and pie. I'm still deciding what I am going to make next. Last year it was pumpkin, this year it's peach.

5. October - So it's just around the corner and I love this month! I'm not looking forward to the snow and wearing coats again, but I love the post-season and I love Halloween. I'm still working on a costume but I'm thinking a cute version of Champ Bailey, let me know what you think.