#46 Daytona 500 Live Blog

365 Blog Challenge: Post #46

Boogity boogity boogity!  Scott (is forcing me) and I are watching the Daytona 500 today.  My husband may be the only Ivy-League-educated, thespian, Jewish NASCAR fan.  And I support him.  I guess.  I do want to spend time with him so I have decided to live blog to keep myself interested. Hope you enjoy.

(Times in EST)

Pre-Race:

- Glad Martina McBride remembered all the words to the National Anthem.  Country singers know how do it right!

-  What's with the Transformer race cars with guns?  I don't approve.

-  Scott tells me they got all new cars this year, can't I tell?  No.  I can't. They look exactly the same.  He tells me they got rid of the flat panel from the front bumper and the spoilers are now better looking.  (They're the same, I swear.)

Race:

1:32: Moment of silence....not sure why...Dale Earnhardt Sr.?  This is sad.  Scott is upset with me for not holding my three fingers up in honor of the 10th anniversary of his death.  I didn't know!

1:34: Wreck #1- Kyle Busch.  Oh no! M&M car is out??  Who the heck do I cheer for now?  God knows I don't like beer.  *Update- M&M car is not out. No major damage. Phew!

1:37: Umm, the NFL has a robot animation they use during the broadcasts and NASCAR has chipmunks.  This makes no sense.

1:40:  8/200 laps complete.  How long do I have to watch this thing?

1:44: Scott informs me this is Brian Vicker's first race back after having to sit out for almost a year due to being on blood thinning medication for blood clots in his legs and lungs.  That's serious stuff!  Kind of surprised he doesn't have to continue a blood thinner the rest of his life.  Though it would be a disaster to get into a serious accident while on a blood thinner. Talk about bleeding out.  Here's an article about it.

1:54: I have decided I am cheering for Trevor Bayne who Scott says has no chance of winning.  But he's cute (they just interviewed him) and I like the gold #21 on his car.  This is how I choose my favorites.  Scott informs me he's too young for me.

2:02: Kevin Harvick has reportedly lost an engine.  I thought this meant it fell off his car but apparently it just means it stopped working.  Scott is laughing at me.

2:07: This race is a mess.  Lots of 3-4 wide driving. HUGE crash involving apx 10+ cars. (Scott calls this "the big one".)  They're all licking their wounds now.  This sport sounds like a bad idea to me.  Drive as fast as you can and try not to crash.

2:16: We're trying to decide why Jeff Gordon (who is now out for a bit due to "the big one") was wearing a Breathe-Right while racing.  Does he snore while he drives?

2:40: Scott tells me this is the boring part of the race and it's ok to take a nap.  (I see his eyes drooping as we speak.) Best husband ever!

4:00: Ahhh, what a refreshing nap.  And we're back and cars are still crashing.  Matt Kenseth just crashed hard against the new "Styrofoam" wall.  So much safer they say.  Right.  At least he wasn't hurt.  63 laps to go!

4:09: Bayne is #2!!  Scott says he still has no shot.  Pessimist. Did I mention he's a rookie? (And he just turned 20...ick...yes...too young).

4:12: Best part about crashes? Watching the cars tear up the paint in the center of the track.  Easily amused right here.

4:21: Scott's calling it right now that if Dale Earnhardt Jr wins on the 10th anniversary of his dad's death, he's gonna think NASCAR is fixed. (Dale is the current leader).  We shall see.

4:25: I HATE how sexified Danica Patrick is in the GoDaddy.com commercials.  Finally a girl in a boy's sport and she has to ruin all the respect I have for her by subjecting herself to that crap.

4:41: Thank God my husband doesn't bet money on this race.  I swear to God every time some crashes I hear down the couch, "Arg! That was my guy!"  I have no idea how he has so many people winning this race but apparently they've all crashed.  PS Record number of caution flags this race.

4:56: Do you know how great it would be to have car mechanics who could fix our cars as fast as the pit row guys?  Life would be so much easier.  Why don't we have this?

5:04: Ok, maybe after all my kvetching I get a little bit excited by the end of the race...heart speeds up, butterflies in the stomach...12 laps to go!

5:10: Announcer calls Trevor Bayne a good pusher!  Three wide at the front of the pack!  CRASH!!!!  Hahahah Scott says his dark horse crashed (Regan Smith).  Whatever. How many dark horses does this guy have?  (Love you hunny.)

5:21: What's going on? This is chaos.  All sorts of crashes on the restart.  Dale Earnhardt Jr crashed so I guess he won't be winning.  Now Scott has decided he likes Jr. because of his skeleton racing gloves.

5:27: Trevor Bayne is in first during the caution but he's running out of gas!!  Suspense!

5:30: AHHHHHHHHH! BAYNE WINS!!! BAYNE WINS!! First win for the owners in 10 years!  Youngest driver ever to win Daytona!  I sure know how to pick a winner!

Post-Race:
  - "I don't even know where to go." 20-year-old Daytona winner Trevor Bayne trying to find Victory Circle.

The Gold 21 for the win! Never say never!  (Ahem...see 1:54 and 4:09 above...)

#34 Super Bowl party for 2!

365 Blog Challenge: Post #34

Well, I'm not sure what did it, it may actually have been my super adorable niece being a good luck charm, but the underdog Pack beat the Steelers in Super Bowl 45 tonight (yeah, roman numerals, blah blah blah.)  And I hate to say it, but I cheered for them the whole night (even beyond just Clay Matthews).  They are a great team and deserved to win.  I always love to see perseverance pay off (that goes for the team and for MVP Aaron Rodgers.)  Before I get to pics of Scott and my two person super bowl party, can I just make 2 comments about the musical numbers of the show?

1) Christina, you killed it, including the lyrics.  (I was proud of myself for noticing even though Scott didn't.)  Oh well, she got through it and at least she can sing!
2) Black-Eyed Peas- loved the half-time show, but maybe you need a new sound editor because it sounded like sh*t.  Is it just me or was Will-I-Am's mic super loud and everyone else's not loud enough, plus you couldn't hear the instruments?  Too much vocals.  Again, at least they can sing so it wasn't too painful.  But a good visual show none-the-less.

I made Tandoori-Spiced Chicken, but Scott informed me that we have to eat pizza during the Super Bowl so we put it away for tomorrow.  Love Famiglia pizza.

Scott's reaction upon seeing that I pulled out the beer helmet from last year.
What a cutie.

I prefer caffeine-free DC in my "beer" helmet.

Noshing.

This is what Scott and I deemed "the tunnel of doom" because 4 consecutive players had to go down it after being injured in the second quarter.  You go down that tunnel...you might not come back...

Now that is actually beer, and Scott would like me to inform you that he did not finish those beer bottles in case any of you were concerned he had a drinking problem. *Eye roll*

MVP Aaron Rodgers, and who is that behind him?? None other than CLAY MATTHEWS- Rock Star and Super Bowl Champ!

#26 The NFL has a problem...

365 Blog Challenge: Post #26

"The stress to play is high, even if injured! You don't complain because there is always someone to take your place if you don't perform. People don't understand the amount of stress that is put on players to play. So you play through your pain."
CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE


The above quote is from a study conducted at the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.  The quoted individual is a former NFL player, one of many who was interviewed for a study regarding pain-killer abuse/misuse and retired NFL players.  The study results, though not surprising, should be a big wake up call to the NFL.  It proves that retired NFL players are much more likely to abuse/misuse prescription pain killers than ordinary people, and they don't always get the drugs from a legal source. 


As a health care professional, I am constantly put off by how little concern is given to NFL players bodies.  Concussions are especially concerning given the new research that shows early dementia in retired NFL players who suffered concussions.  The research at Washington U highlighted the high number of retired NFL players who misuse pain killers, the most common reasons being uncontrolled pain, undiagnosed concussions and heavy alcohol use. While it isn't surprising that a former professional athlete will have pain, he (or she) used his body to a greater extent in his 5-10 year career than an ordinary person will in, I'd guess, 60-70 years, the extent of this pain and the inability to control it is concerning. 


I am always put off when players play injured, especially after concussions.  While I understand that using their body is part of the game, I wonder if the players realize that there is life after the game, and their bodies aren't always worth the sacrifice of winning.  While winning an Superbowl (or World Series or NBA championship, etc) would be an amazing accomplishment, who cares if you spend the rest of your life addicted to pain medication or depressed or demented due to undiagnosed or untreated concussions?  Sure, the league is cracking down on helmet-to-helmet offenders.  But now they league wants to extend the regular season by 2 games?  Isn't that somewhat hypocritical? And for what purpose?  To make more money?  They don't make enough money as it is?  There isn't any other way to cut back without forcing already injured and fatigued players into 2 more grueling games where countless more injuries can occur?


I understand playing football is a choice, and to be honest, I love watching the game.  I just think that something in the NFL (and other professional sports)culture needs to change to make it okay for a player to sit out an additional game or two without the risk of losing a starting spot or even a spot on the team.  The NFL culture needs to stop forcing these players to be super human, because they are not.  They are just as human as the rest of us, body and soul.

#22 He's not a football player...he's a rock star!

365 Blog Challenge: Post #22

AP Photo/Jim Prisching

 In honor of this weekends playoff games, I wanted to dedicate this post to one of my favorite football players, Mr. Clay Matthews III.  To be clear, as a Minnesotan, it is somewhat sacrilege to cheer for the Green Bay Packers or any of their players.  Despite this, Mr. Matthews stood out to me because, like a few other current NFL players, he has ridiculously long hair that flows out from under his helmet during games.  Being a former long-haired athlete myself, I couldn't imagine playing soccer, basketball or even softball without having my hair pulled out of my face and off my neck.  Maybe it's some sort of tough guy status symbol in the NFL, like not wearing long sleeves in 20 degree games (crazy kids.)

Anyways, so Mr. Matthew's long flowing blond locks caught my eye, but not only that.  The guys acts like a rock star!  A testosterone loaded, adrenaline pumping rock star.  He looks more like he should be a member of Guns N' Roses than a Green Bay Packer, and despite this, he is an awesome player!  He has a 13+ sack season and is a force against any team the Packers play.  He was even on the Dan Patrick Show (A podcast my sports-nut husband listens to regularly), and he used the word "bestie".  And this makes me like him even more.

So Clay Matthews III, on this playoff weekend, as your team is beating the Chicago Bears 14-0 in the forth quarter, I salute you.  Also, I pray to God that you're not doing steroids and that you're just naturally a huge, rock star oaf who is a monster of a player!  Good luck Packers! *wince*

Damn Yankees

2 days after Independence day and I feel more independent already...or something. Must be the lack of class. The final went well and the last few days have been heaven, reading what I WANT to read. I just finished In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brian...a wonderful read!! I find I have a completely different view of military veterans now after working with some. Much more sympathy and understanding, not that I think I was ever antithetic towards them. But working closely with them opened my eyes a bit to just how intense being at war is. I even got chills when the announcer at the Yankees vs. Twins game asked the US Veteran's to stand so we could honor them before the national anthem. Probably not many people had that reaction.

Anyways, the Yankees vs. Twins game was GREAT! Scott and I were super nervous because we were wearing our Twins gear. We half expected people in the street to start heckling us. But when we arrived at Yankee Stadium (which is AMAZING by the way), we were surprised to see quite a few Twins fans there. Looks like all the former Minnesotans who now live in the city turned out to see the Twinkies play. We even say in front of a family from Rochester, Mn. Oh those Minnesotans. One of them even shared his Cracker Jacks with me because I went to the U of Mn.

Our $12 bleacher seat view...not too bad!!

We had seats #11 and 12 in our row...which happen to be right next to each other....but on different benches. Its ok, at least our knees touched.

Sadly, not everyone at the game could be quite so friendly. While we didn't get any beer poured on us, we did get heckled by some dumb, loserish 20-something guys. They booed us whenever we walked out to get food (which we did often because we obviously had to have pretzels, hot dogs and Dippin' Dots (ice cream), and no we couldn't get them all at once). They also shouted that the Twins sucked. I wasn't really upset more than I was annoyed and it made me nervous. I asked Scott if we could walk down another way to get out for our ice cream, and he said "Don't let them win!" I said I wasn't letting them win because they're lame anyways. I just didn't want to get yelled at when I walked by. But we walked by them again anyways, and I was already walking back up to smile and wink at them and show them my charismatic Minnesota charm, but that time they didn't say anything. Doesn't that always happen! It's basically like thinking of a really good come-back after the argument. Happens to be quite often. Guess my reflexes aren't so quick. Look at these cute Twins fans!!

Anyways, these hecklers made the Twin's 6-2 victory feel all the more amazing. It felt AWESOME to beat the Yankees in their own stadium. I felt so proud that I took a picture of the score to commemorate the game. And I totally called that Luis Rodriguez was going to get his second home run of the season that game. Ask Scott. He'll corroborate my story.

It says Twins-6, Yankees 2...just in case you can't see that.

So we've decided we may try to catch a Twins vs. Yankees game every year since we bring the Twinkies such good luck (seeing as how the lost to the Yankees the day before and the day after we were there).

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend. We are going to see the musical Xanadu tonight and then I'm meeting up with my dear old roommate JB who will be moving to the city next week. I love converting those Midwesterners. We'll nicen up this city yet! Happy Friday. :)