February Briefing

Sleep peels.  Smile at the chimera.  This morning I dreamed I found a black and white puppy–looked like an oreo cookie.  He was quiet, didn’t smell, didn’t slobber.  I wanted to keep him.  I was going to keep him, but an intense anxiety washed over me and I knew I couldn’t keep him.  So I put him back where I found him.*

I shall plod on with my sports(movies) contemplations after the Vancolympics have ended.  In the mean time, I’d like to do my bloggerly duty and call your attention to three noteworthy entries from new and old blogging friends.

Kevmoore from Cafe Crem on Austin, Texas.

Kansas Mediocrity and postcards NOT from the edge.

The Bearded Guy from dmzsports with 5 Canadian bucks.

Do you like sports? Do you like basketball? Do you like college basketball? Do you like Georgia Tech basketball?  If you answered “yes” to at least two of those questions, you may enjoy the chat I had with a friend and GT alum:

Friend: hey. do you see anything wrong with these tweets?
http://twitter.com/GTCoachHewitt
most fans are upset with his tweets, they think he is calling out the fanbase.
i don’t see anything wrong with them, he’s just trying to garner support.

me: I don’t see why it should mean anything to anyone who doesn’t cheer for GT basketball.
Friend: me neither! but the fanbase is tearing him apart because of it.
me: He might as well be saying “oh yeah, don’t forget to buy milk” or “don’t forget to bring 5 canned goods” or “don’t forget to come 30 minutes early.”

Friend: This made the AJC! in TWO separate articles!

http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2010/02/25/hewitt-tweets-about-fans-critics/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_tech_sports
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/02/25/a-word-of-advice-for-techs-hewitt-coach-more-tweet-less/

Well I am ticked off at the fans who are making a big deal of the coach trying to drum up support.  They are the reason this is plastered on ajc.com now, although mark bradley is outright criticizing coach hewitt.

me: there seems to be a disconnect btwn his intentions and the critical fans, as well as a chicken-and-the-egg situation.
“we’d support a team that at least won x number of games”
“they’d play better if they at least saw unanimous support”
Friend: I wonder if hewitt is going to stop using twitter after all this
me: One of two scenarios (or maybe two of two scenarios)
1. Coach didnt know the scope of his following. Sure, he can see how many people are following him but how active are the followers?
2. GT basketball wanted to stir up any kind of noise? good or bad?
2.5. Coach has lost a lot of confidence in his own abilities, his players abilities, or both and wanted to orchestrate a situation that would make a voluntary resignation the shortest route to an outcome? Flat out quitting would be too cowardly.

*I watched a few YT videos of baby pandas last night (possible explanation for the color of the puppy).

Lee It right where yoo found it

Much like Yoo said it not ming, this post was inspired by a conversation I had with a coworker.

Bruce, Brandon, Jason Scott, Ang, and Jet all have two things in common: they’re of Chinese descent and have

“Lee” (or “Li” in Jet’s case) for a last name.

As for the Korean Lees, there’s Lee Minwoo from Shinhwa.  Lee JungHyun.  Lee ByungHun.  Lee Sora.

~!~

But, as Spike, Sara*, Ben, Amy, and Robert E. will attest, not all Lees are Asian. I decided to compile a list of Asian Lees and non-Asian Lees.  Wikipedia has saved me lots of surmising and brainstorming.  Here, you will find links to Lee as an English last name, Lee as a Korean last name, and Lee as a Chinese last name.  Nevertheless, since Sitting Pugs is a sports blog, I’m going to put down “Lee” athletes on the collegiate and professional levels.

On va commencer avec Football.

And what d’ya know?  UGA center Dallas Lee is not Asian.  And by the way, UGA wiped off some Vanderbilt smiles 34 to 10.

Clyde Lee is a wide receiver for  Boston College, who happened to conk the heads of the players for NC State 54 to 20.

Andy Lee punts for the San Francisco 49ers.

Donald Lee is a tight end for the Green Bay Packers.

~!~

Way Joe Lee, a Malaysian, swims for GaTech.

Jing Li also swims for GaTech.

Ben Lee dives for Emory.

By the way, GaTech slingshots over Virginia Tech 28 to 23.

~!~

On to the NBA.  Meet David Lee and Courtney Lee.

As for the MLB, Carlos Lee, Cliff Lee, and Derek Lee.

NHL has Brian Lee.

MLS has none.

~!~

When I was googling, I came across a neat article about a Chinese-Canadian man’s experiences with having the last name of Lee.  Here’s an excerpt:

When Lee received his science degree from the University of B.C. in 1960, he was one of just three students named Lee in a graduating class of 445.  When he began applying for teaching positions in Ontario, he said, employers would often look at his resume and assume he was white — then look disappointed when a Chinese man showed up for the interview…And while Don Lee may have once been mistaken for English or Irish, the shoe is now very much on the other foot.  Mario Lee, a social planner at the City of Vancouver, is an immigrant from Chile who got his last name from his great-grandfather, who was Irish.  He said he regularly gets mail delivered to him at city hall that is written entirely in Chinese — and at election time gets hassled by Chinese-speaking campaigners targeting the ethnic vote.

~!~

*Google image search reveals that Sara(h) Lees come in Asian and non-Asian varieties.

College Football: GaTech uncorks UGA with pow

1893. Grover Cleveland was the President of the United States. Thomas Edison was forty-six years-old. F. Scott Fitzgerald wouldn’t be born for three years (he hadn’t even been conceived). DW Griffith was eighteen years-old. And, for our purposes today, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the UGA Bulldogs first felt the pangs of anything-you-can-do-i-can-do-better.

The stingers and the barkers doled out their best moves in Athens today. Would UGA win for the eighth time in a row? Would GaTech yank the handkerchief from the Bulldogs’ breast pocket? Televised by CBS, the first quarter started with a Bulldogs possession which led to a touchdown catch by tight end Tripp Chandler, who spent most of the season injured. UGA 7 and GaTech 0. In the bottom of the first quarter, UGA quarterback Matthew Stafford threw an interception–right into the arms of GaTech safety Morgan Burnett, who then ran thirty-five yards into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point snap wasn’t executed well (due to the rain perhaps?). An improv two-point conversion was not successful. UGA 7 and GaTech 6.

The second quarter started with a TD for UGA thanks to wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi. UGA 14 and GaTech 6. Running back Lucas Cox took the Yellow Jackets into the end zone on their next possession. A deliberate two-point conversion was foiled. UGA 14 and GaTech 12. It’s not my imagination. On UGA’s next go, Mohammed Massaquoi threw the ball in search of wide receiver AJ Green (the pass was incomplete). And then, Massaquoi swept himself forty-nine yards into the end zone. Bulldogs 21 and Yellow Jackets 12. The bottom of the second quarter ended with another Massaquoi TD. Going into halftime, UGA 28 and Yellow Jackets 12. Actually, it literally ended with GaTech quarterback Josh Nesbitt throwing an interception; the ball was grabbed by safety Reshad Jones.

Whatever happened in the Yellow Jackets locker room during halftime–a thundering speech by head coach Paul Johnson or just an austere stare down–worked very well. The third quarter started with GaTech running back Jonathan Dwyer running sixty yards into the end zone for a touchdown!!! He also made it into the end zone for a two-point conversion. Bulldogs 28 and Yellow Jackets 20. GaTech, capitalizing on their newfound electrifying umph, increased their points with a TD by running back Roddy Jones. Another two-point conversion was effectively attempted–the goal line broken by Nesbitt. Both teams tied with 28 points. UGA, on their next possession, had the ball for one play. Bulldogs running back Richard Samuel was ferrying the ball back, and as he was tackled, the prolate spheroid fell out from his grasp. GaTech recovered the fumbled ball; Jonathan Dwyer ran it into the end zone one play later. The extra point kick was good. The Yellow Jackets took the lead with 35 to 28 points. GaTech kicker Scott Blair sent out a field goal towards the bottom of the third quarter. Yellow Jackets 38 and Bulldogs 28. The third-quarter-ending play had UGA running back Knowshon Moreno hobbling off the field (but he was able to go back in in the fourth quarter).

The fourth quarter started with Moreno cramming the ball into the end zone. GaTech 38 and UGA 35. Jaybo Shaw had to step in for Josh Nesbitt when the game clock was about nine minutes. Two plays later, Nesbitt was back in the game. Roddy Jones increased GaTech’s lead with a forty-five yard rushing TD halfway through the fourth quarter. C’etait magnifique! Yellow Jackets 45 and Bulldogs 35. UGA was not about to let their rivalry victory reign slip from under their chins. Aided by successful connections between Stafford and Moreno, the Bulldogs got to the red zone and AJ Green put the ball into the end zone. GaTech 45 and UGA 42. Final score. FINAL SCORE. For the first time since he’s been head coach at UGA, Mark Richt and his Bulldogs lost to the Yellow Jackets.

Observations & Miscellania:

1. Craig Bolerjack and Trev Albert something or another provided commentary.

2. Both teams were on the field before the game, emulating mosh pit frenzy.

3. Brief shots of the spectators revealed a lot of red.

4. The Yellow Jackets wore white jerseys, the Bulldogs red.

5. The interception that Matthew Stafford was the best thing that could’ve happened to UGA. The Bulldogs offense was on fire after that move.

6. One of the UGA fans wore a Grinch mask and some plaid.

7. Product Placement break: Matthew Stafford holding a Coke cup on the sidelines in the top of the third quarter (after the play where one of GaTech’s defensive players had to hobble slowly off the field). I guess a Gatorade cup wouldn’t have matched his uniform.

8. By the bottom of the fourth quarter, the offensive Bulldogs’ white pants had turned greenish-gray on account of contact with the turf. The defensive Yellow Jackets’ white pants, on the other hand, were still quite white.

9. Four minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, each team had only one time-out. UGA used their last time-out with ninety seconds left. GaTech took their final time-out with forty-eight seconds on the clock.

Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.

Pic cred: google image search

<~>

Oh, and New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself last night. He’ll live.

Virginia Tech won against Virginia.

College Football: Texas Tech mini milanos Oklahoma State

But first. I had my oil changed when I woke up and then spent all day looking for boots. The first retail stop yielded a dress; the second stop produced a jacket; the third stop turned up a watch (which I had been meaning to obtain), and, finally, two pairs of boots (one black and one brown from the kids section!, good Odin, my feet are small). I also watched the last minute in the fourth quarter of Alabama vs. LSU game at the third retail stop. Both teams had 21 points, and because Alabama’s field goal attempt was unsuccessful, the game went into overtime (which I did not watch). Alabama ended up winning by six points.

<~>

Two more points of interest:

GaTech couldn’t get it together to fend off UNC.

UGA escaped from Kentucky’s offensive thrust.

<~>

I started watching the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys pigskin pillow fight at halftime. Around nine minutes into the third quarter, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree made a touchdown catch. Oklahoma State’s running back Kendall Hunter got into the end zone on his team’s next possession, but a bad snap prevented the execution of the extra point. Red Raiders 35 and Cowboys 20. Towards the bottom of the third quarter, Crabtree made another TD catch (his third of the evening). Texas Tech 42 and Oklahoma State 20.

The fourth quarter progressed halfway and then Red Raiders running back Shannon Woods ran into the end zone for a TD. He did it again at the bottom of the second quarter. Texas Tech 56 and Oklahoma State 20. Final score.

Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.

College Football: UGA demythologizes LSU

UGA’s Bulldogs went west to visit fellow SEC rivals, the LSU Tigers. Nearly 93,000 spectators were in attendance. Broadcast on CBS, the first quarter started with LSU’s quarterback Jarrett Lee throwing an interception. UGA’s linebacker Darryl Gamble nabbed that ball and ran forty-yards for a touchdown. Bulldogs 7 and Tigers 0. LSU answered that turn of events with a TD of their own, thanks to wide receiver Brandon LaFell. 7 to 7. Yes, glory did have a hallelujah–the Bulldogs pounced back with a TD, courtesy of fullback Fred Munzenmaier.

UGA increased its lead again at the top of the second quarter with a TD catch by split end Kenneth Harris. Bulldogs 21 and Tigers 7. LSU increased their numbers with a fifty-eight yard field goal by kicker Colt David. Halfway through the second quarter, LSU running back Charles Scott put the ball into the end zone. Bulldogs 21 and Tigers 17. UGA safety Reshad Jones intercepted Jarrett Lee’s pass around four minutes in the second quarter. The Bulldogs tacked on three more points with a field goal. 24 to 17.

The third quarter started well for UGA–wide receiver A.J. Green put a touchdown on the board. Bulldogs 31 and Tigers 17. The bottom of the quarter included a field goal attempt by Colt David that went wide right. UGA’s running back Knowshon Moreno ran sixty-eight yards into the end zone for a TD on the Bulldogs’ next possession. UGA 38 and LSU 17. Following Moreno’s TD, LSU’s Charles Scott made it into the end zone. Bulldogs 38 and Tigers 24. At the very bottom of the third quarter, UGA kicker Blair Walsh missed a fifty-five yard field goal…quite blatantly missed it too.

The fourth quarter started with Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Stafford scurrying into the end zone for a touchdown. UGA 45 and LSU 24. The Tigers were not letting up any of their energy or determination, as evidenced by running back Keiland Williams’s TD. UGA 45 and LSU 31. Darryl Gamble intercepted another Lee pass for a TD in the bottom of the fourth quarter. But LSU was still not giving up. Brannan LaFell ran forty some-odd yards for a TD. Bulldogs 52 and Tigers 38. Final score.

Observations & Miscellania:

1. The opening montage announcer guy’s monologue took the form of boxing contender introductions.

2. Verne Lundquist, one of the commentators, continued with the boxing metaphor, remarking that the game carried significance much like a “championship fight.” Gary Danielson was the other commentator.

3. Loran’s Best got an extreme close-up after returning from commercial break following UGA’s field goal in the bottom of the second quarter.

4. This game marked UGA’s eleventh appearance at Tiger Stadium playing against LSU. They also scored the most number of points today than they have in previous games. I guess the 31 points as of the middle of the third quarter broke the track record.

5. As the commentators were talking about Knowshon Moreno’s 140 yards rushed today (after returning from the commercial break proceeding Moreno’s third quarter TD), the camera was on a medium close-up of LSU fans. Two men were in the middle of the screen. The man on screen right extended his middle finger to the camera (at which point, the camera zoomed back).

Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.

<~>

A technicality, semantics, or a last resort to keep high school football alive in Atlanta. When budgets get slashed, everyone suffers. From no more field trips to scaled back arts programs. Nobody wants to see high school football affected, n’-est-ce pas? In economically brighter times, I suppose this kind of practice would be scandalous–not unfortunate but understandable.

Do you remember Ian Johnson?

Virginia beat GaTech. 24 to 17.