tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32826101746687458322024-03-13T21:33:33.040-07:00Out of BoundsEamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-45867332347002638912012-03-01T21:18:00.000-08:002012-03-01T21:18:58.533-08:003 Days! That's All That's Left! Do We Really Want Someone From St. John's Winning This?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-063W6AfapUo/T1BX7PH98zI/AAAAAAAAAEg/pX4CWRREFyI/s1600/VOTE-FOR-MIGGY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-063W6AfapUo/T1BX7PH98zI/AAAAAAAAAEg/pX4CWRREFyI/s320/VOTE-FOR-MIGGY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> So it's officially Friday morning, and as of right now, Miggy is tied for the lead in the Volvo challenge. Now I don't know if he's allowed to disclose information, but guess what? I'm not in the competition, so I can say anything I want. Miggy is tied at 44% of the votes with some guy from St. John's. That's right, St. John's! Do we really want someone from St. John's to beat our friend Miggy? I don't think so. So click the link at the bottom, scroll down and to the left of the screen is the voting. You don't need to sign up, there's no registration. All you have to do is click the button next to Miggy and then click Submit. Can't you go out of the way to spend 10 seconds for Miggy? I know we all can. So get going. Let's get this for Miggy, if for no other reason than to make sure the St. John's guy doesn't win! Vote for Miggy!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll" target="_blank">http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll</a></div>Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-42269661188321408082012-02-22T16:08:00.054-08:002013-06-01T11:24:33.171-07:00As The Shot Clock Winds Down<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eUo20Zr_5mE/T0qHoSs4dpI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/xyPuoFhB_Tk/s1600/2637_557335253582_6104286_34551323_3680121_n.jpg"></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey everyone, my name is Miggy…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I dunno how you would not have known by now, but just in case…</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was selected to represent</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b><span style="background: white;">Villanova</span></b> as 1 of 16 contestants in this year's <span style="background: white; color: #2e0a08;">Biggest </span></span><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Big East</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="background: white; color: #2e0a08;">Fan</span><span style="color: #4f81bd;"> </span><span style="background: white;">contest...</span> <b><u><span style="background: white; color: #548dd4;">Volvo</span></u></b> is sponsoring the competition and giving a brand new </span><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><b><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Volvo S60</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to the winner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is the LAST blog challenge for the VolvoBigEast competition…(cueing the sad music)…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Challenge #8: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recap your Volvo Biggest Fan of the Big East Experience.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Preface: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This may be the toughest of the prompts given for the contest yet. How do I justify summarizing what has been my world for the last five months into one single post? Thinking about it more and more, I actually want to write this post though, not just to relive memories, but as kind of a guideline for the next wave of contestants who get to represent their school, the Big East, and Volvo in this same contest, like a ‘pay it forward’ moment… heads up, some of this gets really personal, but it’s worth it to show the true experience of a participant in the Volvo Big East Fan competition…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(just a head’s up, this is one epic of a post)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m not sure if anyone if familiar with the Good Idea, Bad Idea segments in Animaniacs…</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good Idea:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Remembering the past…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was Friday, December 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2010…I remember this day not just it was a special in terms of Emily (I’ll mention a bit more about her later), but it was the day of last season’s Holy War…was hanging around Villanova for the weekend for a Singers’ concert, just surfing online in one of the computer labs killing the day…checking on Twitter, I see a tweet from Brian Ewart (@Brian_Ewart, at the time was @Brianisawesome)…not only is he the first source I usually look to in any Villanova sports topic, he was last year’s Villanova rep in the Volvo Big East contest…the tweet basically said: Find where I’m located on campus and get this-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So I quickly raced down to Connelly Center and found Brian sitting with a few thermoses on the table…ended up talking to him about the contest, the S60, Villanova basketball, the Holy War, mutual friends…it was a cool meeting Brian since I was following the contest myself, hoping to one day have the chance to be in his shoes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fast-forward to September 21<sup>st</sup>, 2011…I was packing up for a friend’s bachelor weekend...I suddenly receive a Facebook message from Amanda Schlesier:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey! Really random question but I was invited to a ‘biggest fan in the big east’ competition, any interest in repping nova?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It took me a couple minutes to break away from packing mode and fully take in that message… I Received an e-mail the next day about the contest, and it all took off from there…during that entire weekend in Pittsburgh for my friend’s celebration, I just kept thinking about the contest, about the car, about the competition, about representing so many more entities than myself…I reached out to Brian as soon as I found out I was selected, and he was more than helpful…between taking me under his wing during Media Day and just answering whatever questions I come up with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">…just imagine the impact a few random occurrences have… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So my first round of thanks goes to Brian, (who set the trend that Villanova’s rep has to be an avid curler) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And to Amanda, for entering me in the competition, along with hanging out during gamewatches</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thinking the Volvo S60 is just a “car”…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So yes, the ultimate prize is a brand new, sophisticated Volvo S60:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That said, with our countless blurbs about its features, customizing your own </span><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><b><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Volvo S60</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, learning new tidbits on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolvocarsUS"><b><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Facebook</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/VolvoCars_US"><b><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Twitter</span></b></a><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">but without driving it yourself, you still don’t get the full picture…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You probably remember that I am without a car for my disposal…in fact, I did not receive my license until after I graduated Villanova (always would be getting looks at the bars when I had to pull out my driver’s permit)…but what I don’t talk about is the vehicle accidents I’ve experienced, especially one while I was at Villanova that still stands out to this day…it’s because of these memories that there was an initial hesitance to pick up driving…the cars that I would learn in didn’t give me much comfort either…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You could ask my ‘alma mater weekend’ sidekick, Anthony, about this, but It was actually getting behind the wheel of that S60, actually noticing all, and I mean all, of those safety features work in motion, that started to make me feel secure in the driver’s seat…yeah, there were all these other countless features I could talk about with the car, but that was a very emotional experience for me actually driving the two-plus hours down to Villanova for the first time, and I have to point out to the safety technology of the S60 for helping me throughout the trip…I am much more confident and calm in my own driving abilities (thanks to that weekend); however, it would be an added comfort to drive a car that looks out for you like the S60, "There's no place like a Volvo"…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So my next round of thanks goes to Volvo, for allowing me to represent in this competition and with the chance to drive (and hopefully win) the Volvo S60 </span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good Idea:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finding new ways to branch out…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So obviously in this competition, each of us competitors have the same main resources to rely upon…the Facebook, the Twitter, the blog, etc, etc…each of us have our separate and distinct networks of friends, family and supporters to rally in your cause…you have the aid in the form of custom VolvoBigEast goodies to give out…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That said, individually, past the social media sites, the chain e-mails, the giveaways, we also have our other ways to rally support…when not writing on my blog (and getting different types of audiences to visit the blog each week), my focus was to spend a LOT of effort and dedication spending time outside the house, because being social also means not hanging around the laptop and rather getting exposure by meeting people face-to-face (plus, I mean you can still access the social media sites and such from the cell phone anyway to still carry those channels during downtime)…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From watching games in Madison Square Garden, to local gamewatches, to hitting up bars, high school reunions, grammar school reunions, the pickup game at the park, the always awkward elevator pitch, even during business meetings, I would have to justify every excursion by making a full-fledged pitch about the contest, the prize and my involvement in the competition, all while wearing the Volvo Big East hat around (having a broken TV at home adds to the motivation I guess)…it literally became my job, my identity, my life for the past few months …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hi, my name is Miggy, I’m representing Villanova in this VolvoBigEastFan contest, and I really need your help winning a new Volvo S60…what’s that? You don’t believe me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Pull out my cell phone and shows video)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“How can you help? The least I could ask for is your vote in the competition…how do you vote, you ask? Do you have a smartphone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(QR Code directs to mybigeastvolvo.com, or alternatively just tell them to go to mybigeastvolvo.com the old-fashion way)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Yeah, my piece of work looked more like a ransom note than an ad, but to be honest, it worked very well as a conversation starter with people)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So that has been me since the contest started…everyone else has their own unique ways of grabbing support, and it truly amazes me what the sixteen of us come up during this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My thanks goes to all the random people I have met throughout this competition…whoever you people are out there, thanks for giving me the chance to deliver my selling pitch</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad idea:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Underestimating your influence…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When you take on the role of one of the competitors in this contest, you’re not just representing yourself anymore…you’re representing your school, the Big East Conference and Volvo…you may not think it is a big deal, but there have been countless others who would like to disagree with you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many stories of friends and even strangers I would run into, calling me nicknames like “Mr. Big East”, “A Miggy-Flavored Big East”, chanting my name at parties I’m not even the recipient of, or just wanting to talk to me about the competition, about Villanova...even this past weekend I was in the restroom in Wells Fargo Center after the OT loss to Notre Dame, and some guy wanted to shake my hand before I even washed them...(shiver)...I'm not saying I became as legendary as Villanova's resident Jedi, Mendel Doug, but I did notice the word about my involvement did reach to people...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The best story I can tell I didn’t actually witness…one of my friends (I shall keep anonymous for reasons you’ll understand), went into a job interview with a company (which I should also keep anonymous). During the discussion, the interviewer told my friend she was a Villanova grad…for some reason, the first words to come out of my friend’s mouth were, “Speaking of Villanova, my friend Miggy representing Villanova in a Big East fan contest; he’s trying to win a Volvo.” Luckily, not only did my friend not embarrass himself, the interviewer actually asked for the website so she and her family could vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Understand that there are people want you to succeed…whether because they know you personally or want something Villanova to win (especially with our basketball team’s struggles this year…) or just because they want to help (yes, people help for the sake of helping, it’s a lost art)…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My next round of thanks goes to my friends and family, from coast to coast and all over the world, without you all, I don’t think I would have truly grasped how much being in this position means…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Eamon O’Meara, for giving me the chance to contribute to, as a Filipino-Australian New Yorker who graduated out of a Philadelphia school, a Boston-based sports blog…I look forward to continue to writing in Out Of Bounds</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Sean Fernandes, for <u>relentlessly</u> getting me as much support in every phase of the competition, to even just keeping me hyped to keep working at posts when I’m utterly exhausted</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-Mike Muckian, for hosting that tailgate just for my Alma Mater weekend over at Nova, to always trying to get me to make the trip every single Nova game with an extra ticket</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-The Road Trip Crew (Charlie, Mark, Anthony, Shashika), for every txt, e-mail, couch for me to crash in, from at Nova to Staten Island, to Yale, all the way to the Congo (I dunno how you keep have time to sleep when you’re sending me these e-mails Shika), you guys always have helped me throughout the years and during the competition as well</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-The Augustinian Army, for having the back of an old Wildcat…each game you keep on proving how great of a fanbase you are, and you obviously showed your support during my involvement in the contest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Good Idea:</b></span></u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Balancing your life during the contest… </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So one of the most difficult parts about being in this competition was making room in your life for everyone else involved...yes, you should really give this contest your best effort, but make sure you make efforts to keep a balanced life as well, as I have learned…this next part goes to Emily, still going to Nova, who from the time this contest began, I was not able to see until, ironically, the Alma Mater weekend (another thing I don’t like advertising…)…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s funny because the same day I met Brian and his VolvoBigEastFan participation, I randomly ran into Emily later back in the computer lab and it was the day we kinda first established an actual connection…yeah, the past few months have been hard, but we’re both hoping it pays off at the end, since right now it’s a three-train, one-bus and almost four-hour commute from my house in Queens to hers in Landsdale…hoping the S60 could save us a bit of time, like a hour and a half… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So thank you Emily for putting up with everything over the past few months…</span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bad Idea:</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thinking your fellow competitors are your mortal enemies…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes, I know everyone is after the same goal of winning this contest…that said, remember these are people, just like you, with friends (some of them your mutual friends), experiences, personalities, stories…from all the jokes, to the write-ups about your team in their blogs, to the many blown tries of setting up happy hour, to media day, to the conversations on Twitter, to Facebook to our e-mail chain…I like thinking that this is a new family that I’d added to my life…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So here’s to the Volvo Big East Family, to someday finally getting to hang out during a happy hour:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Top row, left to right)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li><b style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lisa Kelly, Notre Dame (@4LeafCloverGirl)</span></b></li>
<li><b style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brian Moran, Marquette (@brianmoran)</span></b></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Chas Rich, Pittsburgh (@ChasRich27)</b></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Bobby Burdette, West Virginia (@Mountaineer)</b></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>David Pean, Providence (@friarblog)</b></span></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tim Johnstone, Louisville (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">@CardinalLaws)</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesse Smith, Cincinnati </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">@FrontOfficeNews)</span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>(Bottom row, left to right)</b></span></div>
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<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Marianne Aurelio, DePaul (@MarianneAurelio) </span></b></b></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-weight: 800;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Me) Miggy Gutierrez, Villanova (@miggyflavored)</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 100%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stephanie Snowden, Georgetown (@YouGotSnowd)</span></b></b></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;">Nicole Hering, Syracuse (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;">@nicolehering)</span></li>
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<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mike Gambardella, St John’s (@BIG3Sports)</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christopher Hall, UConn (@CtopherHall)</span></span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Zlata Faerman, Rutgers (@ZlataThoughts)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 800; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew Staton, USF (@TheBullRush)</span></span></span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/11/big-east-dream-team.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 1 – Big East Dream Team</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/11/wildcat-weekend.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 2 – Villanova Must Do’s</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/12/bigger-east-road-trip.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 3 – Big East Road Trip</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/12/building-wildcat-welcome-wagon.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 4 – Customizing the Volvo S60</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/01/tale-of-traditions.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 5 - Traditions</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/01/gamewatch.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 6 - Gamewatch</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
<h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/02/big-east-greatest.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Challenge 7 – Garden30</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/01/volvo-big-east-fan-weekend.html"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Alma Mater Weekend</span></a></span><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you all for these past few months…win, lose or draw, I look forward to how this competition shakes out…V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-38657302168680006532012-02-08T17:22:00.000-08:002012-02-13T07:37:22.717-08:00Big East Greatest<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Hello everyone, Miggy finding another way to invade your screen…in case you</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> <span style="background:white">haven’t been paying attention,</span> <span style="background:white">I was selected to represent</span> <b><span style="background:white">Villanova</span></b> as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(46, 10, 8); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Biggest</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(46, 10, 8); "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="color:#548DD4; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Big East</span></b></a> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(46, 10, 8); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Fan</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(79, 129, 189); "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">contest...the gracious people at</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> </span><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(84, 141, 212); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Volvo</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet <a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><b><span style="color:#4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Volvo S60</span></b></a> to the winner. (And here’s the <a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><b><span style="color:#4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">video</span></b></a> to prove it)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">So</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> along with the voting that started at <a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><b><span style="color:#548DD4;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">mybigeastvolvo.com</span></b></a> (cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 7<sup>th </sup>of 8 challenge posts). Let's add on the fact the contestants will be/have been sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game…you can see my trip Volvo Big East Fan trip back to Villanova </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(54, 95, 145); "><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/01/volvo-big-east-fan-weekend.html"><span style="color:#365F91">here</span></a>.</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://photos.ecarlist.com/fC/xc/ZI/hO/vF/Xu/qx/HY/rZ/3E/vQ_640.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://photos.ecarlist.com/fC/xc/ZI/hO/vF/Xu/qx/HY/rZ/3E/vQ_640.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Challenge #7: </b>List the Top 10 Moments, Teams and Players in Big East History…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Preface: </b>So the purpose of this challenge is to give homage to the Big East campaign known as Garden30…basically, the promotion is to honor 30 years of Big East play in Madison Square Garden…</p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/DesktopModules/DigArticle/MediaHandler.ashx?portalid=5&moduleid=2430&mediaid=34166&width=587&height=331"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 587px; height: 329px;" src="http://www.bigeast.org/DesktopModules/DigArticle/MediaHandler.ashx?portalid=5&moduleid=2430&mediaid=34166&width=587&height=331" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span><br /><a href="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID9324/images/okafor(1).jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">You can go to the Garden30 website<b><span style="color:#365F91; mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191"> <a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/GardenBEThirty.aspx"><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191">here</span></a></span></b> and vote for the best Big East stuff in MSG…considering the site has all the MSG Big East pieces all listed in their site, let’s take this question broader and list the 10 best moments/teams/players throughout the history of the Big East…</p><p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Top 10 Big East Moments</b>… (* denotes MSG Moment, in honor of Garden30)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">10) 1988- Pitt’s Jerome Lane versus Providence: “Send it in, Jerome!”…one of the greatest highlights ever witnessed, anyone who hears that phrase can only picture this moment…</p></div><div><br /></div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sqSwZgpOad8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">*9) 2010- West Virginia’s Big East Tourney Run & De’sean Butler: One last-second winner in a tournament is incredible enough, but for the Mountaineers’ De’sean Butler to make 2 game-winners, including the decisive bucket in the Big East Championship Game, that type of run deserved to make this list</p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.171659!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.171659!/img/httpImage/image.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/today/2009/06/smb_090612_sdc_gmac.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">*8) 2006- Syracuse’s Big East Tourney Run & Gerry McNamara: It was bad enough that Syracuse had a losing record, endangering itself from missing the NCAA Tournament, but it was especially worse for Gerry McNamara, who was labeled throughout the college basketball world as “overrated” and was playing on an injured leg throughout the Big East Tournament…yet through all that, McNamara sunk 3 after 3 in the most clutch moments, propelling the Orange to win 4 games in 4 days </p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/today/2009/06/smb_090612_sdc_gmac.jpg"><img src="http://blog.syracuse.com/today/2009/06/smb_090612_sdc_gmac.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 188px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.112068!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">7) 1990- UConn over Clemson: Sweet 16 game, UConn down 1 and with 1 second left, Tate George pulls off this…</p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-4CxbjRXwhY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">6) 2005- Conference Re-alignment: Strange that I bring this moment up, because it came at the light of 3 Big East schools leaving the conference…however, from its loss, the Big East found a way to add 5 schools, a move to show the rest of the nation it would not falter, yet rather find ways to strengthen itself in the face of adversity…the actions in 2005 set the precedent for the current re-alignment: teams leaving would only open an opportunity for the Big East to add more schools </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">*5) 2011- UConn’s post-season: Winning the Big East Tournament? Sounds good… Winning all 5 tournament games in 5 days? Sounds better… Winning the entire NCAA tournament right after that? Led by Kemba Walker, who set a Big East Tournament record with 130 points throughout the tourney and was awarded the NCAA Tourney’s Most Outstanding Player, the Huskies found their way into one of the greatest post-season runs in history</p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.112068!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.112068!/img/httpImage/image.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 180px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/trutv.com/graphics/blog/gallery/25-craziest-march%20madness-moments/13-villanova-georgetown.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">4) 2009- Villanova over Pittsburgh in Elite Eight: Two Big East teams facing deep in the Big Dance…and the result?</p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/syJ8MVtOC_s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">*3) 2009- Syracuse over UConn, Big East Tourney: 6 Overtimes…the second longest game ever in NCAA history…and if having an entire <b><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191"><a href="http://sixovertimes.com/"><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor:accent1; mso-themeshade:191">website</span></a></span></b> dedicated to this game doesn’t show how epic this game was, I don’t know what will</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">2) 1985- Villanova over Georgetown in NCAA championship: The Final Four that year had 3 Big East teams (the 4<sup>th</sup>, Memphis, is joining the Big East soon…welcome Memphis), a feat in itself…two Big East teams in the championship game, also remarkable…however, when one thinks of a Cinderella story, this may be one of first stories to come to mind…Villanova, an #8 seed, was up against the defending champion and #1 seed Georgetown (fun fact, this was the last title game featuring 2 private universities for 25 years)…against all odds, Rollie Massimino, Ed Pinckney and the rest of Wildcats shot a BLAZING 78 percent and upset John Thompson Jr., Patrick Ewing and the juggernaut Hoyas…in doing so, Villanova became the lowest seed to ever win a title, a record which still stands…that single game defined the Big East as a conference...</p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/trutv.com/graphics/blog/gallery/25-craziest-march%20madness-moments/13-villanova-georgetown.jpg"><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/trutv.com/graphics/blog/gallery/25-craziest-march%20madness-moments/13-villanova-georgetown.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 180px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/~/media/A6C3CD3274D946908867888CD59E9816.ashx?w=251"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">*1) 1979- The Creation of the Big East & Dave Gavitt’s reign: without the late Dave Gavitt along several other athletic administrators, this entire conference would not even exist…I mean Gavitt was part of creating USA’s 1992 Olympic “Dream Team”, but the former Providence coach was known around the college world as the first Big East commissioner…during his tenure, all original nine Big East schools made the NCAA tourney, six schools found their way into the Final Four, and formed the relationship between the Big East and Madison Square Garden, leading to the Big East Tournament hosted every year in MSG (hence the Garden30 commemoration)...therefore, the top moment in the Big East would have to be its first </p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/~/media/A6C3CD3274D946908867888CD59E9816.ashx?w=251"><img src="http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/~/media/A6C3CD3274D946908867888CD59E9816.ashx?w=251" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4qp534W6S1qbs6n7o1_400.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Top 10 Big East Teams</b>…yeah, the trend is if you made the NCAA title game, you did something right…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">10) 1982 Georgetown- Georgetown moved its home games that year with more fans attending , and the team responded by winning the Big East Tournament and reaching the NCAA Finals…and in that game, Patrick Ewing versus Michael Jordan, Jordan shot the game-winner and Fred Brown passed to UNC’s James Worthy, giving the Tar Heels the title</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">9) 1989 Seton Hall- A point away in overtime from winning it all, the Pirates still made their only NCAA Championship Game that year, surprising teams such as Indiana, UNLV and Duke in the process…it was more stunning how incredible of a run Seton Hall had since during the preseason they were picked to finished seventh in the Big East </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">8) 1987 Syracuse- This Orange team won the Big East Regular Season, and was this play from Indiana’s Keith Smart from winning the National Championship</p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2dgkmikdVM8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">7) 2003 Syracuse – Alas, Syracuse did get their redemption, and won the NCAA title in 2003, also in New Orleans where the lost the championship game in 1987…throw in a Big East Regular Season championship, not a bad year for Melo, Warrick, McNamara and coach Boeheim </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">6) 2004 UConn- Winning both the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, the latter surprising when knowing versus Duke in the Final Four, the Huskies were down 8 with less than 3 minutes left…however, Emeka Okafor led the rally, and later was awarded the Most Outstanding Player when UConn defeated Georgia Tech in the championship.</p><br /><a href="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID9324/images/okafor(1).jpg"><img src="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID9324/images/okafor(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 176px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.171659!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">5) 1985 Georgetown- #1 ranking by both polls, defended their Big East Tournament championship, and yet I just couldn’t put them above the next one on the list…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">4) 1985 Villanova- this team, winning as the #8 seed over such a heralded Hoyas team, defined the term “Cinderella” </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">3) 2011 UConn- Again, winning all 5 of their Big East Tourney games in 5 days (4 versus top-25 teams), then when reaching the NCAA Championship game, holding Butler to an abysmal 18.8% shooting percentage to the title. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">2) 1999 UConn- Winning the Big East regular season, the Big East Tournament and their first NCAA Tournament, yet these Huskies were the #1 team in the country for more than half the year, yet were 9.5-point underdogs in the championship game versus Duke, the biggest underdogs (in terms of betting spreads) to win the championship game </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">1) 1984 Georgetown- This team was nicknamed Hoya Paranoia after holding opponents to 39.5% shooting; the lowest opponent field goal % in the nation…won the Big East Regular Season, the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament </p><br /><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4qp534W6S1qbs6n7o1_400.jpg"><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4qp534W6S1qbs6n7o1_400.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 188px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-10.png"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Top 10 Big East Players</b>…most of this list and reasoning borrowed from my first Volvo Big East Fan Post, <a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/11/big-east-dream-team.html"><b>The Big East Dream Team</b></a>…if it’s not broke (and wins you a challenge), why not?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">10) Alonzo Mourning- 3.8 blocks a game…that’ll get you 3 Defensive Player of the Year Awards alone and put you as the 4<sup>th</sup> all-time blocks leader…throw in 16.7 ppg on 56.6 fg% and 8.6 rpg, that’ll get you a Big East POY award, a 2<sup>nd</sup>-team All-American and a 1<sup>st</sup>-team All American</p><br /><a href="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-10.png"><img src="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/picture-10.png" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 173px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/115/edpinckney_display_image.jpg?1308193688"></a><br /><a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/ncaa.syracuse.iconic.photos/images/sherman-douglas.75887117.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">9) Ed Pinckney- Yep, more tributes to 1985…but Pinckney did shoot 60.4% from the field throughout his tenure at Nova…most people can’t do that shooting hoops in an empty gym…14.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.0 bpg and 1.5 spg, all worth mentioning </p><br /><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/115/edpinckney_display_image.jpg?1308193688"><img src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/115/edpinckney_display_image.jpg?1308193688" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">8) Kerry Kittles- Villanova’s all-time leader in points (2,243) and steals (227), Second & First Team All-American, and had an obscene number or rebounds by a guard (715). Kittles and Bits stayed for all four years, averaging 39.4% from 3-point land. </p><br /><img src="http://vuhoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/SG-Kerry-Kittles.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">7) Sherman Douglas- The Big East assists leader (6<sup>th</sup> all-time when he left) and accredited for perfecting the “floater”; The General would also put up a stat line of 14.9 ppg on 53.8 fg%, 1.7 spg, and a 33.2 3-pt% </p><br /><a href="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/ncaa.syracuse.iconic.photos/images/sherman-douglas.75887117.jpg"><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/ncaa.syracuse.iconic.photos/images/sherman-douglas.75887117.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://turbodaddy.net/beantown/wp-content/uploads/Ray-Allen-Uconn.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">6) Ray Allen- Big East POY and First Team All-American, Allen has a god-like 44.8 3-pt% through his 3 years at UConn. Add 19.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.6 spg career averages and you have yourselves a top-10 player here</p><br /><a href="http://turbodaddy.net/beantown/wp-content/uploads/Ray-Allen-Uconn.jpg"><img src="http://turbodaddy.net/beantown/wp-content/uploads/Ray-Allen-Uconn.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/587/451/394681_display_image.jpg?1293118434"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">5) Richard Hamilton- Rip enjoyed accolades of Big East POYs, a 2<sup>nd</sup> team & 1<sup>st</sup> team All-American, and was NCAA Tourney Most Outstanding Player in 1999. 19.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 spg, and 37.8 3-pt% just some of the stats which help prove the case he (and his mask) belong in this list</p><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/587/451/394681_display_image.jpg?1293118434"><img src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/587/451/394681_display_image.jpg?1293118434" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/269/coleman_display_image.jpg?1308194362"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">4) Allen Iverson- of course we ain’t talking about practice (threw in that video at the end for you people at the Internetz to relive), but between that crossover of his, Big East awards Rookie of the Year and 2-time Defensive POY, and a First-Team All-American…with his 23.0 ppg during his two years, he could have easily have been one of the all-time Big East scoring leaders, and his 3.2 steals per game is unfathomable…in fact, he ended up finishing as 10<sup>th</sup> all-time in the NCAA steals-wise, when again, he only played for 2 years </p><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eGDBR2L5kzI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">3) Derrick Coleman- Another player with Big East POY, Rookie of the Year, and a First Team All-American under his belt, Coleman had one of the highest rebound totals in NCAA history (1,537), along with third-most double-doubles in the game…in fact, he basically averaged a double-double 15.0 ppg and 10.7 rpg, along with 2.2 bpg, 1.3 spg and a 56.8 fg%</p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/269/coleman_display_image.jpg?1308194362"><img src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/020/269/coleman_display_image.jpg?1308194362" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://johnnyjungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mullin.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">2) Chris Mullin- Where do Mullin’s accomplishments end? Three-time Big East POY, Second Team & First Team All-American, and National Player of the Year honors…19.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 spg, 55.0% from the field and 84.8% from the line, Mullin had such an all-around game to compliment his 2,440 point total </p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://johnnyjungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mullin.jpg"><img src="http://johnnyjungle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mullin.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 160px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://images.covers.com/editorial/2010/383x165/ewing_georgetown111110.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">1) Patrick Ewing- OK, let’s see…Big East Rookie of the Year, Four-time Big East Defensive POY, two-time Big East Player of the Year, three-time First Team All-American, NCAA Tourney Most Outstanding Player, and National Player of the Year…he was that good…15.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.4 bpg, 1.2 spg, 62.0 fg%...honestly, I wouldn’t know how else to convince you his ranking of #1 on this list...unless the commercial helps… </p></div><div><a href="http://images.covers.com/editorial/2010/383x165/ewing_georgetown111110.jpg"><img src="http://images.covers.com/editorial/2010/383x165/ewing_georgetown111110.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://media.nj.com/njsports_impact/photo/john-thompson-iii-generic-head-dfbfbd0122b393a8_medium.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oZ5eljJhYKY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">(And now a commercial...because this post deserves a break)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Tired of mindless memes, Farmville requests and pointless updates filling your timelines? Follow Volvo on <b><span style="color:#365F91; mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolvocarsUS"><span style="color:#365F91; mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191">Facebook</span></a></span></b> and <b><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor: accent1;mso-themeshade:191"><a href="https://twitter.com/VolvoCars_US"><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191">Twitter</span></a></span></b> and get some Swede Speak in your vocab…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">…Back to the show</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>So, you would think I’m done, considering the question only asked for moments, teams and players…but we’re gonna go overtime here. Why? Cause you can’t sum up the Big East that easily…<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Top 10 Big East Coaches</b>...(only counting their tenure within the Big East)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">10) John Thompson III- Achieved a Final Four and 5 NCAA Appearances so far as the Hoya’s head coach</p><div><a href="http://media.nj.com/njsports_impact/photo/john-thompson-iii-generic-head-dfbfbd0122b393a8_medium.jpg"><img src="http://media.nj.com/njsports_impact/photo/john-thompson-iii-generic-head-dfbfbd0122b393a8_medium.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 170px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0113/ncb_u_jdixon_300.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">9) Jamie Dixon- Made the NCAA Tournament each of his 8 years so far as Pittsburgh’s head coach and is currently sporting a .700+ winning percentage</p></div><div><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0113/ncb_u_jdixon_300.jpg"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0113/ncb_u_jdixon_300.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">8) Jay Wright- Since he became Villanova’s head coach in 2001, Jay has always been the best dressed coach of the Big East, as well as one of the most consistent, taking the Wildcats to 7 straight NCAA appearances, including the Final Four in ‘09</p></div><div><a href="http://blog.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county_impact/2009/03/large_jwright.JPG"><img src="http://blog.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county_impact/2009/03/large_jwright.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 170px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://johnclay.bloginky.com/files/2012/01/pitinoprovidenceap.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">7) Rick Pitino- Lead Providence to a Final Four within the short stint he was there, along with taking Louisville to 5 straight NCAA Tourney appearances</p></div><div><a href="http://johnclay.bloginky.com/files/2012/01/pitinoprovidenceap.jpg"><img src="http://johnclay.bloginky.com/files/2012/01/pitinoprovidenceap.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/450/973/240633_display_image.jpg?1319021483"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">6) P. J. Carlesimo - 378 wins, 6 NCAA Tourney appearances and a National Championship appearance during his 12 seasons for a Seton Hall team that only had one season in the Big East above .500 before him</p></div><div><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/450/973/240633_display_image.jpg?1319021483"><img src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/450/973/240633_display_image.jpg?1319021483" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.68159.1313814333!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/image.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">5) Rollie Massimino – NCAA Champion (leading that 1985 Cinderella), 11 NCAA Tourney appearances (making a post-season appearance every year since Villanova was included in the Big East)</p></div><div><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.68159.1313814333!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/image.jpg"><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.68159.1313814333!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/image.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.stjohns.edu/media/1/4fe69d7aad8643c2945af4137be75d55.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">4) Lou Carnesecca – 526 wins all with St. John’s…18 NCAA Tourney appearances, including being part of that legendary 1985 Final Four, in fact, every year he coached in the Big East, the Johnnies have made a post-season appearance</p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.stjohns.edu/media/1/4fe69d7aad8643c2945af4137be75d55.jpg"><img src="http://www.stjohns.edu/media/1/4fe69d7aad8643c2945af4137be75d55.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k-AzWht5124/R5P3BFt3JaI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5adyvofg66E/s400/thompson_john2.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">3) John Thompson Jr- in 1984, when leading Hoya Paranoia to the NCAA Championship, became the first African-American coach to win the tournament; has 3 Final Fours, 6 Big East Tourney championship wins, 5 Big East Regular Season championship wins and 596 wins</p></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k-AzWht5124/R5P3BFt3JaI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5adyvofg66E/s400/thompson_john2.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_k-AzWht5124/R5P3BFt3JaI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5adyvofg66E/s400/thompson_john2.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gtownsyracuserivalry.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">2) Jim Calhoun- 3 NCAA championships, 7 Big East Tourney championship wins, 9 Big East Regular Season championship wins, 6<sup>th</sup> all-time in wins…definitely high on this list…</p></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0je7DAMwmo/TiIgTCgXTWI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/rQCyOHkV0hU/s1600/jim_calhoun.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0je7DAMwmo/TiIgTCgXTWI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/rQCyOHkV0hU/s1600/jim_calhoun.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.176949!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">1) Jim Boeheim- Most wins in a single school, third-most wins all-time, national champion (3 Final Fours), 4 time Big East Tourney champ and 8 time Big East Regular Season champ…love him or hate him, Boeheim has been the best the Big East had to offer </p></div><div><a href="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.176949!/img/httpImage/image.jpg"><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.176949!/img/httpImage/image.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b>Top 10 Big East Rivalries</b>…cause it’s all about passion in this conference…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">10) Pittsburgh vs Syracuse- The two programs have been playing against each other since 1914, reaching triple-digits in terms of meetings </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">9) Cincinnati vs Memphis- OK, technically we’re waiting until 2013 to add this to the list, but considering the two programs were rivals from the Missouri Valley Conference, to the Metro Conference and then to Conference USA, it’s not surprising the UC and Memphis will get to add to their 86-game rivalry in another conference</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">8) Marquette vs Notre Dame- the fight for the Chicago area, playing each other since the days both programs were independent</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">7) Villanova vs Pitt- the battle for Pennsylvania, refer to #4 on Top 10 Big East Moments to see why this matchup has been heated up more than ever </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">6) Syracuse vs Villanova- some of the largest crowds to date were from Cuse-Nova games, including a matchup in front of 36,000+</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">5) Louisville vs Cincinnati- another rivalry that took form in a few other conferences (Metro and C-USA along with Big East), the Keg of Nails is given to the winning football team, but that doesn’t mean the two don’t care when they meet on the basketball court… </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">4) Syracuse vs UConn- between the two teams winning national championships in back-to-back years (Cuse in ’03, UConn in ’04), the legacy between these two wrote a new page during that 6 OT game</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">3) Villanova vs Georgetown- again, going back to 1985…</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">2) Pitt vs West Virginia- The Backyard Brawl, the two schools, only separated by 70 miles, have been facing off since 1905 (183 meetings) and each meeting is as intense as the last…between the players and the fans, sometimes the match becomes a bit chippy…</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">1) Syracuse vs Georgetown- When people think Big East rivalry, this is the first that comes to mind…in fact, this was the displayed match for Rivalry Week last week…the two face off each year since the Big East was created in 1979, with G’town defeating Cuse in the Orange’s last game in the old Manley Field House...</p></div><div><a href="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gtownsyracuserivalry.jpg"><img src="http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gtownsyracuserivalry.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0je7DAMwmo/TiIgTCgXTWI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/rQCyOHkV0hU/s1600/jim_calhoun.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">…and then there was this…</p><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k6o2iHeCWGo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">…even Cuse fans would try to take over Georgetown’s home arena some years…and with each story, each wrinkle, attendance would consistently be at its highest, reaching 30,000+ more times than any other match-up</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>So that’s it, as usual, feel free to make your comments...and/or like it, and/or re-tweet it, you know you want to…</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:12.0pt;background:white"><i>Follow me on twitter <b><u><span style="color:#365F91; mso-themecolor:accent1;mso-themeshade:191"><a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><span style="color:#365F91;mso-themecolor: accent1;mso-themeshade:191">@miggyflavored</span></a></span></u></b>, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:12.0pt;background:white"><i>(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the opportunity to work in this blog [sorry about your Pats…])</i></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-24263421605354703812012-02-02T21:44:00.000-08:002012-02-02T21:44:44.197-08:00Finally!! A Superbowl Blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9A8VaZOLxd0/TytzsmhJfBI/AAAAAAAAAEY/MlimZiREqzM/s1600/The+Linemen" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9A8VaZOLxd0/TytzsmhJfBI/AAAAAAAAAEY/MlimZiREqzM/s400/The+Linemen" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Well, it's been over a week and a half since the Patriots and Giants won their Conference Championship games and punched their tickets to the big dance. And since then, I was telling myself that it would be inappropriate to blog about the Superbowl game because I am so biased, being a hardcore Patriots fan and all. But after studying the match up, and seeing what the Giants bring to the table, I feel that I can fairly comment on this game because, simply put, the Giants scare me in this game. All anyone can talk about since this happened is "Revenge." The Patriots making up for that February 2008 loss that so many Patriot fans wish they could forget. (Fun side not, I was a sophomore in college during that game, and doing what college students tend to do, I actually barely remember the game other than highlights I saw the next day) But what people are not talking about is that this Patriots team is not a great as that years team, and this years Giants team is better than in 2007. Now that doesn't mean that I am picking the Giants to win this game. I am staying strong and picking my Patriots to win this, but the Giants do have a favorable match up in some levels of this game. But this blog is about the Key Players for both teams, and believe me, both teams have some great key players.<br />
<br />
<b>For the Giants:</b><br />
<b>Ahmad Bradshaw</b><br />
Everyone knows the Giants running game is better than most. And that Bradshaw is one of the better running back in the league at running up the middle and using his size and power to get the yards. That's the kind of running backs that NFL teams need. The only question is Bradshaw is which one will you get? There are two different Bradshaws for the Giants. There's the one who after the first hit trucks over all defenders and moves for at least 5 more yards. Then there's the Bradshaw who after the first hit goes down or runs backwards to try to avoid going down and winds up costing his team valuable yards. I know that most players say that the Superbowl is the big game and what you play for, so you will come out strong. But as someone, who as a kid, played for Superbowls and started for winning teams, it's just another game. Many players, even though they know the importance, their mentalities naturally go to it being any other game. That is why Bradshaw could be either of his playing styles in this game. But rest assured, if he can rush for over 100 yards and get a TD in this game, I think I'll wish I wasn't a Pats fan this Sunday.<br />
<br />
<b>Giant Receivers</b><br />
The New York Giants have a great QB. As much as most people try to dismiss Eli Manning is Peyton's little brother, the facts are he has an opportunity this Sunday to pass his brother in Superbowl wins. Right now they're tied in number of rings, and in the Manning house, I imagine that's all that matters.<b> </b>But the three receivers that Manning has don't hurt his abilities. Having the kind of players like Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks would help to propel any QB to the top, taking nothing away from Manning. But with the Pats' defense being so suspect in the regular season, you have to believe that these receivers are going to be running all around that secondary trying to get open and giving Eli some good looks. Plain and simple, if these three wide receivers can get open on Sunday, look for the Giants to put up big numbers and walk out with the most coveted trophy in all of football.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For the Patriots</b><br />
<b>Tight Ends</b><br />
The biggest story this week has been Rob Gronkowski and his ankle. He couldn't play in the AFC Championship game, then he could. He had a boot and crutches, then he didn't. His father said he was playing, then he said he wasn't sure. Now as of today he is back at practice with the team. Well if he plays, it gives the Pats a huge advantage. The reason this guy is such a big story is his effectiveness. He is 6 foot 6 but has the wingspan of a 6-9 to 6-10 guy. That is why he is so good. But the Pats have another amazing Tight end in Aaron Hernandez. He is under rated because of Gronkowski, but believe me, if the Giants choose to double up on Gronkowski and leave Hernandez open for even half a second, he will take that and turn it into a big gain, if not a TD. So look for either or both Tight Ends to have a big game, depending on Gronk's condition.<br />
<br />
<b>Tom Brady</b><br />
<b> </b>Now I know what all of you are saying. How can I say he is a key player and not Eli. Plain and simple: Brady has more to prove this game. The last few years Brady has played horribly in the post season. Even this season, he admitted his games haven't been great. Yes, he lit Denver up, but in Baltimore he, and I'm quoting Brady on this, "Sucked."<b> </b>Many people are saying this is his most important game because if he does not win this game, he will become known as the most over rated player in the NFL. And to be honest, I think I might have to agree. Now if he goes out and has 300+ yards and 3 TDs<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> Wes Welker</b><br />
Finally, the Patriots' final key player for this game is the man who lead the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. Obviously a receiver with his skills is going to be huge, but with Brady's second go to receiver being questionable for this game, Welker has to know that he has to go out and catch, run, and score for this team to succeed. Look for Welker to be jawing with the defenders trying to get open, because if anyone knows just how much he needs to perform in this game, it's Wes Welker. If he and Hernandez can make up for a missing Gronk, assuming he either can't play at all or no where near standard Gronkowski, then this team would stand a chance. But if Welker can't put this team on his back, look for problems in New England this Sunday.<br />
<br />
Finally, it is important to look at the biggest match up of this game.<br />
<br />
<b>New England Patriots Offensive Line vs. New York Giants Defensive Line</b><br />
Look at the Giants defensive line: Jason Pierre Paul, Linval Joseph, Chris Canty, Justin Tuck, and of course Osi Umenyiora coming off the bench. That is an amazing defensive line who specializes in rushing the QB. And when does Tom Brady struggle? When being rushed by the defense. This defensive line will decided the fate of the game. If Brady is constantly rushed, hit, and sacked, the Pats can't win and the Giants will win. But if this D-Line gives Brady time to look around, he will find receivers, and the Pats will be hoisting up the Lombardi trophy this season. Now let's look at the Pats offensive line. Rookie Nate Soldier, Brian Waters, backup center Dan Connolly, <b> </b>Logan Mankins (un-biased opinion: best O-Lineman in the league) and Matt Light. The Pats' offense is great to the left of Brady. But up the gut and to the right (happens to be where Jason Pierre-Paul lines up) I question. It makes me a bit nervous. If Nate Soldier had just two more years under his belt going up against J.P.P, I wouldn't be nervous at all. But as a rookie, I'm worried. This match up seems to favor the Giants. But let me make things clear. I trust this O-Line with all my heart, I'm just nervous about the D-Line of the Giants. From Pee-Wees up to High School, College, and the Pros, Lineman coaches have always said that the Line wins or loses the game. That has never been more true than this game. Depending on which Line performs better, the New England Offense or the New York Defense, that team will win this game, I guarantee it. So as a fan of the Patriots since the day I watched my first game back when I was six, I am rooting for the Patriots. I am picking to Patriots to win. But as an analyst, I am picking whichever team's linemen perform better to win this game. <br />
<br />
Well there you have it faithful readers. As a fan, I have to pick the Pats. But that match up with decide this game. I hope you check back for most posts. Now that I am not nervous to post about this game, look for more stories before the big game on Sunday.<br />
<br />
And now...for my one and only, completely biases comment of the blog...February 3, 2008....Never Forgive...Never Forget! Go Pats!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-52191498930760523802012-01-30T16:17:00.000-08:002012-01-31T11:49:07.906-08:00Volvo Big East Fan Weekend<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZK6z7XO2L5k/TydRpjK6TkI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/HFpWRDEWRS0/s1600/photo%2B%252821%2529.JPG"></a><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Hello everyone, another Miggy wake-up call… as you know, I was selected to represent <b>Villanova</b> as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image: initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2E0A08;background: white">Biggest<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="color:#548DD4;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Big East</span></b></a></span></span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> <span style="background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#2E0A08;background: white">Fan</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#4F81BD;background: white"> <span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial; background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">contest...the gracious people at</span><span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment: initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position: initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"> </span><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#548DD4;background: white">Volvo</span></u></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span></span><b><u><span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial; background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial; background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#4F81BD;background:white"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color:#4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Volvo S60</span></a></span></span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">to the winner. (And here’s the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span></span><b><u><span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment: initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position: initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#4F81BD; background:white"><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><span style="color: #4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">video</span></a></span></span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">to prove it)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So with the voting portion in</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: rgb(84, 141, 212); text-decoration: none; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll">mybigeastvolvo.com</a></span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; "> (cough, VOTE FOR ME cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competiton...AND...each contestant will be sent to their alma mater for a during one of their team's home games...using what else but the S60...</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">This past weekend was MY weekend back at Villanova with that Volvo S60:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Waiting for me home before the contest were tickets to the Villanova-Marquette game…</span></p><p></p></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1LBufa9KN04/TydELYYsGKI/AAAAAAAAATk/ZMlWKmGmFfM/s1600/428265_2587519331797_1368960029_31993022_617753142_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1LBufa9KN04/TydELYYsGKI/AAAAAAAAATk/ZMlWKmGmFfM/s200/428265_2587519331797_1368960029_31993022_617753142_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703602415403276450" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 177px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">So Friday rolls along…the first day of my epic Volvo Big East trip…waiting for the day to pass so I could pick up the S60, I decided to make a quick journey to Madison Square Garden: the home of the Big East Tournament, and where last year’s Biggest Big East Champion was announced…here’s to hoping I will enjoy the same fate this year…</span></p></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ur5Bum0Myrs/TydDxNGMnGI/AAAAAAAAATM/m4V_VRc1D3o/s1600/423118_2596615639199_1368960029_31995794_413061074_n.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ur5Bum0Myrs/TydDxNGMnGI/AAAAAAAAATM/m4V_VRc1D3o/s200/423118_2596615639199_1368960029_31995794_413061074_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703601965696326754" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3soz1BXpbo/TydDgBCowdI/AAAAAAAAATA/c0PGhzGMbpg/s1600/407874_2598420004307_1368960029_31996142_1268309515_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div></div></b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">When the time finally does come, me, along with my wingman for the trip, Anthony, headed over to <a href="http://www.manhattanvolvo.com/index.htm">Manhattan Volvo</a> to finally get my hands on the S60… </span></p></div><div><b><br /></b></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2l4TvhV2PZ8/TydIftJXUlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/nB41p9Z9zAE/s1600/photo%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="font-weight: bold; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2l4TvhV2PZ8/TydIftJXUlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/nB41p9Z9zAE/s200/photo%2B%25282%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703607162620039762" /></a><br /><b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRFhds6l4KQ/TydEg2-IocI/AAAAAAAAAT8/sSSCjPXkrYk/s1600/29a0fa58493e11e19896123138142014_7.jpg"></a></b><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">And there she is… </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Remember, without real access to a car, this was the first time I ever got to drive from NYC to Villanova, let alone drive in rush hour. Actually, it was even my first time driving outside Queens (or Long Island for that matter)…it was amazing though upon experiencing all the safety features of this Volvo S60; between that and just the overall smooth ride this car can deliver, it was a calm and overall easy trip…every once in a while, Anthony was pointing out some details of the car I haven’t read up much less noticed yet<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRFhds6l4KQ/TydEg2-IocI/AAAAAAAAAT8/sSSCjPXkrYk/s1600/29a0fa58493e11e19896123138142014_7.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRFhds6l4KQ/TydEg2-IocI/AAAAAAAAAT8/sSSCjPXkrYk/s320/29a0fa58493e11e19896123138142014_7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703602784390652354" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">That said, I couldn’t show enough appreciation on how thankful how great the drive was…or just the fact that I made the two-plus hour trip without any cause for concern… </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV7kKVlK38w/TydDbRHRBHI/AAAAAAAAAS0/k_UsnYQkbYQ/s1600/417238_2599494151160_1368960029_31996572_22647129_n.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JV7kKVlK38w/TydDbRHRBHI/AAAAAAAAAS0/k_UsnYQkbYQ/s200/417238_2599494151160_1368960029_31996572_22647129_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703601588817429618" /></a><br /><b><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--IGi1yzd97w/TydDVGGfTrI/AAAAAAAAASo/CQ9u9ciDlOE/s1600/404273_2601400038806_1368960029_31997277_1570979272_n.jpg"></a></b><br /><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6TjjihwRWE/TydDCN4AO6I/AAAAAAAAASQ/iyK7tXm8oHs/s1600/405831_2602129817050_1368960029_31997504_313811730_n.jpg"></a></b><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Saturday: Gameday…starting off right with the gameday gear… </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zk9EqptKLX8/TydMMdor4eI/AAAAAAAAAVk/IZ1VKqkYorA/s1600/photo%2B%252815%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zk9EqptKLX8/TydMMdor4eI/AAAAAAAAAVk/IZ1VKqkYorA/s200/photo%2B%252815%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703611230085439970" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcJz1aS6OuY/TydKiYt6RmI/AAAAAAAAAVY/pmQhlUBn3nk/s1600/photo%2B%25288%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">An early morning drive from the hotel to campus beckons…our first stop on campus: a statue of St. Augustine eerily similar to the Heisman Trophy; therefore its nickname is “The Heisman”</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc4ShNTXVvg/TydOwHhtVlI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dA6D8UpyS70/s1600/404273_2601400038806_1368960029_31997277_1570979272_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc4ShNTXVvg/TydOwHhtVlI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dA6D8UpyS70/s320/404273_2601400038806_1368960029_31997277_1570979272_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703614041649141330" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Next was walking to the new walkway constructed through main campus…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Anpiuf63I/TydPbVl_5WI/AAAAAAAAAYY/1FyZB1aOSoQ/s1600/photo%2B%25284%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Anpiuf63I/TydPbVl_5WI/AAAAAAAAAYY/1FyZB1aOSoQ/s320/photo%2B%25284%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703614784159606114" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgQTQQ2H88w/TydPJ_QglSI/AAAAAAAAAYM/-OznNjRRczY/s1600/photo%2B%25283%2529.JPG"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Along with seeing an update on the rest of the construction…such as building a new place for The Oreo…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgQTQQ2H88w/TydPJ_QglSI/AAAAAAAAAYM/-OznNjRRczY/s1600/photo%2B%25283%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgQTQQ2H88w/TydPJ_QglSI/AAAAAAAAAYM/-OznNjRRczY/s320/photo%2B%25283%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703614486106117410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fT_65W_XxNs/TydO9Rd46NI/AAAAAAAAAYA/5ZwpDxy3YMg/s1600/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">As we walk along campus, Anthony and I ran into many members of Nova Nation in their V-shirts geared up to watch the game…but the Augustinian Army reminds us there are other intense choices to show off our Villanova pride: </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fT_65W_XxNs/TydO9Rd46NI/AAAAAAAAAYA/5ZwpDxy3YMg/s1600/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fT_65W_XxNs/TydO9Rd46NI/AAAAAAAAAYA/5ZwpDxy3YMg/s320/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703614267655776466" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc4ShNTXVvg/TydOwHhtVlI/AAAAAAAAAX0/dA6D8UpyS70/s1600/404273_2601400038806_1368960029_31997277_1570979272_n.jpg"></a><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybpti9vuNNE/TydM5R--v_I/AAAAAAAAAWI/klRtqj6v2pU/s1600/photo%2B%252820%2529.JPG"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">And if you were wondering who he was texting?<b> </b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><b><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qOx3XrrCKu4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></b><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">So before we headed out to the game, might as well give some freebies to these dedicated fans (after all, college kids love free, right?)</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s945y0wHb8M/TydN8nbLkdI/AAAAAAAAAXE/zxJGnXpgLJo/s1600/photo.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s945y0wHb8M/TydN8nbLkdI/AAAAAAAAAXE/zxJGnXpgLJo/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703613156858499538" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSQewm6gZ9A/TydNkSmeZTI/AAAAAAAAAWs/8tB3xzh0yO4/s1600/photo%2B%252817%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">And if that wasn’t enough, letting them roll in style…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZK6z7XO2L5k/TydRpjK6TkI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/HFpWRDEWRS0/s1600/photo%2B%252821%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZK6z7XO2L5k/TydRpjK6TkI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/HFpWRDEWRS0/s320/photo%2B%252821%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703617227345514050" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wUdq0Qrnmk/TydRUkIiyTI/AAAAAAAAAZs/bkb2mlIsh_0/s1600/n571080253_5904567_7480.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Getting closer to game time, we drove down into Philly and the Wells Fargo Center: <b> </b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6TjjihwRWE/TydDCN4AO6I/AAAAAAAAASQ/iyK7tXm8oHs/s1600/405831_2602129817050_1368960029_31997504_313811730_n.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W6TjjihwRWE/TydDCN4AO6I/AAAAAAAAASQ/iyK7tXm8oHs/s200/405831_2602129817050_1368960029_31997504_313811730_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703601158451379106" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xshe6VpA7z4/TydC9SoBHKI/AAAAAAAAASE/IdmnNlFekXM/s1600/401461_2602157577744_1368960029_31997509_2068277695_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Of course letting some other Wildcat fans enjoy the sweetness of the S60… <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcb5WOydyRo/TydOJbLf1iI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/OBW62l6a614/s1600/photo%2B%25286%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcb5WOydyRo/TydOJbLf1iI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/OBW62l6a614/s320/photo%2B%25286%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703613376909792802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s945y0wHb8M/TydN8nbLkdI/AAAAAAAAAXE/zxJGnXpgLJo/s1600/photo.JPG"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">And a tailgate started by Mike designated in my honor for my weekend and the competition…(you know how great a tailgate is when people show up without even having tickets to the game)…chili, breakfast burritos and homemade beer galore… </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xshe6VpA7z4/TydC9SoBHKI/AAAAAAAAASE/IdmnNlFekXM/s1600/401461_2602157577744_1368960029_31997509_2068277695_n.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xshe6VpA7z4/TydC9SoBHKI/AAAAAAAAASE/IdmnNlFekXM/s200/401461_2602157577744_1368960029_31997509_2068277695_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703601073827159202" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVLjxrGwdkg/TydCwqHqP0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/Q-3SScpA9JA/s1600/426986_2602192578619_1368960029_31997531_106586781_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVLjxrGwdkg/TydCwqHqP0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/Q-3SScpA9JA/s1600/426986_2602192578619_1368960029_31997531_106586781_n.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVLjxrGwdkg/TydCwqHqP0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/Q-3SScpA9JA/s200/426986_2602192578619_1368960029_31997531_106586781_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600856795594562" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBmZwaysh6c/TydCocnwOTI/AAAAAAAAARs/ffgovyPBysQ/s1600/427669_2602623029380_1368960029_31997672_923226794_n.jpg"></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4Jiqfg2Hk/TydPq9AWtEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/jn5fvekg72k/s1600/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4Jiqfg2Hk/TydPq9AWtEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/jn5fvekg72k/s320/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703615052437173314" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Anpiuf63I/TydPbVl_5WI/AAAAAAAAAYY/1FyZB1aOSoQ/s1600/photo%2B%25284%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Upon reaching our seats, I notice that the Villanova Singers are performing The Star-Spangled Banner…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3FSm8xbrcQ/TydQrHeNH3I/AAAAAAAAAZg/nm8U4lPmd0I/s1600/395804_161836393927679_100003039573187_230248_1979658281_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3FSm8xbrcQ/TydQrHeNH3I/AAAAAAAAAZg/nm8U4lPmd0I/s320/395804_161836393927679_100003039573187_230248_1979658281_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703616154758356850" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oOcTsRGKJBQ/TydQgqG-N5I/AAAAAAAAAZU/iZDpqKRBcE8/s1600/photo%2B%252814%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">As a proud Brother in Song, I know first-hand that it is indeed an honor to sing the National Anthem in front of the rest of Nova Nation…seven decades of legacy is displayed each time the group takes the stage…<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wUdq0Qrnmk/TydRUkIiyTI/AAAAAAAAAZs/bkb2mlIsh_0/s1600/n571080253_5904567_7480.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wUdq0Qrnmk/TydRUkIiyTI/AAAAAAAAAZs/bkb2mlIsh_0/s320/n571080253_5904567_7480.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703616866826766642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L3FSm8xbrcQ/TydQrHeNH3I/AAAAAAAAAZg/nm8U4lPmd0I/s1600/395804_161836393927679_100003039573187_230248_1979658281_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">So as the game is starting, you can feel the excitement stretching from one side of Nova Nation…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNIj__bvT1c/TydQEomWhfI/AAAAAAAAAY8/vxt51CjbLP4/s1600/photo%2B%252818%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNIj__bvT1c/TydQEomWhfI/AAAAAAAAAY8/vxt51CjbLP4/s320/photo%2B%252818%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703615493635999218" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-Hvhvy2MQo/TydP4fv2c9I/AAAAAAAAAYw/dqF6Z8l47AY/s1600/photo%2B%252822%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">…to the other</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-Hvhvy2MQo/TydP4fv2c9I/AAAAAAAAAYw/dqF6Z8l47AY/s1600/photo%2B%252822%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-Hvhvy2MQo/TydP4fv2c9I/AAAAAAAAAYw/dqF6Z8l47AY/s320/photo%2B%252822%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703615285101491154" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mi4Jiqfg2Hk/TydPq9AWtEI/AAAAAAAAAYk/jn5fvekg72k/s1600/photo%2B%25287%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">The game started off rolling all Villanova’s way, with a 18-point lead early settling into a 10-point Wildcat advantage at the half <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oOcTsRGKJBQ/TydQgqG-N5I/AAAAAAAAAZU/iZDpqKRBcE8/s1600/photo%2B%252814%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oOcTsRGKJBQ/TydQgqG-N5I/AAAAAAAAAZU/iZDpqKRBcE8/s200/photo%2B%252814%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703615975077590930" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Even Will D. Cat was feeling it launching T-shirt a ways </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBmZwaysh6c/TydCocnwOTI/AAAAAAAAARs/ffgovyPBysQ/s200/427669_2602623029380_1368960029_31997672_923226794_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600715733154098" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">During half, didn’t get my crab fries since Villanova was ahead at the half, but was worth passing by anyway </span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcJz1aS6OuY/TydKiYt6RmI/AAAAAAAAAVY/pmQhlUBn3nk/s1600/photo%2B%25288%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcJz1aS6OuY/TydKiYt6RmI/AAAAAAAAAVY/pmQhlUBn3nk/s200/photo%2B%25288%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703609407699043938" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAm6kfvXG08/TydKW46qozI/AAAAAAAAAVM/IAC73LywCls/s1600/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">But the Wildcats were plagued in the second half, where fouls, turnovers, and missed shots all drained their momentum…not even the Villanova dancing guy could rally the team out of this one…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMQeUXBA6Vw/TydCeA-NeQI/AAAAAAAAARg/DhJkj_37Otk/s200/409380_2602873155633_1368960029_31997759_1883478621_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600536512461058" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">In case you haven’t seen this man in action during a Villanova game:</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /><iframe width="460" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XYhwZcA3LIo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Sadly though, Villanova couldn’t pull through…Marquette wins a heated one, 78-82…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">To blow off steam, some of us stayed in the parking lot after the match and played some ladder golf:</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSQewm6gZ9A/TydNkSmeZTI/AAAAAAAAAWs/8tB3xzh0yO4/s1600/photo%2B%252817%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSQewm6gZ9A/TydNkSmeZTI/AAAAAAAAAWs/8tB3xzh0yO4/s200/photo%2B%252817%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703612738951865650" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlMbb1rFbTg/TydNSioHl4I/AAAAAAAAAWg/X8ZGhLmXIfM/s1600/photo%2B%252811%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">After the traffic leaving the arena cleared up, we all headed to Tony Luke’s for what else but cheese steaks...</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TqwfO-v8fTQ/TydCQGSkyBI/AAAAAAAAARU/L4PjyVdJKZc/s1600/396475_2603648455015_1368960029_31998211_1436442597_n.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TqwfO-v8fTQ/TydCQGSkyBI/AAAAAAAAARU/L4PjyVdJKZc/s200/396475_2603648455015_1368960029_31998211_1436442597_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600297421883410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-McDR5IG4vog/TydCKfbwohI/AAAAAAAAARI/bghs6pM6Wy0/s1600/407318_2603783098381_2097689573_n.jpg"></a></b><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAm6kfvXG08/TydKW46qozI/AAAAAAAAAVM/IAC73LywCls/s1600/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAm6kfvXG08/TydKW46qozI/AAAAAAAAAVM/IAC73LywCls/s200/photo%2B%25289%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703609210184049458" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p-fscfvnOSs/TydKLTGEyzI/AAAAAAAAAVA/KoDuW1kxm_A/s1600/photo%2B%252813%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-McDR5IG4vog/TydCKfbwohI/AAAAAAAAARI/bghs6pM6Wy0/s1600/407318_2603783098381_2097689573_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-McDR5IG4vog/TydCKfbwohI/AAAAAAAAARI/bghs6pM6Wy0/s200/407318_2603783098381_2097689573_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600201092080146" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSHqEhxTJwc/TydCFxhn50I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/wTso5JACn6E/s1600/408876_2605424579417_1368960029_31998805_1614013670_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Of course as delicious as the cheese steaks were, a trip back to the hotel was needed to give in to a food coma, cheese steak-induced nap</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iSzPZtqELuw/TydOgLWR-AI/AAAAAAAAAXo/LLm3CI3wSuI/s200/photo%2B%252810%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703613767797045250" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">When nap time is over, it was time to repay for the past couple of years and drive to the main line bars as a Designated Driver for the first time…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">First stop was Erin’s Pub:</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlMbb1rFbTg/TydNSioHl4I/AAAAAAAAAWg/X8ZGhLmXIfM/s1600/photo%2B%252811%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlMbb1rFbTg/TydNSioHl4I/AAAAAAAAAWg/X8ZGhLmXIfM/s200/photo%2B%252811%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703612434016081794" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ1OZGBqobk/TydNHnFx4CI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/xeJVzL77Wac/s1600/photo%2B%25285%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Of course, what’s Erin’s without playing rounds of darts?</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSHqEhxTJwc/TydCFxhn50I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/wTso5JACn6E/s1600/408876_2605424579417_1368960029_31998805_1614013670_n.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSHqEhxTJwc/TydCFxhn50I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/wTso5JACn6E/s200/408876_2605424579417_1368960029_31998805_1614013670_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703600120049166146" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnhORjXKmow/TydB-gvCO9I/AAAAAAAAAQw/UvZmh1jnURY/s1600/420377_2608294211156_1368960029_32000169_269546408_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Then it was time for The Grog for the guys to enjoy another round <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybpti9vuNNE/TydM5R--v_I/AAAAAAAAAWI/klRtqj6v2pU/s1600/photo%2B%252820%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybpti9vuNNE/TydM5R--v_I/AAAAAAAAAWI/klRtqj6v2pU/s200/photo%2B%252820%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703612000051838962" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qBso6yx0WY/TydMuRLLMoI/AAAAAAAAAV8/ex3MhUgbphc/s1600/photo%2B%252819%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Yet the night did not stop there…we were summoned for late night black & white shakes and some eats all the way at Minella’s Diner</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPYw1VzEn38/TydMjISvuAI/AAAAAAAAAVw/GF3jDbcfjJM/s1600/photo%2B%252812%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPYw1VzEn38/TydMjISvuAI/AAAAAAAAAVw/GF3jDbcfjJM/s200/photo%2B%252812%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703611619493263362" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zk9EqptKLX8/TydMMdor4eI/AAAAAAAAAVk/IZ1VKqkYorA/s1600/photo%2B%252815%2529.JPG"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qBso6yx0WY/TydMuRLLMoI/AAAAAAAAAV8/ex3MhUgbphc/s1600/photo%2B%252819%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qBso6yx0WY/TydMuRLLMoI/AAAAAAAAAV8/ex3MhUgbphc/s200/photo%2B%252819%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703611810855989890" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPYw1VzEn38/TydMjISvuAI/AAAAAAAAAVw/GF3jDbcfjJM/s1600/photo%2B%252812%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">The next day, it is time to drive the S60 back to Villanova for another walk around campus</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykz3ddlyw-8/TydJUmjemSI/AAAAAAAAAUg/UjQqLFUYezw/s1600/photo%2B%252816%2529.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykz3ddlyw-8/TydJUmjemSI/AAAAAAAAAUg/UjQqLFUYezw/s200/photo%2B%252816%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703608071383587106" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dRvc7skipY/TydJDgQ2THI/AAAAAAAAAUU/A8f3Vmfq2mE/s1600/photo%2B%25283%2529.JPG"></a><br /><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Grabbing lunch at Campus Corner right off campus with Emily…</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnhORjXKmow/TydB-gvCO9I/AAAAAAAAAQw/UvZmh1jnURY/s1600/420377_2608294211156_1368960029_32000169_269546408_n.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnhORjXKmow/TydB-gvCO9I/AAAAAAAAAQw/UvZmh1jnURY/s200/420377_2608294211156_1368960029_32000169_269546408_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703599995282930642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ95Yzp5Js0/TydB3UH0-bI/AAAAAAAAAQk/dcWxKmPf5Gk/s1600/398579_2608559057777_1368960029_32000213_602901975_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD3W7FivgD4/TydKBXjcZ6I/AAAAAAAAAU0/vv0pHBETsPc/s1600/photo%2B%252824%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD3W7FivgD4/TydKBXjcZ6I/AAAAAAAAAU0/vv0pHBETsPc/s200/photo%2B%252824%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703608840451024802" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ykz3ddlyw-8/TydJUmjemSI/AAAAAAAAAUg/UjQqLFUYezw/s1600/photo%2B%252816%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">…who supplied me with some of the latest Villanova Curling gear</span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p-fscfvnOSs/TydKLTGEyzI/AAAAAAAAAVA/KoDuW1kxm_A/s1600/photo%2B%252813%2529.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p-fscfvnOSs/TydKLTGEyzI/AAAAAAAAAVA/KoDuW1kxm_A/s200/photo%2B%252813%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703609011052792626" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nD3W7FivgD4/TydKBXjcZ6I/AAAAAAAAAU0/vv0pHBETsPc/s1600/photo%2B%252824%2529.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">And before leaving campus, a visit to St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ95Yzp5Js0/TydB3UH0-bI/AAAAAAAAAQk/dcWxKmPf5Gk/s1600/398579_2608559057777_1368960029_32000213_602901975_n.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ95Yzp5Js0/TydB3UH0-bI/AAAAAAAAAQk/dcWxKmPf5Gk/s200/398579_2608559057777_1368960029_32000213_602901975_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703599871638174130" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Another easy drive back to New York later, the S60 was dropped off back at the dealership…and as I walk away from the vehicle, I could only wonder how I hope I made Villanova, Volvo and everyone else proud through my participation this weekend and overall in the contest…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the festivities of this weekend, from all my friends who showed up to fellow Villanova fans for their support, to Volvo to allowing me to chance to drive the S60…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">That’s my recap, hope everyone enjoyed… <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Ignite Change, Go Nova, Go Volvo <b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-50437573256640515152012-01-24T17:45:00.000-08:002012-01-26T13:44:25.072-08:00Gamewatch<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKGbJjP0r80/TyDJwVFJAWI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ro-VrhoenTM/s1600/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG"></a><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;background:white"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ">Hello everyone, Miggy dragging you away from normal life for another post... in case you were living under a rock,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> <span style="background:white">I was selected to represent</span> <b><span style="background:white">Villanova</span></b> as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's <span style="color:#2E0A08; background:white">Biggest </span><u><span style="background:white"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="color:#548DD4;text-decoration: none;text-underline:none">Big East</span></b></a></span></u> <span style="color:#2E0A08;background:white">Fan</span><span style="color:#4F81BD"> </span><span style="background:white">contest...the gracious people at</span> <b><u><span style="color:#548DD4;background:white">Volvo</span></u></b> are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> </span><b style="background-color: white; "><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F81BD; background:white"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color:#4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Volvo S60</span></a></span></u></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> to the winner. (And here’s the</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> </span><b style="background-color: white; "><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F81BD; background:white"><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><span style="color: #4F81BD;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">video</span></a></span></u></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> to prove it)</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/admin/d/357777-5/2012+Volvo+S60+T5+20.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/admin/d/357777-5/2012+Volvo+S60+T5+20.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/732/2011_volvo_s60_18.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">So</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> along with the voting that started at <a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><b><span style="color: rgb(84, 141, 212); text-decoration: none; ">mybigeastvolvo.com</span></b></a> (cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 6<sup>th </sup>of 8 challenge posts). Let's add on the fact the contestants will be/have been sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">(THIS Saturday!!! Jan 28!!! I will be back @ Nova vs Marquette, get ready!!!!!!!)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Challenge #6: What are your favorite places to watch your team when you can't be at the game?</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Preface…</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">So I wanted to write this up a bit earlier this round so Eamon can try to remind people he writes here too squeezing in his uber-Pats homerisms (seriously though, congrats on making the Super Bowl, I guess…ha) before my post-Volvo trip write-up…I guess to write this up, probably gonna need some help though… <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">…I mean I was considering just the couch I made such an impression on in the VTV Studio, as seen as on TV:</span></p></div></div><div>...(edit: sorry, Facebook giving difficulties on how to load video and change privacy settings...facepalm...feel free to friend me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gettingmiggywithit">Facebook </a> to watch it though...and feel free to learn Swede speak by liking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolvocarsUS">Volvo</a>...and done with commercials)</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">But alas!!! <b>A Ghost of Miggy’s Past</b> appears:</span></p></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRuGNNXNTY/Tx9uk6KbLNI/AAAAAAAAAPc/7nJzjyefGc8/s1600/n1341630150_30198023_3625.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRuGNNXNTY/Tx9uk6KbLNI/AAAAAAAAAPc/7nJzjyefGc8/s400/n1341630150_30198023_3625.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701397233641663698" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">…and drags me though flashing lights and crazy sound effects (woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh) back to my days at Villanova. Through the experience a series of wormholes and loops like that scene in Contact, I am dropped right into <b>Connelly Center</b> (luckily, not in the fountain inside the building). Students are littered throughout the building wearing their V-Shirts. V-Shirts, should be a game day then. Yet, these students are here at the Connelly Center and not at the game? Must be an away game…ahh, this must be one of the many gamewatches run by <b><u><span style="color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor: text2;mso-themetint:153"><a href="http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/cat.html"><span style="color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Campus Activities Team</span></a></span></u></b> . Yeah, this is the place to be when watching a game back at Nova: crowd + food + contests + whatever else they pull off during each gamewatch. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><br /></span></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHo4VTW3-94/Tx90QCDCCUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/PHj_sJhz5FY/s1600/2412966728_2348d7c85d.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHo4VTW3-94/Tx90QCDCCUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/PHj_sJhz5FY/s320/2412966728_2348d7c85d.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701403472050653506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oorbp6rk_mo/Tx9z6KFpCmI/AAAAAAAAAQA/Xs89PACNk1o/s1600/2412966728_2348d7c85d.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">…but, I’m a grown man now (I think)…I graduated from Villanova, so where do I like watching Villanova games now? The couch beckons again…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Oh, and magically, the <b>Ghost of Miggy’s Present </b>appears: </span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPhKzVwfwfI/Tx9wWCu-siI/AAAAAAAAAP0/rQNcjbPs5zs/s1600/headshot.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPhKzVwfwfI/Tx9wWCu-siI/AAAAAAAAAP0/rQNcjbPs5zs/s200/headshot.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701399177267687970" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">This phantom decides to play games with me and throw me into two scenes at once (so this is what double vision is like). A bar appears in each of the images…people gather to screens all throughout the establishments. Food and drinks at hand, fans from new grads all the way to established vets roam the halls. It should be a weeknight; briefcases and suit jackets can be found alongside chairs and stools. Yep, the Nova game is on, figures…funny though, I know one of these flashbacks too well, I just wrote about it <b><u><span style="color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2012/01/tale-of-traditions.html"><span style="color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">last week</span></a></span></u></b> (a challenge-winning post, thanks all for your help and support in this). </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">The Australian…</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg"><img src="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://newyork.citypudding.com/files/2011/05/copper-door.jpg?91b549"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">…and Cooper Door Tavern <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://newyork.citypudding.com/files/2011/05/copper-door.jpg?91b549"><img src="http://newyork.citypudding.com/files/2011/05/copper-door.jpg?91b549" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41661_1074990327_9053_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKGbJjP0r80/TyDJwVFJAWI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ro-VrhoenTM/s1600/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKGbJjP0r80/TyDJwVFJAWI/AAAAAAAAAQY/ro-VrhoenTM/s200/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701778960380658018" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Both of these are the home bases for gamewatches sponsored by VUAA Manhattan Chapter…Yeah, great way to meet up with friends and other Wildcat fans here in the city and view the game as if we’re there in the Pavilion (or WFC…or in Connelly Center for away games…). This would be my choice for current spots to watch Villanova games. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41661_1074990327_9053_n.jpg"><img src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41661_1074990327_9053_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 169px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mp8.ph/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/manny-pacquiao1.jpg"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">I guess that would do it, right?...Right?...Can I wake up now?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">And that’s when another ghost, the <b>Ghost of Miggy’s Future</b> appears:</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mp8.ph/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/manny-pacquiao1.jpg"><img src="http://www.mp8.ph/news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/manny-pacquiao1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 180px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHo4VTW3-94/Tx90QCDCCUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/PHj_sJhz5FY/s1600/2412966728_2348d7c85d.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">…Wait, where else would I be watching the game? (Somehow I doubt the couch is still an acceptable answer)…I only sit in awe as time speeds…people come and go in instances, flying faster than my thoughts…when the pace of reality settles down, the ghost drags me outside. I could only chuckle as the sight I’m witnessing: another of my <b><u><span style="color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor: text2;mso-themetint:153"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/12/building-wildcat-welcome-wagon.html"><span style="color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">prior posts</span></a></span></u></b> coming to fruition. With a couple of friends, I’m sitting in the <b>Volvo S60</b>, the car won from this <b>Volvo Biggest Fan of the Big East</b> contest, and watching the game though the rear set entertainment system. The more I think about it, why wouldn’t this make sense? …Tailgating before the game, hitting up a drive-thru during halftime, setting up the wireless router and Xbox 360 to watch the game while updating Facebook and Twitter, and the seats are as good as a couch anyway.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><br /></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/732/2011_volvo_s60_18.JPG"><img src="http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/732/2011_volvo_s60_18.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">So that’s it, I guess thanks to my helpers (no, you guys can’t raid the fridge)…Was there supposed to be a moral in this, like A Christmas Carol? Well if you draw one up, you tell me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12.0pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">As usual, feel free to make your comments...and/or like it, and/or re-tweet it, do something (please?)</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12.0pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><b><span style="color:#548DD4; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">@miggyflavored</span></b></a>, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:12.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the opportunity to work in this blog [until I regret it with your hourly Pats updates before the Super Bowl…kidding])</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-70646768662904985872012-01-16T08:31:00.001-08:002012-01-16T17:19:49.550-08:00Tale of Traditions<a href="http://alumniconnections.com/olc/filelib/VLN/cpages/28/Library/manhattan_stacked_black.png"></a><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hello everyone, time for Miggy again... in case you were living under a rock,<span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I was selected to represent</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Villanova</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span>as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's</span> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#2E0A08;background:white">Biggest<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="color:#548DD4">Big East</span></b></a></span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;color:#2E0A08;background:white">Fan</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; color:#4F81BD;background:white"> </span></span><span style="background-image: initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">contest...the gracious people at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#548DD4;background:white">Volvo</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> <span style="background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1;background:white"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1">Volvo S60</span></a></span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> <span style="background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">to the winner. (And here’s the</span> </span><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1;background:white"><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor: accent1">video</span></a></span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> <span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;background-position:initial initial;background-repeat: initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">to prove it)</span></span></p></div><a href="http://myautoworld.com/volvo/cars/12-s60/31658_1_5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 200px;" src="http://myautoworld.com/volvo/cars/12-s60/31658_1_5.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> <span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment: initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial;background-position: initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">along with the voting that started at</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><b><span style="color:#548DD4;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">mybigeastvolvo.com</span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> <span style="background-image:initial; background-attachment:initial;background-origin: initial;background-clip: initial; background-position:initial initial;background-repeat:initial initial"></span><span style="background:white">(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 5<sup>th </sup>of 8 challenge posts).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span>Let's add on the fact the contestants will be/have been sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">(In two weeks, Jan 28, I will be back @ Nova vs Marquette, you’ll want to get ready to that weekend, just saying…)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Challenge #5: What are the best traditions for your alma mater and why? (From personal traditions, traditions at the school and even fun traditions that you and your friends had while you were in school.)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span><b><br /></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Preface:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> So when thinking of traditions, we think of the stories behind them. Therefore, what better way to answer this question by telling a story?</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sit around this Yule log and enjoy a tale…</span></p></div><div><br /></div><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RDpUg0Hu618" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">...It was last Wednesday afternoon: the Syracuse game. The season has not been going well for Villanova, an 8-8 season, but a win versus the number one Orange surely would push momentum the other way, right? Scavenging through the Internet, other Wildcat fans try to mention possible underlying factors that could serve as motivation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">“Villanova was 8 of their last 11 versus Syracuse”</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">“This may be the last time Nova-Cuse plays as Big East Rivals in Philly”</span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">A weird quirk I have is that I walk away from the computer when gathering thoughts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">In my head, I think: the people are hopeful, which I find pleasantly surprising.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Maybe it would not be a bad idea to head to a gamewatch after all.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">The </span><b style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">Old Person Tradition </b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">for Nova fans is to hit </span><b style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">their official Villanova Gamewatch</b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">, set up by their </span><b style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "><u><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1"><a href="http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/VLN/cpages/chapter/chapterhome.jsp?chapter=28"><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1">local Villanova Alumni Chapter</span></a></span></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; text-indent: 0.5in; ">The events are a nice rally point for alumni to meet up, which with professional lives is not as easy to do, and share our passionate opinions on everything from the team to the weather.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "><span><a href="http://alumniconnections.com/olc/filelib/VLN/cpages/28/Library/manhattan_stacked_black.png" style="text-indent: 0px; "><img src="http://alumniconnections.com/olc/filelib/VLN/cpages/28/Library/manhattan_stacked_black.png" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 150px; " /></a><br style="text-indent: 0px; "><a href="http://store.cstv.com/store/Vendor239/fullscale/00017161XVL1-c.jpg" style="text-indent: 0px; "></a></span></p><div style="text-indent: 0px; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-indent: 0px; "><span><br /></span></div><span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "><span><br /></span></p><p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I speed back to my desk to find which bar is designated for this gamewatch. My head subtly sinks when opening the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vumanhattan"><span style="color:windowtext; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">VU Manhattan Chapter</span></a> invitation. There is not one, but two bars selected as today’s destination: The Australian and Cooper Door Tavern. As I been to both bars, which option to choose to was not automatic in my mind. After some self-debating (and a quick check of the weather), I decide the proximity of The Australian from my office wins out. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The decision was not completely firm until responding to the text, “Which bar are you heading to?” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The text belonged to my friend, Amanda. She was the first person who knew about my involvement in the <b>Volvo Biggest Fan of the Big East competition</b> (because she originally considered to enter the contest herself, but after declining, recommended me as a contestant). The very reminder of this connection inspires me of a second motive to head to this gamewatch. This latest challenge for the competition is to describe the best traditions for your alma mater. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A plan forms to interview my fellow Wildcats at The Australian on how they would answer the question. The interviews would be combined into a single video to air on the Internet. My hope is to find a few of the younger Villanova alums since they would not only remember me as the Villanova representative for the Volvo Big East Fan contest, but as “that guy” who ran his own television sports show on campus. Oh, memories of <b>Sportstime: A Miggy-Flavored Sports Show</b>. Hopefully this combination triggers in their memories, taking away (or adding) any awkwardness of a person holding a camcorder in their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The strategy does need me to fight my own hesitations. The show, as most created in <b><u><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WVTV_(Villanova)"><span style="color:#4F81BD; mso-themecolor:accent1">Villanova Television (VTV)</span></a></span></u></b>, ends when the producers graduate (although one could always debate with Andrew Simone, creator of <b><u><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/VTVclassic"><span style="color:#4F81BD; mso-themecolor:accent1">VTV Classic</span></a> </span></u></b>[…where Babel never sleeps] if those shows should end). Therefore, my involvement in video creations has been limited, almost non-existent, since my school days. However, the interview question asks for Villanova traditions. One of the <b>unofficial fan traditions</b>, started somewhere, sometime in the <b><u><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor: accent1"><a href="https://twitter.com/AugustinianArmy"><span style="color:#4F81BD; mso-themecolor:accent1">Augustinian Army</span></a></span></u></b>, is <b>creating fan commercials</b>. </span></p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AnBJ2uoAZB4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As I check the time; the watch reads six. I decide probably better to start heading to the bar. The awkward silence of being one of three people in the office finally has dawned on me. Grabbing my raincoat, my Volvo Big East fan hat and my Sony Bloggie, I head out into the chilling air of New York. </span></p></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYDO5pV2qqo/TxRcE9Onv-I/AAAAAAAAAOg/n5dg0KaI7bQ/s1600/IMGP4754.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYDO5pV2qqo/TxRcE9Onv-I/AAAAAAAAAOg/n5dg0KaI7bQ/s200/IMGP4754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698280668755640290" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Not the most fun day for a walk”, I ponder as a weak drizzle is whipped around by the strong winds. A fourteen-block trip from the office to The Australian has the feel of a forty-block journey. Alas, I eventually reach 38<sup>th</sup> Street, and realize the bar is within sight. I pull out the Bloggie, and after a few tense seconds thinking the device would not turn on, the camcorder is activated. The first step of this plan was to film an introduction, including a display of the entrance of the bar as “one of the hot spots for Villanova fans in New York City”. After fifteen minutes of programming the Bloggie to the right settings, finding the right background position, avoiding pedestrians and their quizzical looks, waiting for each truck to carry its noise to the next block, and twelve takes, an acceptable twenty-second introduction is recorded. </span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg"><img src="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tD77iSHGK4s/TxRfxZuVvVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/D-ffczl9W30/s1600/curling.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After the debacle outside was settled, time to head inside.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">I stumble across </span><u style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor:accent1"><a href="http://www.theaustraliannyc.com/"><span style="color:#4F81BD;mso-themecolor: accent1"><b>The Australian</b></span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> to the rear of the bar, where most of the Villanova alumni usually gather.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">As I clear the main walkway, I spot a couple familiar faces among a group sitting in a bench. Seeing Andy and Olivia makes me feel better about my chances for this plot to work.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">The game started a couple seconds before my entrance, so our attention is divided between the game and our conversations.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Andy, knowing about my participation in the Volvo Big East competition, opens up with the question: “How’s the contest going?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I chuckle as I present the Bloggie on the table. “Funny you should ask…would you like to help with my next challenge? I am trying to figure out the best Villanova traditions and was looking to interview people on their answers. Probably won’t record it until later like after the game though so you have time to think about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Sure”, he replies. Andy pauses for a few seconds to contemplate, then fires off, “Like when the team throws up their V’s after each game?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Yep, just like that.” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">His answer killed two birds with one stone. The <b>V-sign</b> may seem like the peace hand sign, but to Villanovans, when you <b>throw your V’s up</b>, it means a sign of pride in everything that is Villanova.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithsphotos6/4210517698/" title="University of Villanova Cheerleaders by Keith Lovett Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2546/4210517698_88bf525684.jpg" width="200" height="250" alt="University of Villanova Cheerleaders" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Among other times when you throw your V’s up, <b>after each Villanova men’s basketball game, the team gathers and holds up the gesture to the Villanova crowd as our fight song, “V for Villanova” is played.</b></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2009/03/large_jay_wright_villanova.jpg"><img src="http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2009/03/large_jay_wright_villanova.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ahistoryofdrinking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/aussie.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A Dion Waiters three lights the screen as Villanova calls timeout. Nova is only down 9-13 at that point when Onir walks in. After rearranging the seating arrangement, time to spring the question on another friend. “So Onir, what’s your favorite Villanova tradition? I’m trying to film a video for my next post.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> “Hmm”, the only word formed as a response.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"> Nova Nation is featured on television as the timeout comes to an end. The student section is a sea of blue as everyone is wearing their <b>Nova Nation shirts</b>. The <b>traditional fan gear</b>, every student is given the shirt to wear at every Villanova event.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://store.cstv.com/store/Vendor239/fullscale/00017161XVL1-c.jpg"><img src="http://store.cstv.com/store/Vendor239/fullscale/00017161XVL1-c.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is as if ESPN drew up a cue card for me, “You know, like wearing your Nova Nation shirt or something”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>“Get back to me, I’ll try to come up with a good one”, he retorts. A waitress walks by and hands everyone a complimentary shot of Jameson. My guess is that this was the real reason for the delay, but who am I to blame him as I consume the freebie. In terms of the game, Ty Johnson connects on a three to tie the score at 13-13. A few misses and a foul later, another round of commercials ensues.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">During the break, Amanda finally appears, resulting in another round of musical bench seats. After exchanging pleasantries, I ask to see if I could draw another <s>victim</s> volunteer for my experiment. She declines, officially breaking my streak at two. So moving on from that failed attempt, we decide to broaden our talking points to our jobs, the Volvo contest, and the team. That TV timeout did nothing for Villanova, as a cycle of Nova misses and Syracuse buckets would happen. Seconds and minutes would flow and each Orange basket only dampens the mood further. Amanda finally cries out, “I have been here for how long? We made three points since I got here!”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Onir receives his order of nachos during the 21-3 Cuse run; the appetizer reminds the rest of the table that it is usually dinner time. I buy into the appealing looks of the nachos and order some myself. By halftime, everyone is settling in to their focus of food and drinks as we try to hide the fact Villanova is down 43-24. The presence of my plate of nachos reminds of my superstition. Some people believe in rally caps, rally monkeys or many other charms; such providing luck for their team during dire circumstances. My Villanova <b>superstition</b> during games I attend at the Wells Fargo Center (or whatever bank it is called nowadays), is to <b>eat a batch of Chickie and Pete’s crab fries</b>. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.chickiesandpetes.com/wp-content/uploads-chickiesandpetes/food.jpg"><img src="http://www.chickiesandpetes.com/wp-content/uploads-chickiesandpetes/food.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The tradition started in 2007, during the first ever Big East-SEC challenge. Villanova, playing LSU, was down throughout the entire game. Losing by at least 15 with ten minutes to go, I stormed out of my seat out of frustration. I was not completely sure what to do while I was roaming the arena until I saw the Chickie and Pete’s station. I decided to grab crab fries, since I never sampled the food before. I reach back to my seat, where my friend Shashika laughs at my idiotic comment, “There are no crabs in these crab fries!” He was already enjoying the earlier site of me lecturing two sorority girls on what the team is doing wrong. As the fries went, so did our 21-point deficit. With my last bite, Malcolm Grant gets fouled behind the three-point line pulling the game within one. I could still picture the looks on our faces when we witness Dante Cunningham scoring the game-winning basket. From that game, whenever attending a Villanova game inside the WFC, any gigantic margin not in our favor would call for a set of crab fries.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The second half of the present game begins, and the Wildcats still remain to struggle. As more familiar faces in The Australian, the talk moves away from the game and towards any other subject coming to mind. I join into the discussion sparingly, trying to focus on hoping another LSU-type rally. It is not until Onir randomly asks, “What’s that name of that song we all sing at games? ‘ooh-ahh’, that’s a tradition, right?” when I finally divert my attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You mean ‘Hey Baby’? Yeah, that’s definitely a tradition”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Hey Baby</b>, the <b>unofficial traditional song</b> played during each Villanova game, has the same type of connection to the student section that Red Sox fans have with Sweet Caroline (Many other teams try to play Sweet Caroline as well, even Villanova’s band, and I do not want to get started with my disapproval of such an act). </span></p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L4w1Mp6Mce4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A mini-rally for Villanova keeps them at an eleven-point disadvantage. Maybe the nachos could be a lucky charm after all. Before that last thought surged through my head, Syracuse scores six unanswered. One of my fellow teammates with the Villanova Curling Team texts me. The text had nothing to do with the game, but the fact is a nice transition to <b>another unofficial tradition</b> during my days at Villanova. For the past three years, College Curling Nationals would fall on the same weekend as Selection Sunday. The Curling Team likes to follow their own traditions (why not, the team received medals each year we competed), including eating a deep-dish pizza dinner before the flight home. Since our departures are not usually until later in the evening, <b>every year the team would huddle around the same bar/restaurant, the Fox Sports Sky Box, in Chicago O’Hare Airport watching as the bracket is filled</b>. Obviously, the shouts or moans when Villanova is displayed would come from us, as we still are garnished in our curling uniforms. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tD77iSHGK4s/TxRfxZuVvVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/D-ffczl9W30/s1600/curling.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tD77iSHGK4s/TxRfxZuVvVI/AAAAAAAAAOs/D-ffczl9W30/s200/curling.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698284730853997906" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cYDO5pV2qqo/TxRcE9Onv-I/AAAAAAAAAOg/n5dg0KaI7bQ/s1600/IMGP4754.JPG"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Another Orange score lights the screen. A twenty-point deficit, with less than six minutes to go, Amanda decides to call it a night. I could not blame her, especially being she needs to catch a train all the way back to Long Island. Everyone else is enjoying each other’s company. I cannot look away from the painful images of each Wildcat turnover, missed shot, foul or defensive lapse. Onir is staring into space and points at his ear, trying to recognize the song playing in the bar. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Of course, how could I forget! <b>Hoops Mania</b> is the <b>opening tradition of the basketball season</b>. Among other things, WWE-style entrances, dance routine, dunk contest and inter-team scrimmage would fill the program. However, the reminder was of the secret special-guest performer who would appear at the end of the night. My Freshman year, although G Unit’s <b>Tony Yayo</b> was the official star, <b>50 Cent</b> graced us with his presence as well. Junior year, I was not even a foot away from <b>T-Pain</b>, filming the festivities for Villanova Television purposes. This season, <b>Drake</b> astonished campus as this year’s guest. </span></p></div><div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oD0UXSxPEaI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in; "></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The game finally ends, Villanova losing 79-66. It is never an easy task facing the number-one ranked team in the country. As I run into a couple familiar faces in The Australian, Andy passes by, “So would you still want to pull off the video? You gotta still win that Volvo!”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I appreciated his concern. However, looking at his face along with the rest of the Villanova supporters, the last thing I would want is to capture their disheartened expressions on film. Nova fans are a proud bunch, win or lose, but having to display on film about happy traditions after a demoralizing loss is probably not the smartest idea in the world, “Nah, don’t worry about it, next time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; text-indent:.5in"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Next time, because there will always be a gamewatch, there will always be better times for our basketball team, and there will always be traditions for you and your fellow Villanovans to carry on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">-----------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin">So I hope you all enjoyed a story really overblown, if not about nothing even (but so was a show called Seinfeld). That said, I hope I gave you some insights on a few Villanova traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;line-height:12.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">As usual, feel free to make your comments...and/or like it, and/or re-tweet it, just do it.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">Follow me on twitter<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><b><span style="color:#548DD4; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">@miggyflavored</span></b></a>, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12pt; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" align="right" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; ">(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with [glad his New Year’s resolution is to start writing on his own blog again, ha, but seriously, glad you’re back dude])<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-41928561852677469532012-01-11T21:34:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:34:35.001-08:00NFL Postseason Week 2: The Divisional Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFTuG2hkYTA/Tw5w2vNnAvI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/wFj7GjJA_Ps/s1600/NFL+Playoffs+Picture" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zFTuG2hkYTA/Tw5w2vNnAvI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/wFj7GjJA_Ps/s320/NFL+Playoffs+Picture" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So with the Wildcard weekend come and gone, there are now only eight teams fighting for the biggest championship in professional football. Before we get to this upcoming weekend's games, lets take a quick recap of last weekend's games. As it turned out, the game I picked to be the most boring of the four games wound up being the most exiting. Tim Tebow did what I never thought he could do, and threw the ball for over 300 yards, and led the Denver Broncos to an overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, something that I would have bet all my money would never happen. The next most interesting game last weekend was the game I predicted to be the first. New Orleans and Detroit turned out to be what I said, a high offense, low defense game. There's no other way to describe it. New Orleans won the game 45-28. The 3rd most interesting game was Houston and Cincinnati. This game was over quickly with Houston blowing out the Bengals 31-10. The only reason that the game wasn't the most boring is because the New York Giants and Atlanta game had a Falcons team that could only score two points on a safety. The offense couldn't do anything that I thought they could do. So last week I predicted a .500 average, not exactly what I was hoping for, but I imagine a better average this week. With that being said, let's get to the four games this weekend ranked from most interesting to most boring.<br />
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1.) Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens (-7.5)<br />
Sunday 1:00 PM<br />
The reason that this game is the most interesting to me is because I see these teams as very very similar. They are ranked #2 and #3 in the AFC, they both rely strongly on the run game offensively, and they are always neck-and-neck for team statistics during the regular season. For overall offense, Houston was ranked #13 while Baltimore was #15. For overall defense, Houston was only one spot ahead of Baltimore and both were in the top 3 with Houston having the second best defense in the league and Baltimore having the third. As far as the passing game goes, both teams struggled offensively. Houston was in the middle of the pack at #18 at passing the ball with Baltimore right behind them at #19. Defensively is a whole different story. Once again the Texans are ranked #2 and the Ravens are ranked #3 in stopping the ball through the air. The running game is what will separate these teams. Offensively, Houston is ranked #2 in the league on the ground with a running back like Arian Foster. Baltimore, however, was ranked only 10th in the league, and that with a running back as great as Ray Rice. Rice ranked second in the league for individual rushing, while Foster was fifth, meaning that Rice can take the load himself, while Foster had help running the ball. Defensively these two teams are once again at the top of the list, which Baltimore having the second best run defense in the league with Houston having the fourth. With these two teams having such similar teams, it will be very difficult to make an honest prediction. It may come right down to the venue, with a team like Houston that plays in the warm weather traveling up to a cold Baltimore when the East Coast is supposed to be getting a winter storm. With all that being said, I see a very toughly fought game with a lot of rushing yards for both teams, but the cold weather and Ray Rice's individual performance I think will be the deciding factor, and it's more the weather than Rice being better than Foster, because Foster had such a great week last week.<br />
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<b>Official Prediction: Baltimore Ravens win 24-21.</b><br />
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2.) (-3.5) New Orleans Saints vs. San Fransisco 49ers<br />
Saturday 4:30 PM<br />
After the offensive onslaught that the Saints had last week, it is hard to say that this game wont be interesting, especially because of the different styles of both teams. New Orleans is a team that moves through the air, with the number one passing offense in the NFL, compared to San Fransisco's #29 passing offense. New Orleans also has a formidable running offense, with the 6th best running offense to San-Fran's #8. But what can't be denied is San Fransisco's run defense being the best in the NFL. But what will be difficult is stopping the new record holder for passing yards in a single season with only the 16th best pass defense. I think that the 49ers will come out early and often with a run attack, but will be met by the Saints defense. Meanwhile, the New Orleans will turn to their "Saint" Drew Brees to pick apart that defense. So despite the game being in San Fransisco, I have to agree with the current line that New Orleans will win, but I don't see it being as close as the Las Vegas odds currently have it. I see Brees having another great game like he did last week and leading his team to the NFC Championship game.<br />
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<b>Official Prediction: New Orleans Saints win 38 - 24</b><br />
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3.) Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots (-13.5)<br />
Now there are a few reasons that this game will be interesting. Denver is coming off a game in which their "leader" did what so many people criticized him for and threw the ball, and he threw it for 316 yards. And against a defense like the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, recent history is not on the Patriots side. New England has not won a Playoff game since the AFC Championship in January 2008 (that's right, the 18-1 year....). And last season they were in a similar place with having the #1 seed in the AFC and hosting a team, the New York Jets, who they had destroyed the previous time they played. But the Jets came in and outplayed and outcoached the Patriots from the first quarter until the last. So there are definitely some story lines here that make this game interesting. But the reason that it does not seem interesting is really one thing: Tom Brady and the 2nd best passing team in the league up against the #16 pass defense in the Broncos. Now I will admit this: the Patriots defense is a joke. Overall, they are ranked second to worst in the NFL, and the worst in the AFC. But Denver has the worst passing offense in the NFL, but the best running offense. While the Pat's run defense is still second to worst in the NFL and worst in the AFC, their running defense is a bit better at #17, but still not good by any stretch. What this game comes down to is can Tim Tebow take advantage of this poor pass defense and succeed like he did last week. If Tebow can have a game as good as last week, I would be nervous if I was a Pat's fan (which I am!). However, I still don't see the Broncos coming into New England and beating the Patriots after the Pats traveled to Denver and beat them 41-23. I just see Tom Brady being able to pick apart the Denver defense better than Tim Tebow picking apart the Pat's offense. This will be a high scoring game for both teams, and it will be closer than Vegas is giving it credit for, but I still see the Patriots coming out on top, and that is not as a fan, it is as an unbiased NFL analyst.<br />
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<b>Official Prediction: New England Patriots win 35-28</b><br />
<b> </b><br />
4.) New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers (-7.5)<br />
Sunday 4:30 PM <br />
And finally to a game which I believe will be the most boring of the weekend. I will admit that the Giants played very well on both sides of the ball last weekend. I will admit they picked apart an Atlanta team which I gave too much credit to. But despite a great game for the Giants (despite a rarely-seen Safety), I just don't see the G-men going into the frozen tundra that is Green Bay and upsetting the 15-1 Packers as long as they have Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Now, I will admit that last season I was rooting for the Packers to win it all so that this team would officially be known as Aaron Rodger's team and not Brett Favre's with some kid standing in his place. But now that they won the Superbowl, and Aaron Rodgers has been proven to be a force to be reckoned with, I say enough! But the Packers wont be eliminated from the post season this week. Despite having the worst defense in football overall, and the worst passing defense overall and the #14 rushing defense in the NFL, the Giants don't have a good enough offense to take advantage of it. Their offense is ranked 8th overall, they are 5th in offense through the air, but last in offense on the ground. So where the Giants struggle on offense, so does the Packer defense. But the Giant defense will not be able to hold the 3rd best offense in the league at bay. The Packers are third best in the league at passing the ball, and the Giants are fourth worst at defending it. The only place the Giants can say they are somewhat good on defense is on the ground, and the Packers are horrible on the ground and wont be running it much. The Packers will put the ball in Aaron Rodgers hands and he will personally run up and down the field on this defense. Now the Giants surprised me last week. I guess there's a chance they could do it again. But I don't see it happening. I see this game as a forgone conclusion.<br />
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<b>Official Prediction: Green Bay Packers win 45-31</b><br />
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That's going to wrap up this weeks post season picks. Come back next Wednesday for a brand new prediction and even more analysis with the post season being left to the AFC and NFC Championship games. Enjoy football this weekend everyone!<br />
<b> </b><br />
And for my one Patriot's fan statement of the week: Let's show Tebow who the original playoff miracle man is! (Hint: It's Tom Brady)Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-15237911019884262912012-01-05T18:57:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:57:20.492-08:00New Weekly MLB Hot Stove Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFnHGdZyNxI/TwZi7IzbzaI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Bo9nVEDHt0g/s1600/Miami+Marlins+Logo" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bFnHGdZyNxI/TwZi7IzbzaI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Bo9nVEDHt0g/s320/Miami+Marlins+Logo" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So keeping in spirit with this whole posting more often idea, I will be posting the week's off season MLB news every week. So, without getting further into something that I feel is self-explanitory, let's get right into it.<br />
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The biggest news of the week is the Chicago Cubs finally taking a big Aleve pill and getting rid of the headache that is Carlos Zambrano. This is a pitcher who has been in fights with his catcher in the dugout, fights with his manager in the club house, and fights with the ownership in the media. If he wasn't entitled to over $18 million dollars per year, I'm sure the Cubs would have cut him a long time ago. But since they couldn't just pay him $18 million to sit at home every season like they did the second half of last year, they had to find some sap team who would actually be willing to take him off their hands. Enter the Miami Marlins. Here is a team that is actually doing its best to create a new team to build around its star shortstop Hanley Ramirez before he becomes to old and they let the opportunity for greatness pass them by. Players of Ramirez's caliber only come around once and a while, especially for a team with the payroll of the Marlins. They also signed in this free agency period Jose Reyes. This was a surprise given that they already have Ramirez at SS, but look for one of these players, probably Reyes to move to third base much like Alex Rodriguez famously did when he joined the New York Yankees who already had their All Star Shortstop in Derek Jeter. Also take a look at the other pitcher that the Marlins picked up. They signed Mark Buerle, who although is getting up there in years, is still producing very well. Now his winning percentage last year doesn't speak to his abilities. He may have been 13-9, but that was on a pretty bad Chicago White Sox team that even released their manager just before the season ended. And which team picked him up? That's right, the Miami Marlins! With the pickups this team has made this season, they are at least tied for the best off season this year.<br />
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Which may lead some of you who have been living under a rock to ask, who else would be number one? How about a team that signed the two biggest free agents this year? How about a team that picked up the best player in baseball (arguable? I don't think so) How about a team that managed to get both C.J. Wilson and Prince Albert himself, Albert Pujols. Now I will say these moves are big for the Los Angels Angels of Anaheim. The only reason that the Marlins are tied is because they filled more holes in their system. The Angels still have some issues in the outfield and and catcher. And for those of you thinking that the Angels have a great outfield with Tori Hunter, Vernon Wells, and Bobby Abreu, remember that the average age of those three players is 35.3! They are too old to play 150 games of the season. The Angels need some youth out there to support those guys. With Pujols on the team, the Angels should be able to go out and get some young, fast outfielders to split time with those guys. But all around, I see the Angels as a mad team that they didn't make the playoffs last season, and so now they are guaranteeing themselves a spot this year. Look for the Angels to be even more terrifying then in the past, because with an offense that has Pujols, Hunter, and Wells and a rotation that adds lefty C.J. Wilson, this team is a group to be reckoned with!<br />
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So with these two teams picking up some prime free agents, the question is who's left? And for a great list of players who will really turn the team that signs them into contenders, continue reading...<br />
<br />
Prince Fielder<br />
With Pujols signing such a large contract with the Angels, look for Fielder, the second top free agent this year, to get a similar deal. Which teams would be interested in this slugging first baseman? Every single one! Which teams should we look for to sign him? The Chicago Cubs, the Washington Nationals, the Texas Rangers, and the Seattle Mariners have all be mentioned as possible suitors for the big first baseman. With Pujols off the market, I imaging we will see Fielder signed soon!<br />
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Carlos Pena<br />
Another slugging first baseman who can hit the ball as far as Fielder but is younger. This would be a great cheap pickup for an upcoming team. I would actually say the Marlins should try to get him to a cheap long term deal, but they may be tapped out. Currently a few teams seem interested in Pena, but they are all about neck-and-neck for this first baseman. Included in the race are the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Any of these teams could sign him, so he is an interesting man to keep an eye on, because who ever gets him could be getting a sleeper pick up. <br />
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Further free agents in the pool include Ryan Madson, Edwin Jackson, Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez, Kevin Milwood, Xavier Nady, Javier Vazques, and Roy Oswalt. Any one of these players would make an imediate impact on the team that signs them. So with the start of 2012 already past, look for these players to go quickly, and I mean in the next week or two!<br />
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Come back next week for the next edition of MLBEamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-71624946912435137492012-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:002012-01-04T19:32:13.967-08:00Time to Re-Claim My Blog; It's NFL Playoff Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25o5AWBSTiI/TwUZiXMeC3I/AAAAAAAAADw/Y2lnHJ4p0IA/s1600/NFL+Playoffs+Picture" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25o5AWBSTiI/TwUZiXMeC3I/AAAAAAAAADw/Y2lnHJ4p0IA/s320/NFL+Playoffs+Picture" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So a few months ago, my friend Miggy came to me asking if he could start posting in my blog for a Volvo contest. I agreed thinking it would start some extra following because he is so good at passing things around. I even made the decision to back off a bit to let Miggy succeed in his contest, but I cannot stay as a silent owner of this blog any longer. Not when I hear and read people referring to this blog as Miggy's. He will continue with his weekly posts, but I am taking back of this blog with more frequent posts. This post is about Week 1 of the NFL playoffs. There are four games this week, and some of them show some interest, but in all honesty the playoffs don't really get interesting until the Numbers 1 and 2 seeds get involved and either get upset or destroy their teams. So with that being said, lets take a look at this weeks matchups ranked from most interesting to biggest snooze-fest.<br />
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1.) Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints<br />
Saturday 8:00 PM<br />
Now lets be honest here, in any other given year, with the seasons that these two teams had, this could be a #1 vs. #3 matchup. But with Green Bay having the great year they did, and San Fransisco coming out of no where to have a 13-3 season, this is a real treat for week 1 of the post season. With Drew Brees breaking Dan Marino's single season passing record for the Saints, and then the Lions having Stafford passing to the tall, fast, and super athletic Calvin Johnson, this game is going to be a shootout through the air. You also look at both teams not having a great passing D (Detroit is ranked 22 and New Orleans 30 in pass defense), and I'm looking for a very high scoring game here with both QBs having at least 350 yards and 3 TDs. In 2 or 3 years, my pick in this game would be Detroit, but I think their inexperience in the post season and their all around youth with be their undoing.<br />
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<b>Official prediction: New Orleans wins 42-38</b><br />
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2.) Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants<br />
Sunday 1:00 PM<br />
This is another game of two high power offenses, but the difference is that their defenses aren't as horrible. New York has its flaws, while Atlanta's D is ranked in the top 15. I wont lie here, I also like this matchup because I used to love watching Atlanta's QB Matt Ryan when he played for Boston College. I also really like that he was able to take over in Atlanta and help people forget about a certain running QB who had to spend a couple of years in jail for animal cruelty. I will admit that early in the season, watching the Giants play, and seeing Eli having a great start, I would have picked the Giants to win this game. I really thought that with brother Peyton sidelined for the season, he could use this as a time to step out of big brother's shadow, but he will have to hope that Peyton has another neck surgery, because I don't see this Giants team winning against a team with a better offense and defense. Atlanta will control the time of possession, and with be able to throw into that New York secondary for big gains.<br />
<br />
<b>Official prediction: Atlanta wins 35-21</b><br />
<br />
3.) Cincinnati Bengals vs. Houston Texans<br />
Saturday 4:30 PM<br />
<br />
The reason for this interest is because Houston lost Matt Schaub for the season and Cincinnati's Andy Dalton had a break rookie out season with fellow rookie WR A.J. Green. I can see a great future for this team with this duo working together. You could be seeing another Carson Palmer-Chad Johnson partnership (You know, before the ankle injury and the world of twitter became more important than football). In a few years, I will be looking for this team to make it to the Superbowl. But as far as this year goes, like I said, with a great rookie QB up against a decent back up QB in T.J. Yates, I see a low scoring, but close game. This may be a game which the defense decides, because I don't see either QB walking out of this game without at least 2 interceptions. So the defenses will decide this game. And this is a matchup of 2 top-10 defenses. So in a low scoring game, I just see the inexperience of Cincinnati's biggest stars being their undoing. Like I said, look for them to be at least AFC- if not Super Bowl Champs in future years. But not this year.<br />
<br />
<b>Official prediction: Houston wins 17-7</b><br />
<br />
4.) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos<br />
Sunday 4:30 PM<br />
Let's face the facts here, the fact that Pittsburgh is the away team here is a joke. Denver may have had a 6-1 stretch when Tim Tebow started, but since playing the New England Patriots, Denver is 0-3 and only got into the playoffs because Oakland couldn't win when they needed to. Pittsburgh's only undoing is their defensive mentality. The way they always play is showing run defense, and then dropping back into pass defense. But anyone who has watched any games of the Denver Broncos this season knows they throw the ball %15 of the time. However, I see that only being one quarter before the defense adjusts, so I see the defense stepping up and holding the Broncos to a very small number on the scoreboard. The other issue for the Steelers is injuries. The lost their star running back Rasherd Mendenhall for the game and Ben Roethlisberger has been nursing a sore ankle for the last couple of weeks. I see that slowing down the Steelers, but not stopping them. The Broncos need to develop Tebow's arm more and allow him to step up as a leader. Right now, he's a side show attraction, someone that more people joke about than respect. Maybe in a few years Denver could be okay, but I don't see the Broncos going farther than week 2 of the post season until Tebow can learn to throw the ball. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/11257/rashard-mendenhall"><br />
</a><br />
<br />
<b>Official prediction: Pittsburgh wins 24-10</b><br />
<br />
So that's going to do it for week 1 of the NFL playoffs, check back next Wednesday for Week 2 analysis and predictions. And keep watching for more posts as the week goes on.<br />
<br />
And for my one and only Pats fan statement: Go Cincinnati! I would love to play them in the Divisional round next week!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-54040729930608298762011-12-29T17:44:00.000-08:002012-01-02T15:01:59.903-08:00Building the Wildcat Welcome Wagon<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Hello everyone, and thanks for turning into another Miggy-flavored post...just a quick re-cap,<span style="background:white"> I was selected to represent</span> <b>Villanova</b> <span style="background:white">as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(46, 10, 8); ">Biggest </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4">Big East</span></b></a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(46, 10, 8); ">Fan</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(79, 129, 189); "> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ">contest...the gracious people at </span><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; "><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4">Volvo</span></u></b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F81BD">Volvo S60</span></b></a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">to the winner. (And here’s the</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4">video</span></b></a></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">to prove it)</span></span></p><p></p><p></p></div><div><a href="http://www.carshowp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2012-volvo-s60-sedan-front-side-view.jpg"><img src="http://www.carshowp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2012-volvo-s60-sedan-front-side-view.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DowGjqlJQMI/Tv0menLzkeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/smIv8-R--8I/s1600/8053.jpg"></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uc-Ovr7jUkE/Tv0mZeWm-wI/AAAAAAAAAMY/nERj630MKag/s1600/12764.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIRTlGfJPOU/Tv0mWedVNoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/lmxvknOi47k/s1600/12138.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12.0pt; background:white"><span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">along with the voting that started at</span> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#548DD4">mybigeastvolvo.com</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), we are in the middle of the blogging portion of the competition (this being the 4<sup>th</sup> of 8 challenge posts). </span>Let's add on the fact the contestants will be sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (I'll be heading to Nova Jan 28 vs Marquette, you’ll want to get ready to that weekend, just saying…) Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOUymj0Lcxg/Tv0mT91ejXI/AAAAAAAAAMA/C_kvMG7Bilk/s1600/12674.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Challenge Topic #4: Create the Ultimate (Your School) Volvo S60--How would you customize a Volvo S60 to show your school spirit?</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">(Channeling my engineering degree and my inner Xhbit from Pimp My Ride for this one…)<o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrlsxKu7H3M/Tv0mRXtasTI/AAAAAAAAAL0/nv4qfF9348Q/s1600/5476.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.frequencynews.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/pimp.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So as stated in my </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/12/bigger-east-road-trip.html"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">last post</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">, </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">we’re nicknaming this Volvo S60 the Wildcat Welcome Wagon…and now it’s time to design it:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The base:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> First off, sorting through all the different details offered for the S60 by Volvo…for that, ended up playing around on the Volvo website using the </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-services/sales/Pages/car-configurator.aspx?model=134&redirect"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Build Your Volvo</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> feature.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">And we ended up with a Volvo S60 T6 AWD Caspian Blue Metallic…</span></p></div><div><div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9qup7p5Aopc/Tv0hxjkOFRI/AAAAAAAAALo/eWqAyy_SQW4/s400/noname.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691742639310640402" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.carshowp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2012-volvo-s60-sedan-front-side-view.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">A few features that I picked out to make this Wildcat look almost as good as Jay Wright…almost, hahaha</span></p></div><div><div><img src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/quotes/2008/03/0324_villanova.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 250px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Sports Appearance Package…I mean this shouldn’t be a stretch, this is supposed to be a sports blog, right? (plus I gotta have the twin tailpipes)</span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8uJsDBHEPk/TwEgR50n46I/AAAAAAAAAN4/JMBckJRQeWE/s1600/Volvo_S60_Arizona2-large.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8uJsDBHEPk/TwEgR50n46I/AAAAAAAAAN4/JMBckJRQeWE/s200/Volvo_S60_Arizona2-large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692866895924421538" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Technology Package…Collision warning & pedestrian detection: because it’s not cool to bump fellow tailgaters, seriously, even if they root for the other team, we’re staying classy here</span></p></div><div><a href="http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Volvo-S60-Collision-Warning-with-Full-Autobrake-and-Pedestrian-Detection-625x342.jpg"><img src="http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Volvo-S60-Collision-Warning-with-Full-Autobrake-and-Pedestrian-Detection-625x342.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8uJsDBHEPk/TwEgR50n46I/AAAAAAAAAN4/JMBckJRQeWE/s1600/Volvo_S60_Arizona2-large.jpg"></a><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoyOXA-gPg/Tv0mjHq_ZXI/AAAAAAAAANI/FJHh-3a6sZo/s1600/5865.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div></div></div><div><span><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> -rear seat entertainment…in case this isn’t cool enough, I’ll show my plans for using it later in the post</span></p></div><div><a href="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg"><img src="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JTD_jdK68I/Tv9e76I_5DI/AAAAAAAAANs/iVYSbtgpIOA/s1600/11150.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDpF9RXCslU/Tv0mnQAqUyI/AAAAAAAAANU/72mNP3DkY-Y/s1600/11439.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For the blue and white we will fight:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> After picking up the S60 from the dealership, it’s time to deck it out with whatever we can use from </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="http://www.villanovabookstore.com/default.aspx"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor: text2;mso-themetint:153">Villanova’s Bookstore</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-License plate frame: Probably the most obvious piece to pick out<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoyOXA-gPg/Tv0mjHq_ZXI/AAAAAAAAANI/FJHh-3a6sZo/s1600/5865.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoyOXA-gPg/Tv0mjHq_ZXI/AAAAAAAAANI/FJHh-3a6sZo/s200/5865.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747888862815602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoyOXA-gPg/Tv0mjHq_ZXI/AAAAAAAAANI/FJHh-3a6sZo/s1600/5865.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Decal: Not really a bumper sticker guy, but I’d settle for a decal to put up on the back window<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DowGjqlJQMI/Tv0menLzkeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/smIv8-R--8I/s1600/8053.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DowGjqlJQMI/Tv0menLzkeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/smIv8-R--8I/s200/8053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747811422605794" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8uJsDBHEPk/TwEgR50n46I/AAAAAAAAAN4/JMBckJRQeWE/s1600/Volvo_S60_Arizona2-large.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Will D. Cat bobble-head doll: Instead of something hanging on the rear view mirror, rather have Will sitting on the dashboard leading the way<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8BiQIZ1MC0/Tv0mpsFhbtI/AAAAAAAAANg/5QQjfQYUiF8/s1600/12700.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8BiQIZ1MC0/Tv0mpsFhbtI/AAAAAAAAANg/5QQjfQYUiF8/s200/12700.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691748001716989650" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Volvo-S60-Collision-Warning-with-Full-Autobrake-and-Pedestrian-Detection-625x342.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Keychain: To not mistake the keys to the Wildcat Welcome Wagon with another Volvo’s keys</span></p></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uc-Ovr7jUkE/Tv0mZeWm-wI/AAAAAAAAAMY/nERj630MKag/s200/12764.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747723152653058" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">-Driving gloves: Since it goes with the sports appearance package…</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOUymj0Lcxg/Tv0mT91ejXI/AAAAAAAAAMA/C_kvMG7Bilk/s1600/12674.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOUymj0Lcxg/Tv0mT91ejXI/AAAAAAAAAMA/C_kvMG7Bilk/s200/12674.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747628524408178" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bfoyOXA-gPg/Tv0mjHq_ZXI/AAAAAAAAANI/FJHh-3a6sZo/s1600/5865.jpg"></a></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Travel mug: Quenching a thirst of victory…and of hot cocoa <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIRTlGfJPOU/Tv0mWedVNoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/lmxvknOi47k/s1600/12138.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIRTlGfJPOU/Tv0mWedVNoI/AAAAAAAAAMM/lmxvknOi47k/s200/12138.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747671641241218" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Patchwork quilt: Even lining the trunk, cause this is the Wildcat Welcome Wagon, of course<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrlsxKu7H3M/Tv0mRXtasTI/AAAAAAAAAL0/nv4qfF9348Q/s1600/5476.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrlsxKu7H3M/Tv0mRXtasTI/AAAAAAAAAL0/nv4qfF9348Q/s200/5476.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747583930315058" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Tent: Classic tailgating tool<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDpF9RXCslU/Tv0mnQAqUyI/AAAAAAAAANU/72mNP3DkY-Y/s1600/11439.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NDpF9RXCslU/Tv0mnQAqUyI/AAAAAAAAANU/72mNP3DkY-Y/s200/11439.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747959820669730" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Grill tools: I mean we have our grill master in Mike Muckian, he’s not really customizable, but life goes on (we kid Mike, but here’s some tools to work with)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JTD_jdK68I/Tv9e76I_5DI/AAAAAAAAANs/iVYSbtgpIOA/s1600/11150.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4JTD_jdK68I/Tv9e76I_5DI/AAAAAAAAANs/iVYSbtgpIOA/s200/11150.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692372837331887154" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8BiQIZ1MC0/Tv0mpsFhbtI/AAAAAAAAANg/5QQjfQYUiF8/s1600/12700.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DowGjqlJQMI/Tv0menLzkeI/AAAAAAAAAMw/smIv8-R--8I/s1600/8053.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Grill topper: leaving the Villanova brand even on our burgers…<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yT06UfHZ5Wc/Tv0mcOs85SI/AAAAAAAAAMk/hZeUvfxpAWA/s200/12871.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747770491004194" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8BiQIZ1MC0/Tv0mpsFhbtI/AAAAAAAAANg/5QQjfQYUiF8/s1600/12700.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Hot dog grill topper: …and even our hot dogs<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRCnKfEtzDU/Tv0mg0jukwI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rgIl0je2m98/s1600/12870.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRCnKfEtzDU/Tv0mg0jukwI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rgIl0je2m98/s200/12870.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691747849372340994" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now time for a commercial break…<span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">follow Volvo on </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolvocarsUS"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#548DD4;background:white; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Facebook</span></a></span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> and </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><a href="https://twitter.com/VolvoCars_US"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#548DD4;background:white;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Twitter</span></a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">so you could find stories like this:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><iframe width="450" height="275" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zG3u6WZyGI4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRCnKfEtzDU/Tv0mg0jukwI/AAAAAAAAAM8/rgIl0je2m98/s1600/12870.jpg"></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Now let the mayhem ensue:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> So here’s stuff that I wouldn’t dare trying to build myself, but since we’re going off the Pimp My Ride theme…we going with the more practical/realistic ideas first down to the downright crazy yet feasible in another time<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-Paint job: Everyone is probably thinking a generic racing stripe…ehh, I rather try to pull off something a bit more subtle, because I don’t need something drastic to yell “look at me”, I’m pretty sure the S60 already demands our attention…but I still want to show off pride in Nova Nation (please excuse my newbie skills in photoshop, I’m an engineer, not a graphic designer, haha):<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHLbJ92maz0/TwEnbkBEWpI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1GBKhCCxfr8/s1600/volvo1.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHLbJ92maz0/TwEnbkBEWpI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1GBKhCCxfr8/s200/volvo1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692874758451124882" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.carshowp.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2012-volvo-s60-sedan-front-side-view.jpg"></a></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span></div><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Basically, it’s supposed to be subtle light blue and white accents looking as if they are coming out of the front wheels…the dots are a tad bigger then what I would actually plan to put, but the picture is just to show the concept<br /><br /><br />+Nova ignition sounds...basically when I turn on engine, either a "whoosh go" or "let's go nova" or a wildcat roar would sound off after hearing the engine start…if hearing an engine roar and then a crowd roar doesn’t give you chills, I don’t know what will</span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div> <!--[endif]--><span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">-X-Box 360: Ok, the X-box isn’t a far-fetched idea…however, if installing a wireless router along with the 360 can work, we can watch the games using espn3…just saying…<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div></div><div><a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/multimedia/Products/300x300/101/10147/10147903.jpg"><img src="http://www.bestbuy.ca/multimedia/Products/300x300/101/10147/10147903.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHLbJ92maz0/TwEnbkBEWpI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/1GBKhCCxfr8/s1600/volvo1.jpg"></a><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">-”Wall Street” ticker: Just to add to the rear-seat entertainment, installing tickers below the head rests, where the TVs are installed, would show off all the latest Villanova news/scores/etc, which would make this car more fun than most man caves</span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://allfinancialservices.info/wp-content/uploads/Stock-market-ticker-tape-2.jpg"><img src="http://allfinancialservices.info/wp-content/uploads/Stock-market-ticker-tape-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/multimedia/Products/300x300/101/10147/10147903.jpg"></a><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">+solar panel: my engineering self had to mention this…wouldn’t install one giant panel placed across the roof of the car, but rather two small solar strips along the rim of the roof…my reasoning from this is that with the rest of the ridiculous items listed in this part, I rather start offsetting some of the energy demand for them, so that the car battery could be used for more important uses, even the collision detection system</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.solarenergysystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SolarCell.png"><img src="http://www.solarenergysystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SolarCell.png" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://allfinancialservices.info/wp-content/uploads/Stock-market-ticker-tape-2.jpg"></a><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I mean it’d be cool to rather have this secondary power come from hamsters rowing, but we are trying to still be a tad realistic here...</span></p></div><div><br /><iframe width="450" height="275" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0kXS37clsZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12.0pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">So that’s my list…as usual, feel free to speak up...and spread the word like no other...feel free to comment, like it, re-tweet it, just support the cause, thanks<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 12pt; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Follow me on twitter<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><b><span style="color:#548DD4; text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">@miggyflavored</span></b></a>, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12pt; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(As always, many thanks to Volvo, the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent Villanova in this competition, and to Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-37402267896144873462011-12-12T19:15:00.000-08:002011-12-20T11:11:08.484-08:00The Bigger East Road Trip<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Yep, Miggy here again...as you all know, <span style="background:white">I was selected to represent </span><b>Villanova</b> <span style="background:white">as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's</span> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#2E0A08">Biggest </span><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Big East</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#2E0A08">Fan</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#4F81BD"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">contest...the gracious people at</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Volvo</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span> </span><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#4F81BD">Volvo S60</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">to the winner. (And here’s the</span> </span><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">video</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">to prove it)</span></span></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://strumors.automobilemag.com/files/2011/04/2012-volvo-s60-r-design-front-623x389.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; " src="http://strumors.automobilemag.com/files/2011/04/2012-volvo-s60-r-design-front-623x389.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">So</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">along with the voting that started at</span> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">mybigeastvolvo.com</span></b></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), I'll be asked to blog on 6 more challenge topics over the course of the season. </span>Let's add on the fact the contestants will be sent to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (I'll be heading to Nova Jan 28 vs Marquette, you’ll want to get ready to that weekend, just saying…) Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Challenge Topic #3: </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span">What are your picks for the top three road trips in the Big East?</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ">Background check: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ">To most people, this topic would just be a simple question to ramble off on. They’ll just answer it as a hypothetical situation. However, I felt this challenge as a legitimate reason to plan another EPIC road trip. I’ve had quite a few road journeys so far in my life, ones to Detroit for the Final Four and Chattanooga for the FCS Championship sports-wise. My favorite trip so far was a month-long cross-country expedition with my Nova friends right after graduation (recommended for any college peeps of a way of pulling off a last hurrah with their buddies). We still reminisce about the trip and keep making passing references to plan a new one. I’m finally throwing the gauntlet at myself and the guys: <span style="background:aqua;mso-highlight:aqua">this WILL be our trip</span>. During our last road run, sports was littered throughout the agenda; we went out of our way to even visit the likes of Odessa, TX and Albuquerque, NM just to visit “famous” sports sites (even if it’s one in the morning and the site is closed). <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR70aeHMOG8/TuqpJNxUzmI/AAAAAAAAAK4/8LgdNNbMB7Y/s1600/IMGP2876.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR70aeHMOG8/TuqpJNxUzmI/AAAAAAAAAK4/8LgdNNbMB7Y/s320/IMGP2876.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686543455289134690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J3C7N3M51qE/Tuqo-TXiw-I/AAAAAAAAAKs/extAxosFuPE/s320/IMGP2811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686543267813049314" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Therefore, a Big East road trip is not just right up our alley, it is expected of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Now where to go…: </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Now to answer the question of my top 3 picks…I mean all these schools are worth making a trip to, or else challenge 2 wouldn’t have been worth answering…but I do know 3 schools I would definitely want to visit in the future, all in the same trip: </span><a href="http://www.uh.edu/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">University of Houston</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">, </span><a href="http://www.smu.edu/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2; mso-themetint:153">Southern Methodist University</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> and </span><a href="http://www.ucf.edu/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">University of Central Florida</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">. Yes, they are not playing in Big East basketball until 2013, which is why proposing to visit their schools during their INUGURAL season in the Big East, during that 2013 season. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Hey, no one said I would have needed to make this trip tomorrow…but should I start planning this long trip this early, like years early? My response: don’t you think these schools are getting ready themselves???? UCF ALREADY made their </span><a href="http://www.ucfathletics.com/genrel/121011aac.html"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">scouting report</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> of where to go during their first Big East season. Furthermore, even though all three had their websites plastered with the Big East announcement last week, even up to now SMU is just covered with Big East mania. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCknZCEoTz0/TuqoOcCPOeI/AAAAAAAAAKI/J3az3Sb55os/s1600/smu2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCknZCEoTz0/TuqoOcCPOeI/AAAAAAAAAKI/J3az3Sb55os/s400/smu2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686542445505886690" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">I mean isn’t it right for us as Big East veterans to show the newbies how we represent in this league? It is our duty to be ambassadors and extend our hands in welcoming our Big East brothers as the now self-dubbed <b>Wildcat Welcome Wagon</b>. (Yes I think of myself as an ambassador, Villanova wouldn’t have allowed me to be in their commercials if I wasn’t <b>[Bonus cookie- Which two scenes am I in for this commercial?]</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/9704288?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/9704288">The Power of Villanova</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/kelvintso">Kelvin Tso</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">The plan: </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">We’re obviously taking the S60: a Big East road tour MUST be taken by the official vehicle of the Big East (how else would these new schools know what to drive now?). Now to put these schools on the map, literally...<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><iframe width="600" height="500" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Elmhurst,+Queens,+NY&daddr=Staten+Island,+New+York,+NY+to:Valparaiso,+IN+to:41.07937,-88.45292+to:38.52963,-90.19702+to:Dallas,+TX+75205+(Southern+Methodist+University)+to:University+of+Houston+to:4000+Central+Florida+Blvd,+Orlando,+Florida+32816+(University+of+Central+Florida)+to:800+East+Lancaster+Avenue,+Villanova,+PA+19085+(Villanova+University)+to:New+York,+NY&geocode=FbecbQIdvq2Y-ykV4s-gU17CiTFwu_2ga7S18g%3BFZPnagIdY5mU-yk7ATv8ZO3CiTHVX-8RLrWVEg%3BFUfUeAIda43P-ikLQEN4DpoRiDFMQueOo0XCgA%3BFUrScgIdyFC6-ilTRsrWED0MiDHzLg9-MD_i4A%3BFV7qSwId5LOf-ikzixNvA7HYhzGSsAiblQLR9A%3BFfgf9QEd0jM7-iHMCDi7HrkwZg%3BFfF4xQEdvzZR-iE9z-O6R5NX3w%3BFZ5otAEdI_co-yGrm8ezkpvVXw%3BFfjpYgIdZ1aC-yEPFqZwkBvPew%3BFXFAbQIdK8KW-yk7CD_TpU_CiTFi_nfhBo8LyA&aq=0&sll=29.897806,-89.934082&sspn=11.168491,18.742676&vpsrc=6&hl=en&mra=pr&via=3,4&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.353216,-85.166016&spn=17.171699,28.125&z=5&output=embed"></iframe><div><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Elmhurst,+Queens,+NY&daddr=Staten+Island,+New+York,+NY+to:Valparaiso,+IN+to:41.07937,-88.45292+to:38.52963,-90.19702+to:Dallas,+TX+75205+(Southern+Methodist+University)+to:University+of+Houston+to:4000+Central+Florida+Blvd,+Orlando,+Florida+32816+(University+of+Central+Florida)+to:800+East+Lancaster+Avenue,+Villanova,+PA+19085+(Villanova+University)+to:New+York,+NY&geocode=FbecbQIdvq2Y-ykV4s-gU17CiTFwu_2ga7S18g%3BFZPnagIdY5mU-yk7ATv8ZO3CiTHVX-8RLrWVEg%3BFUfUeAIda43P-ikLQEN4DpoRiDFMQueOo0XCgA%3BFUrScgIdyFC6-ilTRsrWED0MiDHzLg9-MD_i4A%3BFV7qSwId5LOf-ikzixNvA7HYhzGSsAiblQLR9A%3BFfgf9QEd0jM7-iHMCDi7HrkwZg%3BFfF4xQEdvzZR-iE9z-O6R5NX3w%3BFZ5otAEdI_co-yGrm8ezkpvVXw%3BFfjpYgIdZ1aC-yEPFqZwkBvPew%3BFXFAbQIdK8KW-yk7CD_TpU_CiTFi_nfhBo8LyA&aq=0&sll=29.897806,-89.934082&sspn=11.168491,18.742676&vpsrc=6&hl=en&mra=pr&via=3,4&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.353216,-85.166016&spn=17.171699,28.125&z=5" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Day One: (Go Time)</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""> …And with that, the journey starts. Before anything, have to pick up the rest of the crew to fill this Wildcat Welcome Wagon. First stop: a red-eye quick drive to Staten Island from Queens for two of my buddies, Mark and Anthony, who has the pleasure of driving me back and forth throughout our Nova days…and admittedly, including now at times. Then it’s a straight thirteen-hour drive on Interstate 80/90 (the two longest interstate highways in America) to Valparaiso, Indiana for the fourth member of the crew, Shashika. Considering most of our conversations from me here in the States and him at the moment in the Congo are about the Big East (including daily exchanges before about the expansion), it’s stupid to think this trip would be happening without him.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mikiemetric.net/USAPics/Penna/PA-I.80Autumn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://www.mikiemetric.net/USAPics/Penna/PA-I.80Autumn.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.forevermx5.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/photo-06.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial">Day two: (Heading South for the Winter)</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> After a long deserved night stay in Valpo, it is time to start our journey south. To make this first leg a bit more interesting, we will start on I-55, to take the path formerly known as Route 66. Spotting old landmarks and scenic glimpses while driving through this historic road is definitely worth getting excited over. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.forevermx5.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/photo-06.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://www.forevermx5.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/photo-06.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 325px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg/248px-St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">By lunch time we should be at Springfield, IL, so a visit to the </span><a href="http://www.cozydogdrivein.com/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Cozy Dog Drive-In</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">, the birthplace of the corn dog, is in order. Some more smooth driving, and we shall arrive at Saint Louis a couple hours later. Of course, how does one not visit the Gateway to the West and not seek out the Gateway Arch (given a bigger meaning considering our Westward expansion as a conference).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg/248px-St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg/248px-St_Louis_night_expblend_cropped.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 241px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/JCStrutz/Roadfood5/IMG_2114.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Dinner will probably consist of famous St. Louis eats, toasted ravioli and slingers: eggs, hash browns and a hamburger patty topped with chili, cheese and onions. Yep, we’re gonna probably have to call it a night after that…<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/JCStrutz/Roadfood5/IMG_2114.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee159/JCStrutz/Roadfood5/IMG_2114.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/george_dohrmann/03/27/missouri.uconn.preview/p1.thabeet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">Day three: (Everything’s Bigger In Texas, Even The Drive) </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"">A full-day 10+ hour trip to Dallas is in order. A bonus is we still get to use the path of Route 66, I-44, for at least half of the day. Tulsa is where we split apart from this historic roadway and load up on food. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Side story about Tulsa: Back when I was a Senior at Villanova, I attended a Habitat for Humanity trip in Fort Smith, AR during spring break. On the way back home, we happened to come across Hasheem Thabeet in the Tulsa airport. He was currently with the D-League affiliate of the Grizzlies. One of my fellow volunteers suddenly had the urge to yell “You better get back up there, boy!” at the UConn alum. I don’t blame him for not wanting to sign autographs after that. However, a few weeks later, he was recalled by the Grizzlies. Maybe the outburst was inspiration? (shrug)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/george_dohrmann/03/27/missouri.uconn.preview/p1.thabeet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/george_dohrmann/03/27/missouri.uconn.preview/p1.thabeet.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 250px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/schooltours/BSsmuUGSS/image/dallas_hall_campus_hi-res.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Dallas will take the rest of the day to reach. Therefore, upon arriving, probably grabbing a bite from a nearby </span><a href="http://www.whataburger.com/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Whataburger</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""> and then grab some zzz’s…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(And now a break to have a word from our sponsors: Social Media + Volvo = an online friend who doesn’t tag embarrassing photos of you…follow Volvo on </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VolvocarsUS"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2; mso-themetint:153">Facebook</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> and/or follow on </span></b><a href="https://twitter.com/VolvoCars_US"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Twitter</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">…do it…and now back to the show…)</span></b></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Day four: </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The plan is to attend a SMU basketball game by the first Saturday of the trip. The Wildcat Welcome Wagon shall start the day by planting ourselves in Dallas Hall: SMU’s oldest building and the heart of campus. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/schooltours/BSsmuUGSS/image/dallas_hall_campus_hi-res.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/schooltours/BSsmuUGSS/image/dallas_hall_campus_hi-res.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0420/dal_e_moody11_576.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; tab-stops:352.2pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; tab-stops:352.2pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Our hopes are to witness rally cries such as the Pony Battle Cry and Pony Ears throughout Dallas Hall and the Main Quad (which may or may not be provoked by our Nova Nation chants…). We won’t be disappointed as these fans will show us they are ready to be displayed in the Big East. From there and all throughout The Boulevard, we will explore the tailgating festivities throughout the campus. Yes, I know their tailgating traditions are supposed to be during football season, but now they are in the Big East, how are they not going to extend the ritual into basketball season now? Eventually after meeting the fan base we will head to Moody Coliseum for the game.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0420/dal_e_moody11_576.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0420/dal_e_moody11_576.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://sixth-floor-museum.visit-dallas.com/Sixth-Floor-Museum-Dealey-Plaza.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">After the game, it’s off to the </span><a href="http://www.urban-taco.com/default.html"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">Urban Taco</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> right off campus for, you guessed it, tacos. However, we will take ourselves to explore greater Dallas, as we will use the Volvo S60 to drive us to the Sixth Floor Museum. </span><a href="http://www.jfk.org/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">The Sixth Floor Museum</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">, located in the </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; background:white;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Texas School Book Depository, is</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> the said assassination spot of President John F. Kennedy. Inside is a collection of exhibits to tribute both the life and death of our 35<sup>th</sup> President.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://sixth-floor-museum.visit-dallas.com/Sixth-Floor-Museum-Dealey-Plaza.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://sixth-floor-museum.visit-dallas.com/Sixth-Floor-Museum-Dealey-Plaza.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.sonnybryans.com/images/catering-menu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Lastly, how we would spend an entire day in Dallas without eating some BBQ is beyond me. We will fix that with a trip to any one of Dallas’ main eateries:</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span><a href="http://www.sonnybryans.com/index.html"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2; mso-themetint:153">Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sonnybryans.com/images/catering-menu.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://www.sonnybryans.com/images/catering-menu.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 245px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://www.recipebloom.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/houstons-hawaiian-ribeye-recipe1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Days Five/Six/Seven?: (With This Weather, We’ll Take Our Time) </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">The Wildcat Welcome Wagon in our Volvo S60 shall wake up to a four-hour stroll down I-45 to Houston. Depending on when the next U of H home game is would determine exactly how many days we get to explore <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Houston</st1:place></st1:city>. Of course, most people know why <st1:city st="on">Houston</st1:city> is nicknamed <st1:placename st="on">Space</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype>, and so a drive to NASA's <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Lyndon</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">B.</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Johnson</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Space</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> is a must. At the space center, we will get to visit Mission Control, training facilities, and even stare at moon rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.houstontours.com/NASA_Floating_Lrg.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://www.houstontours.com/NASA_Floating_Lrg.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Another place worth dropping by is Houston’s Galleria, the fourth biggest shopping mall in America (granted we at Villanova are used to King of Prussia Mall, the second biggest mall, just a half-hour drive from campus). Two hotels (think about that for a second) are inside the Galleria along with the first ice skating rink to be built inside a mall.<o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://cittours.com/images/Popular-tourist-attractions-in-Houston_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://cittours.com/images/Popular-tourist-attractions-in-Houston_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/8/82/20071010215233!UH_Male_Cougar_Sculpture.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Day Eight: (At Least We’re Gonna Assume That) </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">So this will be the weekday with a U of H basketball game. Again, the WWW and the Volvo S60 shall head to Hofheinz Pavilion, the original home of the Houston Rockets, and the current home of the Cougars. We are expecting on our trip to campus to witness fan traditions such as: making the Cougar Paw hand gesture, singing the Cougar Fight Song, watching the UH Frontiersmen bear the flags, hearing The Blaze: an oil field siren sounded off during/after sporting events, and rubbing the paws of the Cougar statues on campus.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><p></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EEoFE5et8Nc/TCBzVHL2tlI/AAAAAAAAAi8/nTodLGkCHmw/s1600/Hofheinz.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EEoFE5et8Nc/TCBzVHL2tlI/AAAAAAAAAi8/nTodLGkCHmw/s1600/Hofheinz.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/8/82/20071010215233!UH_Male_Cougar_Sculpture.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/8/82/20071010215233!UH_Male_Cougar_Sculpture.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EEoFE5et8Nc/TCBzVHL2tlI/AAAAAAAAAi8/nTodLGkCHmw/s1600/Hofheinz.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5L_JXaYlqDk/Tuqbidpc3kI/AAAAAAAAAJk/D3iuYpF54Ng/s1600/IMGP2944.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Day Nine: (Wait, This Isn’t a Spring Break Trip?) </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">The next drive is a six-hour journey from <st1:city st="on">Houston</st1:city> to none other than <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">New Orleans</st1:place></st1:city>. We do not need to push it all the way to UCF at once since we’re probably waiting a few more days for the next game. For that reason, why not take it easy at the Big Easy? Food-wise, we’re going to obviously load up on beignets in </span><a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial;color:#548DD4">Café Du Monde</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "> while passing by the French Quarter and Saint Louis Cathedral. For dinner, we’re going all out and head to </span><a href="http://www.commanderspalace.com/"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial;color:#548DD4">Commander’s Palace</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "> (no wonder we packed a suit). As for desert, I guess we have to go to <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Bourbon Street</st1:address></st1:street>…I guess…</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5L_JXaYlqDk/Tuqbidpc3kI/AAAAAAAAAJk/D3iuYpF54Ng/s1600/IMGP2944.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5L_JXaYlqDk/Tuqbidpc3kI/AAAAAAAAAJk/D3iuYpF54Ng/s200/IMGP2944.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686528495885016642" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Day Ten: (Grasping the Gulf)</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "> The WWW is going to enjoy the drive from <st1:city st="on">New Orleans</st1:city> to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:city> on I-10<b> </b>for ten hours. This enjoyment will partially be from the sights along the drive, partially from the company, partially from the fact we will rotate spending time in the back seats watching DVDs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://image.motortrend.com/f/29298310+w786+ar1/2011-volvo-s60-rear-seat-entertainment.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 150px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LL7nG1-TAnw/Tuqam0FO-CI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Tig_OXmcKgU/s1600/IMGP3283.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Days Eleven/Twelve/Umm… </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Depending on the UCF basketball schedule, we are either spending a day or two in Orlando, or we are spending five to six days…decisions, decisions…do we head to Disney World or Universal Studios? (In our cross-country run, we did both establishments in one day each, jumping from park to park and taking in close to twenty rides both days…not to mention that Harry Potter theme park just opened a couple days before our arrival…) My guess is that we’re probably going to hit both…because we’re not going to fight between these two, we’re here anyway...</span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chuklnh0dIw/TuqZ8fLa_nI/AAAAAAAAAJA/fCxXBJAm_Hw/s1600/IMGP3137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chuklnh0dIw/TuqZ8fLa_nI/AAAAAAAAAJA/fCxXBJAm_Hw/s200/IMGP3137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686526743949278834" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEipc9ayhUo/TuqaSyvneBI/AAAAAAAAAJM/S_fq7aLU0-U/s1600/IMGP3240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEipc9ayhUo/TuqaSyvneBI/AAAAAAAAAJM/S_fq7aLU0-U/s200/IMGP3240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686527127158487058" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LL7nG1-TAnw/Tuqam0FO-CI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Tig_OXmcKgU/s1600/IMGP3283.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LL7nG1-TAnw/Tuqam0FO-CI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Tig_OXmcKgU/s200/IMGP3283.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686527471114975266" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEipc9ayhUo/TuqaSyvneBI/AAAAAAAAAJM/S_fq7aLU0-U/s1600/IMGP3240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chuklnh0dIw/TuqZ8fLa_nI/AAAAAAAAAJA/fCxXBJAm_Hw/s1600/IMGP3137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">Day Whenever Next UCF Home Game: (because we lost count of days) </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">The Wildcat Welcome Wagon is going to yet again explore campus to see what the University of Central Florida is about. Although we will miss out on what is probably one of the most awesome homecoming traditions, the Spirit Splash (shown below), the reflection pond is still worth making a trip to. Another interesting tradition for UCF students is avoiding the Pegasus Seal in the main floor of the Student Union. Every student is told if they ever step on the emblem in the center of the floor, they will be “doomed to fail out of college”. But as we head to UCF arena, we hope this fan section, known as the “Knightmare”, will not avoid being their passionate selves when rooting for the Black and Gold.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div><div><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HPKzCbKW4vk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Day…I mean later that night…</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">this welcome committee will have accomplished its goal. Straight after the game will be a seventeen, yes, seventeen-hour drive up the I-95 all the way back to Villanova (we did it last time, we are gonna do it again). Why the stop at Villanova? You always have to come home at some point; it just would not feel right to make our epic voyage without visiting the place where are bonds of brotherhood under the Blue and White started. [Not to mention some of the other bloggers, such as USF’s Matt aka @TheBullRush (Edit: shoutout to all the other bloggers: DePaul's @MarianneAurelio, Rutgers' @ZlataThoughts, Cuse's @nicolehering, and even an almost-shoutout to Pitt's @ChasRich27, haha...and probably others who I'm missing) will probably be in the area from picking Villanova and Philly as one of their three road trip towns (so what I’m convinced is that my </span><a href="http://bostonprosports.blogspot.com/2011/11/wildcat-weekend.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">last post</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; "> at least persuaded someone to drop by…)] Also, might as well grab another cheese steak while we’re there.</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 122px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vrWGLHAE0tI/TuqW7PdNOhI/AAAAAAAAAI0/zvl3tRh1DCY/s200/12191.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686523424014154258" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">End of Days: (ok, of the trip, let’s not get apocalyptic here) </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; ">A leisurely, two-hour drive back to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> is left to our Volvo S60. Admiringly we will be exhausted as ever, but ever worth it. (No, Shashika won’t be driven back to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:state> as this will be a subtle ploy to convince him to stay in the East Coast, haha)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">So the itinerary is set, let’s look at some other details that will show how crazy we are for this:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:-2.1pt;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext;mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes; height:205.8pt"> <td width="1073" valign="top" style="width:643.8pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:205.8pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Time of year:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> January-February<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Days:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> 14-20 (mostly depending on game schedules)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Miles:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> 4000+<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Time Driving:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> ~3 days<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Experienced temperature range: </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">30-80° Fahrenheit<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">States Passed Though:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> 19<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Some items packed:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> Sweater, swimming trucks, Nova Nation shirt, Volvo Big East Cap, DVDs, Pepto Bismol (it’s a long trip…just in case)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Photos taken:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> ~800-1100<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Facebook/twitter updates:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> More than there should be since this is a vacation <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Some artists we won’t admit listening to while we’re on the trip, but know are going to:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> Michael Buble, Katy Perry, Backstreet Boys, A Goofy Movie Soundtrack…(yeah, that’s enough confession time)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">So that’s my list…as usual, feel free to make your own contributions...as long as you just spread the word like wildfire...comment, like it, re-tweet it, just support the cause, thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Follow me on twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#548DD4; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:153">@miggyflavored</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">, and GO NOVA! (V for Villanova, V for Victory, V for Volvo)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:right;line-height:12pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(As always, many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-92167300080139079142011-11-29T20:23:00.001-08:002011-12-02T13:27:11.299-08:00A Wildcat Weekend<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Hey everyone, Miggy here...as you all know, <span style="background:white">I was selected to represent</span> <b>Villanova</b> <span style="background:white">as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#2E0A08">Biggest </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>Big East</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#2E0A08"> Fan</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#4F81BD"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">contest...winner gets $10,000 donated back to their alma mater’s scholarship fund…just in case that for some reason that wasn't enough to accept, the gracious people at</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <b>Volvo</b> <span style="background: white">are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet</span> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#4F81BD"><b>Volvo S60</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> <span style="background:white">to the winner. (And here’s the </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://youtu.be/_52bkhfGLps"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";background:white"><b>video</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> to prove it)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt: 10.8pt;background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; "><br />So </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><span style="background:white">along with the voting that started at</span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>mybigeastvolvo.com</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "> <span style="background:white">(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), I'll be asked to blog on 8 challenge topics over the course of the season.</span></span>Let's add on the fact the contestants were sent to Big East Basketball Media Day and will send each person to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (I'll be heading to Nova Jan 28 vs Marquette). Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Second challenge: </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Pick 5 or more things that you have to do when you return to your Alma Mater (weekend for the Jan 28 game vs Marquette, so let's be practical here people)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbQTKMhWAx4/TtWv3mobHZI/AAAAAAAAAEs/zK4vpM4QLfk/s200/volvo-s60%2B%25285%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680639874795511186" style="text-align: left; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 160px; " /></div><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">1)</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">…Hold the Wheel and Drive (cookie for whoever gets the song reference first): </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">So for those who don’t know me, I never had a car disposable for my own use. During my days at Nova, I would have to rely on family, friends or public transportation to bring me from New York to Pennsylvania and vice versa (which I still thank everyone for). It was such a pain especially Senior year when living off-campus. Although I lived a short walk from campus, continuously needing to hitch rides to friends’ places, for example, was never fun. The fact Volvo is actually lending me a Volvo S60 for a weekend actually means a looooooooooooooot to me. For the first time ever in my life, I will be sitting in the driver’s seat for the duration of the 2 hour, 15 minute trip. I will admit I would probably need a test lap around the block before the journey starts. This way, I don’t get lost in the many features of the S60 (hey, it’s not every day I get to drive such a nice car).</span></p><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">2) The (new) Campus Crawl: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">If you have been around Villanova as of late, you would notice there is much construction currently underway as the university is still trying to complete the first phase of its </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/president/initiatives/masterplan/CampusLandscape.html"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>Transformation of the Campus Landscape</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> initiative. In fact, as of this past Monday, students were finally able to access the main entrance of Connolly Center once again. That said, if I have to drop by campus again for old time’s sake, the one necessity I would have is to see all of these new renovations myself. Hopefully, the Oreo would be available to visit as well. However, it may still be closed off since it’s being moved.</span></p></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EaueaBSj-sk/TtWwNS8i-OI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/BI3S8hmgwJU/s200/249668_10150253322906251_12860591250_9229682_2121386_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680640247468325090" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHvW9bgy9lE/TtWx272yhpI/AAAAAAAAAGA/EntX8kFhsNM/s200/376716_10150474796161251_12860591250_10875820_1017523696_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680642062336296594" /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnZbAA2NeZ0/TtWv-TQl1nI/AAAAAAAAAE4/_DKDwDeHyf4/s200/248729_10150253322981251_12860591250_9229684_2197226_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680639989854361202" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTwBmblT5Ls/TtWx-_CfSuI/AAAAAAAAAGM/E_bEDDtxkpw/s200/379716_10150474797921251_12860591250_10875833_426791535_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680642200629627618" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The rest of my campus tour, while would be awesome to pull off, probably is not feasible when trying to catch an early game all the way in Philly. However, I’m not going to spoil the fun just because I won’t be able to pull off a full tour around campus. Just some a few of the places I would recommend visiting, in case one makes their first trip to Villanova:</span></p></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1tC0Ib7HxM/TtWyUG0AhlI/AAAAAAAAAGY/KrJ5-5ymJDI/s200/2412966728_2348d7c85d.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680642563493627474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Connolly Center</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jQQK4_wd8c/TtWygNB-2FI/AAAAAAAAAGk/WTDAAFeVxFk/s200/9229_164698996250_12860591250_4058401_4917551_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680642771321280594" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; background:white">St. Thomas of Villanova Church</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-83x0fzC-I/TtWypWZXqUI/AAAAAAAAAGw/0koQaY8u0Oo/s200/Villanova-oreo-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680642928454117698" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Oreo (Actually named The Awakening, but no one really calls it that)</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";background:white">The Grotto (left: current, right: post renovations)</span></span></p></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rVnopOVM-E/TtWzI3Ef3QI/AAAAAAAAAHI/ZEbKyP2qJfc/s200/Grotto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643469800889602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-45RODfuyQxk/TtWzRxgUKlI/AAAAAAAAAHU/IoQF3mC0ALs/s200/1304099197519.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643622925773394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px; " /><br /></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CaeDL8TFZ3c/TtWzcb2IueI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uEM-YWHhqoY/s200/n12860591250_972203_159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643806090279394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px; " /><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Sister Bell (The other bell originally used in Independence Hall, located currently in the Augustinian Heritage Room in the Monastery)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><br /></span></span></p></div></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxC-gqmiE4M/TtWyzmL_DXI/AAAAAAAAAG8/AD1pkyTTG58/s200/167074_10150125922486251_12860591250_8260584_4296784_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643104491638130" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">"The Heisman" (A statue of St. Augustine next to the Monastery...and yes, there's always a chance of snow that weekend, making this an appropriate picture...)</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ecHjjKEsG8/TtWznNLTAbI/AAAAAAAAAHs/ZYewNZfolng/s200/n12860591250_971985_2762.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643991131062706" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt;background: white"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; background:white">And…if you’re REALLY lucky, you’d somehow end up on my favorite spot on campus, which is always deemed inaccessible (and therefore not giving the location), but I still get e-mails, pictures and txts from current students I know when they discover the place. Trust me, you’ll know if you end up there…although I can already see the spot from this photo…</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:12pt;background: white"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">That said, there’s always something random happening on campus…from presidential campaigns, celebrity sightings, TV show contests, World Series trophy visits, concerts…and let’s not forget about the community already in campus, I’ve experienced first-hand how everyone, and I mean everyone, finds a way to contribute to the campus spirit…just watch the video below if you don’t believe me...</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></b><div><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></b><div><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></b><div><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><iframe width="450" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ncFdVKuGQJg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></b></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qfgcLqy3bFk/TtW0IovoPMI/AAAAAAAAAH4/lZfajxaRN4w/s200/six_wells_fargo_center_ext_300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680644565466889410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">3) Carpooling to Wells Fargo Center (formerly known as Wachovia Center/First Union Center/CoreStates Center/ or my favorite, Spectrum II):</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> Walking around campus will be nice and all, but there’s a game that must need attending. That particular game is being held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and not in the Pavilion on Villanova’s campus. But, since I’ll already be in the area, why not give a lift to a few more members of Nova Nation, or for the even more die-hards, <a href="https://twitter.com/AugustinianArmy"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">The Augustinian Army</span></b></a> (I guess my term calling them the Wildcat W(r)ascals won't catch on...) and create a little carpool to the game? I mean I enjoy Philly’s public transportation system like anyone else (read that in whatever tone of voice you think is most suitable), but something tells me the guys will enjoy the car ride a bit more...plus, it's a way of me paying it forward for all the times I was the one in need of a lift. I mean these people deserve it, they are some of the most <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9mk_-27gk"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">passionate fans ever</span></b></a>...</span></p></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="400" height="275" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HzLnwEUZ9Z8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><img src="http://www.chickiesandpetes.com/wp-content/uploads-chickiesandpetes/food.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680644910001000962" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 122px; " /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Although I'm hoping to pass, especially since of point #4, best food item to grab while catching a game at WFC is Chickie and Pete's Crab Fries. The main reason I'm trying to avoid it is because I find myself ordering a batch every time we're down big at the half...as started with the 21-pt comeback vs </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=3144977" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">LSU back in '07</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">...</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">call it superstitious or calming the nerves, I just call it delicious</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">...</span></p></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vhfqawLJE4/TtW0csO9kgI/AAAAAAAAAIE/2FbnsDXVNoY/s200/12191.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680644910001000962" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 122px; " /><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">4) Cheese Steak Run: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">What is more Philadelphia than a Philly Cheese Steak? It’s always great to grab a delicious cheese steak after the game; however, most of the best spots are not easy to reach at all using public transportation. Oh the wonders of having a car as your disposal…the best part is, we don’t really, REALLY need to fight about which cheese steak is better amongst Pat’s, Geno’s and Tony Luke’s. Since we have the S60, we might as well hit up all three. Granted I’m hoping they lend me a car with a functioning </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-services/sales/soundandnavigation/pages/volvo-sensus.aspx"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>Volvo Sensus</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> because I’m pretty sure we’ll get lost somewhere along the way. </span></p></div></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ne9w0TMT4w/TtW0m-YHBuI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/MZkNNmKkrPc/s200/boathouse-row-philadelphia-night-587.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680645086669899490" style="text-align: center; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">As a side note, probably gonna take our sweet time downing those delicacies to make sure it’s getting dark when driving past Boathouse Row heading back, one of the best sights in Philly bar none.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(Bonus: for those who never even been to Philadelphia period, a couple top things to visit: The Philadelphia Museum of Art, especially so you can do your own Rocky training montage, Independence Hall, and Reading Terminal Market)</span></p></div><div><p></p></div><div><img src="http://www.aviewoncities.com/img/philadelphia/kveus1042s.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643469800889602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></div><div><img src="http://c0486872.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/rocky-statue-philadelphia-600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643622925773394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://units.sla.org/division/dbio/img/Philadelphia-Independence-Hall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643469800889602" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RI2u360vL_8/TLDCexHHByI/AAAAAAAAKKQ/gM0kTEyih1w/s1600/readingterminalmarket_dinicssign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680643469800889602" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px; " /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">5) </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Main Line Bar Hop: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">The Main Line has their fill of bars to visit (how else do you expect college kids to cope?), which is why for the past few years I dropped by during my birthday just to bar hop. This weekend won’t be any different…(cuing my best Howard Dean impression)...we’re gonna hit up Flip’s, then Kelly’s, then Maloney’s then Erin’s, then the Grog, then Brownies, then Mixx, BYAH! (here’s the video if you have no idea what I’m referencing)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KDwODbl3muE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); "></iframe></p><div><div><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt; background:white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j45S8ZqqNNQ/TtW0uDCLGUI/AAAAAAAAAIc/zEK4bnQxYcE/s200/27042_625051789102_6112706_36633818_2227311_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680645208179153218" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /><div><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lekjhl9n6U1qb7zub.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px; " /><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Yes, someone will end up designated driver for the shindig…if it ends up being me, that’s fine, saves me from my </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_flush_reaction"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><b>Asian Glow</b></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">. Also, in case anyone needs to sober up before they head back, a 12-patty!!! bacon cheeseburger, known as the OMG Burger, could be summoned once again from BRGR Joint…again…(although, still a tad bit upset my name isn’t on the wall of fame on the since I did this challenge before the the wall was built…) <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXotR3EpyF0/TtW1ebktkUI/AAAAAAAAAIo/n2F0PUvxG4Y/s200/7384_st0640_077.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680646039400190274" style="text-align: center; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><b>6) The Trip Home: </b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Hoping to drive home after a Wildcats victory, of course. Furthermore, since this my first drive outside of New York, I have to experience one thing before this trip ends: filling up a gas tank in New Jersey. Even if I don't really need to, it'd be nice to experience the full service gas station treatment…fill ‘er up, please…Lastly, there’s just something about arriving back in NYC. I can’t really explain it; I just get chills of excitement every time I come back. There’s always some sort of New York song stuck in my head too, whether it be “New York, New York” or “Empire State of Mind”…</span></p></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tnlPX2_b4GA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:.5in;text-align: justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt;background: white"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">So that’s my list…as usual, feel free to make your own contributions...as long as you just spread the word like wildfire...comment, like it, re-tweet it, just support the cause, thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph;mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Follow me on twitter <u><span><a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><span><b>@miggyflavored</b></span></a></span></u>, and GO NOVA!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;text-align:right; mso-line-height-alt:10.8pt;background:white"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(Many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with)</span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div></div></div></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-84528991936347445982011-11-10T15:57:00.000-08:002012-02-10T21:28:56.105-08:00Miggy's Big East Dream Team<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt" class="MsoNormal"></p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Hey everyone, Miggy here...time to explain what I'm gonna be synonymous with for the next few months...</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "> <span style="background:white">I was selected to represent<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>Villanova</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as one of 16 alumni participants in this year's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(79, 129, 189); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/">Biggest Big East Fan</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></u><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">contest...just in case that for some reason that wasn't enough to accept, the gracious people at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>Volvo</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are sponsoring the competition and putting up a sweet, sweet<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(79, 129, 189); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><a href="http://www.volvocars.com/us/all-cars/volvo-s60/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color:#4F81BD">Volvo S60</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">to the winner. (If you still don't get it, watch the video)</span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="350" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_52bkhfGLps" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></span></div><div><p style="TEXT-JUSTIFY: inter-ideograph; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span>Let's add on the fact the contestants were sent to Big East Basketball Media Day last month and will send each person to their alma mater for one weekend using the S60 to attend a game (I'll be heading to Nova Jan 28 vs Marquette). Again, I ask, why wouldn't one accept?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span> <span style="background:white">So</span> <span style="background:white">with along with the voting that started at</span> <span style="background: white"><span style="color:blue"><a href="http://www.bigeast.org/Sports/MensBasketball/MyBIGEASTVolvo2012.aspx#content_poll">mybigeastvolvo.com</a></span></span> <span style="background:white">(cough, VOTE FOR ME, cough), I'll be asked to blog on 8 challenge topics over the course of the season.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span>First challenge:</span></b><span> <span style="background:white">Pick your</span> <b><span style="background:white">all-time Big East Dream Team</span></b> <span style="background:white">(12 players, both old & current players from any Big East team)</span> <span style="background:white">and why?</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span> <span style="background:white">So let us start...my dream team is based on...uhh, Winning, of course...me being the fantasy sports</span> <span style="background:white">legend I am, my team would be basically compiled to dominate competition. Would there be other factors in the decision-making? Yeah, it</span> <span style="background:white">wouldn't be fun if we didn't go on a tangent or two...but we're not getting too fancy here, this isn't the MLB All-Star game where we're picking a representative from every team, we're just here to display the Big East as the winning tradition it is...</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;padding-bottom: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span">(Note: I'm choosing a specific year which I would want each player...just to be that specific...)</span></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">STARTERS:</span></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://rushthecourt.net/mag/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/hoya-paranoia-gu.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Center: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown (83-84 season)</b>- Probably the easiest decision of </span></span>all. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Ewing had it all: success, presence, character and performance. He basically defines Big East Basketball. Ewing was part of 3 Georgetown "Hoya Pa</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; ">ranoia" trips to the Final Four, including th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; ">e 1984 championship victory over t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; ">he </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; ">University of Houston. He was the Naismith College Player of the Year, three-time First-Team All-A</span>merican, and two-time Big East Player of the Year. The 7'0, 240 lb Ewing was one of, if not the most intimidating presence in the entire league (even now)...</span></span></p><div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span"><iframe height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oZ5eljJhYKY" frameborder="0" width="400" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Personally, I emulated the style he started of wearing a T-shirt under his jersey (if only I could pull off every other facet of his game). Oh, and by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the way, his stats during the 83-84 season: just a cool 16.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.6 bpg, 1.0 spg.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><p></p><div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://media.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/photo/2010-01-23-dn-subasket38jpg-90fb88bd265ecb35.jpg" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Power Forward: Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (89-90)- </span></b><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span style="float: none; ">Probably the least heralded of the starting five in my opinion, Coleman was credited with more follies than pure accomplishments to his name, including missing a late free throw that ended up being the difference in the NCAA Championship versus Indiana. That said, 17.9 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.0 bpg, and a 55 fg% statline was good enough to give him a first-team All-American and a Big East POY. I am not picking him for his attitude or financial accountability, but we'll find him the motivation; it's a dream after all.</span></span></span></span></p></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.warriorsworld.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mullin.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Small Forward: Chris Mullin, St. John's (84-85)- </b>Let's face it, I could have chosen his pic of him in the Johnnies, but you know you love the flattop more. Let's move on from the haircut and move on to the fact the Lefty Assassin was a three-time All-American, three-time Big East POY, and Wooden award recipient. He lead the Red Storm to the 1985 Final Four, with 19.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 spg, along with a 52.1 fg% and 82.4 ft%. Even teammate Mark Jackson said Mullin showed him the importance of rigorous practice. So, basically I needed a person to tell Allen Iverson to show up to drills if his accomplishments didn't convince you.</span></p><div align="justify"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://jocksandstilettojill.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rip-hamilton.jpg" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Shooting Guard: Richard Hamilton, UConn (98-99)- </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Was debating if his 97-98 self was a better pick for this exercise, but again, I want winners, and him carrying the Huskies to the title during the 98-99 season was the tiebreaker. Yes, I'm forcing him to wear the mask, even if he wasn't injured until he hit the pros. With a first-team and second-team All-American, along with being a two-time Big East POY, people will still fuss with me selecting him over fellow Huskie Ray Allen for the starting spot. You could make a choice either way, Rip having a 21.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.2 spg with a 34.7% from three is nothing to sneeze at. I just want Allen to be more of a "spark" as a better deep threat than Hamilton; remember, this is my dream team, get your own.</span></span></p></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.bouncemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ai.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong>Point Guard: </strong><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong>Allen Iverson, Georgetown (95-96)</strong>- <a href="http://youtu.be/eGDBR2L5kzI">"Look, we are talking about </a><a href="http://youtu.be/eGDBR2L5kzI">practice..."</a> So A.I. isn't the quietest guy in the world...so what, wouldn't you dream of being in a press conference with him at the mic? His spectacle of an attitude is worth watching alone. That said, you also have to give Iverson credit, he makes as much noise on the court as he does off it. The 6'1", 165 lb guard's signature crossover, developed during his collegiate tenure, is only part of how he became so successful in his Hoya days. In 95-96 season, The Answer had a stat line of 25.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.4 spg and a 36.6 3pt%. His accolades include being a First-team All American and 2 Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards...in the 2 years he was there.) One of the best players to ever play in the Big East, he definitely deserves to start (although probably woudn't want to play if otherwise anyway...)</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>RESERVES:</b></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.celticstitletown.com/Ray%20Allen%20Connecticut.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Ray Allen, UC</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>onn (95-96)-</b> One of the purest shooters in the game, period. Allen averaged 23.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. I wouldn't mind putting </span>him over Rip in the starting lineup; however, with his 46.6 3pt%, having him come off the bench and just shoot daggers from everywhere is a luxury one can only dream of.</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><br /></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><b><br /></b></span></div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673611213430698338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dhH7tf-baJ4/Try3Vqo1sWI/AAAAAAAAADo/hnLeySuM7Xk/s200/n6112439_34728272_4701871.jpg" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Ed Pinckney, Villanova (84-85)-</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="float:none"><span style="line-height: 115%; "> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; ">No, this is not me being a homer here, 15.6 ppg on 60 fg% and 8.9 rpg and carrying the lowest-seed to ever win a national championship should account for something. To lead the 8th-seeded Wildcats over the juggernaut Hoyas shows the leadership, determination and the ability tobe a clutch performer...Ok, it doesn't hurt Ed and I go way back (...to Detroit that is).</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 115px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://dimemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/alonzo-mourning-gu.jpg" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown (91-92)-</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; "> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; ">5 blocks a game...is that enough justification for him to be on the team? That's how he ended up with 3 Big East Defensive POY awards. Definitely more suited for the bench though with his health concerns (yes, my dreams take into account health factors). But if he's hea<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="float: none; ">lthy...that's the blocks plus 21 points and 10 rebounds a game...</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></u><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div align="justify"><img style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://orangehoops.org/photos/sdouglas.jpg" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Sherman Douglas, Syracuse (88-89)-</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; "> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; ">With all these scorers, why not have the all-time Big East assists leader to get everyone the ball. The General was able to contribute in the points column (18.2 ppg), but it's his 8.6 apg average from that season that would be his most needed contribution to this team. Fun fact- he is also known as the man who redefined the running "floater" as it is today.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="BACKGROUND-: initial; background-origin: initial"><br /></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://doublegsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Ashton-Gibbs-09.jpg" /><div align="justify"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh (11-12)-</span></b><span> <span style="background:white">So Gibbs is the only current player to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">make the list...if there was a player to make it, why not the Big East pre-season POY? Yes, he doesn't have the outstanding resumes as the players above, but him hitting 49% from 3-pt range last year, 88% from the the free-throw line (46% overall fg%) shouldn't be dismissed. That alone makes him at least another scoring threat off the bench. Plus, we have another year to see his full potential, so who knows if Gibbs is a true reach on this list or wholeheartedly deserves to be here.</span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><p align="justify"><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" border="0" alt="" src="http://blog.nj.com/realtimesports_impact/2009/03/large_scottie-reynolds331.jpg" />Scottie Reynolds, Villanova (08-09)- </b>This will be my official homer pick. Scottie doesn't need to be used for anything else, but just knowing that if the game in down to the last moments and the team needs a score, you know he can deliver, in case you forgot this moment...(besides, aren't dream teams include players who actually made your dreams become true?)</span></span></p><p style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><span class="Apple-style-span"><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/syJ8MVtOC_s" frameborder="0" width="420" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></b><br /></span></p><p></p><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><b><img style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nova/sports/m-baskbl/auto_action/5699611.jpeg" /></b><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Russell Wooten, Villanova (08-09)-<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Look, if this dream team were to ever come to existence, between the talent and the egos, there's no way everyone's going to get all their minutes. Furthermore, I believe a Big East dream team should not be only representative of talent, but by character. This is why I picked my 12th man to be someone who would contribute if only by his mere presence. Wooten was a Villanova walk<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="float: none; ">-on starting in the 08-09 season after being a practice player. He doesn't gather many tangible stats during the games; however, this does not mean his presence isn't felt. One could not avoid noticing his tenacity and excitement during every game, whether on the court or on the bench. Even TV cameras couldn't help but be drawn into filming his animated self during games. Experiencing being in the same class as him, I could personally attest he is motivated even in the classroom.</span></span></span></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674580690002577938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hmBziWcK-ww/TsApEoTlChI/AAAAAAAAAD0/QLBrL_HMXh0/s200/Russell%252BWooten%252BPittsburgh%252Bv%252BVillanova%252BtBXItvjz8Mul.jpg" /></span></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span">After graduating in 2010, he went back home to California in hopes to venture into the work force. However, after sudden departures and injuries struck the Villanova roster, the team was seeking someone to quickly fill a spot. With eligibility remaining, Russell found this as an opportunity not only to help his team, but to work towards a graduate degree. After serving another year as a player, Wooten is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Public Administration. I recently asked h<span class="Apple-style-span">im what he would be like to be remembered for during his tenure at Villanova. His response: "If I were to be remembered I would want to be remembered as the toughest and most enthusiastic walk-on alive with the utmost Villanova pride." This, my friends, is the type of character that Big East basketball should be represented by.</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span">...Also, he'll probably carry the team in any dance competition...just saying...</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span"><iframe height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jRK02Zn4kvo" frameborder="0" width="375" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></p><br /><p style="text-align: justify; padding-bottom: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b>...So<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b>the question really gave me a limited number of players to work with...but this is a dream, so why not throw in a couple other things while at it??<o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b>Head Coach:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Rick Pitino (Providence/Louisville)<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b>Assistant Coaches<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>- John Thompson Jr. (Georgetown), Jim Calhoun (UConn), Lou Carnesecca (St. John's)</b></p><p></p><div align="justify"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rick-pitino.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; width: 160px; float: right; height: 135px; cursor: pointer; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">In terms of just focusing on pure strategy-calling, playbook designs and achievements is what allows the rest of the staff to each receive the nod...that said, with dealing with all these various talents (and personalities), the best person fit to handle such an esteemed group of individuals and gather them to believe in themselves and their cause as a unit would be Pitino. Yes, Rick is not without his own blemishes; that said, I believe Pitino should be the leader of this dream team.</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><b style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Home Court: Madison Square Garden- New York, NY</span></b></b></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span">So why not the arena which hosts our conference tournament? I couldn't think of a place more Big East than MSG...</span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></p><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://s0.causes.com/photos/Jd/Cq/aX/RH/Wj/2K/HO/j1M.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; width: 100px; float: left; height: 175px; cursor: pointer; " /><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">Designated Charity: The Randy Foye Foundation-</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span style="float: none; "> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">So if we are truly, truly going to live this dream team, players would need to be student-athletes and therefore not get paid. So where should any of the proceeds of any game or anything go? Although this is all hypothetical, a charity does deserve mentioning from all this rambling. I didn't get to select Randy Foye as a member of this roster, but his philanthropic contributions is just as worthy of mentioning, if not more, than his achievements as a player. Check out the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.randyfoye.org/">Randy Foye Foundation</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>website for more details on his cause.</span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)"><b><br /></b></span></div><br /></span></b><p style="text-align: justify; padding-bottom: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b style="font-weight: bold; ">Schedule</b><b style="font-weight: bold; ">...</b>because what's the point of a dream team if they don't play anyone? (yes, this is going to be ridiculous, but this is my dream, right?)</span></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="640" style="width:384.0pt;margin-left:-.9pt;border-collapse:collapse;mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center"><b>Opponent<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center"><b>Venue<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center"><b>Notes<o:p></o:p></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-5.4pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center">Flint Tropics<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">MSG- New York, NY<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The team from the movie<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">"Semi-Pro"<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Washington Generals<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">MSG- New York, NY<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The Harlem Globetrotter opponents<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:3;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The Monstars<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Looney Tunes Land<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The villans in "Space Jam"<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:4;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">68-69 UCLA Bruins<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Rupp Arena<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">29-1 record, NCAA Champions<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:5;height:.4in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border-top:none; border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.4in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">65-66 Texas Western Miners<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border:none; border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.4in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Memorial Gym- El Paso, TX<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border:none;border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.4in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">1st all African-American starting lineup, NCAA champs, team featured in "Glory Road"<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:6;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">1996 Kentucky Wildcats<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">MSG- New York, NY<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">34-2 record, NCAA Champions<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:7;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Bayi Military Rockets<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Verizon Center- Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Chinese team which fought Gtown earlier this yr<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:8;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">75-76 Indiana Hoosiers<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The Spectrum- Philladelphia, PA<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">32-0 record, NCAA Champions<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:9;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">91-92 Duke Blue Devils<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">The Spectrum- Philladelphia, PA<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">34-2 record, NCAA Champions<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:10;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:.2in"> <td width="196" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">SEC Dream Team<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="195" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:117.0pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">MSG- New York, NY<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td width="249" nowrap="" valign="bottom" style="width:149.4pt;border-top:none; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-right-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:.2in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center">Shaq, Pistol Pete among reps<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><p style="text-align: justify; padding-bottom: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><b><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; ">So that's it...I dare you to make a better list, or just make your own contributions...just spread the word like wildfire...comment, like it, re-tweet it, just support the cause<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span>Follow me on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/miggyflavored"><span style="color:windowtext">@miggyflavored</span></a>, and GO NOVA!!!</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: small; ">(Many thanks to Volvo & the agency setting up the competition for giving me opportunity to represent, and Eamon O'Meara for the best blog in the world to work with)</span></p><p></p></span></div></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-61893563190750853482011-10-18T21:56:00.000-07:002011-10-18T21:56:25.365-07:00...And a Little Bit of Chicken Fried...Cold Beer EVERY Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oC_7AZ69Y4Y/Tp5YDyL8UEI/AAAAAAAAADk/Q2fNPy7KEG8/s1600/Sox+3+Starters" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oC_7AZ69Y4Y/Tp5YDyL8UEI/AAAAAAAAADk/Q2fNPy7KEG8/s400/Sox+3+Starters" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So this whole thing has gotten way out of hand in my opinion. I am not saying that as a Red Sox fan I approve of the actions of no less than three of our pitchers during the games. However, do these stories really need to continue coming out. I am a little skeptical about some of the stories. As someone who has worked in media before, I am inclined to believe that some of these reporters do not have the integrity to not make up these sources, just so they can latch onto the big story in sports and make a name for themselves. I mean, really. There are just a few too many anonymous sources making these allegations. Now, the beer and fried chicken? I will believe that. You give me the name of a single man who does not enjoy some good beer and fried chicken at night. Do I agree that it should be done when your, "On the job"? No. These guys are baseball players who are paid GOBS of money to go out every night and do something that as kids we beg out parents to let us stay out late and do for free. If you are playing the sport professionally, it can be assumed that you enjoy it. And if you enjoy the game of baseball, why not sit in the dugout and cheer on your team? But then again....sitting in a dugout watching the game, or watching it on tv with beer and fried chicken? I wont say that I wouldn't consider the latter.<br />
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P.S. Can you believe the timing? A music video just came out recently called Hell Yeah I Like Beer by Kevin Fowler and all five of the Sox starters are in it singing it. I'm serious! Go hit youtube real quick, and I'll wait here until you get back.<br />
<br />
See??!! Even I'll admit that the timing is funny.<br />
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But let's get serious here. There are some holes in this story that I need to point out. I am inclined to believe Jon Lester in his reports yesterday. He admitted to the beer and fried chicken. Thank God. I just wanted someone to come out and confirm it. But he said that he, Josh Beckett and John Lackey do not play video games...not in the club house and not at home. I believe that. I have a hard time picturing John Lackey playing XBox or PlayStation, let alone Beckett or Lester. Why would Lester come out and admit to the beer and chicken and not to the video games? It makes no sense. The other hole is this new report that just "leaked" about the Red Sox drinking in the dugout. Am I supposed to believe that just as Lester comes out and admits to the drinking and chicken in the club house it is just a coincidence that this story comes out the next day? No. The media wants to cash in on this cash cow for a little bit longer. So now that Lester has admitted it and taken responsibility, what should a media member do? How about fabricating some story about drinking that supersedes the previous story? What could be more offensive than drinking in the club house? How about drinking on the field? Yea, why not. With all this going on, it could be believable, but not to me. I know how easy it would be to make up a story. For God sake, I could tweet to someone at ESPN right now that I heard David Ortiz on the phone with Brian Cashman at D'Angelo's in Boston earlier today. Do you have any idea how quickly that would be the head story on ESPN.com? That ESPN person would say a reliable source said it. Reliable source?! I don't even have a picture on twitter, and that's what they would say. That is why when I hear a story like this, something this insane, I cannot believe it. <br />
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Here are the facts, folks. The Red Sox had the biggest collapse in baseball history. A team with millions of follower and fans falls apart in a month. And now all of those millions are asking why? How? Who? Who is to blame? Who is the one person we can blame for this? And as such, Francona is gone. Epstein is gone. Boston media members are calling for the heads of players that 2 months ago they would have bought them champagne for just sitting in the same restaurant as them. Then this story breaks about the beer and chicken and now we blame the three pitchers on our team for it. Now yes, we turned to Beckett and Lester to stop the bleeding and they couldn't. But am I supposed to believe that them drinking on off days lead to that? Because I don't. I believe that this is a team that became to confident in their playing and thought they had the playoffs in the bag and that they could let up a bit. Just like every other person in the world. When you could try hard and be successful or slack and be only slightly less successful, they will slack off. Then by the time the team realized they were in trouble, it was too late. They were nervous, and Tampa was confident. Even guys like Boston legend (I say gingerly, because he was only here for 5 years) Curt Schilling who said they wouldn't make it. Let's face it everyone. The team blew it. It's not the first time we've seen a collapse in sports. And it wont be the last. And this witch hunt that the media is doing to point the finger for it is only hurting the team. But they don't care. They just want to make a name for themselves. "Hey did you know I'm the one who broke the story about the Sox drinking in the club house?" That's all these people want. Do you think they really care? Look, we all know what happened. We understand about the beer and chicken. But do we really need some young reporter trying to make a name for themselves by falsifying reports because they could make sense based on the crazy things that have wound up being true?<br />
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I applaud Jon Lester for stepping up and admitting it. He took responsibility saying, "I sucked." And he admitted to the beer and chicken. What we need now is for more players to take his lead and admit to stuff. But until they do this media witch hunt will only continue putting strain on a formidable team. Just step up and admit to it boys. And to the people in the media, accept what they have to say and stop making up things to try to make a name for yourself! Drinking in the dugout...are you kidding me?! Don't you think if one player was that any one of the dozens of camera pointing in the dugout would have caught something?! This is becoming a joke. Media members are supposed to report the news. Not make it. Somewhere along the way they forgot that. And until they remember it again, how in the world can we believe them when stories like this come out? I don't trust it! And I certainly hope you don't either.Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-17290189938369623262011-10-09T17:18:00.002-07:002011-10-09T19:59:27.669-07:00The Dark Ages of East Coast Sports<a href="http://phillysportscentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ryan-howard-injured-phillies-cardinals-nlds-game-5-e1318075804586.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><blockquote></blockquote><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 620px; height: 349px;" src="http://phillysportscentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ryan-howard-injured-phillies-cardinals-nlds-game-5-e1318075804586.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><blockquote></blockquote></a><div><br /></div><div>It kinda feels like the end of the world here in New York...no, not because of protests in Wall Street or because picking a president for this upcoming election is as miserable as filing taxes...but because hope seems to be lost in minds of all sports fans here in the East Coast.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me explain sport by sport-</div><div><br /></div><div>Baseball: </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't need to need to look hard to see the disgust with any baseball fan living by the Atlantic...Eamon highlighted in his last post the total embarrassment in the AL East. The Red Sox is living the worst of the nightmares, trumping the Mets in the "worse collapse ever" category. They gave their expected playoff entry to the Rays, who have less fans in attendance than people reading this blog (not unexpectedly, of course). Yet, when the best performance in Tampa Bay comes from a September call-up, it is understandably so that the team flops, the bandwagon fans leave, and management re-starts doomsday scenarios of MLB "vaporizing" your franchise. Then there's the Yankees, the "200 Million-Dollar Underdog". It was the Yankees which took the AL East, only to be cleared knocked out by Doug "Double" Fister and the Detroit Tigers.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Of course that's only half the story...The NL East has as much to cry over. Overshadowed by Boston's epic collapse was Atlanta's last-week fall out of the Wild Card. Their loss leaves the Cardinals with the playoff birth, leaving St. Louis to just eliminate the other "Best Team On Paper": the Philadelphia Phillies, with their Four Horsemen, err, Aces. Granted it was fun bar-hopping along the Lower East Side seeing Yankees and Mets fans unite in joy witnessing the Phillies stumble (pun maybe intended) out of the playoffs. However, now I can confirm there are more fans here lining up to watch "Moneyball" than to sit around and watch Middle America (Detroit, Texas, Milwaukee and St. Louis) hog the playoffs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pro Football: </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It would be a lie to say that pro football is hopeless along the East Coast. All Patriots fans would just point to New England to say they are as good as ever, Giants and Redskins fans would claim they are the team to beat out of the NFC East, Buffalo is playing like they don't remember what a guaranteed miserable team they are supposed to be, the Ravens are still on top of the AFC North, and let's not forget about the Falcons down south. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Granted, it may be peaches now, but there are still much doubt placed throughout the area. The Jets and the Eagles, while still not dead, easily are winning the "Most Overrated Team" awards in their respected conferences. The Patriots don't remember how to win in the playoffs for 7 years now. The Giants are a perennial second-half collapse team. The Redskins don't know who their quarterback or running back is, so why expect them to succeed long term? Remember the embarrassing playoff losses by the Falcons and Ravens last year? And are you actually pin hopes on the Bills?? Do they even count as a East Coast team?? So yeah, it's cool to root for some East Coast teams now, but come Super Bowl time, there's a better shot we will be watching the Super Bowl to watch commercials, another 80s throwback concert, and to give a reason not to show up to work the next day than to root for your team.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pro Basketball:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Let's face it, the NBA isn't going to have a season this year...and it'll be one more year my Dallas Mavericks will hold on to the title.</div><div><br /></div><div>College Football:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Realistically, this sport doesn't exist in New York or Philly. I mean common, this is why the Big East is just counting down days until College Basketball season to show why it is still a legitimate conference. And no, you're not looking for Boston College or Maryland if you're living in Boston or Washington D.C. to find a reason to watch (Yes, Virginia Tech is doing well, but it's also by West Virginia, so try to justify it being a East Coast team...).</div><div><br /></div><div>Hockey:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Best bet for a lot of East Coast chances of glory...and is holding the only East Coast professional title in the Boston Bruins. And without basketball, what else will you watch during your weeknights? That said, let's face it, I want to convince more people to watch hockey, but I also want to convince more people to watch soccer, tennis, golf and curling...</div><div><br /></div><div>College Basketball:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Without the NBA, I guess the best shot for sports fans to enjoy in the East Coast is to watch college basketball...there's a reason the Big East tourney is played in Madison Square Garden (knock on wood); it, and not college football, is the city sport. And again are East Coast teams bringing title; just look at UConn last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>So yeah, it's not the greatest time in the East Coast sports-wise, but hang in there my simple friend, and there'll be light in the end of the tunnel (the kind not coming from the 6 train).</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-89119321805863286632011-10-06T21:03:00.000-07:002011-10-06T21:03:51.254-07:00What do you call 200 guys sitting on their couch Watching the MLB Playoffs?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOgrnWhkCFE/To54x3UcjdI/AAAAAAAAADg/d1MajWiiIyU/s1600/AL+East" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JOgrnWhkCFE/To54x3UcjdI/AAAAAAAAADg/d1MajWiiIyU/s1600/AL+East" /></a></div>You call them the AL East. 5 teams in this division, 40 players per team in the months of September and October. I want you to think about that for a minute. The AL East! Not a single team in the playoffs past the ALDS. This is a division that for the last 2 seasons has been projected to set the record for the most combined wins for a division. How can that be wrong with teams that have the caliber and payrolls like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, who were just eliminated from the post season by the Detroit Tigers minutes ago. These teams are in the top four on the list for highest payroll for any sport in the world (the other two teams being soccer teams in Europe). Then you add the outstanding pitching and the young, capable offense of the Tampa Bay Rays, and you have 3 of the best teams in baseball. Then you have a situation where any other two teams could help set that record that I mentioned above. Those teams are the Toronto Blue Jays who have a strong offense lead by the two-time home run leader in Major League Baseball, Jose Bautista. Then you add the Baltimore Orioles. Kind of the black sheep in the division. A lot of older players who are past their prime (see Vladamir Guererro), but with a few young prospects who could be good (see Matt Wieters).<br />
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However, after digressing for a moment, I would like to point out yet again, that a division that combined for 428 wins on the season, with the top 3 all getting 90+ wins a piece, will not be representing in baseballs version of the Final Four. It is some what refreshing to see, seeing as how recently it's been Yankees or Red Sox, who's going to the ALCS or World Series? Now there's a change in a sport that is criticized for letting teams like those two afford so much more talent than the rest. That is some what refreshing. But one has to ask, what could lead to this division not being able to send 1 representative to the Championship Series? Could it be confidence? Comfort? Are the Blue Jays and Orioles happy finishing nowhere about fourth place every year? Are the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees just okay with 90 wins? As we saw this year, 90 wins isn't enough to cut it in this league, especially in that division. I think the Yankees, Rays and Sox have gotten too confident. Thinking to themselves, "Oh, we're [insert team name here]! It's a give in that we'll make the playoffs. Of course we'll make it to the ALCS. Now we just have to worry about our flight arrangements to the National League ballparks at the end of the month." Well guess what boys? One of you didn't even make the playoffs, after the biggest collapse in the history of baseball. Another made an outstanding come back in the month of September only to get a single win in October. And the last has always been synonymous with winning, and they couldn't even win a best of 3 series with 3 games at home.<br />
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I'll tell you one thing, AL East. It's time to step it up. It's officially a year not one of your teams is in the ALCS. There will be no AL East pride marching into the Fall Classic that we call the World Series. No! The best division in baseball (which in the regular season it was, so don't give me any of that, "Oh well the NL Central had two 90+ win teams too and they're both still in the post season." I don't want to hear that. The AL East was the best division in baseball in the regular season.) All I can hope for now is that at least some of the players will be watching SportsCenter or some other Sports channel and see on the ticker at the bottom of the screen that there is not a single AL East team listed. It's a crying shame. They're adding another wild card team to the post season in 2013. You know why? The AL East! Plain and simple. So now rest up with you're overly expensive homes, cars, and appliances because in 2012, you are expected to show up, and prove why it is that every year baseball analysts from all different sports networks predict the record to be broken this year. Step it up boys...all of you!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-2293470105421890682011-10-02T21:11:00.000-07:002011-10-02T21:11:28.900-07:00You Give a Guy an Inch and He Takes a Mile!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDMBuclJM48/Tok1N5U2TkI/AAAAAAAAADc/jx6dAjpW3y0/s1600/Miggy-Estrada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDMBuclJM48/Tok1N5U2TkI/AAAAAAAAADc/jx6dAjpW3y0/s1600/Miggy-Estrada.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Jeez, you know, it was only a couple days ago that Miggy came to me saying, "Oh Eamon, your blog is so awesome, can I please be a part of this amazing thing that you've been a part of for so long? Please!!" And then in his first post he decides to shit on the hand that feeds him. I mean, look at this guy. Thinking he's Eric Estrada and everything. Let me make something perfectly clear, you are no Eric Estrada! To clarify something else, I started this blog as a nation-wide sports blog, but the facts are that my entire following were from the New England area and wished to hear less about the Redskins, or the Texas Rangers, or the Seattle Mariners (which by the way is Miggy's team, cue the collective "oh...too bad..." in 3-2-1...go!) So that's what I did. <br />
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Now moving on to Miggy. I brought him in because I figured he's not from the New England area, and maybe he can bring in a different following. But now he wants to start stuff with the person who was generous enough to bring him in? Okay...from now on, I will be reviewing all posts by Miggy before he posts, just to make sure they're up to the standards of this blog! Way to go Miggy...now you can never write for real as long as your my "employee." (I put it in quotes, because I will never pay him.)<br />
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P.S.<br />
This is the only time I will ever say this. Miggy and I are great friends and I am very excited to work with him. We have worked together in the past, as he said on a sports show that he got started (which would have failed without me). And everything disparaging I say simply to cause controversy for you, my followers. Just so no one thinks I'm the worst person in the world who is enslaving Miggy simply because he can't write for anyone else (tee-hee). But I look forward to this blog to taking off now that I can get the followers from New England and Miggy can help to colonize the rest of the country. Just wait. Brag about this blog. Because in 3 months, it will be the greatest blog in the country, and you'll want to brag about it that you knew it before it became a fad! Pass the word, this thing is going to take off now! Because both Miggy and myself are completely....Out of Bounds!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-12876322116853630272011-10-01T17:45:00.000-07:002011-10-02T19:44:39.027-07:00New Kid on the Knoblauch<blockquote></blockquote><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWVzL14fMKM/Tokc5hz97FI/AAAAAAAAADE/oNmrnYkL7gk/s1600/bdaycake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWVzL14fMKM/Tokc5hz97FI/AAAAAAAAADE/oNmrnYkL7gk/s320/bdaycake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659086181422197842" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hello fellow nobodies...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >My name is <b>Miggy</b>, and I'm the new contributor for the blog <b>Out Of Bounds</b>...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(Since Eamon is desperate to get this blog on the main, and I'm just desperate for attention, this partnership is just made in heaven)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >To give you a (sports) background of myself:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Born in Sydney but grown in New York City (gasp, a New Yorker in a Boston Blog)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-NOT a fan of New York teams...not saying I despise them, just that they aren't my favorite teams (and neither are Boston teams)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-I root for the Seattle Mariners, the Dallas Mavericks, the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans (and if you feed me enough attention I will explain why)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Went to Villanova along with Eamon, and produced/hosted/burned-into-ground the sports show "A Miggy-Flavored Sports Show" on campus television (Eamon provided baseball segments along with pulling his impersonation of a Boston-jerk game-show host)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So what the hell would I be doing for this particular blog?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >-Well, since Eamon likes to ignore the rest of the world except for New England, I guess I have to fill the world with everything else in terms of sports...and when I mean everything, I was a college medalist in curling, so there's no limit on what I could bring up...however, I'd be too mean a person to bring up Big East basketball (and Villanova basketball) enough to make Eamon feel like recognizes something sports-related (barely)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So starting this week I will be dropping knowledge bombs from time to time, feel free to be obliterated in the process</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div>MiggyFlavoredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01790886501613751738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-51414471509820213572011-09-28T22:50:00.000-07:002011-09-28T22:50:26.955-07:00After a Huge Choke, How Can the Red Sox Prepare to Contend Next Season? Here's How!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niQhSt_1DMM/ToQG7Wu0qCI/AAAAAAAAADY/T0nSCLooi88/s1600/sox-suck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-niQhSt_1DMM/ToQG7Wu0qCI/AAAAAAAAADY/T0nSCLooi88/s320/sox-suck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Well I know what you're saying. "Another year, another choke..." "Why can't these guys ever perform in the late months?" "There's always next year...." And the biggest question of all, "Who's to blame?"<br />
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Well, to answer that last question, just about everyone. Now I know I haven't blogged since mid-April, but to be honest, I am a superstitious fan. I wanted to blog every game, and every single time that I was ready to, we lost. Then I missed a game...and we won. Then I got ready to blog again...and we lost...it went like that for a few games. Then, being the superstitious person I am, I said, "My writings can wait, I am a fan first!" But here we are. October is 2 days away and the Red Sox are packing up the locker room for a long off season. But some of these players get to go home and roll around in piles of money that they didn't earn (see Carl Crawford, J.D. Drew and John Lackey). Meanwhile, those of us fans who have very little money and are all on hard times were looking for one bit of solice from our baseball team. But nothing. <br />
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But, after passing over some pessimistic tones, I am already trying to move on to the future. And the future looks a lot like the black hole we're in right now unless some serious changes are made. I am not the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. Nor and I the manager. In fact, I have no standing what-so-ever with the organization. But here are a few things that if changed, would benefit the team greatly:<br />
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The Manager: I will be the first to admit, I am a huge Terry Francona fan. He came in his first year and got us a trophy that Boston hadn't seen in 86 years. And as such, unlike so many others, I don't want him fired. However, there is one thing I want from him. Grow a set! This guy is clearly letting this team walk all over him. I know it's a perennial All Star team, but grow a spine. When they're not prepared in April and May, that's on you, Tito. Now I am all for you being here in Boston, but please...stand up and whip your players into shape! They need someone to show them that they're [fecal matter] does stink! So step up, and manage the team like they're your players and not your equals...or even worse, your superiors!<br />
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The Offense: I need to be honest, I don't have many problems with the offense. I mean, Ellsebury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Gonzalez, Youkilis, and Scutaro...all great. That leaves the obvious holes...Crawford, the catcher, and the right fielder. Now I am willing to give Crawford the benefit of the doubt here. His first full year in Boston? I imagine it can be scary. You're not a Freshman anymore though! Time to really play much better starting now!! On to the catcher. We had two, and neither played up to par. Salty at least was half-decent. But half decent in Boston isn't good enough. You're making the big bucks, time to play up to it. And Varitek...take the darn "C" off your Jersey. There are only 3 captains in all of baseball. The other 2 don't have that letter on their jersey, and...oh yea! They play every day. The truth is, if these last two days showed me anything, its that Lavarnway is the future of this team. Varitek's contract is up this year. If he knew what was best, he would retire before Boston fans begins to resent him. That gives us $2 million that he was making this season. But I will say let's keep Salty. If nothing else, he's a cheap coach for Lavarnway since we are only paying him $750,000. And on to the final position that was a disappointment. Right Field. J.D. Drew has never lived up to his salary. $14 million a year to bat 6th or 7th and have 1 year with 20 Home Runs. I say make him an offer in the off season for something in the ball park of $2-4 million for a 1-2 year deal at the most. Any more, and let him go. Josh Reddick played great in his absence. Make him the full time Right Fielder. He may strike out a lot, but so does Drew. Reddick gives you a similar type player who is younger and is paid much less. Drew was fun to have around for a while, but I think even Francona knows, it's time to part ways, sadly enough.<br />
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And on to the reason we lost this season:<br />
The Pitching: The old saying in baseball is pitching wins games. And the Sox had no pitching down the stretch. Look at the facts. Every Sox fan was looking forward to when Lester and Beckett would pitch. Every other game was a presumed loss. Our other 3 starters were an old lefty who gave us 1 win since we traded for him in Erik Bedard, a 45 year old knuckleballer who announced his retirement after this season before the season even began in Tim Wakefield, and a huge let down of a pitcher who is making $16 million a year in John Lackey. Now here is what needs to happen. Wakefield is out, we all know it. Thank you for 17 great years. You will certainly be missed. I don't mean to sound cruel, Wakefield is actually one of my favorite players. But he already announced it. I hope you return as an analyst or a coach because I want to see you more. Erik BedardMatsuzaka. (Side note, I thought this was Dice-K's last year in Boston. Unfortunately I found out he still has 1 more year of bad performances in a Red Sox uniform). Bedard is pretty old himself, and I don't think he can perform well enough down the stretch...or even into the middle of the Summer. I'm sorry, but I am looking to trade him to a team who needs a veteran pitcher to lead a young staff in return for a minor leaguer. 1 minor leaguer will do in return, and not even a huge prospect. Just clear up some space in our salary. And on to the biggest dissapointment. "Big Hoss" as one popular blog calls him. The only thing big on him is his salary. Making $16 million per year to set a record for the highest ERA in Red Sox history! That's over a century of pitchers, and he's worse than them all! No one will trade with us for him because of that contract. I say offer a team to take him and we'll eat most of the salary. I wont mind paying up to $14 million of that to have him pitch else where. If that doesn't work, pay him $16 million to stay home. He is a better asset to the team on his living room couch that on the mound. But I would want to trade him and at least get a few million of that salary per year taken off our plate. With the return of Clay Bucholz, who I really like for this team, we would have Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Dice-K and some other pitcher. And by the way, while I'm listing them like that, Beckett should have been the number 1 pitcher all year. I said it in February. Lester wasn't ready to lead that rotation and he proved it. Beckett is the leader, Lester is the future leader (and I mean like 1-2 years future, really soon!!), and Buchholz is the future of the rotation. In 3 years, if we have Lester and Clay leading the rotation, that's a dangerous 1-2 punch. But we're Sox fans. We're not here for 3 years from now, we're here for the now! So, with that in mind, we need to drop Bedard, let Wakefield retire, and find a way to get Lackey out of a Red Sox uniform. But who is our fifth starter then? With the money we will have from Varitek, Drew, Wakefield, and Bedard leaving the team, we should be able to find a decent #4 or 5 pitcher in free agency. But we'll get to that later.<br />
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The last thing we need to cover is the bullpen. Now I love our middle relief! Aceves, Albers, Andrew Miller, and Kyle Weiland? Great! Now on to the issue...the late innings. Let's face it, Daniel Bard is done. A 99 MPH fastball can't help the team if it's all you can do. AND...he is only brought into games when we're winning and he had 9 losses?! That means he gave up the tying and winning runs 9 times this season! Not good for a set up man. And Jonathan Papelbon. I am on this guys bandwagon. I really like him for this team. I don't like that we're paying him $12 million to pitch 1 inning per game in 63 games. That's too much. But the closer is valuable to the team, and let's face it, if he's not the best, he's top 3. But his years may be numbered. We need to find a young gun to follow him and train to be the next closer. That was supposed to be Bard, but that's not happening. We need a set up man. Bobby Jenks didn't work out, but I think Theo can find someone for us. <br />
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That brings us to the last topic: The future.<br />
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Let's assume for a minute that Wakefield really does retire. That Varitek finally hangs it up and becomes a catching coach. That Bedard is gone. That J.D. Drew moves on to other things. And finally that Lackey leaves and we only have to pay $14 million maximum to him. That gives us $21 million to fool around with in the offseason for next year. That gives us infinite possibilities. Let's just hope they don't blow it all on one player who can't play up to his salary (see Crawford and Lackey). But all of Red Sox Nation is asking "Who?" The Sox were bounced from the postseason just an hour ago, and already it's, "who is there to get?" Well that's what I'm here for. Here are some of the notable free agents the Sox should be looking at for next season:<br />
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C.J. Wilson - SP<br />
CC Sabathia - SP (he has an opt out clause. very doubtful we would pick him up)<br />
Scott Kazmir - SP<br />
Edwin Jackson - SP<br />
Joel Pineiro - SP<br />
Heath Bell - RP<br />
Shawn Camp - RP<br />
Jose Valverde - RP<br />
Jason Bartlett - SS (Scutaro is a free agent this year, but I hope we sign him)<br />
Grady Sizemore - OF<br />
Carlos Beltran - OF<br />
Juan Pierre - OF<br />
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Most valuable player: C.J. Wilson. He has pitched great the last 2-3 years. He killed us all season. He could be a great pitcher for us. And he has experience in the postseason, playing against great teams like the Yankees and succeeding. If we can get him, I'd say it's all we'd need. That and staying healthy. But mark my words...if we get Wilson and drop Lackey, we will make the postseason next year. And by God, we will win! But until next April, this is me signing off for this season. Quite a disappointment overall. But...without the losses, the wins wouldn't be as sweet.Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-5291030666681920812011-04-10T20:28:00.000-07:002011-04-10T20:28:40.756-07:00Red Sox Game 9: Beckett Starts against an ace and Varitek catches...is Francona reading this blog?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGain4oQH8w/TaJ1S-UaMtI/AAAAAAAAADU/_zq7lGSx6WY/s1600/Josh-Beckett-Ace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGain4oQH8w/TaJ1S-UaMtI/AAAAAAAAADU/_zq7lGSx6WY/s1600/Josh-Beckett-Ace.jpg" /></a></div> FINALLY!!!!! The things I say in this blog come true. I have been saying since the start of the season that Josh Beckett should be the ace of this team. And I have said that Jason Varitek should be the starting catcher because he is a better pitcher's catcher. Now today, Becket pitches against C.C. Sabathia, arguably one of the best pitchers in the American League. And Beckett is pitching against the New York Yankees, again, arguably one of the greatest offenses in all of baseball. And what do Beckett and Varitek combine for? 8 Innings Pitched, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 10 Strike Outs! These are the numbers of old Beckett! I have said for a while now, he should pitch against the aces, he's a huge big game pitcher. He knew today was important, and that a win was needed, and what did he do? Pitch a masterful game! Do you think Lester could do that? I really don't think so.<br />
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And the greatest part is that all parts of the team showed up. Beckett as the starting pitcher was masterful. Jonathan Papelbon as the bullpen pitcher was amazing. And the offense even showed up in the persona of Jed Lowrie getting a 2 - run double in the seventh inning. Everything is coming together. Everyone is playing up to their abilities. This team will now start climbing the rankings. My biggest hope is that Terry Francona knows that Beckett should pitch against the aces of every team we play. And since he saw what I have been saying for a while, maybe Francona is actually reading this blog and will do what I say. Hey Terry! Doing great now man. But trust me, stick with Beckett as your ace. Keep giving the captain, Big Tek the start at catcher. Maybe Salty is younger, but they're doing the same at the plate and the pitchers are better when he plays. <br />
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But, I digress. Now we look to the future. And what is next for the Sox? Well, it's the worst team in baseball thus far coming in to Fenway. And I understand we haven't been amazing, but the Rays have been down right awful. And tomorrow we turn to Dice-K Matsuzaka who had a great game the last time he went out. Now the team from Boston just needs to keep this run going and show up in the next few games to try to make up some games in the AL East. If this game showed us anything, it's that the Red Sox are for real, and despite a poor start (and I mean an absolutely atrocious start) to the season, the can now pull themselves out of the gutter, dust themselves off, and show everyone just how great they are. I cannot wait until tomorrow to see how we play against the Rays. I will be watching that as intently as I was tonight. I would just like to see a bit more offense in the way of runs scored. But I loved how many guys got on base, and I loved the great swings everyone was having, especially Dustin Pedroia who came into this game 1-22 against Sabathia and still had 3 hits and a walk. I am loving this team and cannot wait until tomorrow to see how they play then. This season is, without a doubt, salvageable! Just you wait. This team will be doing some dancing in about 6 months. Count on it. Until tomorrow my faithful readers, stay Out of Bounds!!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-56000607706794230002011-04-07T06:14:00.000-07:002011-04-07T06:14:16.479-07:00Red Sox Game 5: We've Officially Matched 1996<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfGIjKqBo2Q/TZ24m8vLxMI/AAAAAAAAADQ/1mhFy4qeqvg/s1600/red_sox_bullpen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfGIjKqBo2Q/TZ24m8vLxMI/AAAAAAAAADQ/1mhFy4qeqvg/s320/red_sox_bullpen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
For the first time in 15 years, the Red Sox have started 0-5. And with another loss, comes another aspect of the Boston team that faltered. This game saw success from the offense and from the starting pitcher Dice-K Matsuzaka. But it was the bullpen that let the team down in this one. Scoring 4 runs by the offense should have been enough, since Matsuzaka only allowed 3 runs over 5 innings pitched. Now, the team would like to see Dice-K go longer into games, but Boston has gotten used to the fact that Dice-K can be a bit wild and may only be able to go 5 innings. That's why there's a pitcher like Tim Wakefield in the bullpen who can pitch in long relief. But the bullpen couldn't hold the Cleveland Indians scoreless as they had done the game before. The bullpen gave up 5 runs in 3 innings, 3 of the runs being allowed by Dennys Reyes, who didn't record a single out.<br />
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Despite the poor pitching by the bullpen, I still liked this game. It shows that it is possible that the starting pitching and offense can work together to get the win. If the bullpen had not allowed the 5 runs, and had shut out the Indians as they had done before, the Sox would have won 4-3. We know the bullpen will have struggling days. All teams have days when the bullpen cannot close the door. But lately it seems that the starting pitching has been to blame for this 0-5 stretch. But after 2 straight games of good enough starting pitching to get a win, I can see some great things happening for this team. I still believe that all the Red Sox need is one win to set them off on the winning path. And that one win can certainly come in the next game.<br />
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Jon Lester faces Fausto Carmona in the next game on Thursday. Lester is coming off a struggling game where he surrendered three home runs and five earned runs. But there is a pitcher who struggled even more, and that pitcher is...you guessed it, Fausto Carmona. Carmona had a horrible Opening Day start against the Chicago White Sox. He only made it through 3 innings and allowed 10 runs, including 2 home runs. But Carmona is still a great pitcher. I hope the Sox don't expect that poor of a start out of him. I don't think the Sox can expect poor performances out of any team they face right now, not the way they're playing. However, if Carmona's confidence is shaken, there is a good chance that Boston can jump on that to secure their first win of the season. I've been saying for a couple days not that I believed the next game will be the one, and being the superstitious man that I am, I don't think I will say that today. I think for now I will say good luck boys, and I hope you can pull this one out. I would really like to be able to write a blog about a win, because criticizing this team is sure getting boring for me. So, until next time readers, let's all root for the Sox to pull this next one out so we can all have a party...Out of Bounds! (Shameless blog name plug, I know.)Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-72498740459666561972011-04-06T18:10:00.000-07:002011-04-06T18:10:04.221-07:00Red Sox Game 4: Different Game, Same Result<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QJeCB5OvH8/TZ0ORNSdvnI/AAAAAAAAADM/OSXITgikY78/s1600/Crawford_Strikeout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QJeCB5OvH8/TZ0ORNSdvnI/AAAAAAAAADM/OSXITgikY78/s1600/Crawford_Strikeout.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Red Sox are 0-4 for the first time since 1996 when they started the game 0-5 and finished the season 85-77, third place in the AL East and 7 game behind the New York Yankees. This game however, gave me some hope. Unlike the previous three series when the pitching was to blame, the pitching was actually decent enough to get the win. Josh Beckett went 5 inings, allowing 3 runs while the bullpen finished the game off without allowing a run. Red Sox pitching also combined for 12 strikeouts. A game like this is exactly what this pitching staff needed. However, it was a let down that the offense could not give Beckett any run support.<br />
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The Red Sox only got 1 run on 4 hits against a pitcher who is in his first full season in the majors. And Dustin Pedroia got 2 of the 4 hits. Ellsbury, Crawford, Gonzalez, Youkilis, Ortiz, Lowrie, Scutaro, and Varitek all went without a hit. The Sox need to find a way to combine great offense with great pitching. In the four losses, the first two had great offense, the third game had poor pitching and hitting, and the fourth game saw great pitching. Now we will see if the team can carry the great pitching and find their stroke on offense again so that the team can start racking up the wins. <br />
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I do not believe that the Red Sox will have as poor a season as they did in 1996, even if they don't win their next game and match the start to that season at 0-5. I think they will still have over 90 wins, and possibly around 95, but something needs to change. This team is not combining great games as I mentioned earlier from both pitching and hitting. My biggest fear is that the other starters on the team will see the poor performances in Texas and then the great performance out of Beckett who still could not get a win. I am afraid it will cause uncertainty among the starters. <br />
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So, what we really need now is for Dice-K Matsuzaka to go out in game 2 of this series and pitch as well as Beckett did if not better and get him some run support. I truly believe that all this team needs is 1 win. Once they get that first win, it will be the spark that lights the rocket that will be this team. And we need a win going into this weekend. If we face the Yankees with an 0-6 record, we will end that series 0-9. They have been too good early in this season. Boston needs to be able to look at their record and see a number larger than 0 in the win column before they host New York or they will not be able to win, even at home. I still have hope for this team. I will never give up on this team, but I understand other members of the Nation faltering after this start. But look for this team to take off soon. We know the offense can do well as we saw at the start of the season, and we know the pitching can do well as we just saw in this game. Once it all comes together, this team will be unstoppable! Until next time my faithful followers, stay Out of Bounds!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-84741226442219438142011-04-04T19:49:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:49:45.243-07:00Red Sox Game 3: Pitching Improves, But the Offense Drops Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlgz9W85f7M/TZqDDqUmj0I/AAAAAAAAADI/0jXdMqhhnxw/s1600/Clay-Buchholz-Sad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlgz9W85f7M/TZqDDqUmj0I/AAAAAAAAADI/0jXdMqhhnxw/s1600/Clay-Buchholz-Sad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Well, the Red Sox have officially opened the season on their worst opening since 1996 when they started the season 0-5. After the big moves that were made in the off season and all the hype on this team, I'd say a clean sweep by the Texas Rangers is the last thing anyone expected. But let's look to the final game of the series in particular. Once again, the pitching wasn't great, but four of the five Texas runs were scored on solo home runs. So with the exception of 4 bad pitches, all by Clay Buchholz, the pitching was reasonable. But those pitches still happened, so the pitching staff has to figure out why so many home runs are being hit. And Papelbon still looked shaky. Allowing 1 run, loading the bases as well. The upside is he still struck out 3, but his control just wasn't there. I still want to see a game with Jason Varitek catching. I know the blame cannot be put on Saltalamachia, but I want to see how a pitcher's catcher the caliber of Varitek does behind the plate. If he succeeds, we might realize what's going on. If the Sox still fail, there's clearly a bigger problem that needs to be addressed. Because as I said for the past two games, offense only helps the pitching, and it's the pitching that wins the games. So the Sox starters need to come out and pitch the way they can. But, the offense is not without some blame for this last loss.<br />
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I realize that it's difficult for the offense to produce runs when you're already down so much, but with the offense that the Sox have, there should never be a game where they only have 1 run. Hell, there shouldn't be a game where this team doesn't score at least three runs. With a healthy line up, with the names on this team, scoring only 1 run is unaccepted. Runs need to be scored to support the pitching. Bucholz would feel much more confident in the game if there were runs on the board for the Sox. For a pitcher to go out there, look at the scoreboard and see a goose egg on the board, it's got to be discouraging. So this game saw weaknesses in all facets of the game, and not just the pitching. And now the Sox have a day to think about the sweep. I'm hoping that this will get the blood boiling and get them to go out and play the way they can. <br />
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Now tomorrow, Boston sends out the work horse. The man who I have said for almost a month now should be the ace of the staff. Josh Beckett. I am looking forward to seeing him go out and hopefully dominate the way he did in his final pre season start. If he does that, and I am willing to guarantee right now that he will, maybe Terry Francona will finally realize the mistake he has made and fix his starting rotation. Also, the Sox are going against a pitcher tomorrow who has only ever pitched in 12 games, and while he is 6-4 in those 12 games, his ERA is 4.56, a high enough ERA that the Red Sox should be able to take advantage of him for their first win of the season. But if Beckett goes out and struggles, people are going to start questioning the rotation. Fans will look to someone to blame. And the finger cannot be pointed at the whole rotation. The blame will be put on the new pitching coach, Curt Young. But I really do not see Beckett struggling, and I see Boston coming out with a huge win in this one. So, until tomorrow when I will hopefully have a winning blog to write, stay right where you belong: Out of Bounds!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282610174668745832.post-10858544761123721972011-04-02T22:19:00.000-07:002011-04-02T22:19:48.264-07:00Red Sox Game 2: Offense Still Thrives, But Pitching Blows It Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uwtZtJ_PbF4/TZgCpeSCUTI/AAAAAAAAADE/l8mKLi_PEVk/s1600/John-Lackey-Upset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uwtZtJ_PbF4/TZgCpeSCUTI/AAAAAAAAADE/l8mKLi_PEVk/s1600/John-Lackey-Upset.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Another day, another display of how offense only supports pitching, while it's pitching that wins games. Two games now, two poor performances by the starting pitchers of the Boston Red Sox, and two losses compared to no wins on the books. I mean, the offense this year has looked great in two games. A-Gonz goes 3 for 5, and the man who best shows the early season slumping, David Ortiz, hits a home run and drives in three RBIs, while also taking the record for most RBIs for a Designated Hitter (a tip of the cap to Mr. Ortiz). And our lead off hitter, THE LEAD OFF HITTER, drills a two run bomb. In a game with decent pitching, five runs of offensive support would definitely be enough to get the win. But two poor pitching performances lead the Sox to losses in these games that should have been won. <br />
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It's been about three weeks now since Terry Francona announced the decision of his pitching rotation. Lester being number one and Lackey being number two. Now, I doubted Lester as the ace from the start, but I was growing to the idea. But Lackey as the number two?! When we have pitchers like Bucholz and Becket on the same rotation?! Lackey should be the number 4. Becket should be the one, Lester the two, and keep Bucholz where he is. This team will not succeed with the rotation order we have now. Becket will win half the games, maybe even more than half against the aces of other pitching staffs. That's more than Lester or anyone else on the Sox staff will gain against ace pitchers. But Lester will see great success against number 2 pitchers, and Bucholz against number threes, and Lackey against fours and Matsuzaka against fives. Sure, Becket may only be a .500 pitcher at the end of the year, but the other four pitchers wouldn't have any better success, but will have success against the pitchers they match up against.<br />
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Now everyone I have proposed this rotation to tells me the same thing. "Becket is worn out," "He's not good enough to be the ace," "Lester's our number 1," "Francona knows what he's doing." Well you know what? Lester's not ready. He proved that on Friday. He got out pitched by C.J. Wilson. If he had pitched the way he did yesterday in today's game, he would have matched up great against Lewis, and probably would have gotten the win. And Becket is a big game pitcher. He would have stepped up his game and pitched great I'd bet, good enough to match up against Wilson anyway. And for those of you who disagree, let me know, but I know I'm right on this. Becket may not be pitching the way he did in 2007, but he's still good enough to go toe to toe against most aces. I don't know if I can say the same about Lester. And Lackey!! Lackey may have been great in the past. But not anymore. He's not an ace, or a two, possibly a three. But as a four he would be great. Francona needs to recognize his players and who they will match up against. You think Lester or Lackey will match up well enough against C.C. Sabathia from the Yankees? No way. But Becket would. <br />
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The Sox offense is good enough to win these games. But we need the proper pitching match ups to make sure we're not getting blown out like the last two games. I mean, 21 runs allowed in 2 games? What offense is good enough to make up for that? There isn't one in baseball, that's for sure. Now, tomorrow Bucholz goes out there against the Rangers number 3. That's a good match up. A great match up. The Red Sox will probably win the next game. My only hope is that Tito will recognize that and realize his match ups. Use the day off on Monday to re work the rotation so that it works. Skip Beckett's next start and just have Matsuzaka pitch on Tuesday against the Indians. Then Becket pitches the next game, and Lester, then Bucholz, then Lackey and then Dice-K again. Then all is well in the world again. Seriously, I'm still waiting on Francona's e-mail address so I can send this to him, because he will benefit so much from it. That's all for today my Out of Bounds readers. Hopefully tomorrow I get to write my first blog for a winning game. Until then, make sure you stay Out of Bounds!Eamonatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17858613007320861116noreply@blogger.com0