It came down to the wire. A four point lead, taken late in the game, by the Patriots is vulnerable to Russell Wilson et al. An absolutely incredible catch by Kearse. (Bounce, bounce...bounce...catch!) Then Lynch's run to put them at around the one yard line, then the final play...
Has to be a run by Lynch. Or maybe they have Wilson keep it and run it in. Maybe the Pats are even going to concede the score by Lynch in order to have enough time for a few plays after the kickoff... But if it doesn't work, they have a time out and two more shots at it...
So what's it gonna be? Lynch? Wilson? Nope, neither. It's a pass into the end zone...and...
Interception! The rookie Butler takes it away, and the Pats have the ball with a few seconds left. Can't take a knee, the knee would be in the end zone. The score would be 28-26 (Pats) and they'd have to kick off and who knows what could happen then?
Instead, it's a 5 yard penalty on the Seahawks, and now it's first and five on the 6 yard line.
Now Brady CAN take a knee. And he does. And the game's over. Just like that! Pats win, that's Brady's fourth Super Bowl victory (in six tries) and he also surpasses the record for the most TD passes thrown in Super Bowls (12). He's the MVP, and the Pats go home winners again!
And the Seahawks and their fans have to wonder about that last play call - why not give it to Lynch? It made no sense.
Well, neither of the teams was wearing a C (for Chicago), so I wasn't really invested in the outcome, but it was good to see an exciting game with a super exciting conclusion!
*****
Two of my Scott Dyson stories are free on Kindle this weekend, starting
today, for five days. The KDP Promotion starts today (January 29) and
runs through Monday, February 2nd.
Here are the links to the titles (which include SIX short stories!!) on Amazon:
JACK'O'LANTERN (and THE MOMENT and SARAH'S PUPPY)
THE GATEWAY (and AMERICA'S PASTIME and HOT SPOT)
Please download them (even if you're not crazy about reading them)! And
if you do enjoy them, consider leaving a review on Amazon Thanks!
*****
Monday, February 2, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Two free titles on Kindle this weekend!
Two of my Scott Dyson stories are free on Kindle this weekend, starting today, for five days. The KDP Promotion starts today (January 29) and runs through Monday, February 2nd.
Here are the links to the titles (which include SIX short stories!!) on Amazon:
JACK'O'LANTERN (and THE MOMENT and SARAH'S PUPPY)
THE GATEWAY (and AMERICA'S PASTIME and HOT SPOT)
Please download them (even if you're not crazy about reading them)! And if you do enjoy them, consider leaving a review on Amazon.
AMERICA'S PASTIME describes a horrific scene at a major league baseball stadium...but probably not what you're picturing...how's that for a sports blog tie-in?
Thank you!
*****
Here are the links to the titles (which include SIX short stories!!) on Amazon:
JACK'O'LANTERN (and THE MOMENT and SARAH'S PUPPY)
THE GATEWAY (and AMERICA'S PASTIME and HOT SPOT)
Please download them (even if you're not crazy about reading them)! And if you do enjoy them, consider leaving a review on Amazon.
AMERICA'S PASTIME describes a horrific scene at a major league baseball stadium...but probably not what you're picturing...how's that for a sports blog tie-in?
Thank you!
*****
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Busy Chicago Winter...
So a lot has been happening in Chitown sports. I don't have time to do much in-depth writing about anything in particular, so I'm just going to touch on the high points:
*****
- Bears go 5-11, fire Emery, Trestman, Kromer, and every other coach. They turn around and hire John Fox, fresh off a playoff appearance with the Broncos after being in the Super Bowl last year. Fox has hired good coordinators (a d- coordinator from the 49'ers who's supposed to be great, and the o- coordinator from Denver who seems pretty good too) and a bunch of decent position coaches. Chicagoans are giddy about having a REAL head coach who knows how to run an NFL franchise. Oh, and they hired a young fresh GM named Ryan Pace, who seems to not be threatened by making strong hires like Fox.
- Cubs already had announced Joe Maddon as their field manager, and then they turned around and grabbed Jon Lester, the top free agent pitcher. They made a few other signings as well, including Jason Hamel (who was traded with Samarzidja for the A's top prospects last summer) and a catcher (name escapes me) from the D-backs. Then they traded for Dexter Fowler, a high OBP guy from Houston and a switch-hitting CF.
- The White Sox made headlines by trading for Samarzidja, getting him from the A's for a package of prospects. They also signed Adam LaRoche and a closer named Robertson. They should get significantly better next year.
- The Bulls were doing great but seem to have hit a wall, with injuries slowing Noah and Mike Dunleavy, and with Jimmy Butler coming back down to Earth after a pretty incredible start to the season. Taj, Derek and Hinrich have also missed a few games (as has Butler) due to injuries and illness. The best thing has been Pau Gasol, who has been absolutely outstanding at the PF for the Bulls.
- The Black Hawks look a little inconsistent, but they're coming off their All Star break, and they should look better into the second part of the season. Their rookie, Tavo Taravinin (I know I butchered that spelling) has received some valuable experience, as has rookie goalie Scott Darling. Kane and Toews are doing great, and Sharp is back from an injury. Versteeg is out currently, but should be back sometimes soon.
- Ernie Banks died at age 83. Was there a better person to represent Chicago baseball, indeed, Chicago sports? Incredible player, and as nice a guy as you'd want to meet, by all accounts. He's one of the players I never had a chance to get an autograph. He was never down in Arizona for spring training. (I got Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Ron Santo down in Mesa, and got guys like Hundley, Beckert, Kessinger, and many others at my one and only Cubs Convention.)
*****
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Free ebooks for Amazon Kindle or Kindle App users
Should I be writing about the Cubs? Yeah, probably. After all they signed Jon Lester to a 6 year deal, and look to be going for it next year.
But I'm not going to. Instead I'm going to write about the two ebooks that I have on free promotion from today (12/10/14) to Sunday (12/14/14).
SOLE OCCUPANT is a 2400 word short story with a 700 word bonus short included (called THE ONLY SOLUTION).
DEAD OR ALIVE is a 7800 word short story, the first of a trio of short stories that are also collected in THE STRIKER FILES.
Here's the links:
SOLE OCCUPANT
DEAD OR ALIVE
On the off chance that anyone looks in here and sees this, please feel free to download them! Review them if you like them! (Or if you don't...)
You go to Amazon and purchase them with the 1-Click ordering. Thank you!
*****
But I'm not going to. Instead I'm going to write about the two ebooks that I have on free promotion from today (12/10/14) to Sunday (12/14/14).
SOLE OCCUPANT is a 2400 word short story with a 700 word bonus short included (called THE ONLY SOLUTION).
DEAD OR ALIVE is a 7800 word short story, the first of a trio of short stories that are also collected in THE STRIKER FILES.
Here's the links:
SOLE OCCUPANT
DEAD OR ALIVE
On the off chance that anyone looks in here and sees this, please feel free to download them! Review them if you like them! (Or if you don't...)
You go to Amazon and purchase them with the 1-Click ordering. Thank you!
*****
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Cubs have a new manager!
Yes, they hired a high-profile manager who has brought a similar team to the World Series -- Joe Maddon. It looks like a sensible hire. Here's a guy with credentials who has worked with a young team full of top prospects -- which looks like what the Cubs will be next year.
We saw the start of the influx of new talent last year with Soler and Baez and Alacantra to go along with players like Castro and Castillo and Rizzo. This year should see more of the same -- Kris Bryant and Almora and maybe others. I know I'm forgetting some prospects, probably pitchers, but it looks like a pretty good crop already.
What struck me about the hiring was the lack of hesitation in getting it done. And now the hiring of Ricky Renteria, who did a very good job in my opinion but was a low-profile sort of hiring in 2014, makes more sense. My own unfounded suspicion is that management knew all along that Maddon would be available and they'd get a fair shot at him. So if last year's hire wasn't going to be Joe Girardi, it was bound to be a low-profile type. Like Renteria.
Best of luck to Ricky Renteria, by the way, who as I said, I feel did a very good job of handling his young team and deserves another shot somewhere. Under other circumstances I'd say he should have stayed here. But under THESE circumstances -- a win-now-or-in-the-near-future situation for the Cubs, who haven't won in 105 years or something like that, the sure (or surer) thing managerial hire of Maddon makes all the sense in the world.
*****
We saw the start of the influx of new talent last year with Soler and Baez and Alacantra to go along with players like Castro and Castillo and Rizzo. This year should see more of the same -- Kris Bryant and Almora and maybe others. I know I'm forgetting some prospects, probably pitchers, but it looks like a pretty good crop already.
What struck me about the hiring was the lack of hesitation in getting it done. And now the hiring of Ricky Renteria, who did a very good job in my opinion but was a low-profile sort of hiring in 2014, makes more sense. My own unfounded suspicion is that management knew all along that Maddon would be available and they'd get a fair shot at him. So if last year's hire wasn't going to be Joe Girardi, it was bound to be a low-profile type. Like Renteria.
Best of luck to Ricky Renteria, by the way, who as I said, I feel did a very good job of handling his young team and deserves another shot somewhere. Under other circumstances I'd say he should have stayed here. But under THESE circumstances -- a win-now-or-in-the-near-future situation for the Cubs, who haven't won in 105 years or something like that, the sure (or surer) thing managerial hire of Maddon makes all the sense in the world.
*****
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Wannie on the air...
I was driving into work today and listening to the Score on AM 670. I enjoy the morning hosts, local sportswriters Mike Mulligan (a Loyola Chicago grad!) and Brian Hanley. Today is their extended in-studio visit with former Bears and Cowboys and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstaedt. Remember him? The guy that replaced Ditka (apparently with the Ditka seal of approval)? Anyway, Mully and Hanley talk pro and college football with Wannie for at least 20 minutes, maybe more. He was on the air till 8:30 am.
And you know what? He's really entertaining! He knows his stuff, and he has a voice that's pretty fun to listen to. It's sort of like a caricature of his own voice. And he's a good storyteller. He has LOTS of stories to tell, and even when they're not that interesting, they're STILL entertaining.
It's a good segment, there's a bunch of good information in there, along with insights into the behind-the-scenes stuff and funny, entertaining anecdotes.
Some of the other hosts were making fun of the segment a little bit here and there, but I think they got it right when they hired Wannie to come in and visit with the boys in the morning. Good job, WSCR!
*****
And you know what? He's really entertaining! He knows his stuff, and he has a voice that's pretty fun to listen to. It's sort of like a caricature of his own voice. And he's a good storyteller. He has LOTS of stories to tell, and even when they're not that interesting, they're STILL entertaining.
It's a good segment, there's a bunch of good information in there, along with insights into the behind-the-scenes stuff and funny, entertaining anecdotes.
Some of the other hosts were making fun of the segment a little bit here and there, but I think they got it right when they hired Wannie to come in and visit with the boys in the morning. Good job, WSCR!
*****
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
How 'bout them Cubbies?
I admit, I lost interest. We don't go to games anymore; it's too expensive for a family of four. Parking's a nightmare around Wrigley and frankly, this "stripping it down to the bone" philosophy of Epstein's and Hoyer's has worn thin. Minor league product, major league prices.
But even *I* am starting to get back interested in the team, with the kids coming up and looking...well, talented! No one knows if Castro, Rizzo, Alcantara, Baez, Soler, Szczur, and the pitchers like Arrieta and Turner and Wada and Hendrix and Doubront will actually be productive major leaguers, but they have some talent and it's on display right now.
And Kris Bryant isn't even here yet, and won't be coming up this year, apparently.
There should be one more very high draft pick, then a drift back toward the middle as the major league team actually performs like a major league team next year with the kids sinking or swimming.
Looks like maybe we're gonna see some swimming. Not everyone, probably, but enough. Hopefully it pays off.
*****
If you want to read a book about one family's strategies when vacationing for a week at Disney World, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99. I tried to write it for families who get to spend a week in the World every year or two and want to maximize their time in the parks and in the area. It doesn't try to be comprehensive, but I think you might find a few helpful tidbits within its electronic pages...
Thanks!
*****
But even *I* am starting to get back interested in the team, with the kids coming up and looking...well, talented! No one knows if Castro, Rizzo, Alcantara, Baez, Soler, Szczur, and the pitchers like Arrieta and Turner and Wada and Hendrix and Doubront will actually be productive major leaguers, but they have some talent and it's on display right now.
And Kris Bryant isn't even here yet, and won't be coming up this year, apparently.
There should be one more very high draft pick, then a drift back toward the middle as the major league team actually performs like a major league team next year with the kids sinking or swimming.
Looks like maybe we're gonna see some swimming. Not everyone, probably, but enough. Hopefully it pays off.
*****
If you want to read a book about one family's strategies when vacationing for a week at Disney World, feel free to check out my title , Doing Disney: How To Spend A Week At Disney's Florida Resort It's available on Amazon for $2.99. I tried to write it for families who get to spend a week in the World every year or two and want to maximize their time in the parks and in the area. It doesn't try to be comprehensive, but I think you might find a few helpful tidbits within its electronic pages...
Thanks!
*****
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