Author: jcalvert

The Braves quietly ran off a nice winning streak, going 6-4 in the last 10 games to pull within 1.5 games of the Marlines. Chipper Jones is a regular firecracker – .415 AVG, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 36 R, 1.172 OPS. Bobby Cox is having so much fun with this bunch that he just signed a one year extension.

“I’m certainly going to end my career here,” Cox said. “There’s no doubt about that now. I’m happy. We’ve got great ballplayers. They’re fun to be around and it’s a fun team to be a part of. If it wasn’t fun, you should get out of the game, but I’m still having fun.”

I cannot imagine the Braves without Cox as the manager. If the Braves can hang on until help arrives from the DL (Smoltz, Gonzalez, and Soriano should all be back in the next few weeks) then they guys may actually have a shot to take this thing deep into October.

I am not sure what happened to the Bulldogs. They bounced back from last year’s disappointing year to win the SEC, get the top seed in the SEC tournament, only to be bounced in two straight games by Mississippi and Alabama.

Up next, the SEC Champion Bulldogs will likely play host to one of the 16 NCAA Regionals with the host sites announced on Sunday, May 25 at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPNews and NCAASports.com. The entire 64-team selection show can be seen live on ESPN on Monday, May 26 at 12:30 pm. EDT. NCAA Regional play begins May 30-June 2 at campus sites around the country.

Hopefully the Bulldogs got the loosing out of their system and will start a nice run to Omaha.

Sorry for the lack of updates.  Just got back from a nice vacation at Carillon Beach, FL and am now off to Frankfurt, Germany.  Should get in some PSP time on the plane and be back to regular posting for Memorial Day weekend.

I spent about thirty minutes with the game Sunday night and came away thinking that this is pretty much the same game as the PS2 version, but with prettier (much prettier) graphics.  Not much for first impressions, but that was my initial reaction.

I played several missions, and made it to 2.x% complete.  Like I said not much time.  One strange thing was that I had failed one mission; no idea which one.  I do not mind failing, but I like to be told when I mess up.  Figured I would start over on Monday night.

So Monday night I started over, and went a little farther.  Had a date, went bowling, but did not do well.  This time I had no failed missions and am just under 3% complete with the game.

The environments seem rather large, the variety of cars is nice, and there seems to be a lot of people on the streets.  I have not played enough to notice if there are predictable traffic and pedestrian patterns.  Same for the radio stations; have not heard the same music twice.

GTA is either something that you love or loathe.  For me, I can get past all the language, violence (have not seen much yet), and general mayhem.  The series is over the top, and certainly not for everyone.  GTA IV looks to be more of the same, but for me, that is not really a bad thing.

My new shooting setup afforded me several opportunities today.  The half-bath window is perfect.  The window has a clear view of the backyard.  I just raise the blinds a bit, raise the window, and sit on a stool (not the all popular throne).  I can rest my R7 on the windowsill, and the pests are not the wiser.

First up, there was a squirrel digging in the yard, right in front of the window.  Probably would have been a 15 yard shot, which should have been an easy kill, but I never felt like I had a good (read not shaky) shoot.  Lots of opportunity, but too much adrenaline.  Instead, I concentrated on my usual target area, probably about 22-25 yards out.  I figured that I could zero in the gun from my new vantage point, and get comfortable shooting from the window.  The ping of a Miller Lite can sent the squirrel running for cover.

Later in the morning, a squirrel came scurrying into view.  This time I decided to take a shot at about 25 yards because the little bastard was digging up some newly planted grass.  I am not sure if this is the squirrel that I spared earlier, but any squirrel digging at my hard work is in the wrong place (and if my shot is true, at the wrong time).  I took aim at the varmint’s eye and let fire.  It was a hit, but I guess not as perfect as I would have hoped to land.  The tree rat was clearly stunned, shook its head, and took off running.  I am not sure where my shot landed; must have been lower down the body instead of on the head.  Maybe.  I hate not getting clean kills, but I hate squirrels digging up my yard and nesting in my attic even more.

About thirty minutes after the squirrel mishap, a starling decided to fly in and peck away at some dug out area where I removed a bunch of weeds.  The starling was constantly on the move, and I never felt like I had a great shot.  In reality, I did, but after the mishap with the squirrel, I was reluctant to take anything except the perfect shot.

Lessons learned?  For starters, several starlings are in the area, and they are not welcome since they compete with the local song birds.  In the past I did not shoot at starlings, mainly because I did not want to make a mistake and take out a desirable bird.  I also need to shoot faster.  I had plenty of decent shots this morning, but I always waited for the perfect shot.  I need to get more accurate with the Beeman R7 so I do not have to worry about being trigger happy.  I also need to figure out if my R7 can take out squirrels.  Out of my last 10 attempts, probably only 3 have been clean kills.  Not good.

More practice, especially from the new shooting room is in order.  Of course the R1 Double Gold cannot get here soon enough.

I went to Circuit City earlier today to pick up a new phone.  I would not have a landline (or new a new phone) except that our alarm system requires ones, but I digress.

I also picked up the kids a couple of DS games – Pokemon Explorers of Time (I think … Good Lord, there are so many versions I cannot keep up) and Super Mario Brothers.  We already had Super Mario Brothers, but the dog got a hold of it, so a new game was in order.  We always get the kids some sort of end of year, going to the beach present, and the kids pretty much expect video game happiness.  The good news is the new games will keep the kids quiet on the way to the beach, which is a small price to pay.

I told myself I was going to hold off on GTA IV, but once I saw the game, I figured what the heck, no time like the present.  It is not like it is going to be on sale between now and Christmas.  The only problem is that this one requires night gaming.  No way I can play a GTA game in front of the kids.  I will try to throw up some impressions later tonight or tomorrow morning.

For what it is worth, there were only two copies left of the PS3 version, several copies of the PS3 collectors version, and multiple versions of each for the 360.  Does not really indicate anything, but I figured I would throw it out there to see if anything sticks.

Which is the bigger story?

• Big Brown taking the 134 running of the Kentucky Derby from the Number 20 post?
• The filly, Eight Belles, finishing second, only to be euthanized on the track right after the race?
• Junior just barely missing out at Richmond?
• The Hawks forcing a game seven against the mighty Celtics?

Unless Big Brown goes on to win the Triple Crown, or the Hawks advance, it has to be Kyle Busch spinning out Dale Earnhardt Jr. with only three laps to go. Damn, that almost made a grown man cry. Him, not me.

All continue to go up, up, up. I had the opportunity to break out the Beeman R7 this afternoon for some fun plinking. Alas, no squirrels, but I do have a nice new setup from the half-bath window that should give me some quality shots from the comfort and convenience of the throne room.

I am a little low on .177 Crosman Premier Domed Light pellets, so I figured I would place an order tonight. Imagine my surprise when I saw the price of $22.99. WTF? My last order of these from Pyramyd Air back in March only set me back $14.65.

I didn’t notice if this is a general trend with lead pellets, or something to come with Crosman pellets. My R7 really likes these things, so all I can say is ouch.

I am not sure how Sony (or Konami) determines who should qualify for the beta program, but I was surprised that I did not “qualify” for a download code.  Granted, I am not the world’s biggest online gaming fan, but over the years I have spent a crap load of money on games.  And going strong.

Getting the boot from Sony was a hell of a note.

The Falcons had a busy day today announcing the signing of seven undrafted free agents. Undrafted free agents are typically used to help fill out the squad for two-a-day practices. Maybe a few wings and a prayer types, but to be honest I am not sure how many of these guys make rosters each season. The numbers have to be very low. The pressure is on the front office and the coaching staff to give priority to the players drafted. The Falcons signed:

“linebacker Isaac Brown (Central Michigan), punter Jimmie Kaylor (Colorado State), cornerback Glenn Sharpe (Miami, Fla.), free safety D.J. Wolfe (Oklahoma), defensive end Brandon Miller (Georgia), running back Jamar Brittingham (Bloomsburg) and offensive tackle Michael Butterworth (Slippery Rock).”

Brown looks to be way undersized. Kaylor was brought in to provide some competition for incumbent punter (kick off specialist) Michael Koenen. I do not see Sharpe making the team, but maybe he has never reached his true potential due to his injury history. Wolfe will probably last towards the later cuts. I am going to say that Miller has a chance to make the team because the Falcons did not use a high draft pick on a DE, but Miller is probably too undersized to contribute to anything other than the practice squad. Brittingham is just a roster filler. Butterworth is the most interesting signing of the bunch. Man is that dude huge.

“Butterworth, 6-7, 330 pounds, earned All-America honorable mention honors by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette for his performance last season. He also garnered ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors for the second consecutive year and was a first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division selection for the third straight year.”

Maybe Butterworth is our hidden gem. After minicamp we may have a little better read on the team. Then comes the June 1 cuts where we will certainly be on the lookout for some decent offensive line help.

I know there is a lot of disagreement over taking Ryan, but the “face of the franchise” deal is what it is all about. During yesterday’s press conference, A. Blank pretty much begged fans to come back to the Georgia Dome.

“Last year created some unique opportunities for us, and I just want to remind you as we face this season that we’ve cut prices on about 30,000 seats this year and the rest of the seats were held. We have season tickets starting at $250, and if this sounds like an appeal, it is an appeal.” [Source AP]

While the Vick mess upsets some fans, it creates opportunities for others such as myself who are now able to grab some seats. I figure that I will get them while they are cheap (and while the Falcons suck), and when they get better, there will be some quality football on the field. Others will be begging for seats, but the waiting list will be a mile long. Everyone loves a winner. Or Vick. It’s a divided city. On to Mel’s grade …

“Atlanta Falcons: GRADE: B
I thought they would take DT Glenn Dorsey, but the Falcons needed a face for the franchise, and had to take QB Matt Ryan. He should be a great starting point; a new era of Falcons football begins. USC OT Sam Baker wasn’t healthy in 2007, he struggled in Senior Bowl practices and he has short arms for a left tackle. I like Baker, but I thought it was a bit of a reach moving up to get him. Linebacker Curtis Lofton is a decent second-round pick, but I really like what Atlanta did in the third round, taking WR Harry Douglas, CB Chevis Jackson and safety Thomas DeCoud. Kroy Biermann is a good pass-rusher. Wilrey Fontenot played opposite Antoine Cason at Arizona, although he’ll be more of a dime back. RB Thomas Brown is not real big, and he’s going to be battling Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood for playing time in the backfield.”

I agree with on the three third round picks – DeCoud, Douglas, and Jackson will contribute this year. I read that Ryan and Baker share the same agent. The Falcons should do what it takes to get both players signed by their May 10 mini-camp.

It will be interesting to see which rookie free agents the Falcons can land. Hopefully they can find a hidden gem or two.

Day two of the draft is always a lot of fun, because you never know what you are going to get. Some teams try to fill their depth charts, some are hopelessly looking for an overlooked prospect, while others are merely filling out their rosters. The Falcons have so many holes to fill, that you have to hope they are filling out their depth charts and looking for an overlooked prospect or two that may be able to make an immediate impact.

• Chevis Jackson (CB, LSU) – Round 3, Pick 5 (68): Jackson looks like a really good pick. I would not be that excited, except that starting for LSU in the SEC is close enough to playing in the NFL. Jackson will come in an make an immediate impact; if not as a starter, he will see time on the field in the nickel and dime packages.
• Harry Douglas (WR, Lousiville) – Round 3, Pick 21 (84): This was a surprising pick for me. I thought Atlanta would concentrate on the offensive line, but Douglas should be able to compete for the number three WR position.
• Thomas DeCoud (FS, California) – Round 3, Pick 35 (98): Another “need” position. It is hard to say if DeCoud will crack the starting lineup day one, but he will provide some depth and push Jimmy Williams.
• Robert James (OLB, Arizona State) – Round 5, Pick 3 (138): Oh boy, another PAC-10 player. I do not see James contributing, much less making the team. There is no way he starts at any of the LB slots, and even if he moves to safety (as some sites predict), I doubt he will make an impact.
• Kroy Biemann (DE – OLB, Montana) – Round 5, Pick 19 (154): At first this was a head scratcher, but the more I read about Biemann, the more I like him. I have no idea what sort of competition Montana plays, but Biemann could play on the line or as a pass rushing LB. He makes the team, and has a decent year as a special situation guy on passing downs.
• Thomas Brown (RB, Georgia) – Round 6, Pick 6 (172): Let’s face it, muck like D.J. Shockley a couple of years ago, this is the homer pick. The only difference is that if Brown can stay healthy (Shockley could not), Brown will battle for the number three running back position on the depth chart, and he may see 1-2 carries a game. He will contribute immediately on special teams returning kickoffs. If Brown makes the team, it is probably bad news for Shockley. I doubt the team will keep two “homer” growth opportunities.
• Wilrey Fontenot (CB, Arizona) – Round 7, Pick 5 (212): What is it with these PAC-10 selections? Fontenot does not have anything going for him besides speed. While speed kills at the college level, I do not see Fontenot making the roster unless he is some kind of special teams stud, which would be bad news for Thomas Brown.
• Keith Zinger (TE, LSU) – Round 7, Pick 25 (232): The Falcons need all the help they can get on the offensive line. Zinger makes the team as the backup TE.

6-7 of the 8 Day Two picks will make the roster, resulting in an overall grade of a “B” for Day Two. Jackson and Douglas will contend for starting positions, while Biemann contributes, and Brown and Zinger make the team in special teams and backup roles. I was really expecting to see the Falcons go after a potential starter on the offensive line, but most of their picks do make sense.

Free Agent signings are next. Expect the Falcons to look towards both lines and another deep threat WR.

A good day for Ferrari, with a nice one-two, but overall the Spanish GP was a rather lackluster race.

“It is a damning indictment of both the circuit and the sport that the Barcelona pole sitter has gone on to win the race in eight successive seasons. How can F1 expect to retain its global audience – the sport’s lifeblood – when it does not blanch at races being decided at the first corner and a two-hour procession being held in its wake? Adding a couple of corners that offer overtaking potential is not straightforward around Monaco’s residential confines, but there are no excuses for the current design of the Barcelona circuit, situated on a vast expanse of scruffy land many miles outside of the city limits, remaining fundamentally unaltered.”

Raikkonen now has nine in had to Hamilton, but it is a long season, with plenty of interesting crap … err … drama in store. Ferrari is also has the constructors by 9 points over BMW Sauber.

Between the draft and Ferrari running out front, it is hard not to make this a great Sunday.

It looks like a lot of pundits think the Falcons panicked by trading back into the first round to take Sam Baker as the 21st pick.  I understand that Atlanta needs to rebuild their offensive line; that makes perfect sense.  Here comes my Sunday morning 20-20 …

In retrospect, what does not make sense for the Falcons is that after the 21st pick there was only one other offensive lineman taken before the Falcons would have picked at the 34th position.  Houston took Duane Brown (Virginia Tech) with their 26th pick.  This adds up to the Falcons making a huge mistake.  If they did not trade into the first round, they would have been able to get Baker or Brown with their 34th pick, and still have their 48th pick to continue to address needs.

The trade with Washington was costly, and has to be considered a panic move.  The Falcons wanted to get some insurance in case the run on offensive tackles continued.  They may have gotten their man, but not at an acceptable price.

The backlash, anger, and general hate towards Matt Ryan on the Atlanta Falcons Message Board is simply amazing. Some of the stuff that is spewing is un-f’ing believable. A lot of it is racist in nature – Vick is black, Ryan is white. I have already said several times that this is a character issue. Ryan has it; Vick never will. Enough said.