Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Snow day theater: Redskins vs. 49ers '83 NFC championship - William World News
Friday, February 05, 2010
Snow day theater: Redskins vs. 49ers '83 NFC championship
I recently sent a Joe Posnanski blog post about Steve Sabol and NFL Films to my friend and fellow NFL Films aficionado David the other day. He replied back that it was great but also that Hulu had several NFL Films features available including the NFC Championship game between the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers that was played at RFK Stadium after the 1983 season. I actually remember that game pretty well or at least I think I do, I let you know after I watch this video.
The Redskins went up 21-0, but the 49ers stormed back to tie it. Mark Mosely kicked the game winning field goal after missing four earlier in the game. I recall there were too pass interference penalties against the 49ers that were controversial and that their Bill Walsh looked like somebody he loved had just died at the end of the game. When the game was played neither me or David were Redskins fans then like we are now and oddly enough David lives in San Francisco.:
49ers
They went 10-6 that year after having an awful '82 season after winning Super Bowl XVI. I think they won the division by beating the Dallas Cowboys on the final Monday night of the season after the Cowboys had lost the NFC East and 1st seed to the Redskins the week before. WR Dwight Clark was injured late that year and the 49ers barely beat the Detroit Lions the week before with Eddie Murray missing a late field goal at Candlestick Park. It was also the only season Joe Montana wore that style of facemask.
Redskins
That team was a juggernaut, they only lost twice in the regular season and both of them were on Monday night by 1 point each. John Riggins picked up where he left off in the '82 playoffs by scoring 24 touchdowns in the regular season behind the Hogs. Joe Theismann was a Pro Bowl QB. Mosley set scoring scoring record with 161 points, the year after being MVP.
So, there are a few things going on in D.C. sports - William World News
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
So, there are a few things going on in D.C. sports
The events of the last few days prove one thing -- The Wash. Times was SOOOOOOOO smart to cut their Sports section.
Washington Capitals name Alex Ovechkin captain - The Post Without hoopla and hype, superstar Alex Ovechkin was named the 14th regular captain in Washington Capitals history yesterday. I thought that Brooks Laich (who is another locker-room/media relations leader) may get it, but I find no fault with Ovi wearing the C -- nobody plays harder and that is one of the best examples a captain can set. Laich will certainly continue to contribute as well. The Great 8 turned down captaincy in 2006 because he was not yet comfortable with his English.
Now we move onto Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards nee Bullets...
MIKE WISE - Dear Gilbert, You've really blown it now - The Post In basketball, Gilbert continues to be Gilbert, but he is still in deep trouble. As I said before, never being serious is fun for a while, but not when the team is 11-21 and guns are involved. Its too bad, but his road to redemption is steep here in D.C. if he's even given the chance.
Some good news though -- the Wiz beat the Philadelphia 76ers again! Bad news -- they don't play again this season.
Redskins and Mike Shanahan reach agreement - The Post I for one welcome our new burgundy and gold overlord. I think Shanahan will make the Redskins respectable again, but don't see him getting a Super Bowl ring here. He will probably bring in a respectable offensive line though.
This is actually common knowledge. And it wouldn't have been Lynch's first attempt at sci-fi, either, because around the same time that Return of the Jedi came out, Lynch released his big-screen adaptation of Dune (which admittedly hasn't aged as well as Jedi).
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:34:00 AM
Penn State 42 MICHIGAN STATE 14 - William World News
Monday, November 23, 2009
Penn State 42 MICHIGAN STATE 14
I did not have a good feeling going into yesterday's game, but I picked Penn State to win because David Jones of the Patriot-News picked them to lose. Thanks, Jinxy!
Tight first half with the Penn State offense having trouble getting going. For the bowl game, I just want them to pretend they are starting the second half.
QB Daryll Clark is one of the slowest starters I have ever seen. He just gets too worked up. After he settled down, he could do no wrong, missing on only three of his last twenty passes. His 4 TDs gave him single season and career touchdown pass records for Penn State. He was Big Ten offensive player of the week.
RB Evan Royster had a great first half and not just for his long runs. Some of his 3 yard runs were huge because he eluded Michigan State tacklers in the backfield. Being able to maneuver out of trouble is what sets him apart. He sees the field so well.
OLB Navarro Bowman was a beast, especially in the first quarter. He lived up to his #11. He was named Big Ten defensive player of the week.
OLB Sean Lee also made some critical stops and big hits.
MLB Josh Hull got flagged for an iffy pass-interference call.
LOVE THE DRAKE! WR Curtis Drake has a very promising future ahead of him -- maybe he is the next Derrick Williams.
Great job by TE Andrew Quarless fighting for Drake's TD pass. That turned the game around
WR Graham Zug had another drop, possibility costing Penn State a touchdown, late in the first half. It would be his last as he caught 2 touchdown passes in the second half, stretching out over the goal line for one of them.
FB Joe Suhey caught his first career touchdown pass too, going up high to reel in a Clark pass that was a little off target.
K Collin Wagner needs to improve an awful lot if he wants to keep his job. He missed two field goals, though one was from about 50 yards out.
Another effective day of punting for Jeremy Boone. He pinned MSU back often. He exceeded expectations during his career.
One could get dangerously intoxicated playing a Mike Patrick drinking game. The ESPN play-by-play announcer was often wrong, especially in the first quarter.
QB Kevin Newsome saw spot duty in the second half, at least a series too late. He did score a TD, but did not attempt a pass. Matt McGloin (not Mike!) got in as well for some reason.
No less than three shots of P.J. Maierhofer in the crowd during the second half.
Penn State is ranked #13 in the BCS Standings. I will have more on that situation today or tomorrow.
This was Penn State's best effort of the season. The Spartans had advantages in the kicking game and typically play tough. That didn't happen and Penn State really put it together in the second half. Excellent half-time adjustments by the coaching staff.
Redskins fake another field goal, beat Broncos - William World News
Monday, November 16, 2009
Redskins fake another field goal, beat Broncos
Watch this video while you still can!
Good to see that Jim Zorn found a play that he could call -- the fake field goal! Man, I wish the NFL Films feature about him running fake field goals was available on line. Hunter (the Punter) Smith has run and now thrown for a touchdown on two fake field goals this year. He's the best quarterback on the roster!
Oh and Clinton Portis, say hi to obsolescence! Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright ran better than you can these days.
The burgundy uniforms at home looked really weird and always will to me. Denver's uniforms still look bad.
Why didn't anyone tell me the '97 Penn State vs. Ohio State game was on - William World News
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Why didn't anyone tell me the '97 Penn State vs. Ohio State game was on
Oh man, ESPN Classic reran the epic 1997 Penn State vs. Ohio State game last night. I didn't find out about it until it was too late. That was the best game I ever saw and I would have loved to recorded it. I've inquired with ESPN Classic to see if it is being run again.
We'll just have to settle for the Penn State Football Story video of that game (via Facebook) which is sadly not embeddable. Running backs Curtis Enis and Aaron Harris were so powerful, too bad the former went crazy and the latter got hurt a week later.
Hee haw! Roy Clark joins Nats - William World News
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Hee haw! Roy Clark joins Nats
Braves lose scouting director to Nationals - AJC The Nationals filled a front office vacancy with Roy Clark, former Atlanta Braves scouting director and star of Hee Haw! Hopefully, he will bring his banjo and the Hee Haw honeys.
Oh man. That takes the bloom off of this rose. He better be the best assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel that Washington has ever had.
Joe Paterno press conference and video 09.15.2009 - William World News
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Joe Paterno press conference and video 09.15.2009
Joe Paterno News Conference - Transcript - Intercollegiate Athletics Good presser today with Joe Paterno talking about reading habits, newspapers, Temple, mustaches and more.
Music Tuesday: People Who Died - William World News
Music Tuesday: People Who Died
When he was growing up on the Lower East Side of New York City, Jim Carroll like to shoot hoops, heroin. He wrote The Basketball Diaries and started a band. "People Who Died" was his best known song. He died the other day at age 60.
Zorn finally fakes a Redskins FG - William World News
Monday, September 14, 2009
Zorn finally fakes a Redskins FG
When I found out Jim Zorn was hired by the Redskins to be the offensive coordinator head coach, I immediately hit YouTube looking for the NFL Films Feature on him. He was the original Seattle Seahawks quarterback and his signature play in this early expansion years was the fake field goal. He was the holder and apparently scored on about 37 fake field goals in the late 1970s. Give or take a couple of dozen. I did not find the NFL Films video about Zorn, though I did find this piece of television excellence, The ABC Sunday Night Movie. This was also when I began my Redskins fandom discernment.
One of the disappointing parts about last season's ultimate run to mediocrity is that Zorn failed to run his money play. I even emailed Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog about it last May when he was "looking for stuff to blog about." I don't think Steinz ever went into the fake field goals, but I have missed it.
Anyway, I was really pleased yesterday when this happened:
In case the video gets pulled down, it is punter Hunter Smith, the holder, pulled up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown right before halftime. Huge play, well done Smith. The only way it could have been better was if it had been last year's punter, Ryan Plackmeyer, perhaps the huskiest punter ever. I guess it would have been better too if it had led to a Redskins win. Anyway, my prediction of Giants 20 Redskins 13 wasn't too far off, as the final score was Giants 23 Redskins 17.
More video of Joe Paterno talking to the press 07.27.2009 - William World News
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
More video of Joe Paterno talking to the press 07.27.2009
Penn State Nittany Lions football coach Joe Paterno gets a little more candid with reporters in the hallway, going as far to call out Anthony Morelli by name. Paterno blamed himself for holding back Daryll Clark to appease Morelli's fragile psyche.
The offensive line is the big question mark going into this season, but the four years of solid-to-great line play has me not too worried.
Sometime in the late 1970s, Elvis Costello got banned from Saturday Night Live for some reason after playing "Radio Radio." He and SNL have since made up and he crashed a Beastie Boys on the program apperance a while back. Clearly, he was predicting the demise of the Mike O'Meara Show and WJFK when he wrote the song.
Here is the original version back from when he was a still a New Wave nerd:
Music Tuesday: La Marseillaise - William World News
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Music Tuesday: La Marseillaise
Today is Bastille Day, so I'll celebrate with the best rendition of the French National Anthem. The Ombudsman is celebrating by being in France right now, lucky them. Anyway, this was one of the great scenes in Casablanca. How typical of Nazis to get mad because people were having fun.
I would have expected Clarendon to have been "The Clarendizzle," rather than "Clizzle-Dizzle."
# posted by dl004d :
Friday, June 12, 2009 3:34:00 PM
Even I know that was pretty weak.
# posted by WFY :
Saturday, June 13, 2009 8:45:00 AM
Post a CommentJim Bowden WUSA interview - William World News
Friday, June 05, 2009
Jim Bowden WUSA interview
Unfortunately, you are probably going to have to see an annoying Pepto Bismal (which I once had a nasty allergic reaction to) ad five times. I suppose it is an appropriate sponsor for a Jim Bowden interview though and given that I used to link to a photo of a horse's ass as a file phone for him, well you'll see...
Is there a transcript available? I don't want to actually have to watch and listen to that [CENSORED].
# posted by Simon Oliver Lockwood :
Friday, June 05, 2009 12:01:00 PM
If he acted the way he did in the interview, he'd probably still be employed and firejimbowden.com may not have existed.
# posted by WFY :
Friday, June 05, 2009 1:33:00 PM
Post a CommentTwo for Music Tuesday: Grazing in the Grass - William World News
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Two for Music Tuesday: Grazing in the Grass
For years, I have been trying to find the name of this instrumental song (the same thing happened with "Rise" and "Feels So Good" which I have been meaning to use for MT) -- you've heard it too. Turns out it is 1968's "Grazing in the Grass," by Hugh Masekela, a South African trumpeter. Thanks to the 105.9 FM for playing it yesterday on my ride home and listing it on their Web site's playlist. It even gets played during pitching changes from time to time at Nats games.
Then Friends of Distinction did it too, a year later, but with lyrics. You know it too.
Capitals 25% of the way to their goal; Penguins next - William World News
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Capitals 25% of the way to their goal; Penguins next
Old Hand, New Result - The Post Caps vanquish Rangers - The Wash. Times For only the second time in their history and for the first time since 1988 the Capitals won a game 7. They were outplayed by the Rangers for two periods, but stayed in it thanks to #1 star Simeon Varlamov, the 21 year 1 day old Russian goaltender. Their two goals also came off of the sticks of Russians with Alexander Semin scoring the first one and Sergei Federov netting the game-winner with just under five minutes left in the game. Now that is a Fed Bailout we can believe in. The Caps did it the hard way, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit, a feat that had yet to occur following the lockout.
In the end, Rangers just collapse - The Wash. Times The Rangers controlled the first 40 minutes of the game, prompting the crowd to boo the home team as the second intermission began.
MIKE WISE - Sergei's Day - The Post Old man Federov got it done again.
Music Tuesday: Knights of Cydonia - William World News
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Music Tuesday: Knights of Cydonia
I know nothing of Muse, but someone shared with me this video today. I like the song and any video that is a post-apocalyptic Spagetti Western is okay with me.
Portions of the video are kind of NSFW in an after 10 p.m. broadcast way, so just listen to it with your headphones if you are at work.
Alex Ovechkin is in some good company there. Well played, Thrashers well played. Better played than last night's game in fact. The Capitals won 4-2, increasing their lead for the second seed to four points.
The win is a validation for Ed DeChellis who has struggled to put his alma mater on the college basketball map. The 27 wins this year were a school record.
Buie verbals to PSU following win - The Collegian Talor Battle's half brother Taran Buie committed to Penn State yesterday. The New York product has another year of high school left. They should play together for one season -- it'll be like the Crispin brothers 2.0!
JoePa cheers on Penn St. hoops, waxes about NYC - AP/CDT Joe Paterno was at both games in Madison Square Garden this week. He apparently spent a lot of time reminiscing about playing basketball during his youth in Brooklyn. Here is clip from the semi-final:
PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN! - William World News
PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN!
Lions battle to last second - The Collegian Talor Battle drove almost the full length of the court and hit the game winner with .3 second left as Penn State beat #23 Illinois again, 64-63. It looks like it was epic -- David Jones of the Patriot-News calls it a miracle comeback. The final rebound was grabbed by Jamelle Cornley, who had earlier left the game with what sounds like a dislocated shoulder. Did the students storm the court? You bet!
13,091 were there last night, but about 50,000 are going to claim that they were.
A win over Iowa this weekend probably seals a tournament bid, though a loss there can probably be made up for with a strong showing in the Big11Ten tournament.
I agree. Beat Iowa and its a lock. That could be a tough game, given the really short turn-around (how did the schedule makers give PSU a road game that TIPS OFF 41 HOURS after their previous one?) Iowa is tough at home too.
I "think" we are in now. Winning a game in the Big Ten tourney could be tough, especially if we end up playing Wisconsin.
# posted by TMBC :
Friday, March 06, 2009 8:20:00 AM
I could watch that all day! Go State!
# posted by Kevin McGuire :
Friday, March 06, 2009 9:35:00 AM
The Iowa game isn't just a win-and-in game. We're talking about revenge from football season!
Huck the Fawkeyes!
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Friday, March 06, 2009 4:27:00 PM
It will take a lot more than a regular season basketball win to make me forget football losses to Iowa. Penn State will have to defeat the greatest Iowa football team ever in Kinnick Stadium with the captains marching off the field with the daughters of the head coach and great-great-grandaughters of Nike Kinnick jumping into the arms of the senior co-captains, forsaking their Hawkeye heritage and pledging eternal devotion to Joe Paterno.
# posted by WFY :
Friday, March 06, 2009 4:47:00 PM
Well, seeing as how Bowden now has to forfeit 14 wins from the '06 and '07 seasons, that pledging thing shouldn't be all that difficult.
# posted by Muha :
Friday, March 06, 2009 7:48:00 PMPost a Comment
Music Tuesday: March of the Swivelheads - William World News
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Music Tuesday: March of the Swivelheads
A few weeks ago I was thinking about Ferris Buellar's Day Off which is probably the best teen movie ever. The soundtrack was pretty cool too, wasn't it? This is by The English Beat and it will forever be immortalized by Ferris running through Shermer to get home. Too bad I could not find the actual clip instead of just a still.
Admit it though, this is a fun earworm to get stuck with isn't it?
Ovechkin scores another amazing goal - William World News
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ovechkin scores another amazing goal
Everybody and I mean everybody (WPGC?!) has already linked to TSN (Canada's ESPN more or less) video of Alex Ovechkin's first period goal last night. It is simply sensational what he did -- picking off a pass, bouncing it off the boards backhanded, change directions without losing any speed and then scoring on his backside.
I found the Comcast SportsNet Video of the goal, including an overhead shot.
You don't even have to be a hockey fan to appreciate that one.
I have been hearing "Subdivisions" on the radio fairly frequently lately.* For synth-rock, it opens very strong, but I am not crazy about the chorus. It turns out Rush are not fans of the suburbs. They probably wouldn't mind a do-over on their clothes and hair, but hey, it was 1982 or whatever.
*For about three weeks I was hearing Rush and/or Bruce Springsteen on the ride into work every morning on either 94.7 or 100.3.
Mike Green sets record for consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman - William World News
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Mike Green sets record for consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman
Green Makes History in Victory - The Post Only one defenseman has ever scored goals in eight consecutive NHL games. His name is Mike Green and he plays for the Washington Capitals. They beat Tampa Bay 5-1 last night in St. Petersburg. Today, Green goes for a ninth game in a row with a goal vs. the Panthers in Fort Lauderdale.
Caps have super weekend, head to Jersey - William World News
Monday, February 02, 2009
Caps have super weekend, head to Jersey
D.C.'s premier team, our nation's Capitals had a big weekend of back-to-back afternoon wins. On Saturday, they doubled-up the Red Wings with a "sleepy" Alex Ovechkin scoring twice in the third period to win it 4-2.
On Sunday, Ovi was not content with a mere two goals, getting a hat-trick. The Caps took out the Ottawa Senators 7-4.
They head up to Newark for Tuesday nights games against the Devils who are pretty hot themselves. They do so without the services of captain Chris Clark who is shutting it down because of his injured wrist. Hopefully they can get the two points because this is a La Coupe Hauxer contest as well.
ESPN discovered this weekend that Alex Oveckin is the NHL's true rock star. Here in D.C. we discovered this too -- about three years ago during his rookie season. Next week ESPN will tell us that Gilbert Arenas can be quirky when he is healthy.
Ovi had another big All-Star weekend, winning the breakaway competition.
Yes, that was Evegini Malkin of the flightless birds. Apparently the two are BFFs again, so that soap opera is over with for those who care *cough* Pengyunz fans.
So, now that Ovechkin has one the breakaway competition, won the All-Star game in the shootout (try it for the Caps sometime Ovi) on top of another goal and two assists will the NHL try including him in their marketing? For the last 3+ years the NHL has forced upon its fans and the sports world at large one player in particular. While I am not denying that Sidney Crosby is talented, perhaps focusing on just him has backfired a little, no? It was suggested to me that this was done because Crosby speaks English and this was thus marketing 101. Now, I've had several marketing classes over the years and limiting your marketing to one person or thing just might not be the best strategy. Then again, NHL and marketing seem like an oxymoron like government intelligence and jumbo shrimp. By the way, Ovi's English is fine and when it is borken English, he's quite funny about it.
Now, greater exposure for Ovechkin and all and the fact that the next successful argument suggesting he is not the best player in the sport right now will be the first is nice, ultimately that is not what is important. What is important is winning hockey games. The Caps have been doing that pretty well this season and sit at #2 in the conference. That is a pretty good place to be if they can keep it. What is impressive about it is that they got there with a lot of injuries. The deep system that Capitals have developed is paying dividends. The youngsters have gained valuable experience and are learning how to win at two levels. Hopefully, a healthy team can continue the good fortune through the second half. A #1 seed for the playoffs would be nice, but #2 would be fine. Barring a reversal of fortune between them and second place Carolina, the Caps are in the drivers seat for no worse than the #3 seed. It is a long half though and many things can happen. It should be fun.
The other day I stumbled onto this excellent video of "Whipped Cream" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and decided I just had to post it, even though I prefer some of the other tunes more. The album it is from, Whipped Cream and Other Delights, is one my favorite album covers though.
Anyone hungry for a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich?
# posted by Fritz :
Thursday, January 08, 2009 2:38:00 PM
I think for the big birthday celebration, the nanner sandwiches need to yield to a Fool's Gold Loaf. The title of the MetaFilter post I link to is quite good.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:18:00 PM
In honor of Elvis' birthday this week, my site is having Elvis week. We're featuring some collectors of all things Elvis and even interviewed some of them. Check it: http://www.collectorsquest.com/featured-week/Elvis.html
I did not get to see them march in the Rose Parade live, but from what I have seen on Facebook, they apparently handled the sharp turn well. Does anybody know if video of that is online?
Music Tuesday: The Hockey Song - William World News
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Music Tuesday: The Hockey Song
Music Tuesday storms back from its unannounced and unnoticed hiatus with this classic by Stompin' Tom Connors. The Capitals used to play "The Hockey Song" about half way through the third period, but stopped this year. Apparently, many are pleased by this development, including a Canadian-American I know. Since the Caps are doing well at Verizon Center this season, so I won't complain too much, but to the haters out there -- I defy you!
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