.it's beginning to look a lot like christmas + ffl championship + my nba ballot.

Please forgive me for being MIA for almost 2 weeks. Here I am! :) I’ve been busy with Christmas preparations and the start of a New Year. My quest to finish buying gifts early this year was not as easy as I thought. Last month (right around Thanksgiving), I wrote up a gift list and committed to getting through it as quick and painless as possible. I started off strong by doing some shopping over the weekend after Black Friday. I was able to get about half of the people on my list crossed off. Now I sit here a week before Christmas with presents that still need to be wrapped and gifts that still need to be bought. How did I get so behind? *sigh*

Anyhow, enough about my holiday stress. The good news is, I got my Christmas tree up a week ago and it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside when I see it. I love the twinkling lights and refreshing Christmas tree scent. This year I switched from the Noble Fir (which I bought for years) to my new favorite, the Fraser Fir. Wow, it is so beautiful. It's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! Now on to sports! With my fantasy football league; I am on edge at the moment because I am in the Championship game this week. Yup, I made it to the big game and I’m so nervous because my team isn’t what it used to be. With Plaxico’s mess, Barber’s injury, and LT’s disappointing year, I’ve had to make some changes to my line-up. Wish me luck.

One thing that I haven’t touched on much is the NBA season. Just so you know, I’ve been watching and keeping tabs on the league. Mental notes are being taken by yours truly for future posts so I'll be chatting about that soon. Oh and yes, I know I promised you a NBA Rookie post; stay tuned for that as well. I can tell you that I am very excited for the Celtics vs. Lakers game on Christmas Day. You can bet I’ll be watching from the comfort of my home in my PJ’s with a warm cup of cocoa. Speaking of the NBA, I’ve cast my 2009 NBA All-Star Ballot. The game will be held in Phoenix, Arizona over Valentine’s Day weekend.
My NBA All-Star 2009 picks are:

Western Forwards:
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Pau Gasol, LA Lakers

Western Guards:
Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
Chris Paul, New Orleans

Western Center:
Greg Oden, Portland

Eastern Forwards:
LeBron James, Cleveland
Paul Pierce, Boston

Eastern Guards:
Devin Harris, New Jersey
Dwyane Wade, Miami

Eastern Center:
Dwight Howard, Orlando

If you wonder why those players, I have my reasons and I gave it a lot of thought. For instance, how could I leave out Melo after he tied an NBA record by scoring 33 points in a single quarter during his team's 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves last week? Or, how could I leave out Kobe who is still going strong all the while his 81 points scored versus Toronto back in 2006 is still fresh in my mind? I’ve also got silly reasons like; I think Greg Oden is hilarious. On top of that, he is finally playing some decent ball now that he’s back on the court, not to mention I met him (but I’ll save that one for another time...remind me though to explain the handshake, lol). Oh by the way, have you seen the 2008 ESPY performance by Justin Timberlake w/Oden?! Seriously, it's so great!



Love,
Christmas,
& Basketball~
-C

.it's a small world after all.

As you may know, I am a Filipino-American gal who was born and raised in San Diego, California. Who would have thought that Manny Pacquiao (the most famous boxer in the Phillipines) & Shawne Merriman (OLB from my hometown NFL team, the Chargers) would be hanging out enjoying a nice meal together? After discovering they are neighbors (in Los Angeles), the two became buddies. I'm sure that Merriman was quick to learn that Filipinos love to feed their guests. From the looks of it, Shawne is diggin' some Filipino food~

.torn. [letoya]

Hey Friends! First of all, WAY TO GO CHARGERS for a W (it's about time)!~ Secondly, I owe you a video of the week, so here it is. You've probably heard this artist sing before but you may not realize how or when. LeToya Luckett (known professionally as LeToya) was a founding member of the R&B female group Destiny's Child with whom she won 2 Grammys. Later she was unexpectedly replaced by Michelle Williams thus launching her successful solo career.

In the video you are about to see, there is a sports tie-in with my selection. Yes, a sports tie-in...LUCKY ME! Look out for an appearance by NFL FS Will Demps (currently with the Houston Texans #47). Some quick background info (so you can say you learned something new today)~ Demps was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at San Diego State and has also played for the the NY Giants. As a side note, he is the older brother of former NFL Safety Marcus Demps who was a member of the Detroit Lions practice squad in 2006. A non-related sports fact is that Will Demps has been known to do some modeling so I took the liberty of posting his photo for all of my gal pals. :) In case you are wondering, Demps' father is African American and his mother is Korean.

Enjoy the video~

P.S. My apologies if an advertisement pops up before the video starts. My intent is to post the highest quality videos for your viewing pleasure. Unfortunately, sometimes that means they'll include an ad. Thanks for your understanding...

-C

.the best things in life are free.

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it definitely felt like a different kind of holiday for me. Rather than be excited about the yummy Thanksgiving meal and my favorite pumpkin pie dessert, there was much more on my mind. At first I doubted that I could feel thankful for anything this year. I mean we've got serious issues that surround us right now like the economic crisis, world hunger, and terrorism (to name a few). But, after some reflection; I realized that I was wrong.

It happened when I was sitting in my living room with my dogs on Thanksgiving morning. It dawned on me: I'm one lucky girl. I am truly blessed for everything that I have and the fact that I have the freedom to write this blog is proof. From the small things like the photographs I have to keep memories fresh, to the the big things like a beautiful home and a loving family; I have more than enough (not to mention everything in between)! If you think you don’t have much to be thankful for in life; grab a piece of paper and jot down a list of what you encounter on a daily basis. You’d be surprised. And for those of you who are going through tough times, remember there is a reason for EVERYTHING! You see, it takes going through a storm to end up with a rainbow. In light of the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, here’s a video that I dedicated to YOU my awesome blog friends. Cheers to your *good life*!



Love,
Happiness, &
Thanksgiving!
-C

.bcs 102.

There are definite differences between NCAA football (college) and the NFL (as I mentioned in my bcs 101 post). It may be not be easy to pick up on these details so I took the liberty of brainstorming a list which highlights a few:

• The hash marks are in different places. For college football the hash marks are 60 feet from the sideline and for the pros they are 70 feet 9 inches from the sideline. They look different because the pro hash marks are closer together in the middle of the field than the college hash marks are.
• The NFL limits teams to 53 players.
• In NCAA football, the defense can return a failed conversion attempt for 2 points.
• In NCAA football, the game clock stops after a successful first down conversion; starting again after the officials have set the football. In the NFL this clock stoppage does not take place.
• The NFL uses a "sudden death" overtime system. This means that the first team to score any points during overtime will win upon scoring. In NCAA football, each team is given an opportunity to score, with the game continuing on as long as the score remains tied.
• In the NFL, teams receive 40 seconds in-between plays. In NCAA football the time limit is 25 seconds, beginning when the official rules the ball "ready to play".
• In NCAA football the point after touchdown is attempted from the 3 yard-line. In the NFL it's attempted from the 2 yard-line.
• NFL has a salary cap and college players can't get paid (so they say…).
• College players can force someone out of bounds to void a catch.
• No touch from opposing team needed when you are down in college games.
• The clock stops after a 1st down in college until the refs move the chains, spot the ball and signal for time to begin again.
• In NCAA football replay, officials can review every play vs. the NFL where it is done only in the last 2 minutes.
• In the NFL, each team is given two instant replay challenges; while in NCAA football each coach only gets one.
• 1 foot (in NCAA football) vs. 2 feet (in the NFL) must be inbounds to be ruled a catch. In the NFL, a player who is receiving a pass must do several things before they establish possession of the football. They need to get two feet down inbounds and continue throughout the process to retain a firm, controlled grasp of the football. College players need to do far less to establish possession. All they need to do is to get 1 foot down inbounds and retain a grasp on the football.
• NFL clock restarts after out of bounds for most of the game.
• Pass interference in the NFL is at the spot of the foul or 1 yard line if in the end zone while it is a 15 yard penalty in college.
• NFL allows teams to handle balls prior to game (except kicking balls) college requires new balls each game (no professional emblems on the balls allowed in college).
• There is no 2 minute warning in college.
• Kickoff penalties are different.
• Goal posts on the field are different.
• The NFL has "Playoffs" vs. college football having "Bowl Games". In the NFL, the post-season winner is decided by a standard bracket playoff system, similar to the one in place in most other professional sports leagues. NCAA football utilizes a voting system to assign teams to "bowl games," which are the only post-season matches played each year. This eventually culminates in a national champion being selected.

I am sure there are many more but as you can see, it really is a different set of rules. This is another reason the transition from college football can be a bit difficult to adapt from a rookie perspective.

One aspect that is NOT DIFFERENT between a NCAA football game and an NFL game is the excitement! A college football game can be just as exciting (if not more so at times) than an NFL game. Check out one of the most memorable plays from this seasons match up between Texas Tech vs. Texas. A not-so-small rivalry game that ended in such a BIG way! Have you ever heard of Michael Crabtree? If not, you can say you know exactly who he is after watching this clip. Enjoy~



Peace,
Love &
the BCS,
-C

P.S. If you'd like to view the above video in high def, you can do so at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaN_ce47MOY. Click on "watch in high quality" right below the volume control on the youtube screen.

.bcs 101.

If you’d have asked me a year ago how I felt about college football, I would have told you that I honestly didn’t care for it. I had no interested in it AT ALL. Lucky for me, that all changed this year.

When college football kicked off this season, it dawned on me. How could I declare that I’m a huge sports fan without giving college football a chance? How could I dream about becoming an ESPN sideline reporter if I didn’t educate myself on every sport? That was when I decided to give college football a chance. I began to pay more attention to what the sportscasters had to say about the upcoming collegiate season. I studied the ins and outs and familiarized myself with the system. Since then, I’ve learned a few things about the college football world. One nice perk is that most (if not all) NFL rookies start there and showcase their talents in the prestigious BCS. Not to mention; following the transition of a rookie between college football and the NFL as it culminates on NFL Draft day is pretty fun to watch! College football is truly greater than I ever knew. How could I not realize this before?

As I began to keep tabs on college football, I found that I was not at all in tune with the way it worked. It is very different from the NFL in some respects and I think that in order to appreciate it for what it is, you’ve got to understand the basics. So, I decided to share with you my version of the "BCS basics" for any of you blog friends out there who may want to impress someone, learn something new, or be amused by my mini lesson! Ok, here we go. :)

First off, there are a few definitions that you might want to be clear on.

BCS may refer to several different definitions as it relates to American College Football but primarily means “Bowl Champion Series”. This is a system that selects match-ups for college football bowl games.

The term BCS can also be used in the following ways:

“BCS National Championship Game” which is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series AND “BCS Conference” which is the six major NCAA Division I-A football conferences whose champions receive an automatic bid into the Bowl Championship Series.

NCAA is the “National Collegiate Athletic Association” (often pronounced "N-C-Double-A"). It is a voluntary association of about 1,200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the US.

Now that those terms are out of the way, here’s how things come together.

The college football season begins each year on Labor Day weekend (one week before the NFL season begins). The regular season for college football continues through early December and consists of twelve regular-season games per team. During the final weekend of the regular season, there are several conference championship games and rivalry games, including the popular Army-Navy Game.

The postseason for college football consists of a series of bowl games that showcase the top 64 college teams. Each bowl game is generally a match of two teams with similar standing from different conferences. Division I Bowl Subdivision (still widely known by its former designation of Division I-A) football is the only NCAA sport which does not decide its champion with a playoff.

BCS rankings are released weekly (every Sunday during the season). Since 1998, the BCS National Championship Game has been determined by the Bowl Champion Series (aka: BCS). The BCS National Championship Game is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series. This game is played after the completion of the BCS Bowls. The site of the Championship Game rotates every year between the four BCS Bowls: the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The first BCS Championship game was held on January 8, 2007 at the new University of Phoenix Stadium, the new home of the Fiesta Bowl.

Bowl dates for this season are:

• Jan. 1, 2009 - FedEx Bowl
• Jan. 1, 2009 - Rose Bowl
• Jan. 2, 2009 - Allstate Sugar Bowl
• Jan. 5, 2009 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
• Jan. 8, 2009 - National Championship Game (Miami)

The system for calculating the bowl games is very controversial. Some critics argue that the system unfairly favors teams from large conferences. Critics of the current BCS Championship complain that the national champion is decided by polls and computers, not by competition on the field. The BCS method chooses only the top two ranked teams, according to a combination of the BCS computer rankings and two human polls, to compete for the national championship. This has often led to disagreements and questions as to whether the team who won the BCS National Championship Game is actually the best team. In 2003, for example, USC was not included in the BCS Championship Game, but beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and ended up No. 1 in the Associated Press final poll.

Interesting side note: In all other NCAA sporting events, the national champions are determined by a playoff system (while college football is not).

So, I’ll pause here. Be a sponge and soak this all in. I know it's a lot. Try watching a game or two (televised every Saturday during the season). You may be pleasantly surprised. Me personally, I enjoy the USC Trojans and Texas Tech Red Raiders!

.the biggest little heart.

I find myself stressing on a daily basis about things that (in the grand scheme of life), don't really mean much. It is so easy for us to take for granted that we are healthy and free to do what we wish each and every day. I've asked myself time and time again, am I doing enough to make a difference in the world? It seems impossible, but is it really? Then, I ran across this story and it touched my heart. Life is too short to stress about the small stuff. Thank you Brenden for reminding me how precious life really is and that making a difference in the world is nowhere near impossible.

LYNNWOOD, Wash. - Doctors gave 11-year-old Brenden Foster two weeks to live. Those two weeks were up on Wednesday. On Friday, he shared his last wish.

.nike *leave nothing*.

News Flash! I have just beaten the only undefeated Fantasy Football Team in my league!

I REPEAT, I have just beaten the ONLY undefeated Fantasy Football Team in my league and have moved into the #1 spot. My current record entering week 10: 8-1-0 in first place due to highest points overall. Woo-hoo~

The MNF game tonight, Steelers vs. Redskins had me on edge until the very last second of the game! The fantasy team I was playing had QB Jason Campbell going and I had only a single DL player going, LaMarr Woodley. Before the game, I was down 2 points overall. Thanks to Woodley's solo tackle, 2 assists, and 2 sacks combined with Campbell's 2 PICs and ZERO TD's... I won by .90 points! (Remember, my league plays with individual D's). I still can't believe it!

Ok now back to business. :) So, I wanted to keep you all entertained until I post my next sports write-up. For now, I've decided to share with you a collection of a few nike commercials that I consider some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy watching these videos because trust me; I would not post them here on my blog if I didn't feel they were worthy of your time. Btw, even if you have already seen these, their so good they can be watched over and over again AND be just as good the first time. Lastly, make sure you have your sound on and the volume up. Enjoy~





LOL, and I threw in the one below just for fun.



Love,
23,
and Nike,
-Christine

.kobe + friends = guitar hero world tour.

Today, the fourth installment of the very popular Guitar Hero video game launched in North America for the PS2, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. It will definitely be a test of the gaming industry's ability to weather the current economic storm.

Activision Blizzard Inc.'s “Guitar Hero World Tour” is one of the company's most important games of the year. At $189.99, it will also be one of the most expensive games they have ever released. Although some analysts still expect the franchise to drum up $1.4 billion in sales this year, its steep price could turn away some consumers as they pinch pennies this holiday season.

So why would I spend $190 for “Guitar Hero World Tour,” which adds drums and a microphone to its mega-selling guitar package? And why would I (and you, for that matter) clutter up the living room with yet more stuff? Kai and Charles Huang, the creators of the “Guitar Hero” franchise say that it’s not just about the accessories in “Guitar Hero World Tour.” It’s also about the new software, which lets users create their own music, and upload their creations for the world to play.

Despite the new features and the cool new accessories which make this game more like its competitor “Rock Band”; my favorite thing about this launch is its new commercial.

Check it out!! omg, seriously...it's so great! lol~



Rock on,
-C

*Updated 11/05* Post-commercial reaction from Kobe~

.marié digby.

Marié Digby (first name pronounced Ma-re-AY) earned her first major-label record deal when she won the Pantene Pro-Voice Music Competition in 2004. She is a very talented Singer-Songwriter, Guitarist, and Pianist who is part Irish and part Japanese. She is best known for her acoustic cover version of Rihanna's No. 1 hit "Umbrella", which attracted attention on YouTube in 2007. Soon after, her song played on the radio airwaves and was featured on the third season opening episode of the MTV show The Hills. After recording her first album and waiting for it to release (while music execs figured out all the details), she decided to take matters into her own hands. She asked her record label for an Apple laptop and the professional video editing software “Final Cut Pro” with the intention of making her own music videos. In the end, all she got was the laptop.

So, Marié just set the computer on her coffee table, turned on the built-in camera, and recorded herself playing. Since then, she continues to post video clips of herself singing covers of various chart topping songs which has increased her popularity. In an interview this year, she explains “I was trying to do a good mix of originals and cover tunes. The whole point of doing cover tunes was I wanted new traffic coming to my site. I wanted people who had never heard of me to give me a shot and listen to me sing and see if they liked me or not. So I was trying to pick songs that were on the pop charts and were just beginning to climb the charts so that people were already putting these songs titles into a search.”

The strategy worked. She is currently the eighth most subscribed-to artist on YouTube—wow!

My favorite songs by Marié Digby are “Miss Invisible”, “Voice on the Radio”, and “Beauty in the Walking” which can all be heard on her album titled Unfold. So, with that; I'd like to share with you one of her newest video cover tunes ("My Life" by The Game + Lil Wayne) which I happen to love. Her voice is so pretty and so is she. I hope you can appreciate it as I do.



Music & Love,
-C

.if i were a boy. [beyonce]

Come to think of it, her music always tells a story which is what I love about her work. Beyonce is an artist that I've always admired from day one. She's not only gorgeous but her voice is one-of-a-kind. This video in particular (my video of this week) is refreshing and well put together. I'll be honest, I wasn't too crazy about this song when I first heard it. But, now that I've seen the video... I've had a change of heart. The song and lyrics now make perfect sense to me and the video is seriously ingenious. Silly me, I should have known I'd love it!

To my blog friends, a favor please.

Try not to judge this video by the cover. Do yourself a favor and watch it in its entirety after you click on the little arrow. When it's over let me know what you think.



Enjoy,
-C

.blue for blue.

It’s a done deal.
This year it will be a Phillies vs. Rays World Series.

Now that it’s official, I’m trying my best to accept the reality of this postseason. As a West Coast gal, I truly feel like the best thing to do is to look forward and be optimistic about next season. As hard as that sounds, it’s the only reasonable solution.

*sigh*

Just so you know; I made it a point not to write about the Dodgers and their quest for the 2008 World Series until after the outcome of their season. I think mostly, I didn’t want to jinx the only West Coast team still alive in the postseason. Team Blue was thrown into the national spotlight when news broke that Manny Ramirez was joining the club. Wow—what a deal for a team that was in need of a serious offensive weapon! I remember seeing Manny in his new squeaky clean blue Dodgers uniform for the first time during his press conference. He came ready with his iridescent sunglasses and a happy smile that really complete his new look. LA was on top of the world that day and so was Manny.

Since his acquisition, the Dodgers seemed to have a new found excitement. Fans were re-energized and game attendance shot up. What Dodgers fan wouldn’t be excited at the prospect of a possible World Series run?? Having Manny was like winning the lottery—although some may beg to differ. The hot issue that the media continued to bring up was Manny’s bad attitude (aka: “Manny being Manny”) and his lack of interest in the game (and at times his own team) when he wasn’t into it. I feel like Manny just needed the right team to gel with so he can continue to impress fans. Most importantly, show the media that the phrase “Manny being Manny” can mean something positive. So, with Manny being a Dodger now—I believe he’s found a good fit but, is this just a quick stint before moving on for more money elsewhere? This may very well be the case... in light of Manny’s comment right after the Phillies series loss. When asked if he’d be in a Dodgers uniform next year, “I don't know,” he said; “I don't have any control over that.”. “I want to see who is the highest bidder,” Ramirez said. “Gas is up and so am I.” he proclaimed! Funny thing is; he has TOTAL control over where he’ll end up since he is the one who ultimately says yes or no.

And so here we are, the World Series is right around the corner and the reality is—the Dodgers won’t be there. Even with Manny carrying them through into the postseason AND having a big name coach like Joe Torre to lead the way, it just wasn’t enough. The team made it so close but couldn’t take hold of the Phillies who ended up winning the Pennant. What a Cinderella story it would have been! While some may continue to ponder “what if”, the only thing I ponder is…“what went wrong?”

Ugh—the batting line up for starters.

The batting order had been an issue, mostly during the end of the regular season. Joe Torre tried so hard to arrange all of the pieces of his puzzle to fit just right. Players were re-shuffled almost weekly prior to the playoffs. At the time it felt like the team was moving forward in the right direction. Once they made the playoffs, it seemed all of the work and planning had really paid off. Adding Manny to the mix gave the Dodgers some added fire. They scored consistently and even managed to sweep the Cubs! For a team that wasn’t supposed to have made it very far, they sure were doing exceptionally well. With the success against the Cubs, going into the series against the Phillies was a challenge I’m sure the team was pumped for. Only 1 team stood in their way to the World Series and now was the time to make it happen. With the players batting well and the pitchers focused—it seemed like Manny was the icing on the cake.

Not so much~

Whether it was nerves, undisclosed injuries, or a team that just couldn’t pull it together—the Dodgers lost against the Phillies and performed in a way that shocked most LA fans. What happened to the oh-so-familiar Grand Slamming Loney, Comeback Kid Furcal, or Fan Favorite & Base Stealing Martin? Let’s not forget—Kemp, Ethier, and Garciaparra; where were their much needed clutch moments? In the end, it came down to one person—Manny Ramirez. But, a single player can only carry a team so far (even with batting .410 with 21 home runs and 63 runs batted in over the last two and a half months). A combination of unproductive offensive plays by the Dodgers and errors made during crucial games cost them big time like, Rafael Furcal’s three errors in a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Another challenge for Torre was he was unable to solidify the clean up slot. Hitters batting behind Manny in the Dodgers' lineup were 3 for 27 with one run batted in during the playoffs. It’s just frustrating to watch a team that was able to win against all odds to make the postseason, end up unraveling under the immense pressure.

Some final thoughts.

I am wondering how many people (who aren’t from Tampa and Philly) will actually be interested in watching the World Series this year. I know that if the Dodgers had made it through, the ratings and number of viewers would have been through the roof. One reason would be that most of the West Coast would be interested in watching (regardless if they root for LA). Another reason would be celebrities. I’m sure US Weekly could dedicate an entire magazine spread on who showed up to cheer the Dodgers on. One prime example is Ms. Alyssa Milano for instance. She is a huge Dodger fan and has an entire blog dedicated to her love for the team. A photo of Alyssa Milano wearing her Manny dreadlock hat swinging a towel over her head at the World Series would be cool! Lastly, most people have some interest and/or curiosity in cheering for an underdog.

So...now the question is; where do the Dodgers go from here? And most importantly, will Manny be a part of the future of LA? You live and learn in life so only time will tell when the Dodgers will get this far again. From my west coast perspective—hopefully another post season run will happen before the team has to start again from scratch. For all you Dodger fans out there, remember this: “It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up.” - Vince Lombardi

Batter up!
-C

.jetsetter.

Greetings blog friends! I apologize for leaving you without a new post for quite some time. I have been extremely busy with work and a bunch of other things. I’ve been traveling a bit so that has kept me away from the computer. Where am I now you wonder?

Well, I’ve been in Dallas for a few days now. This is my first time in the Texas (other than previous layovers at the airport) and since I am here for work, I am not able to venture around the city too much. What I have noticed so far is that it is a bit on the humid side compared to California. On my first night in Dallas, we tried out the Cadillac Bar for dinner which serves Mexican cuisine. The restaurant was in an area called the West End. I had the most delicious Shrimp Tacos. They also had warm chips and excellent salsa. We also tried the fresh guacamole which was yummy as well.

Since I’m a sports fan, being in Dallas definitely makes me think of the Cowboys. Too bad there isn’t a Cowboys game scheduled during my stay. I imagine it would have been an exciting experience to watch them play in their own home stadium. Speaking of the Cowboys…is it just me or is this years NFL season been full of major ups and downs since day one? Lets see…

• Brett Favre leaves retirement and is now a New York Jet.
• Dante Culpepper sends a letter to every NFL team asking for employment, then retires after no team bites.
• Tony Romo has a broken pinky and asks his coach to play him anyway despite doctors suggesting he miss 4-6 weeks.
• Tom Brady, John Kitna, and rookie Rashard Mendenhall are all out for the season and placed on IR.
• The signings of Shaun Alexander to the Redskins and Roy Williams to the Cowboys.
• The Chargers losing to Miami but winning against New England, how backwards is that?!
• Kellen Winslow admitted to the hospital, released, and then rests at home with an undisclosed illness.
• Adam “Pacman” Jones is now currently suspended (again) indefinitely (at least 4 weeks).
• Peyton Manning admits to having 2 knee surgeries over the off season rather than 1 that was reported.
• The Lane Kiffin vs. Al Davis drama brings out the inner bitterness in Shanahan.

Oh and did you hear this:

“John Madden will not be in the booth for the Seattle at Tampa Bay game, NBC told The Associated Press on Monday. Madden, 72, travels by bus to all games he covers. Missing the game will keep him from making three consecutive coast-to-coast trips but will end his streak of working 476 consecutive games. Madden was in Jacksonville, Florida, then in San Diego. He would have had to return to Florida this Sunday. With no game the following weekend to avoid competing against the World Series, Madden would have then headed to his San Francisco Bay Area home.”

Now that’s pretty big news. Did you know that Mr. Madden is afraid of flying which is why he has to take a bus everywhere he goes? That’s a ton of mileage! Anyhow, I honestly think I can go on and on but the list above is plenty. What a crazy NFL season it’s been since the start! I seriously can’t predict who will be the final 2 teams in the Super Bowl but I can’t wait to see what happens!

Anyway, just to give you an update on my FFL, I am currently in 2nd place with 1 loss. Hopefully I can continue to maintain my position in the rankings and make it to the playoffs. By the way, I noticed some preseason Basketball which was pretty cool to see. I’m curious if we’ll see any drama with that league once the season gets closer to opening up. Oh last thing; I heard Magic Johnson was signed on as an NBA analyst for ESPN and ABC, good for him! I’m looking forward to seeing his commentary.

Ok, that’s it for now.
Peace & love,
-C

.official girl. [cassie]

So this is my video of the week. Cassandra Ventura (better known as Cassie) has come a long way in her music career, and since she's 1/2 Filipina, even more props to her. :) Many blogs ago, I mentioned to you my readers that I love music and I enjoy how lyrics can tell a story. This is a perfect example of that. Oh and from a fashion perspective, check out Cassie's strappy boots...love 'em~ Seriously though, watching this video makes me feel like I should head over to the gym pronto!

.mnf + plaxico + my must see tv.

This weeks Monday Night Football game was pretty awesome. First off, you had the 0-2 Chargers at home up against Brett Favre and his new green team, the Jets. The anticipation was crazy! There were so many questions leading up to the game. What if the Chargers lose and go 0-3, what then? How would Rivers hold his composure playing against one of this childhood idols, Brett Favre? Would LT be able to play with his sore toe? It turns out the game was more than anyone could have asked for. From the opening kick to the final few minutes, it was the kind of game that kept even the casual football fan glued to the TV. It was actually really nice to see Brett playing ball again. You can't help but have respect for the guy. He looked happy which was cool to see. As you may know, in the end the Chargers were able to turn up the heat and take control of the game for the win. All in all, it was one of the better MNF games I've seen in a while. Welcome back Chargers and *high five* to Cromartie for an awesome performance!

Quick FFL update. Lucky for me, I was able to come from behind on Monday night and continue on my winning streak in my fantasy league. Surprisingly, Rivers has been a great pick. Since we play 2 QB's, Cutler and Rivers have been a high scoring combination. I'm still in first place and it feels good. :) I'm thinking that people aren't happy campers in my FFL. :o/ Speaking of fantasy football, what's up with Plaxico Burress getting suspended for 1 game? That headline pinched me a bit when I heard about it since he's a starter on my team. Thanks Plax, appreciate it. I'll have to say that I was very impressed when I saw Drew get on Sportscenter ASAP for damage/PR control. What a smart agent you have! I love the sense of urgency! Unlike the NBA rookies (not going to name names on this particular blog) who recently got caught doing bad things and we don't hear from any of them, nor do we hear from their agent or publicist for DAYS! I personally thought that was poor judgement on their agencies and/or management's part. Especially since when the players finally released statements, they claimed their non-involvement and innocence! A press conference style apology would have done these kids wonders but oh well--that opportunity came and went. You'd think they'd have learned from Kobe!

Anyway, enough about that because that will be a blog in itself! Stay tuned for more on the NBA Rookies; I'll be writing about that soon. On to must see TV! This week in TV, it is pretty special because (aside from the MNF game) a ton of shows are on this week. I've been waiting all summer for a few of my favorites. You can bet I'll be watching Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, (my all time favorite), the Office, and probably LOST (if I can muster the patience). I just finished watching the Heroes premiere on my DVR. I have to say that I'm pretty overwhelmed with the 2 hour episode. It seemed like so much went on, almost like an entire season crammed into 2 hours! The ending was pretty interesting so I'm curious about next week. For all you MTV junkies, I'll admit to watching the Hills and Making the Band 4. Right now, I'm looking forward to tomorrow so I can watch Grey's. Now you know what keeps my interest on TV when I'm not watching sports!