.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!

.my fan girl moment.

Quick FFL update. I won my week 2 match up with 195.35 points. What's crazy is if Moss gave me more than the 2.20 points he posted for me, I could have broken the 200 mark. So, my season record so far is 1st place with 379.80 and 2 wins. Bring it on! :op

Ok, moving right along. :)

Speaking of football, it's clear that the Chargers haven't had the best start this season. They've managed to dig themselves into a deficit that caught most sports analysts and fans off guard. I mean we all know that the Chargers were projected to do extremely well this year. There was (and still is) Super Bowl talk. Game 1 versus Carolina was a bit of a surprise loss, only because you'd figure they would have a decent shot given that the game was at home, Steve Smith was benched (due to a suspension) and the reality that Delhomme is no Peyton. Game 2 is a different story. That game should have been a W for the Chargers but unlucky for them a botched ref call and the gutsy 2-point conversion for the win by Shanahan which "people can't stop talking about" got them into their 0-2 slump.

In light of this challenging predicament, I've decided to reflect on the good times during training camp, right before this season began. In early August, a few gal pals (Cheryl + Jaymee + Michelle) and I had one of the best experiences we could have ever wished for. We were invited (thanks to Chris "fairyboy" Shtino) to a private session of Chargers training camp to have dinner with LT. Yes, LT as in LaDainian Tomlinson. Because we were VIPs, we were able to see the Chargers team up close and watch them run play after play until it was finally time for dinner. Before we met with LT, the gals and I were able to visit with a few Chargers for photos and autos. Rookie Antoine Cason was a favorite of mine since he was very down to earth. I also had a variety of players including VJ, Jammer, and Sproles sign a ball for me as a keepsake. One of the highlights prior to meeting with LT was being introduced to Norv Turner. What a cool coach he was!

Once LT finished getting cleaned up after his practice session, he came out to meet us in our private tent. At first, I wondered if it would feel awkward to be around one of the best Running Backs in NFL history. I mean, what would we talk about with him and how would he act around us? All worries aside when he arrived. He greeted us with a big warm smile and introduced himself to us (all the while calling us by our names). After this, we all sat around a small round table with LT and had dinner. We ate yummy Polynesian Cuisine while chatting it up with LT for about an hour. He was so funny and definitely made us all feel really comfortable. He told us about some of his personal experiences at a few classic games from previous seasons. He talked about his feelings on his current team including an outlook on his future in the NFL. LT even told us some juicy gossip which I won't disclose since this isn't TMZ. :)

Anyway, below are some photos from one of the coolest experiences of my life. Enjoy!

By the way, if you think it's silly we're all wearing LT jerseys... for your information LT LOVED it and commented on how cool it was we were representing the 21. It made him a happy camper!

Peace!

-Christine (aka: LT fan for life!) :)

.FFL recap + q&a + an open letter to VY.

It's a tough week ahead in my Fantasy Football world. The good news is (no matter what you thought about my line up), yours truly ms. commish of the *best week ever* league is in first place. My team came together and I not only won my match up, I scored the most in my league (184.45 to be exact). Sorry... that was a lot of bragging. ;op Anyway, to sum it up Cutler and Rivers did well. Randy Moss managed a TD even without Brady and Marion Barber did not disappoint. It also was a plus that Plaxico signed his new deal right before game 1 so his 133 yards came by no surprise. Week 2 will be difficult because I'll have Cutler playing against Rivers which means trouble. Someone has to lose so all I could hope for is a high scoring game. With LT questionable, who knows what to expect. Since I HAD to buy StatTracker because there is no way I'm going to sit there and manually estimate my points all weekend, I'll be able to update you sooner rather than later.

Q&A - you ask, I answer (maybe) :)

So, I decided that I'd open up the question forum to you my blog fans. Your questions can be about sports, my blog postings, or anything that you may want to know. If I deem your question would be interesting to my blog readers, I'll post my answer for all to see... fair enough? Ok, here we go. I received a couple of questions and thought they would be a great start for Q&A:

So what's the scoop on Merriman? Being a San Diego native, I'm guessing you may have some more insight than I do. Did the team force him to sit?

Well, I've been debating about if I want to blog about Merriman again. Since you asked, here’s what I think. In a nutshell, I think that Merriman got hit in the knee during the first game. After this, he left the field. I feel like #1) he did not have mobility with his brace, 2) he realized people will be going for his knee, 3) it hurt and he had an epiphany that if he kept playing, his career and future was in jeopardy. He's doing the right thing by not taking up a D slot that isn't being maximized. That is my 2 cents. I doubt he was forced to quit the season but I'm sure he was being warned by the team docs and probably Norv. Shawne, you're doing the right thing!

Christine, what is your favorite pinkberry combination?

Oooh, good question! That's easy. I always start with original. Yes, I've tried green tea and coffee but it doesn't compare to original according to my taste buds. My toppings are:

mango + kiwi + mochi = christine's perfect pinkberry~

Ok, so if you'd like to pose me a question that I can ponder... send 'em over to my special email addy that I created for this very purpose question4christine@gmail.com. Looking forward to them!

Last but not least, an open letter to Vince Young

Dear Vince,

I hope you aren't as sad as the media has made you out to be. Today on ESPN, I heard a sportscaster say that your biggest concern right now should be "earning back the respect of your team". I just want you to know that I think that comment is ridiculous. Your biggest concern right now should be you and only you. I understand that football is your life and career at the moment but, if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture... football isn't forever. Please look out for #1 and I'll say a prayer for you.

P.S. Don't let the Madden curse beat you.

*hostess* working on the mostess

Ok friends, I've added some new blog decor. I'm sure you already noticed a few changes. First off... yes, I've set my pride aside and decided to share with you my new video bar. This isn't just any old video bar. It's special because it features video footage from my knoxx video hostess gig. I've been given the amazing opportunity to meet and interview a number of knoxxgear sponsored MMA fighters. These fighters include:

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson

AJ is the kind of guy that looks a little scary at first but in reality, he's really like a big teddy bear. He's a great guy who is down to earth and loves dogs, especially pit bulls. His puppy Laila was super adorable and had the most beautiful eyes. Any info about AJ's professional career can be found by a simple google search. My interview with him talks about his childhood, family, and reveals his favorite snack...gummy bears. :)

Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello

Paul is a firecraker. His personality is really magnetic. Getting to know him wasn't difficult because of his easy going demeanor. He shared with me all about how he got involved in the MMA scene and what his future goals are. I learned that he is a big family guy with a cute little daughter. His wife pushed him to follow his heart to pursue MMA, and he credits his success to her. :)

Jose Palacios

Jose is SO funny. He seriously cracked me up. He has a very friendly personality and allowed me to tour is humble abode (cribs style). :) Not only is he an MMA fighter, I found out he is an artist as well. You can find him on myspace and facebook so drop him a line! :)

Elaina Maxwell

After meeting Elaina, it was difficult to imagine her as a female MMA fighter. She is really sweet and like any girl, she had a lot to share about her experience growing up and family life. Don't let her smile fool you, she is definitely one tough gal in the octagon. Her nickname is "beef"...enough said right there.

I was also fortunate to meet a lovely lady by the name of Mona Liza Reyes (aka Mo) who is a Filipina figure athlete. Wow, she has such an amazing body and the most genuine personality. Not only is she outgoing, she's super health conscience... mind, body, and soul.

Mona Liza Reyes

I had so much fun meeting all of these wonderful people. They had a lot to share and I learned a ton about who they are and what they are all about. If you have any interest in watching me look silly and nervous (since this is all a work in progress for me), you can find the videos on youtube under the knoxxgear channel. I have no idea why I am giving you this information but I could honestly use some feedback and your precious comments could only benefit me for future interviews to come. Much love to Knoxx for giving me this opportunity. Go knoxx video! :)

With love,

this is Christine Lee with Knoxx Video... signing off. :)

P.S. Scroll down for 2 plugs (courtesy of Jose Palacios & Mona Liza Reyes) on the very bottom of my blog. How sweet. :)

.knoxx in sd.

Friends from the Bay area were my guests this weekend. Damon & Al (aka “Skech”) from Knoxx Performance were in town visiting the ASR Trade Show. It was a pleasure to have them here!

We had a fun time at dinner courtesy of Love Boat Sushi in Oceanside. The sushi and dessert was very yummy. Who would have thought that Tempura Green Tea Ice Cream would actually be pretty delicious? Al had lots of fun requesting songs for the one man music show "Mark" who was the entertainer at the restaurant. It definitely was not your average sushi joint...

Show your support for my good friends!

Check out their blogs at: http://knoxxgear.wordpress.com/ (Knoxx Gear) <- you may even see a familiar face... and http://knoxxlifestyle.wordpress.com/ (Knoxx Lifestyle)

.one four three seattle.

I just got back from a trip to Seattle. It was my very first visit to Washington. I’ll have to admit I was looking forward to it since most people who’ve visited say how great it is. On a side note, I’m a Grey’s Anatomy fan and I thought Sleepless in Seattle was cute so, it made it even more appealing. I know, I’m silly. :) Anyway, when I flew into Seattle I noticed the beauty of the area right away. As my plane descended towards the Seattle Airport, I was able to see all of the plush greenery that surrounded the region. It is very different than most places. Because I was there for work, I didn’t have too much time to check out all of the sights. I was however able to wake up very early a couple of mornings to check out some places of interest. From what I was able to experience, here are my top 3 highlights from my visit to Seattle (with photos I took included):

#1) the Original Starbucks (est. 1971)

I was SO very excited to hear that the very first Starbucks was within walking distance of my hotel. I knew I had to stop off at this vintage spot. When I arrived at the shop, I was surprised at how small and low key it was. There were no tables or chairs to sit down. I noticed frequent camera flashes from tourists taking photos outside (sometimes even inside). Despite this, it was very calm and relaxed inside. The shop really did have a lot of character. Everything was made of russet colored wood and looked a bit worn (in an artistic way). It was not new or remodeled by any means. It definitely had a nice “original” feel to it. I picked out a mug as a souvenir which had the original SB logo rather than the new (more conservative) green one. I also ordered my usual, a tall non-fat vanilla latte. I do have to tell you that my coffee tasted SO delicious. I don’t know if it was all mental or if they used a special type of brew or espresso machine—whatever it is, it was magical delight in a cup!

#2) Piroshky, Piroshky

By definition, “Piroshky” originates from the Russian word “pir” which means feast. My description of a Piroshky is simply carbs at its finest! This little bakery can be found a few doors down from the original Starbucks right in the marketplace. I tried the potato, onion, and cheese which was really good. It was the perfect breakfast pairing with my wonderful cup of OG Starbucks. :)

#3) the Pike Street Market

The marketplace was so neat. It was everything Seattle was all about. Aside from the original Starbucks; there were small quaint restaurants, produce stands, and small shops scattered throughout. A really awesome element of the market were the flower vendors. There must have been a dozen of them selling all kinds of beautiful and colorful flowers. Not only did they look so pretty, they were so inexpensive as well!