Happy 2009!

I didn't get around to writing a Christmas post, and New Year's Eve is now upon us, so I'll take the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this year be a good one for you and your loved ones!

Quote of the Day: Jacob Riis

"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."

Blood is not funny

Washington Sports ... Lets just hope 2009 is better

It wasn't too long ago when the Mariners and Seahawks were good. It's honestly only been three years since the Squawks were in the Super Bowl getting hosed by the officials.
The baseball team tied an American League record for wins in 2001, and they have had some successful seasons since then as well. In fact, I think ESPN Radio's Mike Greenberg predicted prior to the 2008 season that the M's would win the World Series this year. Hmmm...

Ichiro: a rare athletic bright spot in Washington

If you're a twentysomething sports fan in the Northwest, you've been around long enough to see the Sonics in the Finals, WSU in the Rose Bowl and UW sharing a national championship with Miami.

Nice knowin' ya, Ty. No one surves a completely imperfect season

Those days seem oh-so-long ago.

A recap of 2008: Even with Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant, the NBA's Supersonics went 20-62, good enough for the 29th-best record in a 30-team league - and that was their highlight. The lowlight came later when the new ownership moved the team to their home in Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. The Mariners were 61-101, which was worst in the American League, and, like the Sonics, second-worst overall. The Seahawks are 2-10 and mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with four games left to play.

How high will Durant fly in the NBA? Seattle fans will no longer be able to see it firsthand

That brings us to the Grand Daddy of them all - the college football seasons of U-Duh (misspelling intended) and Wazzu. With a loss on Saturday at Cal-Berkeley, the Dawgs will finish the season 0-12. The Cougars, unfortunately, had to play an extra game - 13 in all - and finished 2-11. Nevermind that the first victory came against FCS opponent Portland State, and the final one was against the arch rival Huskies. That Apple Cup game sure was a barnburner - it went into overtime with the Cougs winning, 16-13, but the quality of play wasn't the greatest in the rivalry's history (although both teams would surely relish a win versus their hated rival under any circumstances).

The Apple Cup: A rare moment of jubilation in Martin Stadium

About the only thing we can hope for now is some good college basketball from the aforementioned universities, among others.

Go 'Zags.

My ninth post of the month! Yes!

OK, that is a silly title for this post, but I'll put up links to my recent articles.
Here is the running link to my bylined articles.

Springville: 400 South closure saves city time, money
BYU team helps improve tortillas
City of Mapleton explores ways to cut costs
Salem aims to go green: changes garbage service
UVU Hunger Banquet benefits Provo food bank
HEAT program helps low-income families with utility costs
House Fire-Public Log 11/11
Natural gas leaks, children lose consciousness

Sage Creek Elementary honored by Forest Service
BYU Marriott School most family-friendly
Feds approve Mountain View Corridor
Fans stay up late for 'Twilight' screenings
UDOT to demolish Pleasant Grove bridge
Slightly more students qualify for free, reduced meals in U.C. (plus video voice-over)
Economy takes a toll on winterization efforts

Utah County generous on food donations
Area stores see normal Thanksgiving sales
Thanksgiving food sales video voice-over
Plenty of local holiday activities for families
United Way's Sub for Santa
Orem car dealership provides Thanksgiving meal to hundreds

Other stories I contributed to:
Who really won the election?, Vandalism over Prop. 8 denounced, Dead man found in Payson, Daily Digest 11/26 (Public Thanksgiving meal announcements)

Church vs. State

It's November, and news reports say some folks in Utah - including Mormons - are openly complaining about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its influence in the state and/or nation. This can only mean one thing: it's time for "The Holy War," the nickname given to the BYU-Utah rivalry football game, pitting a church school against a state school.

This is the time when the reddest city in the Union, politically, turns blue, and the school up north supports its troops wearing red and white.

In addition to being the biggest annual sporting event in Utah, this year's game has added some national interest. With a potential BCS bowl game and a conference championship on the line, the #7 and #14 teams in the BCS will go at it today, sporting a record of a combined 21 wins and one loss.

Sorry, no predictions on this one.

Unusual combinations- Brat Tail: a maple bar and bratwurst

No, I'm not making this up. At BYU football games, you can get something called a brat tail (that's brat, as in bratwurst - not a spoiled, whiny person), which is one of the stadium's extra long maple bars, or "Cougar Tails," sliced down the middle and used as a hot dug bun for a 1/3-pound bratwurst.
A Brat Tail. That's what it's called and it really must have some of the most interesting combinations of flavors you'd never want to try. On second thought, maybe it's no more strange than those peanut butter-and-pickle sandwiches I ate as a kid (no joke!).

MORE LINKS

Check out what this food critic has to say about the Brat Tail on video.
Photo, video, and further description of the Brat Tail experience can be found here.
Amazingly, Average Joe's Sports Blog calls the Brat Tail "excellent."
Another Brat Tail article

Why it's good to be a Spurs fan: Reason No. 4-They're good guys

Every year ESPN publishes results from some survey called "ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings List" which ranks all the big-league teams in American sports (yes, that includes the NHL) according to what they do to satisfy their fans. The composite score comes from a load of categories including the affordability of attending games, winning, fan relations, and so on.

For 2008, the Spurs were number one in the NBA and number two out of all 122 "major" professional teams (again that included the NHL, but not MLS). San Antonio is the only team to rank in the top three for all six years of the survey's history.

Spurs players ranked second (behind the NFL's Patriots) in a category determined by on-field effort and off-field likability, which shows their commitment to community. The team ranked first in fan relations for "ease of access to players, coaches & management." Ownership ranked first for "honesty; loyalty to players and city," and the coach was third for strong on-field leadership.

The survey "aims to quantify the unique relationship between fans and their favorite teams by determining which MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises establish and maintain the most overall reward for their fans," according to a press release on the Spurs Web site. Individual categories factored into the survey are Bang for the Buck (how much the team wins for the amount of money pouring in from fans), Fan Relations, Ownership, Affordability, Stadium Experience, Players, Coaches and Title track (recent championships or those expected in the near future).

So despite the team's ironic identity change from "soft" to "dirty" - which took place in only slightly more time than it took Robert Horry to hip-check Steve Nash - there is plenty of evidence to suggest the players and management are good guys. Bruce Bowen - probably the team's most questionable on-court character based on (possible) cheap shots taken at other players - gets involved with kids in the San Antonio community with his Bruce N Buddy's fitness program. Many other Spurs are similarly involved in good works, but I'll spare you the details.

Lets just say you won't see Spurs players giving interviews like this one from Mike Tyson ...

Sure the Spurs have had some characters like Dennis Rodman and Stephen Jackson, but most of their issues took place while they played for a different team.

So yeah, the Spurs have character. They'll even help a former teammate up when he gets knocked down on his keister.

Stephen Jackson writhes in pain while former teammates Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan offer him an ice pack. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Frank Caliendo

I've been planning on posting some Frank Caliendo video for a while. The man is a master at impersonating politicians, athletes, broadcasters and celebrities. He does President Bush, President Clinton, Al Pacino, Charles Barkley, Bill Walton and Robin Williams. But I'd have to say his signature character is John Madden.

(Click here for a clip of the real John Madden talking. Note the similarities?)

Here is a crazy mix of impressions from an appearance on WGN.

And more on David Letterman as he goes presidential.

What I've been writing lately...

Here's the stuff I did at the Daily Herald the last few weeks.

Rate increase: Salem plans for future savings in water
Orem humanitarian aid group to help Dominican Republic
Springville 8th-grade students host presidential debate
Daily Wrap video 10/23
Springville youth get involved
$9.8M library bond on ballot in Springville
President Monson dedicates BYU building addition

(photo: Mark Philbrick/BYU)

Genola reprimanded by state
Spanish Fork's Home Depot on active construction, other projects delayed
It ain't necessary to water lawn in fall months
Daily Wrap video 10/29
Provo man hikes the Y daily to fight illness
Spanish Fork man arrested for sexual activity with a minor and supplying alcohol to a minor (this was a full-length article chopped down because of space issues)

Prop. 8 opponents gather at Provo vigil

(photo: Davis Archibald/DAILY HERALD)

Colder weather, rain not expected to turn away voters
Springville says yes to library building bond
Salem Hills H.S. and Make-A-Wish give Utah girl trip to England
All-digital Cinemark multiplex opens in Orem
Storms returning to Utah Valley

I also contributed to these: State House of Representatives: Republicans hold off Democrat blitz (Clark defeats Jarvis), Candidates dispute run-in, Orem woman is Citizen of the Year, New programs aim to help needy, Public Log 10/25 (fatal crash)