2.19.08

Revelation

I was lucky enough last night to be a guest of former-UPS, now-Pepperdine Head Coach, Eric Bridgeland, at their home game against nationally-ranked St. Mary's last night. Sitting with two of his ex-players and his very-pregnant wife, I got some inside-info and have five major points that follow:

1. Despite Bridgeland being an a-hole, I've always liked the guy. He's very much my kind of a-hole.

2. St. Mary's absolutely annihilated Pepperdine last night, but DO NOT pick them as your non-sleeper in the NCAA Tournament. They are the epitome of an over-dog in a TERRIBLE WCC. They have some decent players and a nice system, but this team would be run out of the gym by anyone in the top-15, including Butler and Xavier.

3. Pepperdine's gym is no bigger than the UPS Field House. So I don't want to hear (nor will I say) that attendance-requirements are what is keeping a fantastic UPS team from stepping up to Division I. (Pepperdine has a more-functional space---but with hope, the upcoming Field House remodel will improve that.)

4. Not only that, UPS is a better team than Pepperdine. No doubt that Pepperdine has better athletes, but UPS is a better team. (To his credit--Bridgeland has done a good job of recruiting "upside" kids that USC, UCLA and Arizona pass-by.) For those of you who don't understand how the more-athletic team isn't as good as the other---here is a quick explanation. Pepperdine's kids have higher vertical leaps, are probably a step faster running the court, and almost certainly have higher bench-press numbers. However, UPS' kids are better shooters, make cleaner passes and play better team defense---and I think that they'd beat Pepperdine 4 out of every 5 times they play.

So why isn't UPS looking into making the jump to D-I? I don't know...

5. I was dissapointed to hear this morning that Bridgeland will not be retained as head coach at Pepperdine. All of the key-players are his recruits and when they buy into his system, I have no doubt that they could be successful in 2-3 years. That said---Pepperdine's basketball program has always been a circus, and Bridgeland may be better-served looking at one of the other potentially-open positions in the WCC---most notably USF.

I Was Too Busy Packin' Gats 'n' Stuff...

After reading Bill Simmons' piece on "Mt. Rapmore", I was reminded that I hadn't had a weekend where I listened to nothing but gangsta' rap for a while.

Two thoughts (and bear in mind that I don't listen to new rap because, frankly, I don't know where to start.)

-Isn't Funkey Cold Medina just a dirtier version of Love Potion Number 9? (And I'm not referring to the girl that Jesse and I fell in love with in January of 2003 after drinking 18-16 oz. Busch cans apiece...but rather the song by the Clovers.) Or is it just the song that inspired the UPS chapter of Beta Theta Pi to roofie every chick on campus?

-While his lifestyle and inevitable death tell a different story, when he wrote "Big Poppa", was Notorious B.I.G. a bit of a pansy? Note the following verse:

Straight up honey really I'm askin
Most of these niggaz think they be mackin but they be actin
Who they attractin with that line, "What's your name, what's your sign"?
Soon as he buy that wine I just creep up from behind
And ask what your interests are, "who you be with"?
Things to make you smile, what numbers to dial
You gon' be here for a while, I'm gon' go call my crew
You go call your crew
We can rendezvou at the bar around two

So let me get this straight---when every other rapper is talking about women fawning over him, Biggy (or is it "Big E"? I don't know...) is implying that he respects and cares for the well-being of women. Maybe that's what led to the first line of "Hit 'em Up"...

Better than Peeing in a Detergent Bucket...

Phenomenal prank by the Phillies...


Golf?

I forgot for a while that I played the sport. (Yes Matthew...SPORT. Muscle-memory, coordination and multiple skills.)

Then my friend John called me Thursday to see if I wanted to play Spyglass Hill on Sunday.

Um...YEAH?!?

Nearly perfect golf course. Horrendously difficult, amazing scenery, and a better flow than any course I've ever played. Just an absolute 5 Star course.

And I played okay...

Rough 43 on the front, but a 1-under 35 on the back. These days, 78 on a tough course is pretty good for me...

So--with that, I adjust my lists of "Best Golf Courses I've Played" and "Favorite Course to Play Every Day". (The difference?? Some courses are just amazing...but would be too difficult, too one-dimensional, too-distracting, SOMETHING that make you not want to play it every day. Conversely, there are great golf courses that don't blow your mind the first time you play it, but are perfect for daily-play.) Here goes...

Best Courses I've Played:

10. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek) (Portland-ish, OR)

9. Gold Mountain (Olympic) (Ghorst, WA)

8. Mission Hills (Old Course) (Palm Springs, CA)

7. La Cantera (San Antonio, TX)

6. Fircrest (Tacoma, WA)

5. Seattle Golf Club (Seattle, WA)

4. Aspen Lakes (Sisters, OR)

3. Spyglass Hill (Pebble Beach, CA)

2. Bandon Dunes (Bandon, OR)

1. Pacific Dunes (Bandon, OR)


Favorite Courses to Play Every Day

5. Mission Hills (Palm Springs, CA)

4. Bermuda Dunes (Bermuda Dunes, CA)

3. Seattle GC (Seattle, WA)

2. Fircrest (Tacoma, WA)

1. Spyglass Hill (Pebble Beach, CA)


Least Favorite Golf Courses

2. Sahalee (East-Hell, WA)

1. Salishan (Salishan, OR)


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Skaw--I'm using your idea tomorrow...not to worry...

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