What's there to talk about in the sports world on this, the 12th day of October?
Hmmm....
In the NFL, you got some surprise teams on the good side (Lions, Bills, Niners), some on the bad side (Eagles, Falcons, Jets), dominant QBs and the defending champs looking every bit the part so far this year.
In college football, the SEC is once again making waves, with a November matchup between LSU and Alabama acting almost as a play-in game for the BCS championship in January. Also in this neck of the woods, you have the already bowl-eligible Illinois, 6-0 and facing Theeeeeeeeeee Reeling Ohio State Buckeyes.
In baseball, the playoffs have some exciting teams still left. Personally, I'd love to see a Verlander vs. Carpenter matchup in a week with a World Series game on the line.
Hockey season just opened, so for those into hockey, there's that.
So what about basketball? Yeah, not getting your blood bubbling that they're locked out?
I'm sure there are those diehard fans that are missing the sport and will miss watching the season from November through April, but when is the NBA our primary focus at this time of the year anyways? Most NBA fans I know are fans of one of the above sports more. I haven't heard much complaining about the NBA getting locked out, potentially for an entire season.
I also got a couple gambling friends who will be missing NBA if it's not in session, especially for the day-to-day fix that NBA feeds for gamblers. Look at it as a way to save some money, gents.
I don't mind a shortened season (50 games like 1998-99), since it will make the regular season games mean more. I would be disappointed if the season was cancelled, but my expectation of the season being done for is making it easier to deal with that possibility.
When the dark days of sports are accompanied by the dark days of winter in February and the Packers finish repeating as NFL champions, that's when most of us will notice the lull in the sports world and the sports depression will set in. If you're an NBA fan, I predict this is when the lack of NBA will affect you the most.
In the meantime, enjoy the best sports month of the year in the best weather month of the year.
Go Niners and Illini.
10/08/2011
Life's a Pitch: MLB Playoffs Thus Far and LCS Predictions
Everyone remember the commercial from the 90s in which Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are conversing about hitting home runs, with the infamous "Chicks dig the longball" quote? In case you don't, here it is for your viewing pleasure:
Needless to say, home runs have been a fascination with fans since the days of Babe Ruth blasting more home runs than entire teams would in a year.
Sure, I like a good home run every now and then. But if you give me what we saw in the 3 winner-take-all games so far in the postseason, I'll trade that for a high scoring game anytime.
Between the Game 5s played in New York, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, there were a total of 11 runs scored between the 6 teams. Here are the totals of the starting pitchers of those games (including Ivan Nova, who was pulled after 2 innings due to an injury):
12 IPs, 11 H, 4 BB, 3 ER, 10Ks (Ariz/Mil)
17 IPs, 9 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 10Ks (StL/Phil)
7 IPs, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 7Ks (NYY/Det)
That's a combined 36 IPs, with 28 hits and 7 walks allowed (WHIP under 1.00), with 7 ERs surrendered (ERA under 2.00) and 27 strikeouts. An average of 6 innings pitched (higher if not for Nova), 1 walk, 5 hits and 1 run allowed, with 5 Ks in those outings for the six pitchers.
Stuff your 12-9 Mile High games in a sack mister - I'll take my 3-2 and 1-0 games all day, especially on the game's highest stage.
LCS Predictions
As everyone who watches baseball knows, it is one of the hardest sports to predict. That's why when I bet baseball, I usually just stick with total run bets. I don't see these LCSes any easier to predict.
I think the Tigers are going to need to win both of Verlander's starts to win this series. I think they'll end up splitting his starts and the Rangers win in 6. The Rangers have a little more depth with pitching and bullpen, especially now that they are using Ogando out of the pen. I think their lineups are both devastating, but as the playoffs have shown, good pitching will usually beat good hitting.
The Cardinals have made a tremendous September push to get to where they are now. However, with Carpenter, who pitched a shutout last night to get the Cardinals to the NLCS, likely only getting one start in the first 5-6 games of the series, I like the pitching that the Brewers can throw out there more. I like the Brewers to win in 6 games as well. With both of these teams knowing each other well (played 18 games in the regular season, splitting them evenly), I expect a very competitive series with the victor scoring less than 4 runs in several of the games.
Since my predictions have been way off so far this year, you Cards and Tigers fans can thank me for your World Series berths in the next 10 days.
Needless to say, home runs have been a fascination with fans since the days of Babe Ruth blasting more home runs than entire teams would in a year.
Sure, I like a good home run every now and then. But if you give me what we saw in the 3 winner-take-all games so far in the postseason, I'll trade that for a high scoring game anytime.
Between the Game 5s played in New York, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, there were a total of 11 runs scored between the 6 teams. Here are the totals of the starting pitchers of those games (including Ivan Nova, who was pulled after 2 innings due to an injury):
12 IPs, 11 H, 4 BB, 3 ER, 10Ks (Ariz/Mil)
17 IPs, 9 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 10Ks (StL/Phil)
7 IPs, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 ER, 7Ks (NYY/Det)
That's a combined 36 IPs, with 28 hits and 7 walks allowed (WHIP under 1.00), with 7 ERs surrendered (ERA under 2.00) and 27 strikeouts. An average of 6 innings pitched (higher if not for Nova), 1 walk, 5 hits and 1 run allowed, with 5 Ks in those outings for the six pitchers.
Stuff your 12-9 Mile High games in a sack mister - I'll take my 3-2 and 1-0 games all day, especially on the game's highest stage.
LCS Predictions
As everyone who watches baseball knows, it is one of the hardest sports to predict. That's why when I bet baseball, I usually just stick with total run bets. I don't see these LCSes any easier to predict.
I think the Tigers are going to need to win both of Verlander's starts to win this series. I think they'll end up splitting his starts and the Rangers win in 6. The Rangers have a little more depth with pitching and bullpen, especially now that they are using Ogando out of the pen. I think their lineups are both devastating, but as the playoffs have shown, good pitching will usually beat good hitting.
The Cardinals have made a tremendous September push to get to where they are now. However, with Carpenter, who pitched a shutout last night to get the Cardinals to the NLCS, likely only getting one start in the first 5-6 games of the series, I like the pitching that the Brewers can throw out there more. I like the Brewers to win in 6 games as well. With both of these teams knowing each other well (played 18 games in the regular season, splitting them evenly), I expect a very competitive series with the victor scoring less than 4 runs in several of the games.
Since my predictions have been way off so far this year, you Cards and Tigers fans can thank me for your World Series berths in the next 10 days.
Alls Well That Ends: The Wirtz Effect and How a Death Can Help a Business
News just broke that Al Davis has died. My condolences to him and his family.
As far as his business goes, it might not be the worst thing to happen. In fact, it may help them out greatly, if the Bill Wirtz Effect comes into play.
As many Chicago Blackhawks fans remember all too well, the mismanagement of their beloved team caused the team to be an afterthought at best in one of the biggest hockey markets in America, and of course, one of the Original Six teams. Wirtz, notoriously known by many as "Dollar Bill", was considered by many to be the lynch pin behind this terrible stretch of Chicago hockey.
This stretch of time he was president (over 4 decades), he banned home games from being played on TV - for fear of fans not going to the games if they were able to stay home and watch them. I never understood this reasoning, seeing as though just about every team in every sport shows their teams' home games (I know that the NFL has restrictions on showing home games in markets where a game has not sold a certain percentage of tickets). If he was so smart in the business world with liquor distribution and real estate, you figured he might have seen other pro franchises having no problem with this.
Anyways, we all know the Blackhawks' story - they've become relevant again. People actually want to watch them now. Through their actions, the Wirtz kids have amended their father's wrongdoings to the franchise by promoting the Blackhawks through the addition of home games to TV, the Winter Classic to Wrigley Field in 2009 as well as introducing a successful annual convention for Blackhawks fans to attend. This idea came from the bright mind of John McDonough, former Cubs and now Blackhawks president. They went from being to the worst ran franchise in sports to one of the best in a few short years thanks to the actions of the younger Wirtzes and McDonough. Winning a Stanley Cup for the first time in a couple generations didn't hurt things either.
Enter Al Davis. While he didn't have the extended run of no championships/championship appearances like Wirtz did, Davis has become significantly more irrelevant in the past couple decades. His run of success in the 70s and 80s has devolved into the 90s and 2000s Raiders that have been pitiful for the most part. Aside from their playoff appearances in 2002 (where their playoff run ended in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game) and 2003 (where they got slaughtered by their former coach and the Tampa Bay Bucs, not much but bad can be said about the Raiders.
Since that brief run of success, here's a list of QBs who have started for the Raiders: Rick Mirer, Marques Tuiasosopo, Kerry Collins, Andrew Walter, Aaron Brooks, Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye, and Jason Campbell. I feel like I'm missing someone...
Oh yeah, JaMarcus Russell! Say what you will about recent first overall picks being busts, but no doubt in my mind is Russell the worst first pick of all time. After three seasons with the Raiders in which he finished with a 7-18 record, he was released. But not before collecting a shit ton of money. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already burned through the money that he got from his $61 million ($32M guaranteed) contract from the Raiders in 2007.
Sadly, one of the best first round picks the Raiders made in the past 15 years was for A KICKER! Sebastian Janikowski, who recently tied the league record for longest field goal (63 yards) was a first round pick for the Raiders in 2000. A fucking kicker in the first round! This from the same team that drafted a punter (Ray Guy) as a first round pick - to date, the only punter ever drafted in the first round.
With Davis' death, I'm hoping that the Wirtz Effect happens and hopefully the Davis heirs are half as intelligent as the Wirtzes were following their dad's passing. The NFL is a lot better league when the Raiders are relevant. Davis was a great contributor to the NFL, but his time of relevance and success had passed.
Let's hope that his passing can lead to the Wirtz Effect for the Raiders and they can return to a proud franchise again.
As far as his business goes, it might not be the worst thing to happen. In fact, it may help them out greatly, if the Bill Wirtz Effect comes into play.
As many Chicago Blackhawks fans remember all too well, the mismanagement of their beloved team caused the team to be an afterthought at best in one of the biggest hockey markets in America, and of course, one of the Original Six teams. Wirtz, notoriously known by many as "Dollar Bill", was considered by many to be the lynch pin behind this terrible stretch of Chicago hockey.
This stretch of time he was president (over 4 decades), he banned home games from being played on TV - for fear of fans not going to the games if they were able to stay home and watch them. I never understood this reasoning, seeing as though just about every team in every sport shows their teams' home games (I know that the NFL has restrictions on showing home games in markets where a game has not sold a certain percentage of tickets). If he was so smart in the business world with liquor distribution and real estate, you figured he might have seen other pro franchises having no problem with this.
Anyways, we all know the Blackhawks' story - they've become relevant again. People actually want to watch them now. Through their actions, the Wirtz kids have amended their father's wrongdoings to the franchise by promoting the Blackhawks through the addition of home games to TV, the Winter Classic to Wrigley Field in 2009 as well as introducing a successful annual convention for Blackhawks fans to attend. This idea came from the bright mind of John McDonough, former Cubs and now Blackhawks president. They went from being to the worst ran franchise in sports to one of the best in a few short years thanks to the actions of the younger Wirtzes and McDonough. Winning a Stanley Cup for the first time in a couple generations didn't hurt things either.
Enter Al Davis. While he didn't have the extended run of no championships/championship appearances like Wirtz did, Davis has become significantly more irrelevant in the past couple decades. His run of success in the 70s and 80s has devolved into the 90s and 2000s Raiders that have been pitiful for the most part. Aside from their playoff appearances in 2002 (where their playoff run ended in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game) and 2003 (where they got slaughtered by their former coach and the Tampa Bay Bucs, not much but bad can be said about the Raiders.
Since that brief run of success, here's a list of QBs who have started for the Raiders: Rick Mirer, Marques Tuiasosopo, Kerry Collins, Andrew Walter, Aaron Brooks, Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper, Bruce Gradkowski, Charlie Frye, and Jason Campbell. I feel like I'm missing someone...
Oh yeah, JaMarcus Russell! Say what you will about recent first overall picks being busts, but no doubt in my mind is Russell the worst first pick of all time. After three seasons with the Raiders in which he finished with a 7-18 record, he was released. But not before collecting a shit ton of money. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already burned through the money that he got from his $61 million ($32M guaranteed) contract from the Raiders in 2007.
Sadly, one of the best first round picks the Raiders made in the past 15 years was for A KICKER! Sebastian Janikowski, who recently tied the league record for longest field goal (63 yards) was a first round pick for the Raiders in 2000. A fucking kicker in the first round! This from the same team that drafted a punter (Ray Guy) as a first round pick - to date, the only punter ever drafted in the first round.
With Davis' death, I'm hoping that the Wirtz Effect happens and hopefully the Davis heirs are half as intelligent as the Wirtzes were following their dad's passing. The NFL is a lot better league when the Raiders are relevant. Davis was a great contributor to the NFL, but his time of relevance and success had passed.
Let's hope that his passing can lead to the Wirtz Effect for the Raiders and they can return to a proud franchise again.
10/06/2011
The Wrong Remains the Same
Naturally, my 3rd attempt at a World Series is wrong. The Rays were the first team eliminated from the MLB playoffs a few days ago, with either the Tigers or Yankees soon to join them. If the Tigers (my AL team in the WS in my 2nd prediction) lose, make that 3 for 3 on failed World Series predictions.
When you're gonna be wrong, make sure you're really, really wrong.
Robin & Bat Men - The Surprise Hire on the South Side
The White Sox shocked everyone by hiring one of their former players as manager. Robin Ventura comes back to the South Side not only new to managing, but also a cherry when it comes to coaching. The shock of hiring him should begin and end with that fact.
Reinsdorf is not a fan of spending money on managers (i.e. hiring managers with experience), so anyone who has seen his history should know that Terry Francona (who would have likely commanded double what they were going to pay Ozzie) was never really a serious option.
I wish Ventura well, but he's gonna need some help. Paging crazy Kenny Williams signing/trade.
King Wrong
Aside from my World Series predictions, other things I've been wrong on lately:
Philadelphia at Buffalo (+2.5) - So far, the theme for the Fools Gold pick has been spotting a road team (always a favorite) that has caught the public's eye as "The Team to Bet" for the week. This week, a road favorite has caught my attention all the same for this column, but for the opposite reason.
Every Sunday night or Monday morning, I always look at the next week's schedule of games and set my own lines before looking on 5dimes to see what gamblers have set the line at. Over the years, I have gotten sharp at getting close to every game on the schedule to within a point of the spread that ends up being released. The games I am far apart on the bookmakers, I will usually assess what caused the difference in line.
My line on the Bills/Eagles game had Buffalo as a 2 point favorite, so needless to say, I was shocked when the Eagles were a -2.5 point favorite in my book. Never before has there been a 1-3 team favorites to a 3-1 team when the 3-1 team is hosting, so my shock was justified in seeing the line.
However, after thinking about the Eagles' losses and actively watching two of them from beginning to end, I'm reminded of how talented the Eagles are and how close they were to being 4-0 (Vick injuries in week 2 and 3 and turnovers/missed kicks in week 4). This isn't to say that the Bills are push-overs, but I don't think their defense will be sharp enough to handle the Eagles plethora of weapons. You could say the same thing about the Patriots game, but if you watch that game, several of the interceptions were not really caused by the Bills defense but rather the Patriots receivers themselves.
I think the Eagles get back on track en route to getting back to a playoff caliber level. Eagles win by 10. This week's pick (and already booked): Philadelphia -2.5
Last week's result: Cincy covered the +3 spread in a straight-up victory of Buffalo
YTD: Fools Gold is sporting a 4-0 record. I have bet on the last three games on 5dimes (2 spreads, 1 money line) and have profited $170.
Likely Week 5 Picks
Carolina +6.5/7 vs. New Orleans - Cam Newton has rejuvenated a Panthers offense that was completely anemic last year. So far, Carolina has went 3-0-1 against the spread (the only record gamblers care about), which shows me that Carolina is improving. I thought that the Bears' defense might cause him some problems last week, but was I wrong (the wrong theme continues). I think the Panthers will keep this close and may even pull off an upset. I'm hoping to catch this line at +7.
Atlanta +6/7 vs. Green Bay - I hope to get Atlanta at +7. Matt Ryan is money at home, so spotting him a touchdown sounds more insane than betting against the Packers at this point. Falcons are a different home team and will get some revenge for their embarrassing loss to the Packers in the playoffs in January
Detroit -5 vs. Chicago - Now that the Lions have the attention of the nation, it only makes sense that they make their first Monday Night appearance in eons this week. The Bears showed themselves to be solid against Matt Ryan in Week 1, but have been shredded up by Drew Brees (270 yards, 3 TDs), Aaron Rodgers (297 yards, 3 TDs) and Cam Newton (374 yards, 1 TD). I expect Stafford to continue what he's been doing with Calvin Johnson, who has destroyed all corners and safeties that have come his way.
Other bets I am considering: Indy -2.5; NYJ +9.5. No totals have caught my eye yet.
Gambling on NFL & NCAA so far:
As always, I recommend following my picks on twitter.com/brianbolek or @brianbolek
Enjoy this week's action. I haven't decided if I'm betting any NCAA yet. Last week I held off, in part to not liking much and in part to the Buddy thing.
Good luck to your fantasy teams, bets and most importantly, your REAL teams!
When you're gonna be wrong, make sure you're really, really wrong.
Robin & Bat Men - The Surprise Hire on the South Side
The White Sox shocked everyone by hiring one of their former players as manager. Robin Ventura comes back to the South Side not only new to managing, but also a cherry when it comes to coaching. The shock of hiring him should begin and end with that fact.
Reinsdorf is not a fan of spending money on managers (i.e. hiring managers with experience), so anyone who has seen his history should know that Terry Francona (who would have likely commanded double what they were going to pay Ozzie) was never really a serious option.
I wish Ventura well, but he's gonna need some help. Paging crazy Kenny Williams signing/trade.
King Wrong
Aside from my World Series predictions, other things I've been wrong on lately:
- Detroit Lions - While I don't think they will win the NFC North, the Lions have shown to me that they are in it to win it (love me some cliches). Megatron's catch in triple coverage last week in their comeback victory against the Cowboys just goes to show you how unguardable he is. Best receiver in the league.
- San Francisco 49ers - I know it's still early, but the Niners are the only team in the NFL w/ a 2 game lead on everyone in its division. They have one of the best defenses in the league so far statistically, but their offense is horsecrap. It did shows some signs of life against the Eagles. I never would have guessed that Alex Smith would have engineered two 4th quarter comebacks for the season, yet alone back-to-back road games. Maybe there is something to Jim Harbaugh and molding quarterbacks. He's the best coach that Alex Smith has had in his career.
- Fantasy football - specifically my money leagues. In my three money leagues, I am sporting a combined 2-10 record, with my only two wins in the league that I am the commissioner. In one of the leagues, injuries have exposed lack of depth; the other 0-4 league shows mild promise, but I doubt it is any more salvageable than the other winless league. Looks like my energy of winning $ this year will come solely from my gambling pursuits.
Philadelphia at Buffalo (+2.5) - So far, the theme for the Fools Gold pick has been spotting a road team (always a favorite) that has caught the public's eye as "The Team to Bet" for the week. This week, a road favorite has caught my attention all the same for this column, but for the opposite reason.
Every Sunday night or Monday morning, I always look at the next week's schedule of games and set my own lines before looking on 5dimes to see what gamblers have set the line at. Over the years, I have gotten sharp at getting close to every game on the schedule to within a point of the spread that ends up being released. The games I am far apart on the bookmakers, I will usually assess what caused the difference in line.
My line on the Bills/Eagles game had Buffalo as a 2 point favorite, so needless to say, I was shocked when the Eagles were a -2.5 point favorite in my book. Never before has there been a 1-3 team favorites to a 3-1 team when the 3-1 team is hosting, so my shock was justified in seeing the line.
However, after thinking about the Eagles' losses and actively watching two of them from beginning to end, I'm reminded of how talented the Eagles are and how close they were to being 4-0 (Vick injuries in week 2 and 3 and turnovers/missed kicks in week 4). This isn't to say that the Bills are push-overs, but I don't think their defense will be sharp enough to handle the Eagles plethora of weapons. You could say the same thing about the Patriots game, but if you watch that game, several of the interceptions were not really caused by the Bills defense but rather the Patriots receivers themselves.
I think the Eagles get back on track en route to getting back to a playoff caliber level. Eagles win by 10. This week's pick (and already booked): Philadelphia -2.5
Last week's result: Cincy covered the +3 spread in a straight-up victory of Buffalo
YTD: Fools Gold is sporting a 4-0 record. I have bet on the last three games on 5dimes (2 spreads, 1 money line) and have profited $170.
Likely Week 5 Picks
Carolina +6.5/7 vs. New Orleans - Cam Newton has rejuvenated a Panthers offense that was completely anemic last year. So far, Carolina has went 3-0-1 against the spread (the only record gamblers care about), which shows me that Carolina is improving. I thought that the Bears' defense might cause him some problems last week, but was I wrong (the wrong theme continues). I think the Panthers will keep this close and may even pull off an upset. I'm hoping to catch this line at +7.
Atlanta +6/7 vs. Green Bay - I hope to get Atlanta at +7. Matt Ryan is money at home, so spotting him a touchdown sounds more insane than betting against the Packers at this point. Falcons are a different home team and will get some revenge for their embarrassing loss to the Packers in the playoffs in January
Detroit -5 vs. Chicago - Now that the Lions have the attention of the nation, it only makes sense that they make their first Monday Night appearance in eons this week. The Bears showed themselves to be solid against Matt Ryan in Week 1, but have been shredded up by Drew Brees (270 yards, 3 TDs), Aaron Rodgers (297 yards, 3 TDs) and Cam Newton (374 yards, 1 TD). I expect Stafford to continue what he's been doing with Calvin Johnson, who has destroyed all corners and safeties that have come his way.
Other bets I am considering: Indy -2.5; NYJ +9.5. No totals have caught my eye yet.
Gambling on NFL & NCAA so far:
| Week 4 | Week 5 |
| NFL 3-5, -$75 | NCAA 0-0 |
| Totals 0-4, -$220 | Totals 0-0 |
| MLs 0-0 | MLs 0-0 |
| Spreads 3-1, $145 | Spreads 0-0 |
| YTD: 18-12-3, +$314 | YTD: 8-12, -$325 |
| Totals: 7-5-1, +$127 | Totals: 0-3, -$220 |
| MLs: 2-0, +$126 | MLs: 0-3, -$170 |
| Spreads: 9-7-2, +81 | Spreads: 8-6, +$65 |
As always, I recommend following my picks on twitter.com/brianbolek or @brianbolek
Enjoy this week's action. I haven't decided if I'm betting any NCAA yet. Last week I held off, in part to not liking much and in part to the Buddy thing.
Good luck to your fantasy teams, bets and most importantly, your REAL teams!
10/05/2011
up-Date (Chapter 6)
About 6 weeks back, I ventured into the online dating world. I had no idea what would come of it, but I figured it'd be better than continuing the same failed path that I had taken for the most part of the past two years before that.
Outside of meeting girls through friends, I never had any luck with meeting new people. A new path was necessary.
As you read in Chapters 2, 3 and especially chapter 5, I chronicled dates that I went on. With Chapter 5, I did not give it as much lip service because I wanted to respect the privacy of the date in addition to not exposing myself as much as I did in previous blogs.
In any regard, I feel comfortable giving a two week update in my first relationship from the dating site. She's an awesome girl. Lives in the city, but not afraid to come visit the suburbs (a necessary for this to work).
(to think I almost didn't message her because I figured most city people would not want to maintain a relationship with someone who lives in the burbs!)
She's met a few people so far and seems to get along well with those that she has met. She got to meet Buddy in the week before we put him down and has been a great help in getting me through it.
She has great taste in music - not like most girls I know who seem to like country and country only. If you're a girl and reading this, don't get wound up by this generalization! This summer, it seemed like every girl I knew went to country music concerts this summer and country music concerts only.
She knows how to cook, works a steady job that she loves, and her friends and mom who just met me love me. Who could blame them? Seriously, I'm awesome.
But seriously, I can't remember being this happy in a while, even amid the tragedy I just experienced.
I figured I'd give all of you an update on it, even if it was just a short update, and hopefully you'll get a chance to meet the new lady soon.
Outside of meeting girls through friends, I never had any luck with meeting new people. A new path was necessary.
As you read in Chapters 2, 3 and especially chapter 5, I chronicled dates that I went on. With Chapter 5, I did not give it as much lip service because I wanted to respect the privacy of the date in addition to not exposing myself as much as I did in previous blogs.
In any regard, I feel comfortable giving a two week update in my first relationship from the dating site. She's an awesome girl. Lives in the city, but not afraid to come visit the suburbs (a necessary for this to work).
(to think I almost didn't message her because I figured most city people would not want to maintain a relationship with someone who lives in the burbs!)
She's met a few people so far and seems to get along well with those that she has met. She got to meet Buddy in the week before we put him down and has been a great help in getting me through it.
She has great taste in music - not like most girls I know who seem to like country and country only. If you're a girl and reading this, don't get wound up by this generalization! This summer, it seemed like every girl I knew went to country music concerts this summer and country music concerts only.
She knows how to cook, works a steady job that she loves, and her friends and mom who just met me love me. Who could blame them? Seriously, I'm awesome.
But seriously, I can't remember being this happy in a while, even amid the tragedy I just experienced.
I figured I'd give all of you an update on it, even if it was just a short update, and hopefully you'll get a chance to meet the new lady soon.
10/01/2011
Some Buddy to Love: A Eulogy to This Man's Best Friend
It started with a kid and his puppy.
August 1996. The day after our annual family trip to Watersmeet, MI, our family decided to go to Archer Puppies, the place where my mom and dad bought our Golden Retriever which they named Crimson. She was in her waning years at this time - over 15 years old, so we decided to get a second dog that would eventually be her replacement.
The word "replacement" seemed laughable at the time. How could any dog replace Crimmy? She was there by my side when I was born in the UP of Michigan and was a loyal, loving dog throughout my life.
The dog we selected was the last of his litter. We wanted to get a similar dog to Crimson - a mutt with some retriever/lab qualities to it, and this dog stood out with his piercing green eyes.
Now, what to name him? A few names were tossed out - Chipper and Buddy were the finalists. We settled on Buddy - original, I know.
Any worries we had about Crimson and Buddy getting along were unwarranted, as the puppy kept out of the way of the queen for the most part. For the few months they co-existed, Buddy was still in his cage days as a pup. These days included a cliche coming to life. I left CCD homework on top of his cage, which he actually chewed - giving me the chance to legitimately use the excuse "My dog ate my homework."
When Crimson was put down in October of that year, we were all devastated. The dog that all of us grew up with was suddenly gone. I just knew that the connection I had with her would be impossible to match with the new pup.
Bud - Wiser: My High School Years
As he aged, so my love of the dog grew. I loved taking him for walks around the neighbor. My favorite spot was going to El Morro Park, where I'd go to talk to some girls from my class that worked there. Bringing the dog surely didn't help my chances with the girls, unfortunately. Nevertheless, our outdoor activities together as well as teaching him tricks (one of my favorites was catching the treat that was balanced on his big nose) made me happy to know that Buddy was a suitable replacement for Crimson.
College Days & the Introduction of Another Dog
Going to the University of Illinois in August of 2001 was the first time that I would go without having a dog around my living area. I knew that college would be tough enough dealing with the adjustments of a new living situation and tougher classes, among other thing. Living without a dog was definitely difficult to do.
Visits back home ensured me that my Buddy never forgot who I was. His cries could be heard and curly tail could be seen wagging furiously as I stepped out of the mini van after my parents picked me up from school. Those weekends spent at home were often spent hanging out with friends, but while at home, my best friend never left my side. It was always bittersweet saying good bye to him and the rest of the family as I left the house.
During my summer break of 2004, the time preceding what would be my senior year at UI, my sister wanted to get another puppy - a beagle mix that we named Pixie. If she did, my dad swore that she would have to take care of it - (editor's note: the next day, he was feeding her and picking up her crap. Dad Fail). I was skeptical of getting a new dog and remembered that one of the main reasons we got a second dog last time was because the older one was on its way out. I was not on board with the second dog idea, and neither was Buddy at first.
But after a little bit of time together, the dogs became compadres, with Pixie asserting herself as the clear Alpha dog. Soon after, the dogs got in the habit of cleaning each other's ears - a habit that continued into 2011. Buddy would lick her ears after a play fight that they'd have in the living room, while Pixie waited for her brother to be passed out on the floor to gnaw on his ears for 15-30 minutes at a time.
From the time before we got dog 2 to the time Pixie became an active presence in his life, Buddy's quality of life definitely improved. Each of them became dependent on the other, so much so that neither dog feels comfortable going outside to the bathroom without the other. Despite her occasional bitchiness to the old man, Pixie was a great addition to our household.
The Later Years
In the past couple years, there were a few instances where we wondered how much longer the Bolek's Best Friend was gonna make it. I'd be going on facebook and sharing my worries about his demise, only for him to tell me, "Buzz off, I'm great" with his eventual recovery from whatever the ailment at the time may have been. Hell, there were a lot of times where he'd be the one to initiate a fight with Pixie - putting a big smile on my face anytime he would try attacking her. He was a gentle giant with her though, so never were there any injuries from this ever.
The closest I thought we were to his demise was in June of 2010, when he had an inner ear problem (diagnosed as vestibular disease) that severely affected his balance. Luckily, the medication that we gave to him was able to curb his balance problem, and he was back to his old dog self.
With each walk I took him on, I always wondered if each walk that I would take with him around the block would be my last one with him. Luckily, this year, I was able to get his old legs to hobble around the block a few times in August as I was rehabbing from my back injury suffered in July.
In the past couple of months, his quality of life has been low. Many times, you could see him struggle with walking up and down stairs, collapsing occasionally while doing this in addition to some falls while just walking around the house.
The process of discussing putting him to sleep has often left me weeping. How could we put ourselves in this position of ending our dog's life?
It's never an easy decision for a family to make - and it's no different for us. Tears are coming out as I write this. I know it's for the best - as his quality of life was nil. He could barely walk and was starting to make waste in the house - something a functioning Buddy would not do.
Reflecting
I know it was the right choice. We were all waiting for a major sign like we did when Crimson was on her last legs. In her last week, she couldn't walk and had a huge tumor on her leg. I believe she was crapping in the house too. That choice was a lot easier for the family.
Buddy could still walk, but do we want to keep watching him struggle mightily and collapse frequently as he navigated steps and could barely walk on flat ground without the chance of falling into a sitting or laying position? We couldn't keep doing that, so putting him down was the only logical option.
I never thought that Buddy could leave a legacy that could match (and in some ways, exceed) the dog before. But he did. He was always a happy dog, always loyal and always following me around. In the last couple years, he made a habit of sleeping next to my bed. He wouldn't even wake up for my dad anymore - just for when I'd roll out of bed to start my day.
In his last night with me, it was much of the same. Making it all the harder to do.
As I had imagined it in my head for years, I was able to share some Miller Lite with him (his favorite beer) the night before we put him down. He didn't finish the bowl, but he drank a decent portion of it.
I'll remember all of the walks we took, the treats I'd toss for him to catch, the tennis balls I would have him fetch (and oftentimes, the tennis balls that I ended up fetching after he got bored with it).
About thirty minutes before we brought him in, I decided that I needed one last walk around the block with him. I'm really, really, really glad I did.
He was always by my side, and he will be missed. It will be a tough thing to get through, but with the love and support of my family and friends, I know I'll be ok.
So it goes, it ended with a man and his dog.
The 5,529 days in-between, full of memories and great bonding experiences between man and dog, is an era of my life that I'll never forget.
Rest in peace, my stinky boy. You will be missed.
 |
| Rest in peace to my best friend, Buddy (1996-2011). |
August 1996. The day after our annual family trip to Watersmeet, MI, our family decided to go to Archer Puppies, the place where my mom and dad bought our Golden Retriever which they named Crimson. She was in her waning years at this time - over 15 years old, so we decided to get a second dog that would eventually be her replacement.
The word "replacement" seemed laughable at the time. How could any dog replace Crimmy? She was there by my side when I was born in the UP of Michigan and was a loyal, loving dog throughout my life.
The dog we selected was the last of his litter. We wanted to get a similar dog to Crimson - a mutt with some retriever/lab qualities to it, and this dog stood out with his piercing green eyes.
Now, what to name him? A few names were tossed out - Chipper and Buddy were the finalists. We settled on Buddy - original, I know.
Any worries we had about Crimson and Buddy getting along were unwarranted, as the puppy kept out of the way of the queen for the most part. For the few months they co-existed, Buddy was still in his cage days as a pup. These days included a cliche coming to life. I left CCD homework on top of his cage, which he actually chewed - giving me the chance to legitimately use the excuse "My dog ate my homework."
When Crimson was put down in October of that year, we were all devastated. The dog that all of us grew up with was suddenly gone. I just knew that the connection I had with her would be impossible to match with the new pup.
Bud - Wiser: My High School Years
 |
| About as mean as he could look. |
As he aged, so my love of the dog grew. I loved taking him for walks around the neighbor. My favorite spot was going to El Morro Park, where I'd go to talk to some girls from my class that worked there. Bringing the dog surely didn't help my chances with the girls, unfortunately. Nevertheless, our outdoor activities together as well as teaching him tricks (one of my favorites was catching the treat that was balanced on his big nose) made me happy to know that Buddy was a suitable replacement for Crimson.
 |
| Me and Spencer chillin' with a younger Buddy |
College Days & the Introduction of Another Dog
Going to the University of Illinois in August of 2001 was the first time that I would go without having a dog around my living area. I knew that college would be tough enough dealing with the adjustments of a new living situation and tougher classes, among other thing. Living without a dog was definitely difficult to do.
Visits back home ensured me that my Buddy never forgot who I was. His cries could be heard and curly tail could be seen wagging furiously as I stepped out of the mini van after my parents picked me up from school. Those weekends spent at home were often spent hanging out with friends, but while at home, my best friend never left my side. It was always bittersweet saying good bye to him and the rest of the family as I left the house.
During my summer break of 2004, the time preceding what would be my senior year at UI, my sister wanted to get another puppy - a beagle mix that we named Pixie. If she did, my dad swore that she would have to take care of it - (editor's note: the next day, he was feeding her and picking up her crap. Dad Fail). I was skeptical of getting a new dog and remembered that one of the main reasons we got a second dog last time was because the older one was on its way out. I was not on board with the second dog idea, and neither was Buddy at first.
 |
| It didn't take long for Buddy and Pixie to become friends. |
But after a little bit of time together, the dogs became compadres, with Pixie asserting herself as the clear Alpha dog. Soon after, the dogs got in the habit of cleaning each other's ears - a habit that continued into 2011. Buddy would lick her ears after a play fight that they'd have in the living room, while Pixie waited for her brother to be passed out on the floor to gnaw on his ears for 15-30 minutes at a time.
 |
| A common sight through their years together. |
From the time before we got dog 2 to the time Pixie became an active presence in his life, Buddy's quality of life definitely improved. Each of them became dependent on the other, so much so that neither dog feels comfortable going outside to the bathroom without the other. Despite her occasional bitchiness to the old man, Pixie was a great addition to our household.
The Later Years
In the past couple years, there were a few instances where we wondered how much longer the Bolek's Best Friend was gonna make it. I'd be going on facebook and sharing my worries about his demise, only for him to tell me, "Buzz off, I'm great" with his eventual recovery from whatever the ailment at the time may have been. Hell, there were a lot of times where he'd be the one to initiate a fight with Pixie - putting a big smile on my face anytime he would try attacking her. He was a gentle giant with her though, so never were there any injuries from this ever.
 |
| Buddy at the end of one of our many poker games in the garage. He always wanted to be by people. Don't worry - we drank those beers. He may have had a sip or two though. |
The closest I thought we were to his demise was in June of 2010, when he had an inner ear problem (diagnosed as vestibular disease) that severely affected his balance. Luckily, the medication that we gave to him was able to curb his balance problem, and he was back to his old dog self.
With each walk I took him on, I always wondered if each walk that I would take with him around the block would be my last one with him. Luckily, this year, I was able to get his old legs to hobble around the block a few times in August as I was rehabbing from my back injury suffered in July.
In the past couple of months, his quality of life has been low. Many times, you could see him struggle with walking up and down stairs, collapsing occasionally while doing this in addition to some falls while just walking around the house.
The process of discussing putting him to sleep has often left me weeping. How could we put ourselves in this position of ending our dog's life?
It's never an easy decision for a family to make - and it's no different for us. Tears are coming out as I write this. I know it's for the best - as his quality of life was nil. He could barely walk and was starting to make waste in the house - something a functioning Buddy would not do.
Reflecting
I know it was the right choice. We were all waiting for a major sign like we did when Crimson was on her last legs. In her last week, she couldn't walk and had a huge tumor on her leg. I believe she was crapping in the house too. That choice was a lot easier for the family.
 |
| Always looked so happy. |
Buddy could still walk, but do we want to keep watching him struggle mightily and collapse frequently as he navigated steps and could barely walk on flat ground without the chance of falling into a sitting or laying position? We couldn't keep doing that, so putting him down was the only logical option.
I never thought that Buddy could leave a legacy that could match (and in some ways, exceed) the dog before. But he did. He was always a happy dog, always loyal and always following me around. In the last couple years, he made a habit of sleeping next to my bed. He wouldn't even wake up for my dad anymore - just for when I'd roll out of bed to start my day.
 |
| Great picture taken by Lauren here. |
In his last night with me, it was much of the same. Making it all the harder to do.
As I had imagined it in my head for years, I was able to share some Miller Lite with him (his favorite beer) the night before we put him down. He didn't finish the bowl, but he drank a decent portion of it.
 |
| I made sure to give him as loving of a last hug as I could - much like my sis's hug here. |
I'll remember all of the walks we took, the treats I'd toss for him to catch, the tennis balls I would have him fetch (and oftentimes, the tennis balls that I ended up fetching after he got bored with it).
About thirty minutes before we brought him in, I decided that I needed one last walk around the block with him. I'm really, really, really glad I did.
He was always by my side, and he will be missed. It will be a tough thing to get through, but with the love and support of my family and friends, I know I'll be ok.
So it goes, it ended with a man and his dog.
 |
| The sun will always shine bright on this old guy. |
The 5,529 days in-between, full of memories and great bonding experiences between man and dog, is an era of my life that I'll never forget.
Rest in peace, my stinky boy. You will be missed.
9/29/2011
Another Lesson Learned & NFL Week 4 Picks
As readers may know, I bombed completely on NCAA picks and continued my success in the NFL.
Between the footballs, I am 23-19-3 and up $64. Ever since my opening night Under debacle, I haven't lost a bet when wagering on over/under totals (7-0-1) - leaving off exactly where I was last year.
One lesson learned from this past week is very simple: Don't bet on teams that you know absolutely nothing about.
I know this sounds simple and common sense, but sometimes reading about one of these teams and how they are perceived by smart handicappers can get a novice like me to throw money on a team. This happened a few times this past Saturday with college football. Outside of my viewing of Big Ten games, prime time/isolated games and matchups featuring highly regarded teams, I know very little about college football. My betting angles are highly determined by certain guys on the advice site I use (covers.com) that I trust.
It's always better to bet on teams/games where you've watched these teams at least once or twice and read some pieces on teams. There's too many games for people to be experts on every single team/conference in the nation. I always believed that studying up on a smaller conference that doesn't get bet heavily would be the best way to make a living gambling, but I've never gotten around to following my advice on that.
Blog note: I haven't narrowed down any NCAA picks yet, so I'll save that for tomorrow or Saturday morning. I was just too damn bored to put off writing my NFL picks blog for the week.
Fools Gold Pick of the Week - NFL Week 4
The Fools Gold pick moved to 3-0 with an ugly Seahawks winning (which I happened to bet the money line on instead of taking the points). Most of the time, I'll take the points but I felt confident that Arizona wouldn't win - yet alone cover. Looking to make this 4-0, so here goes nothing:
Buffalo -3/3.5 at Cincinnati - How could Buffalo only be three point favorites coming off of an incredible come-from-behind victory against their division rivals (New England) and Cincy coming off of a dismal performance against an equally dismal team (San Fran)? One word: letdown.
Buffalo was pulling an 0-fer against New England in their past 15 games against them and was determined to end that streak - even after they spotted Brady and company three touchdowns before the last-second chip shot field goal. A mental letdown is to be expected against a non-divisional opponent.
Whether it be Cedric Benson (who is awaiting word on his suspension at the moment) or Bernard Scott, I expect the Bengals to be able to run the ball like they did last year against the Bills (Benson went for 25 carries and 124 yards in a home loss).
Also, the Bengals come into Week 4 with the third-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed. Granted, these teams they faced aren't necessarily offensive juggernauts (Bengals, Broncos, Niners), but I do think they'll keep this lower-scoring than what the Bills have been comfortable with so far this year.
I am aware of the loss that the Bengals had in this matchup last year. I just believe that at this moment in the season, the Bills are due for a stinker. The circumstances seem ripe for one.
Likely betting: Cincy +3 (hoping to get it at 3.5 by game time). YTD: 3-0 (2-0 on games I've bet of these Fools picks)
Other NFL Picks I'm scoping
Boy, would I love to keep this 12-2-2 run of the past two weeks going. I know I have a chance myself to encounter a Buffalo Bills letdown, but no reason to think that I can't continue to progress as a smart NFL gambler.
Houston -3.5 vs. Pittsburgh - Already booked. My book has fluctuated anywhere between 3.5 and 4.5 for this game, and I don't think it's going to get down to the key -3 number, so I figured I'd lock it in now. I love this matchup for Houston's pass attack against Pittsburgh's average secondary. Also love the matchup for Houston's pass rush vs. Pittsburgh's weakened line, which got burned alive against the Colts last week.
Chicago -6 vs. Carolina - I think Carolina (particularly Newton) is in for a rude awakening against a Bears defense that was made to look average against the Packers - this tends to happen against all teams that play the Packers. Carolina's running game has been non-existent so far, and I think the Bears defense will be able to exploit this and force a couple of turnovers on Newton. A defensive score would not shock me. I think the Bears win this by 14+. Also considering the under (currently at 42)
San Fran +9 at Philly - I think this will be the third game in a row that Vick does not finish a game. Their offensive line is pedestrian - Patrick Willis and company are licking their chops at building off of their defensive domination against the Bengals. Normally, I'd be worried about the west coast team travelling east, but San Fran stayed out east after their tilt in Ohio. I think Vernon Davis will finally become a consistent part of the San Fran offense that they desperately need after his 100+ yard performance. I think this stays within the spread (hoping it climbs to 10 for a little more insurance), with a mild chance of a San Fran upset.
NYJ +3.5 at Baltimore - Mangold should be coming back this week - an important component of the Jets' offensive line. They'll need him against Ngata and the rest of the Ravens pass rush. I think this will be the defensive, smash mouth battle that the NFL has been lacking this year. Getting the half point here will be key - I think this will be a game decided by a field goal one way or the other.
Other sides I am considering: Seattle +4, Tennessee pick'em
Totals I am considering: Phil/SF Under 44, Chi/Car Under 42, Pitt/Hou Over 45, Balt/NYJ Under 42.5
Check www.twitter.com/brianbolek (or Twitter @brianbolek) for updates
I may or may not end up posting an NCAA picks blog and may just post my plays on Twitter. Stay tuned.
Start your weekends off right, my friends and family. Love you all.
| Week 3 | Week 4 |
| NFL 7-1, +394 | NCAA 2-8, -$400 |
| Totals 3-0, $213 | Totals 0-1, -$110 |
| MLs 2-0, $126 | MLs 0-3, -$170 |
| Spreads, 2-1, $55 | Spreads 2-4, -$120 |
| YTD: 15-7-3, +$389 | YTD: 8-12, -$325 |
| Totals: 7-1-1, +$327 | Totals: 0-3, -$220 |
| MLs: 2-0, +$126 | MLs: 0-3, -$170 |
| Spreads: 6-6-2, -$64 | Spreads: 8-6, +$65 |
Between the footballs, I am 23-19-3 and up $64. Ever since my opening night Under debacle, I haven't lost a bet when wagering on over/under totals (7-0-1) - leaving off exactly where I was last year.
One lesson learned from this past week is very simple: Don't bet on teams that you know absolutely nothing about.
I know this sounds simple and common sense, but sometimes reading about one of these teams and how they are perceived by smart handicappers can get a novice like me to throw money on a team. This happened a few times this past Saturday with college football. Outside of my viewing of Big Ten games, prime time/isolated games and matchups featuring highly regarded teams, I know very little about college football. My betting angles are highly determined by certain guys on the advice site I use (covers.com) that I trust.
It's always better to bet on teams/games where you've watched these teams at least once or twice and read some pieces on teams. There's too many games for people to be experts on every single team/conference in the nation. I always believed that studying up on a smaller conference that doesn't get bet heavily would be the best way to make a living gambling, but I've never gotten around to following my advice on that.
Blog note: I haven't narrowed down any NCAA picks yet, so I'll save that for tomorrow or Saturday morning. I was just too damn bored to put off writing my NFL picks blog for the week.
Fools Gold Pick of the Week - NFL Week 4
The Fools Gold pick moved to 3-0 with an ugly Seahawks winning (which I happened to bet the money line on instead of taking the points). Most of the time, I'll take the points but I felt confident that Arizona wouldn't win - yet alone cover. Looking to make this 4-0, so here goes nothing:
Buffalo -3/3.5 at Cincinnati - How could Buffalo only be three point favorites coming off of an incredible come-from-behind victory against their division rivals (New England) and Cincy coming off of a dismal performance against an equally dismal team (San Fran)? One word: letdown.
Buffalo was pulling an 0-fer against New England in their past 15 games against them and was determined to end that streak - even after they spotted Brady and company three touchdowns before the last-second chip shot field goal. A mental letdown is to be expected against a non-divisional opponent.
Whether it be Cedric Benson (who is awaiting word on his suspension at the moment) or Bernard Scott, I expect the Bengals to be able to run the ball like they did last year against the Bills (Benson went for 25 carries and 124 yards in a home loss).
Also, the Bengals come into Week 4 with the third-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed. Granted, these teams they faced aren't necessarily offensive juggernauts (Bengals, Broncos, Niners), but I do think they'll keep this lower-scoring than what the Bills have been comfortable with so far this year.
I am aware of the loss that the Bengals had in this matchup last year. I just believe that at this moment in the season, the Bills are due for a stinker. The circumstances seem ripe for one.
Likely betting: Cincy +3 (hoping to get it at 3.5 by game time). YTD: 3-0 (2-0 on games I've bet of these Fools picks)
Other NFL Picks I'm scoping
Boy, would I love to keep this 12-2-2 run of the past two weeks going. I know I have a chance myself to encounter a Buffalo Bills letdown, but no reason to think that I can't continue to progress as a smart NFL gambler.
Houston -3.5 vs. Pittsburgh - Already booked. My book has fluctuated anywhere between 3.5 and 4.5 for this game, and I don't think it's going to get down to the key -3 number, so I figured I'd lock it in now. I love this matchup for Houston's pass attack against Pittsburgh's average secondary. Also love the matchup for Houston's pass rush vs. Pittsburgh's weakened line, which got burned alive against the Colts last week.
Chicago -6 vs. Carolina - I think Carolina (particularly Newton) is in for a rude awakening against a Bears defense that was made to look average against the Packers - this tends to happen against all teams that play the Packers. Carolina's running game has been non-existent so far, and I think the Bears defense will be able to exploit this and force a couple of turnovers on Newton. A defensive score would not shock me. I think the Bears win this by 14+. Also considering the under (currently at 42)
San Fran +9 at Philly - I think this will be the third game in a row that Vick does not finish a game. Their offensive line is pedestrian - Patrick Willis and company are licking their chops at building off of their defensive domination against the Bengals. Normally, I'd be worried about the west coast team travelling east, but San Fran stayed out east after their tilt in Ohio. I think Vernon Davis will finally become a consistent part of the San Fran offense that they desperately need after his 100+ yard performance. I think this stays within the spread (hoping it climbs to 10 for a little more insurance), with a mild chance of a San Fran upset.
NYJ +3.5 at Baltimore - Mangold should be coming back this week - an important component of the Jets' offensive line. They'll need him against Ngata and the rest of the Ravens pass rush. I think this will be the defensive, smash mouth battle that the NFL has been lacking this year. Getting the half point here will be key - I think this will be a game decided by a field goal one way or the other.
Other sides I am considering: Seattle +4, Tennessee pick'em
Totals I am considering: Phil/SF Under 44, Chi/Car Under 42, Pitt/Hou Over 45, Balt/NYJ Under 42.5
Check www.twitter.com/brianbolek (or Twitter @brianbolek) for updates
I may or may not end up posting an NCAA picks blog and may just post my plays on Twitter. Stay tuned.
Start your weekends off right, my friends and family. Love you all.
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