The Wannie Factor

Last week, I was ever so excited that I had figured out the Dave Wannstedt equation and could now wager successfully on his Pitt Panthers. This week, the harsh reality of life with Wannie has returned. Same story with the Flighty Illini.

I have a headache.

Minnesota +1 @ Purdue
Minn 17, Purdue 6
Minnesota is a team on the rise. Purdue is floundering. Northwestern, coming off a bad loss and having just sustained injuries to key offensive players, is next on Minnesota's schedule.
"W"
Illinois –2.5 @ Wisconsin
Wisconsin 27, Illinois 17
...particularly when Juice Williams behaves.
Williams was intercepted three times. Illinois loses. Duh.
"L"
Rutgers @ Pittsburgh –9.5
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey 54, Pitt 34

Pitt is real good, Rutgers isn’t.

There's some kind of bad mojo here, like an ex-Cub factor or a 100 year Cubs factor, or let's just call it the Wannie Factor. Until Wannie's Pitt Panthers presented themselves, the biggest scoring uprising from dear old Rutgers in 2008 was 38 points, said total being amassed against renowned football powerhouse Morgan State. Morgan State, I learned, is located on the northeast side of Baltimore. From the Morgan State website: The University awards more bachelor's degrees to African-American students than any campus in Maryland.

So, there.

"L"
Notre Dame -11 @ Washington

University of SoBend 33, Tyrone's Washington 7
They are, however, going to go out and kick their old coach’s butt on Saturday.

Tyrone appears to have executed the Peter Principle illustrated, twice. I thought that Willingham had been done a disservice when he was sent packing by the University of South Bend. Turns out they were cutting their losses. When Washington lets him go, I don't see anyone rushing in to hire TW.

"W"

Two up and two down for the week. Boring. Still stuck at three under.

Football Week 9

This week, #9, finds us at 3 fewer wins than losses as the weekend starts, and having had a pretty darn good week last week just to get this close to where I began. Here’s what I think for this week.

Minnesota +1 @ Purdue
Minnesota appears to have an edge here in what began as a pick ‘em game. The edge is that they aren’t Purdue. Purdue has played some quality teams and performed relatively well. They lost respectably to Ohio State and Penn State before getting blown out by Northwestern. The infighting has begun. They’re 2-5 and have 4 consecutive losses. My nickel says Minnesota hands the Boilers another loss.

Illinois –2.5 @ Wisconsin
The Illini can play with anyone when they’re playing within themselves, particularly when Juice Williams behaves. I believe that the whipping’ they put on Indiana last week may have shown the players what the coach knows, follow instructions and win big. Wisconsin has shown nothing, double nothing given that they were expected to play with the big boys this season. The Badgers, like the Boilers, have lost 4 in a row. Picking two teams to lose their fifth in a row, whew, no guts no glory.

Rutgers @ Pittsburgh –9.5
I’m flush with success, having picked a Wannie winner last week. This one seems simple to me: Pitt is real good, Rutgers isn’t.

Notre Dame -11 @ Washington
I am violating two policies here. I do not like to wager on the University of South Bend. I do not like to acknowledge them, period. They are, however, going to go out and kick their old coach’s butt on Saturday.

That is U of W Stadium at the left. Is that as cool as it gets, or what?

That’s it. Four games, that’s all I have.

Grey's and Gray's

Another one of the occurrences that makes life at my house challenging on a regular basis is the intrusion of the absurd TV hospital inmates from Grey's Anatomy. These wannabe doctors spend inordinate amounts of time screwing up, screwing each other, whining, crying, cohabitating, being amazed by day to day hospital stuff and behaving pretty much like you would expect a group of high school sophomores to behave were they turned loose in you local hospital. Mrs. PFOS is a loyal watcher of Grey's Anatomy, so the big screen ushers the precocious doctor-kids into our house every week.

Were these people real, I have to think that the hospital would be devoid of patients, loaded with lawsuits and under attack by regulators. In the espisode to which I was most recently subjected, two female m.d.'s launched their new career as lesbians, one of the others was reading a manual to diagnose a patient who was flopping around on a gurney like a crazed carp, two others were trading a tumor patient back and forth...I would run, run like the wind, were I sent to a loony bin like this for work.

The show is named, of course, after Meredith Grey, the character who is the most saccharine, the least focused, the most promiscuous of all. Inspiring.

The show's title is a play on Gray's Anatomy, the famous medical book first published in England in the year 1858. The book is still being published today. Henry Gray would never make it in Meredith Grey's world.

Henry Gray, in pursuit of his idea to create an anatomy textbook for students, worked with Dr. Henry VanDyke Carter for 18 months disecting unclaimed cadavers and making detailed presentations of their findings. Henry Gray died of smallpox at age 34, three years after the book was first published. Gray's has been revised and enhanced in each edition since the beginning, turning into a compendium of medical knowledge reflective of the respective time of each edition. A quick search on Ebay showed back editions for sale starting at just a few bucks.

So, thank heaven for Henry Gray. I can only hope that the other Grey completes her training and goes into private practice with Kate Walsh, the Cadillac commercial babe who escaped from this hatch a couple seasons ago. Her new show sucks enough that it has a good chance to be canceled, bringing happiness to many. To me, anyway.

Guy Ritchie, Hero

I confess. Two weeks ago I didn't know who Guy Ritchie was. Today I know.

Guy Ritchie is a hero.

Guy Ritchie just agreed to a divorce from his wife and she's ponying up $60 million, give or take a few quid. His soon to be ex-wife is Madonna.


Guy is getting a 1,200 acre country estate, a London pub, and cash. Madonna is keeping about 85% of her wealth, but she's giving Guy the heave-ho.


So, fellas, the precedent has been set. If your partner wants to boot you, your asking price is $60 million.


Start saving, girls.

Thank You, and Thank You for the Lesson, Too

HSHSQB got whacked and taught me just how kind people can be.

Translate, please.

My son, to whom I refer in certain circles as HSHSQB (Hot Shot High School Quarterback), took a vicious --and legal-- hit in the final minutes of his opening game this year. He's been hit hard before, he's landed in the ER before. We thought little of it. He continued to play for the next few days before confessing to the trainer (not to the parents, mind you) that he had a problem. Trainer sends kid to rehab place, rehab place says see doctor, doctor says big injury, kid gets scheduled for season ending surgery. Bang-bang-bang. And bang.

Between bang 3 and bang 4 is where the schooling began.

We have been fortunate to have avoided major injuries with the boy, and with the other kids before him, although the occasional guest author/daughter did run herself into a stress fracture as track athlete. A digression here, she has subsequently become a marathon runner, having completed the L.A. and now Chicago marathons, a feat which impresses me beyond expression.

Back at the current kid...after all the bangs, he, his mother and his father were all pretty bummed.

Then you started.

The things you have done have made such an impact on us, I can't thank you enough. Here's a partial list...

• Jess, coming over, bringing movies, spending time, you are so sweet


• Donna Kiewbawls, your selection of a birthday gift was inspired!


• Theresa, my telephone confidant, reminding me that we're not alone


• Linda, stopping by school, more than once, to offer concern and guidance, so appreciated
• Bob, your concern and insight into what the kid's feeling, right on target
• Patty, picking up the mom's spirits and concerned about the kid, we are so grateful
• Tim, your understanding and support have been very, very important
• ScottBob and Patty, you are special 'cause you make others feel that way
• Laurie, thank you for coming by, come more often
• Don, you called, out of the blue, and gave me peace of mind at a time when I really needed it
• My co-workers, my business associates, so many of you from HRI, PPD, GE, Penske, Mesirow, Tony Sr and Tony Jr, Big Mike, and many others whom I cannot at this moment recall, your kindness and concern has been very important to me
• The Mom's co-workers and all the teachers who've expressed support, it makes a difference, it really does
• HSHSQB's teachers, each of whom responded with "whatever you need"
• The boy's coaches, who made sure he stayed involved
• Petey and Margaret, I simply cannot express how much we appreciate your friendship
• Officer Tony, you are a peach
• Dziadi i Buszi, kocham cie
• Godmother and the kids, thank you

There's more, I'm sorry, I can't remember. You all collaborated, each with your independent actions, to teach me a lesson in how very kind, caring and compassionate people can be. I haven't been in this position before. Neither have I been pro-active towards others who have been there. That's the lesson you've taught me. Reach out.

Thank you for your kindness, and thank you for teaching me how important it is to reach out.