Am I missing something?

As has been reported over the last day or so, NBA rookies-to-be Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were thrown out of the rookie transition program. They allegedly had marijuana and women in their hotel room.

Now, is it just me, or isn't this exactly the kind of thing that the rookie transition program is designed to teach new players about? Let's take a look at some of the points that the NBA orientation is supposed to highlight:

• Professionalism
• Character, Image and Ethics
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Felony Situations
• Security
• Players "20 and under"

So, why throw them out? How about keeping them in there for an extra couple of days to make sure they learn some lessons? Suspend them or fine them or whatever after the program is over, so they can maybe actually learn something from this.

To me, the headlines for this story may as well read: Local boy expelled from school after failing exam.

Things that I want to do in September

This looks like one of those posts that will become a series, doesn't it? How much do want to bet that it won't?

September 6 - Find a way to watch the NU game @ Duke. LUV U, NUR, but I need some video on this sucker.

September 24 - Get free pie from the Pushing Daisies World Domination Tour and Pie Bus Extravaganza. Or whatever they're actually calling it.

September 27 - Age gracefully.

September 28 - Do the Chicago edition of The Mp3 Experiment.

Wha' Happened?: Syracuse

I would call that "not a bad start," for the Wildcats this weekend. It was far from a great game, considering that we lost the turnover battle and couldn't get our offense clicking for most of the first half.

There are some very bright spots of course, such as very nice punting from Stefan Demos, and Fitz's third straight opening day victory. It says a lot about our preparation and concentration that we don't look past openers that some might consider gimmes. Oh, and a goose-egg in the L column always looks good, even when we're only one week in.

Let's see how my three important players did:

• Adam Hahn - The lineman didn't have a noteworthy game, but linemates Corey Wootton and Corbin Bryant played well with the LBs and secondary picking up for some missed tackles in the line. There is much room for improvement, and the return of John Gill will be very welcome.

• Stefan Demos - What more can I say except for Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. 6 out of 6 punts were inside the 20 and 3 were inside the 10. One of those set up the defense to earn NU's first 2 points of the game with a safety. Plus he kicked off well enough to keep Syracuse's vaunted returners to fewer than 100 yards on 5 kickoff returns.

• Ben Burkett - No problems in the center-QB exchange. Only one sack allowed, and C.J. usually had time. The entire line will have to continue to improve; most of our opponents will have more skilled D-linemen than the Orange. But a little confidence should go a long way for the still-green trenchmen.

Stay tuned for nervous thoughts about our trip to Durham, NC!

Whether Report: Syracuse

Say Josh, tell me whether...

...you're ready for the season to kickoff?
Let's see. Flag hung in my window? Check. Wore purple for the last several days? Check. Alarm clock set for tomorrow morning? Check. Depth chart and rosters printed? Check. I think I'm just about ready.

...you think the Cats are ready?
Yes and no. No, because I think only the very best teams are ever fully ready for the first snap. A lot of guys haven't taken real full-speed hits, and the coaches haven't called full-speed plays for this team. Yes, because of the many reports indicating full buy-in by the team into the philosophies of the new coaches on offense and defense. They've got to be rearing to go.

...anyone really rears anymore?
Yes. The Cats rear. Then they go.

...you said "rear?"
Grow up.

...NU-Syracuse is the best game on the Big Ten slate this week?
Well, it looked a lot better when it was scheduled in 2003. Illinois-Mizzou is one of the nation's highlight games this week. MSU goes to Cal, which could be good, and Utah comes to Michigan which could be...almost anything.

...you're picking NU to get off to a winning start this year?
I'm going to say...yes. The line I'm seeing is NU -11.5, O/U 55.5. I think we'll win the turnover battle, giving our offense a couple short fields. So my pick is Northwestern 30, Syracuse 13.

Let's go Cats!

A little bit more about: Syracuse

Whenever a new season begins, it's hard to know where our beloved ApostroCats will have improved and where they will have declined. Which players will have blossomed in the spring and which graduates we will unexpectedly miss. Which condiments will have been left out of the Ryan Field refrigerators for 10 months and which will have been left out but topped off with fresh supplies.

So, I'll keep things brief today and just give three players who have to show up Saturday to give the Cats a win.

• Adam Hahn - A lot has been made in the off-season of NU's revitalized attacking defense, and with John Gill out to suspension, you can expect Corey Wooton to earn a lot of blocking attention from the Orange offense. Hahn (as well as the rest of the D-Line) needs to make the solid stops as well as the more glamourous sacks and hurries to give the LBs a chance to execute the way Coach Hankwitz has designed.

• Stefan Demos - The sophomore kicker/punter has a year's experience and an off-season of conditioning under his belt now. He needs to do his part to improve what was a poor kick coverage unit in 2007. If Demos and his coverage team can keep SU to poor starting field positions, it will give the defense great momentum from the start of every opposing drive.

• Ben Burkett - Who touches the ball on every play? The center and the QB. While Bachér will be the man who operates our no-huddle offense, the red-shirt freshman Burkett must lead a patchwork offensive-line though any early quavers so they can quickly become a strength of our attack rather than a weak link. The more that C.J. gets a chance to run the offense normally, the better our chance to win this weekend and in the future.

Whether Report tomorrow, along with my pick!
Let's go Cats!

A couple early thoughts on: Syracuse

Do you remember when we scheduled this series with Syracuse? It was five and 1/2 years ago, and the final game won't be for another 5 years. Back then, we kind of feared this series, but now it's just one of four hopefully-probably-crossyourfingers winnable non-conference games to start the year.

I'll have a pick, and hopefully some other content in advance of Saturday's season opener, but there's two guys on the Orange that I worry about:

Ryan Howard (Senior, CB) - Will we have to contend with the home run champ and league MVP? Or will we get to take a few shots at the strike out leader with a Mendoza-approaching batting average? Or possibly the once-pleasant, now-jackassish temp-turned-manager.

Maximilian Leo (Junior, Long Snapper) - Leo was his father's favorite pope, and Maximilian was his mother's favorite pope. Except, I don't think there was a Pope Maximilian, but it's too good a joke. Plus, we all know that the LS is the smartest guy on the team, so watch out!

2008 Fan Preview

With 10 days to go until the 2008 incarnation of the Wildcats kicks off against Syracuse, it's time to look at things from a broad perspective. As the games approach each weekend, I'll try to consider them individually, but for now I want to bask in my general optimism.

If you want an in depth season outlook, you should definitely check out this place, and also this place. And I'll do some of that stuff too, as the games come and go. But not today! Today, I just want to talk about how fans should approach this fall.

Patience
Most Northwestern fans are well-schooled (groan) in patience. We're used to wait-til-next year platitudes -- after all, some of you are also Cubs fans -- and we tend to expect long-term program development rather than flash-in-the-pan success. However, the big story coming into the 2008 season is the slew of veterans, particularly at offensive skill positions. My advice is to be patient if we don't put up 35 points/game right away. Remember that the offensive line is inexperienced, and will take time to gel.

Expectations
BUT! Just because we're patient doesn't mean we shouldn't expect to win. We should be able to win a majority of the non-conference games that start the season. They might not be blowout victories (Miami in 2006 or Northwesteastern last year) but we should prevail more often than not. We have better coaches across the board than we have in recent years, and it should show in the form of results as they compliment and improve the Wildcat athletes.

The Future
There are two things for which it is never too early: clock management & thinking about the future. The former is mostly in the hands of Fitz, so I will just worry about the latter. It's important for every moment of every NU home game to be spirited moment. Why? Because there are recruits at every game, and whether we're thrashing someone in September or ruing the end of a rough loss, those high school juniors and seniors need to see a great place to play. So combine those top two things, patience and expectations, to give every play of 2008 energy and vitality. We expect no less from the team, after all.

But enough of this profundity. Check back in next week for picks, weather, and hopefully some funny!

Hey! Look over there!

I have a new blog up and running. It's called Seldom Welcome, and the conceit is that it is an unsolicited advice column. Well, "column" might be a little generous. Whatever it is, it encompasses advice to The World At Large. So take heed, The World, because apparently I know what's best for you.


Also, it is green.

So, go over there and enjoy it! And then come back here. And go back again. Whoa, I'm letting this advice thing go to my head. Sorry.

Things you should be reading

Another list of things you should be reading, because they are (or promise to be) entertaining. Eventually this space ought to be back to being interesting in and of itself, as we're about 2 weeks from the Wildcats' 2008 kickoff!

• @SlateOlympics - The Twitter feed on the Olympics from Slate. It's great for when you're watching NBC and don't have anyone around to snark with.

• @CobraCommander - Another Twitterer, and it's exactly what you think it is. Sample from this past Monday: "Excited for new week. Destro delivering first blueprints of potential "weather manipulator device" today. Oh and how bout that Phelps?"

• Ephener of Mind - A new blog from friend-of-Josh, Michael. Yay! He finally succumbed to the alure of blogging!

• @joshwss - Enough with the Twitter already! But this one is me, so feel free to follow me. Just try and be a real person and not a robot, kay?
  

The end of an era

This morning I had to change my email alias at work. Why would I do that? Wouldn't it cause people who I work with to not be able to reach me?

Well, that might actually be a benefit (just kidding Jim!), but I had to escape the spam-sending nogoodnik who decided my address would look nice in his reply-to field. So my 10-year reign as "j-held" is over. I will now begin a new reign as "josh" -- although hopefully this one will be slightly shorter.

Unless you work with me, this should not impact you at all. Carry on. If you do work with me, take note. And why are you reading my blog?

An Open Letter to The Person to Whom My Apartment Was Shown Yesterday

Dear Person,

Sorry about the state of my apartment. The piles of boxes probably obscured some highlights, and the place is kind of dusty. I guess I could clean, but the boxes are permanent until I move. I'm sure you know how that is, because you yourself are probably preparing to move. Unless you sprang, fully-formed, from the brow of that lady from ApartmentFinders.com and now you need a place to rest your corporeal form. Something with easy access to the bus and the red line! In that case, call me; I'd love to write a myth about you.

If you do decide to take the place, here are some simple warnings, from my experience:

• Don't use the microwave and the AC at the same time. It blows up the living room.
• Don't use the dishwasher and anything else at the same time. It blows up the dishwasher.
• Don't set anything on the floor of the laundry room. That includes your feet.

I hope your search for an earthly home is ultimately successful.

As ever, your humble pre-tenant,
Josh

HMS Sabathia, or The Cats that Loved a Starter

Should the Phillies have gone out of their way to get pitcher CC Sabathia before he went to the Brewers today? What do I know? Let's say yes, because I love the Phillies -- look me up Sunday in section 419! -- but there's only one real question that this blog will address:

Should the Wildcats have traded for Sabathia?

Let's see where he fits in. The obvious fit is on the Cats' struggling baseball team. The Northwestern Nine went a disappointing 21-28 (14-18 Big Ten) in 2008. The overal ERA was 6.91, with the best starter at 4.17 (Eric Jokisch). It seems likely that CC would be a welcome addition to next year's staff.

Exploring a little more, so that we can get our money's worth on him, the 6'7", 290 lb Sabathia might be able to step in on the ApostroCats' rebuilding offensive line in the fall. With Camp Kenosha starting in a few weeks, and the former Indian in his midseason stride, he would likely be ready by time the Big Ten rolls around, if not earlier. In high school, he was a TE with interest from USC and Hawaii, and we all know you can't teach size.

And just to keep him in shape between sports, I say start a club hockey team for men (if there isn't one) and throw him between the pipes. He's no sumo goalie, but it's a start.

Josh eats bird

Google "josh eats birds". I'll wait here...welcome back.

Happily, the first listing is me, and the first-and-a-halfth is also me. That is basically as it should be, yes? Disturbingly, the next listing is a YouTube clip called "Josh eats bird." I haven't watched it, and I don't necessarily encourage anyone to do so. BUT it should be noted that, whatever happens in that video, it is in no way endorsed or engaged in by this blog. This Josh only eats birds in the metaphorical sense.

Hey, a Northwestern blog in purple! What novelty!

OK! New color scheme, and a new logo!  If I broke something while I was messing with Blogger templates, please give me a heads up.  Thanks and enjoy!

Things you should check out

Good morning, my lusty readers! On today's agenda is a discussion of whether you exist. Can I get someone to make a motion to approve the agenda? No one? OK. While we wait, why don't you check out these websites:

• Amie Street is an independent music download site. Everything's mp3, so it'll play on your PMP of choice. The songs are variously-priced, including $free! I'm making great use of this since I heard about it.
  
• Hexagonal Close-Packed is a new blog by friend-of-Josh Jason. It's allegedly going to be quite nerdly, so please to enjoy.
• Air Toxics Analysis Services is small business owned by Joann Held. It's my mother! And my website design for ATAS should be live (or quasi-live) by the time I post this.

Is nothing sacred?

Because a blog just isn't a blog anymore until it has a lolsomething. And because it's looking like a slow morning. Please welcome the first (and hopefully only) installment of Willie the Lolcat.

New addition to the family!

From left to right: Dad (Al Powerbook), Son (new iMac), Mom (Dell desktop)

That's him the in middle there. He got his dad's OS, his mom's CPU manufacturer, and a combination of his parents' form factors.

OK, that was dumb. But I'm copying some user info, and I've time to kill until I get to really use him.

A New Direction for NU Basketball...Up?

According to IllinoisHSBasketball.com, the basketball Wildcats have picked up one more player for the class of 2008-9. Kyle Rowley, from Lake Forest Academy, marks the 5th in this year's line of recruits. He seems like an excellent recruit and a decent dude, but I don't think it's just me -- there's something that ties this class together. Let's look at something:

Class of 2008-9

• Kyle Rowley - 7'0", 280 lb
• Luka Mirkovic - 6'11", 225
• Davide Curletti - 6'9", 225
• John Shurna - 6'8", 205
• Nick Fruendt - 6'5", 190

Returning significance, 2007-2008

• Coble - 6'8", 190 (190? really?)
  
• Williams - 6'3", 190
• Moore - 6'3", 190 (No way he's 6'3")
• Thompson - 5'10", 185

Now, I don't think that these veterans have to worry about playing time next year, but are we looking at a change in direction? Maybe to a more physical, more defensive, less Princeton-y, more post-oriented team? Josh Eats Birds is looking forward to finding out.

Monday Night Sports Roundup or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dancing With the Stars

The plan was to watch a little arena action -- Soul vs. Desps in a battle of unbeatens -- and a little NHL -- the Flyers taking on the Habs in game 3. That was before I remembered that my friendly neighborhood dual-tuner DVR is already pretty well taxed on Monday nights. So, even though I won't be doing a guest blog for the gents at It's Still Football, I'll give you a little insight into what I did watch!

First, what I missed:

Think the Pats still have those 19-0 shirts? The Philadelphia Soul moved to 9-0 on the season with a nice win over the previously undefeated Dallas Desperados. Just a couple hundred yards from our next item...

Some say the world will end in Flyers, some say on ice. That doesn't even make any sense! If the Flyers' 3-2 win over Montreal had ended the world, it would have been both anyway. As it was, it just allowed the Flyers to take a 2-1 series lead with game 4 at home.

Now your glimpse into my TV proclivities:

Look at me. I'm as helpless as a baby up a tree. Bones: Brennan and Booth find a baby up in a tree, following a car accident. What follows is a fairly boilerplate miss-matched non-parents have-to-take-care-of-the-kid episode of any show. Also included? Small-town folks who hate the gub'mint. And? Temperance is using her fancy author money to save the town (yay!) and for some reason Sealy thinks he automatically gets to live in any house she builds. Huh? Please don't become Maddie and David or something here.

Clap on. Clap off. House: Ok. It was syphyllis and not gonorrhrea, but we'll get there. The patient of the week is diagnosed with a terminal case of niceness. Apparently he saves the children AND the British children. First they think he has syph. Then they think House has syph. Then they think no one has it! All in all, Kumar is kind of awesome this week, and Wilson and Cutthroat Bitch are really annoying.

It takes 2 to tango (or samba, or mambo...) Dancing With the Stars: All the couples did two dances last night. For the most part the all did one pretty well and one very well. I don't feel like looking up the scores or anything, so I have no idea how they all placed. A couple of highlights include:

• Christian racking his arm during their samba. I don't know when he hurt it, but honestly, it was no great shakes from the beginning. Hope he's OK.
  
• Jason did my least favorite dance, the paso doble, to, I think, the ESPN NFL Monday Night Football theme. No really. It was completely un-musical, but somehow the judges loved it.
• Kristi slipped down the leader board for the first time, largely because Len didn't like their non-traditional choreography. NOTE TO PROS - Len hates, HATES, non-traditional choreography and non-dancy intros and codas. You've had 98 episodes to figure this out. Start getting a clue or start brushing off your seats in the front row.

Two, two, two Greg(g)s in one!

I haven't blogged for a while, so when the following thought occurred to me, I figured I should the seize the opportunity.

Is it just me, or does Phillies first baseman Greg Dobbs look a lot like phormer* Phillies first baseman Gregg Jefferies? You be the judge:



Dobbs


Jefferies

Separated at birth? Even though they were born 11 years apart? I think you know what I think.


* F -> Ph? Never not phunny.