Hook Alabama, McCoy… Just Hook’em

Finally… the Longhorns face Alabama in the Rose Bowl.  Can Colt McCoy give us a little Vince Young Hook’em tonight?

One (and only) reason Alabama winning tonight would be good… Shannon Shorr will be happy.  Shorr is in Pasadena, follow Shorr’s Twitter Rose Bowl updates during the game here and his blog here.

Cougars Love Case Keenum

Sure, maybe I was a cougar when I met my husband and he was so young, he road a moped and I paid for our first date. But now I’m loving Case Keenum who happens to be getting love by thousands of Cougars.

I haven’t been to a Cougar football game since Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy. That was back when UH was busted for paying young hot guys to join the Cougar team. That’s actually how UH got their name The Cougars. Kidding.

Fortunately, word is… Keenum isn’t paid. He’s just a great player. A diamond in the rough who seems to remain humble. So, if you’re not a Texas Tech fan then give it up for the Cougars tonight. Or at least give a Go Coogs! Tweet. I mean really, how can you not root for or show some love to Cougars?

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Brad Ausmus

Now that the LA Dodgers have finalized a 1 million dollar deal with Brad Ausmus my husband can rest peacefully.  I haven’t decided which is worse… that none of my friends called to check on me or the fact that Brad is for sure not coming back. 

While his good looks will be missed… so will his great personality which was shown well when honored with the Darryl Kile Award:

“When you hit .230 with two home runs and 40 RBIs,” Ausmus began, “you don’t get invited to a lot of awards banquets…. When I do get the opportunity to talk on a caravan or Fanfest, our manager, Phil Garner, and I, a lot of time, will exchange barbs at the mike,” Ausmus said. “He’ll say something like, ‘Oh, Brad thinks he’s the manager,’ and then I’ll come back with, ‘I don’t care how thick your moustache is, you don’t look like Sam Elliott’ or ‘Yes, you look taller in cleats, Gar.’ “

And so this officially ends the Astros Bagwell, Biggio, Ausmus era and ERA.

AP Photo – Biggio, Ausmus & Bagwell… honoring Darryl Kile

Brad Photo – Courtesy Houston Chronicle

NFL Makes Poker Person Happy

Finally.  Houstonians have something to cheer about other than the return of electricity.The Houston Texans won their first game of the season today despite holes still in the roof.  It was a grim moment when the fourth down went south but fortunately the challenge was given a do-over approval.  I swear I could hear the players yelling "do-over! do-over!" And I’m so glad we didn’t leave the game before they re-did their do-over.  Even better was my son witnessing some fourth quarter success.

So how does this relate to poker?  Well, Seth Palansky of course.  Palansky, Communications Director for the World Series of Poker, was Director of Media Services for the NFL and before that… headed publicity campaigns for Fox Sports Net.

Sure, that might be impressive but not nearly as much as Palansky having Andre Johnson on his fantasy football league.  But I guess in the end, it really depends on whether or not one finds 178 receiving yards impressive.  At a minimum, this year the Texans will match the Miami Dolphins 2007 record.

Should the Texans win first draft pick…

By the way, don’t play poker with Palansky.  He says he doesn’t know how to play but he killed the WSOP media event.

*photo courtesy Houston Chronicle

Celtics Screw Over Lakers & Phil Ivey

When the Celtics took a wide margin rim job (or did the Lakers?) in the 3rd period… I’m sure half the NBA fans drop-kicked themselves into a hopeful depression.  Hopeful in the sense… the guy who knows it’s over but tries to tell everyone it will turn around, even though… he knows it’s over.  I think only 3% are hopeful… 97% is acting prudently in case a 180 degree turn allows them to be the guy reminding others he knew, he said, he felt it… would happen.  That’s annoying.  Just like people who say “Ship It.”

Even though I haven’t followed the NBA since the OJ chase and finding passion in Acronym seminars, I have to admit I was rooting for the Lakers just so Phil Ivey could say “Ship It” but Ivey is not annoying and rumors of his bet are changing.

In other news… don’t forget to pick up your WSOP (World Series of Poker) or (Whooped-up Serious Offense Pierce) Program.  Programs are available by the Amazon Ballroom at participating Kiosks and WSOP gift shops at the Rio which is presented by Milwaukee’s Best.  Shop now while supplies last.

Anyway, if you want to see a large marge-in-stead of a wide margin see video below. Or to learn more about Milwaukee in Italian click here.