The Bucket List

ESPN sent Dan Shulman and Bob Knight to cover the Duke/Maryland game, which is one of their better college basketball crews. Shulman has become one of the best play-by-play announcers for the network and does a great job covering multiple sports. Bob Knight, while somewhat brash, provides thorough analysis and sticks to the focus of covering the game.

That being said, it'd be great for Bob Knight to expand his vocabulary. During the second half of last night's game, I began to notice Knight's constant use of the word "bucket." Nearly every possession involved phrases such as - "great job of getting to the bucket," "he worked hard for that bucket," "a good possession that ended in a bucket," "he kept his man from making the bucket," or "they could really use a bucket here." With 7:15 remaining in the second half, I decided to keep track of the amount of times "bucket" was said. Through less than a fourth of the game, Knight used the word 13 times and I'm pretty sure he said it at least ten other times in the 2nd half before I started keeping track. There might have been more "buckets" than there were points. By the time the game ended, my bucket was overflowing.

As I said, I think Knight is one of ESPN's better college basketball analysts. He focuses on the game (paging Dick Vitale), he doesn't spend most of the time criticizing the players and officials (looking at you, Len Elmore), and he doesn't try to come up with useless, creative phrases (I'm tired of hearing about "valentines,' Jimmy Dykes). It just sounds like he needs someone to send him a thesaurus. Until then, I expect "The Bucket List" drinking game to become a popular aspect of any ESPN game covered by The General. 

Best & Worst - Commercials

In the age of Tivo and other DVR devices, I'm the minority - I actually enjoy watching commercials on television. I don't necessarily enjoy a ridiculous amount of commercial breaks (which seemed to be every 30 seconds in the AFC Championship game) but I do like to see which companies are coming up with creative ads. To me, having a good commercial involves being successful in two elements: you must capture the attention of the audience and you must garner a response that provides an interest in your product.

Many companies are successful in the first part of this equation - it's easy to catch someone's attention. I could scream the F-word on the street and get everyone's attention, but that doesn't make it a good idea. The second part is more difficult because it's the actual response and the measurable of the effectiveness of the ad. It's the element of providing a call to action to the audience and then seeing whether or not they will actually respond. And in my opinion, this is where commercials can backfire for a company. A commercial could be great and cause me to have an interest in a company, or it could be so bad that I vow to never use that particular company. So...here are my best and worst, which means companies whose ads make me want to use them and companies whose ads are so bad I never want to use them.

Best - these are examples of commercials from companies who really know how to connect with their audience.

McDonald's - Sadly, the product doesn't usually deliver, but the commercial is able to create serious expectation.

Apple - Possibly some of the greatest commercials of all time have been created by Apple. They have managed to create a culture and community that identify with their products, and their commercials make you want to be part of that community.



Disney - It's incredibly powerful to be able to evoke emotion in your commercials, and Disney does a wonderful job of this. Their ads make you think of memories and your family, which will always have an effect on people.

Worst - these ads make me wish these companies would go out of business.

Go Daddy - I don't even understand the point of it - go to our site with the hope of seeing naked women? And even if that is the hidden message, get someone more attractive than Jillian Michaels!



Geico - There were so many bad examples that it was difficult to chose from. Actually, I could have done an entire post about bad Geico commercials and provided at least 10 examples. I don't care about having insurance because I just want to shoot myself anytime I see their commercials.



Luvs - So many problems here. The idea is weird and it probably doesn't help that it's disgusting.

There were tons of other companies I could have used as examples, but those were a few that stuck out the most to me. And to end this post with a completely random (not particularly effective) and wonderfully creative commercial, I present KIA!

Shake It, Don't Break It

If nothing else, I wanted to write a post about Shakers Restaurant so that I could use one of the greatest song lyrics of all time - "Shake it, don't break it! It took your momma nine months to make it!" Thank you TobyMac. Thank you so much! Along with that, I wanted to write about Shakers because I have been eating there for years and I think they serve one of the best salads in the Roanoke Valley.

When I was younger, Shakers seemed to be a regular on the list of restaurants my family enjoyed. It was a popular pick for Sunday lunch after church and a good place to have dinner during the week, but we eventually stopped going and I'm not sure why. Everyone liked the food and the menu had a good amount of variety, and it was a busy restaurant but I don't remember us having to wait very often. What I do remember is that I always knew what I wanted when we went...cheese toast (not sure why, there's nothing special about this), chicken fingers, and honey mustard. All three were magical in my 10 year old, food obsessed mind.

After reading about their recent remodeling project in the past couple months, I was reminded of Shakers and wanted to take a stroll down memory lane. After an adventure at the airport, my dad and I went over for dinner. The remodeling of the restaurant is very nice - the entrance is more impressive, the host area more useful, and the seating is arranged to provide a different feel depending on which dining area you choose. A casual dining area with plenty of windows, a sports bar area with tables and booths with views of various TV's, and a separate dining room that appears to be more formal. You can still see similarities to the old Shakers look, but it definitely feels like it has been cleaned up.

Original Southern Fried Salad

When we sat down, the hostess gave us our menus, and I'm not even sure why I looked at it - I knew what I would be ordering. The Original Southern Fried Chicken Salad is one of my favorite salads to get from any restaurant...anywhere. Here's the description from the menu: "Shakers famous chicken tenders, shaved ham, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, croutons, and almonds over mixed greens." It probably doesn't sound like anything special, but they aren't playing when they mention their famous chicken tenders. Many consider them to be the best chicken tenders in the area, and I'd agree. Juicy, well seasoned, crunchy, not overly greasy - wonderful! And to go along with these amazing chicken tenders, they serve a house-made honey mustard dressing that is just as delicious. I'm talking, "Waitress, please bring me a pitcher of honey mustard" delicious. Usually, I try to use a minimal amount of dressing with a salad, but that just doesn't fit with this bowl of goodness. Don't kid yourself into thinking you are being healthy by getting a "salad" - this tastes way too good to be healthy. And just as I'd always remembered, it was still outstanding. It's a great combination of flavors and the portion is huge, reminiscent of a salad from The Cheesecake Factory, and the chicken tenders can't be beat. Now, I need to combine the chicken from Shakers with a waffle from Thelma's and all will be right with the culinary world.

So alas, I say "Thank You" to Shakers Restaurant. The remodeling is nice and the additions to the menu are appealing, but the chicken tenders remain the same. And some things are meant to stay the same.

Fiesta!

When Nicole and I lived in Orlando, we had to be creative about how we spent our time together. Being newlyweds, it was a transition to be living together in a new city and learning how to balance how we spent our time. She worked a typical 9-5 schedule and I was working nights and weekends. On top of that, we lived in the tourist capital of the world and had no money to do anything. If we wanted to figure out a fun activity or good place to eat, we had to do it on a tight budget. Thank goodness for Azteca D'Oro.

Azteca probably ended up being my favorite restaurant in Orlando. It's a Mexican place that's away from the amusement/theme park section of Orlando, making it a more locally known establishment. The atmosphere is a bit cliche - complete with a mariachi band and crazy, colorful decorations, but the food is delicious. And we weren't the only people who thought so. Anytime we went to Azteca, there was a steady crowd of people and we almost always had to wait for a table.

The wait was never a big deal because once seated, you'd begin an eating adventure that would leave you completely stuffed and satisfied with wonderful Mexican food. To start, a server would bring out fresh chips & salsa. Always a good sign when the chips are hot and have a great crunch. The queso dip is also a great addition if you're looking for more than just salsa. Now, because of our attempt to be frugal, Nicole and I always shared a combination platter. We could choose from 3 different items and the type of meat we wanted in each, plus rice, beans, & vegetables, and the platter would cost around $13. These platters were huge - served in a dish the equivalent of a 14-inch pizza pan. Not bad for two people to have a great meal.

I wish I could recommend specific things, but they were all so good! I could mention the chicken chimichanga, but I wouldn't want to leave out the burrito with the picadillo or the chalupa with ground beef. Actually, you could put the picadillo on an old shoe and it would taste great. Picadillo is a combination of shredded beef and pork, and Azteca's version of it has wonderful flavor, juice, spice, tenderness, and...my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

The more I think about it, the more I'm regretting writing this post because it's giving me a huge craving. It has been way too long since I've had a meal at Azteca. The next time Nicole and I make our way down to Orlando, we'll head to Azteca D'Oro for a fiesta and enjoy some great Mexican food and remember our times of being cheap, crazy newlyweds in the most magical place on earth.

2012

Isn't it a rule that all bloggers have to write a post at the beginning of a calendar year to talk about new goals and resolutions? No? I missed the memo.

Goals for 2012:

Time for some road trips in 2012.

 - Log 250 miles of exercise. So far, I've completed 6.
 - Read 25 books. Currently working on two different ones.
 - Visit 5 different states. Still deciding on whether or not this has to be five states I've never been to.
 - Move out...also known as...BUY A HOUSE.
 - Listen to one sermon podcast per week. Kicked this one off with an amazing message by Andy Stanley called "Choosing to Cheat."
 - Read the entire Bible. I did this last year and look forward to going through it again.
 - Cook 30 unique recipes. First on the list was Cookie Brownie Bliss Bars. AMAZING!
 - Weigh 170 lbs. or less. Unfortunately, this has become a legitimate goal and is part of the reason for needing to log 250 miles of exercise.
 - Post 100 times to this blog. I really need to pick up the pace to reach this number and this may or may not be a contributing factor in deciding to post this.

Top 10 QBs

When I was driving home today, I made the mistake of turning the radio over to ESPN. I couldn't handle more than five minutes of the mindless banter from Freddie Coleman and Jonathan Coachman, but they did mention an interesting question of whether or not Tony Romo is one of the ten best quarterbacks in the NFL. They believed he was a top ten QB, which they also say about 30 other quarterbacks from around the league. Now, basing my decision on the best quarterbacks I would take to win a game, I've come up with my own Top 10 list:

Discount Double Check!

1. Aaron Rodgers - Rodgers is playing at a different level from the rest of the league right now. He is picking secondaries apart with relative ease and has the athletic ability to escape pressure from blitzes. With his incredible play, Rodgers has turned Brett Favre into a distant memory for Green Bay fans and could become even more legendary if he could deliver a second straight Super Bowl title.
2. Tom Brady - He has sustained a level of excellence in a way that makes people forget about how great he is. Until the 4th quarter of last week's game against Washington, Brady hadn't thrown an interception in four consecutive games. He will remain an unpopular figure because he is the face of a hated franchise, but it's difficult to argue with his success. Three Super Bowl rings on his resume and he might not be finished.
3. Drew Brees - I think Drew Brees has the type of impact on the Saints that Peyton Manning has on the Colts. Now, the Saints wouldn't be 0-12 right now if Brees wasn't playing, but I doubt they would be in playoff contention. His accuracy makes him one of the best in the game, and his leadership makes him an elite player in the league.
4. Ben Roethlisberger - I hate that I'm listing Big Ben as one of the top five quarterbacks in the game - mainly because I dislike him. That being said, he is the embodiment of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization - tough, resilient, and successful. There isn't much that's pretty about Roethlisberger's game, except his Super Bowl rings and the home-field advantage Pittsburgh seems to get every year because of his ability to lead them to victories.
5. Eli Manning - I'm probably making this decision from a "What have you done for me lately?" perspective. I've always considered Manning to be a talented player, but a very inconsistent one. He would make great plays and 4th quarter comebacks, but also put his team in difficult positions with costly turnovers. However, this year he has played at an MVP level for the Giants. And he might be in the discussion for the award if Aaron Rodgers were playing in the Canadian Football League.
6. Philip Rivers - This pick has nothing to do with this season. If it did, I'm not sure Rivers would be one of the top ten quarterbacks in the AFC. Still, I'm considering this season a fluke and would still take Rivers to win a big game.

Matt Schaub is great...when he isn't hurt.

7. Matt Schaub - If he can stay healthy, he has one of the best arms in the game. Schaub's problem has never been ability - it's been durability.
8. Matt Ryan - Ironically, I think Ryan is more effective when he isn't a huge part of the Falcons offense. He has proven capable of performing in the clutch and helped change the culture of the organization.
9. Tony Romo - I guess I agree with the guys from ESPN radio. Similar to Matt Ryan, Romo is at his best when the Cowboys have a successful running game. When he makes good decisions, he is one of the most effective QB's in the game.
10. Jay Cutler - I like Jay Cutler about as much as I like Ben Roethlisberger, but he deserves credit for carrying the Chicago Bears offense. Losing Matt Forte hasn't helped, but the Bears have been inept without Cutler at the helm.

Best & Worst

Best - The Army vs. Navy Game

Navy QB Kriss Proctor

I'm coming at this from a biased perspective, but there is something special and unique about an Army-Navy football game. Most nationally televised games feature players and coaches who are doing everything they can to promote themselves for a better job or a chance at the NFL - the next step has already been decided for the players from both of these service academies. Even if you aren't a fan of college football or sports in general, you can watch this game and feel an incredible sense of pride and patriotism in seeing some of the best leaders our nation has to offer, on the field and in the stands.

Now, as a Navy fan, yesterday's game was a great way to end the season. For a team that has had so many struggles and heartbreaking losses, it was awesome to see the Midshipmen be able to finish a close game. A defense that has been torched all season came up with big turnovers and a huge stop in the 4th quarter, a senior kicker who has a had a nightmare season hit a clutch field goal, and a quarterback who's battled injuries all year made some key runs to help his senior class go out on top. In a way, it's just a football game - and in a way, it means everything. Every day of the year, these two schools think about beating each other. At Navy, they say "BEAT ARMY!" after nearly everything they do. "BEAT ARMY" as they turn the corner to go down the hall. "BEAT ARMY!" as a plebe finishes a set of push ups. And for the 10th year in a row, "BEAT ARMY!" on the football field. Mission accomplished. Go Navy!


Worst - The Cincinnati vs. Xavier Brawl

Yancy Gates looking for more...

If the Army-Navy game is the standard for everything great about college athletics, the end of the Cincinnati-Xavier men's basketball game is the standard for everything wrong with college athletics. In a rivalry game that had turned into a blowout (Xavier won 76-53), the game finished with an on-court brawl. It began with trash talking from both teams and quickly escalated into a fight with Cincinnati's Yancy Gates punching a Xavier player in the head and then other Bearcats kicking the Xavier player while he was on the ground. It didn't get any better after the game - Xavier's players were proud of how they stuck up for themselves and didn't back down from a fight while Mick Cronin, Cincinnati's Head Coach, promised heavy consequences for his players.

A strong message would have been dismissing Yancy Gates, the team's best post player, off the team. Instead, the university announced it will suspend Gates for six games. How convenient that five of those games will be against insignificant non-conference opponents. Gates will miss also miss the Big East conference opener against Pittsburgh. No Xavier player will be suspended for more than one game. In short, both teams displayed embarrassing and unacceptable behavior - and neither institution or coach has enough backbone to assess the discipline and consequence the players deserve. It doesn't get much worse than that.