Why Even Tri?

So approximately this time last year, I decided that my new year’s resolution for 2010 would be to get my ass back in shape. At that point I had been approximately two and a half years removed from college, which as many of you can attest to was 4 years of doing everything bad for your body. Binge drinking, ripping cigs, staying up till all hours, and a few others things that I don’t care to mention but probably should be part of this list. I set a modest goal of starting running again with the Broad Street Run (a 10-mile straight shot through the city of Philadelphia) as my ultimate goal. While the first few months were hell (my first run I nearly keeled over and died after about 2 miles), time passed and I began to find it easier and easier to get back to my high school form. After a few weeks, I found myself running distances further than I ever did in high school at the peaks of X-Country and Track seasons.

I thought that was the end of it. Goal achieved, end of story. That was until my girlfriend decided that she would run the Marine Corps Marathon. Well that obviously didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t let her one-up me like this so I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon. This is something that I am glad that I did and I recommend that everyone at some point train for and run a marathon. It’s actually not as difficult as it sounds and the achievement of being among the 0.01% of people to accomplish this is something to be said for in addition to being in great cardio shape.

During the course of my training, one of my tune up races was a triathlon that two of my friends and I competed in. One guy did the 0.8mile swim, who then tagged off to another who did the 38mile bike, who then tagged off to me for the 6.2mile run. While waiting for my friends to finish their respective legs of the race, I thought to myself, “These people are legit. Is there any reason why I can’t do this all on my own?” Prior to the start of the race I spoke briefly with an experienced triathlete. She said that she had completed several of these triathlons to go along with several marathons, and this girl was in her mid-30s. That was all the convincing I needed. Those of you who know me know that I don’t need much motivation to accept a physical challenge. Tell me that you can do it, and I’ll definitely do it.

So the goal for this year is to train for and complete the Philly Triathlon. Why do I subject myself to this stuff? After running a marathon, is there really anymore that one can accomplish on an individual basis as a person who isn’t even considered a real athlete? I have a very addictive personality and is training for ridiculous events or the thrill of competition just another form of drugs, alcohol, and gambling? It’s clearly no longer about working out and staying in shape. I think I may have a greater problem.

Championship Weekend Recap and Looking Ahead

I hope that those of you who read this blog chose to check on Fanalysis Sports. If you did and went with my picks, you went 2 for 2 this weekend and likely made some nice money.

The Good

If money was the only thing you were concerned about this weekend, then it was all good. Both the Packers and the Steelers covered though not without a little bit of last minute drama. The Jets made a nice run in the second half but thanks to a gutsy call on 3rd and 6th in the final quarter, the Steelers were able to seal the deal punch their ticket to the big dance in Dallas. I bet nobody was worried when Collins and Haine came in in relief of Jay Cutler and his questionable MCL sprain but that 3rd stringer sure found a way to make it interesting in the end. Bottom line: $$$

The Bad

For those of you who chose to watch these games purely as football fans and were hoping for a good game, I am so sorry. This past weekend has to be up there in some of the worst football I have ever seen. For a long time the Bears and the Packers looked like a bunch of retards in a knife fight and the Steelers looked to have won the game in the first half. If it wasn't for me having money riding on both games, I probably would have turned them off, done something else, and checked the scores on my computer later. Very poor product for supposedly the best 4 teams in the league.

The Ugly

Jay Cutler. Nothing says ugly like being crucified by the Chicago fan base, the national media, and your fellow players on twitter. I don't think Brian Urlacher and Lovie Smith are enough to defend Cutler from all the heat he is taking for sitting out parts of the 3rd and all of the 4th quarter. If you're hurt, you're hurt. But at least look like you're hurt for the sake of the fans, and help out Collins and Haine on the sidelines to show that you care. Sometimes body language says it all.

Championship Weekend

Typically I post my analysis and picks for the games here on my blog however I have been asked this week (and for the Superbowl) to write up a post for my buddy's website. This can be found at http://www.fanalysissports.com/ Look for the post titled "The AFC and NFC Championship Games: Betting the Spread" and you'll find my analysis and picks for this week.

Fanalysis is a great sight where anyone can join and voice their opinions about anything in the world of sports. If you consider yourself an expert in a particular area and want to have a discussion, I suggest you join today and start posting.

Sin City Rewind

So I'm now just about one week removed from my trip to Las Vegas and I can safely say that I still have not yet fully recovered physically and mentally. I went in under the impression that I'd do a good bit of gambling, definitely go out to bars and clubs, but certainly not going back to back 20+ hour days and blowing the doors off both nights. This weekend was the epitome of the party marathon. Now that I'm back, for those of you who are looking to go in the future, I thought I'd leave you with some words of advice so that you're trip will be just as enjoyable and ridiculous as mine was.

"The guys I roll with, they're the real deal." - anonymous

It goes without saying that when you go to Vegas, it's going to be a weekend long boys-night-out trip. But who of those guys you bring can make or break your weekend. Every guy has to be on the same page as far as what kind of scene you're looking, how much you're willing to spend, who's going to hit on what girl, etc. Conflict amongst yourselves is the last thing that should be an issue when you go out to Vegas. If you're the kind of guy who wants to do VIP style, bottle service, and the works, find 3 or 4 guys who are willing to shell out the cash. If you're the kind of guy who wants to crush pitchers of beer at a dive bar and gamble all night, make sure your boys are willing to do the same.

"Oh, we asked for an empty refrigerator. The one here is full of mini-bar shit. Please bring an empty refrigerator.... we're not paying for it." - Tom

Special requests are what Vegas is all about. You can make anything happen if you ask the right people and you're willing to pay for it or are very persuasive. They want you to have a memorable time so you come back and spend money again the next time. Yes the above quote by my buddy Tom is 100% accurate and we did get a new, empty, fridge in a matter of hours. Too lazy to try to pick up girls at a club? Just ask the promoter and he'll gladly bring ladies to your VIP table. Book the limo for 3 people when you rolled to dinner and now you need to get 7 people to a strip club? Your driver will certainly look the other way for the right price. If you can imagine it, someone in Vegas can make it happen.

"Gucci and Ferragamo loafers! That's how we roll." - Tom

Don't underestimate the power of dressing up. A nice suit can go a long way in how you are treated by your driver, at the door of a club, the promoter, the waitresses and ultimately that 10 that you are trying to pick up. If you look the part, it's a whole lot easier to act the part, and subsequently you will be treated in an appropriate manner by all. While at Tao our first night and Moon our second night, the contrast in how guys were treated merely on the basis of if they were wearing a suit versus jeans and a button up was astounding. If you're going to ball hard, better suit up.

"Adrian, I'm pretty sure someone is going to need oxygen on the flight home." - HMS

Plan you're arrival and return wisely. When heading out, remember the time difference and that it's ok to leave the east coast late morning or afternoon. You will still have a full day when you arrive. Be sure to get those extra few hours hours of sleep the night before because once you arrive, the shock of Vegas will kick in and you'll want to take it from 1st to 5th gear the moment you land. While you're there, don't let the glitz and glamor of being able to drink and smoke pretty much anywhere (public streets and in the cab/limo is perfectly acceptable) get the better of you. Pace yourself or bring a ton of adderall to help you through the weekend, whatever works. Finally, give yourself the next day to recover. If you have work on Tuesday, fly home Sunday night or Monday morning and sleep it all off. I can't tell you the amount of physical and mental exhaustion I experienced Monday morning. You will not be able to function the next day.

I hope that these little tips help anyone who is heading out to Sin City in he near future. They certainly helped us. Viva Las Vegas!

And finally, a memorable quote from our taxi driver, "I don't gamble. I'd spend all the winnings on blow and women!" Godspeed sir. Godspeed.

Divisional Weekend Recap

Another week, another record of 2-2. Those of you who went with my picks we had a nice little Saturday but then gave it all back again on Sunday. Let's go ahead to the breakdown.

The Good

Quarterback play on Saturday from Big Ben and Aaron Rodgers was nothing short of spectacular. If there's one thing we've learned about the Pittsburgh Steelers is that they will always find a way to win at home. The majority of teams in this league that find themselves down 14 points at half time would have probably folded and called it a season. Not the Steelers though. Green Bay showed exactly why so many of them picked them in the preseason to go to the Super Bowl. They had no problem dismantling the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan who were seemingly invincible at home. I don't feel quite as bad anymore about the Eagles loss two weeks ago.

The Bad

Sorry Seattle. You had a nice run but you showed us exactly why you were a 7-9 team. The play from Chicago's defense was outstanding and had no problem shutting down the Seahawks players who were heroes from one week prior. Mike Williams was a non-factor, Marshawn Lynch didn't make any highlight reels, and Matt Hasselbeck was nonexistent for the first half. Next week's match-up of the Packers offense and the Bears defense will certainly be an exciting one.

The Ugly

"It is what it is," said Bill Belichick in his press conference following the huge upset by the Jets. Had Alge Crumpler caught that touchdown pass instead of dropping it in the first quarter I'm fairly certain this game would have gone completely the other way. But give credit to the Jets defense. They were able to pressure Tom Brady all day, account for five sacks, and force him into making mistakes. I thought the Eagles had a disappointing season but when you go 14-2 and lose in a home game after a bye week, I have to say that is pretty damn ugly.

NFL Divisional Weekend

Here are my picks and analysis live from Las Vegas for the Divisional Playoffs:

Baltimore (+3.5) @ Pittsburgh

This is the matchup that many of us have been waiting for. I personally love old school smash mouth and defense football and this game should have plenty of that. Baltimore easily disposed of Kansas City last week led by their dominant defensive front seven. This week they will have a much tougher task of trying to break through the much tougher Pittsburgh offensive line. In addition to a tougher O-line, Pittsburgh certainly has a more explosive passing game than KC with Big Ben, Mike Wallace, and Hines Ward. This game will certainly be close and will likely come down to whoever makes a late defensive play. I have to give the edge to the Steelers by virtue of being well rested from a bye week and how difficult it is to win two consecutive road games although we have seen past Raven teams do it before.

Pick: Pittsburgh -3.5 however this game is too close to call. Some of you may want to stay away from it.

Green Bay (+1) @ Atlanta

Green Bay was picked by many to go the Superbowl at the beginning of the season and they are now one step closer. The road however gets much tougher as Atlanta and Matty Ice are one of the best home teams in the entire league. Green Bay showed last week how good their defense is and how Clay Matthews and company had little trouble getting to the quarterback. The Packers also got a nice surprise boost from the unknown James Starks but we’ll see if he can recapture that magic against a diesel Atlanta front seven. Atlanta is built on the foundation of a strong defense and a strong running game and as we’ve seen this season, running the ball on Green Bay is the way to beat this team. While Matt Ryan is definitely coming into his own as a quarterback, all he needs to do is take care of the ball and let his running game and defense take care of the rest.

Pick: Green Bay +1. As tough as the Falcons are at home, there’s something going on with this Packers team this year and I see them going on a deep run.

Seattle (+10) @ Chicago

The Seahawks win against the Saints last week was extremely impressive. The Saints defense had absolutely no answer for Matt Hasselbeck and Marshawn Lynch but the question is does Chicago have the answer? The short answer is absolutely yes. Chicago is known for defense and its strong runner game, two things that the Saints were severely lacking in last week. And as long as Jay Cutler doesn’t revert to his early season form and takes care of the ball, Chicago should have little problem winning this one. While the Seahawks have already beaten the Bears earlier this season, I just don’t see them having the same magic they had last week. Seattle will do enough to keep this game to less than one score however the Bears should win this one in Soldier Field.

Pick: Seattle keeps it close but Chicago moves on the NFC Championship. Take Seattle +10

New York Jets (+8.5) @ New England

Not only does Rex Ryan never shut up but apparently now his players feel the need to say shit (Yes you Antionio Cromartie. Don’t you have better things to do like taking care of your eight kids in eight difference cities?). Clearly nobody has ever told these guys to never wake the sleeping giant and as much as it pains me to say it, the Patriots are certainly giants. New England had yet another impressive regular season second only to their 16-0 season just a few years ago. Offensively the Patriots are a complete team. We already know about Tom Brady, Wes Welker and whatever receivers Belichick feels like plugging in any given year so I’m going to skip over their already stellar passing game. I want to focus on Green-Ellis and Woodhead. Who saw this tandem being as dangerous as it has been this year? I sure as hell didn’t. The only chink in the armor for the Patriots this year is their defense. This is certainly not the defense once let by veterans like Bruschi, Vrabel, Milloy and other stud players. If Rex Ryan can study the Cleveland vs. New England game during the early part of the regular season and figure out what worked, he may be able to save himself from some embarrassment.

Pick: Brady + Belichick @ Foxboro = WIN! Pats win big. Go home Jets and keep your mouths shut.

"Closer to single than you are to married...."

So by this time tomorrow, I will be landing in Sin City. This trip has been in the works for some time and finally three of my good friends and I are ready to take Vegas by storm. I've been asked many times, "What's the occasion?" "You guys having a bachelor party?" and other questions along those lines. The simple answer is No. We're doing exactly what young professionals in their mid-20's should be doing: going out, having fun, and spending tons of money in the process. There is a finite window of opportunity to live like a kid yet party like an adult and I for one am going to take advantage of it.

As I mentioned previously, this is a trip that I have been looking forward to for quite some time. There have been countless conversations about clubs, bars, strip clubs, gambling, and all of the possible activities that we can squeeze into a 3-day time frame. Eventually we all decided that the only things that we would book are dinner at N9ne Steakhouse at the Palms, a session at the Gun Store on Tropicana Avenue, and limo service to drive our drunk asses around. As we've seen in countless TV shows and movies, its probably best to see where the night takes you. Hopefully it'll take us to some sweet bars, a strip club and a hot session at the craps tables.

Now as many conversations I've had about Las Vegas over the past two months, I've had an equal number of conversations with/about people getting engaged, wedding plans, and everything I'm currently avoiding in my own life like the plague. First off, I want to say congratulations to the 7 couples that I know who have gotten engaged over the past 6 weeks. That being said, that definitely isn't for me right now and stop asking me when Angel and I are going to get engaged. It's definitely not going to happen any time soon (please refer to the title of this post). I love Angel very much and more than likely some point down the line we probably will get married but right now I'm 25-years old. I love going out to bars with my boys. I love golfing and gambling every chance I get. Basically, I love living every weekend like it's a bachelor party and I have no intension of giving up this lifestyle any time soon. Am I the only guy who's been in a long-term relationship (that isn't engaged) that feels this way? Does anyone else agree with me that marriage and whatnot is still going to be there when we're 30 so why not enjoy 25 while we still have it? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

Wild Card Weekend Recap

Having gone 2-2 against the spread this weekend, let's take a look at what went wrong and what went right.

The Good

Looks like I was spot on with Baltimore @ Kansas City. Kansas City was outplayed in every single facet of the game. Matt Cassel finished with a stellar passing rating of 20.4, the leader in TD receptions Dwayne Bowe was held to zero catches, and the front-7 of the Ravens accounted for 3 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss. When I said the spread should have been 7 or 8, I guess I grossly underestimated even that.

Who saw the Seattle Sea-minuses winning outright against the defending champs? I sure as hell didn't but I did say they would cover the 10.5. Marshawn Lynch's final run at the end of the game was one of the most spectacular runs I have seen in a long time. Eight broken tackles, wow. Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams has a lot of explaining to do. How you're team puts up 30+ points against a losing team and you still manage to lose the game is beyond me.

The Bad

The Colts have let me down all year against the spread so I'm definitely not surprised with what happened Saturday night. The Colts had every opportunity to pull away in the first half with Sanchez looking shaky at best. But give the Jets credit, they kept it close, hung around, and made the plays when they needed to. LT looked like the LT I grew up watching averaging over 5 yards a carry with 2 scores. Despite a terrible first half, Sanchez did enough in the second half with a lot of help from his talented receivers to put the Jets in a position to win the game.

The Ugly

Goddamn it Birds! More specifically goddamn it Andy Reid and Sean McDermott. How the hell do you let James Starks (who the fuck is James Starks?!) rush for for 120+ yards? Some people have told me, "Well the Eagles only let up 21-points. That's good for them." Good for them is still not good, and it should have been 28-points if not for a drop when Asante Samuel got burned badly on a go route. And David Akers, don't think I have forgotten about you. How dare you break my heart and miss two field goals inside of 40 yards in the playoffs! And finally Big Red. Your lack of half-time adjustments, clock management, and misuse of time outs never ceases to amaze me. How many days till pitchers and catchers report to spring training? Fuck.

NFL Wild Card Weekend (Part 2)

As promised, here are my breakdowns and picks for the Sunday games of Wild Card Weekend.

1/9 1:00 ET: Baltimore (-3) @ Kansas City

When I first saw the spread for this game, i was quite surprised by how the low line was. The Chiefs finished the season at 10-6 however it was a very unimpressive 10-6 being in the AFC's weakest division. How do you lose two games to the Raiders? On the other side, The Ravens finished 12-4 and had a shot to win their division all the way down to the wire. The key thing to look for in this match-up is the Chiefs running tandem of Charles and Jones vs. the stacked front 7 of the Raven's defense starring Ngata, Suggs, and of course Ray Lewis. If the Ravens can win the battle up front, shut down the running game, and force Matt Cassel to make plays with his arm, its going to be a long day for the Chiefs.

Pick: Ravens win big. This line should have been closer to 7 or 8.

1/9 4:30 ET: Green Bay (+2.5) @ Philadelphia

This is hands down the best match-up of the entire weekend. The showdown of Aaron Rodgers, who is clearly now a top flight quarterback, against the reborn Michael Vick is certainly going to be an electric display. Both teams have superb wide-outs. If you were to ask me to pick Jennings, Jones and Driver or Jackson, Maclin and Avant, it would honestly be a very tough decision (though we know who I'd take). The deciding factors in this game are how much Andy Reid chooses to use LeSean McCoy, if the Eagles can contain Clay Matthews, and how bad the Eagles secondary decides to play. LeSean McCoy is in my opinion the second coming of Brian Westbrook and has been extremely underutilized all season. He should touch the ball at least 18-20 times. Andy has shown that he can get away from the run if early success isn't there. That would be a very bad decision. Clay Matthews is a beast. Straight-up. The Birds will need to use the TE, RB, and FB and whatever else it takes to stop this guy from getting to Vick. If Vick gets hit early and often, that could spell trouble for an offense that relies on its ability to make big plays. Finally the lowly Eagles secondary. I just want to start out by saying Dimitri Patterson's new nickname should be Toast. This guy is horrible and I expect Aaron Rodgers to throw in his direction every chance he gets. Even with Asante Samuel back, the secondary just hasn't been making plays and seems to always give up the big one at the wrong time. Is it too much for me to ask for them to just play average for one game?

Pick: How can I pick against my Birds? Oh wait, I can't. Fly Eagles Fly minus 2.5!

The Unlikeliest of Friends and a Step Into Adulthood

So in my last post, I said that I would be breaking down the Sunday playoff games however something happened today and unfortunately I will save Part 2 of my Wild Card Weekend analysis till tomorrow (I promise). As some of you know, I am headed to Vegas next weekend and have been spending a fair amount of time prepping, making reservations, etc. Being exactly a week away from Vegas, I thought it would a good idea to put that up on my status. About 10-minutes ago, I get a facebook chat from someone completely unexpected, my high school geometry and precalculus teacher (who we'll call Mr.C, but those of you who have known me for a long time can can figure it out).

I don't consider this a random encounter. Mr. C and I have facebook chatted before, probably once every few months to discuss the Phillies, the Eagles, my marathon training, and things of that nature. He was one of my favorite teachers in high school, although I didn't consider us all that close at that time. He obviously saw my status and I thought he felt the need to pass on some pearls of wisdom. Mr. C opened with, "Just remember the poker players in Vegas are better than AC." From there, I expected the conversation to take the form of a father talking to his son, however as our talk progressed, it was as if I was talking to one of my goof ball buddies. "Me too - love long sessions playing poker," "no - I do not know how to play tournaments. It's a different game," "No shit!" "Go Birds!" These were some of the snippets of our conversation.

When did we reach this level of adulthood that we no longer filter what we say to those we once were scared to sneeze the wrong way in class? Is it appropriate for me as a 25-year old to discuss my gambling habits, poker strategy, nightlife (read: binge drinking) with someone who in some shape or form helped to mold me into the person that I am today? Simply put, when did we grow up? I am very happy to hold Mr. C in the same regard as I would consider my Trinity friends and high school friends. There is certainly something to be said for being able to converse with someone much older (not in a bad way) and wiser as if they are your equal.

NFL Wild Card Weekend

Arguably the most exciting weekend in the NFL is upon us and undoubtedly the vast majority of you will watch all four playoff games this weekend. As much as I love football, I love betting on football even more so I'm going to quickly analyze each game and give you my pick of who to bet on against the spread. I'll give you Saturday's games today, and Sunday's games tomorrow.

1/8 4:30pm ET: New Orleans (-10.5) @ Seattle

I still say that a 7-9 team has no business hosting a playoff game and that if a division winner comes in with a losing record, they should award home field to the wild-card team. But that's a story for another day. I wouldn't underestimate Seattle's chances in this game. Even though they are going up against the defending Super Bowl champs, the Saints have shown that they are certainly not the team they were last year. With Thomas and Ivory gone for the Saints, Brees will be forced to throw, throw, and throw some more and with 22 INTs this year, Brees isn't as a sure thing as he once was. If Seattle's defense can force Brees into a mistake, and their offense can run the ball and limit the number of possessions the Saints get, the Seahawks could hang around in this one. That being said, while I still like the Saints to win this game, I don't see them covering the 10.5 against the Seahawks. The Saints are 1-8 in their last 9 games against the spread when playing teams with a losing record.

Pick: Take the Seahawks +10.5

1/8 8:05 pm ET: New York Jets (+2.5) @ Indianapolis

This one is going to come down to the play of the quarterbacks and whichever team scores last will likely win the game. Mark Sanchez has at times looked great, particularly early in the season, and other times looked like the Mark Sanchez of 2009. One way for the Jets to take some pressure off Sanchez is to feed the ball to L.T. and Shonn Green. Together they combined for over 1600 yards rushing in the regular season. This will also help to control Dwight Freeney who always seems to make a key-play at the right time against turnover prone quarterbacks. Payton Manning has had his worst year passer rating wise since 2002 however that can certainly be attributed to many of his weapons (particularly Dallas Clark) and some of his O-line going down with injuries for extended periods of time. Even though Manning is having a down year, I find it very difficult to go against him come playoff time.

Pick: Go with the Colts -2.5, even though these aren't Colts of 2005-2009, they're still one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC during the post season. Vinny, I know you're reading this and I'm sorry to say Rex Ryan will be rubbing Mark Sanchez's feet on a couch come Divisional Weekend.

Tomorrow I break down and pick Baltimore @ Kansas City and Green Bay @ Philadelphia

The Gym: For some or for all?

I recently post on my facebook status, "Dear fat people, slow people, and people who will drop their new year's resolutions in a week, get out of my fucking way when I'm doing a speed workout on the indoor track. I'm actually taking this shit seriously. kthxbai" It was this post and the subsequent responses that was the final spark for me to start this blog. I clearly posted this in anger after my workout but before some of you fly off the handle here, let me give you a little background of what happened.

It's that time of year where all gyms become flooded with those who make new year's resolutions and aspire to lose weight and get in shape. I admire what these kinds of people are trying to do, but let's be honest, 50% of you will give up after a week, 50% of what's left will give up after a month, and I am willing to bet (love betting) that of the remaining 25% of the original group, 1 out of 5 of you will still be going by March. I'll wait for you to do the math out.... That's 5 out of 100 people that will still be working out come springtime.

Anyway, I was doing a sprint workout on my gym's indoor track and there was this group of soccer moms walking in a line blocking the width of the track. I have belonged to the same gym for years now, workout at roughly the same time every day, and have never seen these women before. Clearly they fell into the "New Year's Resolution" category of gym-goers. I simply went around them for my first few laps around the track hoping they would notice what I was doing and that they would kindly step aside whenever I came around to pass them. Naturally, they never got out of my way and continued to walk the formation that took up the entire track. After a dozen times around the track, I almost bumped into one of the women going at my full speed and all of them shot me the same dirty look as if I had violated them somehow. Fuck you bitches and get out of my goddamn way! Learn to respect real athletes and what they're trying to accomplish versus your half-assed walking around a track while gossiping about how being a trophy wife is so great.

Now that being said, many people have responded to my status and 90% surprisingly agreed with me. Let that be a lesson to those who don't take your workouts seriously or aren't yet in good physical condition. Respect real athletes and get out of our way. To quote a wise girl, "That's why there are athletic facilities and gyms vs. Curves and Jenny Craig." Where do you belong?

Introduction

In light of recent events, I've decided that my new year's resolution will be to start a blog. Those of you who hang out with me on a regular basis know that I have a tendency to say things that range from insightful, profound, to down right offensive. One person in particular has been saying time and time again that I need to write these things down so here we go.

This blog will be about my most predominant interests: athletics (mostly pertaining to running, triathlon training, and golf), professional sports, gambling, and of course gambling on professional sports. I have been a runner all my life, from running cross-country and track in high school, to recently completing my first marathon. I have been a golfer since the age of 13 and over the past two season have maintained a single digit handicap. I am a Philly boy born and raised and am what radio personality Anthony Gargano calls a "4 for 4" guy in the world of Philly sports. I love my Birds, Phillies, Flyers and 6ers (yes, in that order). Finally, any of you who have spent even 10 minutes with me know that I have a borderline gambling problem. I will bet on anything and everything. I've made bets ranging from $1000.00 all-ins at a no-limit poker game to $25.00 on what rating "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" got on Rotten Tomatoes.

Now that you know a little more about me, I hope you all know what kind of material to expect on future posts.