October 16, 2024
.
I can’t recall if I mentioned it here. My latest PetScan showed NO MORE CANCER …. No Mo Chemo !!
I do have three more antibody infusions to develop resistance to a return of the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 3-5 years. It has been an “interesting” 10 month experience I never considered I might encounter.
****************
.
Back in late August, I ventured a few predictions for local area ACC football programs whose often over-caffeinated partisans comprise a significant % of readership here. My predictions were not surprising; but consistent with general sports media forecasts.
NC State, under the direction of not universally appreciated(??) “Dour Dave” Doeren, seemed poised for “a season for the ages”. A stable staff, a strong contingent of returning veterans, and the ubiquitous transfer-in of a veteran QB seemed to give long-suffering PackPeople a real reason to hope…
“This is the. year we finally play in the ACC Championship game – maybe even play in ‘a real bowl game’ … and – OMG – maybe even make The Final Twelve !!!!
Simply beating “hated rival” UNC had become taken-for-granted after three consecutive whuppins … MORE was now expected and “the pieces” seemed in place for THIS to be The Year. An early season game versus SEC Tennessee would likely negate an unbeaten season but “keep that score close” and “running the table” for 11-1 would be mighty fine. Alas and alack that dream was quickly shattered as everyone reading this well knows.
It’s mid October … The Wolfpack are 3-4 … three wins short of even “bowl eligible” and another Whozit Bowl. Of the remaining five opponents, all five ARE winnable … or losable. OK, that final game versus “the hated rival” in what could well be the not-so-grand finale of the Mack2.0 Experiment … could even THAT be losable? … ????
If this season continue on its present course for both programs, that game “amid Kenan’s lofty pines” in late November could be “which team just wants “a toothache season” to be over with … collect its NIL $$$ and be done with it”?
Needless to say … the previously hibernating Dump Doeren faction of PackPeople are now fully awake and gathering pitchforks, torches, tar & feathers and a rail to escort the “reasonably successful” 10 year Wolfpack head coach outta town. None of’em so far are offering to help “Boo” assemble the substantial buy-out bucks to make that feasible.
It will be interesting to see if Dour Dave chooses to admonish Pack fans – again – for not giving him an over-flowing NIL war chest to go out and rent a buncha players. Dave has a history of admonishing his loyal fan base for such indiscretions as not being in their seats for the 3rd quarter … and for not giving him that overflowing NIL war chest.
NOTE: “renting a buncha players” might not guarantee success. Ask any Florida State fan. FSU brought in more transfers than any other Power4 school …. and its had a Total Disaster of a season.
How “Boo” and outgoing “Chancellor Randy” choose to deal with this could make for a interesting next several months.
Yours truly bets Dour Dave is back on the Carter-Finley sidelines come next September.
***********************
.
Meanwhile “amidst Kenan’s lofty pines” ……….
Discontent and empty seats are the rule not the exception as the Mack2.0 Experiment struggles to an uncomfortable finale for all concerned.
Unlike lofty pre-season predictions for NC State, UNCCH’s season began with “modest expectations” at best but has managed to not even reach that level.
When your hated rival gives up 50 points to two “very good teams” would normally be cause for glee and delight along “scenic Franklin Street” UNLESS Your Team gives up 70 to some whozit community college somewhere in Virginia and then Your Team collapses in the 4th quarter against its other hated rival.
Bless his heart …. “Hall of Famer Mack’s” post-game comments after repeated losses have become “word salad” worthy of Democrat standard bearer “Kackles2.0” … otherwise known as “the dim-witted fraud in an empty pantsuit”.
How Bubba orchestrates a respectful exit strategy for Mack – if indeed that IS the decision – remains to be seen. “Agent Sally” has made it clear she expects nothing less than A WHOLE LOTTA $$$$ for Mack to even consider politely retiring … along with a plaque, a gold watch and lifetime free parking on Franklin Street.
This mess could end up costing more than the $20,000,000+ to avoid the death penalty from that AfAm Studies fiasco.
Meanwhile over in Dean’s Dome, Coach Hubert is learning that “look up at those jerseys in the rafters” does not have the WOW Factor that a $100,000 NIL deal has in the NIL Era.
*************
.
In addition to disappointing Football seasons, hated rivals only 24 miles apart share the real concern that their respective “Joe Fan” fan bases do not appear eager to fork over their hard earned dollars for Rent-A-Players that do not know or care who “Roman” or “Choo Choo” were.
Both UNCCH and NCSU went out and bought high dollar transfer QBs …. both of whom went out early with what appear to be season-ending injuries. OUCH …
The assumption that “the Fat Cats will pay for it” is not materializing like at Real Football schools in the SEC and BIG18.
As lawsuits and speculation regarding The Future of Big Time College Football swirl about … The ACC and its individual member institutions need to decide what it wants to be …. and what it realistically can be.
One unconfirmed report says Ohio State’s current football roster has a $20,000,000 NIL price tag. Lord only knows what other perennial super powers are paying. And will pay next season and the seasons after that ….. ????
**************
.
As my overall sports interests wanes … I HAVE followed the MLB Playoffs as far as my streaming abilities allow. I was pulling for Padres manager Mike Shildt who is from Charlotte and we share several mutual friends. Mike had a much better season than did the woeful Cardinals who did him dirty several years ago.
Philadelphia – infamous for its infamous fans – won 95 regular season games and its NL division … one of the best overall records in MLB …. but lost in 4 games to the Mets. True to their reputation, Philly fans are DEMANDING the entire organization – except for Bryce Harper – be tossed in a dumpster and set afire. Phillie management responded by giving a two-year extension to its entire coaching staff.
************
.
I am a HUGE fan of Riley Gaines and her crusade to save Womens Sports. That trany men are allowed to compete in “womens sports” where they obviously have a biological advantage might be the MOST ridiculous argument in recent American history… and that includes A LOT of ridiculous arguments.
I am “active” on Facebook but tend to converse with like-minded “friends” avoiding the human hairballs that exercise their first amendment rights to express their insanity on-line. I’m not talking about socio-political differences involving on-line feces flinging …. although there IS a lot of that which I do not contribute to. …. anyhoo ….
Last night there was a Facebook thread about two trany men pretending to be women finishing 1st and 2nd in some Pool Championship. There was outrage aplenty from commenters.
I decided to ask ….. “I totally support Riley Gaines and her efforts. IMO Lia Thomas should be publicly castrated with a rusty box-cutter …. That said …
“…. do men have a biological advantage over women in pool / billiards? If so … how?” .
Several months ago a trany male won a women’s CHESS tournament and I pondered the same question.
Obviously any “sports competition” that involves any degree of strength and physicality would favor a biological male … but chess and pool ??? I thought it was a pretty innocent question …
As is always a possibility in social media, my question awakened a fire-breathing lunatic. No doubt a Harris supporter but that did not come up.
He unleashed a fusillade of jibberish that rivaled Mack Brown’s post-game comments or a Kackles’2.0 “word salad”. Somewhere in it he claimed “people like me” are the problem. Moi? Should I have mentioned “I came from a middle-class family”?
A cohort of his would go on to explain that males have an “OBVIOUS” advantage in pool …. (1) by being taller they can see the table better … and (2) having bigger feet they have better balance when leaning over to make a shot. ???????? WHO KNEW ?
I had some how stumbled into a lunatic biker bar and best get the hell outta there ASAP. I did …
Just another day in America 2024 ……
.
Enjoy BobLee Classics …. HERE
.
.
