26 November 2009

Hell of a Shoot Out

I'll give ATM credit: they played lights out on offense. Not sure what was up with Texas on defense tonight. Just looked unlike anything I've seen from them all year.
Colt continues to be brilliant, the offense is humming doing whatever it is that the defense will let them do. You shut down the short pass? Fine, Texas goes over the top. You load 8 in the box, Colt, Malcolm, Jordan and the rest will shred your man to man. Give us the run. Texas runs smash mouth ball on you.

Texas escaped with this win, make no mistake. The defense at too much turkey or some other post Thanksgiving cliche. Still, Texas looked excellent on offense.

And now... The Huskers await. Hook 'em.

23 November 2009

Colt Freakin McCoy


Saturday night saw the end of the McCoy era at DKR. He went out with a bang: 300+ yards, 4 touchdowns, one shot of Smokey and some hits on Big Bertha.

There was a play early that reminded me why I've been such an ardent fan of him. On a third down and I think 9, Texas lined up spread, Colt took the snap, saw no one open, and ran for the first down. He slid and took a lick from two different defensive players, but was up and hyped immediately. That took me back to when I first really took my first full swig of the Colt McCoy Kool-Aid...

Nebraska vs Texas at DKR, 2007... 3rd Quarter... Texas is having a hard time of things because Greg Davis is still Greg Davis. They line up spread, and as they had all day, Nebraska blitzed, sacking McCoy. He didn't get up quickly and in fact lied there kind of motionless for a bit too long. Trainers came out and escorted him to the sideline. John Chiles came in, and Texas ran the ball to Jamal Charles for 30+ yards. Then, to many surprised Horns fans, McCoy comes right back in. He takes the snap, and runs a QB draw for 20 yards, takes a SERIOUS hit and jumps right up. The guy is pumping his chest and fists and screaming and getting his team fired up.

For me, that was it. The guy showed toughness that got me out of my seat and cheering till I was horse. Texas won the game, and the story was mostly about how Jamal Charles ran for so much in the 4th quarter. For me tho, it will always be that play. Colt took a shot, had to come out, then came back in, took another and jumped up to show everyone that he is not to be trifled with.

Every Texas quarterback has that iconic moment that burns them in memory of the Horns faithful (see VY Rose Bowl, James Brown in St Louis, Major Applewhite in the Holiday Bowl), but they also have that moment when they go from player to hero. You see them take that step, and as a fan you are grateful for getting to watch it in person. VY did it when he lead Texas back to beat Oklahoma State after being down by 30 at home. Major refused to leave the field at Nebraska despite a concussion to make sure Ricky carried the rest of the load to victory. James Brown beat OU in his very first start.

Nebraska 2008 was that moment for me for Colt. It has been fun to watch him to go even higher, and I can't wait for his legacy moment, maybe in LA.

What are your thoughts on Texas and Colt McCoy after this weekend?

16 November 2009

The Blues - When Being Emo Meant You Didn't Have to Be a Bitch

"Nobody loves me but my mother, and she might be jivin' too"

That's a line from the great BB King. He's a music god. He's a pillar by which the guitar as a form of expression is built. Much like Chuck Berry or a few others, you go through a phase when you learn to play guitar where you are trying to make your guitar sound like Lucille. You will fail, as many have before you... but that's not the point.

BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson... the list goes on... but anyway... Why are they looked at as musical icons and legends when they are ultimately singing what by the lyrics is more emo than anything The Used or Fall Out Boy or whoever else put out?

Well, for me at least, it's because they play the blues as a kind of revival. They come off like like the whiney kid in high school with a self esteem issue... they sound like men in pain with crushed hearts and hard lives. Life can kick your ever loving ass. Singing the blues is a way to exalt and turn that pain into glorious celebration, and have an audience share their own with you through their attention and adoration. There is so much to it that is beautiful and brilliant, and most of all, none of it (well maybe Clapton) comes off as whiny. Why? Its all in the delivery kids...

The lyrics are as all about how bad someone has it. The lyrics are angsty. But the delivery is glorious.You feel these musicians bear their souls through their art. The soul of the music is undeniable and untouchable. But there is something forceful about it. Like they know that through this expression they free themselves of the pain. There is a sense of joy to the expression.

Emo music comes off like people want to lay down in self pity and cry the night away. It sounds like someone is saying "woe is me, my life sucks." But there is a sense that they want to wallow in that. There is no freedom, only self induced slavery to their own sadness. Who wants to listen to that? Why for the love of God would you want to wallow in pain? I mean, I've done it... its stupid and self destructive.

The blues is joy through pain... emo drags joy down to pain.

So to those who want to listen to emo bands all day and feel sorry for yourself... I say this: grow the hell up. Life sucks. Get a helmet. Share your art and express yourself, but please, stop making me want to slap you.

And yes... to those that now me... I know how odd that kind of advice is coming from me... but what can I say? I grew up... I had friends... they are awesome.

So what do you guys think?

14 November 2009

Digital Comics 2 - Gaming

There is another side to digitally distributed comics... gaming books also fall into this realm. Wouldn't it make sense for D&D, White Wolf, or any other group creating table top material generate the information and send it out digitally?

I mean, it already happens. Most gamers have 1 set of the books needed in a gaming group and have downloaded scans from various venues which provide a perfect gaming tool for you laptop. WoTC has started to embrace the digital model, and there are loads of start up groups like Army Builder who provide a digital tool for table top gaming. They are further along than comic books, but wouldn't it benefit them to produce licensed digital copies. You could even water mark them or go so far as to DRM the copies.

On another note, Google Wave presents an interesting tool for a game scenario. You could simulate a true game online, which would be really cool. With how live that system can be, it would present a true feel for a the room that previous options (chat, forum, email) haven't before. We shall see where that goes...

Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

13 November 2009

Who reads this?

Just wondering who all reads this blog. Say hi you loitering bastards...

08 November 2009

Weekend

Had a great night Friday, more on that coming, don't want to jinx/spoil anything.

Saturday saw Texas win, and do so rather impressively. I'm very happy to see Jordan and Colt crush more records, and the defense looks as impenetrable  as always.

Sunday, I actually won a 40k game. Yeah, my opponent had the worst luck ever. And yes, I took an army that was tooled for hard tournaments. But I won dammit. That has to count for something.

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks. No real point to this post other than to keep the habit of posting.