If anybody was wondering if Michael Jackson was picked in my celebrity death pool...here's the update: I picked him in the 4th round. I'm like the Jack Z. of Death Drafts, I know where to find the best sleepers.
Related to that, here's a true story of an event that happened to me last night. No exaggeration. I'm pulling through the Taco Bell drive through after work when the following exchange happens between me and the girl working the window (not attractive by any reasonable measure):
Girl - "That'll be $7.45...HEY! Oh my God did you hear Michael Jackson died?
Me - "Oh yeah...he's out. It's all over the internet and radio."
Girl - "Wait...I heard it could only be a heart attack and he might be alive!"
Me - "He's gone. Deal with it."
Girl - "It's just crazy...you know?!"
Me - "You know what else is crazy? I picked him in the 4th round of my celebrity death pool. I get a point for that."
Girl - "Ummm...that's kind of weird."
Me - "You know what else is weird? Starting a conversation with a customer in the drive thru lane at Taco Bell about Michael Jackson's death."
And finally, on a Chuckie Hacks personal note...I'll basically be ending my run of posting here on the old site. Job promotion and studies for the CPA exam will do that to a blogger. It's been a good run and I can retire knowing I'm the 2nd best Brewer blogger in the business (nobody tops KLSnow...even I'll admit that). I'll still comment from time to time and maybe throw up a post if I get real worked up about something...but that's basically it. I hope if I left a lasting mark on anyone its that the word "billups" has made it's way into their everyday vocabulary.
Showing posts with label Chuckie Hacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chuckie Hacks. Show all posts
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Classic Spam Email
Another classic Spam message from the CH inbox:
From: Kathy
Subject: Would this Interest your Blog Readers
Message:
Dear,
Thought you might be interested in some fun stuff for your blog readers. Please take a look how fire thrills...... and kills. Watch a fire-breather's head blow up in a freak accident.
It’d be great if you can share this with your blog readers
Regards,
Kathy
I'd include the link, but would then probably get 1,000 messages a day from Kathy.
Oh, and an update from this CH email....I pulled the trigger on that '88. It arrived last month and is currently in my back yard. It needs a little welding work on the boiler (looking to hire), a large family of Cuban refugees were found in the hull, and a pack of raccoons found their way into the electrical system. Whatever. I'll get that bad boy cruising the shores of Lake Michigan in no time.
From: Kathy
Subject: Would this Interest your Blog Readers
Message:
Dear,
Thought you might be interested in some fun stuff for your blog readers. Please take a look how fire thrills...... and kills. Watch a fire-breather's head blow up in a freak accident.
It’d be great if you can share this with your blog readers
Regards,
Kathy
I'd include the link, but would then probably get 1,000 messages a day from Kathy.
Oh, and an update from this CH email....I pulled the trigger on that '88. It arrived last month and is currently in my back yard. It needs a little welding work on the boiler (looking to hire), a large family of Cuban refugees were found in the hull, and a pack of raccoons found their way into the electrical system. Whatever. I'll get that bad boy cruising the shores of Lake Michigan in no time.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Getting To Know Your Chuckie Hacks Blogger
We did this once before, it’s time for Round 2. This might be the longest post in CH history.
Favorite Bucks player of all-time?
GOLDY: Moncrief. Reminds me of the times when the Bucks were good. Plus I have an awesome old Sports Illustrated poster of him. Yah, the one with the white border.
BRAD: Terry Cummings - beast. I think he was one of the first NBA guys to start lifting weights. Had some guns back in the day when most guys his size – James Worthy, for example – were string beans.
MATT: Sadly, it is probably Big Dog. I wish I felt otherwise. I was also a big Terry Cummings fan.
Most memorable game you attended?
GOLDY This would have to be a tie between the 1999 Rose Bowl and the 1997 Wisconsin-Minnesota basketball game at the Fieldhouse. The ’99 Rose Bowl was great because it was my first time in the Rose Bowl and the setting and the game were awesome. Wisconsin won a tight one thanks to Ron Dayne coming up just yards short of the Rose Bowl rushing record and scoring three TDs (I think), a Fletcher pick-six off McNown, UCLA running a fake punt that ended up about 2 yards short of a first down, and Bryant with a sack to seal the deal. Remember, this was the team that Craig James called the worst team to ever play in a Rose Bowl. UCLA was also on their way to the national title game until they lost a late November game to the Edge James led Miami Hurricanes in a game played in late November thanks to being postponed by a hurricane earlier in the season. The game was close all they way through and it was awesome to see how many Wisconsin fans made the trip and how in to it everyone was. UCLA had to call a time-out at the goal line because the crowd noise was too loud and they couldn’t hear McNown. How many times have you seen that in a bowl game, and in UCLA’s home stadium? Just a great game and a great trip out to LA in a mini-van with 4 great buddies.
The 1997 Wisconsin-Minnesota basketball game is another one I will never forget. This was the year Minnesota went to the Final Four (now vacated) and was ranked #2 in the country at the time. It was the last game of the Big Ten season (No Big Ten Tourney at the time) and the Badgers needed a win to most likely make the NCAAs. It was a huge deal at the time. Remember, at that point the Badgers had only made the NCAAs once since the ‘40’s, and that was in 1994. The Fieldhouse was rocking. Definitely the loudest sporting event I have ever been at. I remember Ty Calderwood coming up huge in that game. The Badgers won by one, but Minnesota had a shot to win at the end. I remember thinking to myself, “Sam Jacobson is going to kill us here.” Thankfully he didn’t. If memory serves my right, Jacobson did take the last shot for the Gophers, but it didn’t fall. The students stormed the court. I had to make it down from my seat on the second level. Still, the only time I have ever run on to the court/field following a victory. As an added bonus, you can see the back of my head in the famous Calderwood photo that ran on the front of the JS sports page that Sunday. Great game, great times!
BRAD: The Antonio Freeman Catch on His Ass. It was a cold and rainy MNF game. The Packers on the sideline blocked my view of the catch. I saw the ball in the air, and then heard everyone groan. A split-second later, Freeman started running back into my view. Everyone sort of stopped? Nobody really knew what happened until moments later…Lambeau went crazy.
MATT: Because memorable doesn't mean good, I would say the most memorable game I attended was a 3-3 tie between Wisconsin and Illinois at Camp Randall my freshman year of college. Just an awful, awful game, but we stayed because I brought one of my buddies up for the game and he'd never been to a Badgers game. Darrell Bevell nearly got killed by Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy, and we got our first glimpse of a shell-shocked Mike Samuel. Oh yeah, and it was cold. The Brewers playoff win was pretty cool last year too.
County Stadium was…..
GOLDY:…like home. I loved County Stadium. It had nothing going for it, but it was the place I grew up watching Major League Baseball. Yes, by the end of its life it was a dump, but you have to remember that up until Camden Yards was built, stadiums were nothing special and County was no worse or better than most MLB stadiums. I loved the fact that I knew where every section in the ballpark was located. I loved the fact that I knew where to go for whatever food item I wanted. I loved the Speed Pitch. I loved that my Dad would sign up for the Designated Driver program to get me two free sodas and then go buy himself a beer. I loved running to our car after the game to beat the rush out of the lot. I loved seeing two NFL benches on the same side of the field. I loved hearing my Grandpa chant “Dilweg Sucks!” at a Packer game. I loved watching Molitor’s hit streak, Ryan’s 300th win and Robin’s 3000th hit in person. And I loved the ceremony after the last game at County. Back when the Brewers could do nothing right, this was done right. All the old Braves coming out on the field and Hank wearing his old Braves jersey. Robin the last one to come out and doing a lap on a motorcycle and the current players passing the flag from the old stadium to the new. I have only seen my Dad shed a tear three times in his life. The first time was when I came home from college right before my Grandpa died. The last time was when my Dad had to tell me he had cancer and only had about three months to live (support pancreatic cancer research!) and the other time was the last game at County. Great memories and I will always thing fondly of that place.
BRAD…awesome. No frills, just a ball yard. You could pretty much sit where you want. I don’t think I ever had my ticket checked to see if I was in the right seat. And Bernie sliding into the beer barrel was phenomenal.
MATT: …fine, until I got to Miller Park. I did enjoy watching games in the bleachers at County - that was good times.
Favorite Wisconsin Sports Announcer?
GOLDY The color commentator for Marquette Women’s Basketball. No, my answer is Matt LePay for Wisconsin basketball. Does a great job. Very descriptive, gets into the game at the right moments and is willing to question Bo’s strategy from time to time and can admit when a bad call goes in Wisconsin’s favor. Some games I almost prefer to listen to on radio. LePay paints a great picture of what is going on. He also gets bonus points for his call of the Schabert to Evan TD pass against Ohio State in 2003
BRAD. Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren. Larrivee is one of the best in the business, and McCarren isn’t afraid to say when the Packers are playing like crap. I like when he describes the line play – usually don’t get too much of that on the radio.
MATT: I agree that Lepay is a very good announcer, and so is Wayne Larrivee. So is Ted Davis - that guy makes a Bucks game entertaining, which is a feat. However, if I were going to listen to a game just for the announcer it would have to be Uecker, even though his stories are tired. He is entertaining to me, still. And he's a legend.
Least favorite Wisconsin sports announcer?
GOLDY Homer and McIlvaine. Had to listen to these guys for the first half of Marquette’s first round NCAA game this year. Just brutal. They cried so much it was like listening to a Bears game on the radio. However, I must admit my sample size on this is small since that was the only half of Marquette basketball I have ever listened to on the radio.
BRAD: As a Marquette fan, it pains me to agree with Goldy. Homer has a good radio show, but his play by play is piss poor. It sounds like what I would imagine the UW-Superior announcer to sound like. Jimmy Mac brings nothing to the table.
MATT: We are blessed in Wisconsin with a lot of good sports announcers. I might say Larry McCarren. He is generally very good and knowledgeable, but he is kind of a joke when he cheers in the booth in the background as Larivee calls a play, a la Ron Santo. (Noooooooo! AAaaaaarhgggghghh! Yes! Yes! Yes!) He's not terrible, but it's a personal taste of mine that I don't like cheering in the booth. I could see why some people would like him, especially Packers fans....... Hold the phone! I totally forgot about the Bucks TV announcers. Let me retract the McCarren answer and just say that Jon McGlocklin is awful, and I hate watching a game that he announces. Just terrible. I must have erased him from my memory momentarily. Paschke would be my #2 least favorite Wisconsin sports announcer.
Underrated fast food?
GOLDY Chick-Fil-A – I don’t know if this is underrated or just unknown in these parts. These places are huge down south, hence the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. The only Chick-Fil-A in Wisconsin is in Racine. I love that place. It’s the only reason I have gone in to the Regency Mall in Racine over the past 10 years. As a side note, the Regency Mall has to hold the record for most dollar stores in one mall. The chicken sandwich is great there, but it is the nuggets that take the cake for me. I think they are made of real chicken, so that is a plus. You also get waffle fries. A nice departure from the standard fry. The only drawback is they serve Coke products (another southern thing). If this place served Pepsi, it might surpass Culver’s in my book. When I lived in Kansas City, the only Chick-Fil-A in the city was located in the cafeteria at Johnson County Community College. I went there once and it was awkward.
BRAD: Wendy’s. Long live the square hamburger. And the 99 cent menu is pretty solid…for 99 cents.
MATT: Goldy stole my answer with the Chick Fil A. I will say Cousins subs. I am rarely disappointed at Cousins.
Favorite sports venue in Wisconsin?
GOLDY Tough one. I would have to go with Miller Park. As much as I loved County, I actually saw a Brewers play-off victory that I can remember in Miller Park. Plus, it’s a cool place.
BRAD: Gotta go with Lambeau. A fantastic mix of history and new age. Friggin Vince Lombardi coached there! And who else has a Hall of Fame open year round?
MATT: Miller Park. Or the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, if you count the fact that it has hosted the PGA Championship.
What was “your number” growing up? (What number did you usually have on your sports jerseys?)
GOLDY For baseball: 19/17/16 – Yount/Grace/Random number I stuck with in Legion and HS. Basketball – 21/10 – Wilkins/Random that I equated to “normal” Dennis Rodman.
BRAD: 21. I really don’t know how I got this one. Wanted 33 (Larry Legend), but always went to a beefier player.
MATT: #13, but that was because of Dan Marino, not Big Dog.
If you have a son and he only plays one sport, what sport do you hope he plays?
GOLDY Baseball
BRAD: Basketball. I’m thinking high school level here….playing in a packed gym just has a different atmosphere that baseball and football can’t match.
MATT: I have a son, and that boy better golf. I could play with him until I'm 80, if things go right. He doesn't have to play competitively, just be able to get it around the course with me.
Do you drink Red Bull with out vodka?
GOLDY Heck yah.
BRAD: No chance.
MATT: No. I don't drink Red Bull with, or without, vodka. Las Vegas. Bachelor party. We drank the Venetian sports book out of Red Bull. I might have suffered a minor heart attack. Probably could have died. Enough said.
Big Dog or Ray Allen, and why?
GOLDY: Big Dog. Why? Uh, because. Seriously, I can’t come up with a great answer as to why. It’s strange because both guys actually wanted to be in Milwaukee. I think if Big Dog hits that 10-foot baseline jumper against Philly, his whole Bucks career is painted in a different light. The guy was terrible on D, we all knew that, so you didn’t expect much out of him at that end. I also found it funny the few times a year that he would slash to the basket and throw down a hellacious dunk. You would wonder where that had been all career. In the end, I guess I’ll go with Big Dog because I owned a Bucks #13 jersey and never a Bucks #34 jersey.
BRAD: Dogg. I agree with Matt. Couldn’t defend a lick, but he gave you 22 a night – no matter what. Dogg always got his.
MATT: For whatever reason, I've always had a special place for Big Dog in my heart. I hated Grant Hill coming out of college seeing as he was on Duke, so I wanted Big Dog to succeed so badly. I compared his stats to Hill's during their first few years, and managed to convince myself that Dog was the better pick because Hill couldn't shoot from the outside, never mind the defense, assists, etc. all favored Hill. So I made Dog into a player that he wasn't and that carried over to him being my favorite Buck when he was on the team. I could look past his lack of defense, or his seeming laziness because the guy could score the basketball. So I say Dog, and it has nothing to do with me not liking Ray Allen.
WOZ: Ray Allen. Simply for the fact that he absolutely killed the role of “Jesus Shuttlesworth” in “He Got Game.” The scenes with him and Rick Fox during the college campus visit were outstanding film drama. I particularly enjoy the scene of them eating outside right after Fox tells the white chicks “we’ll catch up with ya’ll later aight…” and Ray responds as they walk away by pounding on the table and asking in a low voice, “You hit those?” To which Fox replies, “About 50% from the field.”
Will you be going to Summerfest this year? If so, why? If not, why not?
GOLDY: There is potential. Honestly, I don’t have a ton of fun there. I guess it’s all about going with the right group of people and at this stage in my life, most of those people have kids, so it’s kind of hard to get everyone together at once. And honestly, I don’t find the scenery to be that great there. If you are all about single moms fro Stallis who smoke and have leathery skin from hitting the tanning beds too often, then this is the place for you. I guess if I come across free or severely discounted tickets and find some people to go with, I may attend. Leading bands to see of those who have been announced include: Rancid, Meat Puppets, Dropkick Murphys, The Gufs, Matisyahu, and Flogging Molly. Nobody I would go see just because they are there, but if I happened to be at Summerfest that day, I would see those bands.
BRAD: No. Last time I was there in about 1996, a bunch of thugs tried to run onto our shuttle bus (flashing gang signs the entire time) and whack my friend just because he is Asian. It was pretty surreal, actually.
MATT: If I go, it will be because my mother-in-law somehow got free tickets and I get dragged along with the family. I will spend my time marveling at the number of massive sunburns, and counting the number of chaches I see with no shirts on while wearing jeans. As you can see, I am not a fan of Summerfest. I will, however, be going to Fish Day.
WOZ: I’m a Summerfest junkie. People say it’s expensive, but if you are a music fan, you can’t deny the atmosphere. For a reasonable cost you have nothing but live music, beer, and the potential for deflowerment.
The last time I tailgated at Miller Park, I grilled ____ and drank _____.
GOLDY: Jim Beam burger from Sendiks (burger with bacon, cheese and Jim Beam in the patty) and drank High Life, Bell’s Oberon and some Red Bull and Vodkas.
BRAD: Johnsonville brats, High Life Light.
MATT: I grilled cheese/bacon burgers from Sendik's and drank Miller Hi Life Light.
WOZ: Meat and Miller Light. Then I went to the Spotlight Lounge after the game. Don’t tell me I don’t know how to enjoy myself.
If I could play only one more golf course in my life, it would be ________.
GOLDY: I really want to say Ives Grove in Racine since the fairways are wide open and that suits my game, but I need to pick something better than that. Since I can’t hit the ball straight, I don’t want to pick too difficult of a course, so famous ones are out. I’ll go with U Ridge in Madison. Much like Matt, I worked there in college and like playing the track and know how to play it. It has an open front and woodsy back, so you are getting some variation. Plus, I have the memory of washing Sal Bando’s clubs and getting a whole dollar as a tip. What a douche canoe.
MATT: This is very difficult to me. It would come down to one of four golf courses. Hawthorne Hills in Ozaukee County, University Ridge in Madison, Augusta or Pebble Beach. Obviously, these are very different plays. I grew up playing golf at Hawthorne Hills, and have played that course more than all other courses combined, I would venture to guess. So there are memories there, and I might want one last crack at it if I knew it would be the last course I play. Ditto for University Ridge. I worked there while in school, so I have played it a ton too, and again there are lots of memories. The other two are, in my mind, the best two courses that I haven't played. I've played the Old Course at St. Andrews, and I've played in Ireland, but to get to play Pebble or Augusta would be a thrill. I'm going to go sentimental here. Hawthorne Hills is my answer.
BRAD: Pirates Cove Mini Golf in the Dells. It’s the perfect combination of scenery, different colored balls, pirate ships and waterfalls.
WOZ: Assuming I’m picking a WI course, then I would go with the Fairways of Woodside in Sussex. Incredibly challenging relatively new course (maybe only 6-7 years old). The back 9 nine has one of the toughest 3 hole stretches in WI, with the last one being a DOUBLE dog leg par 5 with water to your left in play off the tee, and trees lining the fairway through the dog legs. If you don’t hit a perfect drive you are in jail the whole hole. I par it every time because I’m a natural athlete, but that’s beside the point .
Is NASCAR a sport?
GOLDY: Sure. Much more so than poker. The thing that kills me about NASCAR is listening to people at work talk about it. The highlights involve pit stops apparently. I think I am going to continue to stay away from this sport. I must say, I don’t mind “Days of Thunder” however.
BRAD: Yes. I watch the entire Daytona 500, and then about 10 laps combine the rest of the season. The pit crews, coordination with the crew chief, talent needed not to die…of course it’s a sport.
MATT: I will say yes, even though I don't follow NASCAR. It requires skill, people go to watch it. While it might not be athletically challenging like, say, basketball, I think it counts as a sport.
WOZ: There are people that claim bowling, darts, poker, backgammon, & cheerleading are sports. It’s all relative. Driving 200 miles an hour? Sure…why not. However, I don’t find it exciting like some people I know when discussing whether or not a guy should “pit” right now. So if racing is your bag, good for you. I’ll make fun of you behind your back.
Favorite Bucks player of all-time?
GOLDY: Moncrief. Reminds me of the times when the Bucks were good. Plus I have an awesome old Sports Illustrated poster of him. Yah, the one with the white border.
BRAD: Terry Cummings - beast. I think he was one of the first NBA guys to start lifting weights. Had some guns back in the day when most guys his size – James Worthy, for example – were string beans.
MATT: Sadly, it is probably Big Dog. I wish I felt otherwise. I was also a big Terry Cummings fan.
Most memorable game you attended?
GOLDY This would have to be a tie between the 1999 Rose Bowl and the 1997 Wisconsin-Minnesota basketball game at the Fieldhouse. The ’99 Rose Bowl was great because it was my first time in the Rose Bowl and the setting and the game were awesome. Wisconsin won a tight one thanks to Ron Dayne coming up just yards short of the Rose Bowl rushing record and scoring three TDs (I think), a Fletcher pick-six off McNown, UCLA running a fake punt that ended up about 2 yards short of a first down, and Bryant with a sack to seal the deal. Remember, this was the team that Craig James called the worst team to ever play in a Rose Bowl. UCLA was also on their way to the national title game until they lost a late November game to the Edge James led Miami Hurricanes in a game played in late November thanks to being postponed by a hurricane earlier in the season. The game was close all they way through and it was awesome to see how many Wisconsin fans made the trip and how in to it everyone was. UCLA had to call a time-out at the goal line because the crowd noise was too loud and they couldn’t hear McNown. How many times have you seen that in a bowl game, and in UCLA’s home stadium? Just a great game and a great trip out to LA in a mini-van with 4 great buddies.
The 1997 Wisconsin-Minnesota basketball game is another one I will never forget. This was the year Minnesota went to the Final Four (now vacated) and was ranked #2 in the country at the time. It was the last game of the Big Ten season (No Big Ten Tourney at the time) and the Badgers needed a win to most likely make the NCAAs. It was a huge deal at the time. Remember, at that point the Badgers had only made the NCAAs once since the ‘40’s, and that was in 1994. The Fieldhouse was rocking. Definitely the loudest sporting event I have ever been at. I remember Ty Calderwood coming up huge in that game. The Badgers won by one, but Minnesota had a shot to win at the end. I remember thinking to myself, “Sam Jacobson is going to kill us here.” Thankfully he didn’t. If memory serves my right, Jacobson did take the last shot for the Gophers, but it didn’t fall. The students stormed the court. I had to make it down from my seat on the second level. Still, the only time I have ever run on to the court/field following a victory. As an added bonus, you can see the back of my head in the famous Calderwood photo that ran on the front of the JS sports page that Sunday. Great game, great times!
BRAD: The Antonio Freeman Catch on His Ass. It was a cold and rainy MNF game. The Packers on the sideline blocked my view of the catch. I saw the ball in the air, and then heard everyone groan. A split-second later, Freeman started running back into my view. Everyone sort of stopped? Nobody really knew what happened until moments later…Lambeau went crazy.
MATT: Because memorable doesn't mean good, I would say the most memorable game I attended was a 3-3 tie between Wisconsin and Illinois at Camp Randall my freshman year of college. Just an awful, awful game, but we stayed because I brought one of my buddies up for the game and he'd never been to a Badgers game. Darrell Bevell nearly got killed by Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy, and we got our first glimpse of a shell-shocked Mike Samuel. Oh yeah, and it was cold. The Brewers playoff win was pretty cool last year too.
County Stadium was…..
GOLDY:…like home. I loved County Stadium. It had nothing going for it, but it was the place I grew up watching Major League Baseball. Yes, by the end of its life it was a dump, but you have to remember that up until Camden Yards was built, stadiums were nothing special and County was no worse or better than most MLB stadiums. I loved the fact that I knew where every section in the ballpark was located. I loved the fact that I knew where to go for whatever food item I wanted. I loved the Speed Pitch. I loved that my Dad would sign up for the Designated Driver program to get me two free sodas and then go buy himself a beer. I loved running to our car after the game to beat the rush out of the lot. I loved seeing two NFL benches on the same side of the field. I loved hearing my Grandpa chant “Dilweg Sucks!” at a Packer game. I loved watching Molitor’s hit streak, Ryan’s 300th win and Robin’s 3000th hit in person. And I loved the ceremony after the last game at County. Back when the Brewers could do nothing right, this was done right. All the old Braves coming out on the field and Hank wearing his old Braves jersey. Robin the last one to come out and doing a lap on a motorcycle and the current players passing the flag from the old stadium to the new. I have only seen my Dad shed a tear three times in his life. The first time was when I came home from college right before my Grandpa died. The last time was when my Dad had to tell me he had cancer and only had about three months to live (support pancreatic cancer research!) and the other time was the last game at County. Great memories and I will always thing fondly of that place.
BRAD…awesome. No frills, just a ball yard. You could pretty much sit where you want. I don’t think I ever had my ticket checked to see if I was in the right seat. And Bernie sliding into the beer barrel was phenomenal.
MATT: …fine, until I got to Miller Park. I did enjoy watching games in the bleachers at County - that was good times.
Favorite Wisconsin Sports Announcer?
GOLDY The color commentator for Marquette Women’s Basketball. No, my answer is Matt LePay for Wisconsin basketball. Does a great job. Very descriptive, gets into the game at the right moments and is willing to question Bo’s strategy from time to time and can admit when a bad call goes in Wisconsin’s favor. Some games I almost prefer to listen to on radio. LePay paints a great picture of what is going on. He also gets bonus points for his call of the Schabert to Evan TD pass against Ohio State in 2003
BRAD. Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren. Larrivee is one of the best in the business, and McCarren isn’t afraid to say when the Packers are playing like crap. I like when he describes the line play – usually don’t get too much of that on the radio.
MATT: I agree that Lepay is a very good announcer, and so is Wayne Larrivee. So is Ted Davis - that guy makes a Bucks game entertaining, which is a feat. However, if I were going to listen to a game just for the announcer it would have to be Uecker, even though his stories are tired. He is entertaining to me, still. And he's a legend.
Least favorite Wisconsin sports announcer?
GOLDY Homer and McIlvaine. Had to listen to these guys for the first half of Marquette’s first round NCAA game this year. Just brutal. They cried so much it was like listening to a Bears game on the radio. However, I must admit my sample size on this is small since that was the only half of Marquette basketball I have ever listened to on the radio.
BRAD: As a Marquette fan, it pains me to agree with Goldy. Homer has a good radio show, but his play by play is piss poor. It sounds like what I would imagine the UW-Superior announcer to sound like. Jimmy Mac brings nothing to the table.
MATT: We are blessed in Wisconsin with a lot of good sports announcers. I might say Larry McCarren. He is generally very good and knowledgeable, but he is kind of a joke when he cheers in the booth in the background as Larivee calls a play, a la Ron Santo. (Noooooooo! AAaaaaarhgggghghh! Yes! Yes! Yes!) He's not terrible, but it's a personal taste of mine that I don't like cheering in the booth. I could see why some people would like him, especially Packers fans....... Hold the phone! I totally forgot about the Bucks TV announcers. Let me retract the McCarren answer and just say that Jon McGlocklin is awful, and I hate watching a game that he announces. Just terrible. I must have erased him from my memory momentarily. Paschke would be my #2 least favorite Wisconsin sports announcer.
Underrated fast food?
GOLDY Chick-Fil-A – I don’t know if this is underrated or just unknown in these parts. These places are huge down south, hence the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. The only Chick-Fil-A in Wisconsin is in Racine. I love that place. It’s the only reason I have gone in to the Regency Mall in Racine over the past 10 years. As a side note, the Regency Mall has to hold the record for most dollar stores in one mall. The chicken sandwich is great there, but it is the nuggets that take the cake for me. I think they are made of real chicken, so that is a plus. You also get waffle fries. A nice departure from the standard fry. The only drawback is they serve Coke products (another southern thing). If this place served Pepsi, it might surpass Culver’s in my book. When I lived in Kansas City, the only Chick-Fil-A in the city was located in the cafeteria at Johnson County Community College. I went there once and it was awkward.
BRAD: Wendy’s. Long live the square hamburger. And the 99 cent menu is pretty solid…for 99 cents.
MATT: Goldy stole my answer with the Chick Fil A. I will say Cousins subs. I am rarely disappointed at Cousins.
Favorite sports venue in Wisconsin?
GOLDY Tough one. I would have to go with Miller Park. As much as I loved County, I actually saw a Brewers play-off victory that I can remember in Miller Park. Plus, it’s a cool place.
BRAD: Gotta go with Lambeau. A fantastic mix of history and new age. Friggin Vince Lombardi coached there! And who else has a Hall of Fame open year round?
MATT: Miller Park. Or the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, if you count the fact that it has hosted the PGA Championship.
What was “your number” growing up? (What number did you usually have on your sports jerseys?)
GOLDY For baseball: 19/17/16 – Yount/Grace/Random number I stuck with in Legion and HS. Basketball – 21/10 – Wilkins/Random that I equated to “normal” Dennis Rodman.
BRAD: 21. I really don’t know how I got this one. Wanted 33 (Larry Legend), but always went to a beefier player.
MATT: #13, but that was because of Dan Marino, not Big Dog.
If you have a son and he only plays one sport, what sport do you hope he plays?
GOLDY Baseball
BRAD: Basketball. I’m thinking high school level here….playing in a packed gym just has a different atmosphere that baseball and football can’t match.
MATT: I have a son, and that boy better golf. I could play with him until I'm 80, if things go right. He doesn't have to play competitively, just be able to get it around the course with me.
Do you drink Red Bull with out vodka?
GOLDY Heck yah.
BRAD: No chance.
MATT: No. I don't drink Red Bull with, or without, vodka. Las Vegas. Bachelor party. We drank the Venetian sports book out of Red Bull. I might have suffered a minor heart attack. Probably could have died. Enough said.
Big Dog or Ray Allen, and why?
GOLDY: Big Dog. Why? Uh, because. Seriously, I can’t come up with a great answer as to why. It’s strange because both guys actually wanted to be in Milwaukee. I think if Big Dog hits that 10-foot baseline jumper against Philly, his whole Bucks career is painted in a different light. The guy was terrible on D, we all knew that, so you didn’t expect much out of him at that end. I also found it funny the few times a year that he would slash to the basket and throw down a hellacious dunk. You would wonder where that had been all career. In the end, I guess I’ll go with Big Dog because I owned a Bucks #13 jersey and never a Bucks #34 jersey.
BRAD: Dogg. I agree with Matt. Couldn’t defend a lick, but he gave you 22 a night – no matter what. Dogg always got his.
MATT: For whatever reason, I've always had a special place for Big Dog in my heart. I hated Grant Hill coming out of college seeing as he was on Duke, so I wanted Big Dog to succeed so badly. I compared his stats to Hill's during their first few years, and managed to convince myself that Dog was the better pick because Hill couldn't shoot from the outside, never mind the defense, assists, etc. all favored Hill. So I made Dog into a player that he wasn't and that carried over to him being my favorite Buck when he was on the team. I could look past his lack of defense, or his seeming laziness because the guy could score the basketball. So I say Dog, and it has nothing to do with me not liking Ray Allen.
WOZ: Ray Allen. Simply for the fact that he absolutely killed the role of “Jesus Shuttlesworth” in “He Got Game.” The scenes with him and Rick Fox during the college campus visit were outstanding film drama. I particularly enjoy the scene of them eating outside right after Fox tells the white chicks “we’ll catch up with ya’ll later aight…” and Ray responds as they walk away by pounding on the table and asking in a low voice, “You hit those?” To which Fox replies, “About 50% from the field.”
Will you be going to Summerfest this year? If so, why? If not, why not?
GOLDY: There is potential. Honestly, I don’t have a ton of fun there. I guess it’s all about going with the right group of people and at this stage in my life, most of those people have kids, so it’s kind of hard to get everyone together at once. And honestly, I don’t find the scenery to be that great there. If you are all about single moms fro Stallis who smoke and have leathery skin from hitting the tanning beds too often, then this is the place for you. I guess if I come across free or severely discounted tickets and find some people to go with, I may attend. Leading bands to see of those who have been announced include: Rancid, Meat Puppets, Dropkick Murphys, The Gufs, Matisyahu, and Flogging Molly. Nobody I would go see just because they are there, but if I happened to be at Summerfest that day, I would see those bands.
BRAD: No. Last time I was there in about 1996, a bunch of thugs tried to run onto our shuttle bus (flashing gang signs the entire time) and whack my friend just because he is Asian. It was pretty surreal, actually.
MATT: If I go, it will be because my mother-in-law somehow got free tickets and I get dragged along with the family. I will spend my time marveling at the number of massive sunburns, and counting the number of chaches I see with no shirts on while wearing jeans. As you can see, I am not a fan of Summerfest. I will, however, be going to Fish Day.
WOZ: I’m a Summerfest junkie. People say it’s expensive, but if you are a music fan, you can’t deny the atmosphere. For a reasonable cost you have nothing but live music, beer, and the potential for deflowerment.
The last time I tailgated at Miller Park, I grilled ____ and drank _____.
GOLDY: Jim Beam burger from Sendiks (burger with bacon, cheese and Jim Beam in the patty) and drank High Life, Bell’s Oberon and some Red Bull and Vodkas.
BRAD: Johnsonville brats, High Life Light.
MATT: I grilled cheese/bacon burgers from Sendik's and drank Miller Hi Life Light.
WOZ: Meat and Miller Light. Then I went to the Spotlight Lounge after the game. Don’t tell me I don’t know how to enjoy myself.
If I could play only one more golf course in my life, it would be ________.
GOLDY: I really want to say Ives Grove in Racine since the fairways are wide open and that suits my game, but I need to pick something better than that. Since I can’t hit the ball straight, I don’t want to pick too difficult of a course, so famous ones are out. I’ll go with U Ridge in Madison. Much like Matt, I worked there in college and like playing the track and know how to play it. It has an open front and woodsy back, so you are getting some variation. Plus, I have the memory of washing Sal Bando’s clubs and getting a whole dollar as a tip. What a douche canoe.
MATT: This is very difficult to me. It would come down to one of four golf courses. Hawthorne Hills in Ozaukee County, University Ridge in Madison, Augusta or Pebble Beach. Obviously, these are very different plays. I grew up playing golf at Hawthorne Hills, and have played that course more than all other courses combined, I would venture to guess. So there are memories there, and I might want one last crack at it if I knew it would be the last course I play. Ditto for University Ridge. I worked there while in school, so I have played it a ton too, and again there are lots of memories. The other two are, in my mind, the best two courses that I haven't played. I've played the Old Course at St. Andrews, and I've played in Ireland, but to get to play Pebble or Augusta would be a thrill. I'm going to go sentimental here. Hawthorne Hills is my answer.
BRAD: Pirates Cove Mini Golf in the Dells. It’s the perfect combination of scenery, different colored balls, pirate ships and waterfalls.
WOZ: Assuming I’m picking a WI course, then I would go with the Fairways of Woodside in Sussex. Incredibly challenging relatively new course (maybe only 6-7 years old). The back 9 nine has one of the toughest 3 hole stretches in WI, with the last one being a DOUBLE dog leg par 5 with water to your left in play off the tee, and trees lining the fairway through the dog legs. If you don’t hit a perfect drive you are in jail the whole hole. I par it every time because I’m a natural athlete, but that’s beside the point .
Is NASCAR a sport?
GOLDY: Sure. Much more so than poker. The thing that kills me about NASCAR is listening to people at work talk about it. The highlights involve pit stops apparently. I think I am going to continue to stay away from this sport. I must say, I don’t mind “Days of Thunder” however.
BRAD: Yes. I watch the entire Daytona 500, and then about 10 laps combine the rest of the season. The pit crews, coordination with the crew chief, talent needed not to die…of course it’s a sport.
MATT: I will say yes, even though I don't follow NASCAR. It requires skill, people go to watch it. While it might not be athletically challenging like, say, basketball, I think it counts as a sport.
WOZ: There are people that claim bowling, darts, poker, backgammon, & cheerleading are sports. It’s all relative. Driving 200 miles an hour? Sure…why not. However, I don’t find it exciting like some people I know when discussing whether or not a guy should “pit” right now. So if racing is your bag, good for you. I’ll make fun of you behind your back.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Where In The World Is Chuckie Hacks?
Where: Tampa, Florida
Why: Super Bowl
Good Times? Absolutly
Whoa, looks like Charles was represented at the Super Bowl! How about that? Thanks to loyal reader Keith G (inventor of the famous "Running Lenny" basketball shot) from Orlando for snapping this pic at the SB. Keith's brother's a huge Steeler fan, so I'm guessing the post game beers were flowing fast and furious.
If you're sporting the Hacks logo at a notable event/locale, sent us a pic. We'll gladly throw it up here. No, sitting on the shitter in your parents basement doesn't count as an "event."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wear your Hacks gear to MU - UCONN!
For any of you Hackers out there that are attending the MU game tonight at the BC, be sure to represent the best WI sports blog IN THE BUSINESS by wearing your Chuckie Hacks T-shirts. I know you all have one. Wait...you don't? What are you waiting for? On the right side of the screen you'll see the link. Go right now and purchase one for every member of your family. Brad's got little mouths to feed and I have a serious online gambling problem.
I'll be in the top row cheering on the BEST TEAM in the BEST CONFERENCE in the nation tonight with my Hacks gear on.
Lets go Marquette.
I'll be in the top row cheering on the BEST TEAM in the BEST CONFERENCE in the nation tonight with my Hacks gear on.
Lets go Marquette.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Razzball Q/A
Razzball asked the fine writers at Chuckie Hacks to answer a few Brewer-related questions to preview the upcoming season. Matt, Goldy, and Woz represented well. We enjoy the light-hearted approach at Razzball. An example:
5) Crap is to toilet as Dave Bush is to ___ A) Road games B) The Brewers Staff C) Trick question, you can’t flush away Dave Bush.
Click here for the entire Q/A
Friday, February 6, 2009
From The Chuckie_Hacks@yahoo.com Inbox
We get truckloads of spam to the Hacks email address. All kinds of mess. Inbetween "LOTTERY WINNER," and "FROM THE KING OF ENGLAND," this one stood out:
Subject: Vessel For Sale
Dear Sir,
We are putting up the following for immediate transaction:
- 1 Unit of BRAND NEW 7,000dwt Oil Tanker (Built Nov, 2008 in China)
- 1 Unit of BRAND NEW 7,000dwt Oil Tanker (Built Nov, 2008 in China)
- 1 Unit of BRAND NEW 6740dwt Chemical Tanker (Built Nov, 2008 in China)
- 1 Unit of 1002dwt Chemical Tanker (Built 1988 in Japan)
Please contact us for more infomation.
Best Regards,
Judy Qian
Please contact us for more infomation.
Best Regards,
Judy Qian
Sure glad I got this because I've been in the market for an '88 Chemical Tanker for months!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Billups of the Week
There are several reasons I got into this business people. Namely...I'm in it for the money, the fame, the women, the glory, and the downright SATISFACTION I get from being right all the time (except the times when I'm 100% wrong).
But sometimes people...sometimes...stuff comes along which make me LMAO in such a way that it cannot be properly described. This time...it came in email form.
Remember my post about Trenni last week? Just Woz being Woz right? Just doing anything to write about Trenni right? Did you ever say to yourself when reading that..."oh noooooo...Woz shouldn't have done that!"
Well...The CH inbox received this lovely nugget of an email from the current Billups' of the Week over at NFL Juice.
Hey Chuck head-
Listen up, sport. It's a joke. But for the record, we do know Trenni- personally. Great girl, and yes, she did go to Cancun in 97' with UW-Oshkosh, where she went to college before transferring. We've got the pics to prove it. She's not a slut or a dirtbag, we just wanted to get her name out there.
Lies? Check your sources before you call out other blogs.
Max, Turd, Burgundy
NFLJuice
Oh man...what's the term...I can't think of it...oh wait...I know...LOL! LOL!
Are these tools serious? They actually fired off an email from that post! And check out some of the language.
"Hey Chuck head..." Ummm...ok
"Listen up, sport." Sport? Did you just get done re-reading the Great Gatsby last night?
"It's a joke." Oh really? A joke? I never would have thought. Newsflash: So was my post you donkeys.
"We've got the pics to prove it." I'm sure you guys do. And I'm sure they are used frequently before bedtime.
"Lies? Check your sources before you call out other blogs." Oh man...check your sources? Like I have any sources? That was a "call out?" If we're talking about "checking sources" perhaps they should actually take a look at our blog and the number of Trenni posts we've (I've) had on here. She's a regular topic...and ummm...usually there is some satire involved.
So what's Trenni's take on all this? Unfortunately, she was unavailable for comment.
Congratulations to the NFL Juice for their first Billups of the Week win. Good times people...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Email Fun with Chuckie Hacks' Bloggers
After I saw Brad the Dinosaur's post yesterday making fun of VORP...I felt an email was in order to him explaining a few things. After writing a long email...I realized that I write for a blog...so I might as well throw it up as well for the masses to see.
I never have proclaimed to be a stat wiz, but I do understand the basics of all this new age stuff. And yes, from what I've read, VORP is already outdated to some other crap that I haven't learned yet. But it still doesn't diminish what the number represents, or the basic conclusions that you can draw from said numbers. Enjoy the exchange...Brad did.
Woz to Brad (Matt & Goldy CC'd)
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/team_audit.php?team=MIL
Brad,
Here, read up on VORP...this is last year’s team all ranked based on their VORP. Obviously Braun and Prince were 1 and 2 for hitters, while CC & Sheets were 1 & 2 for pitchers. Looking at stats like this is another reason why I’m a fan of Mike Cameron. He’s a big part of this team this year and was a huge part last year. We’ll need him to match last year’s production. His value cannot be overlooked.
The reason this stat is useful is that it tracks overall offensive value of any player across the whole league. That’s why you can compare Pujol’s VORP to Braun’s, or Hanley Ramirez’s to Lance Berkman. The point is not to factor who a potential “replacement player” would be on each team. Obviously some teams have a better guy they can bring up at 3b or RF in case one of their guys goes down. But that doesn’t mean that since that “replacement player” is better, the current guy in the position should have his VORP calculated based on that or whatever. Again, the replacement player they are referring to is a guy who has a VORP of 0…he brings nothing to the team. It’s an imaginary guy with stats that overall don’t contribute to a single run…which is the unit that VORP is measured in…runs.
And Yes, Bill Hall had a negative VORP. He literally cost the team runs this past year. If you would bring in some chump from Triple AAA or whatever (the “replacement player” , some guy that got the same number of plate appearances as Hall and would have had a VORP of 0, they are saying the Brewers are better off with that chump getting the at-bats instead of Bill Hall. Again, forget the replacement player. The stat is there to intuitively prove that Bill Hall is absolutely terrible.
Here’s the final ranking of NL VORPS from last year. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=309868
Note how ridiculous Albert Pujols is. That’s why I scoffed at people saying he wasn’t the MVP. Dude was the best. Period. Without him, the Cardinals would have been a joke.
A final thing to point out is that sabremetrics states that roughly every 10 runs that a player contributes (based on VORP) is worth 1 win. I think there may be a stat for that called WARP or something…but I’m not sure about that so let’s just ignore it.
So basically you can say from looking at these year end stats that both Braun and Prince single-handedly accounted for about 4 wins each for the team. If you read Keith Law or Rob Neyer or other stat guys that say stuff like, “He’ll probably be worth 2-3 wins for the team this year” this is what they are talking about.
Finally, add up all the VORPS of all the Brewers from their offensive stats. Unless my math is wrong, I came up with 198. So using the whole “roughly 10 runs equals a win thing here” we can project the Brewers should have been around 19.8 games over .500 last year based on these stats. Lets say 20 games to round up. Well…they went 90-72. 18 games over. Again, this is ridiculously crude, because I’m sure the stat nerds convert VORP into something else and go from there to calculate winning percentages and what not. But to start, they always try to project VORP, because it’s the basic value of what a player is worth, and it’s used in comparison to every other player in the league.
So while I enjoyed your other acronyms on your last post (quite funny indeed), hopefully this will help you understand VORP a little better. I can send you a couple of books if you’d like it to be explained in more detail or better than what I just did.
Goldy to Woz, Brad, & Matt
I like the fact that Woz has a library of VORP
books.
Brad to Woz, Goldy, & Matt
Hmmm, interesting. Is it possible for someone to have like a great OPS, but a bad VORP? Or vice versa?
Woz to Brad, Matt, Goldy
I can’t comment on any direct correlation, but on the surface a guy with a high OPS would have a “higher” VORP…but again, VORP is also the measure of runs provided based on PA’s, so a lot of it depends on how much the guy plays. Two great examples for the Brewers last year were Gabe Kapler and Russell Branyan.
Russell actually had the highest OPS (920), but his VORP wasn’t as high because he didn’t play enough. Kapler’s figures are similar.
But our top 4 guys in terms of VORP (Braun, Prince, JJ, Cameron) all had OPSs over .800. As far as I’m concerned, by any quantifiable measure, these 4 guys were our 4 best offensive guys last year.
On the flip side, check out Counsel and Kendall’s OPS…and compare then to the VORPs. Both guys VORP’s were around 0, and their OPS were around 650 (which is incredibly weak).
But Counsell and Kendall’s value goes beyond their offensive contributions (obviously)…anyway I don’t think anybody is saying these guys are on the team for their offensive contributions.
I like the Counsell signing BTW.
Matt to Brad, Goldy, Woz
But Mike Cameron strikes out too much!!!!!! I hate him!!!!!
And...that's where the thread ended. I actually had to work at that point.
Point? VORP ain't bad. It helps you understand what you should already know. Just another stat for the arsenal.
I never have proclaimed to be a stat wiz, but I do understand the basics of all this new age stuff. And yes, from what I've read, VORP is already outdated to some other crap that I haven't learned yet. But it still doesn't diminish what the number represents, or the basic conclusions that you can draw from said numbers. Enjoy the exchange...Brad did.
Woz to Brad (Matt & Goldy CC'd)
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/team_audit.php?team=MIL
Brad,
Here, read up on VORP...this is last year’s team all ranked based on their VORP. Obviously Braun and Prince were 1 and 2 for hitters, while CC & Sheets were 1 & 2 for pitchers. Looking at stats like this is another reason why I’m a fan of Mike Cameron. He’s a big part of this team this year and was a huge part last year. We’ll need him to match last year’s production. His value cannot be overlooked.
The reason this stat is useful is that it tracks overall offensive value of any player across the whole league. That’s why you can compare Pujol’s VORP to Braun’s, or Hanley Ramirez’s to Lance Berkman. The point is not to factor who a potential “replacement player” would be on each team. Obviously some teams have a better guy they can bring up at 3b or RF in case one of their guys goes down. But that doesn’t mean that since that “replacement player” is better, the current guy in the position should have his VORP calculated based on that or whatever. Again, the replacement player they are referring to is a guy who has a VORP of 0…he brings nothing to the team. It’s an imaginary guy with stats that overall don’t contribute to a single run…which is the unit that VORP is measured in…runs.
And Yes, Bill Hall had a negative VORP. He literally cost the team runs this past year. If you would bring in some chump from Triple AAA or whatever (the “replacement player” , some guy that got the same number of plate appearances as Hall and would have had a VORP of 0, they are saying the Brewers are better off with that chump getting the at-bats instead of Bill Hall. Again, forget the replacement player. The stat is there to intuitively prove that Bill Hall is absolutely terrible.
Here’s the final ranking of NL VORPS from last year. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=309868
Note how ridiculous Albert Pujols is. That’s why I scoffed at people saying he wasn’t the MVP. Dude was the best. Period. Without him, the Cardinals would have been a joke.
A final thing to point out is that sabremetrics states that roughly every 10 runs that a player contributes (based on VORP) is worth 1 win. I think there may be a stat for that called WARP or something…but I’m not sure about that so let’s just ignore it.
So basically you can say from looking at these year end stats that both Braun and Prince single-handedly accounted for about 4 wins each for the team. If you read Keith Law or Rob Neyer or other stat guys that say stuff like, “He’ll probably be worth 2-3 wins for the team this year” this is what they are talking about.
Finally, add up all the VORPS of all the Brewers from their offensive stats. Unless my math is wrong, I came up with 198. So using the whole “roughly 10 runs equals a win thing here” we can project the Brewers should have been around 19.8 games over .500 last year based on these stats. Lets say 20 games to round up. Well…they went 90-72. 18 games over. Again, this is ridiculously crude, because I’m sure the stat nerds convert VORP into something else and go from there to calculate winning percentages and what not. But to start, they always try to project VORP, because it’s the basic value of what a player is worth, and it’s used in comparison to every other player in the league.
So while I enjoyed your other acronyms on your last post (quite funny indeed), hopefully this will help you understand VORP a little better. I can send you a couple of books if you’d like it to be explained in more detail or better than what I just did.
Goldy to Woz, Brad, & Matt
I like the fact that Woz has a library of VORP
books.
Brad to Woz, Goldy, & Matt
Hmmm, interesting. Is it possible for someone to have like a great OPS, but a bad VORP? Or vice versa?
Woz to Brad, Matt, Goldy
I can’t comment on any direct correlation, but on the surface a guy with a high OPS would have a “higher” VORP…but again, VORP is also the measure of runs provided based on PA’s, so a lot of it depends on how much the guy plays. Two great examples for the Brewers last year were Gabe Kapler and Russell Branyan.
Russell actually had the highest OPS (920), but his VORP wasn’t as high because he didn’t play enough. Kapler’s figures are similar.
But our top 4 guys in terms of VORP (Braun, Prince, JJ, Cameron) all had OPSs over .800. As far as I’m concerned, by any quantifiable measure, these 4 guys were our 4 best offensive guys last year.
On the flip side, check out Counsel and Kendall’s OPS…and compare then to the VORPs. Both guys VORP’s were around 0, and their OPS were around 650 (which is incredibly weak).
But Counsell and Kendall’s value goes beyond their offensive contributions (obviously)…anyway I don’t think anybody is saying these guys are on the team for their offensive contributions.
I like the Counsell signing BTW.
Matt to Brad, Goldy, Woz
But Mike Cameron strikes out too much!!!!!! I hate him!!!!!
And...that's where the thread ended. I actually had to work at that point.
Point? VORP ain't bad. It helps you understand what you should already know. Just another stat for the arsenal.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Chuckie Hacks congratulations!
Former Brewer legend (and when I say "legend" I mean "quite possibly the worst player to wear a Brewer jersey in the last decade") Chris Barnwell has been named to the provisional roster of TEAM CANADA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
The linked article says that Barnwell is a member of the Astros currently. Good for him. Looks like he signed a couple days ago.
You may all remember Mr. Barnwell as the donkey-licious tool who somehow maneuvered his way into the Show for the Crew in 2006. He played 13 games, fired off 2 singles in 30 at bats, and was probably scared to talk to Prince Fielder. God did he suck.
But hey, he's got 2 more MLB hits then I'll ever have...so congratulations Chris! Represent Canada with pride!
Big hat tip to Not So Anonymous Jake for the tip.
The linked article says that Barnwell is a member of the Astros currently. Good for him. Looks like he signed a couple days ago.
You may all remember Mr. Barnwell as the donkey-licious tool who somehow maneuvered his way into the Show for the Crew in 2006. He played 13 games, fired off 2 singles in 30 at bats, and was probably scared to talk to Prince Fielder. God did he suck.
But hey, he's got 2 more MLB hits then I'll ever have...so congratulations Chris! Represent Canada with pride!
Big hat tip to Not So Anonymous Jake for the tip.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Happy 2nd Birthday, Chuckie!
Yep, Chuckie Hacks is officially two years old on Tuesday. Special thanks to Matt, Goldy, and Woz for their lame insightful posts. Also to all the visitors/commentors that make it worthwhile. God speed.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
2009 = "The Year of Brad"
Please. NO wild card flag next to this one from '82
Yes, it's rounding into form. Matt has noticed we're only 8 days into the new year, yet a number of thing have gone my way - some expected, some unexpected:
1) The entire Packers defensive staff - K-bye
2) The Vikings lost their playoff game.
3) Jim Powell - K-bye.
4) The public hatred towards the BCS has never been louder.
6) David toppled Goliath (Utah over Alabama).
5) The Little-11 bowl results? Embarrassing.
6) Now, it appears PJ Hill is foolishly entering the draft. That's great! It gives Johnny Clay full-time duties. I'm telling you, this guy's a thoroughbred.
I like 2009. It's my friend. Because I'm greedy, here's a few more things I want to see:
1) The Packers sign an impact defensive free agent.
2) Packers use the #9 pick on either a DT, DE, OT....a CB would work too.
3) My Grand Am with 120,000 miles NOT exploding
4) The Brewers develop bullpen arms through their farm system.
5) The Brewers ridding the "retro" logo. 1982 is over. Move on.
6) Brewers NOT hanging a "wild card" pennant next to the 82 AL Championship flag in Miller Park. Sorry, pennants/banners/flags are made for Division, League, or World Series championships. Sorry, Wild Card winners do not apply.
7) Jim Pashke and John McGlocklin get on the same flight as Powell out of town.
8) Tons of Madness in March.
9) Dom James shoots better than 4-16 in a tourney game.
10) Andre Dawson - Hall of Famer.
11) My truck with 196,000 miles on it NOT exploding. I'm shooting for 300,000.
12) The Bucks move to Las Vegas.
13) Chuckie Hacks overtakes Deadspin as the most popular sports blog on the web.
See, I really don't ask for much.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Journal Sentinel gets it wrong again
New Years Eve...time for a bunch of memories right? Sports stories for the year. Remembering the good times.
The number 1 sports story in WI for the 2008 year was the Milwaukee Brewers. It's as simple as that. 3 million fans showed up at Miller Park. The team signed it's franchise player to a team record contract. They team traded for the reigning best pitcher in the American League...and he proceeded to dominate everybody in sight. The team made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Do you remember where you were on Sunday September 28th? I do. I was in LAX for Oktoberfest and we drove home Saturday night at 230am...I got back to my house on the Eastside at 6am and slept until noon. I woke up and watched the Brewers play. When Braun hit the home run in the bottom of the 8th I jumped up, screamed at the top of my lungs and ran out of my house jumping around. I then let out such a yelp on Locust Street that some guy a few houses down came out wondering what was wrong. To me...following that team for 6 months...going to 20+ games, writing a freaking blog about them, watching basically every INNING the last month, and have them make the playoffs was one of the best feelings I've ever had. I know there are thousands of others in the state who felt/still feel the exact same way.
Well our pals over at the Journal didn't feel the same way. In some sort of vote, they decided that the best SPORTS Story of 2008 was the Brett Favre DRAMA. Downright traveshamockery if you ask me. The drama of Favre. The entire saga. The trade to the Jets. Seriously, 10-20 years from now...ask yourself...if you are sitting around having beers with some buddies and you randomly start talking about 2008...what are you going to remember? Are you going to say: "Oh yeah...2008...that's the year that some schmuck compared Favre's plane ride back to WI to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon (which is one of the most ridiculous and asinine comparisons I've ever heard...but I digress) man...Favre...what a story."
I hope not. I hope the immediate response out of your mouth will be: "2008? The Brewers! Miller Park was rocking! Every night no matter where you were in the state the game was on TV and people were following every pitch! What a great time!"
To reiterate: the Favre retirement? BIG story. Possibly the biggest story of the year (had it been left like that). The Favre saga...the BS drama...all that stuff that happened when he came back killed whatever sentimental story line there was. It became a blaming game, people pointing figures, people biting their lips as the most storied Packer of all time trashed the entire Packer franchise and city of Green Bay.
Great work Journal. Way to give credit for a story in remembrance of a man where no credit is due.
Happy News Year Eve from Chuckie Hacks. Have a cocktail tonight and raise a glass to the success of the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers, the success (hopefully) of the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers, and the 2009 Green Bay Packers' schedule.
And what the hell. Take a shot for the 2009 Milwaukee Bucks and their potential 6 seed in the East.
The number 1 sports story in WI for the 2008 year was the Milwaukee Brewers. It's as simple as that. 3 million fans showed up at Miller Park. The team signed it's franchise player to a team record contract. They team traded for the reigning best pitcher in the American League...and he proceeded to dominate everybody in sight. The team made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Do you remember where you were on Sunday September 28th? I do. I was in LAX for Oktoberfest and we drove home Saturday night at 230am...I got back to my house on the Eastside at 6am and slept until noon. I woke up and watched the Brewers play. When Braun hit the home run in the bottom of the 8th I jumped up, screamed at the top of my lungs and ran out of my house jumping around. I then let out such a yelp on Locust Street that some guy a few houses down came out wondering what was wrong. To me...following that team for 6 months...going to 20+ games, writing a freaking blog about them, watching basically every INNING the last month, and have them make the playoffs was one of the best feelings I've ever had. I know there are thousands of others in the state who felt/still feel the exact same way.
Well our pals over at the Journal didn't feel the same way. In some sort of vote, they decided that the best SPORTS Story of 2008 was the Brett Favre DRAMA. Downright traveshamockery if you ask me. The drama of Favre. The entire saga. The trade to the Jets. Seriously, 10-20 years from now...ask yourself...if you are sitting around having beers with some buddies and you randomly start talking about 2008...what are you going to remember? Are you going to say: "Oh yeah...2008...that's the year that some schmuck compared Favre's plane ride back to WI to Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon (which is one of the most ridiculous and asinine comparisons I've ever heard...but I digress) man...Favre...what a story."
I hope not. I hope the immediate response out of your mouth will be: "2008? The Brewers! Miller Park was rocking! Every night no matter where you were in the state the game was on TV and people were following every pitch! What a great time!"
To reiterate: the Favre retirement? BIG story. Possibly the biggest story of the year (had it been left like that). The Favre saga...the BS drama...all that stuff that happened when he came back killed whatever sentimental story line there was. It became a blaming game, people pointing figures, people biting their lips as the most storied Packer of all time trashed the entire Packer franchise and city of Green Bay.
Great work Journal. Way to give credit for a story in remembrance of a man where no credit is due.
Happy News Year Eve from Chuckie Hacks. Have a cocktail tonight and raise a glass to the success of the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers, the success (hopefully) of the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers, and the 2009 Green Bay Packers' schedule.
And what the hell. Take a shot for the 2009 Milwaukee Bucks and their potential 6 seed in the East.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
What The Fu....
Whoaaaa...looks like Chuckie got a face lift! Long overdue. If only our content improves as much as our look.
HUGE thanks to my man Scottie Gerber - Columbus High legend, UWEC Blugold alum, Ladies man, and one heckofa graphic designer. Thanks.
All our talk of Chuckie Hacks T-Shirts and bumper stickers has finally come to fruition. Check out the lineup at www.zazzle.com/chuckie_hacks/ Yeah, like you have a better Xmas gift idea for your lady! If she can't appreciate a Chuckie Hacks beer stein for Christmas, you should probably dump her anyway, right?
Not in it for the money, just to dominate Miller Park with CH love. The markup is the lowest allowed by Zazzle. All proceeds go to a sweet tailgate party sometime next summer...and legal fees when Chuckie Carr sues. Also, if Matt comes across someone at Miller sporting a CH logo he'll buy you a beer. Thanks Matt.
HUGE thanks to my man Scottie Gerber - Columbus High legend, UWEC Blugold alum, Ladies man, and one heckofa graphic designer. Thanks.
All our talk of Chuckie Hacks T-Shirts and bumper stickers has finally come to fruition. Check out the lineup at www.zazzle.com/chuckie_hacks/ Yeah, like you have a better Xmas gift idea for your lady! If she can't appreciate a Chuckie Hacks beer stein for Christmas, you should probably dump her anyway, right?
Not in it for the money, just to dominate Miller Park with CH love. The markup is the lowest allowed by Zazzle. All proceeds go to a sweet tailgate party sometime next summer...and legal fees when Chuckie Carr sues. Also, if Matt comes across someone at Miller sporting a CH logo he'll buy you a beer. Thanks Matt.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A Chuckie Hacks congratulations!
Chuckie Hacks would like to congratulate one of our favorite lazy Milwaukee Bucks, Charlie Villanueva, for being named "America's most beautiful bald celebrity."
Here's another link with a nice picture of our hairless friend.
Voters all across America have exercised their inalienable rights and have once again proven that bald is indeed beautiful, naming Charlie Villanueva, the inaugural winner of the EAGLE Snacks' THE BALD AND THE BEAUTIFUL(TM) Sweepstakes.
...as a reward for being crowned America's official Bald and Beautiful Winner, Villanueva will also receive a distinguished trophy, honoring his accomplishment.
Allright Charlie! Way to get that trophy!
The interesting thing (I guess) in all this is that Villanueva actually has a condition called Alopecia Areata. So it isn't like he shaves his head or is old enough where he has just lost all his hair. Dude can't grow it. He's got no eyebrows (check out the pic).
So I'm not quite sure if this "contest" was supposed to be some sort of spoof gag (You'd think it is since it's named "The Bald and the Beautiful" and its for some snack company) but Charlie V took it in stride and donated some more money to a Foundation that looks for a cure for his disease.
Hopefully this award will knock his bald ass into a higher gear on the court.
Here's another link with a nice picture of our hairless friend.
Voters all across America have exercised their inalienable rights and have once again proven that bald is indeed beautiful, naming Charlie Villanueva, the inaugural winner of the EAGLE Snacks' THE BALD AND THE BEAUTIFUL(TM) Sweepstakes.
...as a reward for being crowned America's official Bald and Beautiful Winner, Villanueva will also receive a distinguished trophy, honoring his accomplishment.
Allright Charlie! Way to get that trophy!
The interesting thing (I guess) in all this is that Villanueva actually has a condition called Alopecia Areata. So it isn't like he shaves his head or is old enough where he has just lost all his hair. Dude can't grow it. He's got no eyebrows (check out the pic).
So I'm not quite sure if this "contest" was supposed to be some sort of spoof gag (You'd think it is since it's named "The Bald and the Beautiful" and its for some snack company) but Charlie V took it in stride and donated some more money to a Foundation that looks for a cure for his disease.
Hopefully this award will knock his bald ass into a higher gear on the court.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Off Day...
Apparently we took today off gents...perhaps we'll be back in the game tomorrow. Real life calls from time to time (lots of bank statements to reconcile).
Here's a quick nugget: The Bucks played defense last night and won! How bout that?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
New Commenting Format
The Communists at Blogger changed to commenting format from easy to annoying. Bastards. Its a near mutiny here in Chuckie!
In response to The Clown and Bob Cooper wanting their glorious images next to their comments, I've added a "gadget" called "follower." It's like using the "Internet" to shoot a "laser" through the hole in the "ozone."
This displays your image on both the homepage and next to your comment. I don't mess around with facebook or myspace, but I understand its like the "friends" concept on those sites.
You're welcome, Bob Cooper and Clown. Any questions, ask Matt.
In response to The Clown and Bob Cooper wanting their glorious images next to their comments, I've added a "gadget" called "follower." It's like using the "Internet" to shoot a "laser" through the hole in the "ozone."
This displays your image on both the homepage and next to your comment. I don't mess around with facebook or myspace, but I understand its like the "friends" concept on those sites.
You're welcome, Bob Cooper and Clown. Any questions, ask Matt.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
From The Chuckie_Hacks@Yahoo.com Inbox
Avid reader Plesac's A Traitor passed along this link. The Hardball Times says Ben Sheets will get about $55 and $65 million! That's a lot of Benjamin's. Will the investing GM be disappointed, or rewarded? An interesting question.
Thanks, Plesac
Friday, August 15, 2008
Bigfoot & a Chuckie Hacks update
Here's your Friday non-sports related link: Freaking Bigfoot! I love shit like this. It's for sure real. Totally. Here's the quote of the story:
“There’s a lot of comment being made that it looks fake, or it looks like a suit,” Mr. Dyer said. “But these people wasn’t there when I was sweating, pulling this thing through the woods.”
You're right Mr. Dyer...people were not there. But I think you got a little confused. I think when you were sweating and "pulling this thing through the woods" you were really "masturbating furiously in the woods." But that's neither here nor there.
Also, here's a somewhat related Chuckie Hacks site update. You may have noticed along the right side we added a few more sports blogs under the "good stuff" category. We also added a "Non-Sports Tomfoolery" category in which we listed some other awesome sites for daily time-wasting perusal. Enjoy yourself. There's plenty for everybody.
This is just another step we are making towards becoming the internet's "one stop shop" for everything you need. Basically, I don't why you need to go to any other sites. So thanks for your continued support of our site, and please click on a few sponsorships everyday on the top of the site. Our sponsors pay big bucks, and Brad has a serious Taco Bell problem that requires lots of funds.
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