Question of the Day

Finish the following sentence:

Undoubtedly, I am known in my circle of friends as the one who _____________________?

A Thanks For Our Social Servants

Hola quesolitos! Boy howdy have I been busy. Actually I have been busy travelling. Every trip has been ultimately successful. Many major victories have been won, but none so great as that victory recently won by my wife, the most incredible woman in the universe. She recently experienced the great victory of actual appreciation--nothing forced, nothing contrived, nothing manipulated or done out of guilt, just pure appreciation.

So the most wonderful woman in the universe is a nurse in the ICU--that's right, we care about people. Well, needless to say she works nights caring for the extremely ill in the ICU--a very challenging and often thankless job. Nevertheless she was caring for one of the elderly in the unit--a wonderfully sweet woman who had recently been through an open heart surgery.

Now obviously open heart surgery is a painful experience and this sweet lady was in plenty of pain. As a result she often wept as she was awakened, seated upright, gotten out of bed, etc. Also, she was a very emotional woman as upon learning of Peter Jennings' death (now months posthumous, but apparently hithertofore unkown by this sweet lady) she wept openly. Many around commented, "Look how much she loved him."

Anyway, so it was that the most incredible woman of the world had her patient sitting up after much weeping and a little assistance from another kind caregiver. After begging to have been left alone, the little elderly woman wept but then settled her emotions:

"Look at me!" She exclaimed.

Both nurses continued to care for her and without really examining carefully, they acknowledged her and comfortingly assured her, "We see you."

"Look at me!" She spouted again, a little more forcefully.

Both nurses continued to care for her but did not directly closely examine her, "We see you, honey."

"LOOK AT ME!" she shouted.

Both nurses looked directly at the loving elderly patient who had called out to them only to see her arm extended fully exposing a fist raised palm up and bearing the sweet gift of a bony middle finger powerfully and elegantly--proudly even--extended to communicate her grateful thanks.

Now that is appreciation for the social servants of our world.

Hope this lifts your day. God save the Cheese, and his caring wife.

Question of the Day

What is your favorite soft drink?

Does it go well with your favorite chips?

More Travelling

Okay, so the life of the world's highest fastball is not easy. Lately it has involved a lot of travel...way too much travel. And this weekend is no exception. So today I pick up a twelve passenger van and in it begin a trek with eight daring souls through the night to reach that most enchanting of destinations--Gatlinburg, TN. I know, it doesn't sound so great, but it will be a blast.

But wait there's more. As soon as I get back on Sunday evening, I get one night's rest, then load my truck up and make a journey with Titus the hyper-anxious wonder mutt to Indiana, the place to where my wife and I will be moving. I realize that that locale sounds even less exciting than Gatlinburg, but it will be awesome as well.

I return on Wednesday via plane (leaving my beautiful truck there to langor without me, and me without it), only to turn around Sunday and fly to Houston with the most incredible woman in the world. Nowkeep in mind that I just returned from an all too worth it trip to Richmond where I saw the basketball game of the century. Whew! I am tired of travel already.

What I can say from experience though is that no matter how bad it may be, the worst traffic ever is ranked, from personal experience (that phrase has a funny story involving my truck, an oil change attendant named Darnell, and a pimped out ride that I will have to tell you all soon):

1. New York City - I would never drive in this city--New York is a great place to walk.
2. Washington DC - Who laid out the freeway system? Marion Barry?
3. Atlanta, GA - Grew too fast and seemingly gave up on ever making it better

So there they are the top three, and until you have experienced them, you'll have to take my word for it.

Take it easy and play safe today. God save the Cheese, and keep him safe as he travels.

Question of the Day

What is your favorite kind of chip?

Church League and True Sport

Well, quesolitos, I actually have news for you. Last weekend I watched the single best basketball game that I have ever seen...and I was even there live! I saw in person the overtime thriller that pitted the Three Chopt Church of Christ squad vs a tough team from Grove Street Baptist Church. All joking aside it really was the best basketball game I have ever seen.

The first 20 minute half was loaded with intensity as Three Chopt smothered Grove St. with a tireless and dogged 2-3 zone defense. Grove Street, lacking natural shooters, were frustrated as they couldn't hit the jumper over the defense from any range. On the offensive end for Three Chopt, Darrell was on fire hitting shot after shot as the offense worked the old inside outside--pass down to Center, let the zone collapse and pass to the open man, which was usually Darrell. By the end of the half, the Grove St. Baptists on the bench and in the stands began to heckle that the defense should "only cover Darrell, because he isn't going to pass it." This wouldn't have been a bad idea.

With an eight point Three Chopt lead at half, the second half began with a Grove Street run. They began to warm up enough from 15-19 feet that the Three Chopt defense had to unpack a little bit. This gave "big 24" (that was the only thing that anyone ever called him, I don't know his name; although, I am not too upset using this moniker as it is indeed very accurate...number 24 was very large in the gut area--probably 5'10'' and about 290-300 lbs)...anyway...this gave big 24 enough room to go to work. At first I thought it was Christian charity that put the big guy on the floor, but then I realized that he could ball. He had soft hands, a nice drop step, a solid ball fake, and knew how to use his belly to box out and shield the defender. A 10-4 run and the lead was only two for Three Chopt.

Midway through the second half play got sloppy. Three Chopt was forced to play at the punishing lightning pace of the younger and much more tatooed and goateed Grove Street. With three minutes to go, Grove Street took their first lead as #2 (another no-name) hit a 15 foot jumper from the left side. At this point #2, who I think played some in High School, simply took over and captained his team--he was directing the offense, calling out shots, drawing up plays. He was the fearless general when it came down to cruch time.

There were refs, but keep in mind that these were church league refs--the absolute worst refs that only get this job because they are less likely to get punched or cursed out calling church league games. After the backside ref called a blocking foul from 53 feet away (no lie, this was the furthest I have ever seen a ref get from the play and still make the call...he simply didn't run from the other end, I think he wanted a rest. It didn't stop me from yelling out: "Jeez, he must have used AT&T because that call was made from long distance.") , Grove Street sunk both free throws putting them up three with under a minute to play. Three Chopt found their offense from the first half as they worked the old inside out for a quick give and go bucket to draw within one. The Three Chopt defense managed to get a rebound and call timeout following a blown charge no-call at halfcourt. Following the timeout, Three Chopt worked the ball to Darrell who sliced into the lane and drew a foul on his shot as regulation time expired. That left Darrell at the line shooting two with a chance to win the game. Darrell missed the first but made the heavy pressure second to force overtime.

In the three minute overtime (why shorten overtime, I mean, these guys just played two twenty minute halves???), Three Chopt squandered four forced turnovers only to establish a four point lead. With less than a minute to go, #2 for Grove Street found his stroke hitting three 17 footers for a 6-1 run and a one point lead. Rebounding after a missed free throw, Three Chopt worked the ball ahead and got a quick two with just under 16 seconds to go. Grove Street's MVP, #2, confidently dribbled down the court as seconds ticked away, down by one he was setting up for the last shot of the game. With a mean crossover, he lost his tired defender, shook past a screen on his right, stepped back behind the arc, and lofted a gorgeous three-point jumper that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. The Grove Street fans and bench erupted, as #2 let his hand hang in the air following his shot--it wasn't proud, it was good, and we all knew it. A last second three-quarter court shot by Three Chopt fell just short and Grove Street Baptist celebrated a hard fought victory.

I know that this was church league. I know that this was average guys that get a little too overly competitive and aren't in great shape. I know the refs were bad. But for me and about thirty other fans there that night, this game was magical. It reminded us of what basketball--and sports really--is all about. It was gutty, scrappy, hard-fought, exhausting, and inspiring. It was true sport played out in real time. I was pulling for Three Chopt, and even though they couldn't give me a win, they gave me so much more.

God save the Cheese.

Question of the Day

Which is your favorite:

Summer Olympic Games,

or,

Winter Olympic Games?

Why?

Olympics, part 1: Why the same old themesong can't make up for overbearing human interest stories by the thousands.

Beloved Quesolitos, you may all collectively exhale while shaking your heads in appreciation that the great blizzard of 2006 was not enough to shut the High Cheese down. Sure it made me cold and made me shovel my walk (did you know that if you don't shovel your sidewalk in front of your house you can get a ticket from the police?), and it made me stay indoors, but let's be honest that last one was happening pretty much no matter what.

Nevertheless, it is Olympics time, and that means that the Experiences of Turin are shrouding primetime TV (couldn't resist the pun on the Shroud of Turin, the city which we know now as Torino). Actually though, I hate the way we show the olypics on television. I mean, there is like a six or seven hour time difference (a better blogger would have researched that...sorry), so if its happening there at noon it is happening here while I sleep, but honestly, I wish they would air each event live, then recap with a commercial free power packed primetime broadcast. I hate the staged feel of the primetime broadcast.

Think about it, the World Cup--also this year--shows its games whenever the heck they come on, all live!!! And you know what, four years ago the Cheese drug himself out of bed on more than one occasion to watch 2:15am matches pitting England against the Dutch, or Nigeria against Italy. You see, the World Cup only happens every four years and so they flex it like they know it. They say, "look if this matters to you then show me it matters." Why can't the Olympics do the same?

And don't blame it on the sports! How many of you watch downhill skiing anytime outside of the Winter Games? Or Bobsled or Luge? Right. And how many of you watch swimming competitions for that matter? Or hockey (sorry Chris, that was a cheap shot, I know)? Yet we come home and watch them primetime like we are fanatics. I mean, the Olympics itself is what make these sports appealing to us for a brief span--flex your muscle and broadcast it live during the day...please. It doesn't hurt this line of thinking that I am snowed in.

Well, long enough for one day. Aryn already quit reading by now.

God save the Cheese--and Matt who is very ill and needs to go get some antibiotics.

Question of the Day

Part One:

Which is more fun to bet* on:

The game without a spread or points given (i.e. "I got St. Joes this week.");

The game with the spread/points given (i.e. "I'm taking St. Joes to cover this week.";

Incidentals to the game (i.e. "There will be two auto thefts from the arena parking lot during the St. Joes game this week.")?


Part two:

What is the weirdest thing you have ever bet on?
(remember that we are a family friendly site)

*It should be noted that the High Cheese does not advocate or encourage betting, this is simply a survey about betting intended for those who do indeed advocate and encourage betting.

Super Tuesday...Super Week!

Hola Quesolitos--talk about your one day turn arounds. I still feel weak and shaky, but honestly that's fairly normal, just kidding. I still am not fully recovered, but at least I know that I am not going to die. I have beaten monkey pox and now I have conquered the bird flu (in the event that I am sick and it is undiagnosed, I provide my own diagnosis).

Nevertheless, that frees the blog up for a little discussion.

Now many of you may remember that I have been touting UConn as the #1 men's basketball team in the nation, declaring that they will win the national chapionship. While this may indeed be true and fine, this week's Super Tuesday lineup on ESPN (the original worldwide leader including all its affiliates up to the ocho) looks pretty tasty:

Top 25 Games

9:00 PM ET No. 2 Duke at No. 24 North Carolina
Now, here is a senior led team that can shoot the lights out pitted against a team of young athletes still attempting to find consistency from the middle range and in their half court sets. Advantage Duke, but it's at UNC, so I say Duke wins by less than 10. Sorry Rell (BTW, Rell guaranteed a victory for UNC).

7:30 PM ET Saint Joseph's at No. 4 Villanova
I know that St. Joes is not ranked, but this team can still play--yes they lost the best backcourt in the nation and are facing the newest best backcourt in the nation, but St. Joe's size should trouble Villanove just enough to keep this one close, so long as they don't let them take easy threes. Sound defense will keep them in it, but it would take a miracle to actually beat Nova.

7:00 PM ET No. 14 Tennessee at Kentucky
Now, mark it down, I am no Wildcat fan. I can't stand Kentucky. But, mark this down and underline it--I hate the volunteers. I am an alabama fan, so the only team worse than Tennessee is Auburn. As a matter of fact, from now on Tennessee will be known as UTenn in my blog and in my own life, because there is only one UT and they won a national championship, so until UTenn unseats the champs, they do not earn the right to be called UT, which is only a referent to Texas. Nevertheless, this is my upset special pick. Kentucky matches up well in every phase of the game. So long as they don't turn the ball over, they can hang with UTenn. Kentucky by 6.

This didn't even mention the big games on Wednesday (Syracuse vs. #1 Connecticut) and Thursday (#10 West Virginia at #13 Pittsburgh, #12 UCLA at Washington State, St. John's at #16 Georgetown, #17 Ohio State at #22 Michigan, or USC at #23 Washington). Talk about your all-time great weeks of college hoops.

Well, I look forward to sponsoring an online hoops pick'em that everyone can be in, so look for that link upcoming next month.

Thanks for the prayers, I am not going to die and I am grateful. God has indeed saved the Cheese.

Question of the Day

Does anyone know if fevers are linked to having wild crazy weird dreams? I have been at for the last two nights. My dreams are so stinking weird and crazy that I wake up tired from dreaming them. So does anyone know if there is a connection of the sort?

I Got Busy...Then I Got Sick.

Life is tough 'yknow, little cheese buddies. The High Cheese himself has been running himself ragged lately, and as a result, has wound up flat on his back with the halt--or some other sickness, maybe bird flu. I think I might not be too long for this world.

My body is one big ache and my head is pounding. My throat is sore!!! And my sinuses are as faithless as ever. Please pray for me.

On the upside, I may get to meet Jesus soon.

Take care, and steer clear of me, I would hate to make you all sick.

God please save the cheese.