Lancing an Enormous Boil

No, that's not the reason I haven't been posting, I just haven't felt like it.

Instead, I've been reading more, about everything but politics.  The Cowboys have been going through training camp and are playing their last preseason game tomorrow night.  What with suspensions, injuries and all the other usual drama surrounding the team, I've been trying to keep up with all the news and transactions.

Unlike nearly every other article I read online about anything else, I avoid reading the comments under the DallasCowboys.com articles.  Why?  Because they're usually made by kids or other people who should limit their opinions to sports they "might" know something about...like tiddlywinks or hopscotch.

Also, the people who run the site don't even seem to make an effort to limit the spam and certainly don't delete obvious spam messages.  There's one type that I've started seeing more and more of on the 'net;  it starts out by agreeing with someone, usually someone who hadn't even posted, then they go into their spiel about how much money they make and how "you can do it too!"  Like this:

Lauren . I can see what your saying... Eleanor `s bl0g is incredible... I just got themselves a Fiat Panda after having made $6556 this-past/4 weeks and-in excess of, ten thousand last-month . it's by-far the most rewarding I've had . I began this 9-months ago and immediately began to earn more than $79.. per-hr (link removed)

Here's the latest one that made me SMH:

niceJoshua .I'm in love..... his name is forny, I just lanced a enormous boil and I'm ready to go after that man.  I'm  making $84 this five weeks past and just over $210  this past 4 months ...... it's by-far the easiest work Ive had and I've found the man of my dreams . (link removed)

What if forny has a boil fetish, whatcha gonna do now?

Largest Eggs in the World

The ostrich lays the largest eggs on land, but the whale shark lays the largest eggs in the world.*

An egg from a whale shark measuring 14 inches in diameter was found in the Gulf of Mexico in 1953.

*Not counting the huge eggs the Cowboys have laid in several games this season.

Panglossian

Panglossian   adjective [pan-glos-ee-uh n, - glaw-see-, pang-]

characterized by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity

---

This would describe most of we die-hard Cowboys fans as we drink our blue Kool-Aid.

Future Hall of Famer

THE man: Jason Witten

Groin Injury

While surfing online, I often listen to sports talk radio;  earlier, the hosts were talking about injuries to the Dallas Cowboys and mentioned that one player had a mild groin injury. 

The term "groin injury" has always made me smile a little bit, even though I had one myself back in high school. (pulled a muscle...and THAT makes me giggle a little bit, considering the area of the body the injury occurred...and that I was about 14 yrs. old then)  Not sure why I think it's funny now, because it hurt like the dickens then.  As I recall, it lasted only a few days and I made sure to stretch my groin after that. (more giggles)

Anyway...whenever I hear the term "groin injury", this song from "Cheers" always pops into my head.

Your Team Cheats

From the website: So you think there's only one NFL team that cheats? You're wrong. All 32 NFL teams cheat. Yup, even your favorite team is a dirty cheater, but since they are not that good, nobody really cares.

The Cowboys have a score of "20", below the league average and my own bias aside, some of the charges are legitimate but picayune, particularly the "salarycapgate" where the 'Boys were penalized by the league for front loading contracts during the 2010 uncapped season.  The problem with that is the contracts were sent to the league office and approved by them. 

The "PEDSgate" is laughable, citing an offensive lineman from 1990 - who was out of the league a year later, the QB coach Wade Wilson, who has diabetes and took a drug in '07 to "enhance his quality of life" and the most recent case from 2014, Orlando Scandrick,  who tested positive for MDMA, aka Molly/Ecstasy - obviously not  taken to enhance performance, but to get high...not that that is an excuse.  Most of the rest are laughable.

Your Team Cheats

Jerry, Pay the Man!

Let's get a deal done, Mr. Jones...take off the tag and pay the man.  I know you have to watch the cap, but how often does a talent like this come along?

He needs to be a Cowboy for life.

Bad Lip Reading - NFL

Love these vids - several Dallas Cowboys featured in this one.

Thank You Cowboys!

Even though your season ended on a disappointing note, it was still a success by nearly any reasonable measure.  I'll admit I didn't have much hope for this season, thinking it might very well be worse than last year's 8-8 record and in fact, I thought the team would be lucky to get to that mark and figured that it would be more along the lines of 4-12, especially after that horrible pre-season and the first regular season loss to San Francisco.

Here's hoping the 'Boys can sign the free agents they really need and that the draft will be a good one.  Thanks for such a good season and I'm already looking forward to next year!

How 'bout them Cowboys!

FEAR THE STAR

Took Sunday Off

Not that anyone noticed, but I took yesterday off (from posting in here).  For the first time in years, I watched football all day long and not only was that out-of-the-ordinary for me, Dallas wasn't even playing since they're in their bye week.

I really enjoyed watching the other conference opponents - New York, Washington and Philadelphia - not only get beat, but beaten fairly badly.  Sure, the Giants didn't lose by much, but they played so poorly it was fun to watch the meltdown. 

I'll have to admit, however, that I'm about "footballed out" after watching the biggest part of four games yesterday (including the late game last night).  I doubt I'll watch Monday Night Football, but will instead catch up on some of my favorite new-found TV series.

The Cowboys Are Making Me Angry!

Well, not the team, but the Dallas Cowboy website. (I don't get angry at how the 'Boys play; I used to get furious but these days I don't let it bother me, at least not for long. That's why there's a switch or button to turn the channel or station to something else or just turn the game off.)

Here's the reason I'm annoyed; I have a couple of add-ons on my Firefox browser: AdBlock Edge and Disconnect. The AdBlock Edge lets me block most ads on sites I visit and the Disconnect does just that, disconnects from social media and other things.

I had to "cut" the following graphic in half, then "stitch" back together in order to fit it in this post. It takes up the entire top part of the screen when I visit the DC website. (click any image for larger view)

The thing is, I DO have my adblocker turned off:

And, as you can see, I've also "whitelisted" the site on the Disconnect add-on:

Now, I know many websites rely upon advertising revenue in order to stay online and to remain free to the viewer. However, I doubt the Cowboys are relying on the revenue stream in order to keep the website up. -snicker-

I wouldn't have any ethical problems blocking the ads but I can't view any of the videos onsite unless I DO disable my add-ons; there's always an advertisement at the first of each and every video and if they're blocked, the video won't load. I don't watch all the videos there, but I do like to watch The Break and Talkin' Cowboys. For a while, I was just downloading the audio portion and listening to it later, but there are times when I want to watch and listen to the show live. I've never called in, but I might want to or send an email in hopes they'll read and answer it during the show.

So, what really annoys me is that they detect I have adblocking add-ons and chastise me for it....even if I have them disabled!  I used to have another add-on that would do away with those "nags" but it quit working several browser updates ago.  I COULD block the nag with my adblocker, but I'd be right back to not being able to view the videos.  It's a Catch-22 situation.

Catch-22, not this 22, Emmitt Smith.  He was hard to catch.

Free Countdown Timer

Free Countdown Timer for Your Website at timeanddate.com

Not sure why these countdown timers/calendar scripts don't work in a post - I think they conflict with the calendar script at the top of the page. It WILL work in another column (probably because it's in a separate "wrapper") and there's a Cowboys training camp countdown just below the Cowboys module in the right-hand column.  I'll take it down when training camp starts - and *maybe* put up another for when the regular season starts. 

I hope I can then put up another one for when Dallas will be in the Super Bowl...and hope it will be this next one, but the way things have been going with the 'Boys...well, I'm not sure that much coding for that length of time would fit in a Blogger blog.

Flag On That 404 Page!

From the Dallas Cowboys website:

I'm not positive, but I believe that signal is for unsportsmanlike conduct and/or a non-contact foul.

Moonlighters

I'm sitting here waiting on the Cowboys/Redskins game that starts at noon and the host on the online radio show I'm listening to said it's raining in Washington, DC.  I decided I'd go look at the DC area weather radar to see if it looked like it would rain all through the game. (I'm thinking Dallas would benefit from good, dry weather because I think the offense will have to carry the day)

On the website header there is a graphic with two of the station's weather people;  I didn't pay them much mind at first, but after looking at the radar, my gaze was drawn back to them...they looked familiar:

The graphic says their names are Doug Hill and Jacqui Jeras, but I'm not so sure.

I think it's Joe Biden and Gwyneth Paltrow moonlighting at their second jobs.

misoneism

misoneism mis·o·ne·ism [mis-oh-nee-iz-uhm, mahy-soh-] noun

hatred or dislike of what is new or represents change.

---

I wasn't familiar with this word, but definitely am familiar with the definition. I'm one of those people who resist change, but it's basically with websites or operating systems or the layouts of my favorite stores (especially when products I often buy are put somewhere else!).  When I get used to something, it's hard for me to change over to the new system...but I eventually do.  What annoys me the most is when I don't see the upside to the change and think that it's just change for changes sake.

I've never seen this term applied to them, but many conservatives get accused of a hatred of change, but in most cases, that's not true or deserved.  I can't speak for other conservatives, but as for me, I don't generally dislike the change after I get used to it, but I don't like things to be changed just to be changed.   If the change is good...and doesn't cost a ton of money...then I'm all for it.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.   Dallas Cowboys, why in the world did you abandon the run when it was working so well?  The conservative approach was winning the ball game.

I'm Ashamed To Be a Fan

I saw that posted on the Facebook and other Dallas Cowboy fan sites today after the blowout loss by the 'Boys Monday night against "da Bears".  I also saw "I'm embarrassed by them!"

I was disappointed, sure; a win would have kept them tied with the Eagles at the top of the division, but embarrassed?  Ashamed?  No, of course not.  I slept like a baby last night and only got annoyed today when turning to a sports show on TV or on the radio where I had to watch/listen to so-called experts who list all the things wrong with the team or what they would have done differently. 

Sure, it's easy to look back with 20-20 hindsight and say what should have been done, but if they're so smart, then why are they not coaching an NFL team instead of calling in to a radio or TV show (or hosting one) and griping? It's one thing to have a former player or coach critique the team's play, but for some schmuck on the couch to pretend to be an expert...well, that's too much.  Those armchair quarterbacks upset me more than how the Cowboys play.

Look, if you're ashamed of your team, then maybe it's time to root for another one;  I know I would.  Then again, I know I have absolutely nothing to do with the Cowboy's success OR failure.  Wearing a Dallas jersey and screaming at the TV doesn't help, no matter how loud you yell.

Embarrassed by the team?  Not me;  I get embarrassed when I accidentally pull out in front of someone while driving, or look down after I've been into a half dozen public places and see that my fly is unzipped.  (so THAT'S why people were giggling!) If you're embarrassed by one or more of your friends - who root for other teams - making fun of your team...well then, you really need new friends.  Both your and their priorities are in the wrong place.

I used to get upset when I was a kid and Dallas would lose...then again, I was 12 yrs. old and they were an important part of my life - along with many other things I now wonder why I set so much store in when I was that age.  I was immature, and I think that's the problem with a lot of these "ashamed" and "embarrassed" fans. 

Grow up.  It's just a game.  At the end of the season, only one team's fans will be happy, that's the way it works.   If you really want to be upset by games, then watch C-Span and the games our politicians play.  Now THAT'S something that should make you embarrassed and ashamed.

R.I.P. Deacon Jones

Deacon Jones was terrorizing opposing NFL quarterbacks when I first got interested in football;  when I played, I tried to emulate his famous head slap when I could (get away with it). Even when his Rams played the Cowboys, my favorite team, I couldn't help but admire the ferocious way he played. (I think there's at least two sacks of Dallas QBs in the video.

Deacon Jones
December 9, 1938 - June 3, 2013

Making Money Is a Snap!

Anyone who knows me or has followed this blog for any length of time knows I am a Dallas Cowboy fan. (there's a Cowboys news module in the right-hand side column) I don't post much about them because frankly, it's been hard to be a fan for the last decade or so and I don't want or need trolls coming in and blasting my favorite team. I know they've sucked for a long time, I don't need to be reminded of it.

That said, I'm still a fan, although not as much of one as I once was. As I've grown older, I've become less and less interested in football...and all sports, for that matter. I try to watch the Cowboys on TV, but if they're playing badly I have no problem changing the channel. I've done that a lot over the last 15 years. I'm no fair-weather fan, but I'm also not a glutton for punishment.

I still keep up with them, however, reading articles about them on the Dallas Cowboys website and subscribe to a few fan sites in my reader. I was glad to see this article yesterday: Cowboys Sign Long Snapper LaDouceur To Five-Year Deal. I couldn't find the exact terms of the contract, at least none that sounded correct. Most sources said it was a five-year deal for $4 million, but LaDouceur has been in the league long enough to get at least the veteran minimum wage and the math doesn't work for that number.

Doing some quick research, I found that he made $790,000 for the 2012 season. Considering that all he does is "long snap", I decided to research a little more to see how much he made per actual play he was on the field. I figure he played during 31 field goal attempts, 68 punts and 38 PAT (subtracting three 2 point tries) for a total of 137 plays....without making a bad snap. That works out to $5,766.42/play. Not bad wages, huh?

That made me wonder about other player's wages per play. I thought about figuring what certain of my favorite players made, but the task would have been daunting, trying to find out the exact number of times they were on the field, taking off their substitutions, injuries, etc. It was fairly easy to calculate the number for the team's highest profile player and quarterback, Tony Romo.

(and I don't care what other people think of him, he's a favorite of mine and a good player. I don't care if anyone disagrees with me on his worth to the team; you can point out his mistakes, but I'll point out your lack of football knowledge.)

According to the Cowboy website's statistics, Dallas ran 1,049 offensive plays in 2012. The site says the backup QB Orton attempted 10 passes, but there's no breakdown of how many times he handed off the ball. So, let's just say for the matter of simplicity that Tony Romo was on the field for 925 plays, taking off the extra point kicks, adding back the 2 point tries, taking away the punt plays and estimating however many times Orton handed off. 925 is close enough for me.

Romo's listed salary for 2012 was $9,000,000. Now, I'm not sure, what with the signing bonus and the "funny money" salary cap implications, if it was more or less than that amount, but again, for the sake of simplicity, let's go with the figure of nine million. That means he got paid $9729.73 per play.

(for all you anal-retentive stat freaks: if you have a problem with my figures for that or any of the other calculations I've done, send me an email with detailed corrections, screen captures of your calculations and verified links to your sources to: idonotgiveadamn@buzzoff.net)

That's a pretty decent wage, wouldn't you say? Especially considering that a good percentage of those plays were just handing off the ball and not getting touched. Then again, there were far too many plays like this one:




That wasn't even close to the worst hit he took this last year, but I'm sure he would have given up part of his per-play salary to have avoided that hit. Hell, I would have given it ALL back, plus another couple of play's worth. LaDouceur might make only half of what Romo does per snap, but it's a wonder Romo's neck hasn't been snapped.

Dallas Cowboy Season

One animation is worth a thousand words.

The Crying Towel

Opened up my mailbox just now and found the usual junk mailings but there was also a small padded mailer from Proctor Gamble, the company that makes Tide (tm) detergent.  I ripped it open to find a freebie I had requested over a month ago, a Dallas Cowboys hand towel similar to the smaller of these:

It's only appropriate that I get it the day after Dallas lost to Washington. It's a nice little towel, but it's not big enough to soak up my tears.

Just kidding. As disappointing as that loss was to a division rival, the sun still came up this morning, I'm still alive and life goes on. I WOULD like to have a few thousand more of these towels to stick in the mouths of those who call in to sports talk shows, griping about the coaching staff, the quarterback, the owner and "know" how to fix what ails the Pokes. If they are so smart, why aren't THEY coaching a pro football team?