Did the Seahawks Just Wear the Ugliest Uniforms in NFL History?

I just finished watching the Seahawks lose to the Bears 25-19, their second straight loss in what is increasingly looking like another wasted season. I blog on it only to memorialize the day as, quite possibly, the day the Seahawks wore the ugliest uniforms in NFL history:

Don’t get me wrong — the thought was okay. The execution, however, was not. Lime green with dark blue pants and dark blue sleeves? Way too cute by half. Had the jerseys been all green, and the pants been light gray, this might have worked. It didn’t. The ‘hawks belong on the next rendition of this page — and at the top.

(For the record, the Giants and Browns home uni’s are the NFL’s best uniforms right now. Both are simple and very classic. “Simple” and “classic” were not words that entered my mind watching the ‘hawks yesterday.)

So Much for That Great Idea

Last week I had the great, uh, original idea of writing a sequel to The Breakfast Club. Sort of The Breakfast Club meets The Big Chill. I was going to write a screenplay, sell it to Hollywood, and make millions. My pal Roy rightly dissuaded me from that idea — seems Universal owns the rights — so I quickly ditched my effort.

As with most of my great ideas, it seems that someone else already came up with it. I did a quick Google search for “sequel to The Breakfast Club” and did not come up empty handed. Lots of people have come up with ideas for a sequel — Joel Mathis on Lawrence.com developed his somewhat.

It was a good thought, but my idea for writing a sequel to The Breakfast Club ain't gonna happen.

Apparently the chances of a TBC 2 happening aren’t great. According to this report, Emilio Estevez had no interest in the project a few years back. Perhaps he will change his mind after the death of John Hughes.

For now, however, I think we’re stuck watching TBC over and over and wondering what could be … sorta how I feel about Deadwood.

Finn’s First Birthday Party

Last night we officially celebrated Finn’s first birthday. We had lots of family friends over to the house. Night went off without incident. Eli Moeller snapped some great pics with Ronnie’s camera. Among them:

Norman doing my job better than me.

Betty, Finn, Ann, Logan and Eric.

Ronnie and Veronica Moeller.

The Richardson fam.

These balloons would soon be in the sky ...

and Reese and the other kids got quite the chuckle.

A rare site -- me lifting a finger in the kitchen.

The Jenkins and Otterlee fams.

Modest appearing, this cake was quite tasty.

Gettin' ready to blow out the candle.

Finn checking out his cake.

Kimberly, Sophia and Alan Lippmann.

Tamir, Finn and Reese enjoying the cake.

A rarity at house parties -- everyone out of the kitchen.

Finn’s First Haircut

Finn got his first haircut today. We took him and Reese to that place in Wallingford Center. It wasn’t a minute too soon — Finn was starting to look like a hippie:

Before: Matthew McConaughey

After: Chief Justice John Roberts

More pics available here.

On Looking Good

I just finished reading Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz. It was a bit of a stream of consciousness book — not an easy read for a guy who likes his prose tight as a drum. I gave it two stars on Goodreads.com. Frankly I did not enjoy the read at all (forgive my use of the term “enjoy” given the subject matter, but I’m at a loss for the appropriate term.) It did have one reasonably good line, however:

A respectable appearance is the best guarantee of being respected.

In his case being respected was a heck of a lot more important than today, but the line still resonates.

Ruminations on My First Week as a Fantasy Football Player

I promise that I will not often contaminate the family blog with every thought I have about my new found hobby of fantasy football. Nonetheless, this is my first week as a player and it is my blog, so I’m going to bang the keyboard just this once.

A few ruminations:

This fantasy stuff is going to fundamentally change the way I watch football (and, hence, spend my weekends). I watched more full regular season games this week than I watched all last year. Thank God for Comcast’s video recorder.

Among the games I watched was last night’s Raiders-Chargers game. I otherwise couldn’t have cared less but I have Raiders TE Zach Miller, and his performance mattered. I’m amazed at just how bad JeMarcus Russell is. If he had not been a number one pick and had the Raiders not broke the bank to sign him, this guy is a No. 3 quarterback at best. (These guys agree.) As of now, he is one of only two starting quarterbacks in the league (Sean Bulger being the other) who is not owned in my fantasy league. After watching last night’s performance, I understand why.

My offensive players aren't good, but at least I don't have JeMarcus Russell.

It’s amazing how NFL running backs can fall so far so fast. Two years ago Larry Johnson was Da Man. Now he’s rushing for 20 yards on 11 carries — and that doesn’t look like an anomaly. LaDanian Tomlinson was a record breaker in ‘07 — now Darren Sproles is on the field at crunch time. Shaun Alexander was big time in 2005 — two years later he couldn’t get a job. These guys have as much job security as Seattle-area entrepreneurs who dare tread near the state’s gambling monopoly.

The more I think about it the more I appreciate just what a great target customer the fantasy player would have been for Betcha.com. The overlaps and value props just jump off the page. I can’t quite put it to words on this entry and I won’t lest I be hauled off to jail in Tennessee or some other would-be Louisiana, but something about “Hit the reset button every week.”

If Betcha is gambling, how is it that fantasy football isn’t? (Note to the Washington State Gambling Commission, who is undoubtedly reading this: don’t read this as an admission that I think Betcha is gambling. It isn’t.) Other than ESPN, CBS Sports, et al. are very powerful. (NOTE: A lawyer in New Jersey actually made this argument last year. The case was litigated in federal court — he lost.)

By the way: I went 1-1 in Week 1. Had Russell been as even as accurate as an 18th century firearm, he might have hit Zach Miller for a TD pass, and I’d have gone 2-0. I got mighty lucky winning even one, I must admit: Aaron Schobel, my third-ranked defensive player, outscored my starting backfield and one of my starting wide receivers — Ben Roethlisberger, Leon Washington, Larry Johnson, and Terrell Owens — combined. If those guys keep getting outscored by a single defensive player, my win against Norman will be my lone one for the year.

I'm in for a long year if Bills DE Aaron Schobel continues to be my high scorer.

Finn Celebrates the Big Numero Uno

Today was Finn’s first birthday. We celebrated as a family, birthday party to follow this weekend. A few pics from tonight’s four-person, two-dog, one-cat soiree:

Now whose present is this ...?

The birthday boy in his birthday hat.

Reese: Now this one looks an awful lot like a Reese toy. Finn: Uh ...

Mama mia, I'm in for a long slog ...

Don't have this chocoloate cupcake thing worked out just yet.

Closin’ Down the LBC

Last night we joined the Prices for a Clamless Clambake at Laurelhurst Beach Club. There, too, were Sam and Hwashing Heyworth, old friends of the Prices and (now) new friends of ours. We ended up closing down the place — not such a mighty feat, I admit, when it closes at 8 pm. Sam confirmed for me that Ben Roethlisberger only three one touchdown on Thursday, not three, which only reconfirms my worst fear that I’m goin’ winless this year in fantasy. (More.)

Anyway, a few pics:

Me, Finn, Ronnie and Reese.

Sam H. and Grace P.

A finnicky eater.

Hwashing and Sam Heyworth.

Reese in timeout.

Grace and Roy Price.

My First Ever Fantasy Football Draft

Yesterday I attended my first ever fantasy football draft. I’m playing in the Cascade Auto Glass Fantasy Football League, run by my good buddy Brad Nelson. Paul Sharkey, Norman Cheuk and Tim O’Brien are also members.

About 16 of us spent a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the basement of Fox Sports Grill drafting players for ‘09. I inherited Larry Fitzgerald as a keeper on my team. Among the other big names I nabbed: Ben Roethlisberger (whom I stupidly nabbed over Darren McFadden), Terrell Owens and Larry Johnson. Deion Branch — not sure what I was thinking there.

I think I made a big mistake picking him ...

instead of him.

Anyway, I was up at 4 am this morning lamenting my Roethlisberger-over-McFadden decision.

I think I’m going to be addicted.

Mariners 3, Angels 0

This afternoon Steven and I joined Roy, Katie and Claire Price for an afternoon out at Safeco Field. The M’s beat Mike Scioscia’s California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels 3-0. (More.) Felix Hernandez pitched eight innings of shutout ball to beat Scott Kazmir, who made his debut with the Angels after a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Regrettably the Prices had to leave after the fourth inning — Roy had a poorly-timed meeting — but we snapped a few pics beforehand:

A view from our seats.

Roy, Katie and Claire Price

Steven and I waiting for foul balls.

Steven with the foul ball he caught off the bat of Mike Saunders.

Group photo with too much light in the background.