New video I made

Just wanted to let you know that I've been starting to do some video of the games I'm covering for the Cedar Falls Times and the other Northeast Iowa newspapers in Community Media Group. Here is the first one I did from Friday night's game between Class 4A opponents Dubuque Hempstead and No. 5 Cedar Falls...



Our editor, Anelia Dimitrova, was so impressed at how I did this, she's going to talk to the CMG ownership about expanding my job as the regional video sports correspondent. I'm wondering how that's going to pay me...

History stolen

Last night, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was just one out away from pitching the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history and third in the last month. However, when Cleveland's Jason Donald grounded to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, and Galarraga covered first base, umpire Jim Joyce made the second-worst call in baseball history. Although Galarraga had the ball and his foot on first base a good half-step ahead of Donald's, Joyce called Donald "safe," and the perfect game and no-hitter both were spoiled.

For those who don't know baseball terminology: a no-hitter simply means that a pitcher allows no hits by the opposing team, while the other team might have base runners by way of walks or errors. Whereas a perfect game is where a pitcher gets all 27 outs recorded without allowing a single base runner (nine innings in a game, three outs per inning equals 27).

Already this season, Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics and Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies recorded perfect games, the first time two pitchers recorded the second-most-rare feat (only an unassisted triple play is more rare) in the same season since 1880, when the perfect game became an official statistic. Never has there been three perfect games in a season.

To some, Galarraga has thrown a 28-out perfect game and were calling for MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to reverse Joyce's call to "out" and award the perfect game. Just within the last hour of when I'm writing this, Selig released a statement saying he would not reverse the call.

And he shouldn't.

Because safe/out is a judgment call in baseball, though there are rulebook entries on how a batter or runner is safe or out, it isn't subject to protests or replay reviews. In fact, the only time a play is reviewed by replay is whether a ball is a home run or not. However, those people are now clammoring for replay to be expanded for obvious safe/out calls.

Still, the play was called incorrectly, and I applaud Joyce for admitting after the fact that he was wrong (usually umpires stick with their call even when proven wrong by replay) and appologized to Galarraga in the Tiger clubhouse after the game.

Talking with reporters in the umpires' room after the game, Joyce said, "It was the biggest call of my career, and I kicked the [stuff] out of it."

Damn right you did! The only worse call in baseball was during gave five of the 1985 World Series. Dom Denkinger, who by the way lives in Waterloo, botched what would have been the final out of the game that would have clinched the championship for the St. Louis Cardinals. As a result, the Kansas City Royals remained in that game, eventually forced game seven and won.

The main difference between the two calls is that Denkinger's gaffe helped decide the championship, while Joyce's was simply the 27th out of a regular-season perfect game and had very little impact on the final outcome.

Although the call was aggregious last night, I think the worst thing that can be done to Joyce is a fine or suspension, and the call was rightly upheld, or at least not changed after the fact. It only opens up a big can of worms that baseball can't afford to open.

Personal updates

New look, new job

Hey folks, it’s been a while since I had any time to really update this blog, but there has been a few changes in my life recently that I need to let you guys know about.


Those of you who have seen my thumbnail on your pages showing me as a follower probably might notice something different, as indicated by the first picture above. I’ve slimmed down A LOT! You also notice on the second, I’m in a yoga pose, Virabhadrasana II, or Warrior II. Well, since the first of the year, I’ve been taking classes at Field of Yoga and been practicing at home, a total of about five or six times a week. Since adding my yoga practice, I’ve dropped 27 pounds to just a shade under 200 pounds. My face has slimmed down to what you see above, and I’m now at a 32-inch waistline. I do have some more that I can do to really be at a “healthy weight,” but it’s a good bit of progress.


Also, I have a major announcement to make: I’m no longer delivering pizzas at Pizza Hut. I’m now going to be the assistant editor of Hawkeye Racing News, which I’m starting training tomorrow morning. It’s currently produced in Vinton, but as part of my hire, Anelia Dimitrova is going to move my duties up to Waverly, making it easier for me to do the job without much disruption. I’m still going to be working at Witham Auto Center for the time being, and I’ll continue doing work for Community Media Group’s Northeast Iowa newspapers, so I’ll be raking in the dough. (I estimate I’ll be making about $30,000 a year combined.)


Unfortunately, I never mentioned in my last few posts that I’ve broken up with Jenny Wahl. It was mainly because my job commitments kept me away from her, and she wanted me to make sure I was where I wanted to be. I do believe we’ve moved on from each other.


There may be another possibility out there now. Last Saturday, my Facebook page received a message for a friend request from one Yvette Wynn. I first asked who she was before I accepted the request, and she told me she found me through a group called “Spandex Fetish” and sent all the guys requests. I was the first (and only, since she deleted it later due to virus concerns) to respond. I showed her the photo above right as well as another of me in the same unitard, and she went gaga over me! She said I was sexy! Of course, I also showed those pictures to Jill and to the guy from whom I bought the unitard, and they agreed. I never thought I was that sexy. I consider myself just an average guy who lost 56 pounds in 3½ years or so.


Anyway, Yvette wants us to get together sometime. The problem is that she lives in West Hollywood, Calif., and I’m here in Cedar Falls, Iowa. That means one of us is going to have to either drive a couple of days or fly to see the other. Of course, those who had read my previous Yahoo! 360° blog know of my problems with “girls” who I meet on the Internet who are not from around here. I’ve encouraged Yvette to get a webcam, so I know that she is who she says she is, and so we can see each other in real time. I do have some pictures she scanned in and shared with me, but I’m going to keep them to myself for the time being.

BCS possiblity for Iowa

The college football regular season is almost over, with championship games in the Big XII, Atlantic Coast, Southeast, Mid-American and Conference USA conferences along with a few other games of importance (Oregon-Oregon State for the Pacific-10 conference crown, Cincinnati-Pittsburgh for the Big East title, neither a "championship game," just ended up to be that way), the Iowa Hawkeye football team is waiting at home to see where they will go this holiday season.

With a 10-2 record, 6-2 in the Big Ten Conference with losses to Northwestern and Ohio State but wins at Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan State, the debate rages on whether Iowa deserves to earn an at-large bid into the Bowl Championship Series pre-championship games. With the loss at Ohio State, Iowa cannot get an automatic bid. Of course, had they won out, they could've been just on the outside looking in at the Citi BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7, but would've been assured of a Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi berth at the least.

Instead, they have to wait to see where they'll end up in the final BCS rankings next Sunday, and which bowl will invite them. Pundits put the Hawks in one of two bowl games depending on both the result of the Big XII championship and the opinion of the bowl committees: the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl or the Capital One Bowl.

Here's the reason why they're considered for the Fiesta Bowl: Iowa has been known to have its fans travel well to the bowl games they've been invited. Also, tens of thousands of Iowa natives/residents/graduates currently live or winter in the Phoenix area, so the local tickets will sell out.

However, many pundits are arguing that Penn State will be the better choice in the BCS, going to the FedEx Orange Bowl to face the ACC champion, either Georgia Tech or Clemson. For one, PSU has one of the largest alumni associations in the nation, and another, they have Joe Paterno, which would be a major draw for a TV audience.

I don't think TV ratings will be much of a factor for the Fiesta or Orange bowls to choose between Iowa and Penn State, and this is the reason why: Bowl committees want the teams that will provide the biggest economic impact for their communities -- in other words, more tickets sold, more money spent in the local stores, restaurants and hotels, and more bang for the buck to bring the teams there.

As I mentioned, the Fiesta Bowl will benefit from the number of Iowans and University of Iowa gradutates living or wintering or having retired in the Phoenix area. On top of that, about 50,000 Iowans will travel from the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Quad City airports or come by car or RV from places like Iowa City, Ottumwa, Dubuque, Cedar Falls and every small town in between to follow the Hawkeyes for the game. When the Hawks were selected by the Orange Bowl committee to replace Miami (Florida) for the January 2003 game (when the Hurricanes faced the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl when it was the NCG before the extra game was enacted), 50,000-plus Hawkeye fans filled what is now called Land Shark Stadium when Iowa faced USC.

Of course, the Trojans trounced the Hawkeyes that night, but that's because Kirk Ferentz and company weren't as prepared for that game.

Anyway, for the Iowa-to-the-Fiesta scenario to work, Texas must beat Nebraska next Saturday in the Dr. Pepper Big XII Championship Game. Otherwise, if Nebraska wins, Nebraska will go to the Fiesta Bowl as the Bix XII champion (the Fiesta has a tie-in with the Big XII champion). The Longhorns would then get one of the at-large bids, likely to either the Orange or Nokia Sugar bowls. In that scenario, the Sugar would get the only replacement pick for the winner of the SEC Championship Game, either Florida or Alabama, who would go to the NCG in Pasadena Jan. 7. Everyone expects the Sugar Bowl to take the loser of that game, citing the conference's tie-in with the bowl. The Orange Bowl would have the next choice, which likely would be Texas in that situation to face the Clemson-Georgia Tech winner. Next would be the Fiesta Bowl. That would be an interesting choice there for an opponent for Nebraska. Do they take a 10-2 Iowa team, a 10-2 Penn State team, an undefeated Texas Christian team (which would have an automatic bid due to being at least No. 4 in the final BCS standings despite not being in an automatic-qualifying conference, being in the Mountain West Conference), the Big East champion or an undefeated Boise State (who wouldn't be an automatic qualifier because it would be lower-ranked than either TCU or Cincinnati, coming from the Western Athletic Conference)? I would think they would have to take either Cincinnati (or Pitt if the Panthers win) or TCU. The remaining team would go to the Sugar Bowl.

If all that happens, Iowa would go to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando against likely LSU. Of course, the last time Iowa and LSU met in that game, Iowa won with a last-second touchdown pass from Drew Tate to Colin Sandeman.

However, here's what I believe will happen if the most-likely scenario happens:

BCS Championship: Texas vs. SEC champion

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oregon/Oregon State winner

Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. Boise State

Orange Bowl: ACC champion vs. Cincinnati

Sugar Bowl: SEC runner-up vs. TCU

Capital One Bowl: Penn State vs. LSU

We'll find it all out next Sunday.

Good bye Cavalier, hello Malibu

Well, I have a little bit of bad news. The 2002 Cavalier I have been driving since 2006 has logged its last mile. It didn't keel over. I got in a fender bender one week ago tonight.

I was en route to a football game between Waterloo West and Dubuque Wahlert when going up Waterloo Road toward University Avenue, passing East 18th Street and Rainbow Drive and near the Family Video store, some young lady (just turned 18) decided to turn around where you really shouldn't. Anyway, I didn't see her in time, tried to brake and swerve around her, but my left-front corner smashed into her right-rear. I got cited for failure to stop, but the car was drivable to my destination and back.

So, I called Progressive to report the accident. Saturday, a claims rep named Sarah called me to discuss the damage before I went to work. I told her how it happened and described what was damaged. The corner of the bumper had a six-inch indention, the headlight and turn signal were smashed, the corner of the hood around the headlight was folded under, the fender was crumpled around the impact site, and the wheelwell slightly rubbed against the tire. I used my dad's Chevy HHR for the weekend, and then took the car to the body shop Monday. I had a rental of a 2009 PT Cruiser while I waited for the Cavalier to be fixed... Or so I thought.

Sarah called me while I was at Walmart Tuesday afternoon. She told me the car was unrepairable because the adjuster estimated the damages to be greater than the value. I had a choice between taking $3,006.87 and they take the car off my hands, or I keep the car and take $2,372.93, both figures after the $500 deductible. After talking with my dad, with Charlie Lipley at First Security State Bank (who held the note on my car until Tuesday, when I paid it off) and with Mark Roussell, the sales manager at Witham Auto in Cedar Falls (and my boss there), I came to conclusion to take the $3,000 and change and then used that money to make a downpayment on any car I chose on the lot.

I chose a 2005 Chevy Malibu. I've driven it a few times while going from the C.F. lot to the other two lots before, and I thought it was going to be a car I would consider trading my Cavalier for when I was ready. I guess fate said I was ready NOW!

So, Wednesday, I start the process by having Mark do the deal on an employee price, then business manager Andy started to do the loan paperwork on it. Later, I went to the local Progressive branch to get the check, but they also asked me to go to First Security to give them an envelope for them to send my title to Progressive. Yesterday, I was told that Dad needed to co-sign on this loan, too, due to the tight credit market. After I had a shortened day at work (due to rain), I went to the body shop to clean out the Cavalier and take off the plates. Later that afternoon, I returned the rental, and then Dad and I went to the lot to finish the paperwork.

I just hope this one will last me quite a while.

Going to work a third job

Tuesday afternoon, I interviewed with a manager of Witham Auto Center in Cedar Falls for a pair of possible job opportunities. One was for the position I applied through Cumulus Jobs for - auto sales - but the other is something that came up and the guy matched me up for with what was in my resume - Website production.

Anyway, I get there about 20 minutes early, as it's always a good practice to do. I introduced myself to the receptionist, and was directed to the service waiting room while Mark, the guy I was meeting, finished with a customer. About 30 minutes later, he finally caught up with me and went into his office.

First thing he asked me was why I thought I could sell cars. I gave him my wanting to try something different than pizza delivery or newspaper writing, and I thought I can make it work out. I also mentioned the CARS program, also known as "cash-for-clunkers." I thought that this would be a good time to enter the business, as people are now more likely to try to buy a new, more fuel-efficient car, and I wanted to be a part of it.

However, looking at my resume, Mark thought that the Web coordinator job would be better to my skillset, as I have experience taking photography with my newspaper jobs. He advised me to take a few days to think it over and get back with him.

That night, I visited my girlfriend, Jenny, and this opportunity came up. She thought I should seriously take the job as opposed to auto sales either at Witham's or at Holdiman Motors down the street a couple miles. She said I can take the job, which would be during weekday mornings, still work for Pizza Hut, which I figured I can do Wednesday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, and do correspondent work for the Cedar Falls Times. That convinced me, but I had to make sure it was doable with Andy.

Wednesday morning, I was prepared to talk with Andy about the prospect, except he wasn't there then. Wes, who's being groomed to be assistant manager of the store, switched shifts with Andy, so I had to wait for the next day to tell Andy what was going on. So, I tell Andy that Witham's wants me to work there in the mornings, and that I would need an adjustment to my schedule starting the week of Aug. 10, to what I just mentioned above. He agreed to it. So, I just needed to tell Mark that I'd take the job. I tried to do that when I got home yesterday, but he was out. He called me back today about 11:15, but I couldn't take the call at the time, as I'm not allowed to make or take calls on my cell phone in the store unless it's an emergency or has to do with work.

When I went on my second delivery of the day, to Dan Deery Motors' parts department, I called Mark to let him know I'd take the job and arranged to start Aug. 10 at 9:30 a.m. The girl who's doing the job now would show me how to work the camera and work with me before she leaves to do what she's going to be doing next at mid-month.

From what I've been told, this is a special camera. I cannot use my Canon Digital Rebel XT that I use for my newspaper coverage. What it can do is scan the barcode for the Vehicle Identification Number that you'd see inside the corner of the windshield atop the dashboard on the driver's side. Then the pictures can be matched up with the car, which we'd have to take several for the Website. When they're uploaded, the computer can match the VIN with information on the vehicle we're selling. Once everything is ready, we then upload the pictures and information to the Mudd Group, which handles the production of the site.

As part of the job, I would have to take the pictures of the cars at all three of Witham's locations - Cedar Falls, Waterloo and LaPorte City. Because of that, they will allow me to drive any car on the lot between lots. All three Witham dealerships sell Ford cars and trucks, while the Cedar Falls location also deals with Volkswagen, Waterloo does Kia and LaPorte sells Chevrolets. I'd probably drive more of the Fords and VWs from the Cedar Falls store, as I'll probably be based there.

What I'm thinking about is when I take a few of the cars out for a spin between stores, I'll give you all a review of the vehicles I'd drive, and maybe I can get a few more followers to monetize this blog. That way, I can probably make a few extra bucks.

Speaking of a few extra bucks, last summer, I co-wrote a zentai-based sci-fi story called "The Community" with a guy in the UK. We were hoping to be able to sell the story as a novel, as it was pretty long and involved, but nothing came out of that. Anyway, one of our fellow members of Ayus-Zentai decided to start a zentai picture book at Lulu.com. Rene, my partner in crime on this project, checked out Lulu, and found we would have no up-front costs to produce our book. The book would be available for purchase as either a download or in paperback. As soon as Rene is ready to publicize it, I'll put up a link on here to buy the book. From what I saw, the download is about $8.50 and paperback is about $12.

We're in the midst of doing a sequel to "The Community" called "No Community." I won't give too much away, but it deals with some people who want to separate themselves from the world-wide Community in our first work.

That's about all for now. If there's anything new personally, or if I have reactions from what's going on in the news, I'll post again. Until next time!

Dad's a klutz!

My father's face marred from a faceplant in the cooler at his job. (My own photo)

Be careful in walk-in coolers!

After I got home from work this afternoon and had my lunch, I went back upstairs to put my plate in the dishwasher. My dad, Bob, was there looking for something to watch on TV after getting up from his nap. Anyway, I turn back from the kitchen and see what you see above: Dad's forehead has a long, thin scratch and a shorter, thicker gash near where his hairline should be.

"What the heck did you do to your face?" I asked.

"I had a little accident last night," he replied.

He explained that he fell over in the walk-in cooler at the Kum & Go on San Marnan Drive in Waterloo. When he fell, he took a face-plant into a few cooler shelves and may have been KO'd for a little while. He was telling my brother, Scot, that he was waiting for someone to look for him after a while. Also, his boss was wanting him to go to the hospital for treatment.

Anyway, he doesn't mind that much about the face. He said he also pulled a leg muscle.

There was a time when he and Scot and my mom, Diana, would kid me for being clumsy with my growing feet (which stopped about at a size 9 1/2), but now he has to take a little bit of ribbing for a while.