So, we’ve established that I am not good at the entire picking the right players situation. Am I any better at the picking the winning team situation? Let’s find out.
Giants over Panthers The G-men are loading back up. It will be a close one, but in the end I’m pretty certain the Giants back end can counter the woes of the front end. We are finally (hopefully) on the way to a 2-5 record! Hey, They said they would start slow.
Patriots over Jets I don’t think Zach Wilson is terrible. I also don’t think he’s very good. He’s a meh QB–a backup who rode in on a trail of hype and wound up on a team that isn’t good. He’s new Darnold, but better skills.
Chiefs over Titans Chiefs can score too quickly for the Titans to be able to keep up.
Packers over Washington
Dolphins over Falcons I just don’t believe in the Falcons. I don’t believe in the Dolphins either, BTW, but I think the Falcons are worse.
Broncos over Browns This is more of a hope situation here I want Bridgewater to win. I want it to be close, because there is a lot I like about the Browns
Ravens over Bengals
Rams over Lions
Eagles over Raiders
Cardinals over Texans
Bucs over Bears
Colts over Niners I don’t actually know how this will go, but the Colts have played better than their record. I suspect they continue to do so.
Saints over Seahawks Defense finally steps up and so does Geno? Nah.
The end? I wish I could get off that easy. Some days I find myself going full tilt for hours and hours. This day felt like I never really stopped moving for longer than an hour and I’ve been at it since 6 AM. I did not get a lot done. In the larger since I handled my business, but it feels personally like I spent a lot of time not doing a whole lot. I am not looking forward to how much needs to be accomplished tomorrow. Among other things I need to start scripting for that game against the Argos. Yep, I was entirely wrong about how scheduling would go and we got the Argos. That means that the Argos will be playing their second straight undefeated D1 team. They crushed the last one 38-0. I expect we have more pride than to go out like that–even with me calling the plays.
Some Thoughts:
I am very bad at fantasy football. between the 3 leagues I have 6 total wins in 7 weeks. That’s trash.
Youtube and tiktok rappers are nothing special or interesting. That is just the latest way to grind for these young cats.
I am very judgmental lately.
I haven’t gotten back to writing yet. I’ve been grading like a monster, which I will continue to do tomorrow.
I’m laying in bed in my phone at 5:30 am thinking about the mountain of stuff that I have to do this morning, which led me to remembering the past four times I did this and forgot a large portion of those responsibilities. I didn’t write them down and as a result they didn’t get done. I simply have too much to do to remember it all in my head. The lack of desire to do most of it also lends itself to forgetting.
The nature of my brain wiring is to focus on instant gratification or close gratification scenarios which I have little actual control over. I was the kid who dreamed about what gifts were going to be under the tree as opposed to focusing on what I could do to earn money for the stuff I wanted as gifts. There is a thread of laziness in that which I handed down to my kids and absolutely ruins my partnership on a weekly basis. I won’t fall into the trap of saying I’m too old to rewire my brain, but I know lists keep me on the right path.
I ought to go write one right now..
Some thoughts:
Just read that Colin Powell died of Covid complications. We hear a lot about famous people or even just friends of friends dying of the disease or because of it, but I don’t know anyone personally who died of Covid. Of course, I don’t know anyone who died of Cancer or Pneumonia or the Flu either.
Well, we won. It wasn’t the effort or execution I wanted, but here are the standings based on that win:
Team
Win
Loss
Ties
Power Points
PF
PA
Irish
5
0
138
149
6
Raiders
5
0
158
118
34
Liberty Lions
4
1
182.4
150
67
Argos
4
0
178
172
6
Mustangs
3
2
206.8
64
77
Dragons
3
3
151.2
95
67
Spartans
3
1
46.8
83
24
Jr Eagles
2
3
121.2
36
92
Peoria Panthers
2
2
31.2
74
56
Yuma Coyotes
2
2
31.2
21
53
Jr Huskies
2
2
31.2
55
25
Force Football
1
2
15.6
39
53
Ridge Army
1
3
31.2
26
95
Outlaws
1
2
15.6
41
61
Mesa Toros
0
3
50
0
55
Devilbacks
0
3
0
0
106
We haven’t played anyone. We still haven’t played a winning team in the NYS league. We need to do that soon. By the look of things we aren’t going to have 8 games this season. Feels like the only way to even out the number of games is for us to have 7. That puts the next game as our last game of the regular season. So, if not now, when? Playoffs. That’s when. It’s an awful idea to face our first real test when a loss means the end of the season. However, it is entirely possible that this happens. Here’s how:
The top 4 teams are going to be D1 teams and compete for the state D1 championship. 3 teams are undefeated. Given how the league ranks teams (Points For) the idea would likely be to put teams on the verge of D1 against each other to see who is the top. That means the 1 loss teams face off. That also likely means not putting one of the undefeated teams up against each other or up against any real competition or–in a perfect world–against each other. That would mean 5-0 Raiders v. 5-0 Irish. My guess would be the Liberty Lions vs. the West Valley Spartans as another matchup and the Argos v. a 2 win team.
A curious feature of urban neighborhoods is the men’s barbershop. Now, I grew up in an environment where the ‘shop was a cultural touchstone. The men in my life all went to the shop and I was dragged along to get my hair right as well. I heard so many conversations about sports, and culture, and politics, etc. Today was the first time taking my kid to the shop and stepping into that adult role and being part of the conversations the kids hear and eventually learn to emulate.
We talked sports. Basically, that’s all we talked. We went from sport to sport to player to player etc, having banter about who we liked and disliked and why and it was a really good and fun conversation with total strangers. It felt like we were all looking for both common ground and points of conflict to playfully jab each other about, and in the social landscape, I think that is what men do in general. I had a good time being part of the conversation–especially once I decided to boldly wade in. The boy watched and enjoyed listening throughout. He wasn’t ready to make his own commentary.
I need to do more of this. It’s what Dad’s are supposed to do.
I’m writing this at 11pm in bed and I don’t know how much I really have to say at this point in the night. I spent the day with my partner hanging out in the woods and that was wonderful. It was followed by the standard back and forth driving that comes with having kids of a certain age. Now, it’s super late and I’m ready to turn in. But I need ten minutes on the blog first.
I’m not sure what to say.
this is what comes of not planning these things out in advance. When spontaneity strikes it can be a wonder thing, but what about when it doesn’t. That scenario happens more often than not lately. As we see here.
so, I suppose I’ll just turn to…
Some Thoughts:
I’m the worst at typing on a phone. Everything is fat fingers missing keys.
That time went a lot faster than I thought it would
The youth football thing can be all consuming. My partner describes it as a cancer in our lives–one that keeps eating away at my time and energy in a fashion that is anything but positive. She’s partially right, at least. It does cloy. It does tear at me and create this need to know that cannot be filled because the information, at least in our league, is rarely there and available. There is a lot to think about in this last season. Does the kid do All Stars? If so, what does that actually look like? I’ve long exclaimed that I would not travel across the country for football. He’s already gone to Texas with his mom and aunt. Florida is where all stars happens and is rather expensive (to say the least). This is not something myself and my partner really want to or need to try to afford, and the mom isn’t likely to go with him–leaving me to go and pay all by myself. So, no. That is not the strategy for us.
So, it ends with the Championship (hopefully)? Sounds like a yes to me. Sure, I’m holding on to some thin hope that there is a local thing within the timeframe that can be a final achievement, but it seems unlikely. So, the focus falls back to what does the league look like? Well, here are the numbers:
Team
Win
Loss
Ties
Power Points
PF
PA
Mustangs
2
2
149
47
71
Liberty Lions
4
0
148
150
19
Raiders
5
0
138
118
34
Irish
4
0
138
104
6
Argos
3
0
128
134
6
Dragons
2
3
119
75
67
Jr Eagles
2
2
99
36
72
Mesa Toros
0
3
50
0
55
Peoria Panthers
2
2
31.2
74
56
Spartans
2
1
31.2
47
24
Yuma Coyotes
2
2
31.2
21
53
Jr Huskies
2
1
31.2
49
8
Force Football
1
2
15.6
39
53
Ridge Army
1
3
15.6
26
95
Outlaws
1
2
15.6
41
61
Devilbacks
0
2
0
0
70
Looks odd, right? Why are the Mustangs the #1 team? Well, that is a result of sorting by power points. Turns out the Mustangs have played the toughest schedule in the league and still only lost to undefeated teams. By Power rankings that makes the #1. The Power ranking formula is a bit wacky. Here is how it is described by PhoenixAYF:
The Phoenix AYF Power Point System has been utilized for over 8 years to determine the top teams for post season play primarily on strength of schedule of common opponents. This is the Phoenix AYF Approved 2018 system. This is based on the original Arizona Interscholastic Association High School (AIA) football formula and weighted to fit our 7 week conference schedule, the final formula is calculated as follows:
· 78 points for a win (VP – Victory Points/) or 39 for Tie
· 10 points for an opponent win (OW – Opponent Victory Points) or 5 for Tie
· .015 points for an opponent’s-opponent win (OOW – Opponents Opponents Victory Points) or .0075 for Tie
o Adding in the OOW helps eliminate the ties.
The simplified formula is as follows:
Power Points = (VP + OW + OOW) / Games played (excluding Kickoff week one)
The detailed formula is as follows:
Power Points = (Phoenix AYF Wins x 78 + Phoenix AYF Ties x 39) + (Phoenix AYF Wins by Opponents x 10 + Phoenix AYF Ties by Opponents x 5) + (Phoenix AYF Wins by Other Opponents x .015 + Phoenix AYF Ties by Other Opponents x. 0075) / # of Phoenix AYF Official Conference Games Played. Any non-conference games are not calculated or included.
This leaves us in a strange mathematical connundrum. I did not include OOW, but I don’t think it changes the fact that the Mustangs rule. We were supposed to play the mustangs this weekend, but a last minute change puts us against the Mesa Toros. They haven’t scored all season. That means they won’t help our Power Rank. However, I think the league will use Wins and the lead indicator and Points Scored as the tie breaker. Here we are by that measure:
Team
Win
Loss
Ties
Power Points
PF
PA
Raiders
5
0
138
118
34
Liberty Lions
4
0
148
150
19
Irish
4
0
138
104
6
Argos
3
0
128
134
6
Mustangs
2
2
149
47
71
Dragons
2
3
119
75
67
Jr Eagles
2
2
99
36
72
Peoria Panthers
2
2
31.2
74
56
Spartans
2
1
31.2
47
24
Yuma Coyotes
2
2
31.2
21
53
Jr Huskies
2
1
31.2
49
8
Force Football
1
2
15.6
39
53
Ridge Army
1
3
15.6
26
95
Outlaws
1
2
15.6
41
61
Mesa Toros
0
3
50
0
55
Devilbacks
0
2
0
0
70
Top 4 make it to the D1 playoffs. That means we get the 2-3 matchup as things stand. Great. I’m curious if the Argos are even in the conversation. Are they going to go to the Florida show or stay here and play local? Only time (and information) will tell…
I don’t know about other teams, but the Giants are in a world of bad luck. To lose your star QB, WR, and RB all in one game is just wack. The Giants will try to fight on, but dang, it is going to be a struggle. At the very least, I think there is hope moving forward. The line is getting better on both sides and playmakers are evolving. A little more help from free agency in the off season and we will have something to really work with next year,
This year? Nah, that is over. I want to watch us win a few more games but there won’t be too many more to watch at this rate.
Some Thoughts:
If left to my own devices, those devices tend to be joystcks.
New Superman is bisexual. Bandwagon much? I mean if it wasn’t a big deal then it wouldn’t be a big deal, but to make if focal… Might as well make him asian. No, that’s the boyfriend. It pains me to see stories try to force issues that are not at all related to the story. Of course, when I like it I like it. I thought black Nick Fury was great because of Samuel L Jackson. Had it been anyone else I would’ve been like everyone else and called CAP–the way even I did when they chose to make Robin black/asian in the new Titans show. Using race and sexuality as a coloring for characters just to make them different is not the strategy I feel is good for anyone. It furthers the idea that we need to change existing characters to take away the history of what they were as opposed to making new heroes that reflect our updated and evolved way of thinking.
My war on crickets in underway. I found a mound of the awful-sounding pests and doused them in the Sevin poison. We’ll see how that goes. This was the first mound but it is not the only one. As I begin to peel back the layers of overgrowth I am finding more and more of these hideouts. Today I even spotted what I believe to be a hawk circling my backyard, which argues there may be mice nearby.
Why are there field hawks in the desert? No clue. I have no idea about their habitat. What I do know is my habitat is jacked. I’ve done a terrible job of maintaining the backyard and front yard and as a result the place looks all sorts of junky. I don’t want to live this way and I don’t want to teach the kids the live this way. That is why I am so focused on turning this around quickly and having them pitch in to get the work done. My eldest has a partially torn ACL (again) and is using this as an excuse to not do yardwork. As a result he’s been doing more of the inside jobs while the others are tasked with helping me on the outside. It is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I am trying to get a little bit more done every day. I still don’t have all the tools put together the way I need–I’ll need to work on the new cutter tomorrow. Once all is setup properly it should be an easy matter to tear through the grass. With a little effort I might be able to get two cutters running and be able to halve the work. Maybe even three!
There is so much to be done just to make this place look livable from the outside. It makes me wonder how I managed to let it fall so far.
I’m taking a few days to reset and reload myself. I’m looking forward to getting out of the desert for a couple of those days. The real key is to give myself mental time, physical time, and emotional time away from the grind. The daily can wear on me. When I was younger I really did think the idea of wear and tear was a joke–something old folks and idiots used as an excuse for downshifts in effort. Now that I am on that grind it makes all the sense in the world. The blog ought to be proof that my energy stores are depleted and the brain juice ain’t what it ought to be.
Physically, I need to figure out a plan to take advantage of the excellent weather. I need to be out and moving about every day. I have not done such as of late and it shows. The fat isn’t fading.
Some Thoughts:
I’m going to use Sevin as my first attempt to quell the cricket problem. If that doesn’t show results, I will go to the poison store (yeah, that is actually a thing) and get it moving.
My son’s cat is all cuddled up beside me. Don’t know what that is about. She’s usually cuddled up like five feet away with a clear line of demarcation. Now she is insisting on head rubs. There is a simple comfort in petting a cat.