I was recently tasked with planning the annual temple and priesthood preparation meeting for our ward. The internet wasn't terribly helpful for my situation. The church's official description didn't really answer my specific questions such as, "what exactly should the program look like" and the blogosphere was offering me mostly ideas on printables and coordinated decorations and refreshments. Which makes sense as this is a meeting typically planned by primary leaders. But I'm a young men leader. My situation was a little unique as we have five boys advancing to deacons quorum next year but no girls advancing to young women's. So it wound up a little more boy-oriented. Here's an outline of my program which might be helpful if you ever find yourself in a pinch.
Conducting: Bishopric Member
Opening Song: I Am a Child of God
Opening Prayer: Deacons Quorum Member
Talk: Young Men's Leader on the priesthood. I gave the talk and used this video
Talk: Deacons Quorum Presidency Member on "The Duties of a Deacon"
Intermission: With some adult supervision, Deacons Quorum President takes deacons and 11-year-old boys to chapel and teaches about passing the sacrament. Parents and other leaders stay behind for questions on their children becoming part of the youth programs and activities.
Video (to bring the reverence back after sending a pack of boys out of the room)
Talk: Bishopric Member on entering the temple and receiving a temple recommend
Closing Song: I Love to See The Temple
Closing Prayer: Deacons Quorum Member
Refreshments (This is a church meeting after all)
It worked pretty well for something put together in less than 48 hours. You would probably need to adapt it somewhat if girls were invited to attend.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
The Book of James
James is an amazing book of scripture. I first really gained an appreciation for it about three years ago, but as it was the gospel study lesson in Come, Follow Me this past week, I enjoyed going back through it again. James is kind of underrated in my opinion.
Among Latter-day Saints, James is famed for giving us the fifth verse of the first chapter: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. And with good reason: that single verse unlocked a flood of revelation in the latter days.
But what about some of the other gems?
For instance, verses 22 through 28 of chapter 1, which teach of us the importance of living our religion daily. I especially like 23 and 24: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Our practice of religion has to be more than an occasional glance in the mirror. We need to be monitoring our progress on a regular basis - daily is ideal.
Chapter 2, verse 10 seems a little harsh: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. But what about being imperfect, and occasionally stumbling? Does this mean our weaknesses wipe away the good things that we do? I had to think about it a little, and I don't think that's what it means. Think of it in terms of qualifying for a temple recommend. There's no allowance for being out of line on one or two questions in the interview. You're either compliant with all of the Lord's standards, or you don't get the recommend. I think it's a matter of being "all in" as we've heard in some recent conference talks, and avoiding the pitfalls of selective obedience.
We don't have to lay a finger on another person in order to hurt them. Just as physical injuries may have a lifelong affect, emotional and spiritual wounds may stay with us for years. And in modern times, it's even easier to hurt people with words - and we don't even need to open our mouths. We just need a keyboard and an internet connection. Spend a few minutes on social media or message boards and see what I mean. Try reading those verses again and replace "tongue" with "fingers" and see how well the counsel still applies.
Chapter 4, verse 14. Our life here on this earth is only temporary: For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
I was reading chapter 5 a couple of years ago and verses 14 and 15 really stood out to me. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It was a passage that stopped me in my tracks. Did that just say what I think it said? That if we receive a priesthood blessing with faith to be healed physically, that our sins are forgiven? It does indeed give that promise. The same faith in Christ that allows for our bodies to be healed is the same faith in Christ that allows us to become clean spiritually.
Among Latter-day Saints, James is famed for giving us the fifth verse of the first chapter: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. And with good reason: that single verse unlocked a flood of revelation in the latter days.
But what about some of the other gems?
For instance, verses 22 through 28 of chapter 1, which teach of us the importance of living our religion daily. I especially like 23 and 24: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. Our practice of religion has to be more than an occasional glance in the mirror. We need to be monitoring our progress on a regular basis - daily is ideal.
Chapter 2, verse 10 seems a little harsh: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. But what about being imperfect, and occasionally stumbling? Does this mean our weaknesses wipe away the good things that we do? I had to think about it a little, and I don't think that's what it means. Think of it in terms of qualifying for a temple recommend. There's no allowance for being out of line on one or two questions in the interview. You're either compliant with all of the Lord's standards, or you don't get the recommend. I think it's a matter of being "all in" as we've heard in some recent conference talks, and avoiding the pitfalls of selective obedience.
Chapter 3 provides us great caution regarding our communications, in verses 5 through 8: Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Chapter 4, verse 14. Our life here on this earth is only temporary: For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
I was reading chapter 5 a couple of years ago and verses 14 and 15 really stood out to me. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It was a passage that stopped me in my tracks. Did that just say what I think it said? That if we receive a priesthood blessing with faith to be healed physically, that our sins are forgiven? It does indeed give that promise. The same faith in Christ that allows for our bodies to be healed is the same faith in Christ that allows us to become clean spiritually.
Anyways, those are some of my favorite passages from James. I didn't even include them all! I have maybe a half-dozen others that I have marked but didn't comment on above.
To finish off the post, here's one last verse, which is also the last verse in the book of James. Another great promise of forgiveness: Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Better Lucky Than Good
Heading into this year's fantasy football season, I had neither the time or inclination to put much effort into my fantasy draft. I spent maybe 15 minutes skimming a couple of articles and made the decision to stick closely to the ESPN player rankings. It's usually hard for me to get excited about football in August, and the fact that I was coming off of a 4-9 season a year ago added to my indifference.
And my draft, despite the shift in strategy, wasn't much better than previous years. Devonta Freeman (2nd round), George Kittle (3rd round), T.Y. Hilton (4th round), and Alshon Jeffrey (5th round) have all been underwhelming considering their draft positions. A.J. Green (6th round) and David Njoku (8th round) have lost most of their seasons to injury.
However, two really good draft picks and two really good waiver pickups have made up the difference. I had the #2 overall pick in the draft and on a hunch took Christian McCaffrey (ranked #3) over Ezekiel Elliott. McCaffrey is the top scoring fantasy player to date, and has outscored Elliott by a wide margin. In the ninth round, I picked up Russell Wilson as my quarterback. He's produced the second most points for quarterbacks, and is ranked fifth among all players. Not bad value.
Back in September, I picked up undrafted receivers John Brown and D.J. Chark within a few days of each other. They've outpaced my drafted receivers. Chark has accumulated the sixth most points among wide receivers, and Brown is ranked #13.
The result? I'm 10-1 and riding a nine-game winning streak. The one game I lost was by a single point, when McCaffrey had his worst game of the season in week 2. I clinched the top overall seed in the playoffs and so now I have the next three weeks with nothing to play for. It's so bizarre. I expect that every week will be the one where it finally comes to an end, but I just keep winning.
Case-in-point: last week. In our league, we only have four bench spots. I had Wilson, my QB, on a bye, and three others out with injury (Kittle, Hilton, Freeman). Plus I had Emmanuel Sanders who was questionable, but playing in the Sunday afternoon time slot. I already had three WRs filling the active spots and playing in the early slate of games, so I couldn't wait to see if he was going to play. I I didn't want to drop any of these players, so I decided to just play the week with a depleted lineup and an empty TE slot. I figured I would lose and just sacrifice the game for the long-term good of my season.
Nope. I had my highest point total since week 1, racking up 153 points behind 34 from Brown, 30 from Chark, 30 from McCaffrey, and 18 from Jamison Crowder (a more recent free agent pickup), and winning comfortably.
I can't explain it. I've just been lucky all season. Even though I have the most points scored overall in the league, I also have the fewest points against, which is something I have absolutely no control over. For example: my worst week of the season was week 7 (McCaffrey was on a bye). I only managed 85 points. But the opponent had a bad week (59) so I got the win anyways.
In real football, when a team clinches early, the concern is that they will lose their momentum or edge. I don't know if that applies in fantasy football. For me, only two weeks matter for the rest of the season: week 15 and 16. What do I do? Continue to make roster moves? Go with the guys that got me here? Pray that no one suffers a season-ending injury? Don't write a blog post about my success prematurely?
Or maybe, I'll just enjoy it, because who knows when this will ever happen again?
And my draft, despite the shift in strategy, wasn't much better than previous years. Devonta Freeman (2nd round), George Kittle (3rd round), T.Y. Hilton (4th round), and Alshon Jeffrey (5th round) have all been underwhelming considering their draft positions. A.J. Green (6th round) and David Njoku (8th round) have lost most of their seasons to injury.
However, two really good draft picks and two really good waiver pickups have made up the difference. I had the #2 overall pick in the draft and on a hunch took Christian McCaffrey (ranked #3) over Ezekiel Elliott. McCaffrey is the top scoring fantasy player to date, and has outscored Elliott by a wide margin. In the ninth round, I picked up Russell Wilson as my quarterback. He's produced the second most points for quarterbacks, and is ranked fifth among all players. Not bad value.
Back in September, I picked up undrafted receivers John Brown and D.J. Chark within a few days of each other. They've outpaced my drafted receivers. Chark has accumulated the sixth most points among wide receivers, and Brown is ranked #13.
The result? I'm 10-1 and riding a nine-game winning streak. The one game I lost was by a single point, when McCaffrey had his worst game of the season in week 2. I clinched the top overall seed in the playoffs and so now I have the next three weeks with nothing to play for. It's so bizarre. I expect that every week will be the one where it finally comes to an end, but I just keep winning.
Case-in-point: last week. In our league, we only have four bench spots. I had Wilson, my QB, on a bye, and three others out with injury (Kittle, Hilton, Freeman). Plus I had Emmanuel Sanders who was questionable, but playing in the Sunday afternoon time slot. I already had three WRs filling the active spots and playing in the early slate of games, so I couldn't wait to see if he was going to play. I I didn't want to drop any of these players, so I decided to just play the week with a depleted lineup and an empty TE slot. I figured I would lose and just sacrifice the game for the long-term good of my season.
Nope. I had my highest point total since week 1, racking up 153 points behind 34 from Brown, 30 from Chark, 30 from McCaffrey, and 18 from Jamison Crowder (a more recent free agent pickup), and winning comfortably.
I can't explain it. I've just been lucky all season. Even though I have the most points scored overall in the league, I also have the fewest points against, which is something I have absolutely no control over. For example: my worst week of the season was week 7 (McCaffrey was on a bye). I only managed 85 points. But the opponent had a bad week (59) so I got the win anyways.
In real football, when a team clinches early, the concern is that they will lose their momentum or edge. I don't know if that applies in fantasy football. For me, only two weeks matter for the rest of the season: week 15 and 16. What do I do? Continue to make roster moves? Go with the guys that got me here? Pray that no one suffers a season-ending injury? Don't write a blog post about my success prematurely?
Or maybe, I'll just enjoy it, because who knows when this will ever happen again?
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Crockpot Pulled Pork
I enjoy this recipe, but rather than searching for it on the internet scrolling through all the pictures and ads to find it every time, I'm choosing to put it here.
2 - 2.5 lbs. boneless pork loin
1/2 onion chopped (or a variation such as minced dried onion)
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp salt
16 oz bottle BBQ sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup water
liquid smoke if you have it
Put 1/2 cup of water in the crockpot
Drop in your pork loin
Add onion, paprika, pepper, salt, garlic on top
Squeeze out about 1/2 of the bottle of BBQ sauce over the top of the roast
Add a few drops of liquid smoke if you've got some
Cook on low for about 8 hours.
Use two forks to shred the cooked pork.
Serve with the remaining BBQ sauce on buns or with potatoes.
source: https://www.laurengreutman.com/crockpot-pulled-pork
Additional Items 5/15/22:
Before shredding: Remove byproduct and discard, drain and set aside the juice.
Add some of juice to pork after shredding.
The cut called Top Loin Roast worked really well
Friday, October 18, 2019
It's a Wrap - Season's Done
Well, my early-season optimism proved that once again, I tend to view things through orange-tinted glasses. Not that I was expecting all that much...I had them pegged for 8-8!
After last night's demoralizing 30-6 loss to the Chiefs, who played most of the game without Patrick Mahomes, it's obvious the Broncos will finish with their third consecutive losing season. Much of Broncos Country (including myself) was hopeful that last night would prove that these Broncos were capable of competing for the playoffs. If they could extend their winning streak to three games, at home, against the reeling Chiefs, they would find themselves only a game out of first place in the AFC West! And from there, anything could happen!! After all, the Broncos should have won those games against Chicago and Jacksonville!!!
Instead, the Chiefs win their eighth straight against the Broncos, extending all the way back to 2015, the year the Broncos won Super Bowl 50.
The knock against the Chiefs has been their defense, and yet the Broncos offensive line and Joe Flacco made them look like the Steel Curtain. Eight sacks of Flacco, and one more of Colby Wadman on a botched fake punt.
The Broncos offense was putrid. They actually scored minus one points. Although they scored the six points on the opening drive (although assisted by Kansas City penalties), they handed the Chiefs seven points on Flacco's fumble shortly after Mahomes exited the game. I didn't even need to pay attention in the second half because I knew the result of their drives would be three-and-out.
It was almost like they knew they had no business being on the field with Kansas City. What was the deal with going for two after their touchdown on the opening drive? I didn't understand the call. It was like they knew they weren't going to be scoring again so they might as well get what they could when they could.
I examined the remaining schedule after the game finally ended. Five road games left: Colts, Vikings, Bills, Texans, Chiefs. If the season ended today, four of those five would be in the playoffs, with the Colts losing a tiebreaker on the final wildcard in the AFC. The five teams have a collective record of 20-9 at this point in the season. The Broncos probably will not win any of those games.
The remaining home schedule is a little more manageable: Browns, Chargers, Lions, Raiders, with a collective record of 9-12-1. Yet the Broncos haven't done that well at home thus far, winning just one out of four. Even if you say the Broncos win three of their four remaining home games, that still leaves them at 5-11 on the season, which is not even as good as last season, and would beg the question: why did we get rid of Vance Joseph and Case Keenum, if their replacements yielded no better results?
I feared that if the Broncos had a rough start, the Drew Lock debates would begin. And so here we go: how long before they decide to play the rookie?
After last night's demoralizing 30-6 loss to the Chiefs, who played most of the game without Patrick Mahomes, it's obvious the Broncos will finish with their third consecutive losing season. Much of Broncos Country (including myself) was hopeful that last night would prove that these Broncos were capable of competing for the playoffs. If they could extend their winning streak to three games, at home, against the reeling Chiefs, they would find themselves only a game out of first place in the AFC West! And from there, anything could happen!! After all, the Broncos should have won those games against Chicago and Jacksonville!!!
Instead, the Chiefs win their eighth straight against the Broncos, extending all the way back to 2015, the year the Broncos won Super Bowl 50.
The knock against the Chiefs has been their defense, and yet the Broncos offensive line and Joe Flacco made them look like the Steel Curtain. Eight sacks of Flacco, and one more of Colby Wadman on a botched fake punt.
The Broncos offense was putrid. They actually scored minus one points. Although they scored the six points on the opening drive (although assisted by Kansas City penalties), they handed the Chiefs seven points on Flacco's fumble shortly after Mahomes exited the game. I didn't even need to pay attention in the second half because I knew the result of their drives would be three-and-out.
It was almost like they knew they had no business being on the field with Kansas City. What was the deal with going for two after their touchdown on the opening drive? I didn't understand the call. It was like they knew they weren't going to be scoring again so they might as well get what they could when they could.
I examined the remaining schedule after the game finally ended. Five road games left: Colts, Vikings, Bills, Texans, Chiefs. If the season ended today, four of those five would be in the playoffs, with the Colts losing a tiebreaker on the final wildcard in the AFC. The five teams have a collective record of 20-9 at this point in the season. The Broncos probably will not win any of those games.
The remaining home schedule is a little more manageable: Browns, Chargers, Lions, Raiders, with a collective record of 9-12-1. Yet the Broncos haven't done that well at home thus far, winning just one out of four. Even if you say the Broncos win three of their four remaining home games, that still leaves them at 5-11 on the season, which is not even as good as last season, and would beg the question: why did we get rid of Vance Joseph and Case Keenum, if their replacements yielded no better results?
I feared that if the Broncos had a rough start, the Drew Lock debates would begin. And so here we go: how long before they decide to play the rookie?
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Denver Broncos 2019 Outlook
The two biggest changes in 2019 are new head coach Vic Fangio and new quarterback Joe Flacco. Fangio has received good reviews thus far, but he's still unproven as a head coach. Flacco has a nice resume, but he's also 34 years old.
Otherwise, this is more or less the same team that went 6-10 last year. They've added some veteran help in the secondary, so the defense figures to continue to be solid. Most of the question marks are on the offensive side. Will the offensive line perform any better? Will any tight ends be able to stay on the field? Is Emmanuel Sanders healthy? How will RB Phillip Lindsay perform coming off a Pro Bowl rookie season? Will any of their young talent, such as Royce Freeman, Noah Fant, or Courtland Sutton, break through to stardom?
My guess is that we'll be disappointed in the answers to some of those questions. However, if Fangio's leadership and Flacco's experience make a difference, we could be in for a nice surprise. It's not out of the question that we could see their record flip to 10-6 in 2019.
And really, who are the insurmountable threats in the AFC, beyond the Chiefs and the Patriots? Are you really terrified of anyone else? The new-look Jets? The Titans or Texans? The Luck-less Colts? The Steelers and old man Roethlisberger? TheSan Diego Los Angeles Trash Cans? Some are expecting the Browns to make a leap forward, but are you sure about that?
Sure, a couple of really good teams will emerge as the season goes along, but we don't know who those are just yet. So why wouldn't you give the Broncos a shot at a wildcard spot?
If they can get to Thanksgiving at 6-5, they're definitely in the mix with three home dates in December. But if Flacco gets off to a rough start, people are going to get impatient really quick and the Broncos could be drafting in the top 10 next year.
Honestly, I think it seems like this year will be a modest improvement to 8-8. They'll look really good at times but will also lose some that they shouldn't, and will likely fall short of the playoffs in what looks to be a tough AFC West.
Otherwise, this is more or less the same team that went 6-10 last year. They've added some veteran help in the secondary, so the defense figures to continue to be solid. Most of the question marks are on the offensive side. Will the offensive line perform any better? Will any tight ends be able to stay on the field? Is Emmanuel Sanders healthy? How will RB Phillip Lindsay perform coming off a Pro Bowl rookie season? Will any of their young talent, such as Royce Freeman, Noah Fant, or Courtland Sutton, break through to stardom?
My guess is that we'll be disappointed in the answers to some of those questions. However, if Fangio's leadership and Flacco's experience make a difference, we could be in for a nice surprise. It's not out of the question that we could see their record flip to 10-6 in 2019.
And really, who are the insurmountable threats in the AFC, beyond the Chiefs and the Patriots? Are you really terrified of anyone else? The new-look Jets? The Titans or Texans? The Luck-less Colts? The Steelers and old man Roethlisberger? The
Sure, a couple of really good teams will emerge as the season goes along, but we don't know who those are just yet. So why wouldn't you give the Broncos a shot at a wildcard spot?
If they can get to Thanksgiving at 6-5, they're definitely in the mix with three home dates in December. But if Flacco gets off to a rough start, people are going to get impatient really quick and the Broncos could be drafting in the top 10 next year.
Honestly, I think it seems like this year will be a modest improvement to 8-8. They'll look really good at times but will also lose some that they shouldn't, and will likely fall short of the playoffs in what looks to be a tough AFC West.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Yay College Football...Not
I'm a sports fan and have been for a very long time. And yet for many years I haven't been able to match others' enthusiasm for college football. I have co-workers who keep up on not only what is happening with their favorite college teams but teams across the country. I'm the reverse. Not only do I have no idea what is going on with teams across the country but also I have no idea on how "my teams" are doing. It would be great if I did know, because it can be a useful conversation piece in business or social settings, but I just don't have the time or interest level.
I get it. College fans are passionate about their teams and that can add some spice that you don't get at an NFL game. And I don't begrudge Michigan fans for packing the big house or Auburn-Alabama their rivalry or Notre Dame their tradition. There's just nothing out there in the college football landscape that has a hold on me.
As a kid, I was primarily interested in college football because...more sports! Even the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl brought to you by Raycom Sports seemed intriguing. New Year's Day was truly a holiday with games that seemed important stacked from morning to night. Of all the national powerhouses, the U of Miami Hurricanes were probably my favorite.
My apex of college fandom was probably 1989 to 1991, when my home state Colorado Buffaloes were contending for national championships and Heisman-winner Ty Detmer was quarterbacking the BYU Cougars. It seemed like a Christmas tradition to spend an evening watching the Cougars play in the SeaWorld Holiday Bowl. And the main event was New Year's night when CU took on Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. I loved CU running the wishbone and BYU throwing the ball all over the field. And Bill McCartney and LaVell Edwards. And both were underdogs situated in the Rocky Mountain West.
I maintained a fairly healthy interest throughout the rest of the 1990s. I attended BYU from 1999 to 2001, which coincided with their transition to the new Mountain West conference. During my last year at BYU, they made a run at an undefeated season, starting 12-0 before getting hammered out in Hawaii and in their bowl game...which was similar to their 1990 campaign. It was kind of fun, hearing the roar of the crowd in our apartment on a Saturday fall evening and the excited anticipation for each game around campus.
In later years, their primary rival got an offer to jump to the Pac-10 and left them behind, so BYU ditched the Mountain West to be an Independent. Nowadays they spend their time playing Central Massachusetts Tech and Nevada State before losing the Holy War and playing in some low-level bowl game, and it just seems kind of pointless. What's the reason for me to care about BYU football, especially when they ditched all the former WAC and Mountain West rivals (Wyoming, CSU, Air Force) that are within two hours of my house? I'm not going to go see them play anywhere else.
CU also got all pretentious and went to the Pac-10 because they were too awesome for us poor rubes here in flyover country. Honestly, I hate CU now and delight whenever their football program is a disaster. I have no affiliation with them other than I was once a kid who thought it was cool that a team from his home state rose to national prominence. I can't quite reconcile the two.
I never much cared about CSU, and so I'm not going to start liking them now. So what other teams are out there for me to care about? I guess it could be NC State since I went to graduate school there, but it's much too far away for me to get caught up in very much.
And so that's my little rant about college football. I wish I cared. But I don't.
I get it. College fans are passionate about their teams and that can add some spice that you don't get at an NFL game. And I don't begrudge Michigan fans for packing the big house or Auburn-Alabama their rivalry or Notre Dame their tradition. There's just nothing out there in the college football landscape that has a hold on me.
As a kid, I was primarily interested in college football because...more sports! Even the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl brought to you by Raycom Sports seemed intriguing. New Year's Day was truly a holiday with games that seemed important stacked from morning to night. Of all the national powerhouses, the U of Miami Hurricanes were probably my favorite.
My apex of college fandom was probably 1989 to 1991, when my home state Colorado Buffaloes were contending for national championships and Heisman-winner Ty Detmer was quarterbacking the BYU Cougars. It seemed like a Christmas tradition to spend an evening watching the Cougars play in the SeaWorld Holiday Bowl. And the main event was New Year's night when CU took on Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. I loved CU running the wishbone and BYU throwing the ball all over the field. And Bill McCartney and LaVell Edwards. And both were underdogs situated in the Rocky Mountain West.
I maintained a fairly healthy interest throughout the rest of the 1990s. I attended BYU from 1999 to 2001, which coincided with their transition to the new Mountain West conference. During my last year at BYU, they made a run at an undefeated season, starting 12-0 before getting hammered out in Hawaii and in their bowl game...which was similar to their 1990 campaign. It was kind of fun, hearing the roar of the crowd in our apartment on a Saturday fall evening and the excited anticipation for each game around campus.
In later years, their primary rival got an offer to jump to the Pac-10 and left them behind, so BYU ditched the Mountain West to be an Independent. Nowadays they spend their time playing Central Massachusetts Tech and Nevada State before losing the Holy War and playing in some low-level bowl game, and it just seems kind of pointless. What's the reason for me to care about BYU football, especially when they ditched all the former WAC and Mountain West rivals (Wyoming, CSU, Air Force) that are within two hours of my house? I'm not going to go see them play anywhere else.
CU also got all pretentious and went to the Pac-10 because they were too awesome for us poor rubes here in flyover country. Honestly, I hate CU now and delight whenever their football program is a disaster. I have no affiliation with them other than I was once a kid who thought it was cool that a team from his home state rose to national prominence. I can't quite reconcile the two.
I never much cared about CSU, and so I'm not going to start liking them now. So what other teams are out there for me to care about? I guess it could be NC State since I went to graduate school there, but it's much too far away for me to get caught up in very much.
And so that's my little rant about college football. I wish I cared. But I don't.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Random Amazon Video Watches
So many choices on Amazon Prime. Sometimes you just got to stop the scrolling and pick something. Here are reviews of some of my recent finds:
High School U.S.A.
It's really not very good. It was made-for-TV in the 80's and it shows. But there are familiar faces galore, covering everything from Gilligan's Island to Diff'rent Strokes to Wings. And it's not the only cheaply made 80's movie with Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon as a romantic pairing. (Also see: Poison Ivy) Plus, apparently those two dated in real life back in the day...news to me. The question is, why didn't NBC ever work out a deal for Alex P. Keaton and Jo Polniaczek to meet up on either Family Ties or The Facts of Life?
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Pretty low-budget. It came out two years after Cyndi Lauper's song of the same title, and yet the movie uses a different version for its soundtrack. Basically, this movie is Footloose, but in Chicago. And it's Sarah Jessica Parker instead of Kevin Bacon. She just moved to the Windy City and wants to audition for "Dance TV" which just so happens to be filmed there. But her strict military father keeps close tabs on her comings and goings and so...that's not going to be easy. Helen Hunt plays her best friend but seems a little old to be playing a high school role. Speaking of people too old to be playing high school roles, keep an eye out for a young Shannen Doherty in this one. Anyways, the movie is not terrible but also there are reasons this isn't in the conversation of great 80's teen flicks.
Stranger Than Fiction
This was a re-watch, though it has been several years since I saw it the first time. Will Ferrell plays an IRS auditor who doesn't realize he's a character in a book being written by Emma Thompson. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a bakery owner he's auditing. Dustin Hoffman is the college professor who's talking him through the dilemma. I find certain parts relatable - there aren't many good accounting movies out there - things like "is this a seven or a nine?" and being handed a box of trash/receipts. Will Ferrell does well in a role that's a departure from his typical goofball fare. I'm not well acquainted with her other work beyond say, The Dark Knight, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is great in this movie. Also keep an eye out for Queen Latifah and Buster from Arrested Development.
She's Having a Baby
A lesser-known John Hughes movie from the 80's, although not about teenagers. Apparently it didn't do well at the box office - the title is a little misleading. You might think "chick flick" but it's really more of a male-driven story. Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern are Jake and Kristy Briggs, a young married couple who settle in Chicago. The story focuses more on Jake, who is the typical guy who doesn't really know what he wants to do or if he's ready for family life and her parents don't really approve of him. The movie is definitely from the 80's and shows its age a little bit, but I was surprised how many things made me smile. My favorite characters were probably his neighbors. "You know what I like about you, Briggsy? Your wife, and your lawnmower." I won't spoil anything other than to say that the film carries an uplifting, pro-marriage message. That said, it's not exactly wholesome family fare (PG-13) although to be honest no kid under the age of about 20 would have any interest in this movie. Alec Baldwin plays their "friend" who is kind of a slimeball - probably wasn't much of a stretch for him. The rest of the cast is filled with familiar but not famous faces so you can also spend time trying to figure out what you've seen them in before.
High School U.S.A.
It's really not very good. It was made-for-TV in the 80's and it shows. But there are familiar faces galore, covering everything from Gilligan's Island to Diff'rent Strokes to Wings. And it's not the only cheaply made 80's movie with Michael J. Fox and Nancy McKeon as a romantic pairing. (Also see: Poison Ivy) Plus, apparently those two dated in real life back in the day...news to me. The question is, why didn't NBC ever work out a deal for Alex P. Keaton and Jo Polniaczek to meet up on either Family Ties or The Facts of Life?
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Pretty low-budget. It came out two years after Cyndi Lauper's song of the same title, and yet the movie uses a different version for its soundtrack. Basically, this movie is Footloose, but in Chicago. And it's Sarah Jessica Parker instead of Kevin Bacon. She just moved to the Windy City and wants to audition for "Dance TV" which just so happens to be filmed there. But her strict military father keeps close tabs on her comings and goings and so...that's not going to be easy. Helen Hunt plays her best friend but seems a little old to be playing a high school role. Speaking of people too old to be playing high school roles, keep an eye out for a young Shannen Doherty in this one. Anyways, the movie is not terrible but also there are reasons this isn't in the conversation of great 80's teen flicks.
Stranger Than Fiction
This was a re-watch, though it has been several years since I saw it the first time. Will Ferrell plays an IRS auditor who doesn't realize he's a character in a book being written by Emma Thompson. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a bakery owner he's auditing. Dustin Hoffman is the college professor who's talking him through the dilemma. I find certain parts relatable - there aren't many good accounting movies out there - things like "is this a seven or a nine?" and being handed a box of trash/receipts. Will Ferrell does well in a role that's a departure from his typical goofball fare. I'm not well acquainted with her other work beyond say, The Dark Knight, but Maggie Gyllenhaal is great in this movie. Also keep an eye out for Queen Latifah and Buster from Arrested Development.
She's Having a Baby
A lesser-known John Hughes movie from the 80's, although not about teenagers. Apparently it didn't do well at the box office - the title is a little misleading. You might think "chick flick" but it's really more of a male-driven story. Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern are Jake and Kristy Briggs, a young married couple who settle in Chicago. The story focuses more on Jake, who is the typical guy who doesn't really know what he wants to do or if he's ready for family life and her parents don't really approve of him. The movie is definitely from the 80's and shows its age a little bit, but I was surprised how many things made me smile. My favorite characters were probably his neighbors. "You know what I like about you, Briggsy? Your wife, and your lawnmower." I won't spoil anything other than to say that the film carries an uplifting, pro-marriage message. That said, it's not exactly wholesome family fare (PG-13) although to be honest no kid under the age of about 20 would have any interest in this movie. Alec Baldwin plays their "friend" who is kind of a slimeball - probably wasn't much of a stretch for him. The rest of the cast is filled with familiar but not famous faces so you can also spend time trying to figure out what you've seen them in before.
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