OT: Are you ready for some....

Football?

(warning, another Sports rant to follow, foodies may scroll down to “back to food”).

Well I am not so much (ready) anymore. It’s getting so that I don’t enjoy watching the “pro’s” play. I watched a few games over the weekend, and found myself looking for college sports or punching the mute button. I thought football was a team sport. It appears that in the so-called “professional” version, it is only a “collection of individuals wearing the same uniform" sport. They don’t care much about the score, standings, or anything relating to “the team”, it’s all about them. In one game (Buffalo/Jets) between two struggling teams, a Bill’s player caught a pass for a touchdown, and proceeded to pretend to shoot himself (a la Plaxico Burriss) and fall to the ground. Real cute. Well, that resulted in having to kickoff from the 20, and it pretty much allowed the Jets being able to score. And then toward the end of the game the same player dropped a wide open pass. Perhaps he should focus on football fundamentals rather than his dancing prowess.

Did you see the awful behavior of both sides in the Skins/Seahawks game of two inept teams?. Taunt, dance, taunt, posture, in your face. Maybe Pete Carroll’s flamboyant style carries over to the field. His wonderful collection of players are 4 and 7. And, last night Brandon Jacobs of the Giants, who were clearly getting their doors removed, rumbled into the end zone to cut the score to 21 to 10. One would have thought that he had just won the super bowl. Or, how about that defensive back who finally makes some sort of play and proceeds to point and strut after watching the other team go by him repeatedly. Or maybe that running back who makes a first down, and postures and points. Oh, and after your first catch in the game, let’s drop the ball in the face of the back that has repeatedly covered you like a blanket. Ahead? Behind? I don’t know, just look at ME!

What pushed me to the brink last night during the Giants/Saints game was not only the foolish stuff going on in the field of play, it extended to the announcer’s booth. I will admit that the Saints were making the Giants defense look like a Pop Warner team, but “ color man” Jon Gruden did everything but put on a skirt and join the cheerleaders on the sideline. Every pass by Brees was a thing of art, amazing talent, unbelievable player, and every play by the Giants was stupid, uninformed, a bad decision, or lack of trying. C’mon Jon, you’re supposed to be impartial. Not.

I could go on (and sort of did, sorry) and on. Game after game. No responsibility for how your actions affect the team (Hey! Ndamukong Suh! You listening?) all that counts is just your own stupid ego and how big is next year’s contract. Tiresome.

Okay that’s out of my system for the time being..

Back to Food

I’ve been a little lax in keeping up with the local (greater Pax River) dining scene due to little things like travel to Santa Fe, the Inn at Little Washington, torching a prime rib, etc.

Anyway, here are a few tidbits, some older than others. It appears that now some chains are eating others… CiCi’s has closed in San Souci; Damon’s is still dark; as is Lone Star; on the other hand, Buffalo Wings and Beer is now serving same just down the road from San Souci. I see there is construction activity at the “old” McDonalds location across from San Souci which I guess means Golden Corral is on the way. I suppose plans are proceeding for the Texas LongHorn and Cracker Barrel. More chains…

On the “Indie” side, I know of no recent closings. On the opening side of the ledger, there is a new “chocolate shop” on Fenwick Street in Leonardtown, and I guess not really new is the new occupant of the Willows, of which I have heard mixed reports.

And as we approach winter, some of the independents will go on “winter hours” meaning only open on weekends at maximum, and sometimes altogether. I suppose that sort of drives people to more chains, and build habits.

And in winter, the type of dress will change when you

DFD

ROT (Really Off Topic) I just returned from another Brian Ganz piano talk. Chopin, Ravel, and Debussy. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. And I learned about a “13th” chord. This Thursday night is a concert at 8 presenting Chamber Music with Brian, Violinist Jose Cueto, and cellist Suzanne Orban. They will play Barber and Beethoven..St. Mary’s Hall. No charge. Nothing to do, eh?