Defeated by the Daughter

I've just finished limping to the computer with my tail between my legs. I've been humbled by experiencing something that's never happened to me before: my daughter, Meredith, has beaten me at checkers. And not once, but twice.

And this was not her barely winning, she whipped me good. She ended each game with about 6-7 kings left in each game. And in the second game, when I had a wall of kings ready to wipe her out, she executes an impressive triple jump right through my forces, effectively sucking the life out of any chance I had of maybe surviving this night with my dignity intact.

(Just in case anyone is wondering: No, I did not let her win. I played straight up, out to win.)

I was not ready for this. The last time I played her(many, many months ago) I was able to beat her fairly easy. I had no idea that she had gotten this good at checkers that fast. It's just another life lesson for me that my little girl is growing up.

Way to go, MearBear. Good job!

Hotter 'N Hell Hundred

Yesterday Michael Lea and I competed in the Holy Grail of cycling rides, that torture session known as the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred. We joined 11,800 of our closest friends in Wichita Falls, TX for the biggest one-day cycling event in the nation.

The ride certainly lived up to its name as the temperature reached 104 degrees with a heat index of 107 degrees along with 28 mph winds gusting up to 35 mph. These conditions, along with some very rough chip seal roads, limted me to only 75 miles, which is now my new personal best ever distance cycling. My on the bike average speed was 15.6 mph.

I've now reached 1,303 total miles this year.

The ‘Boys Are Back In Town

Well, almost. The Cowboys play tonight in Shreveport, LA which is just about an hour east of my hometown of Longview, TX, which is about 2 ½ hours east of Fort Worth. It's kind of interesting to me because that is actually one city where the Cowboys play a road game that I have been to. In fact, I have driven past the stadium where they will be playing many times. I used to go see concerts in an indoor coliseum right next to the football stadium where tonight's game will be played.

I've been to Shreveport quite a few times to visit cousins back when I was a kid. And one time I went there with my parents to the horse track and another time to check out one of the casinos. I've also been to Barksdale Air Force Base which is over there too. My folks still go there often because they can buy stuff cheaper there since my father is retired Air Force.

When I first heard about this game months ago I thought about visiting my folks for the weekend and then staying a couple of extra days to go see the game. But then I checked into the ticket prices and quickly changed my mind. Have I ever mentioned that I think full price for preseason tickets is a rip off? Great thing is I get to watch the game on TV.

More planets? Say it ain't so.

OK. I just read an article in the paper that said that they might add 3 new planets to our solar system. As a traditionalist and as a person who does not like change, I hope that they do not do this. Ever since I have been alive there has been 9 planets. There was 9 when I was born, 9 when I was a kid, and 9 all of my life. You just don't go around messing with the solar system. It's not right!

Apparently there's also some stuff going on about taking out Pluto as a planet if we don't add the 3 new ones. Again, don't fix what isn't broken. Leave it as it is and we'll all be fine.

I wonder if there is an on-line petition I can sign to keep our solar system the same.

Moss Throws Tantrum, Brooks Throws Bricks

Gotta love this stuff about Randy Moss and Aaron Brooks coming from the Raiders/Vikings preseason game: (Courtesy of FOXSports.com)

"Moss, who lit up the Metrodome in the first seven years of his career, started the night with a feet-stomping tantrum after Brooks didn't see him wide open in the end zone. "

"After making his only catch against second-team cornerback Dovonte Edwards in the second quarter, Moss was pulled. Moss stormed off the field and threw his helmet in disgust, stewing on the bench for the rest of the game."

"Signed as a free agent from New Orleans, Brooks is just 2-for-9 for 28 yards, one TD and one interception in Oakland's first two preseason games."

Same old Moss and same old Brooks. Guess neither of them will get drafted in the first round of our fantasy draft.

Fantasy Funk

Man, what a bummer. Just found out that Clinton Portis got hurt. And I've got the 7th pick in the draft.

That's a drag. One less stud RB to choose from.

Italian Carpenter

Why They Will: Secondary

One of the strengths of this years Cowboys team is their secondary. Terrance Newman is one of the best, most underrated cornerbacks in the league. He is practically a shut-down corner who should have gone to the Pro Bowl last year. He did not have big numbers in interceptions last year, so that’s what probably kept him out of the Pro Bowl. But as Bill Parcells said “Did he give up any touchdowns?” No, he did not. Case closed.

Anthony Henry, the other corner, is also a top-notch player. He made some great plays last year before he got hurt, and he looks like he is completely over his injury and is playing at top form right now.

The nickel/slot corner, Aaron Glen, could be a starter on most teams and is a big time play maker. When he’s in the game, he just makes things happen. Bad things for the other team’s offense, that is.

Of course no discussion of the Cowboys secondary would be complete without mentioning safety Roy Williams. This hard hitting Pro Bowl safety is the heart and soul of the Dallas defense and I feel that Roy is going to have a big year. Yes, he sometimes gets burned deep, but the plan this year is to let Roy play closer to the line of scrimmage so that he can wreck havoc like he was created to.

Now, the ‘Boys do have a question mark at free safety, but Keith Davis returns and rookie Pat Watkins is turning some heads in training camp. They also got Marcus Coleman in free agency, so this position should be stronger in 2006.

Since the Cowboys have arguably one of the best secondarys in the NFL, that is Why They Will win the Super Bowl.

50 Mile Ride

I did a 50 mile ride earlier today and, man, was it hot towards the end. I started at about 7:15 a.m. and finished at about 11:15 a.m. The last 10 miles was tough. As I made my way from downtown south toward Benbrook, the heat and sun were really starting to fry my brain good. I finally had to stop and rest under a shade tree with about 5 miles to go. I was hoping to rest for only a couple of minutes, but it took about 10-15 minutes for my body to cool down enough where I felt like I could go on.

Guess this will be good training for the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred, which is only three weeks away. My friend Michael Lea and I will be subjecting ourselves to the torture of the 100K route. Are we idiots or what?

Why They Won't: Offensive Line is Offensive

Periodically I will be analyzing the potential for the Dallas Cowboys to win the Super Bowl this season. I will be looking at it in two ways:

Why They Won’t win the Super Bowl and Why They Will win the Super Bowl

Today I start with Why They Won’t win the Super Bowl.

The weakest part of the Cowboys team is their offensive line. If this unit performs as abysmally as they did last season, then even with T.O. the offense will sputter since the QB will be lying on his back most of the time. The Cowboys knew they needed to fix this part of the team in the off-season, but I am concerned that they did not.

At left tackle, they are counting on Adams, who is coming off knee surgery, to be his Pro Bowl self again(which he really only did for one year). What if he does not? They replaced a Pro Bowl guard with a reject from the Lions. Just ask my buddy Jim how bad the Lions offensive line was last year. They can’t decide which guy to start at center, which means neither of the two guys are that great or else one of them would be the obvious candidate to start. The other guard is a pretty solid veteran, but he had a sub-par season last year. Will he do likewise this year? And then there’s right tackle. Any Cowboys fan knows the woes that the ‘Boys had at that position last season. And guess what? They are actually considering letting Petitti start again. And why, you say? Because Fabini, the guy they got in free agency, has been a big disappointment. And the other guy, Columbo, hasn’t played in like 2 ½ years.

Because the Cowboys offensive line is such a mess, that is one reason Why They Won’t win the Super Bowl.

Update To Get You Up To Date

Since it’s been over 2 months since my last post I’ll just summarize some of what’s happened in my life since then. Since my last post I have:

Turned 42 years old

Watched my daughter turn 11 years old

Spent many nights in June practicing and performing in VBS

Seen about six summer movies

Ridden in five bike rallys

Crossed the 1,000 mile barrier in bicycle miles ridden since January 2006

Taken my daughter to and from summer camp and spent that week on vacation with Michele

Visited the museum

Done lots of swimming

Hosted nine tween-age girls at our house for a slumber party

Watched the Cowboys start training camp

Set up my fantasy football team and post lots of clever smack

Discovered some new music on XM radio

Enjoyed playing with my new gadget – a Pioneer inno XM radio/MP3 player

Committed to ride my first 100k bike ride (at the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred no less!)

And enjoyed every minute of my life thoroughly while thanking God for my wonderful family!