What We Learned: NFL Week 3

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

Week three had some major upsets, and a few tricks thrown in as well. Let’s take a look back at some of the big stories.

That Old Favre Magic
Two weeks into the NFL season, and Brett Favre has done little more than manage a game, a task either of his backups could do, and still make them 2-0. They do have one of the top NFL running backs in Adrian Peterson. However, Favre was finally called on in the fourth quarter against San Francisco, and boy, did he deliver. With 89 seconds to go, the Vikings were down 24-20, starting on their own 20 yard line. Favre drove them, completing all five of his passes, leading them to the 32 yard line of San Francisco’s with 12 seconds left.

On the next play, Favre found little-used WR Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone to complete his 40th career game-winning drive. This one play just summed up why Minnesota took such a chance to get Favre back one last time.

An Unimpressive Beginning
It’s been two years and three games since Michael Vick played in an NFL game. Finally, on Sunday, September 27th, 2009, Vick came back and did…..absolutely nothing. Well, that’s not all true. Vick, who has only practiced with the Philadelphia Eagles for a short amount of time, played his responsibility as a decoy well. Overall, Vick was on the field for 11 snaps, and had a total of seven yards on one rush.

Ironically, it was the other Eagle backups, QB Kevin Kolb and RB LeSean McCoy who had a big day for the Iggles, who won 34-14 over Kansas City. As the season progresses, look for Vick to get some more action while he adjusts to his new team.

The First One Is Always The Sweetest
December 23, 2007 was the last positive day for Lions fans. That day has since been replaced with September 27, 2009 as the Detroit Lions won their first game in their last 20, beating the Washington Redskins 19-14. Coach Jim Schwartz and rookie QB Matt Stafford also celebrated their first career victories. While their 19-game losing streak will go down in history as the second longest in NFL history, for the Lions and their fans, all they’re concerned with is a new streak. This one has a more winning attitude to it.

Kudos must also go to Schwartz, who sent his team back out to celebrate the victory with the 40,000 plus fans who have been supporting the Lions through thick and thin.

All-Star Injury Squad
The NFL talks of adding an extra game or two, but at the rate of the injuries occurring, they’re won’t be anyone left to play that extra game. In fact, an all-pro team could be designed with the injured players.

Key injuries include RBs LaDanian Tomlinson, Frank Gore, Jamal Lewis, Marion Barber, LB Brian Urlacher, DE Dwight Freeney, QBs Donovan McNabb and Chad Pennington, WR Wes Welker, CB Aaron Ross, S Troy Polamalu, and others. It’s a long season, and for some teams, a key injury to a franchise guy can really affect the team’s psyche and performance.

Way Too Early MVP Predictions
1. Peyton Manning – 983 yards and seven touchdowns in just three games, he is the reason the Colts have once again taken first place in the AFC South, and the team shows no signs of turnover issues with a new coaching staff in place.

2. Adrian Peterson – Even after his non-breakout game against San Francisco, the Minnesota Vikings RB is still a huge reason for their 3-0 start, with 357 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in 2009.

3. Drew Brees – The Greatest Show In The Air is led by Brees, with his 841 yards and 9 touchdowns already. He had a non-descript game against Buffalo, but still has the talent and the tools to put points up and lead New Orleans to victory in the coming weeks.

Contenders and Pretenders
It’s early in the season, but who’s getting off on the right foot? Are the Jets for real? Raise your hand if you saw them 3-0 after games against New England and Tennessee. Well, it’s true, behind rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the suffocating defense, the Jets are 3-0 heading into a showdown against New Orleans this weekend.

The New York Giants recommitted themselves to the rushing game this past week, and it showed as that and a combined defense effort led them in shutting out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-0. It was the first road shutout for the G-Men since 1983. The Giants are 3-0 for the second straight season.

The Baltimore Ravens are using their offense to put points on the board, and it has given them a 3-0 start in coach John Harbaugh’s sophomore season.

As always, there are teams struggling to live up to the hype early on this season as well. Three losses last year, three losses this year. It’s the same old for the Tennessee Titans, except they’ve lost all three games in a row this season. Who would have thought Albert Haynesworth made that much of a difference.

An inept win over St. Louis and a pathetic loss to Detroit makes the Washington Redskins a huge pretender. Combine that with the NFC East division, and coach Jim Zorn might not make it out of week two.

The Miami Dolphins are stuck with one of the hardest schedules this season, and it is clearly affecting last year’s AFC East champs, as they are 0-3 already this season.

Talking About My Generation

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

While over here in Afghanistan, a few of us got to discussing about the athletes that shape our generation, and considering most of my co-workers are older than me, the names they brought up were people that I could only read about or watch in old highlight films. Starters like Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Jim Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Bobby Orr, to name a few, defined their respective sports with their play and achievements.

So I got to wondering, when I have a kid, and he/she becomes old enough to who wonder who the stars in different sports, who will I tell him/her about, and how do I tell him/her?

My focus will be mainly on athletic achievement. I’m looking at mainly current athletes, especially those in their current prime or getting close to that, who still have years left to play. But by the time I have kids, and they start grasping and understanding sports, these players will either have retired, or are on the way out.

Finally, I don’t feel hockey has had that one player which defined my generation, and all the current players are way too young to make that call now.

As a disclaimer, I’m 25, born in 1983, and I’m basing these on the fact that I didn’t start truly grasping and understanding sports until at least my pre-teen years.
Without further ado, my picks for the athletes that shape my generation:

MLB
Alex Rodriguez: He still has plenty years to go (currently in his 16th season, and only 33), and at 578 home runs, he could clearly end his career with the career home run title. A lifetime .305 hitter, A-Rod is also a 11-time All-Star through 2008 as well as a 9-time Silver Slugger and a three time MVP. He is one of the most popular players in sports, and despite his admitted performance enhancer drug use and post-season struggles, he still has plenty of time to grab his first World Series ring (possibly this season?), and earn a handful of more awards. With the DH option available as well, and in the first year of a new contract, I would imagine a good 6-7 more years out of A-Rod before hanging up the cleats.

NFL
Tom Brady: No player screams excellence and perfection quite like Tom Brady. A mere 32 years old, he already has garnered achievements some players never reach in their career. He is a four-time Pro-Bowler, a first team All-Pro in 2007, and the 2007 Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. He currently holds three Super Bowl rings to go along with two Super Bowl MVP awards. The current holder for most touchdowns in a single season (50), he also holds numerous post-season records as well. Despite coming back from season-ending surgery in 2008, Tom Brady has started off 2009 with a bang, and will be a fixture in the NFL’s post-season for at least the next four or five years, before I believe time will begin to catch up on him.

NBA
Tim Duncan: A man who was chosen with the first pick in the draft, and lived up to the hype. When the San Antonio Spurs grabbed Duncan, to them it was a perfect complement, and eventual transition from David Robinson. Duncan started hot, taking home Rookie of the Year honors in his first season, and hasn’t looked back. He’s a two-time MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, a 11 time All-Star (to include ten straight appearances), and has been named on the All-NBA and All-Defensive team every year since 1997-98 (his rookie season).

To top it all off, Duncan already has four rings, and he’s hungry for four more, easy. He’s going to be 33 years old heading into 2009, and has a double-double career average (21.4 ppg and 11.7 rpg). Duncan could easily play another four or five years, make the playoffs each year, and field a competitive Spurs team that could potentially win one or two more titles before he makes his exit.

Got a gripe or a complaint? Let me hear it. These are my picks, but I'd like to hear yours.

DUDE, WHERE’S MY CHARGER?

We travel a lot, sometimes for fun, but more for business, which usually means short trips with just enough clothes stuffed into an overnight bag we hope makes the cut as carry-on. Then there are our gadgets and chargers, crammed into pockets, slowing us down at the security line as we unload it all into the x-ray bins.

Yup, we confess, we’re the guys holding the up the line. Next time though, we promise, it will be different, because we’re leaving town with the exceptionally useful PMT – a Personal Media Pouch by Kangaroom ($12.99).

The PMT is a small nylon bag that looks much like a dopp kit but is designed to neatly store three small devices, like a cell phone, camera, mp3 player and their chargers, each in their own separate compartment. And the best part about it? No more patting ourselves down at the airport, saying “Dude, where’s my charger?”…

To get one for your next trip, click to: http://www.kangaroomstorage.com/product/travel/204/kangaroom-personal-media-travel-pouch.html

HOW TO TALK HAIR

Face it – that $20 haircut chop shop at the mall was fine when you were in college, but out here in the land of grown-ups, a high-end salon cut is the way to go. You and your hair will look better, the cut will last longer and enable your hair do what you want it to do, versus the other way round. Sound good? OK, then you’re ready to take the next step:

-- Seeing is believing, so ask your guy friends who cuts their hair – but ask a guy whose hair shares some similarity with yours. For example, our slow-growing hair is thin at best, so we asked a well-coiffed balding friend for a recco. He sent us to his stylist, who granted costs three times more than the chop shop, but guess what? The cut is easily thee times better because we don’t have to go as often and the cut holds its shape far longer.

-- Have a consultation with a stylist. Tell them about your style and the image you wish to project. If the stylist is thinking a classic George Clooney Caesar cut, and you’re thinking Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson, well, Houston, there’s gonna be a problem, so talk it out in detail first. Also let the stylist know how you usually style your hair, how much time you’re willing to spend on it, if you’re comfortable using a few hair products or if you’re more of a wash-and-go guy.

-- Bring in some visual aids – that is, a few pictures of celebrity hairstyles that you like. While not all celeb cuts will work on you, the pictures will help guide the stylist in the direction of a cut that will work with the shape of your face, the texture of your hair and lifestyle. For inspiration, and more hairstyles for men than you ever imagined, check out this extensive archive of celebrity men’s hairstyles, and print out a few options: http://coolmenshair.com/2007/08/celebrities-hairstyles.html

-- Share your darkest secrets – about your hair that is. Before they bust out the scissors, tell the stylist about any follicular challenges you might have – like cowlicks and thinning patches – so the stylist can work with them. Chances are a pro will be able to spot them anyway, but it can’t hurt to give the stylist the heads up before they start cutting.

-- Share the wealth, and tip like a grown-up – it’s the polite thing to do, particularly if you plan to become a regular customer. In general, a stylist should be tipped 15 – 20% of their bill. So if the cut is $65, the stylist tip should be about $10 -$12. And don’t forget to slip a five to the assistant who washed your hair.

NICE PRICE, BIG CITY: SLEEP CHEAP IN NY, MIAMI, LONDON AND BEYOND

We’ve lived in New York City all our lives. Problem is our friends don’t, so they’re always asking our advice on cheap New York City hotels, despite the fact we’ve never actually slept in one. In the past, we’d advise the out-of-towners to look at the usual cheap hotel room web sites and pray for a deal.

This holiday season however, when our college roommate wants to bring the family in during the holidays “to see the lights,” we’re sending him to Roomorama.com, an ingenious online booking engine for travelers looking for a decent place to stay.

At Roomorama.com your far-flung friends can view and book accommodations at one of their numerous, reasonably priced, short-stay possibilities – from furnished multi-roomed apartments and funky downtown lofts to single-room studios and apartment shares.

All they need to do is determine their travel dates, amenities required and type of accommodations desired and in seconds they’ll be presented with a list of places available, photos, the price per night and all the relevant details, plus a map pin-pointing the pad’s location.

As for us, we’ll let Roomorama find us a place to stay for a couple of days in London, perhaps during the holidays, you know, to see the lights (with regrets to the ol’ college roommate and his family).

Currently Roomorama lists places to stay in New York City, Miami, Boston, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto and Washington, DC. For information go to Roomorama.com

PACK YOUR GYM BAG FOR A BETTER WORKOUT

Submitted By Contributing Blogger Joe Walsh

As September stretches on, my regular runs along the banks of Boston’s Charles River are coming with some added chill. This morning, with Harvard at my heels and MIT in my sights, the lights of Fenway Park and the famous Citgo sign looming over the river to the right, and the city skyline rising up straight ahead, it occurred to me that the weather will soon push me back into the confines of the gym.

Whether its weather that is pushing you indoors or just that you are back on campus and using the gym again, take these tips to make sure you are ready for the transition with a gym bag that is as ready for action as you are.

Find Flip-Flops at Fall Sales
Gym showers can be funky. Make sure you keep your feet fungus-free by always packing shower shoes. If you want to pick up a more upscale pair, the end-of-summer sales are a great place to score sweet sandals on sale.

Make Mom Proud
Before you checkout, stop by and see if there are any bargains on boxers or briefs. Always keep your bag packed with an extra set of undergarments – it’ll make your Mom proud and besides, you never know. Be sure your extras are in a neutral or light color so that you don’t have to worry about see-through on lighter pants and try to make the socks something versatile…maybe a navy base with a stripe in some color you wear a lot of.

Get Fit, Get Clean
You eat a low-fat, high-protein diet. You check the health mags for new workouts and tips. You even carry around a notebook to keep track of your reps and weight. OK, maybe not. But, if you are going to workout that hard, don’t slack when you get in the shower. Wall-mounted soap dispenser goo, hard gym water and dry winter air are a perfect recipe for scaly, dry skin.

NIVEA for Men to the rescue. Their new Active 3 product is an all-in-one body wash, shampoo AND shaving cream. Not only will your skin thank you for it, but you just cut two extra bottles from your dopp kit.

Take Advantage of the TSA
Speaking of your kit…thanks to TSA regulations, these days any good pharmacy will have a well-stocked section of trial and travel sized skin care, shaving and other products. Stock your kit with those smaller items and don’t forget zipped plastic bags to be sure you don’t wind up oozing shave balm all over the inside of your bag. If you do this right, the added benefit will be that you will have a airport-ready shave kit ready-to-go when you pack for your next trip.

Based in Boston, Joe works in the renewable energy industry. His views on the law, policy and politics of energy and the environment are cited by worldwide news agencies like Reuters and leading media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.

RACE TO THE OFFICE

For those of us who aren’t exactly morning people, each blast of the alarm clock is a painful reminder that the party is over – and we’d better get cracking if we’re going to make it to the office on time. Not long ago we gave you a few tips on how to streamline your morning madness, and since then, we’ve come up with a few more thoughts on how to start the day off right:

Dress like a pro

--Take pictures of your workday outfits and hang ‘em up in your closet, so you can refer to them and locate what you need from head to toe. The snaps will save you the trouble of having to think too hard first thing in the morning, and limit the chance of a fashion foul-up – like the time we showed up at a 7:00 am meeting wearing two different colored shoes.

Limit interruptions

--This may seem totally radical, but let morning calls go to voicemail and keep plowing through your morning routine. Once you’re dressed, then listen to the voicemail and return the call if it absolutely can’t wait. Same goes for email too. The more interruptions you allow before you’re ready to go, the later you’ll be – so keep distractions to a minimum.

Be prepared

-- For a less stressful lift-off in the morning, get tomorrow’s essentials ready tonight. Go a little nuts – make an omelet after dinner and store it in the fridge for a quick micro waving in the morning. Load up the coffee maker with water and coffee so all you have to do is flip the switch first thing.

If you’re brown-bagging it, put some leftovers in a microwave container to take to the office for lunch tomorrow. Keep your briefcase and car keys together near the front door so you can make a quick exit.

One last thing? Don’t forget to switch on your brain by the time you step out of the house.

What We Learned: NFL Week 2

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

Week two of the NFL season saw some early surprises, as teams race out to early division leads. Let’s go back and look at some of the big stories.

Brady’s Not Back
With the exception of his masterful two-touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter against Buffalo last week, New England QB Tom Brady looks like a shell of his 2007 record-setting self, and it showed against the New York Jets in week two. Playing a team that has not beaten Brady’s Patriots in The Meadowlands in nearly a decade, the Jets held Brady in check as he went 23 of 47 for 216 yards and an interception.

Even with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, when New England shines, Brady stumbled, getting his pass knocked down on fourth down. While it is still early in the season, and Brady was without favorite target WR Wes Welker, the Patriots are now a game behind the Jets in the AFC East, and need to find some answers, quick.

What Sophomore Slump?
Last week, we talked about rookies shining in the NFL, bucking the waiting trend. Well, the twin brother of a rookie sensation is the sophomore slump. However, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and Baltimore QB Joe Flacco didn’t get the memo, as both have led their teams to 2-0 records thus far.

Ryan has come out throwing in 2009, thanks to newly acquired TE Tony Gonzalez, giving him a solid crutch to lean on. So far, he has thrown for 449 yards with five touchdowns, second most in the NFL. After playing the role last season of game manager, deferring to the run, Ryan is giving defenses another concern to worry about, as he is clearly showing he can beat teams through the air.

Flacco came into a Baltimore team looking for offensive identity, and they still were searching until the latter part of the 2008 season. Well, so far, in 2009, a Baltimore team well-known for their defense, has the offense earning most of the praise. Much of that credit can go to Flacco, who has thrown for 497 yards and five touchdowns, also second most in the NFL. If these two can continue their success, we could be talking about the QB class of 2008 the same way we talk about 1983 and 2004 real soon.

The Saint Of Air
In 1999, the St. Louis Rams had an offensive game dubbed “The Greatest Show On Turf”. Ten years later, the New Orleans Saints high-scoring affair might take that title. A week after putting 45 points on Detroit, QB Drew Brees and company decided, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, and put 48 on the Philadelphia Eagles. For the season, Brees has nine touchdowns, almost double the next closest competitor.

At this rate, Brees will finish with 72 touchdowns, obliterating the previous mark. While it may not be likely he’ll finish with that grandiose figure, Brees did come within a few yards of shattering the single season passing yard record last year, and if he keeps up this pace, that record will definitley fall in 2009.

Welcome Home
With fanfare usually reserved for bigger events, Jerry Jones put on quite a show in revealing his $1 billion plus new Texas Stadium. Over 105,000 joined him in his latest crowning achievement. However, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on the stadium, if the product inside doesn’t win.

The Cowboys had the victory with a few minutes left in the game, but the New York Giants marched down the field behind Eli Manning’s 330 yards passing, and a game-winning field goal spoiled the Cowboys first home game in their new digs, 33-31. For the record, no punts hit the enormous jumbotron seated 90 feet above the field. Tony Romo threw three interceptions to offset solid rushing performances by Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

The Cowboys still have seven more home games this season, and should win most of them, provided they cut down the mistakes. Then again, if I saw myself 90 feet above the air, I’d drop the ball, too.

Contenders and Pretenders
Some teams are undefeated, others still winless. Who continued to separate themselves from the competition after week two?

The Jets have gone two straight games without giving up an offensive touchdown. That shows the mark coach Rex Ryan has on this squad, as they jump out to a 2-0 start.

Jay who? Kyle Orton and Josh McDaniels have everyone in Denver saying that, as they didn’t need to rely on any lucky breaks to beat Cleveland and be at 2-0 and leading the AFC West.
San Francisco is making some headway in a very weak NFC West, using the running game to dominate Seattle 23-10 and be 2-0, with both wins coming in the NFC West.

As always, there are teams struggling to live up to the hype early on this season as well.
Detroit is getting dangerously close to the 0-26 mark set by Tampa Bay in 1976. They are making progress, even leading Minnesota at one point, but they need to do a better job minimizing the mistakes if a win is to come soon.

Despite the win, the Washington Redskins played like a team deserving to be 0-2, barely sneaking by the rebuilding St. Louis Rams 9-7. The NFC East is a tough division, and Washington will have to step it up in order to be competitive.

WORKOUT FROM 9-to-5

Feeling a little stressed? Spending FAR too much time at your desk and paying the price?

Well, one of the things we love about the internet is that there truly is something for everyone – anything you could possibly be interested in is accessible with just a few clicks.

We had one of those days recently, which prompted us to look around online for a few simple things we could do at our desks to relieve a little unwanted stress and work a few muscles -- without attracting too many quizzical looks from our office mates. Here’s what we found:

Desk Stretches:

-- While you might not be ready to host a full Pilates class at your desk, the smart guys over at WebMD.com have compiled a list of 12 easy-to-do, head-clearing stretches that can be done discreetly throughout the course of your desk-bound day: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/stretching-exercises-at-your-desk-12-simple-tips?page=2

Desk Workout Video:

-- If you’d like to follow the leader, then tune in to Exercise TV’s Desk Workout video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tuVrh-zJvs. It takes less than 4 minutes and is a great way to quickly wake up your brain and legs while seated.

Mini-Exercise Bike:

-- Spending way too much time at the office? And not quite enough time at the gym? Here’s a thought: a mini-exercise bike that can fits under your desk. More of a workout supplement than gym replacement a mini-exercise bike can add a little calorie burn to a long day spent on email, so why not pedal your way through the day? Among the ones we have our eye on: http://www.amazon.com/MagneTrainer-Mini-Exercise-Bike/dp/B000V53KD8/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1 and http://www.amazon.com/Isokinetics-Magnetic-Pedal-Exerciser-Black/dp/B000KE8ASK/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_2

The Treadmill Desk:

-- Someday, our dream-desk will be attached to a treadmill. Seriously. Can you imagine how fit we’d all be if we walked all day long while we worked? Sure it’s a crazy idea, but fun to think about – and here’s a blog that clearly has thought a lot about the treadmill desk: http://www.treadmilldesk.com/2009/05/treadmill-desk-online-information-on.html

CASH FOR (ALMOST) TRASH

Technology, seems these days we can’t live without it, and frankly, it takes up a lot of space. Much as we love our CDs, DVDs, cameras, laptops and all that goes along with ‘em, if we don’t off-load some of the stuff soon, our living room floor may cave in.

Yup, it’s time to thin the herd and find a loving home for our old stuff. Where to start? Well, we could organize a garage sale, but who wants to give up a Saturday to do that? Instead, we plan to park ourselves at the computer and troll through a few of the new sites that exchange old technology for good old greenbacks.

On our list to check out: CDs, DVDs: BuyBackMedia.com, CashforCDs.com, SecondSpin.com pay cash (via check or PayPal), while other sites like Amazon.com and Blockbuster.com run trade-in programs in exchange for store credits or gift cards. Electronic Gadgets: Gazelle.com buys all sorts of technology items if they still work – or will recycle items responsibly if they no longer have market value.

Among the items they will buy: cell phones, laptops, desktops video games, satellite radios, external drives, monitors, camera parts, home audio equipment and more. Video Games: Depending on how hot your games are, you may get more money by selling video games on eBay, so do some research to find out the current market value of the games you want to divest yourself of – otherwise, you can always go the classic Craigslist.com, Amazon.com or GameStop.com route.

CLEAN CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

All it takes is one red t-shirt tossed into a load of whites, and mister, you’re looking at a pile of tighty pinkies when it all comes out of the wash.

If you grew up in a house where your socks never hit the floor because super-mom would catch them in mid-air and whisk them into the laundry, it might be time to learn the basics of cleaning your clothes:

Read the label, and believe it.

-- If it says dry-clean only, believe them, as it usually means that the fabric will not take kindly to water. If it says cold wash only, believe this recommendation too. Care labels, though not all that interesting to read, are in fact, incredibly useful. Don’t believe us? Then freestyle it and be amazed when you see you’ve shrunk some of your stuff to toy poodle size and have tie-dyed everything else in the machine. Hey, hot stuff.

-- A super hot dryer can shrink clothes, and in some cases burn them, so start a notch below the highest setting and check in on the dryer every 15 minutes or so, strategically removing and folding dry pieces as you go along. Not only will you get the jump on folding, but it will allow more air to circulate in the dryer, thus speeding up the rest of the drying process. Once you’ve taken the faster-drying stuff out, then you can push the temperature all the way up to dry the heavier items like jeans and towels.Hit the tub.

-- Hand wash – though we try to avoid it, sometimes we are forced to do a little hand laundry on our gym shorts and shirts. The good news is that they air dry pretty quickly when we hang ‘em out and spread ‘em out over a drying rack in the tub. If you need your workout shirt and shorts for tomorrow, start by hand washing them tonight. After washing, take each item, lay them out on a towel and roll the item up in the towel. Then step on your towel tube (preferably in bare feet) and stamp out the extra water, and then unroll your tube. Hang up the items (as well as the towel) to dry overnight. If the items are still damp in the morning, then finish the job with a standard blow dryer.

Machine Washing 101

-- It being the back-to-school season, we started to feel a little nostalgic for those by-gone college-era laundry days, when we used to accidentally destroy our clothes by throwing all colors together in the wash and setting the water temperature to scald.

Had Wikihow.com existed back in our day we might have avoided most of our laundry-related mishaps. For step-by-step, virtually idiot-proof instructions on how to do your laundry, click to: http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Your-Laundry-in-a-Dorm.

What We Learned: NFL Week 1

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

With week one of the NFL season almost in the books, let’s take a look back at some key events that happened that could shape the rest of the year.

Rookie Quarterbacks
It seems like just yesterday, first round QBs were spending their first year on the bench, waiting and biding their time during their rookie campaign. Thanks to successful seasons in 2008 by Joe Flacco, teams aren’t necessarily waiting to open their prized package.

Look no further this season than Matt Stafford of the Detroit Lions and Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets. Both were thrown right into the fire as opening day starters, and both responded with solid debuts. Despite being the first ever rookie to start at QB for the Jets, Sanchez played like a true game manager, throwing for 272 yards and his first career touchdown. He allowed the running game, led by RB Thomas Jones’s two touchdown performance, to take control and made his moves only when necessary.

While Stafford couldn’t lead Detroit to their first win, and closer to the longest losing streak ever, much has to be said about his performance. Despite losing to New Orleans 45-27, Stafford kept the offense in the game for most of it, refusing to falter when the lead grew insurmountable at times. He did make a few mistakes, throwing three interceptions, but he did have his first rushing touchdown. The Lions still have a ways to go, especially behind the arm of their number one pick, but they are making progress.

A Tip Drill
I’ve seen football games end in a number of ways, but after the Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals ending, I don’t know what can top it! With seconds left on the clock, new Broncos QB Kyle Orton threw a ball to WR Brandon Marshall. Bengals DB Leon Hall tipped the ball into the air, and right into the arms of WR Brandon Stokley. Stokley then raced 87 yards down the field and into the end zone, giving the Broncos a 12-7 lead, and the victory by the same score. For new head coach Josh McDaniels, this has been a trying offseason, and getting the win to start the season was a huge step for him. I don’t think he can win every game this way, but it doesn’t hurt to get the first one out of the way.

Also, a key element of that play was Stokley, who saw no Bengal around, running down the two yard line, milking precious seconds off the clock before heading in for the score. Kudos to Stokley for a heads up play like that.

Madden Curse Strikes Again
Fans and athletes are superstitious. It’s a way of life. One of the more prominent superstitions is, if you’re on the Madden video game cover, you’ll have a poor season. It’s a highly discussed topic because it does have a semblance of legitimacy. That was proven again during the week one of the NFL season. S Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, one half of the Madden 2010 cover, was injured during his opening game against Tennessee Titans. He sprained his MCL, and will be out up to six weeks. This is a crushing blow, as Polamalu is a huge presence in the Steelers secondary, and adjustments will have to be made for his absence.

The other cover boy, Arizona WR and highly touted Fantasy Football option Larry Fitzgerald, didn’t suffer an injury, and had a decent game, pulling in six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Could the Madden Curse strike both cover boys? This is the first season with two of them, or has Fitzgerald gotten off scot-free thanks to Polamalu? This will be a story to watch.

Bye-Bye, Wildcat
Many teams lined up in the new fad offense, the “Wildcat”, but no team had any real success using it. The best use of it came from Cleveland, who had WR Josh Cribbs in the backfield, and he was able to get a first down from it. Other than that, teams who used it didn’t find much success. That can be contributed to defenses now practicing against it, as offenses plan on using it during this NFL season. I think the fad is going to wear out as the season rolls on, personally.

Contenders and Pretenders
Teams play four preseason games to shake the rust off, so when the regular season starts, they’re ready to rumble. Thanks to the media, much hype is given to certain teams. So who lived up to the talk, and showed themselves as a contender after week one?

The Saints are an offensive powerhouse, and behind Drew Brees’s six touchdown game, keep cementing their status as Super Bowl potential with their win over Detroit 45-27.

The Brett Favre-led Vikings managed themselves to a victory over Cleveland after a slow start, 34-20. Adrian Peterson was a beast with 180 yards, and Favre did the right things, managing the game effectively, and showing Minnesota can beat you with a number of weapons.

Behind a rookie head coach and a rookie QB, the New York Jets showed a lot of doubters with a convincing week one victory over Houston, 24-7. The AFC East is still Patriot-Town, but the Jets could turn some heads in the wild card race.

As always, there are teams struggling to live up to the hype early on this season as well.
The Miami Dolphins led off their AFC East Championship defense with a flat showing at Atlanta, and with Indianapolis on the schedule next week, an 0-2 start could be looming.

The Chicago Bears were supposed to be studs after bringing in QB Jay Cutler. Well, Cutler looked shaky, LB Brian Urlacher was hurt, and the Bears fell to Green Bay 21-15. Cutler has to spread the ball around and this team has to get better, fast!

Coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers has to be the first one with his head on the chopping block. The Panthers were horrible against Philadelphia, and QB Jake Delhomme fell apart again, committing five turnovers before being yanked. With such a solid running and receiving game, why is Carolina struggling so much?

THE STRAIGHT JACKET SCOOP

A sports jacket or blazer is one of the most useful wardrobe items a guy can own, and having a few on hand is always welcome. How to wear one with style? Consider the following five pillars of sport jacket wisdom:

-- Sleeve-length: The sleeves of your jacket should just hit your wrist, and allow for and about a half an inch of shirt cuff to show.

-- Buttons: On a traditional three-button jacket, button the middle button, and the top one if you really want to be “buttoned-up.” On a stylish two-button jacket, never button the bottom button, just the top one. On a one-button jacket, there’s pretty much only one way to go.

-- Pockets: Now hear this – your pockets are not a brief case. Pockets are for stashing small, lightweight items only, i.e., business cards, a wallet, cell phone and perhaps a mint or two. To maintain the shape of your jacket pockets and prevent stretching them out permanently, carry your barbells, rolls of quarters, snacks, work materials and whatever else in a stylish messenger bag, leather tote or briefcase.

-- The fit: It all starts from the shoulders – the jacket needs to fit the shoulders not extend beyond them like a line-backer. For example, if the jacket is too wide for your shoulders, you’ll have extra fabric flapping down the arms and across your back. If the jacket is too narrow, you’ll have trouble moving your shoulders forward, and you’ll see be ripples between the shoulder blades.

Our suggestion? Start small and work your way up – that is, try on a few jackets that are a size or two smaller than you might normally try and keep moving up till you find one that fits smoothly across your back.

-- No pushing: No matter how hot it is in your office, resist the urge to push the sleeves up as this will, over time, stretch out the fabric and help wreck the lines of the jacket. Add to that more few wrinkles and creases and before you know it, you’re a walking fashion emergency.

Our advice? Keep the sleeves down, where its’ maker intended, or take the jacket off and hang it up.

Which Kicks to Wear with Which Cuts

By Contributing Blogger Joe Walsh

Baseball to football. Swimwear to sweaters. Seafood to comfort food. September leads us from summer to fall in some familiar ways, but one of the most difficult seasonal transitions is going back from shorts to pants and from flip-flops to shoes. For a few weeks in early fall, things never look right in the mirror: either the shoes look too bulky or the pants don’t break right.

Part of the problem is mental, but you may also have issues with your gear. Today, some quick lessons on pairing the right shoes with the right cut of jeans or pants.

BOOT CUT
Okay, so this one is pretty obvious. Here is where you deploy those big brown or black lace-up boots. But, if you are looking for a go-to pair of jeans, stay away from boot cut styles. They will tend to look bell-bottomy over lower profile sneakers, slip-ons or other shoes.

STRAIGHT LEG
A good pair of straight leg jeans should be in heavy rotation for you all year-round, but they are especially useful in fall. You will be wearing a lot of different kinds of shoes. They will work equally well with this fall’s high-top sneakers, a heartier rain-ready boot, or weekend shoe like a driving moc.

SLIM/TAPERED
Still reading? You must be adventurous…and in good shape. Low-rise, fitted denim has retreated a little bit in the past year or so, but it is still out there. IF you can pull of the look, you’ll be doing it with something like those high tops mentioned above. Even a really sleek loafer is going to come off like a slipper.

BAGGY/RELAXED
Relaxed fits can be tempting. It’s the weekend, you want to kick back and be comfortable. Be careful to buy the right fit so you don’t wind up looking sloppy. As for shoes, relaxed fits have good versatility: you can wear them with the boots, casual leather shoes or sneakers. But, make sure the sneaker is styled enough and stay away from athletic sneakers or running shoes. Also, the risk with the relaxed fit is that you’ll have too much break in the pants: be sure to pick the right length, even resort to hemming if necessary.

COLOR GUIDE
Remember when picking your jeans and shoes that you want an ensemble, not individual art pieces. Just because you really like a vintage pair of Jordans does not mean they will be a good fashion investment – they probably are not going to go with much but a t-shirt. If you go with color, choose one that you wear frequently so that you can incorporate the shoes often with similarly colored accessories, like fabric belts or a colorful cardigan that you will wear over a variety of t-shirts and button-downs.

As for the jeans. Stick with a medium to dark azure wash without too much distressing or whiskering. A pair of jeans like that will go well with a lot of different shoe styles and colors.


Based in Boston, Joe works in the renewable energy industry. His views on the law, policy and politics of energy and the environment are often cited by worldwide news agencies like Reuters and leading media outlets like the Wall Street Journal. He is currently running a week-long feature series on getting past NIMBY in renewable energy facility construction at RenewableEnergyWorld.com.

Liberty, justice and pants for all.

With the possible exception of Lady Gaga, we believe the overwhelming majority of us should wear pants on a regular basis – preferably every day to prevent stares at the morning sales meeting and to keep our legs warm.

Besides, pants also look great with shirt/jacket/tie combinations. So how to pick a pair?

Here are a few pant-purchase pointers:

1) Know the Neighborhood: In other words, what’s appropriate for your work life? To get the most out of your dress pant dollar, ask yourself: Is your office a formal, suit-required environment, an every-day-is-Casual Friday kind of place or a jeans and t-shirt joint? Not sure? Then look around.

Notice what most of the other guys in the office wearing and follow their lead. Note what colors your officemates wear, the weight of the fabrics, the shape of the trousers, and then head to a department store to look for pants that mirror what you’ve seen in the trenches.

2) To Pleat or Not to Pleat? Ah, the old pleat vs. flat-front debate. How to settle it? Well, perhaps we’re a bit partial, but we’re big fans of flat-front trousers. They add less bulk around the mid-section, are generally more streamlined and modern-looking and don’t require cuffs, thereby adding a slight lengthening effect.

If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool pleat man, then go for small single or double pleats (just say no to triples) and consider adding cuffs to help weigh down the pants, and make them hang properly.

3) Cuffs: The Bottom Line: Cuffs are a nice way to make a pair of pants look finished, polished and pulled together. For lean guys, cuffs lend a more substantial look to the bottom half. Heavy-set guys may want to go with the smallest cuff possible or skip them altogether. If you’re on the fence, then buy trousers without cuffs so they can be added later if need be – as cuffs are far more difficult to remove cuffs then they are to add.

4) Wide Load or Slim Jim? Granted your body type will determine which type will work best, in general, wide-leg trousers can work well on the slim and/or chesty dude. For slim guys, a wider leg will give legs a fuller more substantial line. On fellows with a bit of bulk up top, wide legs can help balance out top and bottom proportions.

By comparison, slim-cut pants, not surprisingly, work well on guys who are lean as well as on shorter, beefier fellows – who’ll gain a trimmer look from the less voluminous shape of slim-cut trousers.

5) The Last Rule of Pant Club: Actually there are three to keep in mind, starting from the ground up: Your shoes should match (or can be a little darker than) your pants. Your socks should match your shoes. Still can’t keep it straight? Just think shoes+ pants and shoes + socks. See the pattern emerging?

SUITING UP THE TALL GUY

Too tall? here’s how to dress around it though some wouldn’t consider it a problem

1) Cut yourself in half.

-- If the boss man doesn’t mind, fool the eye by swapping suits for sport jackets and/or blazer and trouser combinations to break up the vertical line between your top and bottom half.

2) Fill ‘er up.

-- Pleated trousers will give the illusion of a fuller leg, and will ground the tall guy, more so than classic flat-front trousers. Keep the pleats on the small side and add a pair of cuffs at the bottom to finish off the look.

3) Beef it up.

-- Tall guys can combat their vertically by breaking up the lines with patterns. Patterned shirts, ties, suit jacket fabrics will help broaden the look of the chest and shoulders by making the eye move across the body rather than up and down.4.) Step away from the vertical stripes.

-- Like their brothers the thin guys, tall guys don’t need the longer leaner look that vertical stripes provide. Instead, tall guys will look better in tweeds, twills, small scale plaids, and fabrics that add texture to an outfit.

5) Look busy.

-- That’s right. While the short or stout guy may want to shy away from busy patterns and accessories, you Mr. Vertically Gifted don’t have to be as concerned with being streamlined, unless you want to look taller than you are already.

In fact, you can feel free to, within reason, add pocket flaps, pocket squares, bold stripes and slightly larger lapels to the repertoire to help balance out your tall guy proportions.

Rooting For The Underdog: So Much More Fun

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Sportmeisters

Flipping through the college football games on ESPN, one of their little teasers came on saying something to the extent of “Underdogs make it interesting.” The funny thing is, they’re right.

Just with this past weekend of college football, we saw a top five talent get knocked off in Oklahoma, and a top ten team almost get upset in Ohio State. Yet, both times in both games, I found myself rooting for their opponents. It was almost like I was in a mind-trance to see David top Goliath.

What makes it so much more fun to see the favorite get spoiled? Why, here in Afghanistan, with it being 11 pm, could I not turn away after Navy scored to make it 29-21 in the fourth quarter? At the same time, when BYU took the lead on Oklahoma, how could I be rooting for the Cougars (especially knowing they face my FSU Seminoles in two weeks)?

It’s simple really. Seeing little teams come out of nowhere and earn a level of respect by knocking off a team with much more resources available to them, brings out the underdog in all of us. Every time we get told we can’t win at this, or we can’t take on this challenge, it brings out this inner desire to prove them wrong, the same way Division-II Appalachian State proved Division-1 Michigan wrong by beating them in their own stadium last season.
We crave for the respect when we accomplish a goal people didn’t expect us to achieve.

That desire drives us to a level of adrenaline far beyond our wildest imagination. It’s that same desire, put into 50+ young men, who have trained their bodies to take on this challenge, against an opponent much bigger, faster, and stronger, that makes a cupcake game more than meets the eye.

The same can be said for bowl games at the end of the year. In 2007, Oklahoma and Boise State met in the Fiesta Bowl. The whole game, Boise State was in control, but in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma did what favorites are expected to do. They quit toying around with their opponent and in a 24 second span, went from losing 28-20, to taking a 35-28 point lead with 62 seconds left in the game.

Did Boise State roll over, as most expect an underdog to do? No. Even when they were down, with time against them, they dug deeper, finding that desire to be respected on a national level, and won in overtime 43-42. That game gave a newfound fighting chance for a non-BCS school, as Boise State finished 13-0, warranting national championship discussion. It also opened the floodgates for college football today.

Before, big programs could rely on their prestige and merit to warrant the top talent from around the country. Not anymore, as multiple TV contracts allow teams to be showcased on national and regional television every weekend, and recruits aren’t as concerned anymore, as even small schools get NFL scouts recognition through the combine and film tape. In a matter of speaking, the underdogs are a whole lot stronger.

College football doesn’t have a playoff system, and in fact, still allows teams to schedule their own out of conference games. Many teams look for cupcake games, designed to allow their players to “ease” into the season.

Well, in today’s NCAA Football, don’t sleep on an underdog, because they’ll bite you in the butt, and destroy your season before it even started. Just as Oklahoma fans, who’ve been bitten twice.

SUNSHINE ON YOUR DESK

OK, we’ll admit it, solar technology speaks to our high school science-geek side and though we’re light years beyond high school, we’re still suckers for solar-powered gadgets.

Our latest discovery is the solar-powered desk lamp, specifically the Sunnan desk lamp from Ikea. Like most Ikea designs, the Sunnan is sleek and chic and comes in five bright colors. It runs on 3 rechargeable AA batteries that you charge in the sun and gets its glow from a long-lasting LED light which uses about 70% less energy than traditional incandescent desk lamp bulbs.

Cooler still is the fact that the Sunnan will light up your life and the life of a child in a developing country – because for each one bought, Ikea will donate a Sunnan to Unicef. The first Unicef shipments are headed to remote villages and refugee camps in Pakistan, bringing electricity-free light to children and families in need, and if you ask us, that’s one sweet deal for all.

So if you’re in the market for a new desk lamp, you might want to put a little Sunnan in your life and someone else’s. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90154371

SUITING UP THE SLIM GUY

Suiting up the slim guy would seem like a no-brainer, but if you’re a little too slim, you going to have your own unique set of sartorial challenges. Here’s how to kick sand in the face of ill-fitting suits everywhere, and come out a winner:

1.) Build it better.

-- If you’re on the scrawny side, then the mission for you is to help create the illusion of weight, not a lot of it of course, but just a bit more than you have now. If you’re opting out of the high-fashion, ultra skinny look, then easiest way to add carefully controlled bulk is by choosing weightier fabrics, like tweeds and heavier weight wools. Look for cuts that are a bit loose as long but be absolutely sure they are well-tailored so you’re not swimming in extra fabric. Adding a vest as another layer will also help create a bit more flattering bulk.

2.) Step away from the vertical stripes.

-- Vertical stripes will help create a longer leaner look, which most thin guys don’t need. Instead, go for tweeds, twills, small scale plaids, or any fabric that add some texture and visual distraction/interest to the mix.

3.) Hey! Nice pecs!

-- To make the chest look a little broader in the short term, a double breasted jacket makes a good quick fix. For the longer term, may we suggest a few push-ups?

4.) Cuff me, please.

-- To beef up the look of the leg, cuffs can add balance and a thicker line to the lower half, while minimizing the dreaded legs-like-toothpicks look.

5.) Does this shirt make my head look big?

-- When it comes to dress shirts, thin guys need to pay attention to the style of collar on the shirts or risk looking like a bobble-head doll. In general, the classic spread collar is a good choice to help balance out and broaden a thin face. Another style with a slight widening effect is the tab collar, which can also help camouflage a long, thin neck.

Talking Sports In The War Zone: The Passion Of The Fans

By Contributing Blogger Ryan Liss of The Spoansrtmeisters

Ryan Liss, founder and contributor to The Sportmeisters, is currently deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While there, he is writing about his experiences as a sports fan. This is his latest update.

One of the biggest concerns I had (besides my wife and my safety), was whether or not I was going to be able to follow my favorite teams. Turns out, there are plenty of opportunities, even when I’m eight and a half hours ahead of EST.


The catch to those opportunities is some early wake up calls. That became the most prevalent with the kickoff of College Football. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love all sports, and enjoy catching my Yankees after my morning workout. But with the NFL and College Football, the shortened schedule makes every game meaningful. This holds even more true in College Football, with the lack of a playoff system (an argument for another time.)


My first experience involving an early wake-up came thanks to the Labor Day showdown between my alma mater Florida State University and our rivals from Miami. An 8pm kickoff meant a 430 AM wake-up.


Now, I’ve watched FSU games from a variety of places. I went to all but one home game during my four years of college, and even traveled to a couple games. I’ve seen games on TV, and listened to them on the radio. I even caught one while stuck at work, and another one during a military exercise. Let me tell you, it’s difficult to cheer in a gas mask.


Nothing could have prepared me for this early wake-up. Instead of tailgating, drinking beers and throwing down burgers, I was trying to force myself awake enough to turn on the TV and my computer, so I could webchat with my wife (also an FSU alumni). In what messed up world do I live in that I can’t even wake-up before kickoff?


The great thing though, after I traveled into work much later in the day, is that I know my passion is not felt alone. I work with an ecletic group of sports fans, those who root for the Georgia Bulldogs, USC Trojans, and Texas Longhorns for College Football, and the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns of the NFL. Heck, the Browns fans are so passionate, they get up at 330AM to catch a pre-season game!

The guys at work understand the passion that I exhibit, because they do so themselves. They willingly risk a few extra hours of sleep, to live and die by the success and failure of their favorite squad. I commiserated with my co-worker who is a UGA fan, getting up before dawn only to watch his team lose. Yet, he told me, he’d do it again in a heartbeat, and with UGA back on TV here next week, he’d gladly be up early to watch again.


So, I too, took the plunge into early wake-up and joined my fellow Seminoles, ready for a great game. Unfortunately, the early rise was for naught, as FSU lost a valiant battle to the Hurricanes. Yet after my head hurt and I was tired to the point that it reminded me of a bad hangover, I told myself, even knowing the outcome, I’d be up that early again in a heartbeat.

Every fan measures their passion in a different way. For some, its baring everything and painting their entire body head to toe in team colors. Others choose to spend ungodly amounts of money in memorabilia. For myself and the other sports fans deployed here in Afghanistan, our passion is derived from the three hours in darkness, huddled around a small television, rooting our teams to glory.


Those three hours mean a lot to us, as it allows us to get lost in a game and leave the situation we are brought here to handle for a short while. Eventually, the game ends, but we know, in just a week’s time, win or lose, we’ll be up rooting for our team.


My New York Giants play Sunday at 12:30AM here in Afghanistan. It may not be in high-definition, and I won’t have a beer nearby, and I’ll be dead tired, but believe me when I say, that’s how deep my passion runs, all the way to the war zone.