Rose Bowl Webcast

Hopefully Gary's technology works (read the post below).
For the pep rally, or on gameday, you can just click on the widget below:

Watch The Rose Bowl Live Here On My Blog!

Check out the email that I just received the other day:

Rose Bowl webstream opportunity
Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:55 AM
From:
This sender is DomainKeys verified
"Reporter Gary"
To:
vcrindc@yahoo.com

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

Dear Justin,

My name is Gary Baumgarten, and I'm the news and programming director at Paltalk.com.

Paltalk, the largest multimedia interactive program on the Internet with more than 4 million unique users, is going to the Rose Bowl. I'd like to invite you to participate on your site by bringing your readers along too!

We've created the Paltalk Penn State Fan Room on Paltalk. I, along with Paltalk alumn John Metzler and producer Boaz Frankel will be attending and streaming the New Year's Eve pep rally from Beverly Hills High School. Then on New Year's Day we'll be taking our cameras and microphones to the Tournament of Roses Parade and we'll be tailgating outside the Rose Bowl.

Nittany Lions fans can participate right from home in text, on microphone and if they wish on camera.

We're inviting you to carry the events on your site. All you have to do is embed the following code to produce a widget that links to the virtual auditorium on Paltalk:


This is Paltalk's gift to the Penn State community. There is no charge.

You can read more about the event here: http://garybaumgarten.blogspot.com/2008/12/paltalk-ticket-to-rose-bowl.html

Or feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

Looking forward to a great New Year's Day in Pasadena!

Best,

Gary


--
Gary Baumgarten
Host - News Talk Online
Director of News and Programming Paltalk.com

blog: www.garybaumgarten.com

*****************************************************************

So, I'll be streaming the Rose Bowl on my blog (if Gary's technology works)
ENJOY!

Kevin Newsome Commits To Penn State: Video

Here's a news report on the Kevin Newsome signing. It even includes video of the actual announcement.

The most shocking thing is that he says he's been told he "probably won't redshirt..."

Check it out:

Some Wonderful, Magical Animal

Time To Take Out Nine Years Of Frustration?

Kirk Heirbstreet seems to think so

"...I think that it gets ugly this weekend in Happy Valley..."

Two months without a post is pathetic

Well it's been ages since I've updated, and we're safe and sound in the UK. ALthough the trip, since landing in England has had a TON of debacles to say the least. First my laptop died. No week without a PC SUCKS especially when your plan is to keep up with work online.

So this morning I finally got through a week's worth of emails. But it didn't stop there: our villa had a retaining wall collapse. I won't bore you with the details, but you can get all of them on Dreama's blog if you're so inclined.

As for me, I am enjoying my time in the UK, although I think that I would much prefer it if it were during footie season. Fortunately that starts today (exhibition) but for real next weekend.

We leave for Greece on Friday, but we are headed to Liverpool tomorrow to visit with my 92 year old Grandmother, Alice. We're driving there, but are taking the train (Virgin-Richard Branson owns everything over here) back. I got us a killer deal on first class tickets on the way back, and was hoping that they had internet. I did some searching online, and found this (very cool):

So I got a great deal on a first class train ticket from Liverpool to London on Wednesday, and I'm checking out the amenities in 1st class on Virgin trains (hopefully for internet/wi-fi but no such luck). I scroll down the page, and LO AND BEHOLD:

First Class on a Voyager

First Class customers on Virgin Voyager trains will enjoy the freedom and space to settle back in stress-free comfort and work peacefully, or simply relax. You'll also be offered a range of complimentary goodies to make your journey as comfortable as possible.

Each of our snack boxes have a delicious range of snacks inside, with regular changes to the menu so even the most frequent traveller will be content. A breakfast snack box might contain a white plait roll with bacon (or with cheese and free range eggs for vegetarians), a fruit yoghurt and mixed fresh fruit. At other times of the day you might open it to find a roll filled with brie and grape or chicken and bacon, Penn State sour cream and chive pretzels, Lily O'Brien's Chocolati chocolate and mixed fresh fruit.

On many journeys you'll either be served a snack box at your seat, or you can pick one up from the onboard Shop in coach D.

I can't promise how much blogging I'll be doing, especially now that our Internet situation in Greece could be totally f*cked, but we'll see.

If you really want to keep up with what I'm up to, check me out on twitter. Only me, Dreama, JD and Alison Lukan are really active, but it's pretty much the coolest social networking aspect out there. I use it mostly for work, but often my commentary is non-work related.

If you get used to it, twittering during the PSU games will be very cool (rather than bulk texting each other). Plus there's a trail of messages to see.

More Penn State Kickoff Times & Networks Announced

Lots of TV & kick off time information here for many of Penn State game this season.

Just my luck that all of the late kickoff times will be the fall that I'm in Europe for. As far as an update on that goes, we're leaving July 24th to fly to the ATL for a work conference.

Then it's over the pond to LHR, via Philly, and a dinner date with the Chathy's to meet Addy.

RIP Charlie Jones

Great call:

Kangaroo TV

Sorry for no updates in a while, but I've been very busy with work. Nonetheless, in doing some surfing tonight, check out this GEM that I found:

http://www.kangaroo.tv/

You have a small device and you can watch NFL sunday ticket from the stands while you're at the game. What a perfect way to fiend out.

I can think of a few people who will put this on their XMAS wish list.

A little humour (it's English, give me a break)

I actually found this REALLY funny....

Lots of Primetime Games This Season for Penn State

Three 8pm kickoffs, plus a 4:30pm homecoming game vs. Michigan.

Check it out here:

http://gopsusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041608aaa.html

Further Proof That Nonis Deserved To Be Fired

I heard Nonis on the Team 1040 morning show a couple of days after he was fired.
His quote was:

"We weren't going to fill a hole by creating another one"

Davey-boy, sometimes, you need to GIVE SOMETHING UP to get something back in return. That is what a trade is.

See the success of those who made a move:

I'm still getting over the shock of no playoffs

Well round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs is over, and the Canucks aren't in.
Then again, they didn't even start in the playoffs.

It was, however, a small redemption seeing Calgary's hopes squashed last night.

As for the Canucks, they will annnounce a new GM today.
With no GM experience.

Sounds like that's going to work well.

At least Hitler can sum up how I feel:

Do you talk with your mouth full?

Apparently Joe Paterno does.
He did it yesterday at his spring practice press conference.

I saw the footage on sportscenter. If I find it, I'll post the video for you to see with your own eyes.

It was embarrassing.
An 81 year old man, talking to the media, eating food, talking with food in house mouth.
It was just plain old bad manners.

Now some of you are thinking, .
Fair enough, I don't claim to be Mr. Manners.

But if you're at a press conference, representing Penn State, do you really eat during it?
I mean, come on, this is just plain ridiculous.

For more detailed recap, of what was said, (in a rather cavalier attitude, I might add), read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's recap here.

Tim Curley, what are you doing?

ESPN just reported that Ohio State has signed a home and home with Tennessee.

While Penn State has upcoming OOC games with UVA, Syracuse, and Alabama, check out who Brutus has on the upcoming schedule (in addition to UT):


2008/2009 - USC

2010/2011 - Miami

2012/2013 - Cal'

2014/2015 - VT

2016/2017 - Oklahoma

Tim Curley, what are you doing? Is Andy Geiger (OSU's AD) really that much better than you? Is he really that much better at putting a deal together?

Corky's son goes wild

Patrick Roy's son Jonathan decides that he has to apply the beatdown in a hockey brawl. It's pretty obvious that the other goalie isn't really interested in fighting, so I'm not really sure what Corky Jr. was thinking.

No matter what he was thinking, he really doesn't show any mercy to the guy that he pummels:

Ron Cook hits the nail on the head

Ron Cook wrote an article today that pretty much hits the nail on the head with respect to the Paterno contract situation, and the Terrell Pryor ramifications.

I pretty much agree with the entire article.

Dennis Dodd weighs on the JoePa contract situation

Dennnis Dodd throws out his opinion on the JoePa contract situation. I found this paragraph the most interesting:

What complicates matters is that Paterno, at least publicly, still is sharp. He stunned the recruiting world by basically getting No. 1 prospect Terrelle Pryor to delay his decision past signing day. But Pryor's high school coach Ray Reitz rocked some worlds himself recently when he said if assistant Tom Bradley were the head coach, the player would have signed with Penn State by now.

I have a feeling that this will end in e)

Long time, no Stella update

Just got back from a work trip to LA. It was a seminar conference that Dreama and I wanted to attend, so with "Grangela" living only 6 miles from the seminar location, we thought we would take advantage of the free babysitter.

Things went great the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Uncle Brandon arrived on Saturday, we had a nice steak dinner, and Stella stayed up late (too late, until about 9:30pm) so Grangela could show her off to some friends.

Lack a sleep made for a grizzly baby, and on Sunday, Stella endured a pretty big meltdown.
Upon return to Vancouver (after receiving some nice abuse from United Airlines for having the audacity of traveling with a baby), Stella seems to be back to her normal self.

I think that she was going through withdrawal from not getting watch any hockey or soccer while in LA. Look at how happy she was today, getting to watch the Champions League game with her Grandad and his Italian friend Alberto, who was choked to see Inter Milan get knocked out.



Four English teams in the final 8 again. Too bad that the National team stinks.

Beano weighs in JoePa

Click here to listen to the latest ESPN podcast featuring Ivan Maisel and Beano Cook.
Beano tells us what he hears is going to happen with JVP's short term situation, based on a conversation with Neil Rudel of the Altoona Mirror.

The Dreama Scenario at PSU

Well, according to our buddies at LaschOut, there was a Bill Cowher sighting in State College this past weekend.

Many have asked me, in the past few years, who would be my #1 choice to take over for JVP. I had always replied "Bill Cowher", and, inevitably, the follow up question would always be "Okay, who REALISTICALLY do you want to be PSU's next head coach", as if landing Bill Cowher was a total longshot.

Well, who really knows why Cowher was in State College this past weekend.
What we do know about Bill Cowher is:

1. He really wants to enjoy his family life and his teenage girls in HS/college
2. He would have all of PA on lockdown, from a recruiting perspective
3. He already has a ton of cash in the bank, so does he really need a huge multi million dollar contract to keep him happy?>
4. If his daughter does attend PSU, as is suggested by some of the comments in the post, then wouldn't being head coach at PSU be a nice way to stay close to the family.
5. Being a college coach is a heck of a lot less stressful than an NFL head coach.

Maybe I'm dreaming, but all of a sudden, the Cowher to PSU fantasy doesn't seem to be as much of a long shot.

Jones weighs in on Paterno's future

Everybody's favorite journalist weighs on the future of Joe Paterno, and how much clout Spanier will have in this decision. I read this as Joe holding the cards as to whether this season, 2008, is a farewell tour, or an ugly deathgrip to hold on. Can't wait to see how this one plays out.

Premiership to play games outside of England?

There's a lot of people quite anti this plan. I could care less really. I'm linking to this article, not because I agree with the writer's veiwpoint, but to share the information about the possible cities.

I am shocked that NYC isn't on the list.

The Super Bowl

Well, I can officially say that the past super bowl (sorry Pats) was without question, the most satisfying super bowl result for me personally ever.

When I woke up on Monday morning, I can honestly say that I have never been happier about the result of a super bowl that seeing the Pats lose.

You see, the Dolphins have never won a super bowl since I've been a fan. (Actually, I was going to write "in my lifetime", but the Dolphins won both of their superbowls in my first 2 years alive on earth.)

So with the Patriots having an opportunity to not only match, but actually exceed the Dolphins perfection, let's just say that I wasn't too happy about it. Oh yeah, and did I mention that the Pats have a "Michigan man" at QB. Enough.

But what a game it was, and what a great ending. The catch by Tyree (my brother reminded me he's a Syracuse alum) the "sluggo" to Plexiglass (Sparty!) and of course, the sack by Jay Alford, a proud moment for Nittany Lions across the country! Actually, the ending, the final second to be exact, further summed up exactly why I loathe the Pats and Belicheat.

What the hell was up with him running across the field with 1 second left. Did he not realize the game wasn't over?

Sorry Bill, but you have to stand on the sideline, let the Giants take possession, and let Eli go to a knee, and THEN you walk across the field and offer your bullshit handshake and smirk.

What a jackass. He showed no class, and no sportsmanship. Hey everyone, Bill Belicheat is bigger than the super bowl itself: he doesn't have to wait until the clock expires- he can just run off the field with 1 second left, and ignore the clock.

But seeing him squirm was great. I actually spoke about this with another friend, Giant's fan Mike Lagg. I asked him where this ranked in terms of all time championships of what his teams (Devils (3), Giants (3), Yankees(4)) had won. I reminded him that he's enjoyed 10 championships since high school, and wondered how this one ranked.

Of course, I also told him that I'm sittin proudly at ZERO:

Canucks
Penn State
Dolphins

Must be nice to have 10 and debate which one is the best.

But hey, that's the point of this blog: sports agony.

At times like this, I am reminded of my favorite German word: schadenfreude
It pretty summed up exactly how I felt on Monday morning.

Finally, here's a Reebok commercial that was to air IF the Pats had won. Thank god this only lives in youtube lore, and not real life:

Joe needs to get out there

Article from the York Daily Record indicating that JoePa isn't doing enough on the recruiting trail.
Sadly, I agree.

Miami 1999

Without question, this is the best PSU road game I've ever attended, and that includes the 1994 season Rose Bowl.

The atmosphere was electric to say the least, and we were escorted from the Miami student section, for "our own safety".

This is great stuff:

Stella Update-Christmas video

I haven't posted in a while, but that's because nothing has really been giving me agony.
Well, except for the Canucks recent mini slump, and the fact that I am so goddamn sick of the Patriots and Brady this and Belicheck that.

But on to something more interesting. I haven't posted any pictures of Stella since WAY back at the beginning of the blog. Some might say "dead beat dad" while others might say "thank god for not inundating me with pictures of your child".

But since it's been a few months, and Stella herself just crossed the 6 month old threshold, I figured I would share a video from Stella's first Christmas (in LA). I'm the camera man, and I'm sure that most of you can figure out who is doing the comedy routine to get Stella laughing.

A deeper shade of soul

Well everyone in the Nittany Nation is excited to see how Michigan does with RR at the helm. I've heard various reports about RR, and the fact that he is a bit of a gungslinger.

Well, a VERY interesting report came out of Morgantown today, that really makes you think.
What happened to these files, and why did they go missing?

It'll be interesting to see if RR can bring back the days of Ed Martin and the Fab 5!

Brutus the speller

Whenever I had attended a PSU-OSU game, I have always come away as VERY impressed with the Buckeye fans' ability to spell. Non stop chanting of O-H-I-O in which hundreds of people can simultaneously spell a four letter state. That they live in.

Unfortunately, the cheerleaders (who we will assume are students- paid or not is another question), aren't as good at spelling. At least this error wasn't made on a national scale where everyone would see it. Wait a second...

A nice little throwback for you

Remember football in the 1980s?
Great stuff here:

Word Of The Day: schadenfreude

schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun:
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

Sorry Brutus

Sorry you lost Brutus.
Actually, wait a second, no I'm not.

However, it really baffles me when Penn State fans root for Ohio State and Michigan?
Based on what?

I'm waiting for some genius to explain this one to me.

I think I saw these guys on TV tonight:

Broderick Green

According to the boys over at Laschout, Broderick Green wanted to try and transfer to PSU after an unsuccessful first season at USC. You'll never guess what position the staff took with respect to this request.

Aggies have an interesting choice of food

This guy is great.
Was the food not tasty at the Alamo Bowl?

This is how they do it, Aggie-Style: