Freezing in College Park, MD

Marcy and I survived the snarling Maryland Terrapin fanatics at Byrd Stadium in College Park, MD on Saturday. Needless to say, it was a rout. Marcy retreated to the heated women's restroom during the third quarter to thaw out. We slapped hands with the players after the game as they paraded into the locker room. Two FSU cheerleaders gave their digits to me for Keller. Place kicker Graham Gano gave us a "hell, yeah!" And quarterback Christian Ponder blew air kisses to Marcy.

And the 100 mile-return to Richmond without gridlock was priceless. And regular unleaded at the Wawa in Woodbridge-$1.57. And safety Myron Rolle was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at 5:00 PM on Saturday. He is the first FBS player of his generation to win what is considered the most prestigious postgraduate academic scholarship. Rolle interviewed in Birmingham, AL and with police escorts and a Gulfstream V from BHM to BWI, he entered the game late in the second quarter.



If Boston College wins at home in their regular-season finale against Maryland next Saturday, the Eagles will play in the ACC championship. If not, Florida State will go to Tampa. And how fat is Ralph Friedgen, the head coach for the Maryland Terrapins?

Tears at Nights in Rodanthe!

Exerpts from Big Storm is Brewing (hurricane, too)!
by Manohla Dargis
New York Times
September 26, 2008

Hollywood used to know how to make a lady suffer. It might have thrown her around a little and smudged her mascara, but it also gave as much as it took, delivering the pleasurable goods along with the pain. The emotions were as phony as the tears, yet with the right director, star or script, all that weeping could send an arrow straight through your heart. The audience worshiped Our Lady of Masochism for her misery but also for her triumph, for the mink swaddling her shoulder pads, for the 100 sobbing violins, for the celestial halo circling her head. She was a glamorous sacrament, a delectable offering for the big-screen faithful. It’s no wonder the faithful continue to forsake the movies, given junky embarrassments like “Nights in Rodanthe.” There’s no joy and not even much cruel laughter to be had from the spectacle of sympathetic actors — Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Viola Davis, James Franco — mouthing some of the most pitiful, platitudinous, risible dialogue in recent memory, particularly if you were suckered into watching this movie specifically because of its performers...
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I have a few suggestions for Nicholas Sparks...

Afternoons in Assateague
Mornings in Rehoboth

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Marcy and I suffered through Nights in Rodanthe but only after premiering Quantum of Solace. As we exited the theater, there was more Kleenex on the floor than popcorn. Is $9.50/ticket an outrage? Not necessarily-the outrage is Nicholas Sparks and his scandalmongering romantic love propaganda. There is no redemption for the beleaguered American male strapped with unrealistic expectations.