A WORD OF WELCOME
For many families, the word busy doesn't begin to describe the weeks between the middle of November and the beginning of January. No matter how busy it gets this year, make sure to carve out some time to enjoy the season with family and friends. If you get a chance to take in some college football along the way,…BONUS! Welcome to a wonderful time of year and may it be celebrated far and wide all year long. Merry Christmas to all,…And to all a good night!
JOE T's
A sprawling eatery on the south end of the Fort Worth, Texas Stockyards is serving the best Mexican food this side of the Rio Grande. Family owned Joe T. Garcia's authentic south of the border delights and delectable short menu are legendary in Fort Worth. Every item, sides included, has its own distinctive and glaringly hand-crafted flavor. A stop at Joe T's like tasting art on a plate.
Homemade salsa, corn and flour tortillas, enchiladas and sweet marinated fajita protein are highlights of the fare available in a somewhat noisy but charming atmosphere. Courtyard dining areas are open in warm weather for those who enjoy dining al fresco. Pricing is middle of the road so take the whole family. It's an experience not soon forgotten and definitely a repeat visit destination.
HOT ROD GRILLING
It's off season for backyard chefs in the USA, particularly along the eastern seaboard of the US this weekend where snow is drifting and visions of sugar plums are dancing in the heads of children and the young at heart. Time to look ahead to springtime and how outdoor cuisine, is to be prepared when the bluebird is on our collective shoulder again. Here's a high octane way to grill for the motor enthusiast.
According to the August 2009 issue of Popular Science magazine, Trent Watley had reached an impasse with his grilling equipment. He had replaced many spare parts and wanted to resolve the problem long term. What was needed was an apparatus made of material which could withstand and contain the heat of burning coals while being large enough to house a cooking surface. It also had to close to keep the heat and smoke inside, giving his food that rustic open air cooked flavor. Watley settled on a V8 engine.
First he gutted the engine with a plasma cutter, a process which took 15 hours. He then had it cleaned in a machine shop. Popular Science goes on to report he made the grate from stainless steel. The highly combustible fuel was removed from the carburetor assembly for obvious reasons. Hinges were welded on the side of the motor so the lid could be opened and Watley was looking at his prototype cooker made from a V8 (not to be confused with the veggie drink).
The motor/grill was welded to a metal stand which also holds the propane canister. Flames were painted on the gas tank for that hot rod effect. The end result of Watley's labor was one shell of an engine. His friends liked them so much he built more and now sells them at: www.v8-grill.com. Bon appetite!
THE CRIMSON REEL
New in theaters is the Michael Oher story. It arrives in the form of a football tear-jerker entitled The Blind Side. This film parades through a virtual who's who of the Southeastern Conference (the estute sports fan will find the timing of the movie interesting in regard to SEC coaching staffs) and tells the incredible tale of how Oher was taken in by a Memphis, Tennessee family. He was taught how to become a good student and to turn his raw athletic ability into a career in the National Football League. Against incredible odds, Oher blocks his way into the hearts of movie goers of all ages.
Headliners Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw don't hurt the movie's charm either. Get out there and see it at a matinee this winter or when it comes out on video for certain. This show is on the CPeL's A list.
SPORTS CUSTER
Roger M. Williams writes in a September 2009 Smithsonian magazine article entitled Last Fan Standing:
"Early in this past season's National Hockey League playoffs, I turned on the telecast of the Washington Capitals-New York Rangers game. I have lived in Washington for the past 25 years, but I was rooting for the Rangers. Growing up they were [my] hockey team. To this day, whenever and whomever they play, I want them to win."
Williams goes on to state he has also been a fan of other New York City teams including the Yankees, Giants and Knicks, although he has lived in a number of major league sports cities over the years. The sports teams of his childhood have always held his allegiance.
His loyalty has survived not being able to regularly see his teams from the NYC market on the tele (British for television). Additionally his diehard Giants fanaticism has found him "on Autumn Sundays,… [joining] a small, furtive group [of Giants' fans] in a dingy sports bar," with no sound on the broadcast because the Giants' fans are far outnumbered by Redskins fans.
A couple of his friends have switched fandom as they've moved from city to city "confusing transitory pleasure with true love" but Williams remains true. The George Custer of sports fans aka The Last Fan Standing concludes: [My grave marker shall therefore bear a list of my teams and this epitaph: "In victory or defeat, in places near or far, forever true."] Now that's a sports fan.
LOVING CONGRATULATIONS!
TO: Don & Marcia on your Wedding Day
Best wishes and many years of happiness together. You are class personified. Any person counted as your friend is most fortunate. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Congratulations from CPeL.
FALLING BACK
Maybe it was the time change. Maybe it was the Holidays. Maybe it was [fill in the blank] but there hasn't been a CPeL on the presses for a few weeks. Apologies all around again and as always, you're welcome to a full refund for your missed issues. CPeL,…the price is always right.
TULSA
Since the last issue, Tulsa worked its way out of bowl contention but ended the season on a winning note. The fifth win of the season was a 33-30 overtime edging of Memphis at Chapman Stadium in Tulsa. The 2009 Golden Hurricane concluded the season with 7 losses to go with the 5 wins.
CPeL received word this week a star wide-receiver recruit at Oklahoma wants to transfer to Tulsa. That's good news for the TU receiving corps. A good spring of training and Tulsa will be back in form this fall presenting that exciting Golden Hurricane brand of football.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas finished with a 7-5 record against LSU in overtime loss, 33-30. Despite a losing a tough game against a divisional rival, the Razorbacks made it to the postseason, by being invited to the Liberty Bowl. There they will face Coach Skip Holtz and the East Carolina Pirates.
Hog faithful and coach Bobby Petrino are still searching for that winning formula which will take them to the top of the SEC Western Divison but after the last few years, Liberty is sweeter than ever. The game is to be played on January 2, 2010 at 4:30pm CST. U of A 34, East Carolina 21.
TENNESSEE
Tennessee is bowl-bound but with some complications. Alleged recruiting violations, involving hostesses (not the tasty pastries on the bread aisle at the local grocer's) hover over Knoxville like the lights over Neyland Cathedral. They're constant factors to deal with at the high-profile institution and sometimes they need to be attended to.
Overall, the Volunteers improved and achieved yet another 7-5 mark, which placed them in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. UT's opponent in the game will be Virginia Tech. Kick-off is scheduled for New Year's Eve at 6:30pm CST. This should be a good match-up and will provide Tennessee with a much needed extra month of practice as they continue the climb back to elite status in the SEC.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State had a date with BCS destiny and it was nipped in fall bloom over Thanksgiving. The consolation prize is a trip to Dallas, Texas for the Cotton Bowl Classic against Ole Miss. The Rebels are coached by former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt. Nutt has experienced a good deal of success in Oxford (no, not in England). The lead Reb is always positive and gets the most out of his players.
It's a good January 2nd bowl game for the Pokes after a list of lesser bowls in previous years. Who needs all that warm sun in Tempe anyway? Who needs any awkward Burlington Coat Factory moments? Who needs to travel that far to tank a bowl game?
Cowboy fans can visit the 6th Floor Library, explore the grassy knoll for Pete's six-shooter, shop til they drop at Grapevine Mills and enjoy the indoor comfort of Jerry's World at game time. Since the game is being played in Arlington at Dallas Cowboy Stadium and not at the Cotton Bowl, is it still the Cotton Bowl? Those silly Texans.
Dallas PD gets a break as Oklahoma State fans leave Dallas better than they found it. Kick-off is at 1pm CST. UM 29, OSU 24.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma finished 7-5 with a bittersweet victory over Oklahoma State. The Sooner defense shut the Cowboys out 27-0. OU's offense remains non-existent as Oklahoma faces a solid Stanford Cardinal team in the Brut Sun Bowl. Brut will make sure that no matter how bad the OU offense is they will still smell great. . This no-stink guarantee is more than most teams have this winter. Hopefully the Oklahoma end zone will get more use than the men's room at Bed Bath and Beyond this outing.
On the other side of the football, the Cardinal hasn't been this dangerous since The Three Musketeers. Stanford has a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back but he will be running into the strength of the Oklahoma defense which has historically stopped the run well against any competition. Fans can't miss Toby Gerhart. He will be the guy wearing number 5 running into the OU defensive line repeatedly as he has 1736 rushing yards to show for that kind of activity against PAC-10 competition.
Many believed the Sooner team should have voted not to attend a bowl after a nearly .500 year but in this age of TV contracts and big bucks for bowls, Oklahoma is headed to El Paso, Texas on December 31st. Kick-off is at 1pm CST. The OU cheer squad and the owner of the restaurant the Sooners eat at will be the most motivated people in west Texas during this game.
Bad press for losing bowl games or not, all OU got out of this was a few TV shekels and the month of December to figure out which direction the goal line is. Stanford has a month to prepare and everyone else has stopped OU so why not the smart guys from Palo Alto? Stanford 13, OU 2.
THE PERCENTAGES
All those eons ago when the last picks were made, CPeL was running at
At 69% on the year. After posting 4-1 last issue, that brings the season total to 22-9. That's 70% for all those diehard fans of teams not appearing in bowls this year.
Thanks for reading. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Carlos
www.crimsonpigskin.com
THE CRIMSON PIGSKIN e-LETTER
____________________________________________________________
Criminal Lawyer
Criminal Lawyers - Click here.
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2131/c?cp=q7aduShzj9wE4Wb_y717lwAAJz3lxC3Y_yhwMcAbfftr15aWAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAiFgAAAAA=
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment