Breaking news about Brett Favre...And it isn't pretty

--The Brett Favre firestorm has begun again. Since Favre’s first retirement and comeback, I’ve gone from interested, to entertained, to anxious, to confused, to annoyed, to interested, to annoyed. It’s very easy to be ticked off due to the seemingly never-ending saga that is Brett Favre’s playing career. However, I have to wonder what it would be like to have a microphone in my face every second of every day while trying to make a major life decision. You know how it is when you’re making a really tough decision that could go either way, right? You go back and forth. You’re certain of one thing one minute, and certain of another thing the next. Now, imagine the media asking you what you were thinking a thousand times a day…I could hypothetically see myself doing what Brett Favre has done. That being said, the media coverage has undoubtedly been annoying and way too extensive.

--While we all have our opinions on Favre’s retirements and comebacks, that’s not the primary purpose of this column. The reason I’m writing is that I have to pass along a premonition I received recently in regards to Brett Favre…and it isn’t pretty. Now, now, once you read this, don’t go off thinking I’m some kind of sicko or maniac. I don’t want this to happen; I just think it may happen. Ok? So…

--I think the only fitting way for Brett Favre to end his ‘career’ is to be carted off the field. And when I say carted off the field, I mean carted off the field of life. I mean carted off for good. For good, good…Like ‘goodbye world, hello glory’-good. Like ‘lights out’-good. Like ‘skeleton slumber party’-good. I know it’s morbid, but come on, would it not be fitting? Let’s put this in perspective using another legend. I am a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt and his legacy, and I wish he was still with us today. I hate that he’s gone, and I wish I could still watch him on Sundays. But given the tragic circumstances, Dale went out rather fittingly, did he not? Nobody wanted to see Dale Earnhardt die of a heart attack or cancer. No. If Dale Earnhardt had to die (which was debatable until it actually happened), it had to be doing something manly and race-related. I’m afraid the same may be true for Favre and football.

--Anyway, Besides Jimmy Hoffa, who else belongs buried under a stadium? Brett friggin’ Favre, man! If something happens, he needs to be buried right under a 50-yard-line somewhere, somehow. It would be perfect and fitting. And, you could do a two-for-one on the burial and memorial service because you’d already be in a place with plenty of seats…right?

--I mean, I’m not saying---I’m just saying----Just think about it. I don’t want it to happen people. It just makes sense

Welcome To Tuscaloosa !

--After 4 days in Tuscaloosa, I feel qualified to write about it.

--First of all, to call Alabama a football state and Tuscaloosa a football town simply doesn’t do them justice. People that I’m meeting for the first time ever are asking, “are you ready for the game?” They’re referring to the September 5th matchup against Virginia-Tech. I’m trying to fit in, so I’ve been responding in this manner: “You know Hugh? …Hugh Damn Right! Let’s beat some Hokie ass, what’dya say?” These people have no interest whatsoever in college basketball, pro sports, or proper English, and I love it (except the distaste for college basketball of course). Back to proper English. In all seriousness, this is no small issue. In North Carolina, several people gave me a hard time for my southern accent and dialect. That’s ridiculous to me. You live in North Carolina people; southern accents happen.

--Continuing on now in stream-of-consciousness style: Got to go in Bryant-Denny Stadium (UA’s football stadium) today. Me and some other folks that were in a sales workshop decided to waltz our happy rear ends on to the playing field and the 50-yard line. This was really neat for 2 main reasons. 1: I was on the friggin’ 50-yard line of Alabama’s football field and 2. Most of the students I was with actually went to UA but they had never been on the field. Watching how ridiculously excited they were reminded me of seeing people hang out on the court of the Dean Dome for the first time. Really cool.

--My living arrangement has positives and negatives. It’s located near downtown Tuscaloosa on a road called Hackberry Lane. When people ask me where I live, I think I’m going to start calling it ‘The Hack Attack’ for 2 main reasons. 1: It sounds awesome. 2: Hackberry Lane sounds like a street in a horror movie. Think about it…If you were a serial killer, a road called “Hackberry Lane” would be a heck of a place to start.

--The apartment complex was built in the 1940’s so it’s kind of like hanging out at a grandparent or older relative’s place. It’s old-school for sure, and I like that. I mean, I'm living in an antique for goodness sake. Another thing that’s cool is that I can hear the marching band practicing each evening, and the football team actually practices less that 3/4 of a mile from here. All the residents here are graduate or law school students, so it’s very quiet which is a big plus.

--On the negative side, I’ve got no dishwasher or central air. I also have no washing machine or dryer because there are no hookups. In all honesty though, I don’t mind this stuff too bad. I’ve got a window unit in my bedroom which is all that really matters, and I’ve got two working arms so washing dishes is straight. Overall, Hackberry gets my seal of approval. I would absolutely recommend it to any dirt poor grad student.

--Obviously, I already miss all my good friends and family back in NC, but I knew that would be the case. Good news though. Thanks to Al Gore’s World Wide Net Web, and cellular telephone services, we’ll all be able to stay in touch.

--Can’t wait to write more about Alabama, but for now I’ve got to go for 3 main reasons. 1. A fantastic feature film starring Frank Sinatra (Kings go Forth) starts in 10 minutes on the only TV channel I get on my receiver. 2. I need to turn on the lights in the bathroom to give the cockroaches a head start so they don’t clog up the shower drain. Just kidding! LOL! LO-freakin’L. I don’t have cockroaches. ..At least I don’t think I do. 3. Nick Saban is throwing rocks at my window trying to get more advice from me on how to run the team. This guy just doesn’t stop.

COSMIC PAYCHECK!

--Sometimes I find it hard to come up with topics to write about. Other times, topics fly up and hit me in the face like gnats at a picnic.

--Not too long ago, I went to Kroger. Let me digress before I even start. Kroger is the finest grocery establishment in the country. ‘Right Store, Right friggin Price’ baby. Love it. Their store brands not only match but exceed the competition. Their sodas are life changing: ‘Dr. K’, ‘Citrus Drop’, and the very simple ‘Lemon Lime’ are just a few. Their boxed Mac and Cheese is the only store brand in America that keeps pace with Kraft. I am an expert in this field. Food Lion’s Mac and Cheese: cardboard. Harris Teeters Mac and Cheese: Too salty. pure garbage. Wal-Mart’s Great (or good?) Value Mac and Cheese: Please. It’s flippin’ amateur hour. Anyway, I went to Kroger.

--I pulled into the parking lot and spotted an opening. While driving into the spot, I witnessed one of the finest displays of Southern Americana ever. Picture this: A green 1994 or ’95 Chevy Astro Van. A fine American “whip,” if you will. That baby sported a 4.3 liter V6 that was produced back when gas was cheaper than beer. A typical Astro would get you 12.4 miles per gallon highway…new. Love’em.
Moving on to what was in and around the van. The passenger door was wide open to promote free air flow. One little girl was in the back playing with her toy horses. Two young boys were behind the Astro, near my spot. They were shirtless. The entire family had just come from the lake most likely. One young man sported Transformers trunks and the other sported an American Flag set of trunks. His trunks were very much like the ones I love to wear when I participate in aquatic activities. The mother was smoking a cig and leaning against the front of her trailer park chariot. She was wearing a turquoise one piece with jean shorts on top. By utilizing the Astro’s driver side mirror, I could see that Papa Bear was in the front seat with a Burger King Whopper in hand. He was large and in charge, and he was wearing a splendid off-white wife beater. It didn’t come off-white to start with, I can guarantee you that. Before I turned off my car I noticed that boys and Papa Bear were singing along to some song. The boys, in fact, were clapping and stomping along with the beat as well. I wondered what this awesome family was jamming to. As I turned off the car, Transformer Tommy, as we’ll call him, pointed at me during the apex and chorus of the song…

--“Take this job and shove it! I ain’t workin’ here no more. My woman done left and took all the reasons-I was uh-working for. You better not try to stand in my way As I’m walking out the door. Take this job and shove it, I ain’t workin here no more.”

--One of Johnny Paycheck’s greatest hits of all time. It really resonates with Americans, and especially North Carolinians who have struggled with the changing economy of the South over the last 3 decades. And as any other country song, it also resonates with any man who’s ever had a woman who done went and done him wrong. Great song.

--I laughed hysterically. This young boy of about 5 or 6 started laughing as well, while continuing to clap and point. Papa Bear popped his head out. He let out a laugh/cough and said, “Dang it boy, what’chu doing back there. Let that man alone.” I quickly responded in my finest redneck-speak. “Aw, he ain’t botherin’ me.” The boy laughed, pointed again and shouted at me, “Take this job and shove it!” His mother was far from appalled and just barely twisted to see what her boy was doing. The only thing I could think of to say…And I mean the only thing… I was so amused and confused, that I wasn’t thinking straight. The only thing I could think of to say was, “I’ll drink to that.” Papa Bear said, “HA! There you go. There you go. I’ll drink to that too. Yes sir. Um-huh. Yes sir.”

--God Bless America.

Farewell Michael, Farrah, and Billy

--Unfortunately, there’s one heck of a celebrity skeleton slumber party going on after last week. We lost 3, count’em 3 American cultural Icons. Let’s get to it.
Ever watched a baseball game where a batter is on fire? Multiple home runs, maybe a grand slam in there. And then…the next batter digs in, and everyone thinks or says, “That’s impossible to follow. Sucks to be that guy.” This is the feeling I got when I found out Billy Mays died in the same week as Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett. I was riding in the back of a Ford Explorer, on the way back from one of America’s finest vacation spots, Myrtle Beach. Riding along S.C. #9 (I think), My friend shouted, “Billy Mays is dead?! This is ridiculous!”

--My friend’s Blackberry did not lie. Our favorite late night/Saturday morning pitchman was gone; “gone to the giant toll-free zone in the sky.” He “expired,” “cashed in,” and “departed.” Perhaps another one of my friends said it best via Facebook: “Goodbye Billy Mays. I’ll miss you yelling at me at 3 in the morning.” Indeed we will.

--Mays was such an anomaly. He was a salesman. But, people liked him. As Americans, we generally hate salesmen, right? Businesses and housing developments prove it with big signs that say, “NO SOLICITING.” When telemarketers call our homes, some of us unleash hell upon them verbally. When we see people handing out fliers, we immediately audible from a fly-route to a slant. These are things that make me love America. We can be contradictory in our ideas and values. We despise salesmen. But, we liked Mays. I never bought Mighty Putty, Mighty Mend-it, or CLR, but daggum, I loved hearing Mays talk about them. You know; he used every product he sold. He said so.

--Farrah Fawcett is the one of the three that I find hardest to take lightly. In all actuality, I shouldn’t take any of their deaths lightly, but public figures seem surreal to begin with (to me anyways). Fawcett died last Thursday after a 3-year fight with cancer. She “checked out,” “met her end,” and “passed on to the great beyond.” Charlie’s Angels put Fawcett on the map, although one could argue she put Charlie’s Angels on the map. She also co-starred in one of my favorite films of all time, The Apostle. In The Apostle, she had an affair while married to Robert Duvall’s character. What a great flippin’ movie…Anyway, from what I’ve read and seen, Fawcett was never overly extravagant or flighty like so many other celebrities. An absolute American icon in the 60s and 70s. She had an impact on young people in later decades as well. It’s a shame her untimely death was overshadowed.

--Michael Jackson. Where do you start with Michael Jackson? I’ll try. Tremendously talented. Amazing musical and singing skills. Equally impressive dancing moves. Friendly. Philanthropic… …Lunatic.

--Jackson died last Thursday at his home. He “met his maker,” “hung up his hat,” “went belly up,” and “ceased.” I was least affected by his passing in comparison to the other 2 we’ve discussed. Yes, Jackson had good music. Not great in my opinion. Yes, good dancer. But, good dancing is for fairies and women only. Who am I to comment on Michael Jackson, since I never met the guy? Well, nearly 20 years of court cases and acquisitions make it fairly clear I would never want Michael Jackson around any child I know. And if you think otherwise, you’re an idiot. If you say and truly believe that you would let Jackson spend time alone with your children or young relatives, then you deserve a mental evaluation of the most thorough variety. People were coming up with dead Michael Jackson jokes 10 years ago. Did you notice how quickly these jokes made everyday conversation? There’s usually a “WHOA, WHOA, A-HOLE! TOO SOON,” period that lasts at least a week. Nuh-uh, not with Jackson. People were cracking jokes that night. Sad but true. Sad. But. True.

--In all honesty, the guy was a weirdo. He had a deeper voice when he was 12 than he did when he was 40. That’s not normal. He looked non-human. YES, I know he reportedly had a skin disease. Let’s say that’s true…He could have afforded a better plastic surgeon. It looked like Ren and Stimpy were his plastic surgeons. Basically, from what I read and saw, I thought him to be very odd, and someone I didn’t care to meet. As Kat Williams, the comedian, pointed out. Michael Jackson had children with a white woman, and they were completely white. No way. We’re not that stupid. He once hung a baby over a balcony. Somehow he managed to dig himself into 400 million or more dollars in debt. How the hell do you do that if you’re bringing in money like Michael Jackson? How do you do that? I’ll tell you how. By being a complete and total moron and by putting your pee-pee and hands where they don’t belong. That’s how. To all MJ fans, I’m sorry if I have offended you; truly I am. Let me be absolutely clear, I’m not happy that he passed away. It’s just that I’m not upset. Is that wrong?

Tobacco: American. Dead American.

Have we ever had an issue at hand as convoluted and controversial as tobacco? Is tobacco American? I think the answer is absolutely, yes. Native Americans were using it long before this country was settled by Europeans. Before tobacco was popularized as a recreational drug, Native Americans used it as an enthogen…hey-o! It’s the word of the day! An enthogen is psychoactive drug used in a religious or shamanic context. Basically after a day of hunting and gathering, the boys huddled up in the teepee, got high, and looked for god(s).

Anyway, I guess tobacco was American even before this country had its name. Furthermore, tobacco is southern and North Carolinian. Tobacco was a primary factor in the development of this state’s economy centuries ago. Today, North Carolina is still among the country’s top tobacco producers along with Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Now, now; I realize tobacco is bad. I realize you or somebody you know has lost someone close because of illness due to tobacco use. Please don’t go off getting huffy and puffy thinking I’m going to sit here and waste your time talking about how cool and awesome tobacco is. I will indeed talk about how deadly it is…later.

Before I go on, let me say this. I started chewing and dipping tobacco when I was 16 years old as a high school sophomore (or as Woody Durham would say, “soffuh-more”). I quit chewing and dipping tobacco 3 years, 11 days, and 8 hours ago in Burlington, North Carolina while broadcasting for the Burlington Indians.

Why did I do it for so long? Why did I do it at all? Have you ever thrown in a big friggin’ chaw (AKA a chomper, a chewski, a wad, a baseball-sized mass of wackey tobackey)? Or, have you thrown in a big ol’ fatty (AKA a lipper, a dip, a smacker, a dinger, a Hugo)? Have you had that slight burning/tickling sensation on your gums and lips right before you get mildly light-headed and feel full-body relaxation? Have you ever lit up a cig? Ever inhaled as deeply as possible to hold in all the nicotine-goodyness you could before exhaling that magic stuff into the atmosphere, allowing Mother Nature to get a contact-high? All that stuff is nice isn’t it?

Well. All that cool stuff mentioned above will friggin’ kill you. It will flippin’ put you six feet under. It will bring you down to China Town homeboy. If you use tobacco, you could “buy the farm,” “push up daisies,” “go to pasture,” “go to a skeleton slumber party”… Let’s see, you could also “cash in your chips,” “croak,” “punch your ticket,” “PERISH” (that one’s intense), and “bite the dust.” Bottom line, it could be “Goodbye World, hello Glory” if you use tobacco.

If it doesn’t kill you, it will cause other problems. Men, let’s just get real…tobacco can cause your “unit” to not function properly. Women, smoking can wrinkle your skin more than a night-crawler or worm left out on an asphalt sidewalk in the middle of August. Chew and dip will cause funky little sores to pop up in your mouth. Yep, most of them will go away…until one doesn’t. All of these scary things are why I quit, and why if you’re a user, you should stop too. I’m not going to stop you though; as a former tobacco user, I know this. Quitting has to be on your own time, and it has to be your decision.

It’s not easy. In fact I still think about how bad I want a chew every daggum day. People I have flippin’ dreams where I’m dipping or chewing…I start freaking out saying, “why did I start back up? This is so stupid!” And then, I try to spit the stuff out, but I can’t get it all out. Those dreams stink. I ain’t making this stuff up. Nicotine is some intense stuff.

However, if you are a tobacco user and you want to quit; you can do it! If you’ve never used or even tried tobacco, congratulations! Do not ever try the stuff. It’s not worth it. Now, where tobacco and America have recently clashed is in court. Should the states and federal government be regulating tobacco or regulating its use? The FDA now has regulatory authority over tobacco. The state of North Carolina has banned smoking in restaurants and bars. I am very weary of such legislation; plan and simple. I hate smoke in bars, but I don’t think the government should be telling you, you can’t do it. The restaurant or bar owner should make that call. “Well, no one would disallow tobacco in their establishments unless the government made them,” some of you will undoubtedly say. To you, I respond, “Well don’t flipping go out to eat or go out on the town if you don’t want to encounter smoke and tobacco products. Eating out is terribly expensive and unhealthy anyway. Lord knows this country is overweight as it is. It wouldn’t hurt us to stay at home and eat a turkey sandwich with Sun Chips and grapes instead of eating out and having brewskis three nights a week.”

If you disagree with me, and you’re for legislation against tobacco, you’ll never change my mind with an e-mail or through a conversation. You will never change my mind, just like I’ll never change yours. BUT, I respect your opinions, and I always like hearing them. We have all got to do a better job of respecting people with differing political and cultural views. We don’t have to like these people; we don’t have to play Rummy with them on Wednesday nights; we don’t have to change ourselves to be like them. But we need to respect each other, and we need to listen.
I am shocked at how much of an ultra-tolerant hippy I sounded like in that last paragraph; better put this to press quickly before I edit it down.

Muffin Matters Invited Back to CWC

Muffin Matters will once again be carried throughout the collegiate athletic off-season on Carolinawatercooler.com. Carolina Water Cooler is a fantastic website dedicated to the coverage of North Carolina Athletics. Check it out!

Finishing up with N.C. Baseball

7. The Kannapolis Intimidators-Fildcrest Cannon Stadium: Obviously, I take particular interest in the Intimidators because Dale Earnhardt Sr. bought the franchise shortly before his passing. The stadium is simple and clean. Their staff puts a lot of effort towards cleanliness and good service. The design is fairly unique in that it’s so wide open. Other than a couple of luxury boxes and the main entrance, there isn’t much too it…and that’s not a bad thing.

8. The Kinston Indians-Grainger Stadium: This park is in the same category as Burlington. Old-timey, inviting facility. Awesome renovations that didn't question the authenticity of the park, and a friendly atmosphere to boot. The K-tribe is a big draw in K-town. Have they had a Jaime Pressly night yet?

9. The Winston-Salem Dash (formerly the Warthogs)-Ernie Shore Field…no wait, Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park: Where should we begin with this travesty of a baseball franchise? Folks they are averaging less than 200 people per game, and there’s a reason for it. First, they were suppose to be moving to a new downtown ballpark this season, but something happened…they ran out of time and money! Maybe the fans would be a little more understanding if the franchise wouldn’t have spent $12 million of taxpayer money to come up short. $38 million in total has been spent so far to NOT move in this year. In late may, they officially announced they would not make it to the new ballpark until 2010. So, they moved back to Ernie Shore field which has since been bought by Wake Forest University. Luckily for the Dash, Wake Forest was nice enough to let the old tenants back in for this season. As for historic Ernie Shore Field: it was nice in its prime, and still has what it takes to be a minor league facility, but the owners wanted more. Say what they will, they were jealous (and understandably so) of their neighbors, the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Ernie Shore was another old-timey park with ad-covered outfield walls and tons of fan-friendly promotions. Ernie Shore will live on, but it will go by a different name from here on out.

10. Zebulon-The Carolina Mudcats-Five-County Stadium: Remodeled in 2002, Five-County stadium really offers some cool attractions to its fans. They have a restaurant located at the stadium, but you won’t find ballpark food in “Cattails,” a fine dining establishment. As for the actual ballpark food…it’s awesome! Excellent choices and quality including a CATFISH SANDWICH! It’s a must have; or at least a must try. Originally built in 1991, it was placed right in the middle of an old tobacco field. The Mudcats are most associated with the city and capitol of Raleigh, but it’s nearly 20 miles away from downtown and from the campus of North Carolina State University.

NC Baseball cont. & MORE!

Moving on down the list of North Carolina Minor League Baseball teams:

3. The Charlotte Knights-Knights Stadium (Fort Mill, S.C): That's right; there's no typo there. The Charlotte Knights play in Fort Mill, South Carolina. They have tried and tried to get a stadium in downtown Charlotte, but the future looks bleak. With the economy in its current state, there's less hope than ever. Either way, the team is considered a North Carolina team. The most interesting dynamic going on with the Knights is that they desperately want to move downtown, so the front office wants to point to discouraging attendance facts as incentives for the team to move...However, they also still want to maximize profit. The easiest way to do this...more fans. A catch-22. This is one of those places you go just to say you've been there.

4. The Durham Bulls-Durham Bulls Athletic Park: I was a fan of the old Durham Athletic Park (DAP), but after overwhelming popularity, the Bulls moved to a bigger nicer facility (the DBAP). Solid stadium; questionable management. You have to go to see the bull above the left field wall that shoots fire out of its nostrils after a home run.

5. The Greensboro Grasshoppers-NewBridge Bank Park: The best part about no longer working in minor league baseball, is that I'm not worried about burning bridges any more. NewBridge Bank Park is top notch; a must see. The management however, is unfriendly and terribly inefficient. Their business like approach is overkill in the world of FAN-ENTERTAINMENT. But again, I love the ballpark. The beer garden beyond the leftfield corner is the nicest you will find in the state and arguably in the entire country. It's huge and accessible, and the prices are right on a Thursday night. The designers finally had a the foresight to put a beer garden in a proper location. A beer garden shouldn't be along the left or right field line where foul balls can pick off drunks. It also shouldn't be somewhere where patrons can't see all the action. The one in G-boro is neither; it's perfect.

6. The Hickory Crawdads-L.P. Frans Stadium: Misters to keep fans cool in summer...80-year-old dancing ushers keeping the mood right...one of the first new stadiums to infiltrate the South Atlantic League. The Crawdads have it going on.

Still to come: Kannapolis, Kinston, Winston-Salem, Zebulon

IN OTHER NEWS

*The Southern 500 in Darlington was awesome. From the 55-year old Mark Martin fan who probably still lives in his mother's basement, to the female South Carolina student wearing an American flag-themed bikini without a pool or watering hole within 2 miles, to sleeping in the back of trucks and sleeping in camping chairs, it couldn't have been better.

*The Carolina Hurricanes are still going! Am I a bandwagon or fair-weather fan? No. I don't care if they win or lose and I don't go nuts over the 'Canes, but YES I love following their progress and supporting their best effort. If it wasn't a sport full or Canadians, French-Canadians, and Yankees, maybe I'd really love the NHL.

* The North Carolina State Senate just voted down a 2-cent reduction in gas taxes...Ridiculous. Fellow North Carolina natives, we are the second-highest taxed state in the union behind California I believe. Join me in writing critical but humane (just barely) letters to this group of A-holes in our Senate.

Let's talk about NASCAR, old hollywood movie stars, let's talk about anything in this world

"Let's talk about baseball, Talk a little small talk, There's got to be a good joke that you've heard. Let's talk about NASCAR, Old Hollywood movie stars, Let's talk about anything, Anything in this world; But politics, religion, and her."
-Sammy Kershaw (singer, songwriter, American legend)

--After the Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, and after the start of another minor league baseball season, I couldn't help but talk a little NASCAR and baseball. The restrictor-plate race at Talladega was one of the most exciting and nerve-racking races I've ever seen. And, the amount of terrific minor league ballparks in North Carolina never ceases to amaze me.

--If you watched the race last Sunday, you know exactly what I'm talking about in regards to Talladega. Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman (in my opinion), and the trackside fans are fortunate to still be kicking. Brad keselowski started to make a last lap pass on Edwards; He had position underneath of Edwards; Edwards tried to get back down low; Insanity followed. Edwards' car ended up air born against the fence in front of the fans. WATCH IT HERE! Fast forward to 1:35 to start seeing all the different replays. How amazing is it that nobody died as a result of that accident?

--I'm not trying to recruit more people to be NASCAR fans, but I will say that any race at Talladega is what it's all about. It's down in the deep south where the fans are going to actually see the race; not to "see a spectacle" like the fairies in California and New Hampshire. In Talladega, the fans know that each and every driver is putting their head in the lion's mouth for 499 miles, and they respect them for it. I don't care who someone pulls for in NASCAR; when there's a bad accident at Talladega, every fan is concerned. That being said, as soon as those fans see a driver pop out of the window and walk away without injury, they will immediately return to flipping them off and yelling obscenities. Talladega and Daytona are the most dangerous tracks on the circuit due to the high speeds, and this really leads to an ultimate amount of respect from the fans.

--NASCAR fans care about the drivers and the drivers care about the fans to a greater extent than they do in any other professional athlete-fan relationship. Unfortunately, with the ever-growing purses and sponsorship deals, the drivers may eventually go the way of the professional baseball, basketball, and football player. But, for now, the drivers are extremely grateful for their support and return the favor every chance they get.

--The support that fans give NASCAR drivers is most evident when you consider NASCAR camping. Talladega is yet another track where you can see fields and fields full of RV's and tents full of people cheering on their favorite race teams. I was luck to see Talladega last week when I was driving back to North Carolina. It was the Friday before a Sunday race and the atmosphere was electric. It was 9:30 in the morning and people were already partying. Alot of campers will get to a track by Wednesday (even Tuesday) before a Sunday race to start camping and hanging out with other NASCAR fans. The camping aspect of NASCAR is an amazing event within an event. If you don't like NASCAR, I bet you'd like the camping.

--Moving on to baseball. If you're a North Carolina native, you are in the center of the minor league baseball world. North Carolina is the only state to have teams from every classification of minor league baseball represented within its borders. I'll briefly talk about the stadiums in NC. If you want to really learn some incredible stuff, pick up a copy of the book: Cradle of the Game by Mark Cryan. Here are your options in North Carolina:

1. The Asheville Tourists-McCormick Field (Single-A, South Atlantic League)-quaint old ballpark that has been renovated to keep up with the new stadium trends of luxury suites. McCormick Field is one of several North Carolina stadiums to be seen in the movie Bull Durham.

2. The Burlington Royals-Burlington Athletic Stadium (Short-season A, Most simply call this "Rookie ball." It's as low as you can go)-The BAS was also seen in the movie Bull Durham. Obviously I'm partial to this one because I worked there in '06 when they were still the Indians. You MUST get to this ballpark while you still can. It is one of a very, VERY few left of its kind. Baseball has been played there for over 46 years. The old wooden seats are gone and have been replaced with aluminum bleachers and plastic chairs, but it is still as "old school" as you can possibly get. You will never see a new ballpark designed in this way again: no luxury suites (just a sponsored seat upgrade to the roof right beside the press box).

I'll go over the other 8 soon...this post is way too flippin' long

Tancredo "Shut Down": Un-American

--As always, it's important to state that we here at Muffin Matters do not discuss political stances, religion, or the inner-workings of the female brain. Let's go back to number one: "Political stances." This is not to say that we do not discuss politics. It just means, you won't find the Muffin's views posted here.
--Regardless of your political views, the recent protesting of former U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo's speech on the campus of UNC was repulsive. Invited to campus to speak about immigration in America by a conservative student group, Tancredo's speech was put to a halt by liberal activist groups. Tancredo was cursed at, hissed at, and prevented from completing his speech.
--Without question the protesting groups emabarrased themselves and the University. In a final repulsive act, a brick or rock was thrown through a window causing Tancredo's staff and police to quickly escort him out of the building. Tancredo later said in a phone call to WRAL that he would perhaps "expect this from some 'Podunk' school, but NOT North Carolina."
--Dido.
--The protesting groups clearly lost the Constitutional battle in this one. The basis of the Constitution in regards to our rights is that we have the right and freedom to do anything we please AS LONG AS we don't impose upon the rights and safety of others. The protesting factions clearly did not respect the rights of Tancredo and those that showed up to hear him speak.
--Shameful.
--Un-American.

For Update's Sake!

--It's been a while. It has been, a while. Muffin Matters is back and ready to go. First off, congratulations to the UNC basketball team on making it to the Final Four. I am ready to party on Franklin Street; make it happen Heels.
--Now. To business. Let's get right to it. First off, I still hate hippies. John Wayne is still my hero. Next, America would be better off without Alex Rodriguez, Brittney Spears, Keith Olberman, AND Bill O'Reilly. The NCAA tournament is more American than you may realize. It teaches us that there are winners and losers in this great land. Someone must fail. If nobody fails, no one will succeed. Three cheers to the NCAA basketball tournament.
--I feel bad for Barack Obama. Something tells me he's up in the Oval office all by himself analyzing everything there is to analyze with the economy, foreign policy, health care, etc. Something also tells me he's distracted by a recurring thought about being president: "Well, this blows."
--Eric Church is the best thing to hit the country music landscape since Chris Ledoux and Dwight Yokam. He's a North Carolina native, and he's the best songwriter around. Get his new album, 'Carolina' ASAP. He's also a Tar Heel fan (deal with it Wolfies).
--Lastly, I am more discouraged than ever about the perceptions of the vertically challenged. Ladies, when talking about a man below 5'10" tall it is inaccurate and irritating to use terms such as 'adorable,' 'awwwwww!,' 'Oh, he is so cute' (like a Teddy Bear), or 'he's like a little brother.' One girl recently told me that her friend wanted her to pass a message along to me. The message was, "Tell him I think is soooo adorable." The message I sent back was, "Tell her I want to kick her in the back of the head."
--That brings me to a not so bad misconception of small people. Consider first what would happen if a tall and bulky man were to tell a girl, "I want to kick you in the back of the head." Everyone would say that the large guy is just a jerk or an a-hole with a big macho-man attitude. Now, consider what happens if someone my size or smaller tells a girl that he wants to kick a girl in the back of the head. The girl involved or the messenger will likely think and say something along these lines: "He's a psycho! He is absolutely crazy." That's right my short friends, there might actually be something cool about our size...You can freak people out.
--Until next time everyone. Thanks for reading.

UNC/Duke: Half

Duke is shooting lights out. UNC not making free throws like they did in Durham. Intense and exciting. Wish you were here. Tyler Hansbrough.

UNC/Duke-First Half

--9:44: Lot’s going on. It’s hard to keep up. Awesome game, awesome crowd. Wish you were here. Tyler Hansbrough.

--As my good friend and co-worker just said, I’m exhausted, and I’m not even cheering. Now, you must understand that we want to cheer, but it’s something you don’t do on press row. It’s an age-old tradition that stinks of the most horrid poop. 3:33 left, Duke is shooting lights out. UNC’s defense doesn’t look THAT bad to me.

Muffin Press Pass-UNC/Duke: Pre-Game

--As always, first things first; the pre-game meal. We were once again treated to Bullock's Barbeque which was amazing. No surprise that they go all out for this one. Lots of big names here already: Larry Brown (taking a day-off from the Slobcats), Clark Kellog, Andy Katz, and Jim Nance. They won't forget Bullock's anytime soone. Pork and chicken barbeque, baked beans, grean beans, creamed corn, chicken tenders, fried chicken, slaw, hush puppies, sweet tea. Awesome.
--To the game: I've got bad news. Ty Lawson is not partaking in the pre-game warm-ups. This changes everything. I'm not prepared to make a prediction until I know one way or the other that he's going to play.

This Chinese/American Flag

--This evening I write with a heavy heart. Some may see the issue at hand as trivial or silly, but an event stopped me in my tracks and made me shake my head in sadness today.

--Local snowfall lead to a day off from landscaping and counseling at the YMCA, so I was free to take care of some other business. One thing on the agenda was adding some decor to the Muffin Matters office space. After a mid-afternoon workout, I stopped by Roses to look for an American flag. I didn't have to look any farther than the registers at the front of the store. They had racks set up with flags, flag stands, and other flag accessories to help one properly display their American pride. For a brief moment I thought that $1.50 was just low for an American flag that was 60 inches long and about 34 inches wide, but I quickly brushed the notion aside. The transition was quick and painless, and I quickly made it back to the office to hang up my bargain-priced wall decor.

--As I removed the flag from its package I was paralyzed by what I read on the back. "MADE IN CHINA" Slowly, I came out of my state of shock and continued doing what I intended all along. I hung the flag above my office desk and took a seat to get to work.

--But no work could be done. I was and still am confused. This Chinese/American flag makes me sad; it makes me mad; it makes me hurt. This evening, I'm not here to discuss all the social, political, and economic happenings that have led to moments like this occurring. All I know is that it's not right. You're not suppose burn American flags. You're not suppose to let the Flag hit the ground. You're not suppose to hang the Flag upside down, even for a moment. But why do we allow China to produce OUR flag?

--A Muffin Matters employee caught me at my desk actually wondering about these very things. At this very moment, I'm at that same desk, with that same posture, trying to figure things out. Am I wrong for buying this flag that was produced in China? Should I have checked the label before purchase. And if I would have, should I have put it back and gone somewhere else to find an American/American flag? This American/American flag would have undoubtedly been more expensive. That creates more questions. With money tighter than ever, should one suck up the extra cost to buy American? Is this even feasible? If not, isn't the Flag maybe one thing you should stick to your morals on? I almost took the Flag off my wall, but it's still there. It has 50 stars. It has 13 stripes. 7 stripes are red. 6 stripes are white. It's absolutely an American flag. But. It's absolutely Chinese.

--It's been a sad day in the Muffin Matters office. Moral is low. Of all things "MADE IN CHINA" this one just isn't easy to come to terms with.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/G-Tech: 2nd half

--15:58: lots of play stoppages to open up the second half. The Heels are scoring in a hurry, though, so maybe I don’t mind it that much. John Edwards isn’t the only person in attendance worth mentioning this afternoon. Behind the bench, I see Melvin Scott and Damion Grant. Fantastic…where’s Byron Sanders though? Hansbrough

--11:45: Congrats to Hansbrough for the all time free-throws made record (907). That’s great, but I want the Psycho to go off and hit 40 in this one. Oh, look, the Blues Brothers are on the court. If they stopped that act, I wouldn’t be too torn up about it.

--7:56: I'm pleased that relatively few Tar Heel fans have left during this official timeout, but I bet the mass exodus will take place at the 4 minute official timeout. It's a little dissapointing that the lead isn't growing, but you can't get everything you want. I see Surry Wood is in attendance today and that's all I've got to say about that.

--3:30: Well, I’m sure we all have our opinions about the foul on Ellington. Just glad he’s ok. Hansbrough’s day is done. Looks like my prediction will go for not, but he still had a great day. I am more impressed with the fans now. They are not really leaving now at the 4 minute official timeout. Good for them. I’m sure the players and coaches appreciate it.

--1:39: The "Blue Team" will enter soon. Good game. I'm heading to the media room early I think. Yep, here comes the "Blue Team."

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/G-Tech: First Half

Fantastic anthem: Holden Thorpe and a student affairs representative. Got a great crowd more pumped. Hey look, a hard foul on Hansbrough.

--15:43: The fouling on Tyler Hansbrough has gotten ridiculous. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he goes on a tri-state killing spree. He’s having a great game, though. John Edwards spotting: Yes, he’s here again with his brilliant hair…and today he’s sporting jeans and a blazer. Even John Edwards appreciates the Canadian Tuxedo.

--11:03: Hansbrough will finally get back into the game after sitting in front of the scorers table for minutes on end.

--6:43: Hansbrough, travel? Nah, dawg. What a sicko. A sicko psycho. In other news...how is G-tech so close? Why are they so close? I'm not having fun.

--3:36: I’m having fun now. They’ve finally managed to pull away, but we’ve learned to never take any lead for granted after MD. Hansbrough is on pace to hit the mark I projected. No big deal.

--Halftime: Finished strong. Girls soccer team is being honored at halftime for good reason…a 20th national championship. Just ridiculous. Great response from the crowd as well. And just so, I don’t give an update without saying his name; Hansbrough.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/GT: Pre-game

Let's see; first things first. The pre-game meal: Today we were treated with Qdoba's Mexican Grill. Not bad, but mostly forgettable. Good steak and chicken but questionable salsas and condiments. As always, I would have preferred Bullock's Barbeque.
-Now, as for the game. Georgia Tech is dead last in the ACC. If Carolina loses this one, they are obviously in big, BIG trouble. Tech has a couple of guys to watch in my opinion: Gani Lawal who is a fantastic rebounder and Lewis Clinch who was crucial in the upset over Wake Forest.
-Who knows what to expect from the Heels today. Coach Williams was calm and collected in his weekly press conference but obviously disappointed with the upset against Maryland. Williams seems to have put it in the proper perspective saying it isn't the end of the world, but he "didn't bring them ice cream and brownies all week, either."
-I love the 12:00 start. These use to be common place, but with TV agreements determining start times these days, the Heels are usually pushed back late in the day due to their popularity and talent. That's a huge issue in and of its self, but I don't want to get too far off topic. Let's just say TV rights and ratings are no excuse to make a student-athlete play a 9:00pm road game during the week. That's insane and absolutely shameful.
-Prediction (as if it matters at all): Carolina wins big...Tyler goes full circle in his career against G-Tech and drops 40 or more.

UNC/NC State: 2nd Half

--14:58: Things are starting to pick up for the Tar Heels’ offense. The call on Hansbrough against McCauley seemed incorrect, but it’s no biggy. I feel like the refs should have stepped in and talked to the two, though. Carolina’s baseball team was previewed during the timeout, and got a good response from the crowd. Dustin Ackley and the rest of North Carolina will officially open up the Bosh Friday night. Wish I could be there.

--11:50: North Carolina can’t quite put the nail in the coffin. I believe Wayne’s mishap on that break-away where he los the ball over the backboard was huge. It would have put the Wolfpack down 61-46. I really don’t think the Heels want to give State a chance. This could get ugly.

--7:31: Rameses the mascot is engaging in some destructive action down front. He just gave John Edwards a hard high-five and it shook Edwards’ hair around. He was not happy. Heels lead 71-59. One more unanswered bucket and I declare NC State in big trouble….Thank you Wanye Ellington 73-59.

--2:51: The Big 3 have stepped up big time. Hansbrough got beaten on the entire game without many calls. Ellington and Ty were stellar again. I love that UNC has not called off the dogs…yet. Good game overall. 89-73 with 2:17 left. 80% of the crowd has stayed. It would take a miracle for the Wolfpack now. I’m heading to the media room to party with Roy and make fun of Sidney’s jacket. I respect him, but not his jacket…period.

UNC/NC State: First Half

--14:36: Internet is shotty tonight. This could be an abbreviated Muffin Press Pass. Team looks good. Ty Lawson is filthy. Tyler Hansbrough is un-yielding. Bobby’s 3-point shot is horrendous to start. We’re pretty par for the course right now. Where’s Tyler Zeller?...As for the crowd. They’re good tonight but I really believe the crowds vs. Maryland and Miami were louder…other than the response to Ellington’s 3 point shot off the turnover.

--11:25: Forget what I said about the crowd. They’re “on” tonight. I don’t know if NC State is going to keep hanging on or what, but it seems like they’re over-matched despite the 17-17 tie…Could be one of those games.

--7:41: Welcome back Zeller. These refs are definitely letting all contact go, but they’re calling EVERYTHING else. Hansbrough looks confused right now. Moving on. With all due respect, and I am saying with all due respect: we need better looking dancers and Carolina.

--3:26: State came to play. Must give them credit. I see John Edwards with his fantastic hair in the crowd again. Things must be slow for the failed presidential candidate these days. Man, his hair really looks nice. Coach Williams constantly says he doesn’t look at the score during the first half. He may be disappointed at half-time tonight. The Heels seem to be playing fairly well, but the Wolfpack is right there.

--End 1st: Good game on both sides in the first half. It was stupid to “not expect much” from State tonight. They’ve played excellent basketball the last several games, and their confidence is sky high. Vasquez was good, but if he’s all they’ve got in the 2nd half as well, I like the Heels’ chances. If somebody else for State steps up like McCauley and Costner (even more than he has thus far), North Carolina is in trouble. Nice moment at halftime: the first Eve Carson Scholarship winner was announced and well received; obviously. Eve’s death as well as Jason’s are still extremely fresh around here.

UNC/NC State Pre-Game

The pre-game meal was DE-licious. Bullock's barbeque was on tap and I for one was in heaven. Sat by myself and gave other media members the stinky-eye to entertain myself, and then promptly left after finishing my final hush puppy.

--NC State tonight: they're playing well, but I still don't expect much. Tyler Zeller is going to do something big in his first game back...I hope.

I've Got Your Economic Stimulus: Go GREEN (and I ain't talking about energy)

--I’ve got your economic stimulus right here. I’ve got the answer. And if this answer is wrong, at least everyone will be a lot mellower.

--Maybe you’ve already figured it out, but I think the way to come out of this recession (ESPECIALLY in the South) is the legalization of marijuana. First, think of all the jobs! Everyone is going to want a piece of the new “pot”-pie. Factories would pop up across the southeast like tobacco plants back in the day. Farms would pop up all over the place too. High schoolers and college students could spend their summers making money on the pot farm…nice. Also, believe me when I say this: once marijuana is legalized, lots more people will smoke it, leading to more production, more jobs and more money. The government would benefit as well...obviously…they would see to this. Instead of spending money on the war on drugs, how about making some money from the taxes on legalized pot? Taxes on marijuana would most likely work just like taxes on alcohol and tobacco; the government would benefit greatly. Now for you serious pot-heads out there who smoke the stuff that makes you as useful and mobile as a pet rock…you may still have to go off the books to get your hash. It will be kind of like moonshine is to alcohol. The “good stuff” may still be illegal, but hey, let’s take this one step at a time.

--The Great Depression ended in the winter of 1932-1933. The government just happened to end Prohibition in 1933…coincidence? Maybe, but it’s worth considering. The bottom line to me is that the legalization of marijuana would drive commerce. People would be pumped, would they not? They would be going nuts for the idea of legalized pot. Shopping lists would be able to legally read as follows: “pick up eggs, bread, milk, fruit roll-ups, bananas, light bulbs, laundry detergent, batteries, and pot…and doughnuts, and chicken wings, and cookies, and pizza bagels, and brownie mix, and more doughnuts.”

--Again, the bottom line is that the decriminalization of marijuana would create jobs at factories and on farms. It would relieve some of the pressure on law enforcement officers who are constantly forced by the government to fight in the war on drugs. It would cause more spending. Look at how much Americans spend on tobacco and alcohol. And lastly, I’m not happy about this one, but the government could tax legal marijuana, and they could get the hell out of my wallet with their other ridiculous taxes.

--Now, I don’t want to spend too much time on what I see as our completely over-bearing and over-active government because that brings up different arguments altogether…but I believe marijuana should have been legal all along. The government must respect our rights to privacy. I don’t believe it’s their job to correct our bad habits; they should instead turn to society and families to do this. The founders of this great nation had the right idea. They didn’t even think about adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution in the beginning, because they thought it was unnecessary. A Bill of Rights could actually be harmful, because it would suggest that any rights not explicitly spelled out in the constitution were not valid. Folks, the forefathers of this nation believed the government should stay out of our privacy, and out of our lives. I’m sorry if you think that’s debatable, because it’s not. It’s also non-partisan. It’s history.

--So what does all of this mean? It means that our nation was set up in a way to give us maximum freedoms and maximum rights WITH maximum consequences if you can’t handle these freedoms and rights responsibility without imposing on the rights of others. With that, it’s time to look at some of the reasons marijuana isn’t legal yet. The main argument thrown back at us by senators and congressmen is that the THC content is higher these days…it’s too strong…it’s a gateway drug, and it will lead to more illicit activities. Stronger these days? Yes. Should that change things? I don’t think so. First of all, if it leads to the use of more illicit drugs by some, so be it. With freedom comes responsibility. As long as these users don’t impose upon the rights of others, it’s their business. If these users did engage in other illicit activities, then they would be arrested and put to trial.

--The Drug Enforcement Administration claimed in their 2006 pamphlet “Speaking Out Against Drug Legalization” that legalization of pot would cause more crime…they claimed this and did not at all prove it with facts or figures. I can tell you what I’ve seen though. The people I’ve been around who have smoked marijuana wouldn’t want to (and in some cases be able to) assault or harm a butterfly. Secondly, if they did commit more crimes (most likely the theft of tasty pastries and fried goods)…they would be arrested. So to the DEA, I say, you are all idiots. Something tells me, our law enforcement agencies could handle the “increased crime.” And I argue crime would ABSOLUTELY lessen if we legalized pot and other illicit drugs, but we don’t have time for that today.

--Another of the DEA’s primary arguments against the legalization of cannabis is that people would then use more cannabis…really? Guess what idiots? If, for some reason, hamburgers were illegal and then they were legalized…the usage of hamburgers would increase.

--Lastly, you should take this argument from me seriously because I am 150% behind the legalization of pot and I am not a user, just as I am not a user of tobacco. Alcohol? Yes I drink Miller Lite and occasionally I’ll pretend I’m John Wayne and have some whiskey...responsibly. I believe all three of these drugs should be legal and people should make their decisions as they see fit. It’s the American thing to do.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/UVA: SECOND HALF

--13:19 left: Well, the Tar Heels seem to have a little more pep in their step to start off the second half, but it’s still a pretty lousy game so far. With Duke waiting for the Tar Heels on Wednesday I think the Heels have what I would like to coin as a “hang-under” waiting for the Blue Devils. 3-pointer, and one for Wayne Wonder. Nice.

----7:56 left: I am so flipping sick of “official timeouts.” Can you imagine how much shorter games would be without these ridiculous play stoppages? Oh well. North Carolina is starting to finally stretch their lead (58-40) but it is definite now that the Heels mailed this one in. Can’t say that I blame them, but we would all like to see more intensity, right? Hansbrough has had yet another solid game, and I hope he’s got more in store the final 8 minutes. However, it seems like the UNC offense is becoming more and more perimeter-oriented. Sort of unexpected in my opinion.

--1:15 and counting left: So this one is over. The "Blue Team" is in, and I don't particularly care about their exploits. I appreciate what they do, but I don't go nuts over them hitting 3 pointers. Lackluster performance overall today. Obviously, this wouldn't get it done versus Duke. Annnnd it's final: UNC 76, UVA 61. TO DURHAM!

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/UVA: First Half

--Starting lineups are being announced. The crowd’s cheering to choke out the announcement of opposing team’s lineup is really getting old in my opinion. # 1: it’s absolutely classless and pathetic. If there’s one time on a given day that you can show respect it’s at the beginning when starters are announced. #2: It’s pointless. Everybody does it these days so it doesn’t offend or bother the opposing team. #3: It’s Virginia we’re talking about. Why do we even care enough to ruin their intro? Tip-off: Carolina ball.
--14:52 left: Same old story on defense so far. Inability to maintain good ball pressure. Bobby Frasor has better hops than I thought. He just had that break-away lay-up and had some serious air to get over the defender from the left side.
--11:42 left: Disappointing start. At this early stage, it doesn’t seem like UNC is any closer to discovering “their identity.” Another great crowd though. I’m very surprised at how good the crowds have been for games against ACC bottom-feeders, Maryland and now UVA.
--3:48 left: Terrible. They’re sleepwalking. This is one of the worst halves they’ve played all season. Shots aren’t falling and the defense is…typical. No emotion. I honestly can’t blame them for feeling a little tired, though. The ACC powers that be should be shot in the nuts for their scheduling. These guys play at 8 or 9 almost every game and then they get a 4:00 pm Saturday start. Must be a little confusing for the body. That being said, let’s get it together for Michael Jordan’s sake. And with Dean Smith in attendance Roy may not be the only one chewing into these guys’ asses during halftime.
--HALF: UNC 33 UVA 25 Ed Davis has really been good for the Heels lately. Other than that, there's nothing to be excited for I don't think. Another offensive foul taken by Hansbrough towards the end. Maybe these guys will get it together. Quite a low point total. I don't enjoy that. Tar Heel Hall of Famers were honored at the half. Frank McGuire, Larry Brown, Roy Williams (in attendance), Billy Cunningham (in attendance), Bob McAdoo (in attendance), James Worthy (in attendance), and Dean Smith (in attendance) were all enshrined in the Naismith College Basketball Hall of Fame this year. Awesome.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC vs. UVA - PRE-GAME

--The pre-game media meal was catered in by Bojangle's. I enjoyed 4 chicken supreme strips, pinto beans, a biscuit and a cup filled to the brim of Bojangle's famous Sweet Tea. Most people at the pre-game media meal are with a group, and they sit with their group. I however, come alone representing WCHL. It's just like an elementary school cafeteria. People look at you like you have two heads if you try to sit at THEIR table. It makes me want to puke. Eventually, somebody is going to catch me at the wrong time with their stink-eye, and I'm going to throw Cajun Filet sauce right in their face.

--2:40 pm -Women's head coach Sylvia Hatchell is currently holding a press conference right now in the media room. She's addressing the upcoming Duke/Carolina game and insists that they are focused and ready. Coach Hatchell is a brilliant coach and fantastic person, so hopefully the squad doesn't choke against Duke. She also wanted to "pass along congratulations to Coach Pat Summit on her 1,000th win."

--3:44 pm: Miami just pushed Duke to overtime, but it looks they’re going to fold. Everyone in the media room has given up hope and made their way out onto the court for the Heels game. The Dean Dome has a different look during day games. Without a doubt, the lighting is better during the day with the canopy roof they have. It would be awesome if the Dean Dome had a retractable roof, especially on a day like today when it’s like 70 degrees outside. Unbelievable.

--Today's matchup: As we all know, Virginia poses an extremely minimal threat to North Carolina due to their inexperienced backcourt and inefficient frontcourt...Announcement: Dean Smith is at the Dean Dome today! He's sitting right behind the basket and the student risers section. I'm glad he showed up, because there's nothing else to really say about Dave Leitao's Cavaliers. The Heels just have to challenge themselves to play better defense. Tip off in 5 minutes.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/MD- SECOND HALF

-11:17-As you can tell, it has been a pleasantly uneventful second half so far. It would be more enjoyable to me if the Heels were winning by 80 and had 130 points by now, but hey, what-evs. Ah, the Blues Brothers time-out show. I still love it, but it needs a new twist. I’ll be dog-goned; a new twist. Nobody got it, but there was a new twist. Do you remember the NCAA logos that Coach Williams kept complaining about last year because they were so slippery? Well the Blues Brothers threw down a make shift NCAA logo and proceeded to slip on it during their spectacular dunk-finale. Most people just thought they screwed it up, but I noticed. Good effort.
-8:12-Well, well another flipping time out by Gary Williams. And a full one at that. Yo, Gary, you’re going to get a timeout right after the 8-minute mark. Chill-ax bro. Seriously, chillax, or I’m going to come down there and pop that zit you call a human head.
-6:57-And there you have your official time out. UNC has 94 points with 7 minutes left…UNC has 94 points with 7 minutes left. How ‘bout that. Tyler just drained a 3. Some people frown upon Tyler popping 3 pointers, but I absolutely love it. It really says, “You thought things were bad up till now opposing team? Well take this. I’m ginormous, and I’m knocking down 3’s. Things couldn’t get much worse for you. Go home. Now.”
-5:06-Two break-away scoring drives in a row. Big slam from Ellington and then Ellington picked up Lawson's missed layup. Half the crowd is exiting as a Terrapin is fouled. For all intensive purposes, this wraps up tonight's Muffin Press Pass installment. Unless Hansbrough picks Gary Williams up and slams him through the basket, we're through here. By the way as I type we have 103 points with 4:26 left...We have 103 points with 4:26 left.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC/MD - FIRST HALF

-Warmups went well. The Heels are sporting their brilliant, new for 2009, Nike pre-game windsuits. The right sleeve has a checker-board pattern of Carolina blue and a darker blue. The left sleeve is solid Carolina blue. The front of UNC's warmups are simple and classy with a smal NC logo on the left breast. The Terrapins are wearing UnderArmour windsuits...of course. U.A. orginated out of College Park, and the company has taken care of the Terrapins for years. Stylish, but the black and red color scheme doesn't do it for me. They look like black widows, but not nearly as intimidating or freakish.
-The pre-game walk out ritual of the Tar Heels has taken on a life of its on. The Heels huddle right in front of the tunnel exit and proceed to yell and shout like rabid dogs. Perhaps it pumps them up, but they look foolish; just foolish I say. And to the Dean Dome PA audio crew: we don't need to hear this event at max volume in the stands. This ain't NASCAR; we don't need to "crank it up" here.
-I have just moved from my awesome seat right behind the basket to the upper-level press row. This was not because I was in the wrong seat or because I didn't have proper credentials, but because the writer from South Boston, Virginia weighs no less than 400 pounds...seriously...it's ridiculous.
-Game action! Ellington and Green are on...this is good. Do not fear the Turtle
-12:03: Tyler was just flagrantly fouled. Fear him. He will kill you. With his eyes. He is a freaking psycho. Well there's 2 more points for 'Brough. Why did Maryland think it a prudent idea to piss him off?
-5:05: We are on fire. I mean scorching. I haven't seen 3-point shooting this insane since I use to put in cheat codes on the "Double Dribble" Nintendo game. Oh, there's another one; atta baby Wayne. MAKE IT WAYNE! This is ridunkulous. I think we're 10-14 behind the arc now.
-End half: It’s just as disturbing to see Maryland throw up 44 points in one half as it is awesome that Carolina dropped 60. Oh well, let’s see what happens in the 2nd. Wayne Wonder scored 21 himself. What a man.

Muffin Press Pass: UNC vs. MD -PRE GAME

Welcome to the first installment of the Muffin Press Pass. Since I'm already covering the home basketball games for WCHL, I decided to cover them for MM as well. The posts will be updated while at the Dean Dome. They will be mostly non-informative and loosely fact-based...enjoy. First up tonight: Maryland comes to town for what I assume will be a good old fashioned smack down. I predict Hansbrough goes for no less than 27 points, the Heels win by no less than 20, and Gary Williams blows multiple blood vessels in his head, neck and throat area. Here we go...

Happy National Squirrel Day!

--Today, we honor America’s favorite rodent: the Squirrel. "National Squirrel Appreciation Day" was founded in 2001 by Asheville native, Christy Hargrove who is an animal rehabilitation specialist. Way to go Christy.

--The Squirrel already holds a place of honor in Muffin Matters history. Some of you may remember a post from July, in which we counted down “America’s Top-5 Animals.” The Squirrel came in at number 5. Fantastic.

--North Carolina natives are especially familiar with the squirrel, and anyone who has stepped foot on the campus of UNC has gotten their share of squirrel interaction. There are several different squirrel species in America, but those that live in the southeast are most familiar with the Eastern Gray Squirrel. Squirrels are very clever and can be trained and hand fed.

--Most little-known holidays just piss me off because they are absolutely pointless and fail to amuse me. Take for example National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day (January 11th). If you stepped in a puddle and splashed me, you wouldn’t be my friend anymore. You’d be just another hippie trying to take over the world with stupidity. How about “National Tap Dance Day” (May 25th)? If you want to celebrate this holiday by dancing around like a fairy in special “tapping shoes,” then be my guest, but I warn you: the only person to EVER somehow make tap dancing cool was Bill Cosby (you’ve got to check this video out). None of us are as cool as Bill Cosby, so we shouldn’t even try. Lastly, consider “National Punch Day.” Now some of you may be getting excited like I did when I first saw this one. But, this is not a day where you’re suppose to go around punching people that annoy you, in the face. It’s a day for frickin’ punch: [puhnch]- n. a beverage consisting of wine or spirits mixed with fruit juice, soda, water, milk, or the like, and flavored with sugar, spices, etc. Used in a sentence, “Whoever invented punch day should be stripped of their clothes, strapped down to a table, and covered with rabid SQUIRRELS.”

--Now, The Squirrel is a deserving little mammal that has earned the recognition. Too often, The Squirrel is only discussed when it’s flattened on a major highway or when it tries to eat bird seeds in your front yard. Maybe the squirrel has created havoc in your perennial flower garden, or maybe it has invaded your home as an unwelcome guest, but the squirrel has never meant any harm. It has only wanted your love. Well Squirrel, this is your day. Congratulations. You’ve earned it. From your silly alcohol abuse problems , to "Twiggy's" amazing water skiing, to your knack for delaying sporting events, we salute you.

Notes: Congrats Barack, snow, etc.

--The Muffin Matters staff has received several complaints due to the lack of presidential coverage. On behalf of the entire organization, I would like to apologize and explain. We here at M.M. celebrate the election and inauguration of Barack Obama as we will any future presidents. Our policy, from inception, has been simple and straightforward. Here at Muffin Matters, we don't discuss political leanings, religion, or the inner-workings of the female brain. It's just better this way. Once again, we do congratulate Barack Obama and wish him the best.

--One thing I will say on a personal note is that we should all get more involved in local and state elections. These elections will impact our day-to-day lives more than the presidential elections ever will. This is not an opinion; it is a fact. I read it. On Wikipedia.

--Moving on, significant snow has been forcasted in the Triangle of North Carolina for the first time this winter. I for one, am terrified. I plan on buying no less than 5 gallons of milk and 10 loaves of bread. I am going to a hardware store, and I'm going to buy chains to strap to the tires of my Sentra. My roommates and I are going to install a fireplace in our living room, and we're going to buy 3 kerosene heaters. We're also going to purchase a generator for when the power inevitably fails. We're going to round up volunteers to check on women and children during this monstrous winter weather event. If you're older than 80-years-old, I have bad news...you will not make it through this storm. As for the roadways...as soon as one-eighth of an inch of frozen precipitation falls, the roads will become impossible to travel on. Stay home, and let the professionals that drive those news vans around travel the roads. As I mentioned earlier, we don't discuss religion here on M.M., but if you aren't religious, you might want to start being so now. 2-4 inches of snow people. Don't chance it.