The Big Orange Bloggers

What If The Government Gave You One Million Dollars?

2011-05-20T21:28:00.003-04:00

So today on WBT radio on my way home from work, I heard the host John Hancock bring up a fun scenario but did not hear him elaborate on it much. I thought I would take some time and explore this question but a but further than he did. This is not a sports topic sorry but it is not as though I am blogging sports much lately. So here is the topic but with my curve on the question. On your 18th birthday, the government gives you one million dollars, what would you do with it?

Under my rules, the government gave you a million dollars so you will no longer be allowed any more aid from the government. You can never apply for any food stamps, unemployment or anything else; only tax returns if you paid more than you were supposed to make. You are only eligible for any retirement options that you paid into when you do retire. What would you do?

Would you spend it all on a top college and make sure you secured a job you could make a lot from for the rest of your life? Would you invest it in a business of your own or some form of investment? Would you work a low paying job and use the money to help buffer your everyday costs while putting some away hoping the interest would build up over the years?

What would you do?

Recent Syracuse/Orange Pictures

2011-04-09T20:31:00.009-04:00

Here are some recent pictures that I hope some will enjoy. The first two are from my daughter's wedding last weekend. She is also expecting and yes, I do have the manual "How To Grow An Orange" handy to read the baby at night before bed.

The rest of these pictures are from my trip to Syracuse last month. I learned next time do not go to Marshall Street during Spring Break and expect things to be open. I never really did the Spring Break thing so I don't always think of it as a big deal. I also had no choice as that was the weekend I had to go back up and take my grandmother home.

And of course, my trip to Tully's.

Big Orange Bloggers News And Notes

2011-03-27T10:24:00.005-04:00

- Syracuse men's basketball season is over and so is my desire to follow along with the rest of the tournament. Congrats to the players on a good season even though many of us had them cutting down the nets in Houston. The Orangewomen however are in the NIT tournament and have advanced to the quarterfinals to play at Toledo today at 2pm. Please support this team and check out Orange All Access at www.SUathletics.com to listen to the game. If you are still into the tournament and curious about the odds and trends for the games, check out College Basketball Odds .

- Great job by Dan Lyons with his posts on Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician lately with his spring football updates. He also broke some of the best news of all in the pursuit to finally restore the 44 to the Syracuse football field as more than a banner and a sideline marker. Check out Dan's post here http://www.nunesmagician.com/2011/3/25/2071081/syracuse-spring-football-day-4-season-ticket-holder-event-edition as I promise you if you have not read it yet, you will enjoy it. Dan is a current student and member of Otto's Army and a great addition to the TNIAAM team as he bleeds Orange just as much as anyone else I know and does great work breaking down the practices by position. I am glad to see so many fans on Twitter also agree that the 44 tradition should be restored one day soon and have no issue with Coach Marrone wanting to make sure it is the right person to reissue it. Maybe OrangeChuck will return to Twitter sooner than I thought.

- How about that SU men's lacrosse team? 7-0 to start out the season which includes victories over Virginia, Johns Hopkins and the team that beat them in the tournament last year, Army. Some of the games have been a little too close at times but sometimes close games make teams better as well. This team is loaded with talent like #22 Morasco and Desko as well as senior goalkeeper Galloway.

- Not sure how many of you enjoy free contests but if you enjoy entering them, check out this link for a variety of sports related items http://www.luckycontests.com/category/contests-sweepstakes/sports-events. I go to the site almost daily and enjoy some of the stuff they offer. Check out the main page if you are into more than just sporting contests as well.

- Some of you may know that I spent a weekend in Syracuse recently. Unfortunately it was the same weekend most people started their spring break activities so most things on Marshall Street were closed but it was fun exploring the names of places I hear referenced often. My family moved away from the area the summer before my senior year in high school so I never got to enjoy many of the off campus hangouts.

- During this visit, I did partake in my Tully's routine. Actually my family planned a family get together there just for me at the North Syracuse location. Sadly I did not learn that not only does Tully's have a Facebook page now (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tullys-Good-Times/342243388777?v=wall) but also that one of the new Tops Friendly Market locations on Nottingham Road has turned it into a Syracuse themed store. I guess we now have a new routine to add for my trips back home to #Syracuse.

- My last note is this, I will start caring about the NFL again when they start getting serious about solving this contract dispute. Until then, I do not care what or who said what and I am willing to enjoy college football if they can't but constant bickering does nothing to help promote the game, only makes both sides look worse.

It’s Time To Restore Our 44

2011-02-18T17:48:00.001-05:00

This is not about complaining how things were handled in the past. This is not about my being disappointed in the Syracuse administration or AD Dr. Daryl Gross. This piece is simply about why I think the time has come to bring back a Syracuse tradition and restore the #44 on the field.

I love Syracuse football. I was raised on Syracuse football and it is the biggest reason I bleed Orange. I remember hearing stories as a kid about the greats who wore #44 and it made me appreciate the program even more. Mr. Jim Brown, Mr. Ernie Davis and Mr. Floyd Little are legends and nobody will ever replace them in our hearts no matter who wears the jersey. I don’t need to see the next Brown, Davis or Little on the field; I just want to see the next Syracuse player who chooses to embrace the fans and our tradition. I have watched footage of the great ones (or as I like to refer to them as the #44 Founding Fathers) and grew up listening to stories about these men and I would NEVER disrespect them or their place in history. I simply feel that the number 44 being retired does not honor the program or these player but simply appeals to a tradition that every sports program in this country adheres to.

However at Syracuse we had a different tradition and we loved it. We showed our loved by talking about who wore it and watching someone else carry on the torch. I sincerely doubt the majority of the fans would have watched this past season and if Bailey or Carter wore the jersey, tried to compare them to the #44 Founding Fathers. Most fans would have just enjoyed watching them play while also listening to stories like I did as a kid about the legacy of this number. My grandfather was not even born in this country but when his family settled in the Syracuse area, he grew up appreciating their history and loved Ernie Davis as he told me often. If my grandfather were alive today, he would be rejoicing in the reviving of Syracuse football and encouraging me to keep those memories alive.

Check the stands in the Carrier Dome on Saturdays and count all the #44 jerseys that show up every week as a symbol of their love for this program. For that matter, check out the fans who attend lacrosse, basketball or any event (even walk around the Syracuse area on your average day) just out of respect and love for the program and school. We don’t hang it up in trophy cases with someone telling them not to touch it; we wear it proudly as a badge of honor to show that we are Syracuse and we are proud of our history. We also love seeing the players wear it on the field and for many, part of the excitement that surrounded the program had something to do with wondering who would wear the #44 this season.

I have been told that this is no longer a recruiting tool. These kids these days would not know anything about those who wore it before them. I beg to differ and think that with Syracuse Head Football Coach Doug Marrone in charge of our program right now, he is recruiting the type of players who would appreciate this honor. And even if some of them may not know about it, I promise you that the current upperclassmen understand it and appreciate it. Coach Marrone is bringing back an environment that many of us longer for when times got tough and what a better way to show Syracuse football is back than by bringing back the jersey and allowing the fans the thrill of seeing #44 back on the field.

I will end this piece by bringing up the film “The Express.” I have watched this movie several times and though there may be factual errors, it is a movie about a great man who was not only important in Syracuse history but also college football history as well since he was the first African-American to win the Heisman (though we all know Jim Brown should have won it as well). If you watch the movie, you will see the players recruiting each other (Brown to Davis and Davis to Little) and also see a discussion between “Coach Schwartzwalder and Ernie Davis” about wearing the jersey. I was not born when these interactions took place so therefore I was not present for any of the actual conversations however if passing down these traditions were so important then, why can’t these still be our traditions?

I love showing appreciation for the legends and that is why so many people took offense to the Ernie Davis statue when they found errors. We love these men and what they accomplished for our program and college football in general and take offense when others try to muddy their memories. I have no problems with statues or buildings named after them to remember them fondly. I think though that in haste to show our love and respect for these men, a tradition was ignored that this program and its fans considered sacred. Many fans were disappointed because they thought Syracuse football was being hijacked and their voices were being ignored. Coach Marrone is here now and fans feel like he is embracing Syracuse football and restoring it back to the glory days that made many of us wait in anticipation for the fall season in Syracuse. I ask you, why not help promote that by recognizing what many of Syracuse’s most passionate fans have been calling for over the past few years and RESTORE 44?

Why ROH on Showtime/HBO Would Mutual Benefit Both Parties?

2011-01-28T18:53:00.002-05:00

It has come to my attention recently that Ring Of Honor Wrestling’s deal with HDNet is ending. As someone with Time Warner Cable, I will admit that this channel was not available to me and so I did not watch their shows but I did check out internet videos from time to time. I may not know every wrestler on their roster but there is one thing I know, they have a great in ring product that many fans do not have access to on a regular basis. This made me wonder, why shouldn’t Showtime or HBO consider offering professional wrestling programming and if they do, wouldn’t ROH be the best fit?

Showtime and HBO feature boxing and MMA on their channels as well as a wide variety of shows and movies and I think this would be a great addition. I would not have an issue if TNA or WWE made such a jump but with ROH providing more in ring product than those two and less soap opera drama, ROH could appeal more to the same demographics who enjoy MMA and boxing. ROH has a very passionate fan base and offer great in ring talent/matches that would attract even the most casual of fans if they had access to the product. And no need to go out and sign big names just to make a splash, do what ROH does best and offer some of the best and hungriest wrestlers in the world and feature great matches.

Just think about how this could benefit ROH, the premium network that made the deal with them and wrestling fans for just a minute. ROH would get a channel that every cable or satellite service carries and thus get more exposure to their product. This would also benefit Showtime/HBO because I believe passionate wrestling fans would look into adding their channel to their cable/satellite packages and with the proper advertising/push, those numbers could grow in time. Showtime is a CBS company and both sides may benefit from cross promotion as well to build interest from those who are not already watching but might enjoy action packed shows. Fans would benefit because for less than the cost of a monthly pay per view, you not only get the ROH shows but you have access to the programming they already offer which in most cases includes multiple channels as well as movies, series and sports.

This would not hurt any credibility on either side and I feel as though it could be a great way to change the way wrestling is viewed by many. If ROH wanted to run pay per views, they now have a partner to do so but my hope is they would appreciate that fans paid for the premium channel and keep it to a limited amount per year if they get such a deal (this also makes the pay per views have more of a special feel when they do). I do not work for either party so I am not sure what it would take to make such a deal or what changes would have to be made to the product/company but I definitely see nothing but a bright side to this as a fan.

How I Grew To Be An Orange Fan

2011-01-22T19:10:00.003-05:00

I am not sure if I have ever told this story but I thought I would share it either way. Many may not know this but I am not a Syracuse alum but someone who wishes I were. I love Syracuse so much that I love everything orange in life. I drive an orange car, my favorite candy is orange slices, 70% of my wardrobe is orange and my family has learned that if you want to get me a cheap gift, lean towards something orange.

When I was a young kid, I grew up around mostly casual Syracuse fans who were fair weather at best. They would root for SU and boast when they won but say they expected it when they lost. Me, I was the kid who tried to defend them but I was also the kid who's opinion did not matter because very few outside my family knew I existed.

I do however remember going to games with my family and watching Syracuse football with my grandfather who spoke the praises of the guys who wore 44. Needless to say, I tend to be more passionate for football than any other sport but I would watch Syracuse play a ping pong championship just to support the school.

I remember being a kid and sometimes I would sneak off to the library (I am 38 so we didn't have internet and it wasn't too far from home that I could not ride my bike). Many times while there I would look for Mark Twain books or sports biographies of playing I liked to watch on television. The one thing I never told anyone is, I would also look up Syracuse college to try and learn more about the only college I really cared about.

When I was younger, I had an issue paying attention (no matter how hard I would try) and studying. Many in my age group will confirm that in our day, that meant you were lazy and just not trying hard enough for most. I think the reason I was good at math was it required the least amount of studying and just simply applying practical practices. I would study often but my mind wandered no matter what the subject (sometimes even Mark Twain books I would have to reread as I missed important details before).

At some point during my high school years, I just simply gave up on what it would take to become a Syracuse student but remained a faithful fan. I would take the Post Standard or Herald American and look up stats of guys who once played at Syracuse and now played in the pros, I would cut out Syracuse stories in the paper and hang them up. But I knew I did not have what it took to get in and had no idea what I wanted to major in so why waste my time trying?

Please do not mistake this post as some form of plea for sympathy because I have lived a life that has it's ups and downs and would not change much of it for anything because I believe it all happened for a reason. My 4 years in the Army (2 of which were spent in Germany) made me appreciate Syracuse even more being so far away and not able to see every game. I have a 22 year old daughter that I adopted and 17 year old stepson who I would gladly give my life for that I would never have been able to know had my life not gone the way it did. As Garth Brooks once sang, "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

Some people have multiple teams they enjoy following and I have some other teams in professional sports I follow and like at times but nothing takes the place of Syracuse Orange. I spent many years hearing the stories, dreaming of attending and reading as much as I could about Syracuse and that passion still burns inside of me at times. I never realized how much I enjoyed writing until I was an adult and maybe that may have made the difference but regardless, this is my life.

I may not know what Schine looks like inside or the best bar on Marshal Street to get in with a fake ID but very little excites me as much as driving back to Syracuse for a visit and off in the horizon as I head down 81N is the glorious view of the Carrier Dome and I know I am home. I may not have attended a class or have a degree from Syracuse University but I assure you that I live, breathe and bleed Orange. And when the good Lord says it is my time, I hope those who love me will remember this and bury me the same way I live my life, surrounded by as much Orange as possible.

Thank you to those who share this journey with me and to those who have not yet but will. GO ORANGE!

Let The Doug Marrone For Coach Of The Year Campaign Begin Now

2010-10-31T08:34:00.003-04:00

Last night on Twitter, I noticed a movement that during this political environment, I can fully endorse. I am not sure who to credit first but noticed that @Live315, @asmcnama and @PJASchultz all were being RT'd in this matter so I will let them fight out out either in some mud or a steel cage, whichever they see fit. No matter who started it though, I think many should start to support their idea and that is, Syracuse Head Football Coach Doug Marrone should be a leading candidate for National Coach of the Year.

This is not just Syracuse Orange fans drinking the Kool-Aid or some hyperbole based on one big win. After reading Brent Axe's posts on syracuse.com(starting with this one http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/index.ssf/2010/10/su-cincinnati_recap_this_that.html ), I realized he had the stats to justify this contention. According to Brent, "Syracuse is 6-2 for the first time since 2001, when they finished 10-3.Syracuse is 3-1 in Big East play for the first time since 2004. Syracuse beat Cincinnati for the first time since 2004. Adding to a streak of beating South Florida for the first time ever and beating West Virginia for the first tine since 2001." And Sean at www.nunesmagician.com noted that Coach Marrone is now 10-10 as head coach at Syracuse and noted it took Coach Robinson 4 years to achieve that goal. Greg Robinson finished his 4 year tenure at Syracuse with a record of 10-37 overall and 3-25 in the Big East and yet, Coach Marrone has those 10 wins already in only his second season as head coach and matched those 3 BE wins this season alone with 4 more games to go (3 of them in the Big East) and the toughest part of their schedule in their rear view mirror and I do not foresee them sleeping on the rest of these games either with Coach Marrone at the helm.

How many of you have heard the little snide remarks from people when they talk about Syracuse being bowl eligible and having a shot at a BCS game should Pitt fall a bit and they win out? My first instinct is to boycott their sorry shows and write them a long email about it but then I remembered, they are finally talking about Syracuse being relevant again, even if it is while laughing. The fact that the fans and media are talking about this after how far this program fell is reason alone to mention Coach Marrone's name whenever someone wants to discuss who has done the best job coaching this year.

According to the experts, Syracuse has to win one more game in order to be bowl eligible, which hopefully they can do at home against Louisville this upcoming weekend. If this team goes from the obscurity to playing in a bowl game, to me that is more worthy of being coach of the year than those who were expected to win a BCS championship meeting expectations. Coach Marrone and this staff and players are above and beyond what most expected to see this year (I predicted 8 wins but expect now they could even surpass that and made my predictions from the heart, not my head).

As you may have read in earlier posts, I personally campaigned and even almost started up a website with my support for Turner Gill when Robinson was fired. I sit before you humbled and ask Coach Marrone's forgiveness as he has demonstrated he deserved this job beyond a shadow of a doubt. He won me over with the speech posted on my blog yesterday but continues to amaze me every game even still with his coaching on the field and his demeanor off it. And now I think it's time he win over the rest of this country and be awarded this honor for restoring a program many buried only a few short years ago. So Syracuse fans, show your pride and let's spread the word that in this election year, we want to see one man who deserves our vote get it and that is "Doug Marrone For Coach Of The Year".

Go Orange!

My Post Game Speech If I Were In The Syracuse LockerRoom After SU #BeatCincy

2010-10-30T16:43:00.004-04:00

Today, we are one win away from being bowl eligible. Today we are 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big East conference. Today we celebrate our third Big East road victory this season(all of which were homecoming games for our opponents). Today we will head to Varsity and flip another banner. Today is another day for those who believed in this team and wore their Syracuse Orange with faith even when they were mocked for doing so. Today is a stepping stone on our way to rebuilding our program and regain the respect and dignity this program once had. Today is a day fans will look back on this team as more than a fluke or a lucky win but instead see into their hearts and determination and know they are worth your love. Today is for every fan who didn't leave early out of disgust or make negative comments publicly when times got rough(though at times were discouraged because they knew we could do better) knew that when SYRACUSE football was back, our faith would be justified. Today is the day Coach Marrone and his staff show those who doubted they could do it, thought they didn't have the resume to believe in, or doubted his emotion in leading this team were proven wrong (including myself who campaigned heavily for Turner Gill until Coach Marrone won me over with this halftime speech during basketball season).

Today, we the fans say thank you again for your blood, your sweat and your tears when many "experts" picked you to finish last or next to last in the standings. Today we hold our heads high, party like a rock star and know in our hearts that we bleed Orange and will enjoy our lives today because of you. I have said it before but you can never say it too much when you truly mean it and today I say to you Syracuse University, Coach Doug Marrone and the staff and players on this football team...THANK YOU!

GO ORANGE!

And now today's party song:

Thank You Syracuse

2010-10-23T19:37:00.004-04:00

I was going to do my first video ever but have decided to put it off for now until I work out a few details. Instead, I will write here what I had planned to say.

Thank you to those of you Syracuse fans who have stuck by this team through thick and through thin. Those who did not look for every chance to bash them after a loss but understood sometimes a team loses a game and it's not always how we want it to be. Those who check out the blogs and Twitter and make being a Syracuse fan fun. And thank you to those who like me wore our Syracuse merchandise for the past few years and endured the abuse and ridicule who can now hold our heads high with a smile knowing we our headed in the right direction.

Thank you to the players on this team who work their butts off for us fans. You guys fight hard every game to bring two things back to this team many of us thought was missing, tradition and respect. I won't single out anyone or any side of the ball because I think it is a team sport and a team effort so thank you to all of you whether you start or not. I assure you that every single one of you is why I bleed Orange and I am grateful for your sacrifices and will support you with anything I possibly can.

Thank you to Coach Marrone and his staff who has brought honor and competitive football back to a once proud university that struggled over the past few years. Some might challenge your passion or your resume but the true fans know you are on of us and want this team to succeed even more than all of us. Anyone who watched this WVU game and still questions your passion was not a true fan to begin with because a true fan knew it that day you took off your jacket during the basketball game and spoke to us from your heart in the Carrier Dome.

I was raised in the Syracuse area. I have loved this team for as long as I can remember and over the years, done my best to support and defend them even when the times were tough. I bleed Orange to the point that surrounding myself with all things orange makes me feel more comfortable. When I die, it is my hope that I am buried Orange (preferably my 44 jersey my brother gave me years ago and I treasure every time I wear it).

I have experienced a lot of heartache in my life off and on for the past few years and even been fortunate in other things. The one constant is my enjoyment of all things Syracuse Orange. I believe all things happen for a reason and I believe we went through the pain to further appreciate the road we will begin to climb to restore this program into what we Syracuse fans know it to be. I believe that even when your team struggles, you stand beside them just as you do in victory. So on behalf of myself and hopefully many other Syracuse fans I say to Syracuse University and especially the current football players and staff, THANK YOU.

Go Orange!

Which Would You Choose, The Better Video Or The Better Song?

2010-09-08T20:57:00.002-04:00

So I was researching some videos to possibly do a entry on fun songs that remind me of Syracuse games when I came across a dilemma. Did you know that there are actually two songs titled "Beerrun"? One is a country version with Garth Brooks and George Jones while the other is a comedy version I remembered from my days listening to Bob And Tom in the mornings. The problem is, though I like country music, the Brooks/Jones collaboration does nothing for me but I love the video that YouTube user "royboy1993" did for the song and most resembles my thinking but the other song is a lot better in my opinion with a lame video. Here are the two videos and tell me which do you think is better, the video of the country song or the song with the lame video? You decide.

Better Song, Lame Video:

Better Video, Least Entertaining Song:

How I Spent My Summer Vacation In Syracuse

2010-08-02T12:04:00.019-04:00

Picture courtesy of Syracuse New Times

How I Spent My Summer Vacation In Syracuse
By Orange Chuck
I have not blogged in a while but this seemed like a fun way to restart it. Some of you may know that I just returned from trip for five days to Syracuse for my cousin Tim’s wedding, though two of those days were mostly travel days as we drove the entire way. Sadly, I can only manage short vacations/trips to the ’ Cuse these days so I try to fit as much as I can into those trips. So here is a brief description of my trip along with some fun pictures that were taken along the way that I hope you all enjoy.
The drive there was about 12 1/2 hours long and we left China Grove, NC at about 4:30 am Wednesday morning. Along with me for the ride would be my mother, my nephew and my 21 year old daughter. In case you have never driven it, interstate 77 to 81 is a long drive but it is well worth it when you see the Carrier Dome off in the distance of 81 and know you will be turning off onto 481 (well that and what ‘Cuse fan does not love seeing THE Dome).

When we first got to my grandmother's house in Bridgeport, we enjoyed some welcome greetings as well as some pizza from Sami's Pizza. It's always great to see your family when you don't get to see them very often and the pizza was ok but not as good as usual. I also enjoyed seeing one of my best friends ever from my childhood Shelly, who was also my junior prom date (and who looks even more beautiful now than she did when she convinced me to go to my prom and I jumped at the chance 20 years ago). I also got to see my cousin's 4 month old baby for the first time in person, though I had to spend time trying to convince Shelly that kidnapping was illegal no matter how cute the baby is. We did not get in until close to 5pm so needless to say this was the extent of our first day in NY.

Thursday was our "free day" as there were no plans for any wedding events. So what major plans were in store for our off day? After resting for half the day, I prepared my daughter for a Tully's meetup with Shelly and her brother Tim for dinner. I know me eating at Tully's will shock very few who will read this but I had to mention it since we had a great time. Tim is retired from the Army now and I had a great time with both catching up with an old friend and educating my daughter and nephew on just how big of a geek I was back in the day (which also probably will not shock many who read this).

After some delicious Tully's Tenders at Tully's in Liverpool, we headed off to meet Shelly's friend Renee and we were headed to Papermill Island in Baldwinsville (otherwise known as the B'ville T Party according to the Syracuse New Times). The band featured was named Square Pegs and butchered such greats as Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas and Tiffany. The good news is, the Bud/Bud Light were only $4 a piece and cold but even better, I had a great time catching up more with Tim about his family, his trips to Afghanistan and how much he still enjoys picking on his sister and Renee. I do not go out and socialize often but I have to admit, I would do it more often if these two were around. Sadly, we had to split ways early since my nephew Josh is only 18 and the bar we tried to go back to only allowed 21 and up at that point in the night, we headed home for the night (we had a beer or two at the place earlier in the day with no issues but missed the cutoff later to sneak him back in).

The next day did start off with some Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. We had a wedding rehearsal and dinner planned for the evening so my daughter, my uncle, the groom and I had to make some stops early in the day to some local Syracuse hot spots (in my opinion anyway). Our first destination was actually the adult bookstore in Mattydale to help complete the "honeymoon kit" my grandmother makes for her grandchildren when they get married because really, what is a honeymoon kit without midget porn? For those who wondered, my daughter and the groom stayed in the car while my uncle showed me where to find the video as nobody knows adult book stores like Uncle "Harold".
So after picking up the video and receiving a text message from Shelly saying she was getting er nails done at the same place and time as the bridal party a mere mile away from us at Unicorn Nails, we proceeded to Hoffman's Hot Haus in Mattydale. I love Hoffmans German Franks almost as much as Tully's Tenders so this is a must. So much of a must in fact that when we left Hoffmans after a brief lunch, we headed off to the greatest grocery store known to man to purchase more Hoffmans, Otto treats, and salt potatoes for the trip home. By the way, if you are questioning the name of this grocery store, you have obviously never been to Syracuse and enjoyed the luxury of a Wegman's for yourself and I beg you to try it one day soon.

After leaving Wegmans, I enjoyed showing my daughter some of the spots I grew up in and around such as my houses and schools and of course Gateway Park. At which point, we then proceeded home to get ready for the rehearsal because according to the itinerary the bride printed off for the whole wedding party, we would need to be on our way soon to the community church on Erie Blvd. near Shoppingtown Mall. And yes, she had an hourly itinerary breakdown as to what everyone should be doing. However if you knew the groom and his father especially, you would print one off for them as well even if it included a reminder not to bring his ball cap to the church for the wedding and clean his ears.

This is the house I grew up in many moons ago.

The rehearsal went well and quick and we learned that if the weather was nice on Saturday, it would be held outside in the church patio area. Of course, if you thought hanging out at the church had saved your soul, you were about to be corrupted by the previously mentioned "honeymoon kit" which would be opened to display in front of family and friends at the rehearsal dinner at Borio’s in Cicero. Those of us who have received these kits look forward to this moment to see what new items my grandmother had planned for this particular kit. And for those still reading this who think my video contribution would be the most controversial item of the night, I would point to the fact that the last gift to be opened was in fact a swing for the bedroom with instructional pictures on the box (though the bride and groom decided it may be best not to pack the swing for their honeymoon in Jamaica).

We then went home to crash for the night and sleep before the big day because even though it was a 3pm wedding, we knew it would come quickly. And of course we were right as bright and early the next morning, Uncle Harold went to get some beer while friend of the family Joe brought his homemade concoction known as Lady Poison. I did not sample this drink as it seemed to be for the wedding party but judging by the reactions of those who chugged from the thermos, it was a mixture of delicious and "holy crap, what did you put in there". Those who know Joe or our weddings in general, know that it is simply a rite of passage that not only Joe bring the drink but bring the fun as well, though I have been told that his 4th of July parties will put hair on a freshly waxed chest and turn a Buddhist monk into Bluto from Animal House. So needless to say, the drinking was well underway before the tuxedos were being put on and before the limo showed up at 1:15 to pick up the males in the wedding party.

The wedding was beautiful even though it required me to read a poem in front of everyone. For those unaware of my current situation, this was not the easiest of tasks but I had help writing it and had done this before so that made it a bit easier. And after the courageous people decided to sign away the rest of their lives, it was off to the local Tim Horton's as my grandmother assured me that it was better than Dunkin Donuts and we had 2 hour window between the wedding a reception. So I did enjoy an Apple Fritter and bottled water, which were better than I had received during recent Dunkin Donuts visits in North Carolina and New York.

After Tim Horton’s and a short visit back to my grandmother's house, it was off to the Legion Hall in Cicero for the reception to see just how good drunk white people can dance to music from the 60's up until current songs on the radio (though I was disappointed to hear my daughter had never heard the Humpty Hump until this night). My dancing these days is limited due to bad knees but my enjoyment was plentiful watching my daughter dance with my cousins and nephew as well as Shelly and others. Luckily, attempts to get my daughter so drunk she would get sick were unsuccessful but I do think that with help from Shelly, we succeeded in getting my daughter addicted to Fuzzy Navels as apparently this bartender made some very good one (though we learned she does not care much for Mudslides or Sex On The Beach and I doubt Rum and Coke will ever be her drink of choice).

Note To Self: when attending a wedding with bar, they may not accept debit/credit cards for mixed drinks and you should bring cash with you (thank you Shelly for being smarter than your friend and I owe you dinner big time at Logan's).

The evening finally wound down as I said goodbye to Shelly and the bride and groom and the wedding party as well as other family members because we would be leaving too early the next morning to say goodbyes at that time. It is never easy to say goodbye to great people when you truly never know when you will see them again but sometimes life is not easy so that is why when you can, you should take the time to enjoy it as much as possible. And I did leave the wedding sober for those curious but mostly in the event that if my daughter was unable to drive home the next morning to North Carolina, I could fill in.

We left the next morning after a big breakfast cooked by my loving grandmother and aunt and headed out on our long journey back to reality and away from the place I still call home. As of this writing, my knees are still sore but the memories of the trip overpower any discomfort I may feel. I would like to thank my loving family for making this trip so special as every time I come to visit it is always great. I would also like to thank my friends Tim and Shelly who made a hermit feel good about getting out and around and not missing a beat when it comes to reliving some great times we had years ago and making new memories. I would like to thank my parents for helping to pay for the trip and making it possible as I never would have done it without them. I would like to thank my daughter for being herself and being the pride and joy of my life that made this trip even more fun, especially aiding in our picking on my poor nephew who learned you must be 19 to purchase cigarettes in Onondaga County.

And last but not least, thank you Syracuse, New York for being my home away from home that proves you can go home anytime you want and still enjoy every minute of it. Whether it’s the family and friends or the memories or the great local businesses like Tully's, Wegman's, Hoffman's, and that book store in Mattydale for having midget porn readily available for a newly wedded couple to enjoy, you are greatly admired and missed while I am away. I left many businesses out this trip but I am hoping to afford round 2 during the Christmas season and maybe sneak in some that I did not get to enjoy such as a game at the Carrier Dome, try Dinosaur BBQ for the first time, and hopefully relive some great times and burgers at Zebb's. Syracuse is my home and one day I hope to return when the circumstances are right but for right now, I am looking forward to my return visit as soon as possible (and counting down the days until a couple friends come to visit us in NC, which hopefully will be Labor Day weekend). Home Sweet ’Cuse.
GO ORANGE!

Here is the wedding poem I wrote for those curious to read it:

Love Means-Tim and Michelle's Wedding
Sometimes we take love for granted or ignore even the signs we see
So I wrote down some definitions to explain what love really means
Love means going the extra mile just to make her smile
Love means waiting your turn for the bathroom can take a while
Love means you might miss an upcoming UFC event for a date night
Or going out early enough so they can be home in time for the fight
Love means a small gift of appreciation even when it's not a holiday
Love means saying "I'm Sorry" and knowing what else to do or say
Love means forgiveness is understanding we all make mistakes
Love means forgetting is harder when you do it again and your apology's fake
Love means when they are hurting, you comfort them and feel their pain
Love means knowing if you were hurting, they would do the same
Love means their "just woke up" look still looks good to you
Love means you sacrifice to make their dreams come true
Love means one look or smile can make the worst days better
Love means allowing him to enjoy his old ripped up SU sweater
Love means acccepting that her cold feet will wake you up at night
Love means that his snoring won't start the next day off in a fight
Love means you are their security blanket when life has them stressed
Love means saying "You look beautiful" no matter how she is dressed
Love means you did not notice that girl on the beach in the bikini
Or that muscle bound Brad Pitt twin stepping out of the Lamborgini
Love means every meal was delicious and even better than mom makes
Love means being grateful that she is the first view you see when you wake
Love means going out of your way to help when they are sick with the flu
Love means saying "I Love You" comes not just from your mouth but your heart too
Love means you are better off with this other person in your life
And you love them so much, you decide to become husband and wife

If You Love Your Country And Are Not A Communist, You Will Buy This Book

2010-05-24T19:00:00.003-04:00

First things first, check out this link to read why you should buy this book: How To Grow An Orange: Now On Sale! - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Then balance your checkbook, brown bag it to lunch for the week and save up your $10 to purchase this book (which you can do here: Smashwords - How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way To Brainwash Your Child Into). For some, that may mean just being grumpy to the other half and some co-workers for a few days and cutting out some coffee in your work week. However you can do it, do it as soon as possible.

Each year, thousands of children make the unfortunate mistake to attend schools like Rutgers, UConn and even Georgetown. With this book, you can help your child avoid such sad future choices and that is worth the price alone. The great poet Whitney Houston once said, "I believe the children our are future...teach them well and led them lead the way." Follow her lead (though just say no to drugs because if you have heard her sing lately, she sings like a Hoya does, well anything) and help to educate our future generation the proper way. Socrates would be proud of you.

If you still are not sure, please let the greatest college basketball coach in the history of the sport explain why you should trust Sean to help mentor your children along with you and your spouse/baby mama:

BUY IT TODAY OR YOU WILL BE LISTED AS A HOYA SYMPATHIZER!

My Top 12 Syracuse Fantasies

2010-05-22T13:45:00.002-04:00

I may have a couple interviews in the works over the next couple weeks and even a couple ideas finally I can get around to now that I have adjusted to this computer but in the meantime, here is a fun top 12 list to enjoy to help you pass the time(also please enjoy the newest edition to the page, an awesome sketch by @MBorkowski).

Top 12 Syracuse Fantasies I Have Had Over The Years:

12. Running into a SU coach in public and saying Go Orange! (the only one actually accomplished years ago when I ran into Coach P at BJ's back when he coached SU football and the guy was awesome).

11. Nickname a child either Pearl or 44.

10. Sex anywhere in the Carrier Dome but would settle for a wedding proposal if I ever got married again which I am not thrilled at the prospects of doing right now.

9. Interviewing one of many SU sports figures from my childhood for my blog (Sherman Douglas or Pearl would be the tops).

8. Winning the lottery so I can get season tickets for every SU sport and bring along some fans who otherwise would not be able to get tickets.

7. A Syracuse based TV show that uses a lot of Orangemen either current or past (maybe an Otto based Saturday morning cartoon teaching kids moral lessons every episode).

6. Having Otto or something SU related painted onto my car or my house.

5. Becoming a celebrity just so I can receive a honorary degree from Syracuse University.

4. Winning one of those Dunk and Bright orange recliners during a Syracuse game.

3. A Syracuse tattoo (which I may do one day if I can decide on the right design and location).

2. Tully's opening up a sports bar in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and keeping the Syracuse sports layout.

1. Being Otto for a game.

Top 15 Things The Big East Should Do To Keep SU And Not Become Extinct

2010-05-12T17:58:00.003-04:00

I will admit up front, I am pro-Big East. I do not want to see them fall apart. I do not want to see Syracuse end up in the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC or whatever other conference they may get rumored to join this week. I do however think that a majority of the issue could be resolved if the Big East would be proactive and stop letting people attack them without a fight. Here are the 15 things I think would help make the Big East more relevant and in some cases, appeal more to the Syracuse folks. Yes some are for my own cheap amusement but some I think are steps they need to explore.

Top 15 Things The Big East Should Do To Keep SU And Not Become Extinct

15. Split football into two divisions and have a Big East Football Championship Game either in a neutral city or rotating cities among Big East home towns.

14. Paint the field for the championship game orange.

13. Allow the athletes to be paid whatever compensation someone is willing to pay them.

12. Make the games more interactive by showing tweets at the bottom of the screen that use the hashtag #BigEastFootball and maybe have the announcers comment on them occasionally.

11. Rename New York City "South Syracuse" since it will appeal to SU administration and some of the so-called experts thinks its a home field advantage already. This will help ensure we get more "Syracuse" recruits.

10. Sell the naming rights for the Big East to the highest bidder. The Pizza Hut Supreme East? The Big Nike?

9. Offer Dr. Gross and Dr. Cantor executive jobs for life working for the Big East including a house in every Big East city loaded with Dome Dogs, Otto's snacks, and Cristal (and a few Labatt's Blue). Also rename all post season tournaments The Dr Daryl Gross Invitational.

8. Get Matt Park to do the weekly televised football game of the week along with Jim Brown and some of the Citrus TV students to help out in studio and on sidelines.

7. Night games will feature a strip show at halftime.

6. Make either Jim Boeheim or Coach Mac the Big East commissioner in waiting.

5. Tell Villanova they have 3 years to develop their football program into a BCS level contender and tell Georgetown, Seton Hall, and St. Johns to explore their options now or be left out when the league gets better.

4. Make Notre Dame a lucrative offer to join the football conference and inform them that if they turn it down, take all other sports with them on their way out the door.

3. Reach out to the military academies and make all three an offer to join (Army, Navy and Air Force). Getting all three will boost their rivalry games and make it a part of the Big East tradition as well as offer competitive games.

2. If you thought 3&4 would help, I am also going to include further EXPANSION ideas such as teams like ECU, UNC-Charlotte, Boise State, and maybe a Texas school or any other credible teams either developing their programs or with reputable names to join within the next 2-3 years. If it takes big money and the team is on the right track, spend it and it will pay off later when the Big East not only still exists but is a factor in college football again.

1. Explore the possibility of signing on with a network that already has major cable/satellite distribution and make that your premiere network instead of investing in the Big East channel. It will be cheaper and this rate, you will just need to maybe help get them more exposure, especially if its someone like SNY who has a good regional network but needs help getting a better deal with more cable and satellite companies. Many of these ideas may cost a lot of money but it's better to find avenues to get the money now than lose money later when teams leave and you are a step away from being a Division III conference.

The SOB's Continue As I Present To You: Best Junior

2010-04-22T18:29:00.003-04:00

Thank you for the hand off Jameson.

If you followed the link here, you know what this post is all about. We, the bloggers of Syracuse University sports, are awarding those associated with Syracuse basketball with our annual awards (though this is my first time involved since I have a tendency to cease to exist when they come around). I pondered long and hard how to make this a fun build up with suspense and excitement but the truth is, I have the Best Junior and with all due respect to Rick Jackson who had a good season, the voting was unanimous. The winner and new Junior champion with 12 votes is...Wes Johnson.

Here are the blogger comments as to why they all voted this way:

Sean at TNIAAM started it off by saying: "Wes Johnson - What can you say about the Big East Player of the Year that hasn't already been said? Wes was a star, capable of taking over when he wanted but playing team ball as much as possible. A consummate teammate and the kind of guy you love rooting for. He will be missed."

Syracusan from Cuse Country compares Wes to Carmelo with this explanation: "Wes Johnson was first team All-American and third in the national POY voting. Both of those honors exceed what Carmelo Anthony received. Granted that says more about how poorly the national media and awards institutions handled Melo's accomplishments than it does about Wes, but it's enough to make this category a no-brainer."

Andrew from The Three Idiots shared this very poignant and brief statement: "Wes Johnson. No explanation needed." Indeed sir, indeed.

Brian from CuseOrange says: "Wes Johnson - it's not often that a lottery pick arrives via transfer, and we were treated to a magnificent season by The Corsicana Kid. The recovery from his fall took longer than I thought it would, but I'll remember Wes for his highlight-reel plays, crazy leaping ability and efficient scoring. It's sad to see him go but I can't wait to see him flourish in the league."

The Glaude from HoyaSuxa shares his view as only the legend can: "WESGODDAMNJOHNSON: The dude pinwheeled over a Providence player and didn't die. He defies medical science and human physics. Plus, he has excellent teeth."

Dan "Cheesehead" Lyons from Bleacher Report gave this view from his seat (and this is from a game who never missed a game at the Carrier Dome that I know of): "Wes Johnson: Not even a contest, Wes was our best player all season, even with some injury issues, and played some lights out basketball all season. He can run, he can board, he can shoot, the man does it all. Without question the most efficient offensive player I've seen in recent memory, I really wish he would've looked to score a little more at times. I'd love to have Wes for one more year, but we all know that we got our fill in 2009-10 and should be thankful."

Brian Harrison, the man from Orange 44 who could close down a Syracuse bar almost as well as any other blogger (if Glaude is home sick) stated: "Wes Johnson: Easily the best player on the floor most nights versus most teams. He could put up big numbers even though he only shot the ball a few times a game. When he was healthy almost the entire court was in range for him, and he had a surprising ability to get teammates involved in the scoring with some nifty passes. Easily one of the top college basketball players this season."

Jameson from Bleacher Report, who with his great work should be picking whatever job he wants after graduation, was accurate as usual with this assessment: "Wes Johnson: It's a shame he didn't injure his hand and lower body because he could have had one of the best seasons in Orange history."

DA from Orange Fizz tries to get all technical on us like this: "The NCAA's transfer eligibility rule. Not technically "a junior," but without it Wes would've been a member of last year's Orange team. Could you imagine how poisoned he would've been trying to share the floor with Devo and Paul Harris? Our nice guy from Ames would've been standing on scorer's tables and whining about minutes. "

Steve from CuseOrange says he was infected or something or other: "Wes Johnson. When healthy there was no one better. Maybe could have been POY had he not been brought back to earth in the Providence game. Played with a joy that was infectious."

Josh from Cuse Country defends Rick but just like the rest of us, knew who the better junior was: "As solid a season as Rick Jackson had, there is no possibility that anyone other than Wes Johnson goes in this slot. What a treat he was to have around. Undeniable talent, a great work ethic and (by all accounts) a fabulous teammate. The first guy since 2003 to show up in his first year and be *better* than advertised"

That is all for the comments about this issue. Please start off your day tomorrow at 9 am by visiting the Idiots we all love...Three Idiots on Sports who will present the award for the Best Photo. Good night and thank you for stopping by. Go Orange!

Exposing Syracuse Bloggers And Twits

2010-03-31T18:27:00.003-04:00

My name is...well let's just say my name is Greg for now. I have hacked into this account and I am writing this because of stuff I have read over the past couple years on these "blogs" and "tweets". These Syracuse "fans" displaying nothing but their arrogance when we know they have skeletons in the closet as well and frankly, I am sick of it. Let's see how they like being called out while in the public eye and get a dose of their own medicine.

My response to this blatant and uncalled for exercise in ego is to one by one, call them out. I will research all of you within the Syracuse community who dares to snub your nose at others and expose them for the frauds that they are. Today, I plan to start with this genius who calls himself "Orange Chuck" which to me resembles the lack of imagination and intelligence that his blog shows on a regular basis.

After interviewing a few solid sources and reading this crap he refers to as a blog, it is my contention that this person is actually a high school freshman (and not even an intelligent one at that) who works part time as a busboy at the Tully's in Liverpool, NY and not the 37 year old North Carolina resident he portrays online. Have you read his stuff? He is probably in a 6th grade level English class struggling to get a D for a grade.

I can confirm as well that pictures he post online actually belong to his father that he found posted on a dating website called lovablelosers.net. He constantly mentions Tully's in the hopes that one of his managers will see his determination and promote him to a waiter position. Even pictures of him eating a delicious Tully's Tenders Platter was merely his father there to support him on his first day of work there he hoped to use to make your mouth water so bad you would have to stop in for your own plate. And whilst on the subject of his father, I may also point out that his father is a janitor at one of the adult bookstores in the Syracuse area who is under investigation for making more of a mess than he actually cleans daily.

So as you can see, he is a fraud and I refuse to sit idly by while this perpetrator judges others while living these lies. Please take these facts into evidence the next time you read one of his blog entries or see him post anything online.

And as for the rest of you out there with your blogs and your Twitter pages, I have not forgotten about you either. I will surpass whatever lame passwords he uses (OttoLikesThe69, what the hell kind of pass word is that anyway?) and post other investigative findings I have on them here as well. I already have a few items on some but I am awaiting confirmation of my sources before posting them.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Boy Who Lost His Smile Retires A Gentleman

2010-03-30T20:23:00.004-04:00

I understand not everyone who reads my blog likes wrestling. I also know others have at least in the past enjoyed it as much as I have. There have been many top names in this business who made it a pleasure to enjoy being a fan. For many years, there was one I did not like or respect and his name was The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. My how the years have changed us both.

To be fair, I was a major Bret Hart fan. I liked the Rockers and my naive nature at the time made me blame Shawn for the breakup. I never liked some of what DX did during the attitude era, though the crotch chop was fun. There was never anything about what I saw of him or what I read about him that made me even want to care about him. How could anyone like what they saw? I remember hearing a story about an altercation he had in Syracuse many years ago with some Marines and my first instinct was to wonder what he did to deserve it.

Times changed though and maybe it was his overall behavior change while still keeping some of his juvenile sense of humor. Maybe it had something to do with being Born Again and accepting Jesus into his life and changing things in his life. One thing is for sure though, as time passed, he became someone you wanted to see in the ring more and more.

The Undertaker is a phenom and his 18-0 at Wrestlemania is a great record but the truth is, Shawn over the years became Mr. Wrestlemania. His Iron Man match with Bret Hart made 60 plus minutes of in ring action one of the best matches in history. His match with Stone Cold with Mike Tyson as referee was spectacular, which in of itself is a feat considering it is a known fact that at the time, Shawn's back was so bad he needed time off after to let it heal. And there are last year and this years matches with the Undertaker which, for someone as talented as Shawn, is one great way to end a career.

My point is, Shawn earned my respect and until someone from WWE blocks the access to the videos I posted below, you can see why the guy who once was rumored to have taken some time off because he did not get his way or would not lose to certain individuals, left a gentleman who wrestling fans not only should respect but appreciate as well. If you want to become a wrestler, emulate Shawn as much as possible. The guy took the concept of a ladder match and made it so legendary that it has become a part of wrestling culture, trying to see who can use it to have a great match. He is no longer just some punk kid who craved the spotlight but will go down as one of the greatest performers in the history of the business and a Michael Jordan of the WWE in that one day, you will be in awe of his work and brag to your children that you saw Shawn master "skinning the cat" in Royal Rumbles and tell great stories in the ring.

Thank you Shawn. I may not have always been your biggest fan but in time, I became one. Whether it was me who changed or you, I respect you and thank you for the great moments you gave us as fans. May you enjoy your retirement and you and your family live a great and blessed life.

Top 12 Reasons To Celebrate Syracuse University's 140th Birthday

2010-03-24T17:47:00.005-04:00

For those who don't know, today is the 140th birthday celebration of the greatest university known to man kind, Syracuse University of course. In tribute to the Orange in which I bleed, I compiled a list of the 12 reasons you should love this school.

Top 12 Reasons To Celebrate Syracuse University's 140th Birthday

12. Nobody knows business like Whitman's School Of Management

11. Football may have struggled recently but we have a rich history and are now on the right track with Coach Doug Marrone

10. Sean Keeley, Brian Harrison and The Glaude could kick your school blogger's butt and yes, all three are SU graduates.

9. Your school closes when the weather man predicts snow in his forecast. At Syracuse, if you can open your door, class is in session.

8. Remember the name Sidearm Sports because it is the perfect example of why your school is trying to catch up to technology while Syracuse's iSchool is leading the way.

7. Syracuse is not just a one sport school and as proof, has won championships in several sports ( 2003 and 1926 men's basketball, 1959 football team, 14 lacrosse championships and many more with more to come).

6. Newhouse has produced so many great voices in the media that it would take all day to list them.

5. That is a Syracuse Law graduate one heart beat away from the presidency.

4. Coach Boeheim has the greatest men's basketball program in the country and Coach Q is establishing the women's team into a contender.

3. Dino's, Tully's, Chuck's, Faegan's and Zebb's make being at Syracuse a better environment, especially on game days.

2. The list of athletes that attended Syracuse include names that have revolutionized sports like Brown, Gait, Monk, Freeney, Pearl, Davis and the list is endless.

1. 44 is more than a number, it is part of Syracuse tradition and just the mention of the number give a Syracuse fan goosebumps of joy and make you proud to bleed Orange.

What We Learned On Twitter Today-March 21, 2010 (Debut Edition)

2010-03-21T17:02:00.011-04:00

I see the poll voting is obviously going in a certain direction and since I want to true make this something everyone will enjoy, I will use this column to make an initial practice run on how to set this up. I am sure that in time, I will do my best to make improvements when needed or recommended but I just want an idea of where to take this. Please let me know either via email at orangechucke@aol.com, send me a message on Twitter or comment on these columns if you have any questions or ideas. And now, the debut of What We Learned On Twitter Today.

OK class, in light of Syracuse stomping Gonzaga today, I wanted to try and debut this thing on a positive note. Many among the Syracuse Twitter family were very vocal about their excitement.

Take for example, Assistant Coach Rob Murphy who said: @robmurphycuse Great Win today Cuse! Salt Lake City is the next stop for the "Shut It (cont)http://tl.gd/j0emp

Or what about one of our players DeShonte Riley's post game quote: @DeeRiley33 Sweet 16 baby! Good win fellas. Thanks everybody for the love and support(as well as the hate). I really appreciate it!

And then among the fans side of the Twitter family, we had our buddy Paulie tweeting about how some with Gonzaga thought Syracuse was a bit soft and wrote: @PaulieDars I hope someone asks Sacre how "soft" that avalanche of points that SU dropped on him feels.
UPDATE: If you are curious as to the reference for Paulie, here is the tweet: @Syracuse_Live: (Charlotte Observer) NCAA: Gonzaga's Sacre calls Orange 'soft': http://bit.ly/9UzHnS

And @pjaschultz sent me this addition to the quote: @sdrosenb: sacre blue!?! Wes Johnson in the HOUSEE!!!!! #SU #SHUTITDOWN

Pat, the man behind the Giant Boeheim head attended the game in person in Buffalo and had a dealing with the fans I can't stand to sit near (and I would put into the #13 slot from my D-Bag list I previously made) when he shared this piece of info: @pmanley Love when people tell me to sit when I stand to cheer an exciting play

We also had references to potential future Rautins children with this tweet from Brian at http://orange44.blogspot.com/ @BH_Orange44: All the ladies nearby are now preggers thanks to Andy.

Then of course, we have the initial tweet from someone tweeting on behalf of Syracuse's opponent in the Sweet 16 round and keep in mind that when the crap flies, this was the first shot heard: @ButlerBasketbal Syracuse it is. We never liked orange anyways.

In response to some general tournament issues, we had Alex, who apparently avoided a bum/store manager fight today at least enough to share this gem with us in reference to The Office: @Alexander_O Andy Bernard's bracket must be looking great in The Office's pool.
If you have never seen the show, here is a quick example of his reference:

And Stewart Mandel from SI gave us this sound bite which had me almost in tears laughing about the matchup of Cornell and Kentucky: @slmandel Seriously, Kentucky-Cornell would be fascinating. Three future lottery picks vs. their future financial advisers.

Of course, Syracuse grad Bill Voth added this comment which added joy to my heart living in ACC country: @billvoth Maryland gets buzzer-beaten and now Duke's the only ACC team left.

And last but not least, let me leave you with a fun NASCAR related quote. I know many of you are not fans but some are and I am becoming more and more of a fan everyday. Brittney Cason, who is a great writer for the Charlotte Bobcats website as well as Charlotte's edition of Creative Loafing and contributor on Speed Network shared this nice quote following Jimmy Johnson winning today at Bristol: @BrittneyCason At this point I wouldn't be surprised if drivers tried to sue #JimmieJohnson for being a monopoly like businesses did Microsoft! #NASCAR

And that class is what we learned today on Twitter. I hope to make them bigger in the future but I will need your help as well. If you see something you think would be funny posted in a future segment, please either RT it with my name (@OrangeChuck) included in it, DM me the message or email it to me and if it measures up, I will be more than happy to add it and maybe even credit you for the find. I think we could have some fun with this thing and hope you all enjoy it. Class dismissed!

Top 12 Wrestling Catch Phrases Utilizing Syracuse Basketball References

2010-03-19T19:18:00.004-04:00

Some of who use Twitter may remember a week or two ago, I had an idea for a list of matching up wrestlers and Syracuse Orange players names. I could not really do but maybe a top 3 so I just brought it up on Twitter and had fun with it there. I did however find a fun swerve with mixing wrestling and SU basketball by utilizing catch phrases instead. So I now present to you, the top 12 Syracuse Basketball Wrestling Style Catch Phrases.

Top 12 Syracuse Basketball Wrestling Style Catch Phrases

12. To be the man, you have to beat Brandon.

11. Everybody has a price for the Athletic Director Dr. Daryl Gross

10. Wes is just That Damn Good

9. Quote the Boeheim, nevermore.

8. G-Mac is the whole f'n show.

7. The limousine ridin, Kris Jo flyin, wheelin and dealin son of a gun

6. Can you smell what the Scoop is cookin? (yeah thats hot)

5. Beat him if you can, survive if Andy lets you.

4. What you gonna do when AO goes wild on you?

3. And that's the bottom line because Coach Boeheim said so.

2. Jonny Flynn can go whooo! all night long.

1. Syracuse Basketball: The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be!

Top 20 Syracuse Themed Names For A Potential Blog

2010-03-18T18:59:00.002-04:00

I was wondering a while back about renaming the blog but decided against it because not only do I like the name but it would also change the URL address and I have messed around with this blog enough trying to figure it out. Part of me wanted some catchy fun name but I also never could really settle on one that I liked. However, recently I started a list of one's I would consider and after I realized I had like 20 of them, I figured I would share them with you and see what you thought. If you wish to start a blog and steal an idea, feel free with my blessing. If you have any ideas, leave a comment here or on Twitter and let's see what the funniest ones are. Here is my list for your entertainment, at least I hope.

Top 20 Syracuse Theme Names For Your Blog:

20. A Little Bit Of Tenderness: Tribute To Tully's Tenders

19. Syracuse: So Close To Everything That Every Game Is Home Field/Court

18. I Want To Be The Lone Ranger When I Grow Up

17. SU: Where Traditions Are Retired Or Sold To The Highest Bidder

16. McPherson's: Over One Million Fans Pleasured And Still Counting

15. The Orange F'n Show

14. Nobody Puts Duany In A Corner

13. GMac Is Not Over Rated/Gmac Is Worth At Least 10 F'n Games

12. Powell Be Thy Name/The Secret Of Nims

11. When You Want News Done Right, Do A Newhouse Grad

10. Devo Is My Baby Daddy

9. Keith F'n Smart Haunt My Dreams

8. Seikaly: A Greek God Among Men

7. Joe Morris: Real American Hero

6. Doug Logan Bleeds Orange

5. U Conn Handle 6 OTs

4. Warrick's World: The Shot Block Heard Around The World (Echoing In Kansas)

3. Gaitway To Heaven

2. Real Men Do Winters In Syracuse

And the #1 name I would pick if I rename this blog today:

1. Boeheim Is My Buddha

Bored Of Just Your Office Bracket Contest? Try These.

2010-03-15T18:09:00.006-04:00

Are you like me and love filling out brackets this week and can fill out about 100 and still want more? Well below is a link to all of the contests that I can find so that we can enjoy the chance not only to win with that perfect bracket but have fun filling them out for prizes. If you know more, please email me at orangechucke@aol.com and I will add them as I check them out. Oh and check out this link for those of you in the Syracuse area who want to take advantage of some bargains in the name of the tournament Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau

$10,000 College Basketball Bracket Challenge - Build and Track Your 2010 NCAA syracuse.com contest and the greatest of all contests

SOBE LIFEWATER ZERO INHIBITIONS BRACKET CHALLENGE FanHouse

Applebee's® College Basketball Bracket

ESPN - College Hoops Pick 'em - Game Home

ESPN - Hardcourt Challenge - Game Home

FOX Sports College Basketball Bracket Challenge - Game Home

Bracket Challenge by Citizen Sports on Facebook

Fantasy Home USA Today

PC Pitstop's March Madness 2009 Contest: Home

It's Madness - Bracket Picks.. NBC Sports

Games - swisher.com

Bodog Bracket Buster Contest

NCAA Basketball Tournament - March Madness - Boston.com - College - Sports

Top 12 Syracuse Inspirational Thoughts/Mantras

2010-03-10T19:33:00.003-05:00

To get us all pumped up for post season action, I thought I would help provide some inspirational material to remember. Here are 12 (well 14 actually, this list involves 2 ties) and if you are feeling down, just keep these reminders in mind.

12. If the left hand don't get you, Rick Jackson will.

11. (tie) Dome Sweet Dome and Syracuse, NY; Debunking the myth of global warming since 1825.

10. Ooh yeah, thats hot (which apparently can apply to any situation).

9. Point Guards; Activate.

8. You won't like me when I'm angry. AO Get Angry.

7. It's not trash talking if you can back it up with a long range three.

6. If at first you don't succeed, I will bury my foot in your ass when you come back to the bench.

5. When all else fails, shut it down.

4. Hancock International, this is KrisJo. Am I clear for takeoff?

3. What Would GMac Do?

2. Give me victory and give me Wes.

And the #1 idea I actually left up to Twitter and my favorite two were actually submitted by @PaulieDars and I can't decide between the two so I will use both (and the fact that @cusechic04 agreed with one and we are playing Georgetown tomorrow night, proves I am justified in my theory)

1. When life gives you lemons...I give them back and ask for an orange instead & When life gives you lemons...I promptly throw them at Georgetown fans when they play the Orange.

And let me leave you with this video, which I think was supposed to be someone taking a shot at Syracuse but I loved it.

Be Proud Orange Nation; Stop The Hate

2010-03-08T18:27:00.005-05:00

It seems as though many Syracuse fans have become accustomed to finding the negative in every situation. Win or lose, I constantly hear and see on message boards and other social media outlets all of these negative comments and personal attacks on people that would lead me to pull out my own hair in frustration, if I had any left that is.

I understand that Syracuse sports have struggled at times in some areas but in general, Syracuse has one of the best athletic departments as a whole in the country. Even when they do struggle, why is it that some prefer to attack them when they are down instead of trying to show faith that it will turn around? Sadly, these are also some of the loudest when we win and their inconsistency has a negative impact on the fan base as a whole.

Now, I could choose to hammer them for being too negative and post lessons on how to handle it but I would rather I give you reasons why you should see the positives in following the Syracuse Orange. Yes, I see the world through orange colored glasses and I love the view but if you call yourself a fan, shouldn't you? Let's just review why I think you should keep the faith no matter the result of one game or even one season.

Let's start with the favorite target of many, the Syracuse football team. This team is rich in tradition and has produced many great NFL players and some who excelled at the college level enough that we as fans will never forget their names. Granted, last year this team finished at 4-8 and that is not an ideal situation for anyone. However, they did accomplish some achievements that we as fans should be proud of under Coach Doug Marrone's first year as head coach. My favorite was the win over Rutgers 31-13 and the huge smile that win put on my face. Sure, we lost to Louisville by one point in an ugly game that we should have won and lost to Minnesota when we had a chance to win that as well but that just means we were in them and one right bounce and this team finishes 6-6 and possibly goes to a bowl game. Let's also keep in mind that in comparison, Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez was 3-9 in his first season and suddenly that does not look so bad (Syracuse was 1-2 against Big Ten teams and could have easily been 2-1 if you want to compare how they may have done in similar conferences). And to show a lot of heart and not give up as Mike Williams left the team and Greg Paulus struggled at times at QB shows me this is a team to follow and be proud of. And just think, we may have lost Arthur Jones and a good senior class but we still have DC3, Nassib and of course, the man who will shut it down on the football field, Shamarko. For the record, two weeks from tonight, Spring practice begins and September 4th, the season starts at Akron so let the excitement build as well.

I know for many outside of Syracuse, lacrosse is not a big time sports program. But this is Syracuse and it is part of our tradition. Syracuse lacrosse means legends in the sport like Brown, Simmons, Gait, Powell, Desko and so many others that have made a major impact on the sport. This season, the men return to the field as defending champions again after one of the greatest endings of a national championship game in any sport. The women's team is coached by one of the greatest to ever play the game, the former Orangeman great Gary Gait who is building a perennial powerhouse and establishing themselves as a top tier program in the country. We may have lost Katie Rowan off the field (she is a volunteer assistant coach this season though so that can only help) but we still have Quillinan, Ladouceur, and a freshman with a last name Orange fans should recognize in Nims, whose father Tom played there and some brother named Kenny did as well (who have three national championships already in the family).

And yes ladies and gentlemen, we have basketball as well. On the ladies side, we have Coach Q (@CoachQAtSU on Twitter) who has this team on a positive track, finishing this season 22-10. True, we are losing Nicole "Slinky" Michael and Juanita Ward as they are seniors this season but we still have talented players like Erica Morrow, Tasha Harris and at center, a freshman with skills, Kayla Alexander. This program is showing signs that they can be a tough team to beat in the Big East and be a school those who want to play against UConn can come to show off their skills.

And last but not least, let's talk the favorite it seems among most, the men's basketball program. You know, that team that was picked by many to finish 6th at best in the Big East by many experts and yet, finished 28-3 in the regular season to win the Big East Season Title outright. They had a few bumps along the way and lost to Pitt at home and Louisville swept them and lost some meaningless preseason game as well. However along the way, they also swept Georgetown (which makes this Hoya Hater proud), defeated UConn, and crushed Villanova before a sell out crowd at the Carrier Dome, after which earned them a #1 ranking for the first time in years and even after that last loss to Louisville, remain among the top 3 in the country in the polls. That means only two other teams in the country have better records than them and that means hundreds of other teams were not as good. Many fans and media alike have tried to point to weakness in schedule (due to UNC and Florida having down years) and scheduling no real road games but I would ask what they were smoking if you do not consider wins at Washington DC, South Bend and Morgantown, WV real road wins (and the Florida win was in Tampa which last I checked was closer to Gainsville than Syracuse and even in a down year, is still not an easy win). And despite finally telling the critics who have said that for years some crow to taste, Syracuse proved it belongs to be mentioned as one of the best in the country and if you do not believe me, ask Coach Bobby Knight. Did I mention that this team has Andy Rautins, one of the best 6th men in the country in KrisJo and a contender for national/Big East player of the year in Wes Johnson? And one other thing, this team has been blessed for 34 seasons now to be coached by a Hall Of Fame guy who not only played here but has a record of 827-291 and never coached a losing season in his spectacular coaching career, one James Arthur Boeheim II.

In all fairness, I understand at times that we as fans get frustrated when we expect great things out of our teams but we have to remember that these are our expectations and these players are humans who make mistakes as well. Teams and programs go through times of struggle but nobody will ever consistently be undefeated from year to year. So why do we even try to put that type of pressure on a team that we love to support like the Syracuse Orangemen?

Pointing out flaws in their game does not make you a bad fan and neither does feel dejected after a loss but cursing out players and coaches, saying they suck and having that "sky is falling" mentality does not make you a supportive fan either. Sometimes we just need to step back before over reacting out of frustration and realize none of us are perfect and the reason we enjoy watching it is to find pleasure in something.

So be proud Orange Nation and support those who do their best to represent you and our university proudly. I was born a Syracuse fan and raised in SU country and I will be damned if one game or play will stop me. It is my whole hearted intention to include these words among my last spoken on this Earth, "GO ORANGE!" although I promise my family I will also do my best to include my goodbyes to you as well. When I die, it is my wish to be buried in my Syracuse #44 football jersey with a smile on my face in an orange casket with a Syracuse game playing in the background as people visit my services. So don't be afraid to shout Let's Go Orange, blast Shut It Down on your speakers and show your pride in our colors no matter what the end result may be that day because we all win for supporting the awesomeness that is the Syracuse University Orangemen/Orangewomen.

Top 12 Signs You Might Be A D-Bag

2010-03-05T18:20:00.004-05:00

In light of a recent online journalist who got his jollies by taking an inaccurate and offensive remark about one of our female fans, I decided to use my love for lists to help you spot a d-bag when you see one. I asked for people on Twitter's helps so this is an interactive list so let's see if you agree. Please feel free to add more if you can think of them.

You Might Be A D-Bag If:

12. If you drive in a lane that has signs for miles that it is ending and you wait until the end of it to get over when you had the chance earlier and cut someone off when you do, causing a chain reaction of slamming breaks and backed up traffic.

11. If you use Twitter regularly but do not understand that an RT is a repeat of someone else's post and personally attack the person who repeated it and not the original poster.

10. If you are a male and the tip of your shoes come to more of a point than those on your woman's shoes ( @obscuredv1sions ).

9. If you are apparently amused by making rude comments about a girl because your big, bad feelings got hurt even though I would bet you have been told worse.

8. If you have a faux hawk, Abercrombie and Fitch wardrobe, in home tanning bed, Jason Mraz hat, pink polo shirts, and wifebeaters in a dozen colors ( @goonerink ).

7. If you ignore it when guys make a comment about you and several guys repeat it but save your offensive and sexist remarks for the one girl who says it.

6. If you bring up your pecs in casual conversation ( @obscuredv1sions ) or like to wear shirts that are 2 sizes too small to show them off.

5. If you wear sunglasses inside or at night ( @MBorkowski ).

4. If you spend more time spray tanning and gelling your hair than you spend doing your job ( @smbedoya )

3. If you are a Georgetown Hoya fan and love John Thompson II and III( @andcksays / @pjaschultz ), posters of them on your wall moves you to number 1 automatically.

2. If you are given a chance to apologize on a well listened to radio program and instead choose to respond as though you are an elementary student by essentially saying, "But she started it".

1. If you have a national media outlet with access to thousands of fans and you utilize your space to mock fans who disagree with your opinions.

Why Pizza Is My Choice For A Game Day Meal?

2010-03-04T20:11:00.002-05:00

I did a list not long ago on my favorite game day pleasures. Many people were shocked that I selected pizza over Tully's Tenders (and I did not do so for shock value either), I do love those awesome Tenders but I have a bigger weakness most of the time for pizza and always have (plus I do not live in central NY anymore so it's a bit hard to get my Tully's fix on a whim). Maybe it is the Italian side of me but as my family will agree, I could do pizza 3 meals a day every day and still love it.

Frozen pizzas (though I prefer DiGiorno's if I do), Pizza Hut, Cici's Pizza Buffet and especially those with NY or Brooklyn style recipes. Sami's Pizza in Bridgeport, NY and Brooklyn Boys Pizza in Mooresville, NC are my favorites due to their varieties, the great taste (especially Sami's garlic pizza which will provide an explosion of excitement in your mouth) and they both have pizza ready for you to choose from at the counter that just need a couple minutes to reheat in the oven.

I also like pizza for the convenience. You can not only get an affordable meal for the family but you can also get a great second meal or snack later out of it most times. You can do a buffet for an affordable price (I have enjoyed CiCi's Pizza the last two times I tried it and recommend them), hit up Little Caesar's pizza for as little as $5.55 for a large pie or take advantage of the variety of coupons and current deals being offered such as Pizza Hut's $10 any size, any toppings deal.

For those who don't know, for about 5 years or so, I had a vision of one day owning a sports bar named "The Big Orange Sports Grill And Pizzeria" with the main staples being pizza and wings (with some sandwiches and salads as well but a simple one page menu essentially). Now granted, I have absolutely zero experience owning a business at all and equal amount of talent in a kitchen so it is mostly contingent on winning a huge lottery jackpot and finding someone with some delicious recipes. The facility would be a playground/festival of TV's with a wide variety of styles of pizza and wings to enjoy when watching a game or out with the family.

I remember growing up in NY, mom would send me on on my bike to the local pizzeria and with a smile on my face, balancing the x-large pizza, I came home with the best meal on the planet. Maybe it is just a part of my childhood that I refuse to let loose but I can't help but still be like a kid in a candy store when someone mentions it. I have volunteered to work OT on several occasions when promised pizza as a reward for doing it (the overtime pay didn't hurt either). I love Tully's Tenders and I end up with a smile on my face when I am back in Syracuse eating them but just as much, I look forward to a great pizza whenever I get the chance. Being financially strapped for a while also helps you appreciate just how good you had it when some days you can't even just stop for one slice like you used to and that is a mark of how much I enjoyed eating it every time.

So please keep in mind that when I say that pizza is my favorite game day food, I am not belittling my excitement for Tully's, I just feel like pizza is a part of who I am. I enjoy a variety of pizzas and if you ever try to order a pizza on game day you will see that I am not alone. Pizza is truly about as American as apple pie anymore and...wait, apple pie is awesome too so now I am wondering how long before I post a desert listing.

12 Reasons Why We Should Enjoy Syracuse Being Ranked Number 1

2010-03-04T19:26:00.004-05:00

12. Might be just the reason to finally complete the idea of selling Tully's Tenders at the Carrier Dome.

11. Even more opportunities to see Coach Boeheim on national shows getting the love he deserves.

10. 14 years in ACC country and I can now laugh at their insignificance.

9. Guys Like KrisJo, Rick Jackson, and Andy Rautins getting more attention for their hard work.

8. Wes gets more love and we get to hear 20 different ways to pronounce Onuaku.

7. Another reason to blast Shut It Down on your radio/ipod or download it as a ringtone (if anyone knows a cheap way to do that on a Verizon LG Touch, please let me know because K$isha was fun for a minute and free but I need something Orange).

6. SU being #1 means Georgetown, UConn, UNC, and Duke are not.

5. Huge payoff for the true fans who stood behind this team and the school even when it looked like it might be a long season and still believed in them.

4. Overshadows the whole Seton Hall-Rutgers nail biting rivalry.

3. Another great T-shirt idea

2. This late in the season, we have a legit shot at being the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

And the #1 reason is: knowing somewhere John Thompson II is sitting in a room with his blood boiling because not only are we #1, we did it by taking Georgetown out to the wood shed for a butt whipping twice in one season.

The National Anthem and Pledge Of Allegiance For Orange Nation

2010-02-24T18:23:00.003-05:00

Some anthems are offensive or bring religion into the classroom. While I decided to come up with my own anthems of sort that will not offend anyone and should be recited every morning in every Syracuse area school, including SU themselves. I may even start a petition to make these mandatory for game days in the Carrier Dome itself. Here you go, please enjoy and pass along while memorizing before your next class.

Pledge Of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Orangemen of the University of Syracuse and to it's awesomeness for which it stands. One college, in central New York, excelling in education and sports for all. Go Orange!

Nation Anthem For Syracuse Basketball (2010 version):
Oh say did you see, that Wes Johnson slam dunk. What so proudly we hailed, Andy Rautins D and hittin' 3's? Whose Arinze Onuaku And Rick Jackson inside the paint fight, o'er the excitement we watched as Kris Joseph come off the bench? And the Triche and Scoop show, sharing the point guard, gave proof thru the season, that our faith in them has paid off. Oh say does that Coach Boeheim piss yet excellence. O'er the land of the Orange and the home of the Dome.

Coach Boeheim On Dan Patrick Talks NCAA Expansion And I Give My Solution

2010-02-17T18:11:00.002-05:00

Jim Boeheim argues for NCAA Tournament expansion - Dan Patrick.com

While listening to the above clip, I was left wondering if Coach Boeheim is right or I bleed Orange so much that I would agree to jump off the Carrier Dome if he shouted "Jump". Suddenly I had an epiphany that could revolutionize the sport...well not really but it would be a possible solution that utilizes something that is already in place and just make it more relevant.

Every year, the NCAA takes 65 teams and places them into the tournament. Some get the bid because they won their conference tournament and some get it because they proved to be among the best during the season. I do think often times, good qualified teams are left out so there has to be some way to address that issue at least (as Syracuse fans will remember well having quality teams making the NIT because their bubble was burst).

My solution is to use the NIT as a pre-NCAA tournament qualifier using any conference tournament winners who would not have otherwise qualified and at large teams that were on the bubble. Not just big conference teams either as you now can select that team who went 26-1 all season but is in a smaller conference and lost a close game in their conference tournament(or with more seeds open now, you can place them in the big dance). The winner of the NIT then becomes eligible for a seed in the NCAAs. This also allows the NCAA to be the best teams who earned it during the season and you can now use those automatic seeds to put in those quality teams. This also adds significance to the NIT and proves to be the expansion coaches like Coach Boeheim seem to support. Most people do not watch the NIT now unless their team is in it or it is on when nothing else is on so this fixes two problems in one. And the NIT already has an agreement in place with MSG for their finals so you have a big stage for that as well.

What do you think? Is 65 enough or is Coach Boeheim right and we need 96 teams?

Tully's Be Like Heaven On Earth

2010-02-12T18:27:00.003-05:00

Tully's, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

And share why I look forward to you every single day.

I walk inside and Syracuse history on walls all around.

Like a dream man cave with TV's and surround sound.

Free popcorn on the table and drink orders placed too.

Done with work so I ordered some cold Labatts Blue.

The choice of what to eat requires little brain matter.

"Please bring me a delicious Tully's Tender Platter."

Ah, those tenders which are prepared to perfection.

One bite and you will feel an immediate satisfaction.

It will melt in your mouth and never in your hand.

It's the best value for your money on air, sea or land.

And if it proves to be too much for one meal to eat

Take the rest home and lunch tomorrow is complete

So stop in for yourself and get your money's worth

And you will see, Tully's be like Heaven On Earth

Monster Moment Proves Driver Has A Monster Heart

2010-02-11T19:06:00.006-05:00

My name is Chuck Fiello Jr. and I was recently hired to work for the NASCAR Technical Institute. This is only my second week there and though my job may seem minor to some, I enjoy it and look forward to working there for many years.

You may ask why I am not posting as "Orange Chuck" and why this is even relevant to anything sports wise. Well I would like to take a couple moments to explain why this is not only a sports topic but something I had to share because it touched me to the point that I was not only proud to be there to witness it but proud to be alive in general.

You see, the NASCAR Technical Institute (and their UTI campuses in general) once a year host an intimate experience with Monster Jam. Today was that day and Dennis Anderson who drives Gravedigger ( http://www.gravedigger.com/) was on hand to sign autographs. I must admit, I have watched it once or twice but I was not a huge fan of the sport. However today, I became a huge fan not only of Monster Jam but Dennis Anderson in general. I know many do not understand it or have it labeled based on their impressions of it but I would ask that you try to keep an open mind and truly witness what I did today and not be a fan.

I witnessed first hand the generosity of this man. I stood near him while he signed autographs and took pictures with fans of all ages and any item the fans wanted signed. He never once displayed anything but a positive attitude and the only thing he asked for was more pens to help keep signing (well I did ask him once what he needed and he replied "a winning lottery ticket" but don't we all need one of those). He had nothing but the most positive attitude the entire time.

He truly earned my respect however when during one of his question and answer sessions, a boy and his mother stepped up to ask him a question. The boy had cerebral palsy and asked his question through his mother. Dennis answered his question throughly and respectfully. He then took him to the front of the autograph line and had his picture taken with him (which is embedded below). This was not enough though as Dennis and others worked to help this young man and his mother get something they never imagined. This young man was a huge fan and you could tell not just by the shirt and hat he wore with Gravedigger on it but by the genuine smiles he had whenever Dennis was around him. The details are still being worked out but not only did the young man get those rewards but there is a lot more that will put more smiles on the faces of him and his mother, who was genuinely in tears at how much they were doing for them. This woman had saved up money just so they could go see Monster Jam and Gravedigger and Dennis and crew made sure that she can keep her money for other things as he will receive a once in a lifetime fan experience courtesy of them.

I don't know this fan or his mother(sorry that I did not catch your names). I had never met Dennis or anyone involved prior to today. I have to admit however that witnessing up close the emotion and chills I felt, they will forever be a part of my heart. Dennis could have simply answered his question and moved on or simply just went back to the autograph table and just given him an autograph but on this day, this man decided to make an impact in the lives of a dedicated fan and yours truly. Look at his smile below and tell me, how would you feel watching a man who is doing something he loves in life, go out of his way to not just give an autograph or even free tickets but make it a more personal, intimate experience for a fan?

I am sorry if today I left the Orange Chuck persona at the door and became more real but I think sometimes, we need to see moments like this in sports to counter all the negativity we see. Dennis did not do this for attention and does not even know this will be posted on the internet for others to read. He did it because he genuinely saw a fan who looked up to him and wanted to make his experience something the fan and his mother would enjoy. He did this because the man who I met today has a monster sized heart and made me a fan of his today.

Thank you Dennis for allowing me to witness firsthand this honest and sincere moment of humanity at it's finest in a time when we are surrounded by negative news and many athletes only noticed for their action in sports or when they do something wrong. This afternoon made me a huge fan and thankful to be around to witness one of the most selfless and kindest acts I have witnessed in my entire life. Go Gravedigger!

NYSportsGuy(aka James) Interviews SU Incoming Recruit CJ Fair

2010-02-10T06:49:00.004-05:00

picture courtesy of http://www.i95ballerz.com/

Every now and then I will be having a quick sit down interview with incoming recruits. These will not be hard hitting breaking news questions, just some info to help us average SU fans get to know these student athletes before (or as they’re coming into school). I am always open to suggestions on who you want to hear from, or some new questions. Check the bottom of the page for info on how to get me your suggestion.

I was lucky enough to catch up with CJ Fair, who agreed to do a short Q&A session with me. If you don’t know who he is yet take this as a small introduction to one of the guys that will be force on the SU basketball team for the next 4 years. Some quick background info:
CJ plays for Brewster Academy in Baltimore MD, He is a 6’7” SF. Ranked #111 in the nation, #23 at his position and is one of four top 150 players coming to Syracuse in the fall. CJ is currently averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.

James- First off CJ thanks for sitting down and answering some of my questions, how is your season going down there?
CJ- Its going good, having a pretty good year up here at Brewster

James- Have you been able to catch many SU games on TV or any in person this year, and any thoughts on this team?
CJ- I haven't gotten to see any games in person, but I’ve been following them on TV. They are shocking the country this year on how they play, just gets me excited watching them and cant wait to join them next year.

James- Feel like making a NCAA tourney prediction for them?
CJ- I’ve got them going to the final four and winning the whole thing.

James- As much as I like that last statement. That’s enough with this year’s team, let’s talk about next year. What do you plan to bring to this team?
CJ- I plan to bring versatility to SU and stretch the floor out, and be all I can be.

James- I’ve seen some impressive dunks from you on vid, so this is a must. Dunk contest between you and Wes Johnson, who wins?
CJ- That’s going to be good battle, I think I can take him in a dunk contest. lol.

James- With SU losing Andy, AO, and more than likely Wes after this season. Do you think you will play significant minutes next year, minimal playing time, possibly red shirt, or have absolutely no idea right now?
CJ- I think if I just work hard in practice from day 1, I will be good as far as playing time.

James- For those that haven’t seen you play at all yet, who would you say your game resembles (Pro or Cuse player)?
CJ- I like to compare my game to Melo. Cause he has a great mid-range just like me. Also like to post as well as shoot well from outside. So I watch a lot of his films to elevate my game.

James- What made you choose SU? Other than our warm winters and sandy beaches of course...
CJ- SU seems to fit me the best on how they run a lot of their offense through the forwards. I like Coach B’s style of play and what he has accomplished throughout his coaching with players success. SU is a great place to play, and I've seen the success with the history that it's been through

James- Plans to attend any camps over the summer, AAU ball, ect…?
CJ- No I don't plan on doing any camps or anything, just working on my game and body, and getting ready for SU.

James- Some final words?
CJ- I want to give a shout out to the whole SU family and they can follow me on twitter, and check out my highlights. (Editors note: highlight video posted below)

Again CJ thanks for the sit down. Hope you finish out your senior season strong, and we all look forward to seeing you, Dion, Baye, and Fab Melo up here next year and the years to come.

Highlight vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tgEJnoEMlg
Follow CJ on Twitter @cjfair.

Look for more sit downs with incoming basketball and football recruits in the near future. If there are any recruits you would like to learn more about you can comment here with your suggestion(s), or twitter @theNYsportsguy and I will do my best to get in contact with them.

Which Orangeman Are You: The Office Edition

2010-02-09T17:51:00.005-05:00

Have you ever dreamed of the day when Coach Boeheim and his staff scouted you out and recruited you to be part of their team? Dreamed of that chance to put on an Orange jersey and run out with the team to 30,000 strong at the Carrier Dome cheering you on? 99.9% of us will never get that opportunity in life unfortunately so some of us love to live vicariously through our favorite players.

Some simply go with the stars of the team while others simply find someone they can relate to the most. If you are searching for that one player who you can identify with, let's do a test to see who is your equivalent. For this analogy, will will break down how you are in the work place in relation to how the Syracuse players are on the court. Here are the breakdowns as I see them and let's see which player you seem to resemble the most.

You Might Be Wes Johnson If: You are transfered to this office from another branch with high expectations and you exceed them. You are the superstar of the office that every office wants to have and will be getting some huge offers your way soon. Even though you are the big guy in the office, you have no problems helping others when they need it and are genuinely happy to see the whole office succeed. You don't seek out the attention but because of your skill set, you get it regardless.

You Might Be Kris Joseph If: You are the person everyone in the office loves and makes sure they say hello to every time you pass them by. You make and the superstar make the office a more enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. You may not have had this expectations and were under estimated coming in but you can pull off that huge move that will have you co-workers asking how you did it. Sometimes you take the background until the boss calls your name but when he does, you step it up and show you are just as valuable as anyone else in this office.

You Might Be Andy Rautins If: You are the guy whose father was one of the best years ago and people simply added the pressure of meeting his success and put it on your shoulders. Instead, you built yourself over a period of time to be your own, very effective player. You are the example of what a hard work ethic can do people look to you when times get tough. You may not be the office hero every day but on any given day, you can be and even on your worst days, you are still efficient and contribute in other ways.

You Might Be Arinze Onuaku If: You are the gentle giant with a bit of a Hulk complex. You carry yourself as though you are easy going but when the pressure is on and you are needed, you turn on the intensity and dominate any situation. When the rest of the employees see that look, you can easy become the go-to-guy and take the pressure of everyone else. If the elevator was stuck between floors, you are the guy they want in the elevator to get the doors open.

You Might Be Rick Jackson If: You are the person who can do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. You can write the presentation or give a strong delivery of it if it is needed. You can balance the books while also making the sales. You are the person on any given day could slip into any of the above personalities, all depending on the situation and the right timing.

You Might Be Brandon Triche/Scoop Jardine If: You want the ball all the time and love to direct traffic. You are the point of contact for every project. If you are not on your game that day, you have no problem letting the other guy step in and prove yourself tomorrow. The person who did the job before you was well loved did the job better than most so you are trying to provide that same appeal although with your own personal touch. Every task is a lesson learned and experience gained and you will be better for it.

You Might Be Mookie Jones/James Southerland/ DaShonte Riley If: You are a good contributer from the bench. You are new to the office and trying to find your role but have the potential to grow into very productive employees in time. Sure, you probably could be a bigger player in other offices but you know that if you wait it out and grow, you will see your role improve and you and the team will be better for it.

You Might Be Brandon Reese If: You are the guy nobody expected to get the job but everyone enjoys seeing you given the ball, even if it usually is only when there is little on the line. You may mostly be in the background and some may not know your name but you do work quietly behind the scenes to help everyone do better when it's time to make the sale. You are the IT guy who helps fix things and the office assistant who puts the PowerPoint slide show together so that when the others are ready to present, you helped to prepare them for their job.

You Might Be Mike Hopkins/Rob Murphy/ GMac If: You are the assistant manager that the employees enjoy working with and act as the go between for them and the big boss. You have a knack for spotting the talented players and do your best to make sure the manager knows who they are. You are the boss who will give the "Thataboy" smack on the butt and calmly sit down with the employees to show them how to improve their role next time. You are equally supportive of both the main man and the employees and do your best to bridge that gap effectively.

You Might Be Bernie Fine If: You are the Senior VP with many years of experience working for the main boss. You are the guy he relies on and knows exactly how he likes things. You give advice when it is needed but also know when to keep your opinions to yourself. You are known to be just as much of a face of the company by many on the inside as the manager but with less of the credit and blame.

You Might Be Coach Jim Boeheim If: You are the CEO/Manager who not only knows how to handle every situation but are a great motivator as well. You can be a bit rough and your temper may show at time while displaying some very colorful language but at the end of the day, you care just as much for the well being of your employees as you care about the success of the business. Your years of experience have shown you know exactly how to put people in the best position to be successful and that is why your plaque hangs in the Hall for all to admire.

You Might Be Otto If: You are the morale person in the office. You are the one who walks by everyone smiling and offering cookies to the whole office. Your office is surrounded by company posters and you always wear the company shirt everywhere you go, even your car has their bumper stickers and is the same colors as their logo. You are the one at every meeting who stands up and says, "Go Team!" hoping it will help inspire people. You flip off the competitors as you drive by their offices and even once when you were drunk, urinated all over their sign.

Top 12 Reasons To Attend A Syracuse Game At The Carrier Dome

2010-02-08T18:49:00.002-05:00

Had a slow day today and wasn't hungry when lunch came around so I figured since everyone LOVES my top 12 lists, I would do another. I hear people talk about building new facilities even though I love the old one myself. So in honor of the Carrier Dome and it's history, here are my 12 reasons for everyone to enjoy going to the Carrier Dome.

12. The Dunk & Bright Recliner Shot

11. Being spotted in Club 44 which will establish you as the coolest of cool and make you the envy of all of your friends.

10. You never know when you may spot a Syracuse player (or former player) in the stands, including pregame or playing with the band.

9. Only you can prevent the wave and spread the awareness of how 1980 that is (and for the record, I hated it back then too).

8. Tully's on Erie Blvd. is less than 4 miles away for your pre or post game meals.

7. Orange Cheerleaders/Dance Squad for the guy and athletic men with above average abilities for the ladies.

6. The chance to dance before thousands and maybe even make the scoreboard cam when they play Cotton Eyed Joe.

5. A Dome Dog, a cold beer and a sea of Orange.

4. The awesome student section (including Otto's Army and Sour Sitrus Society).

3. Unedited Coach Jim Boeheim expressions which only get better as the game goes on and have to be enjoyed in person to appreciate.

2. The team has shown that they can rise up and "Shut It Down" when it becomes The Loud House.

1. It's where tradition lives (Coleman, Pearl, GMac, Melo, McNabb, McPherson, Freeney, Johnston) and aren't we all tired of seeing this program losing more and more of it's tradition every year.

Citrus TV Videos Of The Week(Including Cincy Preview)

2010-02-06T20:31:00.003-05:00

What Is The Best Nickname For Kris Joseph?

2010-02-06T13:12:00.005-05:00

I am going to start this post by saying thank you. Thank you for all the recent support for the blog, though I am sure the majority of it has something to do with a talented writer making recent submissions(I am referring to @TheNYSportsGuy of course). And it is due to this increased interest that has led to the idea I had this afternoon. Let's have some fun and see if we can come up with a great nickname for the guy who is running away with twice as many votes in the poll for favorite player as everyone else, Kris Joseph.

I knew KrisJo was well liked but I have to admit, I was shocked to see it that much of a differential. And yet, many of us Syracuse fans have listened to broadcasts and seem to be bored with the Air Canada reference. So I wanted to know, what do you think would make a great nickname for the guy?

Referencing Strange Brew? Something else from Canadian culture? Maybe try something university related that is relevant to him?

Hozer Hater? Canadian Bacon? The Flying Elk? Maybe reference him and Wes as Orange Shake and Bake? What do you think it should be?

I will post all submissions into a poll sometime next week that you send either through commenting on here, DM on Twitter or emailing me at OrangeChuckE@aol.com . Let's keep in mind that this does not mean it will become his official nickname because let's face it, this blog is not exactly a trend setter but let's have fun with it and who knows, maybe we find one that people seem to like. And I will also have a No Nickname option for those who may think we do not need to give him one(even though again, please keep in mind this is all in good fun and no anything that will legally force us to refer to him as the winning name).

And for the record, the winner will win nothing except the honor of being the person to come up with the name and I may even post it on here if it is an overwhelming winner. I will post all results in a poll next week so everyone has at least a week to think and contribute.

The Five Big Obstacles Before Villanova

2010-02-06T08:50:00.006-05:00

The Five Big Obstacles Before Villanova

By theNYsportsguy

We all need to take a step back for a minute. Yes everyone is bringing out their inner child and getting all giddy about the huge meeting between the #3 (#1 in our hearts) Syracuse Orangemen and the #2 Villanova Wildcats. It’s already sold out to a tune of 34,616, eclipsing the previous record set in ‘06 for Gerry’s final game in the Dome (which also just happened to be against Nova). There are even dueling T-shirts in production already:

H/T TNIAAM & CNYCentral.com

The thing some are forgetting is there are 5 games before that meeting of the giants of the Big East. So I’m here to bring everyone back to earth a little, and give a preview of those 5 games, and some predictions. Including one against what some say is our main rival, UConn. Those fans need to get it straight, our main rival is Georgetown, get over it. See HoyaSuxa for more info.

@ Cincinnati Bearcats: 2/07/10 14-8, 11-1 at home

Cincy is somewhat of a bubble team as of right now. They are looking for a signature win to give them that push over the edge they may need to play past the Big East Tournament. They’re coming off a loss at Notre Dame, so they will be hungry to get back to winning. There are some that feel Cincy could pull the upset including Seth Davis and there may be some truth to that. They are 11-1 this season at home, and last year SU lost at Cincy. Led by Lance Stephenson (12.0 ppg, 5 rebs), and Deonta Vaughn (11.9 ppg) they average 71.3 ppg and allow 65.4 ppg. This game will not be a wall to wall blow out, but I feel SU will still walk away in the second half to a comfortable win. SU 79-CIN 66.

Connecticut Husky’s: 2/10/10 13-9, 0-5 on the road

Where to start with UConn… Their coach left because he didn’t want to be apart of a losing team… I mean he left because of “health issues” that haven’t been made public (This is where we need TMZsports.com), but the timing of his leave just seems too coincidental. They look to finish strong after a lackluster first ¾ and need to finish strong going into the Big East tourney. This will be the first meeting between SU and UConn since the epic Six OT game (SixOvertimes.com), and you can bet there is still allot of players on that side that have a bad taste in their mouth because of it. UConn has 4 players averaging double figures, Jerome Dyson (19ppg), Stanley Robinson (16.5ppg, 7.6rbs), Kemba Walker (13.5ppg 6asts), Gavin Edwards (10.8ppg). They average 14.6 turnovers per game so look for Andy to have a good game on the defensive end, and the trap to work wonders. This game always worries me, no matter how bad UConn seems to look, but this year I have no problem calling a blow out. SU 91-UConn 71.

Louisville Cardinals: 2/14/10 14-8, 1-5 on the road

This is the one that should worry everyone. I consider them the most unpredictable team in the Big East. They have 8 losses but if you dig deeper into it you’ll see a loss to Pitt in OT, loss to Nova by 8, beat Uconn by 13, and took WVU to the limit. Add in our recent troubles with them and you have the makings for an upset. We lost to them twice last year including in the Big East tourney, and we are 0-4 against them in the last 3 years. Their top scorers are Samardo Samuels (15.5ppg, 7.3rebs) and Edgar Sosa (13.6ppg). Even though it worries me I’m giving the Orange the edge, but not posting a final prediction as of right now.

@ Georgetown: 2/18/10 16-5, 10-2 at home.

I think we all learned everything we needed to know about the hated Hoyas last month. They can not be allowed to get out to the type of lead that they did here at the Dome, if they do the conclusion will more than likely be much different. There will be a healthy Orange following down there, including myself and a party of 14 others. We will do everything in our power to get the Let’s Go Orange chants going but will be drowned out by the Hoya faithful, or as I like to call them ’Future convicts’.

@ Providence: 2/23/10 12-10, 8-4 at home

This may be the shortest preview ever. Although we lost to them at Providence last year, we beat them by 17 without Wes for nearly the full second half last week. If it wasn’t for an ugly 4 minutes it would have been 20+. No matter what we must come out the gates strong and finish strong, SU needs all the momentum we can get going into the showdown with Nova.

Thank You Greg Robinson (Debut Column From The NY Sports Guy)

2010-02-04T06:41:00.004-05:00

picture courtesy of http://www.fleetfeetsyracuse.com/newsletters/fleetfeetnewsvolume245april18-2005.php

With national signing day rapping up yesterday in the college football ranks, I thought I would keep it on the same page. SU signed 31 new recruits, a class that ranked 55th in the nation, 6th in the Big East, and 47 spots better than last years recruiting class. But I’m not here to talk current recruits and the state of Syracuse football as we now know it. I’m here to give my thanks for former head coach Greg Robinson.

That’s right ladies and gents; I would like to do something no other Syracuse fan has done. Thank Greg Robinson for his time as Master and Commander of Syracuse football. Before I get into Greg’s short tenure as a head football coach, let’s look at his predecessor, Mr. Paul Pasqualoni. At the end of his career here in Syracuse most thought it could only get better, and that we needed someone to “save” the once proud Syracuse football organization and the fan base. Even with Paul leading us to bowl games 2 out of his final 5 years, and posting a record in those years of 26 and 23. SU football was falling from grace quickly under him… Or so some thought.

As we would all learn with the departure of Paul and the entrance of Greg, it turns out that we more than likely would have been better under Paul if he stayed.

Safe to say everyone knows what happened to Syracuse football under Greg Robinson, but I will still throw out a few ‘fun’ facts. SU went 10 and 37 (that’s a .212 win %) under Greg’s lead. Attendance dropped to a pathetic level. We saw Rutgers, UConn, Temple, San Diego State, and Florida Atlantic, among many others jump ahead of SU in recruiting. Not to mention become not only the laughing stock of the Big East, but a joke in most, if not all NCAA football circles.

No one including myself will say his time here was well spent, or happy that he was ever here. We’re not proud of the records he posted, but those same records are one thing I’m thanking him for. Without posting those horrid records, and being as bad as he was so quickly we would not have Doug Marrone, his great work ethic, love for Syracuse University, and thighs that may scare small children and pets if they don’t watch out when walking past him. Because of Greg Robinson we now have a head coach who would rather be here than at the Super Bowl with his former team.

So thank you Greg Robinson, you may have saved Syracuse football after all, even if you did take the road less traveled to do it... You know, that old logging road that no one has been down in 40+ years, has 4 foot puddles of water every 50 feet, downed tress lying across it, a few dead bodies buried next to it, and after driving on it for 3 years you drive straight off a cliff.

Now that I’ve shown my appreciation for Greg Robinson I would also like to add that we all still wish you nothing but bad luck in your coaching career, hope someone flushes your gold fish down a toilet, and never want to see you in the great state of New York ever again.

Syracuse football national signing day news conference

video courtesy of syracuse.com

Syracuse Fans: This Is A Final Four Team So Be Proud

2010-01-31T13:02:00.006-05:00

While reading Brent Axe's (@AxemanBlog on Twitter) recent break down of the DePaul game on syracuse.com( SU-DePaul Recap The Axeman - Brent Axe -), I was reminded how many negative fans we and other teams are dealing with on an every day basis. I understand constructive criticism when they make mistakes but some people are just so negative in nature that they have the "sky is falling" mentality every time something gets a bit too tough (thanks to @SUMeg06 for giving me the perfect analogy). The following is a comment someone left and if I thought this was just one person's view, I would ignore it but I know there are more like this. Let me know what you think about what "hoopsphreak" had to say for himself and ask yourself, is this constructive or just simply finding the negative in one of the greatest basketball seasons in SU history:

"Bottom line - this is NOT a final four team. It might have been earlier this year, but not now. Talent is there, no doubt, but discipline and motivation seriously lacking lately.
"Time for JB to show some real Hall of Fame coaching ability.
"Fire up Wesley - make him a leader. AO - get the lead out or get the HELL out! Defense wins and rebounds rule.
"C;mon 'cuse - kick it into overdrive and show what you really have."

So am I wrong to read too much into that statement? Was this person simply trying to help point out the team's fault in the hopes that people will see it and adjust? To me, this looks like the comments of someone who is either bitter or expects perfection every time out.

Can someone please show me 4 teams who have demonstrated that they are that much better than Syracuse and have never had let down games? Let us not forget, they may have struggled but it is still a win in the end and a road win at that. I will say that right now, Kansas and Villanova are both playing great basketball right now and Kentucky looks like they could be a top contender as well but that is it and I think on any given night, this team could beat them as well. This team is a top 4-5 team and could potentially be #1 in the country at any time (as well as #1 in Orange hearts).

Why be so negative when we have so much to be proud of?

Every team struggles from time to time and this struggle still resulted in a road win which when it is all said and done, will be all that matters. Be proud to be an Orange fan (even though we should always be proud of our program). They have potential NBA lottery draft pick, ESPN Sportscenter top 10 play contender, and spectacular shot blocker Wes Johnson. Andy Rautins has great defensive skills and can light up a team by himself on any given night. AO and Rick Jackson are talented big men who can dominate inside. Kris Joseph is in my opinion the best 6th man in all of the NCAA. And how can you not be proud when you have a Hall of Fame coach like Jim Boeheim who not only delivers on the court but makes press conferences worth watching whether he is talkative or not. We are one F'n Keith Smart shot away from having two championships and some programs in this country would trade us in a heartbeat to have the program we have at Syracuse. Not to mention, we have some of the most dedicated fans like Michael Borkowski (@MBorkowski) who showed us his exceptional artistic skills with the drawing below:

My point is this, enjoy the ride and stop trying be a Negative Nelly. Rants like the one above accomplish nothing but prove ignorance and the fact that you are either a bandwagon fan or think everyone should be a perfect as you. This team is 21-1 and if you are looking at only the pre-season game, the Pitt loss and this close game as reasons to support your view of why they will fail, please jump off the bandwagon now because the true fans do not need your support and neither does this team. We need people like those who showed up at the Georgetown game and made me proud to bleed Orange. Thank you for those who have pride and are not afraid to show it. I appreciate those who point out issues they have but remain supportive that this is one of the best teams in the country regardless. And to those who think this is a sign of the apocalypse, either learn to have faith and be supportive when we struggle or find a new hobby because we are not all as perfect as your expectations apparently (and neither is any other team in college basketball). This team has the potential to win it all and I plan to enjoy the journey with them.

GO ORANGE!

12 Reasons Why The Sports Fix Should Be Live Streaming

2010-01-30T10:09:00.003-05:00

There has been a debate off and on for a while now about a Syracuse friendly show, Matt Mc's Sports Fix having the ability to do online streaming. The host, Matt McClusky, has a very good show but the problem is, unless you live in the Watertown, NY AM region or download his podcasts later, not enough people can hear how good his show is. So in his honor, I made a list of 12 good reasons why they should start streaming their channel online. These are in no particular order because many are just as good as the other but all very valid (or at least I think so).

12 Reason Why The Sports Fix Should Be Live Streaming Online

12- The ability to appeal to a broader audience base in other cities or states. This would also open it up to more guests who may be more attracted to a bigger audience. There are people spread out all over this country who were either raised in the area, stationed there or went to school there who want to keep up with things. The fact that part of Matt's show pertains to Syracuse sports means it will appeal to Syracuse grads who I assure you are spread out all over the country and even the world and would stream his show if they could.

11- You now allow for deployed service members at Fort Drum or local businessmen traveling the ability to follow the station and not miss out. I can tell you first hand as a veteran, nothing feels better when you are away from home than a familiar show that reminds you of home and keeps you up to date on what is going on. How can you say no to our men and women in uniform? Are you a communist sympathized or something?

10- You can include live links into social networking to allow viewers to tune in, especially if you update periodically throughout the show and the subject is something they like.

9- The ability to expand show topics since you will have more people listening. I know Matt can handle more subjects as well as educate the listeners by bringing in guests in many different sports.

8- Many company computers allows access to online audio streaming but do not allow radios in the office. So if I want to listen to the show at work, my only chance is to go to the website and stream it, with headphones on of course so the boss won't know.

7- The entire station will benefit, not just The Sports Fix. If I like to listen to Matt's show, there is a very good chance I will listen to other programming as well since I know the streaming works with his station. I would be more tempted to check out other programming as opposed to switching back and forth between stations, especially if at work and too busy to change it at the moment.

6- Now that you have a broader audience, you can now appeal to more advertisers. You can be see as an avenue for national companies (or those hoping to expand in the future) and even online companies more.

5- Allows the better real time debate and participation with the show. This also will allow for more opportunity for breaking news in other areas and others to consider you a reliable source since you now have a bigger audience.

4- Open up options for live remotes which will allow more people to interact with the show. I know that in the Charlotte market, I have seen many who like to show up for such events whether it is for charity or just for something fun but it makes them feel like a bigger part of the show. By streaming online, people may be able to make travel plans in advance to join if they may be out of the listening area for AM radio but close enough to make the drive.

3- The ability to market and possibly even add affiliates to those who carry the show. Doesn't everybody win when people realize how good Matt is and other stations want to carry his show as well? More money, more advertising revenue.

2- People in Kentucky will finally get to participate and see what kind of sweet nicknames they can find for Matt. Ah, that Fab Melo will forever haunt their dreams.

1-Merchandising! How can you not want to see that face above on t-shirts and bumper stickers all over this great country of ours? A campaign centered around the slogan "I Need My Sports Fix". The women will go wild and the guys will want to be him. Not to mention, WNER plastered next to his face (heck, put it on his forehead if you want).

My Top 12 Game Time Refreshments

2010-01-30T09:01:00.004-05:00

I have composed a list of the things I enjoy most when there is a good game on TV whether it is SU or the Super Bowl. Some may not agree but again, this is my top 12 so it is fine if you don't.

12- Mozzarella Sticks

11-Popcorn with extra butter

10-Thick, juicy, quality well done cheeseburger with mushrooms

9-Kielbasa with macaroni and cheese

8-Pringles or Doritos (depending on my mood or which is on sale)

7-Orange Powerade

6-Friendlys Strawberry Ice Cream ( I love the chunks of strawberry in it)

5-Corona (Budweiser or Labatts works as well depending on where I am)

4-Hoffman's German Franks

3-Mountain Dew (though if they kept Throwback Pepsi around, might be a toss up)

2-Tully's Tender Platter

1-Pizza and wings (either Sami's Pizza in Bridgeport, NY or Brooklyn Boys in Mooresville or sometimes Pizza Hut Meat Lovers or Supreme)

The Syracuse Orangeman/Carrier Dome Anthem

2010-01-28T13:20:00.001-05:00

GMac On ESPN Comparing Wes and Melo's Game As Welll As 2010 Team To 2003 Champs

2010-01-27T15:34:00.003-05:00

Get Fired Up Orange Fans, Georgetown Is In Our House

2010-01-25T16:26:00.002-05:00

Orange fans should not need to be pumped up for Georgetown playing in our Dome on OUR court and making as much noise as they can. In the event some think this is just another gave, I give you some inspirational videos to show you the importance of Syracuse/Georgetown rivalry and why this is more than just a regular season game. This is why players come to wear the Orange jerseys and Orange fans wear their Shut It Down orange shirts with pride. This is as big as it gets, this is Syracuse and Georgetown and we will not just sit idly by and let this be another game. We will walk around and carry the big stick and remind those Hoyas who the hell we are. We are Syracuse and this is our house. Now let's get going and show Georgetown who the hell is running this place and why the Carrier Dome was nicknamed the Loud House and was once the most feared place to play. GO ORANGE!

Before And After Marquette Game Syracuse Videos

2010-01-24T14:48:00.002-05:00

Before, courtesy of Citrus TV:

After, courtesy of syracuse.com:

Syracuse vs. Marquette Basketball: Players Jardine, Rautins and Johnson

Monday January 25th-Otto And the Syracuse Orangemen Do it Doggie Style And Screw The Hoyas

2010-01-23T21:05:00.005-05:00

That right Orange fans, at 7pm EST on Monday the 25th, the Syracuse Orange will return to the Carrier Dome (broadcast on ESPN as well as streaming on Orange All Access, which you can find on SUAthletics.com) where they were victorious today against Marquette (for a great breakdown of the game check out Axe's take here http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/index.ssf/2010/01/su-marquette_recap.html ). Obviously this is a day that will be remembered for all who attend. Georgetown is the most hated rival for many Orange fans but I ask one thing while we kick their butts on the court and bend them over like only certain officials have been able to do with Syracuse (oh and please stop the LeMoyne references because it was a practice game that counts for nothing). Please let's not have a repeat of this:

This was an embarrassment to Orange fans everywhere. If there was ever a team I disliked and who's players even when they went pro hate to succeed, it was Georgetown but we have to use better tactics to defeat them and have our heads high. We should not sink to their depths of ignorance as I am sure some of them were anything but innocent. I also understands sometimes heated discussions happen in these games and it comes with the rivalry involved but there is nothing worse than tuning into ESPN and the highlight they comment on the most is this display of ugly sportsmanship, well the lack thereof.

Orange fans, show up and be heard. Bring back the legendary Loud House and have faith in your top 5 team who could possibly be a #1 team in the near future as long as they can keep winning. Wear your Orange (hopefully some Shut It Down gear) and be proud but show them we have class (maybe not Club 44 class but we still have some). I don't mind if Hoya fans are intimidated to come to the Dome but it should be because Syracuse fans are passionate but with morales and because the team on the court will handle its business. STAND UP AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ORANGE FANS CARE AND THIS IS OUR HOUSE!!! Now, enjoy the victory for a few hours but remember, Monday is a day where legends are made in a rivalry that may not be big to certain ESPN jackasses but is huge in the hearts of Syracuse and Georgetown fans. Go Orange!

My Syracuse/Marquette Preview

2010-01-23T13:30:00.001-05:00

Syracuse beats Marquette. That is all. You may now proceed to the real blogs.

Hermie Sadler Talks To TNA's Traci Brooks About Her Disability, Being A TNA Knockout And Her Chest(But Mostly The Chest)

2010-01-23T10:08:00.003-05:00

ESPN's Andy Katz Talks to Coach Boeheim About Wes, Andy and Road Wins

2010-01-22T23:01:00.002-05:00

Who Would You Put On A Syracuse Shirt as The Best Ever?

2010-01-18T22:41:00.003-05:00

While on Twitter tonight after watching Syracuse defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 84-71,a discussion broke out between myself and @cusechic04 about a possible idea for Holy Shirt (or someone to produce). I mentioned that the best bleed Orange in reference to Wes and she thought something like that belonged on the shirt. I added how awesome it would be if the front said "The Best Bleed Orange" and on the back was a list of the best players in Syracuse sports history, kind of like those tour shirts you see at music concerts.

So let say they decided to make a shirt, what names would have to be on the shirt? Should it be exclusive to one sport? Would 20 names be enough? Or should it be specialized for just an elite few like have the back look like a jersey with one name and their number? What do you think and if you think various names/sports, who do you think has to be on the shirt? I personally like the list and could think of almost 20 names just from basketball history alone but think it would be better with a mix of sports. Here is my list and tell me what you think(in no particular order of course).

Donovan McNabb

Don McPherson

Art Monk

Ernie Davis

Jim Brown

Floyd Little

David Bing

Pearl Washington

Derrick Coleman

Sherman Douglas

Carmelo Anthony

Jonny Flynn

Wes Johnson (yes, already)

Gary Gait

Paul Gait

Jim Boeheim

John Desko

Roy Simmons Sr.

Roy Simmons Jr.

Dick MacPherson

TNA Wrestling: Just Another Wrestling Organization Or Total Nonstop Action?

2010-01-17T21:03:00.003-05:00

On January 4th, TNA Wrestling started a new era with Hulk Hogan in charge. He talked about how he was going to change TNA for the better and give wrestling fans who were bored with WWE's product an alternative. He talked about how TNA talent would have to step up to prove they belong and brought in names like Ric Flair, Jeff Hardy, Orlando Jordan, The Nasty Boys and Sean Morley along with reuniting "the band" aka The Outsiders with Sean Waltman. Tonight, TNA debuted a new entrance ramp that goes all the way to the ring and switched from a 6 sides ring to a four sided ring. I must admit that I enjoyed the previous TNA product so I may be biased and I am not a huge fan of change but I must say this, so far the changes TNA made have not built my interest but actually made me care less about the product.

TNA had carved it's own identity for over 5 years now and the 6 sided ring added a innovative look and provided the talent a chance to do different things. The fans seemed to love it, most wrestlers seemed to love it and yet, new management must not. So I see they already have adapted the Vince McMahon theory of wrestling where you know more than the fans about what we like. Bring back the 6 sides and some originality to the product.

I know WCW eventually caught WWE in the ratings and defeated them for several weeks but to me, it seems as though they want to replicate WCW as though they learned from their mistakes. They want to use other people's money to bring in name value even though that locker room is loaded with talent. I mean really, you bring in the Nasty Boys so we can maybe see them stick someone's face in their armpits or Orlando Jordan who was best known for being JBL's lackey just to interrupt the Black Pope during an interview? Oh and what would wrestling be if we didn't have a tease of a strip poker game that involved a former porn star gimmick? I guess maybe we should look for more T&A matches in TNA than allowing some of the most talented female wrestlers a chance to actually showcase their talents.

I know I should give it more time and maybe I am jumping the gun but in all honesty, the only positive things I have seen so far are things that already existed and that was the quality of matches such as Angle and AJ or GenerationMe and MotorCityMachineGuns. Sure, Scott Hall and the Nasty Boys probably got the casual wrestling fans interest but honestly, how much longer can you keep bringing in surprise debuts or depend on guys who in their prime, which was over a decade ago, for the most part was still not all that great (with the exceptions being Flair and Hardy).

TNA's best asset is to be original and stick to great in ring action. I personally would love to see them feature more action with maybe some quick ringside interviews or a more realistic feel (like using rankings to establish contenders instead of soap opera type story lines and interviews that feel more realistic). By trying to compete with WWE at their own game, you are already losing the battle because they have more powerful resources at their disposal and history on their side. Be proud of what TNA stands for and provide the fans the best Total Nonstop Action in the wrestling business bar none and let the fans come to you. I wish TNA the best of luck but I have to admit, so far I am not impressed with the changes that have been made.

Thank You Contest And Other Contests Links

2010-01-16T19:20:00.003-05:00

I am sitting here trying to think of a way to say thank you for all of your support. I have been through some personal issues for a while now and needed some time to think. I also found it hard to concentrate on writing as my mind was preoccupied. So to say thank you for those who stuck around and follow me on Twitter, especially those who helped me win the Twitter Friendly's contest, I am giving out a prize of your choosing. I have been out of work since March so money is tight but what I can offer is your choice of either a 1974 Floyd Little Denver Broncos football card or 2 coupons for free Friendly's prepackaged ice cream. The way to win is simple: simply tweet me (OrangeChuck) and tell me which prize you prefer and your favorite orange thing (besides Syracuse sports). The tenth tweet I get that states both will win the prize of their choice. I may share some choices as I actually enjoy a lot of things not related to Syracuse that are orange. Good luck to you all.

UPDATE: I found a couple winners(@SyracuseSoldier and @ducktape1) to split the prizes with but no worries, I plan to try and do more in the future using Twitter.

I also have included some of my favorite contest links for those who are curious about where I find them. I would also highly advice you to find your local radio/television stations on the internet as many have giveaways or membership clubs that offer contests and all it takes it a simple registration. Also, check Twitter for some of your favorite companies and follow them because many of them use gift cards to help build interest in their product.

Sweepstakes / Contests

Contests, Sweepstakes and Free Stuff: Win prizes on Syracuse.com.

Contests - CBSSports.com

Current Sweepstakes and Contests

ESPN - Promotions & Contests

Sony Pictures - Promotions & Sweepstakes

My Coke Rewards

The Anthem That Will Have The Carrier Dome Rocking(Uncensored Lyrics)

2010-01-15T18:15:00.004-05:00

Since I do not have access to the Carrier Dome or any video taping equipment, I thought I would just share the lyrics with you that I wrote. If are offended by cursing, then this is not the post for you because I posted the video below as an example of why there is so much. I hope you all enjoy it as I enjoyed writing it.

Also, this is just my first post back as I intend to post occasionally but more often than I have lately, to which I apologize.

I’m At The Dome

Written by Orange Chuck

(Shawtay)

Aw shit, get your Orange ready, it’s about to go down.

Everybody in the Dome, stand your asses up and stay on your mother fuckin toes.

We running this. Let’s go.

I’m at the Dome. I’m at the Dome. Everybody look at me cause I’m hanging at the Dome. I’m at the Dome. I’m at the Dome. Take a good, hard look at the motherfuckin Dome.

I’m at the Dome mother fucker take a look at me. Straight hangin at the Dome at Syracuse University. Sportin my Shut It Down tee, better view than at home. You can’t stop us motherfucker cause I’m at the Dome.

Take my picture trick. I’m at the Dome bitch. We eating Dome Dogs cause they so crisp. I got my SU hoodie and my Otto ball cap. I’m rooting for the Orange, you rootin for teams that are whack.

I’m sittin in the student section, cheering loud and shit. Wes Johnson’s dunkin, just his style. Receivers beware, Shamarko Gone Wild. And our lacrosse team has championships stock piled. I’m at the Dome motherfucker, don’t you ever forget.

I’m at the Dome and GMac’s in the house and the cheerleaders are getting the crowd pumped up. We got championship trophies, thanks to Warrick and Melo. If don’t like Orange, then you’re sure not me, oh. Get the fuck up, this Dome is real.

Fuck Hoyas, I’m at the Dome motherfucker. Fuck Huskies, I bleed Orange motherfucker. I’m at the Dome with my boys motherfucker. The Dome speakers make noise, motherfucker.

Hey ma, if you could see me now, arms up signaling for a three. Gonna make this the Loud House I guarantee. Like Coach Marrone, anything is possible.

Yeah. Always dreamed I’d be at the Dome. It’s a big Dome in Syracuse, New York. Yeah. Astrodome, look at me, ooh. (All hands in the air). Always dreamed of the day, to the Dome I’d find my way. Believe me when I say, I fucked a Hoya today.

I’m at the Dome. I’m at the Dome. Everybody look at me cause I’m cheering at the Dome. (Whooa) I’m at the Dome. I’m at the Dome. Take a good hard look at the motherfuckin Dome.

Shawtay. Shawtay. Yeah, yea, yea.

Let syracuse.com And West Genessee HS Students Introduce Your To Some Vets On Veterans Day

2009-11-10T23:15:00.001-05:00

Excerpts from "On Common Ground"

A Sunday In Syracuse Sports Video Festival

2009-11-08T12:55:00.002-05:00

Jim Boeheim Talks About The Importance of 800 Wins

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football: Doug Marrone

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football: Bud Poliquin

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football: Greg Paulus

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football: Ryan Nassib

SU Women Can Jump

Syracuse University’s Kayla Alexander

Paul Harris Drafted #8 in NBA D-League Draft By Maine Red Claws

2009-11-05T22:23:00.002-05:00

SU Basketball Coach Talks About "Shut It Down"

2009-11-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

"Shut It Down" by Syracuse basketball's Rob Murphy

Syracuse Football And Alcohol: The Perfect Blend

2009-11-02T14:11:00.005-05:00

Brad Paisley - Alcohol - For more funny videos, click here

For those who have not heard yet, Mike Williams officially informed Syracuse Football Head Coach Doug Marrone that he has left the program (his status with the school itself is still unknown). This is hard news to bare for fans of the program who thought (and many of us still believe) this program was finally headed in the right direction and could even possibly reach a bowl game in Coach Marrone's first year, though it was a long shot. Add into this, the on field problems with turnover and a pass defense with obvious issues and many Orange fans are left wondering what they did to deserve such a kick in the stomach. Do they make enough alcohol to even help tolerate all of this trouble?

We have some fans who think free or discount tickets on fan appreciation day are not worth their time to show support even in struggling times. They also think the wave is a fun idea and booing their own player is appropriate. Heck, just looking around a half empty Dome will make you want to make another beer run out of frustration for the fans who you know would be there if Syracuse was winning.

And then we have player issues to manage. Greg Paulus is making some mistakes that is hurting the team and Nassib is showing promising signs for the future which has lead to a quarterback controversy. Sometimes we have to remember though that we as fans are not at every practice and Nassib looks good in limited reps but it is possible he may not be ready to start a whole game at the most important position of a football team. Nassib has so far shown he has a rocket for an arm and does not have the turnovers Paulus has so one can only wonder if or when the change will be made. Greg has done a lot to help this university and I think even if he is pulled, can still contribute on and off the field to this program, just in a more limited role.

And then we all wake up today and find out the Mike Williams had announced he left the team. I refuse to speculate as to his reasons but past actions whether it be his issues that led him to spend a year at community college or his Facebook remarks could have something to do with it but it could be anything, possibly even a personal issue that none of us are aware of. I know for many, it is hard to take and understand his reasons but maybe in time we will. And regardless, we are frustrated so where do we turn now? Alcohol!

Look, I am not condoning drinking (unless it is responsibly done and you are of age, in which case, feel free to drink up) but to be honest, it is hard to be a Syracuse football fan for the past few year sand not think about it. It seems as though every time we think we see progress, something shatters our hopes and dreams of seeing Syracuse football being respectable again. It seems as though Syracuse fans are finding it harder and harder to support this team and you have to wonder if it is more than just bad football.

I remember being a little kid growing up in the Syracuse area and if someone had tickets to the Dome, that was better than winning the lottery to an Orange fan. Now it seems that the only fans left are the ones who either remain nostalgic about those days, those who want to overpay for beer, or the loyal students who are trying to support their school but somehow are outnumbered because they are the only ones sober enough to wake up before noon to walk across campus (and for those folks, I say thank you for your determination and faith in this program). Could someone please end the pain soon because I refuse to do anything other than bleed Syracuse Orange? The pain not only hurts but is becoming an embarrassing pimple on the butt of college football and as someone so eloquently put it this past weekend, Syracuse is quickly becoming a basketball school and with the rich tradition this program has, that is simply inexcusable and we need to fix it now. In the meantime, alcohol sales in the Syracuse area and anywhere that grads/fans reside will continue to be on the rise. Drink up because even with signs of progress out there for us to see, without Mike Williams, this season has the potential to go awfully wrong and awfully quick.

Cincy/Syracuse Post Game Press Conferences Courtesy Of syracuse.com

2009-10-31T20:26:00.003-04:00

Syracuse vs. Cincinnati football: Arthur Jones

Syracuse vs. Cincinnati football: Greg Paulus

Syracuse vs. Cincinnati football: Doug Marrone

And the winner of the best costume for the game (besides that of Orange 44 bloggers Brian Harrison and John Brennan dressed as refs), is this guy:

M&M costume on the SU Quad

Cincy/Syracuse Citrus TV Orange Press Pass Game Analysis

2009-10-31T20:16:00.002-04:00

Cuse Countdown Talks Today's Syracuse/Cincinnati Game

2009-10-31T09:40:00.001-04:00

Citrus TV On The Bench SU Basketball Chat

2009-10-27T00:33:00.000-04:00

Syracuse University basketball media day | On the Bench
by CitrusTV

Orange Press Pass Anchored by Jameson Fleming Breaks Down SU/Akron

2009-10-26T13:23:00.001-04:00

Carvel Ice Cream Cake + Long Bus Ride = SU Women's Field Hockey Video

2009-10-19T15:23:00.003-04:00

Click To Play

Syracuse Basketball Is Back And Here Are The Videos To Prove It

2009-10-17T19:08:00.002-04:00

2009 Syracuse University men's basketball's freshmen class

Coach Quentin Hillsman at Media Day

2009 Syracuse University men's basketball Media Day

Syracuse Basketball Midnight Madness 2009

Syracuse University men's basketball 2009: First practice

Citrus Videos and Some Kenny To Help You Manage Your Bye Week Blues

2009-10-14T16:20:00.002-04:00

I found some Syracuse videos to enjoy while surfing so if you wanted more West Virginia game fallout, I got your fix courtesy of Citrus TV and Kenny's Two Pennies. And if you are not a fan of Kenny, you have no sense of entertainment value in your soul and may in fact be soulless altogether.

And if you are a Syracuse student and hungry (even though I did not hear Tully's mentioned), here are some popular ideas courtesy of Citrus TV.

Finally....The B.O.B Junk Drawer Has Come Back To The Internet

2009-10-14T15:32:00.006-04:00

I would like to apologize for the lack of posts lately. I am trying to adjust to the school schedule and continue to find a job while also balance the personal life so it gets hectic at times.

I would also like to apologize in advance if some of the links are expired. I have saved some of these for a couple weeks now but just not found the time to post them so some of the contests may be expired but I would double check them because some of these prizes are well worth the time.

NASCAR on ESPN Pick 12 Challenge

GEAR UP AND GO! SWEEPSTAKES

ESPN Fantasy Salary Cap

Chase

TBS - Hass Avocado "The Big Hit" Sweepstakes

Ford Monsters On Mainstreet Sweepstakes - Enter to Win

Febreze® - The Freshest Game Day Ever Sweepstakes

Bring The Bus Home

2012 Escape Sweepstakes

NFL.com - Official Site of the National Football League

Wiley X HVP Sweepstakes

Mitchell's Fish Market Derby Days Sweepstakes > Entry Form

Service Master Clean Racing Sweepstakes

TradeWinds Resort - Just Let Go Travel

Contests - CBSSports.com

McDonalds Monopoly 2009

Here are a couple fun websites to check out also:

Move the Sticks

The Sport Hump...dry and harmless: Your tailgate wants to inappropriately touc

The Big Jab

If you are laid off and looking for a break, here is one example of some companies stepping up to help those of us who are hurting right now. I know K-Mart is not the player it has been in the past due to Wal-Mart's growth but for some, every little bit helps. So if you are working but know someone who is out of work and think could use it, pass this along to them.
Kmart's new recession play: Discounts for the unemployed -- DailyFinance

Funny clip of the week contains some cursing but honestly, it was the best part of watching Lethal Weapon 3 and finding it, I still had to laugh. It is somewhat old school when it talks about cell phones but still amusing and for some, probably still relevant.

Citrus TV's Orange Press Pass With Analysis of Syracuse/West Virginia

2009-10-10T18:56:00.003-04:00

I will admit, I did watch the 2nd half of the game but again, I find it unfair to give a fair break down unless I am sitting down with a notebook and can watch the whole game. I think the folks at Citrus TV do a great job so here they are again giving their top notch analysis. Next week is a bye week so enjoy these as you probably will not get anything for a couple weeks. Also this week, courtesy of Peter Chen at www.syracuse.com, I give you clips of the press conferences. Trying to make this your one stop for all your Orange post game analysis on video.

Syracuse vs. West Virginia Football: Doug Marrone

Syracuse vs. West Virginia Football: Williams and Nassib

West Virginia Beats Syracuse 34-13 And Orange Fans Have Yet Another Bad Day

2009-10-10T16:27:00.002-04:00

Just When You Thought The Wave PSA Videos Were Over, We Bring You The Outtakes

2009-10-05T19:25:00.002-04:00

Citrus TV Orange Press Pass Breaks Down SU/USF Game

2009-10-04T19:38:00.003-04:00

For those who may not know, I live in NC and it is hard for me to see the game. Since my only access to the game is following along with it on Twitter, I think it is unfair for me to give my analysis of the game. Luckily for you though, the future sportscasters of America at Citrus TV do a great job and so I bring you their videos.

Stop Leaving Games Early PSA

2009-10-03T20:22:00.002-04:00

Syracuse Loses To South Florida 34-20 And My Post Game Thoughts

2009-10-03T16:47:00.001-04:00

If You Leave Early In A Loss, Stay Away From The Wins

2009-10-03T14:50:00.002-04:00

I am writing this today broken hearted not just because Syracuse is losing a game they could win if not for the turnovers but I am also pissed off at the fan base who I look at as part of my extended family for their actions in "support" of this team. We the Syracuse Orange bloggers, did a PSA the other day on fans doing the wave to support the team. I have heard discussion on how fans love to celebrate with the team in victory, singing with them in the end zone. How can some of these same people call themselves fans when the first site of a loss or bad game sends them running for the doors?

It is like a reflex for people that when times get tough, people split. However, when it's time to celebrate, everyone comes running and this has to stop. This is why fair-weather fans ruin sports because a true fan sticks with their team in good times and bad. You don't leave your wife when had a bad day, you support her and help her to see tomorrow will be better. The same loyalty should apply to your sports teams if you want to consider yourself a true fan. Hell, many times some of these so called "fans" leave with still plenty of time left on the clock and the score is not completely out of hand.

If you are one of these people, do us all a favor and stay the hell at your house next time Syracuse plays (or any team for that matter). We do not need fans like you in our stands representing the fan base. I would rather have a half empty Carrier Dome full of passionately devoted fans who will be loud when they need to and stay even during rough times to show this team some true support.

When you get up and walk out, you are not setting a good example. You are saying that you only like them when they win and screw you when you have a bad day. Yes, I know the past has made being a Syracuse fan rough to tolerate at times but there are signs of progress and fans need to stop looking more for signs of weakness. Stand up and be loud in support of the team. Encourage them to be better and sometimes they may just listen and be inspired by you instead of seeing you run out which will only add to the problem.

I understand the feeling of depression and sorrow following a loss, as any fan should and will do if they truly care enough. However, the sign of a good fan and a fan that the team would love supporting them is to be there even when they fail. This is when they need our encouragement the most and if that is too hard for you, please stay at home and be that person who only wears their Syracuse Orange gear when they win and we can all see through you. A real fan will celebrate with their team when they win and cry with them when they lose, not run for the doors to get to their car so they can be home a couple minutes sooner.

Anyway, I had to rant and if you don't like what I had to say, maybe you should be looking in the mirror and asking yourself why you are a fan of this team. Go support some front runner because things have a way of turning around and when this program does return to it's winning way, you will be the one who looks like a jackass for not supporting them all along.

Be Loud! Be Proud! In Good Times And Bad; True Fans Are The Best Fans To Have.

Syracuse Bloggers Take A Stand, We Will Not Tolerate The Wave

2009-10-02T18:59:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Alexander O. for the great editing and Sean over at www.nunesmagician.com for putting this together. By the way, I learned a valuable lesson while taping this and that is, do not use cell phone cameras in a room with little light. Enjoy and pass it along because we must educate people on the dangers we face as a nation while the wave still exists.

Videos That Inspire The Syracuse Football Team

2009-09-29T09:58:00.003-04:00

I was sitting here this morning after a long day at Wild Wing Cafe in Charlotte last night watching the Panthers prove why it will be a long season in the Carolinas for us NFL fans when I realized I needed inspiration. So I asked myself, what would inspire the Syracuse football team? Here is what I found.

First, Arthur Jones inspirational piece. This was taped in Syracuse so you have to wonder if he was in attendance as well when it was filmed. This one is for you Arthur:

Next up, Delone Carter, or as his friend like to refer to him DC3. And this is in reference to his running ability and his arm size, nothing else you filthy minded gutter rats you:

#SHAMARKO who I believe could take a licking and keep on ticking:

Ryan Lichtenstein says if this guy can do it, he can too:

Mike Williams, this song goes out to you not just because I hear you are a ladies man but because you be burning the secondaries so somebody call 911:

Sean Kingston - Fire Burning [NEW]
by wonderful-life1989

How about a inspirational speech from Charlie "Tremendous" Jones (and yes, apparently that is the guys name) for Head Coach Doug Marrone:

And finally, Mr. Greg Paulus as the leader of the team searching for inspiration from another great leader:

Syracuse Defeats Maine...WOOOO

2009-09-27T22:20:00.001-04:00

The 9/24 B.O.B. Junk Drawer

2009-09-24T16:51:00.002-04:00

First up, a link to the Tullys website and while we are on the Syracuse topic (since Tullys is the best sports bar in the Cuse), here are some other great related Syracuse items like some good articles:

Tully's Good Times

Sweet Redemption: How Greg Paulus Is Proving The Doubters Wrong Bleacher Rep

For The Syracuse Orange Defense; Derrell Smith Is The Unsung Hero Bleacher R

Three Idiots on Sports: Syracuse Fans - Retire the Wave

Syracuse University Athletics - "Melo" Opens Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Cen

For those of you who are curious who won the official SUAthletics.com blogger contest, here it is:
Syracuse University Athletics

And how about some SU radio spots featuring an interview with Delone Carter with a Maine radio station:
The Big Jab

And OCC's communication program online radio station which includes some sports talk:

Supermix.us : Onondaga's alternative connection

And for those who use Twitter, check this out if you want a new background:

TwitterBackgrounds.com Free Twitter Backgrounds

And of course the contests for those of you who like these things:

TROPICANA ULTIMATE SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE SWEEPSTAKES

Sweepstakes

Official Ballot MLB.com: 2009 Roberto Clemente Award

NFL The NFL and Frito-Lay are looking for the NFL's "most fanatical family." E

Golf Digest: Golf Digest Magazine

Major League Baseball: Sharp: Hank Aaron Award Registration MLB.com: Sharp

Win a Trip for 2 to the FINAL RACE of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series!

Chili's Tailgate Tour 2009

Penguins Defy Ordinary Season Ticket Sweepstakes - Pittsburgh Penguins - Fan Z

Contests - CBSSports.com

And the funny video of the week from one of my all time favorite comedies:

Top 10 Twitter Hashtags For Syracuse Football

2009-09-24T14:01:00.003-04:00

No, I am not trying to become the David Letterman of Syracuse/sports bloggers but in light of yesterdays list and a conversation between some of us Orange fans on Twitter, I had another fun way to use it. For those not familiar with Twitter, when you want something to trend easier, you encourage others to hashtag a keyword and if enough people use it, it will trend on everyone's page. So though I am sure we will stick with #BeatMaine to keep the streak going with the current team Syracuse is facing, here is my top 10 list of other Syracuse football related hastags.

10. #KickStrongRobLong

9. #OurMarrone

8. #WhatUGonnaDoWhenDC3RunsWildOnU

7. #ArthurJonesSmellsQBBlood

6. #WWGPD (What Would Greg Paulus Do)

5. #GiveMHellDerrell (contributed by @nunesmagician)

4. #MikeWilliamsLoveTheLongBall

3. #KillEmGillum (contributed by @dkelz1888)

2. #TheLegendOfLichtensteinBegins or #DrLichtensteinIPresume

1. #SHAMARKO

Top 10 Reasons Why If You Live In Syracuse, You Should Go See The Syracuse/Maine Game Live

2009-09-23T16:32:00.003-04:00

I have heard the banter about why anyone should go see the Syracuse football team play Maine and I have to say, I am shocked at how little people care about this game. So in light of all that, I bring to you my top 10 reasons if you are in Syracuse or nearby, you should go to the Carrier Dome for the game this Saturday.

10. The game is at 7pm on a Saturday night, what else could you possibly be doing in Syracuse at that time that can't wait until after the game (with the only exceptions being to watch the game at Tully's or you could not get off of work)? I lived in the area for many years so trust me, nothing else of value is going on except the game.

9. Maine likely won't sell out so you have a better chance to get better seats for your money then the rest of the games this season.

8. Show your Orange pride and you can do it for as little at $15 a seat (maybe less if you ask around and buy someone's season ticket they can't use). They are playing better and deserve the support of the fans and the community.

7. To redeem yourself by wearing Orange if you attended previous games wearing other colors.

6. No fear of our basketball and football teams fighting each other like at other universities.

5. Since it is a 7pm game which means all day tailgating and trust me, there will be some good food and drinks in the vicinity

4. And if that wasn't enough partying and you do not have post game plans, you could always ask around for the best party and hopefully enjoy a Syracuse victory with other intoxicated Orange fans.

3. It's better then watching Rutgers football.

2. Greg Paulus,Ryan Lichtenstein,Mike Williams, Delone Carter, Shamarko Thomas, Arthur Jones, Max Suter, and the rest of this team which is building faith in Orange football once again. Not to mention some of those names will graduate this year so your chances to watch them play are diminishing every week.

1. You have the chance to hang with or at least get your picture taken with the one and only Kenny Haas, who will be at the game this Saturday night (well I am sure he would if you asked). And as Brent Axe stated on his Twitter page (@AxemanBlog), if Kenny has to pay for a beer at all that night, it is a Syracuse fan fail because he is a local celebrity and we need to take care of those.

What SU Football Player Would You Follow?

2009-09-23T10:12:00.003-04:00

picture courtesy of syracuse.com

In this day and age of modern technology and social networking, many of us find ourselves following not just family and friends but also people with a celebrity status on some level. Whether it is the stars of the movie The Hangover or Gossip Girls (not that I would follow them), we find ourselves wanting to know more about these people we enjoy watching. Between Myspace, Facebook and Twitter alone, many people are on there to reach out to their fans. So in light of this fact, if you could get one Syracuse Orange player to follow, who would you choose?

I don't have Myspace anymore and rarely use Facebook but I do know some coaches and former players are on Twitter like Curtis "Boonah" Brinkley. I thought Delone Carter (DC3) was on Twitter but apparently I was wrong. Coach Marrone started an account and used it for a bit but then defer to the Syracuse athletics department to handle it. I think Nico Scott is on there but after my experiences with DC3, I am unsure if it is truly him or not (though I do have him listed on the follow list to the left of my main page under players on Twitter).

So let's just say the athletic department polled the fans and asked you, what player on this team would you want to follow? Would you want to live vicariously through Greg Paulus and see how life is with all his expectations and attention? Would you want DC3 to actually be on Twitter this time and tell you about his workout routine or how to make your own running lanes when the line won't give you much? Maybe you would choose Shamarko Thomas to tell you how it feels to be a freshman on campus who can deliver hits that will make a receiver think twice about catching a ball? How about following walk on sensation Ryan Lichtenstein to see how it feels to go from obscurity to the big man on campus after a clutch game winning field goal? Or last but not least, wouldn't it be fun to see Facebook updates and the friends Mike Williams would have in his return to Syracuse and the ladies who love him?

My choice would probably be Lichtenstein because I can't even imagine how much his life has changed in the past few weeks. The girls on campus actually know his name now. The local restaurants recognize him and take a little something off the bill(Tully's, you better take good care of him if he shows up). He went from sitting in the dorm studying or having to talk his way into parties to having an entourage escort him to the best parties on and off campus. Well that and the fact that he played in Monroeville, PA, a town I am very familiar with having lived right down the street for a few years and have a strong affection because of my great experiences there. Not to mention, as a kicker, he has extra time on the sideline to sneak his blackberry down there and maybe Tweet during the games.

Who would you choose?

Post Game Press Conferences and The Tie I Want For Christmas

2009-09-22T18:48:00.002-04:00

Yes I am getting better at posting videos and less as dependable for writing (though I hope to change that in the near future) but these videos I enjoyed because it not only showed Lichtenstein in his first big time appearance but I loved Greg Paulus's tie and unless Tully's has their own line of ties, this is what I want for Christmas.

Coach Doug Marrone Post Northwestern Game Press Conference

2009-09-20T17:47:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of the good folks over at syracuse.com, here is the post game press conference for Syracuse Head Football Coach Doug Marrone.

Syracuse win over Northwestern: Doug Marrone

SU Wins, We Must Party Like A Rockstar

2009-09-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

Syracuse Beat Northwestern, Roll The Tape Of How The Legend Of Lichtenstein Began

2009-09-20T11:35:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read that correctly, Syracuse wins it's first game of the season, defeating Northwestern 37-34 with a winning 41 yard field goal as time ran out. Ryan Lichtenstein will now be a legend on campus, at least for this week, and people may name their children after him as well (either him,Shamarko,or Mike Williams who also had great games yesterday). So let the video clips show the joy that is victory in Orange Nation. And though I considered it, I did not do my best Frank The Tank impression and handled it delicately, unless you consider some of my Tweets which are only words, right?

I ask you to find me a closer view of the field goal then this beauty, though if you suffer from motion sickness or still sobering up, may not be the best view for you at this moment.

If you want to see Northwestern's comeback and the only real clips of Syracuse being the game winning field goal (even though Mike Williams had a record night and they made some other great plays in the game), then this video is for you.

My new favorite source of videos, bigeast.org.

The 9/16 Edition Of The B.O.B. Junk Drawer

2009-09-16T21:37:00.000-04:00

Of course we have to start with the contests, though the Steve Smith/Powerade one is for those in the Charlotte area but the Bud Light Tailgate thing sounds like fun:
Bud Light Tailgate Approved

Hershey's I'm a big fan NCAA.com

Video Game Trailers for Wii, PSP, Xbox, PS3 & More Upcoming Video Games

Powerade Steve Smith - Coach for a Day

Eckrich - Enter the Promotion

IHOP's GONE TOTALLY NFL

Our buddy Dan Kelly,who is the SU football B/R columnist, has his latest column up:
After Escaping the Lion's Den Syracuse's Real Season is Set to Begin Bleache

A couple videos to enjoy in case you missed them or just want to see them again:
YouTube - 2009 Syracuse Football Open

YouTube - Syracuse Sidelines - Mike Owen Interview

A couple blogs to check out:
Hopeless Walk On

Orange State Online

Have a wrestling fan in your life and want to surprise them with a gift? Check out these:
TNA Calls You!

If these videos of the week don't make you laugh, you have no sense of humor at all:

Coach Doug Marrone's Post Penn State Game Teleconference

2009-09-14T13:45:00.003-04:00

Courtesy of the official website for the Big East:

My Wedding Poem For The Syracuse Fan

2009-09-14T12:54:00.003-04:00

If you read the previous post, you will see I was in town for my cousin's wedding. I also earlier last week asked for feedback on my using the Syracuse Orange in a poem for a wedding. Well, it turns out they enjoyed it and I am happy to share it with you and show how much Syracuse spirit we had (even though many did not even notice it because it was read and not printed out).
And in case you miss it, just follow the orange letters straight down and yes, this was read at the wedding this past Saturday.

The Tale Of The Bride And Groom
by Orange Chuck

Great people meet every day and fall in love
Obviously blessed from the good Lord above
So the bride and groom's love is no surprise
Young people happily seeing eye to eye
Realizing their goals and fulfilling their dreams
Aware that it will be better together as a team
Celebrating their nuptials for the world to see
United today in front of their family and friends
Some days may be great, some nights tough
Each just proves what your love is made of
Open-mindedness will help you out sometimes
Remember a couple more things and you'll be fine
Always leave the toilet seat down when done
Never ignore your partner and think as one
Good luck to you both, may you be blessed
Every day filled with faith, love, and happiness

Why Tully's Should Be Your Syracuse GameTime Meal Destination?

2009-09-14T11:47:00.008-04:00

So as you can see (or those who follow my Twitter know), I was in the Syracuse area this past weekend for my cousins wedding and of course, I had to stop off at Tully's (Tully's Good Times ). The original plan was to go for lunch on Friday until I realized the wedding did not start until 6:30pm so plans were changed and my cousins, uncle, nephew and myself went to Tully's for the Syracuse football game. Despite the score and a couple Penn State fans in attendance, a good time was had by all. So here is why you too should attend a Tully's for your game time experience.

First, the free popcorn at each table as you sit down. No crappy chips or rolls, Tully goes big time and rolls out the great popcorn which you probably will end up needing a refill once you taste it. It can be used as a free appetizer if you are on a budget like I was this past weekend and you will be surprised how full you will get. And do you see those big drinks cups in the background (we had free beer waiting for us for later at the wedding so we drank cheaper stuff for lunch)? Those are not cheap but they are big and come with free refills. We sat there until deep into the 4th quarter (we had the groom with us so we had to leave early) and they refilled without putting any limits on it.

They have a great variety on the menu at Tully's from the wings to the delicious cheese steak sandwich. However, the most popular and delicious plate on their menu is the Tully's Tenders Dinner. This is a great plate that will fill you up if the popcorn didn't already. And if you have a health nut in the bunch but do not want to be left out, have them order the Tully's Tender Salad (which judging by that gut you see up top, is what I may be ordering in the future, have another wedding July 31st, 2010).

And if your wife is stressing that you can watch the game but at home because stuff needs to be done around there or you have to listen while at work, you can always order take out and feel like you are there (though minus the many TVs that show the game for all of Tully's to see no matter what direction your booth/chair is facing).

So if your in Syracuse, or one of the other fine locations that has a Tully's (which you can verify by checking here Tully's Good Times), I highly recommend you check them out, especially on game day. Tully's is a great Syracuse tradition so we must all do our part to ensure it remains that way and not retired like other great traditions have been lately. Go Tully's Tenders and Go Orange!

The Video That Should Inspire Syracuse Against Penn State

2009-09-08T18:27:00.003-04:00

Any of you on Twitter should know that there is a movement to get the hash tag #beatpennstate going to help trend some optimism for the game this weekend. Well, in memory of the last game, how about a video that was aired on ESPN when Penn State blew Syracuse out last year (hell, Akron beat us too so why are we shocked Penn State did too?). I am posting this video as a reminder of why we need to be better. I would love to play this in the Syracuse locker room and show the players why we have to be better along with the video SU athletics did recently to show that this program has to be better, no excuses.

I know many are picking Penn State to win huge but I can't help but think Syracuse has a chance to come out and make a statement with this game in that they learned from the Minnesota game. LETS GO ORANGE! And if you are on twitter, remember to use #beatpennstate as often as you can. Last week Paulus and Syracuse trended pretty high and let's hope we don't lose that enthusiasm this week.

Coach Marrone's Teleconference With Big East Website

2009-09-08T17:46:00.004-04:00

The 9/8 Edition Of The B.O.B. Junk Drawer

2009-09-08T16:25:00.004-04:00

Contests for everyone to enjoy, though not many this week:

Head & Shoulders Super Bowl Sweepstakes

RO*TEL® Bowl Bound Sweepstakes

Next up, some great sources for Syracuse stories and videos about this past weekend's game and even a breakdown of the upcoming game at Penn State.

Rising From the Ashes: What Did Week One Tell Us About the 2009 Orange? Blea

CitrusTV

Orange::44

Paulus'd: Syracuse Loses A Heartbreaker To Minnesota 23-20 In Overtime - Troy

Well Done, SU Athletics. Well Done. - Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician

Minnesota 23, Syracuse 20, OT - Paulus’s Comeback Game Has Unhappy Ending for

SU coach Doug Marrone laments first loss

SU-Minnesota Recap - syracuse.com

Syracuse coach Doug Marrone talks about team's missed opportunities - syracuse

Orange fans go Tweet Tweet Tweet in the name of Syracuse QB Greg Paulus - Oran

Looking ahead to Penn State: A scouting report for Syracuse football fans - sy

And the winner of funny video of the week is:

A Sign Of The Potential-Paulus To Williams

2009-09-07T16:26:00.002-04:00

I have said it a couple times now but I truly think Saturday's game gave Syracuse Orange football fans reason to have hope and I found a video to support this. What is not in the video though are a couple times I noticed WR Mike Williams open but QB Greg Paulus missed him as he was scrambling to the other side of the field. I think if this offensive line can give Paulus a couple more seconds in the pocket and he develops faith they can block for him, we will see even more plays like this.

This is also proof of why many were holding out hope when Mike Williams had his academic issues, he would get them sorted out and be back in an Orange uniform one day soon. He does need to stop dropping some of the passes he did but it was his first game back too, so he is forgiven, for now. Wiliams is a playmaker in that he is one of those receivers who can make a short yard catch and turn it into a first down. Alec Lemon and Donte Davis also looked good, which can benefit everyone by opening up the field, including the running game because now you need to keep less guys in the box to help prevent the pass.

Anyway, enjoy the video and the progress as I am encouraged to see, as of this writing, everyone who answered the poll was heartbroken at the loss but encouraged by the progress of this program.

Citrus TV And Some Pre-Game Videos

2009-09-06T13:46:00.003-04:00

Every new school year in Syracuse means there is also new Citrus TV videos to enjoy. They are the student station at Syracuse and though they have more then sports features, this is a sports blog and so I enjoy featuring the next ESPN Sportcasters/MLB Network analysts.

I also found some fun videos on syracuse.com courtesy of slguyder of the pre-game ceremonies for those of us who were not that in person to see more about the spirit and pride the fans had going into this game (and I hope left with, even though I am sure some heartbreak existed as well). I am told the team stopped at the end of the game to sing with the student section and this is another sign of the progress Orange fans should love seeing.

Coach Marrone And Greg Paulus Press Clips Post Game Minnesota

2009-09-06T12:11:00.003-04:00

Let me say off by saying this, if you watch these videos and you are convinced still that this is the same old Syracuse losing program, please turn in your colors now because we do not want your sorry asses claiming you knew it all along when they start winning. Coach Doug Marrone and Greg Paulus,in these clips courtesy of syracuse.com, showed class and gave fans hope as well as logical post game comments. They owned up to their mistakes and I think they will learn from them.

Pride is growing again in the program as evidenced by the Carrier Dome crowd and the feeling of those on Twitter and other networks who were cheering their hearts out to support this team. I watched these videos and I am not posting them just because they are Orange related, I am posting them because this shows the kind of heart I want leading my Syracuse Orange. Coach Marrone looked genuinely dejected after this game and I know judging by the progress this team has made and that reaction, he will make corrections and we are in good hands. This team will get better in all aspects and I would like to thank the entire team and staff for inspiring pride in a group of people who lost hope. LETS GO ORANGE!!!!

Syracuse football vs. Minnesota - Doug Marrone

Syracuse vs. Minnesota football - Greg Paulus

Syracuse Loses But I Still Bleed Orange And Have Faith In Progress

2009-09-05T16:28:00.004-04:00

Today, Syracuse football had it's moment to redeem years of frustration and regain a passionate fan base just looking for a reason to come back. The team played a good game despite the scoreboard at the end stating: Minnesota 23-Syracuse 20. At the end, I felt like I was just kicked in the groin from some girl in hard, pointed toed shoes. However I truly think that when it was over and we reflected, we learned Syracuse has a team you can root for.

I am not going to quote you stats because this game was about more then stats, it was about a change in Syracuse football. The Carrier Dome was rocking louder then I have heard in many years and the fans bought into Head Coach Doug Marrone. The defense was aggressive and I saw an intensity on that squad that I longed to see for years. The offense, though it struggled in the second half, showed signs of a pulse.

Yes, Greg Paulus made one major mistake in the end that I am sure ESPN Sportscenter will focus on (along with that snap over his head) but the majority of the game he made some good choices and hopefully learned from his mistakes. His scrambling will help as this offensive line looks like they may struggle yet again but a couple times it looked as though had he stayed in the pocket just a couple more seconds, the plays would have been there for him to make. He had some good game management skills and I think we will all be better for it.

Syracuse was down 14-3 quickly and they could have easily given up but instead they fought hard and got back in this game. Instead of making numerous turnovers, Syracuse actually benefited from many even though two big ones cost them points and the game. Their defense started slow and did give up some big plays but when it counted, they made plays as well. The offense blended in different plays and did their best to ride Delone Carter and though the receivers dropped some passes they have to catch, they also made some good catches as well, including Mike Williams.

So maybe you have noticed my wavering but the truth is, this game gave me reason to be as such. Syracuse lost a game they should have won but they also showed fans they have something they can root for and have faith in once again, even if the ending made us feel dejected again. I refuse to give up on this team no matter the outcome of the Penn State game as well. This team is improved and if you did not see the potential, then I feel sorry for you. This is something to build on and still makes me believe they can win 5-6 wins this year and be better next season.

The Dome was filled with proud Orange fans once again and we should all follow by example and support this team with all our heart and I think in the end, we will be rewarded for doing it as well. "Let's Go Orange" chants were louder then they have been in years and we need to continue that feeling into our everyday life now. Donovan McNabb mentioned during his ESPN press box moment that he will no longer be embarrassed by wearing Orange in an Eagles locker room and we should follow his example. If you are mad or disappointed, then that means you care and that is great, we should be dejected after such a loss. However we must lift our heads up Orange fans, Syracuse football is relevant again and we will return to the proud traditions of the past.

Now here are some links and a video of Greg Paulus first TD pass in a Syracuse football uniform.

Minnesota Topples Greg Paulus, Resurgent Syracuse in Overtime -- NCAA Football

WAER - HOMEPAGE (whom I think have a good post game call in show)

Paulus'd: Syracuse Loses A Heartbreaker To Minnesota 23-20 In Overtime - Troy