Mark Richards

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Friday, December 17, 2004

Oops!

I just spilled strawberry Slim-Fast on my wireless keyboard here at work. It is now nasty, sticky, and smells like strawberries. I am sure the keys will be nice and gross when I return to work in two weeks. I think that means it is time for me to leave and begin my vacation. If that is not a sign, then I do not know what is!

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

The Winner

Last night I beat Sarah in Trivial Pursuit. I was beating her pretty badly when she came storming back with a vengeance. We were neck and neck...battling tooth and nail. In the end, I was able to fend off her attack, and her relentless attempts to cheat, and come out victorious.

It was a good night.

Monday, December 06, 2004

Who Broke Out The Fly Swatter?

My friends from New Jersey keep dropping like flies. Blake, a long-time friend from high school, got engaged this weekend to his girlfriend of two years, Katie. That makes four (including myself) of my high school crew who have agreed to "tie the knot". That number seems to be increasing on a monthly basis. What a weird feeling.

According to a source close to the situation (Blake), the joyous event happened after a nice dinner, out by the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Good work Blake...very romantic! While I have not had the chance to get to know Katie as well as would like, I do know that she is a sweet, kind, and funny person, and that her and Blake will be very happy together.

Congratulations Blake and Katie!

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Sports Fight - Part 2: Clemson/South Carolina Game

When I started writing about all this sports and fighting stuff I was real fired up. Now, a couple of weeks later (and a couple of Thanksgiving pounds later), I still feel very passionate about the fight that occurred between my Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

I have tons to say about the situation, but I cannot bring myself to get worked up about it again. Thank goodness JP was able to get his thoughts down before he got fed up with the situation.

Here are a few quick thoughts on the subject:

  • The fight was unfortunate and uncalled for, and strict punishment was necessary. In no way do I condone the actions of either team.
  • USC set the tone for the day when they met the Tigers before the game at the bottom of the hill...they did not come to play football...they came to fight.
  • USC Head Coach Lou Holtz said the Gamecocks started the fight. Who do you think started it: the team that won the last two games by a combined score of 92-24 (Clemson), or the team that lost (USC)?
  • The fight lasted 70 seconds, and the field was cleared in under six minutes...not 15 minutes as reported by the media.
  • Florida and Florida State had a fairly bad fight last year. Did they not accept bowl bids? No. Were any of players suspended? No.
  • Would either team have turned down a $15 million BCS bowl this year? No. Will they now be forced to turn down a BCS bowl if a similar situation occurs again? Who knows.


  • On a final note, ESPN (which includes losers like Trev Alberts, Mark Madden, Jim Rome, the producers, and many more) can bite ass for misrepresenting the fight as they did. For days and days, I watched game footage and interview highlights that portray the fight, the team, the coach, and the school unfairly. I was at the game. I saw what happened. I felt the emotion. These "journalists" did not.

    All I can say, is that I now realize that these guys you see on TV and listen to on the radio have no more of an idea or what is going on than you and I. Why is that? Because all they do is watch highlights and report on the clips that some video nerd put together. Their coverage of the fight shows a lack of journalistic integrity by not researching what "actually" happened. How hard can it be to sit in a booth somewhere and make bold, obnoxious, and uneducated comments like they do on a daily basis.

    Heck...isn't that what blogging is all about? Where is my 6 figure paycheck and television show?