The Invincible M.A.E.

The two slit experiment is not something I tried in college

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:50:54 GMT

Oh man, it's been a busy week at work. I worked 15 hours on Monday and it didn't let up all that much after that. :P Looking forward to getting some rest on the weekend. Most people look forward to the weekend because they plan to go out and do fun things. I look forward to the weekend so I can bum around Saturday watching hockey and Sunday watching football, haha.

Last night's episode of FlashForward was pretty awesome.I actually got weepy at the end of it. Last week it was Dollhouse that made me weepy. One of the episodes of SGU made me weepy. Science fiction has gotten so emotional lately!

I was watching a Fringe video podcast and they included a clip about the Two Slit Experiment mentioned by Simon in FlashForward and I started thinking about it on the way to work this morning...

(Watch the clip first if you're not familiar with the experiment)

What if in the context of FlashForward the two slit experiment as an analogy for life, where the electrons represent people? Without observation, the electrons form an interference pattern and end up covering a lot of the screen. This represents people having a wide open future. Your destiny is unknown.

However, when the electrons are observed with an instrument, they only go through one of the slits or the other and there's no interference pattern. In FlashForward, the blackout brings about the situation where people are all "forced" to observe their path at one moment in time. The spot the electron ends up represents the person's flash forward, and the screen represents the point in time 6 months in the future when the flash forward occurs. Where before they could have ended up almost anywhere, now they're focused on one specific spot. People are both the electrons and the instrument of observation at the same time.

This is in line with Simon's explanation to the woman on the train that "you" (meaning mankind in general) are responsible for the flash forwards. People are the instrument observing themselves, causing them to end up in a specific spot (their flash forward) instead of their future not being determined yet.

There's a few things from last night's episode where events deviate from or are inconsistent with people's flash forwards. The most obvious is when Al kills himself, clearly contradicting his flash forward, where he's alive. And Demetri "sees" himself dead (assuming that not seeing anything means death) but Zoe sees him at the wedding (I think she doesn't actually say she SEES him there - she says she knows he's there, or something along those lines - but let's say that there's no trickery involved and in her vision Demetri really is there) so their flash forwards contradict.

I think the difference here is that people have free will, unlike electrons (as far as I know). And they are both electrons AND the observers in my analogy, so perhaps they can still exert an influence on their fate after the artificially induced moment of observation. Instead of having to be a discrete spot on the screen, they could be the interference pattern instead. This is sort of what Zoe says when she says to choose to believe in her flash forward.

This is perhaps taking the "two" part of the two slit experiment too literally, but maybe Demetri the electron goes through one slit and Zoe the electron goes through the other, causing them to land on two different bands on the screen, i.e. different futures in six months.

I usually don't do much speculation and theorizing about shows. I like listening to podcasts where other people do it, but I usually don't have any thoughts at all. :P But this was actually fun and interesting to think about.

Goodbye, Noah

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:24:27 GMT

So, as expected, Noah Lowry is gone. *sniffles* From here:

In another move that was expected but might carry some emotional weight, the Giants cut ties with popular but injured pitcher Noah Lowry by declining his $6.25 million club option for 2010 and placing him on outright waivers.
...
The Lowry move ends a sad saga for the Giants and the 29-year-old left-hander. A first-round draft pick in 2001, he became one of the team's most popular players and led the team with 14 wins in 2007, when his season was curtailed by arm numbness. He has not pitched since then, but agent Damon Lapa said Lowry now is "completely healthy" and throwing three days a week.

I hope he does well wherever he ends up.

I'm always skeptical when I read stuff about Petr being angry. Sulky? Yes. Grumpy? Yes. But angry? It's just hard for me to imagine. Apparently he was "fuming" about being scratched for a game. The Minnesota beat writer was like WTF the team is struggling to score goals and you scratch the goal scorer? :P

Anyway, he's gotten much more... cuddly in recent years. He throws his arms around someone's neck (usually someone who's tall, so he has to LEAP) and clings to them for a while. Or if it's Sidney Crosby, he would nuzzle his neck. Or if it's Marty he leaps on him and wraps his legs around his waist... It's a good thing his teammates generally love him.

Sykora, one riled Wild, takes it out on Rangers
Still fuming after a healthy scratch one game ago, he got the scoring started and added an assist for good measure.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune
Last update: October 30, 2009 - 11:46 PM

Wild boss Todd Richards hoped Petr Sykora would prove he made the wrong decision.

Come in with the "attitude of sticking it to the coach," Richards had implored Thursday.

Friday night, the veteran winger not only stuck it to the coach, he just might have stapled a message to his tie: "Don't scratch me again."

A motivated Sykora, one game after being assigned a pressbox seat against Nashville, scored a goal and assisted on Eric Belanger's goal during the Wild's 3-2 victory over the injury-riddled New York Rangers.

"Talking to Petr, you're trying to tell him, 'You're going to be all right. Stay positive,' but it's tough. It's not an easy situation for him," said Belanger, Sykora's car-pool companion. "I had a feeling something good was going to happen. It did, and hopefully it gets our line [with Martin Havlat] going."

Sykora, one of three current NHL players to have scored 20 or more goals in 10 consecutive seasons, registered his first two-point game since Jan. 28. But afterward, the still-stung Sykora said, "I don't want to talk about [being scratched], seriously. I'm happy we won a game."

Antti Miettinen scored the winner on his first goal of the season, Mikko Koivu had two assists and Niklas Backstrom made 18 saves as the Wild, which didn't trail in a game for the first time this season, improved to 4-1 at home. Tonight, the Wild looks to end its 0-8 road record in Pittsburgh.

It was a solid all-around game for the Wild, which was playing a struggling Rangers team devoid of Marian Gaborik, Sean Avery and Chris Higgins.

For a change, Richards circulated the ice time evenly, even giving enforcer Derek Boogaard a regular shift in the third period. After the second, Richards told his assistants, Mike Ramsey and Dave Barr, "So this is what it feels like to be up by two."

Added an appreciative Backstrom with a giggle, "It was a new situation for us."

Richards said before the game he hadn't talked to Sykora about why he was scratched, but recent video work made it evident to him. Richards wanted a player more committed to playing defensively and driving the net.

After Sykora did just that Friday, Richards said: "I think Petr had something to prove. ... We need more from him."

Late in a scoreless first period, Sykora picked defenseman Matt Gilroy's pocket and sent the puck behind the net. Andrew Brunette hustled and slid a pass to Koivu, who completed the tic-tac-toe to Sykora.

But Rangers callup Dane Byers, who had hopped out of cab minutes before gametime because his flight arrived late, tied the score at 1-1 with his first NHL goal.

The Wild got the lead back after Sykora tiptoed the blue line to keep play onside. He threaded a pass for Havlat, who sent a picture-perfect, backhanded pass to a driving Belanger for his third goal. For Havlat, it was his first point since Oct. 8, ending a seven-game drought.

"Anytime I got the puck or Bella, Marty was there to support," Sykora said. "It's just a matter of time before he gets a couple bounces and scores a lot of goals."

After Koivu forced a Marc Staal turnover late in the second, Koivu made a dazzling drop pass underneath defenseman Dan Girardi for Miettinen, who gave the Wild its second two-goal lead of the season and first since Oct. 10. Staal cut it to one in the third, but Richards was pleased the way the Wild protected the lead.

"We managed the game well," he said.

Isn't this child abuse of some sort?

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:28:23 GMT

From Petr's agent's Twitter:

P. Sykora on tonight's game, "I played hockey with my boy before the game. I got 2 or 3 goals against him + it carried over to the game."

So basically Petr gets ready for games by OWNING HIS TWO-YEAR-OLD SON beforehand.

Don't lock yourself in the barn!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:32:53 GMT

Stephen Curry had a nice debut with the Warriors even though they lost. He's almost enough to lure me back to following the Warriors again. *coughs* Ahh, if there were only more hours in the day. I'll settle for watching highlights.

Cliff Lee pitched out of his mind last night. I wonder why Pedro Martinez is starting tonight instead of Cole Hamels. I thought he was the Game 2 starter in the previous series?

I may have jumped the gun by adding an Alex Smith icon again, but Singletary did say that this wasn't a flavor of the week type thing, so ideally I can use this until the end of the season, at least. :)

49ers' Smith finally back behind center

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
Wednesday, October 28, 2009

(10-28) 14:43 PDT Santa Clara, Calif. (AP) --

Mike Singletary can see it in Alex Smith's eyes, in his body language. He's a different player now. Confident. Mature. Experienced.

At all of 25, Smith has been at the top and at the very bottom during his short NFL career. There was all the hype and talk of his potential when the San Francisco 49ers chose him No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL draft.

Three years later he had disappeared, having worked his way back from shoulder surgery only to get hurt again three days before last year's season opener. He missed all of 2008.

"Alex is a totally different guy today than he was even six months ago," Singletary said Wednesday. "I think his mindset is clear."

On Sunday, Smith gets to start over, given a second chance — a rare thing in professional sports these days.

San Francisco's game at Indianapolis will mark his first start since Nov. 12, 2007, and it just so happens the Colts are also the team he faced in his NFL debut back in '05.

"I think it's just coincidence I'm back starting again against the team I got my first start against," Smith said.

He is taking this all in stride, but it's clear he's thrilled to be the top guy again after all this time.

"Back on the podium," Smith said with a smile Wednesday, the standard day for the starting quarterback to address the media. "I missed it the most."

Smith missed this so much he opted to stay with San Francisco last spring rather than leave for a potentially better situation and more money elsewhere. He said at the time he wanted to finish what he started, to redeem himself. He never lost belief he could be a starting quarterback for this franchise. Now, others may begin to regain faith in him, too.

Singletary has, that's for sure. Even when the coach named Shaun Hill the starter during training camp.

The 49ers need Smith's leadership on offense now like no other. They have endured six straight losing seasons. They're 3-3 and have lost two straight games on the heels of a 3-1 start, though Smith nearly led them back from a 21-0 deficit in a 24-21 defeat at Houston last Sunday.

In March, Smith agreed to a restructured contract that sharply reduced his base salary.

Smith was due to make nearly $10 million this season under the deal he signed in 2005. The 49ers now have Smith under contract through next season at a salary more commensurate with his four up-and-down years with the club. Smith isn't all about the money. He said everything he's endured has given him a new perspective and appreciation that he gets to play football for a living.

"To me he's been a true team player, the ultimate team player, through this process," Singletary said. "The thing that spoke volumes to me about him was in the offseason he had a chance to move on and go to another team and make more money. But he decided to stay because he felt that he wanted to be a part of what was here. He wanted to finish what he started. I'm excited for him going forward and I'm not going to build too much into it. I'm going to let Alex's play speak for itself."

This season marks the first time Smith has been fully healthy since shortly after his promising 2006 season in which he took every snap for the 49ers, throwing for 2,890 yards and 16 touchdowns. His shoulder problems began with a sack early in the 2007 campaign and later stoked a periodic feud with former coach Mike Nolan that seriously hampered both men's careers. Nolan questioned how hurt Smith really was on several occasions, shocking behavior from an NFL head coach.

Smith seems to have forgotten all of these bad memories, or at least pushed them out of mind.

He has stayed ready, though he never knew when he might get another shot.

"This is the NFL. If you're a backup quarterback and think you're not going to play, you're kind of in a dreamland," Smith said. "How many QBs go through a season and take all of the snaps and can handle that? It's a lot. You have the mindset, you have to have the expectations to play. The question is, when does it come? You have to be ready for that because you don't know when it's going to come."

Smith isn't making too much of his promotion, knowing full well how quickly things can change in this league. If he doesn't perform, Singletary might decide to make another switch, even though the coach said this won't be a "flavor-of-the-month kind of thing."

Smith's teammates are proud of his turnaround. They all know it's not often someone gets to revive their career with their original organization, but rather is forced to start over elsewhere with a clean slate.

Smith took over for Hill in the second half against the Texans on Sunday and completed his first six passes on the way to a 15-of-22 day for 206 yards. He threw three touchdowns to tight end Vernon Davis.

"I always believed in Alex," Davis said. "Sometimes it takes certain guys a little longer to come around. He always had the tools but it just took him some time. He's always had it."

Smith doesn't think he's changed to get to this point, even if others notice differences in his relaxed demeanor.

"I don't think I ever lost confidence. It had been two years almost since I'd been in a live game," Smith said, noting preseason games aren't the same as the real thing. "It probably comes from a little bit of everything. Being around the game more, you know more about it, a better understanding of it. The last couple of years put things in perspective for me, especially with football and what is important, what you really miss when you get away from it."

Vernon Davis believing in Alex Smith makes me squeak! Although he could have said that because he's just thrown him three touchdown passes in one half...

49ers' Smith can show Colts how far he has come
By Daniel Brown

dbrown@mercurynews.com
Posted: 10/28/2009 07:04:44 PM PDT
Updated: 10/29/2009 09:28:16 AM PDT

Alex Smith's first NFL start was a putrid affair. Looking jittery and overmatched, the 49ers rookie threw four interceptions, was sacked five times and had an 8.5 passer rating.

When it was over, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Nick Harper said it was easy.

"He stared down his first read," he said. "All we did was take it away."

That's how they got four interceptions?

"The goal was five," Harper replied.

Sunday in Indianapolis, Smith gets a chance to show how much he has grown up. He is the starter again, just in time for a rematch with the team that tormented him in a 28-3 defeat Oct. 9, 2005.

Asked Wednesday to look back at his first game against the Colts, Smith smiled.

"A lot has changed since then," he said.

The 49ers sure hope so. This is the toughest game on their schedule. The Colts are 6-0 and winning by an average score of 30-13.

Indianapolis boasts the NFL's sixth-ranked pass defense (179.8 yards allowed per game) and a Hall of Fame quarterback who makes it almost impossible for mortals to keep pace. Peyton Manning has 32 touchdown passes against seven interceptions during the Colts' 15-game regular-season winning streak.

Indianapolis also has defensive ends in Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney who grow increasingly dangerous each time the Colts pad their lead. Indianapolis has out-sacked teams 418-216 (an NFL-best plus-202) since Manning arrived in 1998.

Welcome back, Alex!

"They are fast, and they get after the quarterback," Smith said when of the Colts' defense. "That team is set up very well. They are good at playing with the lead. I think they force teams into playing one-dimensional, because (opponents) are playing from behind, then you have to throw the ball.

"That is what they want as far as the defense goes: They want you to sit back in the pocket and throw the ball."

The 49ers are betting that Smith is much better prepared for this challenge than he was when he took over for Tim Rattay early in the 2005 season. Coach Mike Singletary picked Smith as the starter over Shaun Hill this week, partly because Smith's confidence is on the upswing again.

"Alex is a totally different guy today than he was even six months ago. He's just a totally different guy," Singletary said. "I think his mind-set is clear. The thing that spoke volumes to me about him was that in the offseason he had a chance to move on and go to another team and make more money. But he decided to stay because he felt that he wanted to be a part of what was here. He wanted to finish what he started."

Of course, Smith didn't get the promotion simply because of his clear mind. Demeanor is Hill's forte. But the 49ers quickly discovered that guile could only get them so far downfield and concluded that Smith's stronger arm could stop defenses from putting eight or nine men in the box.

Smith's presence isn't just about airing it out: The mere threat of a passing game could open more lanes for the 49ers' 22nd-ranked running game and take some pressure off a struggling offensive line.

It worked, at least for a half, in Houston. Smith came off the bench Sunday to become the first 49ers quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a half since Jeff Garcia threw four on Dec. 7, 2003.

Much of Smith's success came against a Texans defense playing loosely because of a 21-0 halftime lead. Now the quarterback must do it from the opening kickoff against a team with a .793 home winning percentage (46-12) since 2002.

Singletary said he has done his best to keep Smith prepared, physically and mentally. Even when he selected Hill to begin the season as the starter, the coach told Smith, "I don't want you to go lock yourself in the barn."

Does Smith recall that conversation?

"I never got the barn quote," he said with a laugh, "but this is the NFL. If you're a backup quarterback and you think you're not going to play, you're in a dreamland.

"How many QBs go through a season and take all the snaps and can handle that? It's not a lot. I think you have to have the mindset. You have to have the expectations to play. The question is, when does it come?"

He is so fucked, LOL. Also, umm, locking himself in the barn? What?

Is a 49ers quarterback controversy the NFL equivalent of a pillow fight?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:03:17 GMT

Anyone watching FlashForward? It's not bad so far. One thing that struck me while watching the show was that Joseph Fiennes really reminds me of Christopher Meloni, which is weird because he really doesn't look like him at all. But then somebody on a podcast said that he really reminded him of Christopher Meloni too!

Sporting News named Timmy NL pitcher of the year. :) He was picked by a panel of GMs and assistant GMs.

I thought he was even better this season than he was last year, even though his win total is lower. That's really the fault of the offense, though. :P He induced a lot more ground outs and fly balls, instead of getting all of his outs by strikeout (even though he got a lot of those too) which let him go much deeper into games. I think he only had one complete game last season and that one was kind of arduous. This year he had a few. He also stopped wilting as much in hot weather. :P

I can't really compare him to Carpenter or Wainwright because I haven't watched them pitch enough. It would be nice if he wins the Cy Young again, but I'm not going to be upset if he doesn't.

And and and... Alex Smith has been named starting QB for the next game. I am so proud I could burst!

Alex Smith: Unfinished Business
Taylor Price
Posted Oct 28, 2009

Alex Smith didn’t think a seven-week stint as the 49ers backup quarterback to start the season was necessary in fueling his competitive fire.

That flame has always been burning, and has been particularly bright for almost two years now.

Ever since Smith lost his starting spot due to shoulder injuries, the former No. 1 overall pick has been working diligently to reclaim his role with the team.

After last Sunday’s 21-0 first half deficit to the Houston Texans, Smith came in the game with nothing to lose. Ultimately, he ended up regaining his role with the 49ers first-team offense, which head coach Mike Singletary announced the following day.

“I don’t think I ever lost confidence,” the five-year pro said on Wednesday of his performance against the Texans. “It had been two years since I played in a live game, yeah I had played in some preseason games, but that is always different. I think it is more just getting back out there. It felt the same. It always did, especially when you get in the rhythm of things out there playing.”

It’s been a grueling road back for Smith, who will start this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts for the first time since Nov., 12, 2007 at Seattle. Smith tried to come back early from a separated shoulder two years ago and could not regain full strength in his arm right away.

Smith tried to come back to help his team, but he was not the same player.

A year removed from the injury, Smith was looking to become the team’s starter at the start of the 2008 season. But he struggled to pick up Mike Martz’s complex offense, the fourth different offensive coordinator he had worked with in as many seasons.

Smith won the team’s No. 2 job behind J.T. O’Sullivan ahead of Shaun Hill, but was placed on injured reserve when he re-injured his throwing shoulder three days before the start of the season.

After all that, Smith decided to re-structure his contract with the 49ers this past offseason. No longer was he being paid like a starting quarterback, Smith agreed to a two-year deal to compete with Hill to be the team’s starter.

Both showed signs of emerging as the leader in the competition, but in the end, Singletary went with Hill, who he felt could best lead the team to victory Week 1 at Arizona. Hill got the 49ers out to a 2-1 start and was one Brett Favre miracle throw away from being 3-0.

But the 49ers are 1-3 since beating Seattle Week 2 and Singletary decided it was time for a change.

Now that Smith’s the guy once again, he feels like the way he carries himself hasn’t changed.

“People might perceive things different than you might. I feel like I have always approached this game the right way,” Smith said. “I have always worked incredibly hard, put a lot of time in. I knew that counted and made a difference. I think the thing is over time you get smarter about it, you are more efficient with your time – you are doing better things with it.”

On the contrary, Smith’s head coach has seen a change for the better.

“Alex is a totally different guy today than he was even six months ago,” Singletary explained. “I think his mindset is clear. The thing that spoke volumes to me about him was in the offseason he had a chance to move on and go to another team and make more money. But, he decided to stay because he felt that he wanted to be a part of what was here. He wanted to finish what he started.

“To me, that speaks volumes for who he is and the kind of person that he is.”

Besides deciding to merely stick it out with his original team, Smith was involved in every team meeting while he was out with injuries. The time around the facility with his teammates got the attention of his teammates but not the respect – that’s something they’ve had for him since day one.

“This is the first time he’s been in playing fully healthy in a long time and he does a great job of being prepared,” said Joe Staley, the team’s starting left tackle and Smith’s roommate on the road. “We have a ton of confidence in his ability to make plays.”

Smith stepped in last week against the Texans and instantly began moving the team with his right arm, completing 15-of-22 passes for 206 yards and three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis. It was the second time of Smith’s career he had tossed three scores in one game, the other time happened in 2006, in a victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Although his comeback bid came up short, Smith looked decisive, comfortable and confident against Houston.

The same characteristics can’t be used to describe Smith’s first NFL start, which happens to be against the Colts, the same team he’ll see this Sunday.

“That was a good game,” Smith said sarcastically, referring to his 9-of-23, 74-yard, four-interception performance. “I think it’s just coincidence, back starting again against the team I got my first start against. A lot has changed since then.”

Smith has grown up a lot since that Oct., 9, 2005 meeting, and so has the Colts defense which enters Sundays contest as the NFL’s 9th overall defense.

“There are some things similar, but I wouldn’t call it the same defense,” Smith said. “They have kind of changed from what I remember, a lot more of the Tampa 2 in the pass than you see today.”

Probably the most important change to Smith’s meeting with the Colts this time around is the level of expectation surrounding his play. Back then, Smith was playing based on potential – now, he’s playing based on production.

“I probably had that excuse when I was younger. Now I have to go out there and produce, go out there and play. There’s no more wait and see.”

So if he doesn't throw 4 interceptions again, the game will be an improvement! :P

Kawakami: 49ers, Singletary were ready to flip the switch
By Tim Kawakami
Mercury News Columnist
Posted: 10/25/2009 05:27:59 PM PDT
Updated: 10/26/2009 08:11:24 AM PDT

HOUSTON — He wasn't the second coming of Joe Montana, obviously. Not ever.

But maybe Alex Smith can pull off something almost as remarkable after his long NFL hibernation.

Can he be the successful second coming of "... Alex Smith?

What a tale that would be. It won't happen overnight. But one essential part of the Smith resurrection story took place in a blink:

With the 49ers trailing 21-0 Sunday in a game they would go on to lose 24-21, coach Mike Singletary decided to sit Shaun Hill and put in Smith to start the second half.

Just like that, the 49ers' universe changed.

It was a surprise to Smith — "I wasn't sure, I guess I was ready for anything," he said later.

A surprise to his offensive teammates, many of whom didn't know the switch had occurred until Smith showed up in the huddle.

A surprise to practically everybody in the NFL, where it has been assumed Singletary was reasonably committed to Hill.

"I just felt it was time to make the switch," Singletary said later. "No long, drawn-out thought process. Just, hey, you know what? Let's make the change."

Singletary also said he doesn't know which quarterback will start Sunday in Indianapolis, but there should be no mystery, and Singletary had to know it.

When you make a quarterback change and your season is on the line and the new guy is better than the former guy, you stay with the new guy. Who happens to be the former guy twice removed, but, oh, well.

It will be Smith, who has the stronger arm, fresher legs and much greater capacity to get the ball downfield to the 49ers' weapons.

It won't be Hill, who was flummoxed in the 49ers' previous loss to Atlanta and who struggled again in Sunday's first half as the offense stalled.

The 49ers' record fell to 3-3, quite a comedown from the roar of their 3-1 start. They need someone to convince them, once again, that they're good.

That would be Smith. Amazingly, he is their best hope.

"You know, we've got playmakers on the field," Singletary said. "If we can get the ball to them, we've got a chance to do some good things."

On his first pass Sunday, Smith fired a 17-yard completion to Michael Crabtree (key new weapon). Bingo.

Smith went on to hit on his next five passes, looked calm in the pocket and generally made every 49ers fan wonder where the heck that had been in the previous four seasons.

Smith threw a touchdown pass to Vernon Davis. Then another. Then a third (tying Smith's career-high for touchdown passes in a game), while hooking up nicely with Crabtree a few more times along the way.

All with his heart beating wildly.

"I'd be lying to you if I said it wasn't," Smith said. "Just because it had been a while since I really took some game snaps. So, no question, it's nice to get in there and finally get sweating and not thinking about it anymore."

This wasn't the same antsy guy who was awful as a rookie, decent but fragile in Year 2, bad and then hurt in 2007, lost in 2008 and not terrific in the training-camp battle with Hill this year.

Smith hadn't played a down since Nov. 12, 2007, but he didn't look rusty. It might have been only a temporary flash, but this was Smith the way he was supposed to be — and the way the 49ers' offense was supposed to be — from the moment he was chosen No. 1 overall in 2005.

At the end, Smith couldn't convert the 49ers' final drive — his fourth-down pass was short of Isaac Bruce and was intercepted by Eugene Wilson — and the Texans held on.

But he gave them a shot. Smith was the igniter.

Stat line: Smith completed 15 of 22 passes for 206 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception, for a 118.6 passer rating.

"It's a longtime coming," receiver Arnaz Battle said of Smith. "He's gone through a lot."

Yes, he has, and yet Smith still is only 25. He is the favorite of general manager Scot McCloughan and he has a better chance of enlivening this offense than any other 49er.

Naturally, Singletary said he needed to look at the film when asked if he thought Hill played poorly. But every smoke signal points to Smith at quarterback, for at least a few weeks, just to see how long this lasts.

"I don't like going back and forth," Singletary said.

Alex Smith is back. More than four years after he joined this franchise, he's back, precisely when they need him most.

Oh boy, this one made me a bit weepy. Because I thought he was gone, too. I even (sadly) replaced my 49ers icon of him with the current one of Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis.

Smith to start at QB for 49ers
John Crumpacker, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

(10-26) 13:02 PDT Santa Clara -- Not many professional athletes ever get to re-invent themselves with their original teams. Alex Smith is one such athlete.

The 49ers' quarterback of the past is now their quarterback of the present, and quite possibly the immediate future as well. It's up to Smith to play his way back into the role he was given in 2005 after San Francisco made him the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

"It's not going to be an easy road," Smith said. "You have to fight through. You have to stay level-headed. ... You never know when (an opportunity will) come. That's the hard part about it. You have to be ready. It's a cliche, but it's the truth."

Coach Mike Singletary announced Monday that Smith is his quarterback, a day after he led the 49ers to 21 points in the second half at Houston by throwing three touchdown passes, all to tight end Vernon Davis.

"I had to make a decision based on who I felt gives us the best chance to win," Singletary said. "I feel Alex gives us the best chance to win. I think Alex has had a chance to regain some of the confidence, not that he ever lost it. It gave him a chance to settle in and watch Shaun Hill."

Singletary pulled an ineffective Hill at halftime in Houston, hoping Smith would give the offense a spark. Though the 49ers ended up losing 24-21, Smith led three touchdown drives in four possessions, convincing Singletary to go back to this former franchise quarterback as he tries to slough off the ruins of his young career.

"It's what I've been waiting for," Smith said. "I've been out for two years now. I don't know if I was getting any hungrier. I've always wanted to play this game at a high level. That's not going to change."

The one salient fact to keep in mind with Smith is this: He's only 25 years old. Teams generally do not throw away young quarterbacks with potential. Smith was the youngest player in the NFL in each of his first two years with the 49ers.

The string of rotten luck the last few years forced him to mature while gaining perspective from the remove of the sideline. In the process, his bum shoulder of 2007-08 healed and he's now throwing pain-free for the first time since early in the '07 season.

"I don't think about it. I didn't think about it yesterday," Smith said of his twice-repaired right shoulder. "Haven't thought about it in awhile."

Hill was disappointed with Monday's development but said it would have no effect on his friendship with Smith. Hill was a groomsman in Smith's wedding.

"Neither one of us has exactly had it easy in this league," said Hill, 8-6 in his time as the 49ers' starter. "We've both had our ups and downs. It's frustrating. It's disappointing. It's not going to hold me down. It didn't hold him (Smith) down, either. That's what it takes to survive in this league."

Rough roller-coaster

Smith's journey from anointed starter (2005-06) to starter playing hurt (2007) to injured reserve (2008) to backup (2009) and now the starter was a tortured one involving hits from defenders, abuse from fans and a fractured relationship with his former head coach.

In 2007, trying to play through the pain of an injured shoulder that eventually would require surgery, Smith said he thought then-coach Mike Nolan had "undermined" him with his teammates by suggesting the quarterback was not tough enough.

The shoulder injury limited Smith to seven games in '07 and none in '08 as he went on injured reserve and eventually had a second surgery to repair the sum total of the damage.

It seemed that Smith's run with the 49ers had come to an end after 30 starts and an 11-19 record, especially when general manager Scot McCloughan said he could not keep Smith on the roster as a backup making starter's money.

Instead of looking elsewhere, Smith looked within and decided he wanted to stay right where he was. It took a substantial cut in pay to make it work, but that's what Smith did in March of this year when the last two years of his original 2005 rookie contract were redone at a sacrifice of more than $16 million to him.

That old deal would have earned him a total of $24.67 million for 2009 and 2010. His new contract will pay him $4 million in '09 and the same amount in '10.

"I don't measure myself in terms of what I'm making," Smith said at the time. "Having gone through what I've gone through the last couple years, being on the sideline, I guess I've got a different perspective on the game. I wanted the chance to compete."

Another new offense

Along the way, Smith's development as an NFL quarterback was retarded by a parade of one-and-done offensive coordinators for each of his first four seasons with the 49ers. He's now on No. 5 with Jimmy Raye, learning yet another offense.

In explaining why he's going with Smith instead of Hill, Singletary said, "It's probably a combination of a number of things - getting settled, you have another coordinator coming in, you have an offense where you're trying to work things through with your shoulder. Let the guy get settled. Let him develop that hunger. Let him get excited if he gets the opportunity again ... rather than put him in there at the beginning of the season."

When he sent Smith into the second half at Houston on Sunday, Singletary said, "I really didn't know what we were going to get. I was hoping we'd get what we saw in practice, and that is what we got."

Smith and Hill are both popular with their teammates. Monday's move by the head coach did not create a schism in the locker room.

"I've always believed in Alex," Davis said after catching three touchdown passes from the man. "Sometimes it takes certain guys a little longer to come around. Alex stepped in and made good decisions on throwing the ball. He stepped up. I was proud of him for that."

More downs than ups

Career of Alex Smith
2005

-- Selected by 49ers with first overall pick in NFL draft.

-- First rookie to start game at QB for 49ers since 1997 (Jim Druckenmiller), but hampered by knee injury (four games inactive), passing (11 interceptions, one touchdown) and reputedly small hands.
2006

-- Became first 49ers quarterback to take every snap of the season.

-- Led memorable fourth-quarter comeback at Seattle with two TD passes and a TD run.
2007

-- Shoulder woes began with separation Sept. 30. Returned a month later and started three games before missing more time and ultimately going on injured reserve.

-- Status of shoulder became sore point between Smith and head coach Mike Nolan.
2008

-- Offseason quarterback competition won by J.T. O'Sullivan, over Smith and Shaun Hill.

-- Went on injured reserve with shoulder injury Sept. 10 and had surgery Oct. 30.
2009

-- To the surprise of many, Smith remained with 49ers, signing a restructured contract March 10.

-- Hill named starter Aug. 24.

-- Smith makes first appearance Sunday and finishes 15-for-22 for 206 yards and three TDs. It was his second-best yardage total since October 2006.

I still can't fucking believe that JT O'Sullivan was our QB. WTF. I still remember how happy I was when instead of being released, Alex restructured his contract to make much less money and stayed on with the team as a backup. My respect for him grew so much when he did that.

Ugh, I can't find the article again, but I read something that was pretty accurate about the Texans game. Alex was coming in down 21-0 and there wasn't any pressure on him. It's a good situation. The team that's up tends to relax a bit, and the team that's behind feels free to play loosely and try creative things. So the real question is how does he perform when he knows he's going in as the starter?

It's not that I dislike Shaun Hill. I just think he's a placeholder and I think the longer he's in there, the more of a waste of time it is when the real QB (whoever that may be) isn't playing. Alex has the potential to be something more than a placeholder, and that's why I support him on a football/practical level. On an emotional level, I just like the guy. :)

Quarterback controversy

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:26:39 GMT

The latest episode of Dollhouse was so amazingly good. This is why I will watch anything Joss Whedon does. :)

Was sitting through yet another 49ers game of ineptitude today (which I'd thought wouldn't be happening anymore) and I thought, man if Alex Smith was the QB, at least this would be unbearable. Instead I was just sort of resentful of Shaun Hill.

And then they put Alex Smith in the second half!!! :D He could have been just as inept and I would have been happy, but he went and like... threw 3 touchdown passes to Vernon Davis (♥ ♥ ♥) and I kind of exploded with happiness. Would have been nice to have won the game, but really, wouldn't have made things all that much better. :P Just seeing his confidence and quick decision-making was really rewarding.

I liked what I saw from Michael Crabtree. Yeah, he's a diva, but the best wide receivers all have a little diva to them. I don't know if the 49ers just feared good wide receivers after the TO experience, but it's so nice to have someone who looks like he's going to be able to reliably make plays.

After the team's performance, I pretty much knew that the analysts and fans were going to be abuzz with talk of a "quarterback controversy" and starting Alex Smith in the next game. I got kind of excited at the prospect at first, then I found out we're playing the Colts. *gulp* Perfectly fine with having Shaun Hill start that game! :P

Umm.

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:18:44 GMT

From what seems to be a legitimate web site:

Taiwan is a real melting pot.

98% of people are Han Chinese, while 2% are Taiwanese aborigines.

LOLOLOL!!!

Life imitating art?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:48:11 GMT

Havlat and Sykora are both out with groin injuries.

I don't even know what to say.

Just read an article from the Mercury News that started with "Marc-Edouard Vlasic ran a hand through his thick, dark hair" and immediately was concerned that it was going to launch into some unfortunate PWP. I'm conditioned!

It turned out to be a really nice article about him being a young veteran and stuff and aside from the trauma of Rob Blake saying that Vlasic is "so good with his stick", I'm very proud.

[Edit: Sad that Christine Lahti is (most likely) at the end of her guest stint on SVU as the ADA. Her character was super annoying but I loved the interaction between her and Stabler, especially when she slapped him and then he just sort of smiled at her.]

Mr. Vlasic!

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:34:17 GMT

It is perhaps a testament to my fiercely pure and undying love for Marc-Edouard Vlasic that I was able to read the following article about him and glow warmly about his emerging offense while squelching the more unsavoury aspects of the article...

Putting Up Points from the Blueline
22-year-old 'Pickles' is finding his offensive prowess
Friday, 10.09.2009 / 6:27 PM / News
By San Jose Sharks Staff

Lost amidst the goal scoring bonanza on Thursday was a tally by defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic. It marked San Jose's second defenseman goal of the night. The first was scored by Dan Boyle and that was more expected.

But this year, Sharks fans can expect "Pickles" to score more than he has in the past.

Vlasic has been a defensive stalwart for Team Teal since he broke into the National Hockey League four years ago. He's earned respect around the NHL for his poise and ability to read the attack. The offense has always been a bit of a bonus. The mantra: take what comes, but focus on the defense.

In his first two campaigns, Vlasic totaled just five goals. Last year, he began an effort to add to the other side of the equation and scored six. Now the bar has been raised.

"We believe he does (have a lot of offensive potential)," McLellan said. "His aggressiveness in certain areas has to come out."

Vlasic is just 22, so one wouldn't think of him as a veteran, but he is – in terms of experience. His 249 games played ranks third among the Sharks blueliners. He also has four years of playoff action under his belt. Thus, the coaching staff has put high expectations on him.

"He’s not a freshman or sophomore," McLellan said. "He has to step up. He’s a senior. In the past, we tried to comfort him a little. This year, there’s a little more stress so he’ll be ready in the playoffs for every situation possible."

On the ice, Vlasic has the benefit of playing on the power play, penalty kill and even strength with team captain and defenseman Rob Blake, a player who does everything from his defensive position.

"I think his role has changed," said Blake of his partner. "He's going to bring more to the offensive side. He can score 10 this year. When he gets that, we’ll look for more."

"It's an objective for me," Vlasic said about reaching double-digits in goals. "I have to take some more chances offensively without sacrificing the defensive side. I'll pick my spots and work at getting my shots through."

Vlasic may not have a hard slapshot like Blake, but he can get the puck to the goaltender quickly.

"If you get the shot through, you don't even need the goal. Assists count too," Vlasic said. "Our guy is screening and the defender is guarding him and making a double screen. The goalie is screened so the shot doesn’t have to be hard. Yesterday, I scored on a half-slapper and (Dany) Heatley was in front. It found a hole and went in."

Vlasic is enjoying having a future Hall of Famer such as Blake as a teammate and on-ice mentor.

"I see a lot of him," Vlasic said. "It's great playing with him and I can learn from him. When I pass the puck to him he stops it and shoots right away. He does the little things right. He picks his spots."

"Rob Blake is a Hall of Fame player," McLellan said. "He's won a Norris Trophy and played in All-Star Games and the Olympics. There's not a lot I'll tell 'Pickles' that Rob Blake hasn’t experienced. He’s a great teaching tool for all the young defensemen."

Vlasic hopes he can keep Blake excited about the game and playing more than just year-to-year.

"Hopefully, he like skating with me and it will make him want to play longer and feel younger," Vlasic said of their near 20-year age difference.

The two had a good laugh when someone mixed them up the other day.

"Rob was at a restaurant and someone came up and asked him if he was Marc-Edouard Vlasic," Vlasic said. "I don't know if he should be happier that someone thought he looked 22 or I should be more upset that someone thought I looked almost 40."

Then Vlasic looked at it another way.

"Maybe that means someone thinks I’m a Hall of Famer," Vlasic said.

If that's his goal, he's starting on a nice path in that direction.

That is an obscene, completely unwarranted, amount of slash (and self-slashing!) for such a short article. :(

"Yesterday, I scored on a half-slapper and (Dany) Heatley was in front. It found a hole and went in."
*weeps piteously*

"I see a lot of him," Vlasic said.
Please stop looking at Rob Blake. :(

Vlasic hopes he can keep Blake excited about the game and playing more than just year-to-year.

"Hopefully, he like skating with me and it will make him want to play longer and feel younger," Vlasic said of their near 20-year age difference.
This is like some kind of horrific set up for a Viagra commercial.

Labyrinthitis is not an allergy to labyrinths

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:40:27 GMT

So I woke up early yesterday feeling like my head was spinning. Then I opened my eyes and it looked like everything was spinning violently. I closed my eyes and tried to fall back asleep but I kept feeling the sensation of spinning and getting more and more nauseous so finally I got up. Everything was still spinning and I was so dizzy I crashed into the walls a few times going down the hallway to the bathroom.

I finally made it to the sink to throw up and after keeping my eyes open for a while the spinning finally stopped. It was awful and really scary while I was lying in bed cos' I didn't know what was going on and why I was feeling that way.

There was ringing in my ears and they felt a little blocked, like what happens when you ascend/descend rapidly. I figured it was some kind of inner ear problem since that controls balance and detects motion.

Just before I was so rudely awakened, I was dreaming about being in a semi-relationship with some guy and there was vague sex involved. It was one of those dreams where the person resembles some famous person but that's not who they're supposed to be in the dream. They're just a regular person there.

Anyway, as I was throwing up, I was thinking about the dream and trying to figure out who the person was, and then finally I realized that it was Barry Zito and I was horribly traumatized.

I checked my symptoms and WebMD and they matched labyrinthitis perfectly. This is just a fancy name for inflammation of the inner ear. :P I'm actually okay if I avoid tilting my head to the left or right, which triggers the vertigo (the spinning feeling). Just like Lucille 2 from Arrested Development!

After throwing up a few times in the morning, I recovered sufficiently to walk very slowly (felt that being in a moving vehicle would be unwise) to the doctor and she did indeed diagnose labyrinthitis and prescribed meclizine. It's used to treat motion sickness, sorta' like dramamine and it got rid of the nausea.

I woke up a few times at night because I had to sleep on my back and I sleep on my side but it wasn't too bad. Still have ringing in my ears and am slightly deaf, but I've managed to avoid triggering any more vertigo attacks so far and I'm working from home today.

In conclusion, having sex with Barry Zito makes me throw up.

In more cheerful news, it appears that the pairing that never was (except in some other world *coughs*) and had no basis in reality is... becoming? After like... 6 years.

I got so excited last night I almost gave myself another vertigo attack when Petr scored on the give-and-go with Marty and then fell down (Petr always ends up on his ass at least once per game) and then got up to leap on Marty! A leap on their first goal together! Usually it takes a few goals before Petr jumps on people!

From Havlat's Twitter:
Going to shut it down now....off to LA after practice. Me and Siki..like old times!

Also, he did this Twitter Q&A thing and answered like 7 questions out of 600+ people asked and this was one of them:
Who is more handsome? Me or Petr Sykora? Giving credit to Siki here. LOL

The Wild beat writer is starting to make them his OTP:
I'm sure Havlat would love to still be with Koivu, but I can guarantee he loves the fact he’s with Sykora. He even tweeted early this morning how it felt like old times. The two have played together in a number of international tournaments and definitely showed on that one give-and-go goal that they’ve got chemistry.

The 49ers are a real football team

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:04:07 GMT

I'm contemplating getting the MLB iPhone app for $5 so that I can listen to playoff games...

I could not be more proud of Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis. :D Vernon had some key catches, including a touchdown and Patrick Willis got an interception he returned for a touchdown, 2.5 sacks and was just really solid with his tackling, as always. Glen Coffee is not Frank Gore, but he did a decent job and got a few long runs in.

The first half was really painful to watch. Both offenses were terrible. The only reason the 49ers scored any points at all was that one of the Rams kicked the ball on a punt, making it a live ball, and one of the 49ers dove onto it in the end zone.

I'd like to think of that half as therapy for last week when Favre threw that winning TD pass with 2 seconds left in the game. :P The 49ers played much better in the second half. I'm glad that they got to play a crappy team this week and not say... the Colts. *shudder*

The Giants won their last game of the season in the 10th inning on Pablo's home run with Brian Wilson getting the save. I haven't watched the game yet as I was watching the 49ers. A nice way to end things I think, for a team that surpassed everyone's expectations this season.

I don't feel sad about their season being over. I have the 49ers and... the Minnesota Wild (presumably Petr will not be invisible for the next 81 games) to follow. But I did feel sad when we drove past the empty ballpark on Friday, knowing it would stay that way until next March.

[Edit: You know how you can recognize your favourite hockey players by the way they skate? I can now recognize Vernon Davis by the way he jumps and catches balls. Scary.]

Why is everything on Thursday?

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:33:41 GMT

So tonight there's a ton of TV shows I'm interested in watching: Bones, Fringe, The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, FlashForward and The Mentalist. The Sharks season opener is tonight too. At least the Giants are playing a day game so there isn't a conflict with that as well.

WTF? I know that Thursday commercial slots are more valuable because it's the day before movies come out but did they really have to cram everything on one day? :P Move some stuff to Wednesday!

I don't think I could possibly be any less enthusiastic about the start of hockey season as I am right now. I mean, I hated Joe Thornton but I was aware on another level that it was a good trade. But this? I've been good at burying my head in the sand but when I saw the article headlines that the Sharks were going to name a new captain it all caught up to me and I started crying. It just hurts because Patty and Cheech are the two guys who most represent the Sharks to me.

I briefly thought about watching Bones and Fringe live instead of the Sharks game because I get them in HD if they're live, but decided against it because I'll have to sit through commercials. Am I going to feel this bad before every Sharks game this season?

They're just setting me up for disappointment

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:26:56 GMT

LOL, Olesz the new Ocho Cinco.

Just watched last week's episode of Supernatural and I really liked it! Now that they're ripping off quality stuff like The Prophecy and comic books like Hellblazer and Preacher (and Castiel's trenchcoat brigade wardrobe is straight out of The Books of Magic) the show is so much better.

Unfortunately, the scene with Lucifer kind of showed that Jared can't act either. :( I don't know, maybe I just blocked that out cos' I loved Dean from Gilmore Girls but I was embarrassed for him. Maybe they should have asked Mark Pellegrino to make his acting worse so he wouldn't make Jared look so bad. :P

My only complaint about the episode would be the implausible behaviour of the hunters at the end. Threatening to kill an innocent girl because... your best friend just died? Really? Don't hunters die like ALL THE TIME?

But overall, really liking the direction the series took from season 4 onwards.

(... still concerned that the series finale will be one colossal kick in the crotch that launches me into space, though.)

Just like that, only gayer

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:21:34 GMT

Got the latest Sporting News magazine yesterday and when I opened it, I went straight to this full page photo of Timmy and Matty smiling gaily together. Then I read the title of the article - a quote from one of them "I just LOVE watching him pitch" - and then I started choking and had to stop reading.

Now that I've recovered, a day later, I read the whole interview, and it is gay almost beyond belief. It's like the writer and photographer gave them instructions to be as gay as possible or something.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Okay, stand closer together, closer, closer, lean on him. Okay, smile. Bigger smiles. More gay. MORE GAY. GAY! GAY! GAY!

INTERVIEWER: So, why are you in love with each other? *coughs* I mean, what about the other guy's personality appeals to you most?

There are also all kinds of disturbing references to "dominance", made even more disturbing in light of Timmy's comments about having Matty put a leash on him at the All-Star Game. :( Timmy actually says that Matty "sneaky-dominates you". :( Also, the writer calls Matty Timmy's "partner in dominance". :( And Matty has nicknames for Timmy that he can't talk about. :(

All of this makes me feel amazed, repulsed, squeeful and cringy all at the same time.l They're kind of mushy in describing how their relationship developed (very romantic comedy) but then they end with bickering and it makes me want to give them milk and cookies. I'll post the whole interview to LJ eventually when I'm not feeling quite so overcome. :P

The 49ers played a really good game today, I thought, especially given that they lost Gore on the first play. They definitely didn't embarrass themselves (which was all I was hoping for) and even would have won the game if not for Favre's TD pass with 2 seconds left. I'm so so proud of Vernon Davis (he's a Terp, flanneryflyer!) finally emerging as a reliable target for receptions. This is definitely a game to feel good about. :)

Alex and Tessa went to a B&B on Thursday and Friday night so I ended up babysitting overnight. :) They were concerned that she might be terror baby and cry a bunch and not go to sleep, but she slept through the night on Thursday. She woke up at 4:30 AM on Friday night but after I found her pacifier and gave it back to her she just went straight back to sleep. Other than that, we just had fun playing and hanging out and she was a very good baby.

Then last night after dinner she gave me a "nose squish" which is basically pressing her nose lightly against yours as a display of affection. She hasn't done that with anyone else but her parents. *sniffle*

Why?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:06:43 GMT

Why is Timmy making BJ face at Matt Cain? :(

Nice debut

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:44:34 GMT

Wild beat Blackhawks 3-0 in the preseason debut of Marty and Petr. Marty scores 2 goals and Petr scores 1. I think the Czechs are getting along. :D

I watched the first two episodes of Supernatural yesterday. I thought the season premiere was pretty good until the Wincest fan appeared. I don't understand the point of drawing attention to the bad parts of fandom: bad writing, Mary Sue self-insertion. Are they trying to acknowledge the support of the slashers? There are nicer ways to do it. Are they mocking slashers? What's the point? Some boring Sam/Dean argument angst. Has nobody working on that show noticed that Jensen can't do dramatic acting? Zzz...

As always with the show, I liked the little touches they put in. Like the way the angels just disappear and everyone is left just looking around. I enjoyed the Needful Things rip-off from the second episode. I think the show is at its best when ripping off good stuff. :)

Really proud of the 49ers today. I love the increased role of Vernon Davis and that he's becoming more dependable. Patrick Willis was great as usual, and OMG Frank Gore with the 2 75+ TD runs. Insanity. Still not liking Shaun Hill, but he's an adequate guy to have until we get a real QB. Next week will be a really big test against the Vikings. Even if they lose, I hope to see a good showing, i.e. they don't embarrass themselves.

Giants lose, Rockies win. Didn't watch the Giants game (49ers in HD was on at the same time) but sad that Timmy lost. Getting excited for the MLB playoffs to start regardless of whether the Giants are in it or not. :)

It happened and the universe didn't implode!

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:33:17 GMT

Without a doubt, the best, most exciting thing that's happened for me this season is this:
Wild signs Sykora

The quickest “tryout” in NHL history came to an end this morning when the Wild signed winger Petr Sykora to a one-year contract for $1.6 million.

“I’m shocked,” Sykora said sarcastically. “I guess my practice yesterday made them sign me.”

Now, it's not that I love the Wild or anything, but... they have Marty Havlat, and for years and years I've thought that the universe would implode if the two of them ever played on the same team and... they're going to. They just seemed like the only 2 Czech players who weren't best of friends with each other!

(And some of you know how they're linked in... other ways. :P)

Seriously, the timing couldn't be better since I was going to be pretty miserable about this off-season/season otherwise. Or maybe just bitter, heartbroken, betrayed, disgusted, etc. etc. I have a team I can watch without wanting to throw up. (I'm not even exaggerating about this, I woke up this morning and turned on the TV and the press conference with Heatley was on and I saw his face, and him holding up the Sharks jersey with his name and number on it, then my tummy felt funny and I retched. He literally makes me want to throw up.)

Wednesday's game with fightgravity was fun! We went to Palomino before the game and they had a happy hour with half-price appetizers and some $4 drinks. I had an awesome cranberry mojito that I actually finished half of. That's a lot for me! The game itself was kind of depressing until the 9th inning. I totally thought that Renteria was going to repeat his home run against the Rockies to take the lead, just like he did in the previous series, but it was not to be.

We had lots of fun watching other things, though. Like talking about how much the Rockies outfielders hate each other. On every other team, when there's some kind of break in the action (like when everyone gathers to counsel the pitcher), the outfielders run to each other and start chatting. The Rockies outfielders just stare ahead of them, hands on their hips in stony silence. After a particularly long break the right fielder ran over to the center fielder to hang out, but the guy barely acknowledged his presence so he ran away.

Archiving various Havlat and Sykora articles:
Sykora Extra
Good morning everyone. Here is today’s Petr Sykora arrives article.

I’ll be back around 11:15ish to give you play-by-play from today’s scrimmage.

As you can read in the Sykora story, I talked to a bunch of people the last few days about what went wrong with Sykora down the stretch last season. He had 23 goals (14 on the power play, which was second in the league at the time) through 60 games or so, and then inexplicably looked like a different Petr Sykora.

That’s because it was a different Sykora. Talking to some media in Pittsburgh and a few friends of Sykora’s, he separated his shoulder in early March last season. But he kept playing through it and the Penguins never told anyone because of everybody’s favorite injury policy. Sykora’s game is all about his shot, and all of a sudden, he could barely hold a stick and when he took shots, there was just no mustard.

Finally, he was sat for much of the playoffs. That was everybody’s last memory of him, which explains why he couldn’t find a job this summer.

He says he feels the best he’s felt in a long time now, and we’ll see soon if he is the same consistent scorer he’s always been. He’s only 32, so it’s hard to believe that a guy just instantly loses his game in March and April after having it the first five months of last season.

Sykora was brought in to Pittsburgh two seasons ago to play with Sidney Crosby. But they never meshed and Sykora was moved onto Evgeni Malkin’s line. The two developed quite the chemistry. The writer I talked to in Pittsburgh said that Sykora was an incredible influence on Malkin and that the players loved Sykora in the locker room.

By the way, here is video of Sykora’s double-overtime winner against the Wild in Game 1 of the 2003 Western Conference Finals as a friendly reminder.

“Actually that could have been one of the worst hockey games I ever played. I don’t think I touched the puck the whole game and all of a sudden I went 2-on-1 in the overtime. … It’s one of those games where nothing goes well for you and all of a sudden you become a hero.

“Over the years, I played in this building quite a bit. I always like to come to this building because of the fans. It’s a great hockey arena here. It was one of the big things that made me decide to come here – the arena, the people, the fans and new era, new team, new coach and I think this team will play offensive hockey.”

Lastly, coach Todd Richards was funny yesterday talking about the exhibition game. He said he probably got a little too fired up in his pregame speech, almost like it was a regular-season game. He said that’s the one thing he could take back — his speech, that apparently was sprinkled with a few words that can’t appear in the newspaper or even on a blog. :)

I knew that Petr was injured even though they never said it. You can always tell. And of course everyone loves Petr. He's like a puppy!

Wild Signs Sykora
Posted on September 17th, 2009 – 11:46 AM
By Michael Russo

(updated)

The quickest “tryout” in NHL history came to an end this morning when the Wild signed winger Petr Sykora to a one-year contract for $1.6 million.

“I’m shocked,” Sykora said sarcastically. “I guess my practice yesterday made them sign me.”

Basically, and this is where sometimes you wish you could write everything you knew for some time, but in these type of things, there are all sorts of immigration hurdles that have to be done. So Sykora was on a “pro tryout” until I’s could be dotted and T’s could be crossed when it comes to a work visa. So that’s why I had to be very clear a few days ago that Sykora WAS NOT signed.

But Sykora didn’t give up tax-free dough in Russia for a lot more money just to fly to the U.S. for a tryout. After rejecting a couple contracts last week and it looking doubtful that he’d come, he realized he was just 32, wanted to continue to play in the NHL and if he ever wants to play in Russia, those type of contracts would be there for him.

He’s given up, when you consider taxes, substantially more than half the money to play for the Wild this season.

I should have put up another YouTube clip this morning — Sykora calling his shot in Game 5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals to my pal Pierre McGuire. Here is the clip.

I know Russo said he was 100% sure that the Wild were going to sign Petr, but I don't take anything for granted! I wonder if Petr will take the Petrling fishing. :P

Sykora takes to new team right away
He was a player without a job in the offseason, but the Wild welcomes his experience and offensive talents.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: September 17, 2009 - 12:05 PM
Despite a four-hour drive to Prague, a flight to Amsterdam and a cross-Atlantic journey on Tuesday, Petr Sykora practiced with the Wild on Wednesday afternoon.

Yes, there were signs of jet lag, but Sykora, one of the NHL's most consistent goal scorers for a decade, filled the back of the net and was so vocal you would have sworn he'd been hanging with his new teammates for years.

"I never had a problem ... being friendly with the boys," said Sykora, 32, a 300-goal scorer who has potted 20 or more goals for 10 consecutive seasons. "I've been like that through my whole career. Whenever I get to practice, when I know I should have scored a goal, I let myself know.

"I like to smile. When other guys make a good pass or score a nice goal, I like to clap on the boards and have some fun out there."

It was a humbling summer for Sykora, who couldn't find a job despite scoring 25 goals last season with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. The problem was he was scratched for much of the postseason.

"Obviously last year's playoffs didn't help, but I felt it was one of the best seasons I actually played," said Sykora, who's won two Stanley Cups and played in five Stanley Cup Finals. "I had 10 winning goals last year, which is the best I ever had."

Instants from signing a lucrative contract in Russia, Sykora settled on a "tryout" with the Wild after rejecting a few contract offers last week. The reality is 20-goal scorers don't grow on trees, so Sykora, after a few immigration hurdles, should be a genuine Wild player soon.

Sykora has been skating the past three weeks with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Elite League. He thought he was going to play a game Tuesday until speaking with Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, whom he knows from his days playing for Anaheim and Pittsburgh.

"I was going to the airport, and instead of going east, I changed gates and I was coming west," joked Sykora. "New era here, new GM, new coach, I think new style, too. I think we're going to see quite a bit of offense, speed, a lot of nice goals. I think the fans can be excited."

Sykora refuses to make excuses for last season. But after scoring 23 goals -- 14 on the power play -- through February, Sykora inexplicably fell off the map.

The truth is he was playing with a Grade II shoulder separation, something he never told the media and the Penguins wouldn't acknowledge because of their injury policy.

Sykora continued to play despite being severely handicapped. At times, he could barely hold his stick. Finally, coach Dan Bylsma removed him from the lineup. He played only seven playoff games before breaking his foot in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

When healthy, there's no doubting Sykora's ability to score. Wild fans may sadly remember Sykora, then with Anaheim, scoring the double-overtime winner in Game 1 of the 2003 Western Conference Finals. But he's got one of the sport's most lethal one-timers, too.

"He's a guy that can find that soft spot in the zone, and this guy's got as good a release point as anybody in the league," veteran Andrew Brunette said. "He's dangerous any time in that open slot and he's got a little room."

Sykora said Wednesday this is the healthiest he's been in a long time. Put him with a playmaker, perhaps Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and it could be special.

"I'm not going to go out and score 25 goals. I need the players who will give me the puck," Sykora said. "When I went through the lineup, there's a few guys here who can feed the puck. I think without those players, goal scorers can't get chances.

"My game is pretty simple. I like to shoot the puck, and I would like to be on the power play. I shoot the puck on power play [107 career power-play goals]."

That's what coach Todd Richards likes to hear.

"So many times you watch guys come down the ice and they're always looking for that pretty play, and it's nice to have those passers," Richards said. "But you also have to have the guys that are willing to shoot the puck."

I like how Petr starts out by declaring that he's a big slut.

There's a lot to like about Wild's Havlat, on and off the ice
The big free-agent acquisition likes to connect with fans and teammates.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune
Last update: September 16, 2009 - 8:49 AM

There's something too good to be true about Martin Havlat -- the biggest free-agent acquisition in Wild history.

On the ice, he's a special player, a flashy, fast difference-maker who can score goals in imaginative ways.

"We put together a highlight video for training camp, and there are a couple of Martin Havlat goals on there that are just incredible," Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. "He's a natural goal scorer and playmaker. The way he can lean on defenders down low or win a 1-on-1 battle on the wall or just outskill you is just dynamic."

Off the ice, he's special there, too.

In Ottawa, he was heavily involved in the Ronald McDonald House and used to show up unannounced at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario to play video games with kids.

In Chicago, he often held up exiting players after games so he could get out of his car and take a photo with a shivering fan.

In an age of fake player Twitter accounts and Facebook pages, Havlat -- the real Martin Havlat -- engages his social-network fans with open dialogue on Twitter, and he plans to launch a Facebook fan page in a few weeks.

Heck, over an hour-long lunch last week in which he answered questions about his first Wild training camp, which starts today, Havlat spotted the reporter's glass empty. Between bites of salmon, Havlat picked up the bottle of water and poured.

"I'm just me being me," said the 28-year-old Havlat, who has bought a suite at Xcel Energy Center to donate on a nightly basis. "Hockey has allowed me to do a lot of things, and I love doing my charities. I try to give kids help the only little way I can. And the fans, they're one of the most important things around hockey. They pay a lot of money to watch you, so you try to give them everything back with the way you play and treat them."

A 'better team' with Havlat

Rick Dudley, the Atlanta Thrashers associate general manager, knows Havlat better than most from his days as Ottawa's GM and Chicago's assistant GM. "I'm a big Marty Havlat fan. I like him as a player, but I love him as a person," Dudley said. "He's just a class act. There aren't too many better people."

Dudley was instrumental in Havlat's acquisition in Chicago. Three years ago, Havlat was a restricted free agent and a year from unrestricted free agency. He told Ottawa he wanted to sign a one-year deal so he could test free agency the following summer.

Dale Tallon, then the Blackhawks GM, wanted to trade for Havlat and sign him to a three-year, $18 million deal, so Dudley and Tallon drove to late Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz's house to convince him the investment was worth it.

"Bill Wirtz looked at me and said, 'What do you think?'" Dudley said. "I said, 'I'm not going to talk to you about the money. It's a lot of money. But I can tell you this: If we have Marty Havlat on our team, we're a better team by quite a bit tomorrow than we are today.'

"And I can tell you, the Minnesota Wild are a much better team having Marty than they were on [June 30]. Big shot, great speed, incredible skills. There's not a lot missing there. If he's not the shooter, he can find somebody with a pass. He's a pretty complete player, and he's got a lot more bite than people would imagine.

"The question has never been whether he was a good player or not. It's only, 'Could he stay healthy?'"

Injuries 'are behind me'

Last season, after three consecutive years of injuries that included four shoulder dislocations and three operations, Havlat played a career-high 81 games, scoring a career-high 48 assists and 77 points to lead the Blackhawks. He then scored a team-high 15 points in the playoffs, including a flurry of clutch goals, such as his overtime winner 12 seconds into Game 1 vs. Calgary for the Blackhawks' first playoff victory in seven years.

"It was very important, for the team and for myself too, just to know everything's fine and that I can show everybody that I'm healthy and the shoulder injuries are behind me," Havlat said. "I felt great all last season, and once I realized that I didn't have any problems, that there was no pain, I just played hockey."

Havlat desperately wanted to remain a Blackhawk, but when it didn't work out, his agent, Allan Walsh, called Fletcher moments after free agency began July 1.

"Before July 1, when we started talking about what if, the what-ifs had Minnesota at the very top of the list," Walsh said. "Any player in the league who came into Minnesota saw the full house, the crazy fans. You saw a community that loves its hockey. It was valuable for Marty to be in a place where hockey was on everybody's mind.

"But Marty also looked at what Chuck had done in Anaheim and Pittsburgh and really believed in Chuck and [owner] Craig Leipold's vision for the future."

Added Havlat, "I had other options, but for the first time, I could choose, and this was my choice."

Havlat signed a cap-friendly six-year, $30 million deal ($5 million a year -- $2.5 million less than Marian Gaborik is getting with the Rangers) in exchange for a no-movement clause.

"Coming off the last deal [$6 million annually] gave him the financial flexibility," Walsh said. "There are guys who have to go sign in markets where they know they're not going to a winning team ... but they're going to the team that's going to pay them the most money because it's their turn.

"Marty wasn't in that position. He wanted to be in Minnesota."

Happy to play any role

Though he had a career-best season last year, Havlat did so while playing on a shutdown line with Dave Bolland and Andrew Ladd. This year, he will get first-line minutes and responsibilities for one of the rare times in his career.

"He's willing to do anything for you if it means the team's got a better chance of winning," Dudley said. "You don't look at [Bolland and Ladd] as of yet as top-tier offensive players, so if Marty's playing with somebody like [Mikko] Koivu, could he conceivably get much more goals and points and be a true star? No question."

Havlat, who has signed a purchase agreement for a downtown Minneapolis condo, said he will accept whatever role or linemates that coach Todd Richards offers him. He also wants Wild fans to know that he's not here to replace Gaborik.

"He had great years here, and he's a tremendous player," Havlat said. "But I think I'm a different player than him. I play a different style of hockey than him."

Asked in what ways, Havlat smiled and said with a wink: "I'll leave it up to everyone else to see. I think everybody who watches hockey, they know if I'm the same or not.

"I'll just say this: It's not about one guy. We need everybody to be successful. I'm here to help. I play the game for one reason -- to not have an empty feeling in April, to battle for the Stanley Cup -- and we need everybody for that."

I wonder if Marty will do fun things with his Facebook page, or if it'll just be a place for him to cross-post his tweets. I'm glad that they're both somewhere with a lot of hockey coverage and that their (inevitable) rolling around on the ice together will be well-documented.

Oh, Zito

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:49:05 GMT

Went to the Giants game yesterday with lastcatastrophe and fightgravity. ♥ It's crazy how Timmy goes out there, strikes out 11 and gives up only 1 run (on a wild pitch) and somehow it's still a slightly shaky performance for him.

And Zito is insanely good against the Rockies again. I've never seen him strike that many guys out before. The "let's go, Zito" chant made me kind of weepy. Going to tomorrow's game with fightgravity! :D

MLB/SVU crossover???

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:07:17 GMT

Today has been a good sports day! I went to the Giants game with x_caligirlx3 and they won 7-2. :D The Rockies lost and I stayed in the park to catch the last 4 minutes of the 49ers game on one of the TVs. A bunch of other people stayed to watch it too and we were an impromptu cheering section.

I have also traumatized x_caligirlx3 for life by telling her that Schierholtz looks like he could play an alleged rapist on SVU, muahahaha!!! Zito could also be an SVU perp. He'd be the sneaky rapist who gets evidence excluded on technicalities and stuff.

The Giants offense was surprisingly not terrible today! And then towards the end, the Dodgers just gave up defensively, which probably earned the Giants another 2-3 runs. I have tickets for tomorrow's game against the Rockies. Timmy is starting. :D

(Still ignoring that trade.)

[Edit: I got really excited watching the most recent version of SVU cos' Matt Saracen, the QB from Friday Night Lights was in it! I was like OMG MATT SARACEN IS A CHILD MOLESTER!!! But then they arrested another guy so I thought that maybe he just had that small role in one scene, but then there was a twist and I was like OMG MATT SARACEN IS A CHILD MOLESTER AFTER ALL!!!

What happened to Timmy???

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:07:59 GMT

Bumgarner to start tonight for Lincecum

What? What? Is Timmy okay??? Argh.

Will be fun to get to be at Madison Bumgarner's first major league start, though.

(Timmy Timmy Timmy, what happened?) :(

Being on SVU is like an internship for TV actors

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:25:45 GMT

So I'm generally pretty content to wait for stuff. I don't get consumed by cliffhangers on TV and desperately feel like I need to know what happens next. I don't really get anxious on draft day or trade deadline day (although I do find it fun to follow the moves). But I'm getting slightly antsy to find out where Petr's going to be playing next season.

He made it really easy for me a couple of years ago by signing on the first (or second?) day of free agency. The rumours I've found mention the Wild and Sens as possible destinations. I would love love love for him to sign with the Wild, just because he's not really himself unless he's in love with one of his teammates, especially if that teammate is Czech. (Also, vaguely curious as to whether universe will explode, as I've theorized will happen should he ever be on the same team as Havlat.)

The Sens would be cool if he bonds with Spezza, but I fear that he's going to attach himself to... Chris Neil. *shudder*

I already disliked Brad Penny because I thought he was an asshole, but according to Giants announcers, "Timmy snuggled up to Brad Penny five minutes after he walked into Mike Murphy's clubhouse." :( They keep showing video evidence of them together too. Stupid Brad Penny. Good pick up, though.

Had another SVU mini-marathon this weekend. Got very excited about seeing Milo Vent...lia (Peter from Heroes, Jesse from Gilmore Girls) in an episode as a guy who was raped as a kid by his cousin, but blamed his mom's boyfriend. And Ben from Lost as a pedophile who bought a Nigerian boy to use as a sex slave, then had to kill him because his wife cut her 2 month business trip short, then tried to mislead the police by staging it as a human sacrifice! He was pretty creepy.

[Edit: The Brewers celebration at home plate after Prince Fielder hit the walk off homer was AWESOME. They all gathered around, then he jumped on home plate and everyone fell down like dominos, haha. I wonder if they do that for all walk off wins/homers, or just for him.]

Why would he say that? :(

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:44:40 GMT

Kruk said that Dan Haren is "consistent with his command between the knees". *coughs*

Please take your hands off Timmy :(

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:16:00 GMT

I have a neighbour who seems to have left their alarm clock on, their window open, and gone on vacation. What this means is that everything morning, an alarm echoes around my alley for at least 2 hours or so. This morning one of my neighbours snapped and screamed into the alley, LOL. This is how people get driven to become axe murderers.

Finally got around to watching my recording of the epic 14 inning game between the Giants and Rockies from about 2 weeks ago and it didn't disappoint! Got a kick out of Brian Wilson's LOL bunt attempts while Timmy was pinch running. However, I didn't appreciate the first base coach hovering around Timmy, standing really close behind him, and resting his hand on his shoulder in a manner that can only be described as pedophilic. :( :( :(

Bad Touch!

This is like an episode of SVU. :(

I'm more convinced than ever that Brian Wilson is the best guy to be the closer for the Giants. It's not that he's a great closer or anything, but he's the best guy on the team for the job. It's because he's got that sheer force of will thing going. He doesn't crumble under pressure and when he fucks up, he doesn't get all down on himself because of his bull-headed egotism. :P

What happened?

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:23:30 GMT

I had Conan on briefly last night and some band with an old, fat singer was performing and I would have changed channels, but the music sounded familiar... almost like Third Eye Blind...

AND THEN I REALISED THAT IT WAS THIRD EYE BLIND.

OMG WTF happened to Stephan Jenkins? He was cute once upon a time, right? He's so old now oh man how old am I too? *wails*

Poor Huston

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:44:05 GMT

It's perhaps some kind of indication where my true loyalties lie that I was really sad that Huston is out with bicep tendonitis. Isn't this what happened to him last year or two years ago? Or maybe that was forearm tendonitis. I also still get excited when I hear his entrance music and root for him when even when he's making saves against the Giants. :P

I'm mostly indifferent to whether the Giants make the playoffs or not anyway. It would be nice just to see all the babies get some playoff experience, but they've already overachieved this season IMO. I'm very easy to please as a sports fan. Perhaps this is because pretty much every team I start watching is in the crapper at the time and I have low expectations.

Buster Posey has been called up as a backup in case something happens to Eli Whiteside as Molina is still wounded. I'm thinking that eventually they're going to have to start Posey if Molina doesn't recover because Eli has to get a rest at some point, right? I wouldn't make Sandoval squat for 9 innings and Posey's gotta do better than Garko.

Mostly I'm just excited to see what he can do. He also has that whole Marc-Edouard Vlasic thing going where he's young, but very calm and mature.