according to Chicago Magazine's 30 Best Burgers
They also have a separate page just to explain why big names, including the $19 burger from Rockit didn't make the list.
I've only had burgers at #14 Hop Haus, #24 Paradise Pup, and #27 Five Guys. Basically all three of them were at one end of the foodie spectrum, opposite where the Rockit burger is.
For what it's worth, the burgers from Epic Burger, Duchamp, Naha, and Kuma's Corner were all on my radar. Also, Capital Grille and Primehouse are literally only a block away, so if I ever wanted to spend $20 on a burger for lunch, I know where to go.
Capital Grille is where I had one of the best meals of my life: a 24-ounce porterhouse for $40. So while I have no doubts about their burger making skills, it almost feels like if you're going to go to Capital Grille and shell out serious cash, why not order a dry-aged steak?
Friday, November 06, 2009
bye week anaylsis
Analysis of 2009 bye team performances:
Home Win: 8
Road Win: 2
Home Loss: 3
Road Loss: 5
Home teams after a bye: 8-3
Road teams after a bye: 2-5
I think this is too small of a sample size (as it doesn't support my theory as well as I thought it would!) and included at least two matchups of bye teams going head to head, as well as Dolphins getting a bye and then hosting the Saints, where they actually kept it closer than anyone thought.
I still believe that generally after a bye, teams chances of winning are a lot better. Usually the Chiefs lose after a bye (@ JAX this week) and I always feel like we play at least 2 teams coming off a bye. (Though not this year, see below.)
2009 games against teams coming off byes
You would think that since each team has 1 bye week, odds are that each each team would play someone who just had a bye week only once. Not the case.
Falcons: 4
Broncos: 3
Jaguars: 3
Ravens: 3
Titans: 3
Lions: 2
Saints: 2
Texans: 2
Bucs: 1
Chiefs: 1
Cowboys: 1
Dolphins: 1
49ers: 1
Giants: 1
Packers: 1
Rams: 1
Redskins: 1
15 Teams with Zero sorted by Division:
Patriots: 0
Jets: 0
Bills: 0
Bengals: 0
Steelers: 0
Browns: 0
Colts: 0
Chargers: 0
Raiders: 0
Eagles: 0
Vikings: 0
Bears: 0
Panthers: 0
Cardinals: 0
Seahawks: 0
Now you could say that it doesn't really matter if your opponent is coming off a bye, but if there is just a slight advantage, shouldn't that be distributed as evenly as possible. 15 teams don't have to play one. In the case of the Colts, they're the only team in their division that doesn't have to. Meanwhile, the Ravens have 3 games against recent-bye teams, while the rest of their division has 0.
Home Win: 8
Road Win: 2
Home Loss: 3
Road Loss: 5
Home teams after a bye: 8-3
Road teams after a bye: 2-5
I think this is too small of a sample size (as it doesn't support my theory as well as I thought it would!) and included at least two matchups of bye teams going head to head, as well as Dolphins getting a bye and then hosting the Saints, where they actually kept it closer than anyone thought.
I still believe that generally after a bye, teams chances of winning are a lot better. Usually the Chiefs lose after a bye (@ JAX this week) and I always feel like we play at least 2 teams coming off a bye. (Though not this year, see below.)
2009 games against teams coming off byes
You would think that since each team has 1 bye week, odds are that each each team would play someone who just had a bye week only once. Not the case.
Falcons: 4
Broncos: 3
Jaguars: 3
Ravens: 3
Titans: 3
Lions: 2
Saints: 2
Texans: 2
Bucs: 1
Chiefs: 1
Cowboys: 1
Dolphins: 1
49ers: 1
Giants: 1
Packers: 1
Rams: 1
Redskins: 1
15 Teams with Zero sorted by Division:
Patriots: 0
Jets: 0
Bills: 0
Bengals: 0
Steelers: 0
Browns: 0
Colts: 0
Chargers: 0
Raiders: 0
Eagles: 0
Vikings: 0
Bears: 0
Panthers: 0
Cardinals: 0
Seahawks: 0
Now you could say that it doesn't really matter if your opponent is coming off a bye, but if there is just a slight advantage, shouldn't that be distributed as evenly as possible. 15 teams don't have to play one. In the case of the Colts, they're the only team in their division that doesn't have to. Meanwhile, the Ravens have 3 games against recent-bye teams, while the rest of their division has 0.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
how did this team go 9-7?
Alt title: The chargers are pretty good at finding skill players.
Here is the 2005 Chargers Depth Chart:
QB
Drew Brees
Phillip Rivers
RB
Tomlinson
Michael Turner
Darren Sproles
TE
Gates
Defense includes Jamal Williams, Shawn Merriman, Quinten Jammer, and Luis Castillo among others.
That team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. They finished 3rd in the division! They had 3 NFL starting running backs and two Pro Bowl quarterbacks.
It's just amazing to see that much talent on one offense, particularly at QB/RB.
p.s. This post is still sort of funny.
Here is the 2005 Chargers Depth Chart:
QB
Drew Brees
Phillip Rivers
RB
Tomlinson
Michael Turner
Darren Sproles
TE
Gates
Defense includes Jamal Williams, Shawn Merriman, Quinten Jammer, and Luis Castillo among others.
That team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. They finished 3rd in the division! They had 3 NFL starting running backs and two Pro Bowl quarterbacks.
It's just amazing to see that much talent on one offense, particularly at QB/RB.
p.s. This post is still sort of funny.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
poopy way to win eliminator
Burnsy pulled a Burnsy. It's okay, Burnsy was going to pick Arizona anyways. Also, spoilers on who I'm picking this week!
Grand prize is a $2500 Best Buy gift card. I'm halfway there.
(And for end of the season calculations, he missed picking 13 games in week 8.)
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
War Across the Shore: Who Ya Got?
In the style of these posts...
One of these men will get to slap the other with a Chipotle burrito (I recommend the Barbacoa or Carnitas!)
One of these men will get to slap the other with a Chipotle burrito (I recommend the Barbacoa or Carnitas!)
Contestants
Mark_____Burnsy
Terrible Confusing Fantasy Team Name
Burnsy Sucks Cock____Mark is a Vag
Why They Deserve A Burrito To The Face
Too Smug____Too Boring
Why Racists Don't Like Them
Jew____Indian
Is Their Preferred Football Team Better Than The Rams?
No_____Barely
Fantasy Team Strength
Running Backs_____Fluky Receivers
Left Points on the Bench?
McNabb and Maclin____1st round pick DeAngelo Williams
Thinks That DeAngelo Williams is an every week start?
Most Assuredly______Apparently Not
Most Enjoyable To Watch Getting a Burrito To The Face?
Yes____No
Mark_____Burnsy
Terrible Confusing Fantasy Team Name
Burnsy Sucks Cock____Mark is a Vag
Why They Deserve A Burrito To The Face
Too Smug____Too Boring
Why Racists Don't Like Them
Jew____Indian
Is Their Preferred Football Team Better Than The Rams?
No_____Barely
Fantasy Team Strength
Running Backs_____Fluky Receivers
Left Points on the Bench?
McNabb and Maclin____1st round pick DeAngelo Williams
Thinks That DeAngelo Williams is an every week start?
Most Assuredly______Apparently Not
Most Enjoyable To Watch Getting a Burrito To The Face?
Yes____No
Reminiscing
I was tired yesterday so I wanted to try to get to sleep earlier. Of course, I didn't go to bed any earlier. But can you blame me? I stayed up converting Rockapella youtube videos to mp3s.
- - -
Let me explain. These are not just any Rockapella videos.
Somewhere in the vicinity of 1993, we went to the Mall of America. Of course, I was most enthralled by the biggest board game store I had ever seen. I went home with the Carmen Sandiego board game. It came with a cassette of mostly Rockapella music, including the PBS Game Show theme. But in this new digital age, nothing, not even Rockapella cassettes are gone forever.
I was able to find the songs I liked on youtube, use catchyoutube.com to convert the videos to mp3, and now I've recreated my cassette in iTunes.
Of course, this music isn't providing intrinsic enjoyment. The only reason I got excited about it because of the memories it brought back. How I listened to that cassette on my walkman hundreds of times.
- - -
In fact, this is just the latest of trips down memory lane for me. Although it's a contentious category, the best video game experience of my life is probably Metal Gear Solid (1998, Playstation). I never owned a ps1, and to this date never owned MGS1. But I played for the first time at a Chris's house and fell in love. And then I had to borrow Brian's playstation so I could play the game full through on my own.
In fact, I just completed MGS4 on ps3, which I basically got because of the memories of the first one. Of course, it's surprising to look back and see how terrible the graphics were just ten years ago.
Also, this past weekend I made a version of my mom's Thanksgiving stuffing for the first time on my own. Last year, I watched her make it and wrote down the recipe. So this year I tried to make it, but upgrading some of the ingredients. (Sourdough instead of boring white bread, adding craisins for color and flavor.) And yet it didn't taste like my mom's. It's not that the stuffing that I made was good or bad, it just didn't capture the flavor memories, which was sort of the whole point, in retrospect.
- - -
It's amazing how much of the human experience is spent trying to recapture what we had--or didn't have--in our childhood.
- - -
Let me explain. These are not just any Rockapella videos.
Somewhere in the vicinity of 1993, we went to the Mall of America. Of course, I was most enthralled by the biggest board game store I had ever seen. I went home with the Carmen Sandiego board game. It came with a cassette of mostly Rockapella music, including the PBS Game Show theme. But in this new digital age, nothing, not even Rockapella cassettes are gone forever.
I was able to find the songs I liked on youtube, use catchyoutube.com to convert the videos to mp3, and now I've recreated my cassette in iTunes.
Of course, this music isn't providing intrinsic enjoyment. The only reason I got excited about it because of the memories it brought back. How I listened to that cassette on my walkman hundreds of times.
- - -
In fact, this is just the latest of trips down memory lane for me. Although it's a contentious category, the best video game experience of my life is probably Metal Gear Solid (1998, Playstation). I never owned a ps1, and to this date never owned MGS1. But I played for the first time at a Chris's house and fell in love. And then I had to borrow Brian's playstation so I could play the game full through on my own.
In fact, I just completed MGS4 on ps3, which I basically got because of the memories of the first one. Of course, it's surprising to look back and see how terrible the graphics were just ten years ago.
Also, this past weekend I made a version of my mom's Thanksgiving stuffing for the first time on my own. Last year, I watched her make it and wrote down the recipe. So this year I tried to make it, but upgrading some of the ingredients. (Sourdough instead of boring white bread, adding craisins for color and flavor.) And yet it didn't taste like my mom's. It's not that the stuffing that I made was good or bad, it just didn't capture the flavor memories, which was sort of the whole point, in retrospect.
- - -
It's amazing how much of the human experience is spent trying to recapture what we had--or didn't have--in our childhood.
Monday, November 02, 2009
overlapping sports
Games don't happen in a vacuum. Sometimes they interact with real life. The post-9/11 Yankees World Series comes to mind, as does the times that the Dolphins moved a game because of Hurricane Wilma or the football Cardinals moving games away from wildfires.
And sometimes, sports interact with each other.
That was the case yesterday as Philadelphia played a home football game against New York. And Philadelphia played a home World Series game against New York.
I wanted to see if something like this had ever happened before. So I started doing the research and found that just last year, the Eagles hosted the Falcons on the same day the Phillies hosted the Rays.
Basically there's at least one WS game on a Sunday. As long as that home team has an NFL team, the odds are 50-50 that their football counterpart will also be hosting a game.
So that's not rare. But what about NFL games during World Series, featuring the same teams?
Well just going back to 2003, I found this close calls.
2006: Rams vs Lions on Oct. 1 -- Cardinals vs Tigers starting Oct. 21
2004: Rams vs Patriots on Nov. 7 -- Cardinals vs Red Sox ending Oct. 27
2003: Dolphins vs Giants on Oct. 5 -- Marlins vs Yankees starting Oct. 18
Turned out to be more of a pain in the ass to look all that up, so I gave up at 2003. But you get the idea.
And sometimes, sports interact with each other.
That was the case yesterday as Philadelphia played a home football game against New York. And Philadelphia played a home World Series game against New York.
I wanted to see if something like this had ever happened before. So I started doing the research and found that just last year, the Eagles hosted the Falcons on the same day the Phillies hosted the Rays.
Basically there's at least one WS game on a Sunday. As long as that home team has an NFL team, the odds are 50-50 that their football counterpart will also be hosting a game.
So that's not rare. But what about NFL games during World Series, featuring the same teams?
Well just going back to 2003, I found this close calls.
2006: Rams vs Lions on Oct. 1 -- Cardinals vs Tigers starting Oct. 21
2004: Rams vs Patriots on Nov. 7 -- Cardinals vs Red Sox ending Oct. 27
2003: Dolphins vs Giants on Oct. 5 -- Marlins vs Yankees starting Oct. 18
Turned out to be more of a pain in the ass to look all that up, so I gave up at 2003. But you get the idea.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
being an illinois student fan
While writing the previous post I realized that this is the 5th football season since we graduated. Which means that an entire group of people (Class of '09) came in after we left and have since left as well.
It's a weird thing. It's one thing to think about saying goodbye to the last class that have shared memories with you. For example, the Class of '08. They were Freshman when we were seniors. They were students that shared in our Final Four run, and we may have rubbed elbows that cold night waiting for the Illini bus to come back after they beat Arizona (aka the night we found out Deron had smooth hands).
But the Class of 2009, has no connection to us. And they're already gone.
- - -
So here's a list of all the great things to happen to Illinois sports this decade:
2000-01 Basketball: Elite Eight
2001-02 Football: Sugar Bowl
2004-05 Basketball: Championship Game
2007-08 Football: Rose Bowl
We were fortunate to witness 2 of them.* Of course the Class of '08 got to experience 2 of them as well. But right now half of Illinois students have been there for 1, and the other half are still waiting. If you believe in patterns, you should get excited about the 2010-11 Illini Basketball team.
- - -
*I said that we were fortunate to witness 2 notable seasons. Dating back to 1960, here were the other notable Illinois seasons:
1963-64 Football 8-1-1 (5-1-1 Big Ten) Rose Bowl win
1983-84 Football 10-2 (9-0 Big Ten) Rose Bowl loss
1983-84 Basketball: Elite Eight
1988-89 Basketball: Final Four
1989-90 Football 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten) Citrus Bowl win
1999-00 Football 8-4 (4-4 Big Ten) Micron PC Bowl win
So if you went to U of I in the early 80's, you got a Rose Bowl loss and a decent tourney run.
If you went there in the late 80's, you got a win in a semi-major Bowl and a Final Four run.
And if you started in 1998 or 1999, you were the only Illinois classes ever to witness 3 great seasons: A bowl win (albeit a crappy bowl) an elite eight finish and then a BCS berth.
Still, there are plenty of stretches when Illinois students didn't get any memorable seasons.
- - -
I drew the line at Elite Eight. Sweet Sixteens are exciting for mid-majors but aren't really a notable accomplishment. I suppose the line should really be drawn at Final Four, but I threw Illinois a bone.
It's a weird thing. It's one thing to think about saying goodbye to the last class that have shared memories with you. For example, the Class of '08. They were Freshman when we were seniors. They were students that shared in our Final Four run, and we may have rubbed elbows that cold night waiting for the Illini bus to come back after they beat Arizona (aka the night we found out Deron had smooth hands).
But the Class of 2009, has no connection to us. And they're already gone.
- - -
So here's a list of all the great things to happen to Illinois sports this decade:
2000-01 Basketball: Elite Eight
2001-02 Football: Sugar Bowl
2004-05 Basketball: Championship Game
2007-08 Football: Rose Bowl
We were fortunate to witness 2 of them.* Of course the Class of '08 got to experience 2 of them as well. But right now half of Illinois students have been there for 1, and the other half are still waiting. If you believe in patterns, you should get excited about the 2010-11 Illini Basketball team.
- - -
*I said that we were fortunate to witness 2 notable seasons. Dating back to 1960, here were the other notable Illinois seasons:
1963-64 Football 8-1-1 (5-1-1 Big Ten) Rose Bowl win
1983-84 Football 10-2 (9-0 Big Ten) Rose Bowl loss
1983-84 Basketball: Elite Eight
1988-89 Basketball: Final Four
1989-90 Football 10-2 (7-1 Big Ten) Citrus Bowl win
1999-00 Football 8-4 (4-4 Big Ten) Micron PC Bowl win
So if you went to U of I in the early 80's, you got a Rose Bowl loss and a decent tourney run.
If you went there in the late 80's, you got a win in a semi-major Bowl and a Final Four run.
And if you started in 1998 or 1999, you were the only Illinois classes ever to witness 3 great seasons: A bowl win (albeit a crappy bowl) an elite eight finish and then a BCS berth.
Still, there are plenty of stretches when Illinois students didn't get any memorable seasons.
- - -
I drew the line at Elite Eight. Sweet Sixteens are exciting for mid-majors but aren't really a notable accomplishment. I suppose the line should really be drawn at Final Four, but I threw Illinois a bone.
muck fichigan: 2nd year in a row
The last time Illinois had back-to-back wins against Michigan? 1957 & 1958.
The last time Illinois beat the Wolverines in Champaign? 10/29/1983. 24 days before I was born. Today, 60,119 people were there in Memorial Stadium to see it happen again.
- - -
Last year, Illinois was coming off a Rose Bowl berth and had huge hopes. They lost their first game to Missouri by 10 and lost by 14 to Penn State in their first Big Ten game. But it wasn't a terrible season. We beat Iowa by 3, Indiana by 42 and beat Michigan 45-20 in the Big House.
This year, on the other hand, is a terrible season. Coming into today Illinois was 0-6 against 1-A teams, and ranked below 100 (there are 120 1-A [aka FBS] teams) in such unimportant categories as passing yards. Plus, this Michigan team isn't the same team that lost to Appalachian State. They beat Notre Dame and just two weeks ago beat a team 63-6.
And we crushed them!
500 yards of total offense. (Last year it was 501.) We rushed it 56 times at 6.7 yards a carry. That's 377 on the ground--of course it helps your average when you rip off 70 and 79 yard touchdown runs. Juice only had to throw it 11 times and got 8 for 123 and a score. We were +3 in turnovers. And that doesn't even count the goal-line stand turnover on downs.
At least 4 times, Michigan had the ball in the red zone in the second half:
1st and goal from ILL 1 (Mich 13-7) Result: turnover on downs
1st and goal from ILL 10 (Ill 28-13) Result: sack, fumble on 3rd down
1st and 10 from ILL 14 (Ill 31-13) Result: turnover on downs
1st and 10 from ILL 15 (Ill 31-13) Result: forced fumble on 1st down
Getting to 1-6 against 1-A opponents doesn't salvage a season. But there is some delicious irony. Back in 2001, our Sugar Bowl team, Michigan was our only regular season loss. Even when we were good, the Wolverines were the thorn in our side, the team that we considered our biggest rival and would beat us without even getting excited about it. And now? We stink and two years in a row we have made Michigan our whipping boy. The games haven't even been close.
Think about the Illinois sophomore students. Their football team is a collective 7-13 over two seasons. But Illinois has outscored Michigan 83-33 and is 2-0.
Friday, October 30, 2009
sportsbook: hard eight
Lions -3.5 over Rams $30
Colts -12.5 over 49ers $40
Jaguars +2.5 over Titans $30
Let me get this straight? I get to bet against the Titans and Vince Young...and I'm getting points?
No parlay this week, because I stink at those.
Colts -12.5 over 49ers $40
Jaguars +2.5 over Titans $30
Let me get this straight? I get to bet against the Titans and Vince Young...and I'm getting points?
No parlay this week, because I stink at those.
IT'S ON!
This is all you need to know about my matchup this week:
I still can't believe I lost in week 3. Eff.
Oh and yeah, and it's the War Across the Shore!
*Photoshop by Niraj
Week 8: Vag @ Cock! Week 9: Cock @ Vag!
Mark is lucky the War wasn't in weeks 6 & 7. That would have been 12 burrito smacks to the face. (116 point victory margin.)
I still can't believe I lost in week 3. Eff.Oh and yeah, and it's the War Across the Shore!
*Photoshop by NirajWeek 8: Vag @ Cock! Week 9: Cock @ Vag!
Mark is lucky the War wasn't in weeks 6 & 7. That would have been 12 burrito smacks to the face. (116 point victory margin.)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
playoff picks: week 7
AFC
Clearly In
Colts
Steelers
Pats
Likely In
Broncos
Bengals
Jets
Likely Out
Chargers
Ravens
Texans
Jaguars
Clearly Out
Dolphins
Bills
Browns
Raiders
Chiefs
Titans
NFC
Clearly In
Saints
Likely In
Giants
Vikings
Packers
Cardinals
Eagles
Likely Out
Bears
Cowboys
Falcons
Seahawks
49ers
Clearly Out
Bucs
Panthers
Rams
Lions
Redskins
- - -
Not that much changed in the AFC. The Pats came to play. And the Dolphins and Redskins have the same number of wins. Doesn't Miami seem good and Washington seem terrible? And as much as it pains me, the Broncos, whether they are real or not, are 6-0.
In the NFC, with Favre and Eli due for 2nd-half disappointments, neither one of their teams are assured playoff spots. Likely? Yes. But not for sure.
Clearly In
Colts
Steelers
Pats
Likely In
Broncos
Bengals
Jets
Likely Out
Chargers
Ravens
Texans
Jaguars
Clearly Out
Dolphins
Bills
Browns
Raiders
Chiefs
Titans
NFC
Clearly In
Saints
Likely In
Giants
Vikings
Packers
Cardinals
Eagles
Likely Out
Bears
Cowboys
Falcons
Seahawks
49ers
Clearly Out
Bucs
Panthers
Rams
Lions
Redskins
- - -
Not that much changed in the AFC. The Pats came to play. And the Dolphins and Redskins have the same number of wins. Doesn't Miami seem good and Washington seem terrible? And as much as it pains me, the Broncos, whether they are real or not, are 6-0.
In the NFC, with Favre and Eli due for 2nd-half disappointments, neither one of their teams are assured playoff spots. Likely? Yes. But not for sure.
i'm allegedly posting this
Yes, a motorist may have tore through their home, but who could be sure at this point?
If you're going to use the word allegedly, I would think that would go in front of "drunk driver," but it seems that no, they have no hesitations about calling him a drunk driver. But driving into their bedroom? Allegedly!
- - -
But what do I know? I allegedly took Journalism 100 from the allegedly University of Illinois.
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