Wait, what? 7 o'clock? Oh, right, the Republicans. Still, you'd think we'd have gotten some kind of buildup. That's how you start a game, Eli. The Redskins look... off. Seriously, this team going to the West Coast offense is a cultural adjustment as much as anything else. The Giants' defense hasn't missed a beat, either. Why are people counting these guys out again? (Giants 17, Redskins 6)
Signal Finder: STL @ PHI, HOU @ PIT, NYJ @ MIA (end), TB @ NO (end), DAL @ CLE
Um... ouch? I don't know if I'd call it dirty, but it's certainly dubious. (Remember the Carson Palmer hit? Same thing essentially.) Then Brodie Croyle goes down and no one gives a rat's ass. Which, to be honest, would have been the case regardless, though at least he didn't get Charlie Frye-d, which was what I thought when I saw Huard randomly pop up in a highlight. Is this how the Super Bowl losers' hangover manifests itself? Because Matt Cassel... could really suck. Actually, you know what? I think I did call it dirty when Vince Wilfork did it to J.P. Losman... last year? It should be a penalty at the very least. So much for my prediction. (Patriots 17, Chiefs 10)
DeSean's starting by default. Though I'm sure no one has any complaints! What, another one? The Rams' DBs are getting embarrassed all over the place here. Reggie Bush to Stephen Jackson; "I feel you, bro. I feel you." The most amazing thing about the Baskett stat with him having the most 80+ yard touchdowns over the last three years is that he never plays. Hmmm, that fake QB sneak into a quick pitch is a new wrinkle. You know whose name I haven't heard at all is Torry Holt. Well. This was unexpected. There was this one shot of Jim Haslett near the end and he had this look on his face that summed everything up, including why he's not a head coach any more. LOL at the fans booing the Ram field goal. (Eagles 38, Rams 3)
DOUBLE REVERSE~~~~~~ Harbaugh learned his lessons well. (Ravens 17, Bengals 10)
Pennsylvania: Land of Beatdowns. Comparison to chew on: The Eagles game was an air strike. The Steelers did it with tanks. (Steelers 38, Texans 17)
I wonder if I'll ever get used to that. MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN! Favre still has hops at his age? Amazing. And where'd the receiver come from? The Jets actually asked Favre if he could kick. That bit about one-win teams winning the following season's opener? I did not know that. Did the Dolphins receiver try to put Revis in a double chickenwing or something? What was that? (Jets 20, Dolphins 14)
They flagged T.O. for that? Weak. The Cowboys called the dogs off in the second half. (Cowboys 28, Browns 10)
We weren't really paying attention to this because of Phillies-Mets but it looks like the Colts' run defense has reverted back to 2005 levels. That's the only explanation I can come up with. (Bears 29, Colts 13)
All right, Aaron. Saddle up. Wow, look at all those penalty flags. Zzzzzzz... I'm not sure how Jennings came down with that and not the defender. We've seen that before somewhere. Meanwhile, Tarvaris looks like he's always looked, which is, not like a quarterback who's ready to lead a team on a deep playoff run or anything like that. Peterson can't do it alone. And he's certainly going to need more help than that from his special teams. Rodgers is sharp. Well, that wasn't bad. You can see the flashes from Tarvaris, like on the drive that ended with the Rice touchdown. I feel like this is as far as it goes, though. Lambeau Leap for Rodgers! That says so much right there. I've never noticed this before but his nose is huge. (Packers 24, Vikings 19)
What an ass-kicking this was. I thought DeAngelo Hall was good. LOL at Skycam getting into the shot. Edit that out! (Broncos 41, Raiders 14)
FANTASY REPORT
aPaFL (0-1): The Seattle Supersonics live on! Facing Willie Parker was not fun.
JackSux 5 (1-0): On the strength of Drew Brees and a mildly surprising effort from the Bears' defense.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Fearful Forecast 2008
NFC
EAST
(1) Dallas - On paper, the Cowboys are probably the best team in the conference. But games aren't played on paper, especially not playoff games. And there are still enough potential time bombs that could cause things to go horribly wrong.
(5) N.Y. Giants - I'm not as down on these guys as everybody else is, and not just because they're the defending champions.
(6) Philadelphia - Friends, I don't remember the last time I've ever been so uncertain about this team. The defense has gotten dramatically younger over the past two years, and the hope is that Samuel can get some interceptions. It's a critical year for McNabb and everybody knows it - if he gets hurt again, say hello to Kevin Kolb.
Washington - I don't see it. Even with Jason Taylor and his dancing feet, they don't do anything better than any of the other teams in the division... including finishing games.
CENTRAL
(4) Green Bay - They've got a new quarterback. That's pretty big news. But it's the same group that surprised people and got to the NFC title game last year, and they seem to have accepted Aaron Rodgers. Is he produces, I like the Packers in a two-team division...
Minnesota - ...the other team being the Vikings. So much hinges on Tarvaris Jackson it isn't funny. If he becomes what the Vikings obviously think he can become, they could do big things.
Detroit - They're probably not as good as they started out last year.
Chicago - What the hell is going on here. They finally go with, IMO, the right quarterback among the ones they have, but when Devin Hester is your best offensive player, you've got... issues.
SOUTH
(2) New Orleans - They waited a year too late to make some moves to improve their defense, but they can score points with anybody. Plus, this division seems to have a different winner every year.
Carolina - Delhomme's arm looked OK when he faced the Eagles in that weird preseason game that got delayed by lightning for an hour. This is a team that will have to dip into its past - Delhomme, Peppers, and the returning Muhsin Muhammad will need to rediscover some of their old form. If they can, the Panthers could sneak into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay - They just don't excite me, y'know? The Bucs may be the most mediocre team in the league. I think last year's division title bought Gruden some time.
Atlanta - The Falcons are starting over. Again.
WEST
(3) Seattle - Apparently it takes three guys to replace Shaun Alexander. Even though they're banged up all over the offense in preseason, they're still the best of a seriously bad lot.
Arizona - They were 8-8 last year? Really? Huh. Look, I agree that Warner gives them a better chance to win right now than Leinart does. Still, the same standard holds: until they prove otherwise, they're still the Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis - The Rams got ripped to shreds - literally - by injuries last season. They're also getting older in some important spots.
San Francisco - J.T. O'Sullivan? Really? Really? Daunte Culpepper might have a point.
AFC
EAST
(1) New England - Forget Spygate. Forget Brady's foot. The Pats will never admit it publicly, but they are going to be angry and out for blood after their season ended the way it did. I fear for the rest of the league. Yes, again.
N.Y. Jets - They have a new quarterback; perhaps you've heard of him. And a lot of new other things. They're going for it; it's just unfortunate for them that they're in the AFC.
Miami - No, really. Chad Pennington remains the third-best QB in this division, but he's now the best quarterback on his new team. Don't forget the Dolphins lost more than their fair share of close games last year.
Buffalo - You got faith in Trent Edwards? I don't. Not yet, anyway. I see them treading water, both American and Canadian.
NORTH
(4) Pittsburgh - Their schedule is absolutely brutal.
(6) Cleveland - Last year's biggest surprise team, as usual, enters this year with higher expectations. I don't know how much I believe in the Browns' defense yet.
Baltimore - Things can't get worse, you know? Even with a rookie quarterback who's starting almost by default.
Cincinnati - I see this ending very, very badly. A team known for its offense suddenly has a lot of question marks (Are the receivers healthy? Was Chris Perry not overrated coming out of college?), their defense actually got worse, and the Chris Henry thing might drive Marvin Lewis to drink.
SOUTH
(3) Indianapolis - Can they stay healthy? That's the big question for a team that's been there before and is good enough to get back.
(5) Jacksonville - The jaguars made moves to improve at receiver, and they'll need that extra dimension to get over the hump, because they've got everything else.
Houston - They'll break .500. Playoffs? Maybe next year. The best thing that could happen to the Texans is Steve Slaton getting some run at running back, because who knows what Ahman Green's got left.
Tennessee - They were a playoff team last yeat, but Vince Young still needs help.
WEST
(2) San Diego - Shawne Merriman's making a colossal mistake. Besides that, this is a team that got close last year and is good enough to go all the way as long as Rivers keeps improving.
Denver - You get the feeling that Mike Shanahan would have to shoot Pat Bowlen in the face to get fired?
Oakland - One year and Lane Kiffin is walking on eggshells. On the actual field, the Raiders did some odd things in the offseason, and I'm not sure they're all that much better for it.
Kansas City - There's a youth movement afoot for the Chiefs, and expectations are low.
WILD CARD:
Philadelphia over Seattle, N.Y. Giants over Green Bay
Indianapolis over Cleveland, Jacksonville over Pittsburgh
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS:
Dallas over Philadelphia; New Orleans over N.Y. Giants
New England over Jacksonville, Indianapolis over San Diego
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
New Orleans over Dallas
New England over Indianapolis
SUPER BOWL... 43?
New England over New Orleans
EAST
(1) Dallas - On paper, the Cowboys are probably the best team in the conference. But games aren't played on paper, especially not playoff games. And there are still enough potential time bombs that could cause things to go horribly wrong.
(5) N.Y. Giants - I'm not as down on these guys as everybody else is, and not just because they're the defending champions.
(6) Philadelphia - Friends, I don't remember the last time I've ever been so uncertain about this team. The defense has gotten dramatically younger over the past two years, and the hope is that Samuel can get some interceptions. It's a critical year for McNabb and everybody knows it - if he gets hurt again, say hello to Kevin Kolb.
Washington - I don't see it. Even with Jason Taylor and his dancing feet, they don't do anything better than any of the other teams in the division... including finishing games.
CENTRAL
(4) Green Bay - They've got a new quarterback. That's pretty big news. But it's the same group that surprised people and got to the NFC title game last year, and they seem to have accepted Aaron Rodgers. Is he produces, I like the Packers in a two-team division...
Minnesota - ...the other team being the Vikings. So much hinges on Tarvaris Jackson it isn't funny. If he becomes what the Vikings obviously think he can become, they could do big things.
Detroit - They're probably not as good as they started out last year.
Chicago - What the hell is going on here. They finally go with, IMO, the right quarterback among the ones they have, but when Devin Hester is your best offensive player, you've got... issues.
SOUTH
(2) New Orleans - They waited a year too late to make some moves to improve their defense, but they can score points with anybody. Plus, this division seems to have a different winner every year.
Carolina - Delhomme's arm looked OK when he faced the Eagles in that weird preseason game that got delayed by lightning for an hour. This is a team that will have to dip into its past - Delhomme, Peppers, and the returning Muhsin Muhammad will need to rediscover some of their old form. If they can, the Panthers could sneak into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay - They just don't excite me, y'know? The Bucs may be the most mediocre team in the league. I think last year's division title bought Gruden some time.
Atlanta - The Falcons are starting over. Again.
WEST
(3) Seattle - Apparently it takes three guys to replace Shaun Alexander. Even though they're banged up all over the offense in preseason, they're still the best of a seriously bad lot.
Arizona - They were 8-8 last year? Really? Huh. Look, I agree that Warner gives them a better chance to win right now than Leinart does. Still, the same standard holds: until they prove otherwise, they're still the Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis - The Rams got ripped to shreds - literally - by injuries last season. They're also getting older in some important spots.
San Francisco - J.T. O'Sullivan? Really? Really? Daunte Culpepper might have a point.
AFC
EAST
(1) New England - Forget Spygate. Forget Brady's foot. The Pats will never admit it publicly, but they are going to be angry and out for blood after their season ended the way it did. I fear for the rest of the league. Yes, again.
N.Y. Jets - They have a new quarterback; perhaps you've heard of him. And a lot of new other things. They're going for it; it's just unfortunate for them that they're in the AFC.
Miami - No, really. Chad Pennington remains the third-best QB in this division, but he's now the best quarterback on his new team. Don't forget the Dolphins lost more than their fair share of close games last year.
Buffalo - You got faith in Trent Edwards? I don't. Not yet, anyway. I see them treading water, both American and Canadian.
NORTH
(4) Pittsburgh - Their schedule is absolutely brutal.
(6) Cleveland - Last year's biggest surprise team, as usual, enters this year with higher expectations. I don't know how much I believe in the Browns' defense yet.
Baltimore - Things can't get worse, you know? Even with a rookie quarterback who's starting almost by default.
Cincinnati - I see this ending very, very badly. A team known for its offense suddenly has a lot of question marks (Are the receivers healthy? Was Chris Perry not overrated coming out of college?), their defense actually got worse, and the Chris Henry thing might drive Marvin Lewis to drink.
SOUTH
(3) Indianapolis - Can they stay healthy? That's the big question for a team that's been there before and is good enough to get back.
(5) Jacksonville - The jaguars made moves to improve at receiver, and they'll need that extra dimension to get over the hump, because they've got everything else.
Houston - They'll break .500. Playoffs? Maybe next year. The best thing that could happen to the Texans is Steve Slaton getting some run at running back, because who knows what Ahman Green's got left.
Tennessee - They were a playoff team last yeat, but Vince Young still needs help.
WEST
(2) San Diego - Shawne Merriman's making a colossal mistake. Besides that, this is a team that got close last year and is good enough to go all the way as long as Rivers keeps improving.
Denver - You get the feeling that Mike Shanahan would have to shoot Pat Bowlen in the face to get fired?
Oakland - One year and Lane Kiffin is walking on eggshells. On the actual field, the Raiders did some odd things in the offseason, and I'm not sure they're all that much better for it.
Kansas City - There's a youth movement afoot for the Chiefs, and expectations are low.
WILD CARD:
Philadelphia over Seattle, N.Y. Giants over Green Bay
Indianapolis over Cleveland, Jacksonville over Pittsburgh
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS:
Dallas over Philadelphia; New Orleans over N.Y. Giants
New England over Jacksonville, Indianapolis over San Diego
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
New Orleans over Dallas
New England over Indianapolis
SUPER BOWL... 43?
New England over New Orleans
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Fantasy Draft Report 2008: 2 of 2
And I'm back with Rob in the fifth year of JackSux. And after I got royally hosed by the Vikings and the official scorer last year (seriously, CC Sabatiha has nothing on me), I'd really like to not have to even face the possibility of that happening again. I'd like to just go out and crush fools. And this team is built (by Yahoo! Autodraft, of all things) to crush fools.
1. (6) RB Joseph Addai - The first Colt off the board isn't Peyton? SACRILEGE. But he's just as important to the Colts' attack as anyone.
2. (11) RB Clinton Portis - Very consistent when healthy, but that might be tested since we really don't know what to expect in new Redskins coach Jim Zorn's new offense.
3. (22) RB Willis McGahee - What's this about some injury problems? Regardless, the Ravens have a rookie quarterback to protect, and you do that by running the ball.
4. (27) QB Drew Brees - A guy who puts up numbers regardless of how good his team is, and the Saints should be better this year, so Brees' numbers should also be better.
5. (33) WR Chad Johnson - I guess it's supposed to be "eight-five" like they'd say it in the hood. And he's been banged up all summer. But as I said in the aPa recap, if he feels like he has something to prove, he could be dangerous... in a good way.
6. (38) RB Earnest Graham - Even though Warrick Dunn's back in Tampa, I expect Graham to get the bulk of the carries, especially with Cadillac Williams still fighting knee problems.
7. (54) WR Roy Williams - Also on the aPa Seagulls.
8. (59) TE Jeremy Shockey - He's a guy I've never actually liked and always thought was a little overrated, but he never really fit into Coughlin's system with the Giants and should fare better in New Orleans.
9. (70) Chicago DEFENSE - Yeah.
10. (75) K Shayne Graham - Should get a lot of opportunties playing with the high-powered Bengals offense.
11. (86) RB Selvin Young - Again, see below. What's going on here?
12. (91) WR Lee Evans - The Bills' top receiver, but is Trent Edwards worth anything at quarterback?
13. (102) WR Laveranues Coles - Pretty much a mandatory pick for at least one of my teams at this point.
14. (107) TE Todd Heap - Value dropped precipitously after Steve McNair retired two years ago, but a solid backup in this spot.
15. (118) QB Philip Rivers - He's pretty good. How'd he fall this far?
16. (123) Baltimore DEFENSE - An embarrassment of riches at the position.
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Now playing: Foo Fighters - All My Life
via FoxyTunes
1. (6) RB Joseph Addai - The first Colt off the board isn't Peyton? SACRILEGE. But he's just as important to the Colts' attack as anyone.
2. (11) RB Clinton Portis - Very consistent when healthy, but that might be tested since we really don't know what to expect in new Redskins coach Jim Zorn's new offense.
3. (22) RB Willis McGahee - What's this about some injury problems? Regardless, the Ravens have a rookie quarterback to protect, and you do that by running the ball.
4. (27) QB Drew Brees - A guy who puts up numbers regardless of how good his team is, and the Saints should be better this year, so Brees' numbers should also be better.
5. (33) WR Chad Johnson - I guess it's supposed to be "eight-five" like they'd say it in the hood. And he's been banged up all summer. But as I said in the aPa recap, if he feels like he has something to prove, he could be dangerous... in a good way.
6. (38) RB Earnest Graham - Even though Warrick Dunn's back in Tampa, I expect Graham to get the bulk of the carries, especially with Cadillac Williams still fighting knee problems.
7. (54) WR Roy Williams - Also on the aPa Seagulls.
8. (59) TE Jeremy Shockey - He's a guy I've never actually liked and always thought was a little overrated, but he never really fit into Coughlin's system with the Giants and should fare better in New Orleans.
9. (70) Chicago DEFENSE - Yeah.
10. (75) K Shayne Graham - Should get a lot of opportunties playing with the high-powered Bengals offense.
11. (86) RB Selvin Young - Again, see below. What's going on here?
12. (91) WR Lee Evans - The Bills' top receiver, but is Trent Edwards worth anything at quarterback?
13. (102) WR Laveranues Coles - Pretty much a mandatory pick for at least one of my teams at this point.
14. (107) TE Todd Heap - Value dropped precipitously after Steve McNair retired two years ago, but a solid backup in this spot.
15. (118) QB Philip Rivers - He's pretty good. How'd he fall this far?
16. (123) Baltimore DEFENSE - An embarrassment of riches at the position.
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Now playing: Foo Fighters - All My Life
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Fantasy Draft Report 2008: 1 of 2
After numerous stops, starts, delays and reschedules, the fine folks at aPa finally settled down and had their drafts Sunday night. I didn't miss it because of work for a change. This time, I was on vacation and had some friends in town, so we all ended up at Borgata and I missed the draft. But as history has shown us, it's probably better this way.
So let's see what Yahoo Auto-Draft hath wrought this time around:
1. (7) RB Larry Johnson - He would not have been my choice here, but I do expect him to bounce back, especially since the Chiefs will be leaning on him while QB Brodie Croyle hopefully develops.
2. (22) WR Larry Fitzgerald - You see how important stability at quarterback is? Fitzgerald probably should've been gone by this point except the Cardinals are still waiting on Matt Leinart.
3. (35) WR Chad Johnson - Oh, Chad. You're moody, you had some pretty bad games for me last year, you got a lot of blame that you didn't deserve, and now your shoulder's hurt. Though, all things considered, this is probably a pretty good value pick at this point, particularly if he decides he has something to prove this season.
4. (50) WR Roy Williams - Lost in the deserved hype over Calvin Johnson and the team still reeling from the flameouts of Charles Rogers and Mike Williams is that this guy's pretty easily the Lions' best player.
Oh, by the way, can I get a quarterback up in here any time soon?
5. (63) RB Selvin Young - He doesn't have a weed habit that we know of, so I fully expect him to rush for 1,000-plus yards barring injury. I mean, he is a Bronco, after all.
6. (78) TE Chris Cooley - Captain Chaos is back! He's become a favorite around our offices despite his Redskins pedigree. We still owe him for helping save us back in 2005.
Oh, by the way, can I get a quarterback up in here any time soon?
7. (91) QB Jake Delhomme - Thank you.... I think. Though his arm looked OK against th Eagles last week, I'm a bit worried about his lack of targets to start the season.
8. (106) Chicago DEFENSE - Still one of the better ones.
9. (119) K Nick Folk - I think he was the first kicker off the board, which shocks me. I'm also shocked that there wasn't a real run on kickers like there usually is. This also gives me more Cowboys (1) than Eagles (0), which just killed me a little inside.
10. (134) WR D.J. Hackett - Never got on track for Seattle or me last year. He'll get a chance early in Carolina with the Steve Smith suspension.
11. (147) TE Ben Watson - Seriously, he's about the eighth option in New England. I think there are tackle-eligible plays and quarterback bootlegs further up in the playbook before anything involving the tight end.
12. (162) QB Jon Kitna - If he predicts we're gonna win 10 games I'll kick his ass myself. Sadly, he might end up starting a lot because the Lions are, well, the Lions, and they're gonna be behind a lot.
13. (175) WR Sidney Rice - This guy's not bad. I feel like he would've gone higher if anyone had any kind of confidence in Tarvaris Jackson.
14. (190) RB Chris Brown - The Houston one. (Seriously, there's like six Chris Browns in the league and they're all running backs.) Likely bench fodder.
15. (203) Indianapolis DEFENSE.
Eh. At least I was up in my poker game while this was going on.
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Now playing: Jason Mraz - The Remedy (I Won't Worry)
via FoxyTunes
So let's see what Yahoo Auto-Draft hath wrought this time around:
1. (7) RB Larry Johnson - He would not have been my choice here, but I do expect him to bounce back, especially since the Chiefs will be leaning on him while QB Brodie Croyle hopefully develops.
2. (22) WR Larry Fitzgerald - You see how important stability at quarterback is? Fitzgerald probably should've been gone by this point except the Cardinals are still waiting on Matt Leinart.
3. (35) WR Chad Johnson - Oh, Chad. You're moody, you had some pretty bad games for me last year, you got a lot of blame that you didn't deserve, and now your shoulder's hurt. Though, all things considered, this is probably a pretty good value pick at this point, particularly if he decides he has something to prove this season.
4. (50) WR Roy Williams - Lost in the deserved hype over Calvin Johnson and the team still reeling from the flameouts of Charles Rogers and Mike Williams is that this guy's pretty easily the Lions' best player.
Oh, by the way, can I get a quarterback up in here any time soon?
5. (63) RB Selvin Young - He doesn't have a weed habit that we know of, so I fully expect him to rush for 1,000-plus yards barring injury. I mean, he is a Bronco, after all.
6. (78) TE Chris Cooley - Captain Chaos is back! He's become a favorite around our offices despite his Redskins pedigree. We still owe him for helping save us back in 2005.
Oh, by the way, can I get a quarterback up in here any time soon?
7. (91) QB Jake Delhomme - Thank you.... I think. Though his arm looked OK against th Eagles last week, I'm a bit worried about his lack of targets to start the season.
8. (106) Chicago DEFENSE - Still one of the better ones.
9. (119) K Nick Folk - I think he was the first kicker off the board, which shocks me. I'm also shocked that there wasn't a real run on kickers like there usually is. This also gives me more Cowboys (1) than Eagles (0), which just killed me a little inside.
10. (134) WR D.J. Hackett - Never got on track for Seattle or me last year. He'll get a chance early in Carolina with the Steve Smith suspension.
11. (147) TE Ben Watson - Seriously, he's about the eighth option in New England. I think there are tackle-eligible plays and quarterback bootlegs further up in the playbook before anything involving the tight end.
12. (162) QB Jon Kitna - If he predicts we're gonna win 10 games I'll kick his ass myself. Sadly, he might end up starting a lot because the Lions are, well, the Lions, and they're gonna be behind a lot.
13. (175) WR Sidney Rice - This guy's not bad. I feel like he would've gone higher if anyone had any kind of confidence in Tarvaris Jackson.
14. (190) RB Chris Brown - The Houston one. (Seriously, there's like six Chris Browns in the league and they're all running backs.) Likely bench fodder.
15. (203) Indianapolis DEFENSE.
Eh. At least I was up in my poker game while this was going on.
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Now playing: Jason Mraz - The Remedy (I Won't Worry)
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Out and Back: White House Subs
It's commonly said that after you live somewhere for a decent amount of time, you become, for lack of a better word, immune to being intrigued by all of the things your town has. You know, the touristy spots, the historical landmarks, the things that people from other places come to where you live to see.
But I've been coming down here since I was in diapers, so I'm not quite sure what my excuse is for having never been to White House Subs before yesterday.
Originally founded and run by a World War II vet, the place has been around since 1946 and looks it. There's a few tables, but it's mostly a take-out place and they don't deliver. They tape a homemade sign to the windows out front telling you what time they close that night. They don't take credit cards. There's no soda fountain; they have a machine in the back. The back wall is covered with photos of everyone from Joe DiMaggio to Carrot Top. It's as vintage AC as vintage AC gets. They get their bread from the Formica Brothers Bakery, which is literally down the street. (But there's no exclusivity; in fact, most of the hoagie and cheesesteak places around here use Formica Bros. bread... at least the decent ones do, anyway.)
I got there at about 8:30 after driving two laps around the place looking for somewhere to park. White House is tucked away in a pocket in the middle of the city; it's near everything (side streets run two blocks south to the main casino strip, and it's across from parking for the shopping district), but it's not in a place where it'll get lost among the brightness and buzz of the casinos. I went in and took a number. The place wasn't packed, but it was busy, even on a Wednesday night.
I hung out at the counter as I got my Italian hoagie and cheesesteak made. Here's the sub for you:
A half, about 9-10 inches long if I had to guess. I imagine those are Jersey tomatoes.
That second cross-section shot is in every Web review of this place ever. That's the angle it automatically corrects itself to when you unwrap it and lay it down.
The key to a good Italian hoagie can be summed up in one word: Balance. You don't want the onions or the spices overwhelming the meat, but you still want to be able to taste the cheese. And especially, you have to get just the right balance of oil and vinegar. Too much, and it's a bitter, sloppy mess. You put too much on and all the other ingredients suffer from being too dry. But at the same time, you need enough so that the bread softens just so, to a point where the firmness of the crust doesn't make it impossible to eat.
Well, when you've had 62 years of practice, you can probably do anything right, and this was an Italian hoagie done right. I don't know how close to perfection it is, but it's every bit as good as people who have been going there for years have been telling you it is. A hole in the wall in a city that is glitz built on top of grit, White House Subs is that rarest of things: a place that's bigger than the hype surrounding it, but that hasn't gotten too big for its own britches. That may not play on Atlantic or Pacific. But on Arctic Avenue, they wouldn't have it any other way.
But I've been coming down here since I was in diapers, so I'm not quite sure what my excuse is for having never been to White House Subs before yesterday.
2301 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City, N.J.
Originally founded and run by a World War II vet, the place has been around since 1946 and looks it. There's a few tables, but it's mostly a take-out place and they don't deliver. They tape a homemade sign to the windows out front telling you what time they close that night. They don't take credit cards. There's no soda fountain; they have a machine in the back. The back wall is covered with photos of everyone from Joe DiMaggio to Carrot Top. It's as vintage AC as vintage AC gets. They get their bread from the Formica Brothers Bakery, which is literally down the street. (But there's no exclusivity; in fact, most of the hoagie and cheesesteak places around here use Formica Bros. bread... at least the decent ones do, anyway.)
I got there at about 8:30 after driving two laps around the place looking for somewhere to park. White House is tucked away in a pocket in the middle of the city; it's near everything (side streets run two blocks south to the main casino strip, and it's across from parking for the shopping district), but it's not in a place where it'll get lost among the brightness and buzz of the casinos. I went in and took a number. The place wasn't packed, but it was busy, even on a Wednesday night.
I hung out at the counter as I got my Italian hoagie and cheesesteak made. Here's the sub for you:
A half, about 9-10 inches long if I had to guess. I imagine those are Jersey tomatoes.
That second cross-section shot is in every Web review of this place ever. That's the angle it automatically corrects itself to when you unwrap it and lay it down.
The key to a good Italian hoagie can be summed up in one word: Balance. You don't want the onions or the spices overwhelming the meat, but you still want to be able to taste the cheese. And especially, you have to get just the right balance of oil and vinegar. Too much, and it's a bitter, sloppy mess. You put too much on and all the other ingredients suffer from being too dry. But at the same time, you need enough so that the bread softens just so, to a point where the firmness of the crust doesn't make it impossible to eat.
Well, when you've had 62 years of practice, you can probably do anything right, and this was an Italian hoagie done right. I don't know how close to perfection it is, but it's every bit as good as people who have been going there for years have been telling you it is. A hole in the wall in a city that is glitz built on top of grit, White House Subs is that rarest of things: a place that's bigger than the hype surrounding it, but that hasn't gotten too big for its own britches. That may not play on Atlantic or Pacific. But on Arctic Avenue, they wouldn't have it any other way.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Or, "Well, This IS Detroit."
The first one led SportsCenter when it happened. This one started the same way (with a retaliation) and got in at the 50-minute mark. But here's what I'm interested in:
Rick Mahorn was always a big guy. But he's gotten HUGE. I think he ate Vinnie Johnson. He looks like Arsenio Hall's rap alter ego whose name I can't remember.
"I think Rick was trying to play peacemaker, but he's just too big," Sparks coach Michael Cooper said.
(Seriously, has anyone seen Vinnie Johnson recently?)
But this may be the funniest thing you read all year, especially considering the source:
"Rick Mahorn is known as a peacemaker, from even the brawl we had here with Indiana," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said.
Really? This must be a new development. Rick Mahorn a peacemaker? Compared to who? Laimbeer? (Who's gotta be on anyone's "Top 3 Ex-Athletes You Never Thought Would Be Coaching Anywhere" list.) Remember, these were the guys who made the Bad Boys the Bad Boys. That's a rep that's almost impossible to shake.
Also, check out the new improved blogroll on the sidebar.
Rick Mahorn was always a big guy. But he's gotten HUGE. I think he ate Vinnie Johnson. He looks like Arsenio Hall's rap alter ego whose name I can't remember.
"I think Rick was trying to play peacemaker, but he's just too big," Sparks coach Michael Cooper said.
(Seriously, has anyone seen Vinnie Johnson recently?)
But this may be the funniest thing you read all year, especially considering the source:
"Rick Mahorn is known as a peacemaker, from even the brawl we had here with Indiana," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said.
Really? This must be a new development. Rick Mahorn a peacemaker? Compared to who? Laimbeer? (Who's gotta be on anyone's "Top 3 Ex-Athletes You Never Thought Would Be Coaching Anywhere" list.) Remember, these were the guys who made the Bad Boys the Bad Boys. That's a rep that's almost impossible to shake.
Also, check out the new improved blogroll on the sidebar.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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