Month: October 2007

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One Game Away

Well to say Cleveland rocks is a little bit of an understatement. The Indians are one game away from a return trip to the World Series. There is an energy running through the town that we haven’t felt since the Cavaliers made it to the NBA Finals. This has been a great year for Cleveland and Ohio sports teams.

The playoffs are pumping millions of unaccounted for dollars into the Cleveland economy. The Boston Red Sox fans are having problems finding hotels because The Rubber Expo is in town. Anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 people are expected in town for the event. It’s being held at the Cleveland Convention Center.

So Cleveland is rockin’ both on the field and around the city. It’s different to run into someone with the Boston accent but they’re out there.

GO TRIBE!!

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Transformers Movie: More Than Meets The Eye

Okay, (I hate starting posts this way but…) when I got an advanced copy of the “Transformers” DVD, I can’t say I rushed home to watch it. So on my normal Sunday night viewing, I popped it in to the DVD player. I was impressed. Will it win any Oscar awards, probably not but if you’re looking for explosions, action and humor that’ll have you laughing aloud, go out and pick it up. Director Michael Bay is a genius with this kind of film.

The movie includes some well known stars like Jon Voight, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel (who is the same age as me but looks a heck of a lot better — more reason to workout more) and the kid who steals the show, Shia LaBeouf. During the extras DVD, you see what a good improvisator he is. You’ll also recognize Kevin Dunn and Anthony Anderson.

That aside, I think I’m in love with Megan Fox, she is absolutely gorgeous. The female casting director confirms this fact. She does a great job playing the girl you think is a spoiled hottie but then you learn she has an interesting backstory to her. The other female co-star, Rachael Taylor isn’t bad on the eyes either.

There was a surprise for me in writing this post. Parts of the film were shot in downtown Detroit. I got my first tip-off to this when I saw the “Fort Street” sign during part of the battle scene. Of course, that sign had to look familiar to me, I used to work down the street at WDIV. Michael Bay also used Detroit for his 2005 movie, “The Island”. During “Transformers”, he used the Michigan Central Depot for one scene.
You can find a funny Easter Egg on the “Extras” DVD that pokes a little fun at Michael Bay.

I don’t watch too many movies but this one piqued my curiosity. Pick it up at the store if it does yours, I don’t think you’ll be sorry.
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Browns HD-Less

There’s a reason why “gameday” looks not so sharp. In a time when so many sporting events are broadcast in high definition, Browns fans with HDTV’s end up watching the games in standard def. When that happens WOIO runs crawls during each game telling people CBS is not broadcasting today’s Browns game in high definition. Why?

I have to interrupt my rant with a comment on the Browns’ first drive. The team scored on their first possession. Of course, a couple of penalties by Miami helped. Jason Wright rushed in for the touchdown.

I digress. I don’t want to say anything like “Cleveland is getting disrespected” The Browns aren’t by any means the best team in the NFL but how about a little love from CBS? Apparently, the Tiffany network is broadcasting six games each week in high-def. Four times this season, Browns fans didn’t have the chance to see their team in high definition. Next season, all of the games will be broadcast in HD but that does us little good this year when we’re on the wrong end of the HD spectrum. Of course, we don’t have to worry about the SD vs HD situation, the Browns have a bye week. Maybe when we play St. Louis in two weeks, we’ll get to see the stunning clarity of a high definition signal.

Another interruption, Derek Anderson just ran in the ball for a TD. Browns 14, Dolphins 3.

Side note: WOIO is the only Cleveland station still not broadcasting their newscasts in HD. They carry CBS HD on their high def channel. I’ve not heard of what their timeline is for the switch.

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Trot & Tribe Trample BoSox

The Indians are coming back to Cleveland tied up with the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. Trot Nixon made the difference in game two. What a game it was all 5 hours, 14 minutes of it.

Now the Indians have the crowd on their side for games three through five. On Monday, Red Sox send Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound. Jake Westbrook pitches for the Indians. Hopefully, Westbrook can best the Indians’ top two starters when he starts game three.

It’s ironic that former Red Sox player Trot Nixon came back to haunt his former team in extra innings. So far during the ALCS, former Indians player Manny Ramirez has been a thorn in the side of his former fans. He hit his 23rd postseason homer last night and is on fire against the Tribe.

Now hopefully, the Browns can do the same thing, pull off a win against the Dolphins today.

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Weekend Blahs!

After a busy week of hour-long 11pm newscasts, breaking news, going in early, going to the dentist, and just going crazy, it’s the weekend. I feel blah! I wanna go out and have fun with my friends but I’m just as happy sitting here watching friends in my pajamas on my comfortable sectional.

The Indians play again tonight. We all hope the Tribe will score some runs tonight and not allow the Red Sox to score as many.

The Browns almost have a guaranteed win tomorrow against the Dolphins. I’m tailgating before the game so that should be fun. Go Browns! Go Tribe!

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A Day Of Breaking News

Three breaking stories, two deaths…

The first story happened in Lake County. A train derailed sparking a fire that burned for hours. Emergency crews evacuated people from their homes as a precaution.

Then, a call for shots fired came into 911 from students at SuccessTech Academy on Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland. Four people were shot, another student was hurt during the panic as students and teachers tried to run to safety. The shooter died after killing himself. Cleveland Schools won’t reopen until Monday.

Then, word of a Euclid police officer dying while trying to stop a suspected speeder.

The train derailment on any other day would have lead newscasts and would have been worth team coverage. But on Wednesday, it didn’t even make the first block on many Cleveland newscasts.

On any other day, a police officer dying while on duty would have been worth team coverage. But on Wednesday, the coverage focused on the school shooting at SuccessTech.

When you work in news, sometimes you give the story more attention than what actually happened. It is very scary to me and I assume everyone else how vunerable students can be in schools. Private schools aren’t exempt from the threat.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those families affected by the school shooting and to the family of the Euclid police officer. He left behind a wife and two children just trying to do his job and keep other people safe. The students, teachers and staff at SuccessTech will have to live with the memory of what happened on October 10, 2007. I hope and pray it won’t scar them.

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2007 CRV Oil Life Reset Procedure

One of the first reasons I started blogging was to share tips and tricks I found after hours on the Internet or from other people. Here’s one for 2007 Honda CRV owners.

Recently, I took my vehicle in for an oil change but the mechanics couldn’t figure out how to reset the oil life message that flashed on each time I started my CRV.

Here’s how I did it. With the car either powered on or started, hold down on the button on the dashboard for several seconds. It could take 10-15 seconds. At one point, it’ll change to a display that says OIL, CANCEL and a temperature. Rotate the dial until OIL flashes then push that same button and it should reset it. Good luck, it’ll take an entire minute for you to do it and you won’t have to see the oil light come on all of the time, until it’s time again for an oil change!

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Joe Jolted?

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)With his team’s loss to the Cleveland Indians, you have to wonder how much time Joe Torre has left with the Yankees organization. Over the weekend, his boss didn’t mince words about Torre’s future if the Yankees lost in the ALDS.

“His job is on the line,” George Steinbrenner told The Record of New Jersey. “I think we’re paying him a lot of money. He’s the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don’t think we’d take him back if we don’t win this series.”

The 67-year-old manager has earned $7.5 million this year in the final season of his contract. As of Tuesday, Steinbrenner hasn’t acted on his words.

Good luck Joe, Yankees fans love you, Indians fans respect you. We’re just happy we beat you!

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What A Time To Be An Ohio Sports Fan

Let’s start with Ohio State who many predicted not to be that good this season. They are now ranked #3 in the nation in the latest AP Top 25.

1.) LSU
2.) California
3.) Ohio State
4.) Boston College
5.) South Florida

Ohio State plays Kent State this next week. We all know how that game will end. The following week, they face Michigan State.

But how about those Indians? We didn’t see the sweep so many people wanted over the Yankees but I don’t see New York coming back and winning the next two games.

The Cavs are ready to start up again and hopefully we’ll see a slightly different end to the season with the team winning the Finals this year.

The Browns, they are the Browns. Let’s hope for a couple more wins and some good showing on the field.