Tag Archives: Bob Jaye

I shouldn't be such a blabbermouth.  After boasting about going 5-0 in week 4 of the "What's Your College Knowledge?" basketball contest in my last post, said blabbermouth shot a solid brick, and came in with an underwhelming 2-3 post (16-9 for the season).   And speaking of blabbermouth's, Alex Balcerski of RideThePine.com fame (pictured left) will be sharing picking detail with me today.  Before we get to that foolishness, I do have a winner of a $50 Original Retro Gift card to announce, and that person is Kevin Crane of Dripping Springs, TX.  "The Crane" was one of two entries to run the table last week (Bob Jaye of Gainesville Florida was the other), and was chosen the winner by virtue of a tie-breaker drawing.  Based on his comment, it looks like we made his day -"Cool Beans - I'm having a suckish day at work and this is the first thing to go right!" Happy we could help & congrats Kevin!

As is our weekly ritual, it is now time to post the contest rules for those just joining us for the first time, and for those who have played before, but can't remember...

1) Every Monday or Tuesday, I will post my 5 top college basketball games of the week and give you my predicted winners and why.

2) You will enter your picks for the same games (no point spreads; straight up wins & losses) in the “leave a reply/Comment” section at the end of this post no later than tip-off time for the first scheduled game.  ****ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY!!****

3) Each following Monday or Tuesday I will announce which person picked the most winners, and that person will win a $50 Original Retro Brand Gift Card! In the event of a tie, all of the entries will be entered into a drawing to determine a winner.  If I beat everybody, nobody wins – this HAS never happened!

Also note that regardless of Alex from RideThePine.com pickin' here, you still have to beat ME to be eligible for the Gift Card.  Alex and I will be going head to head all the way through March Madness, and have some unseemly side stuff we're working on.  I'll share the details with you on that next week.  TO THE GAMES!

A SUITABLE WIN IN THE CARDS.

ALEX  - GAME 1: 2/23 - # 5 DUKE (23-4) @ # 15 Florida State (19-7): I hate Duke. HATE! I'll never forgive them for ruining my childhood when they beat UNLV and stopped their back-to-back undefeated run.  I'll never forgive them for ruining the Fab Five's hopes and dreams as Freshmen.  But Duke is hot after that buzzer-beater win over UNC and looking for payback.  As much as it pains me, Duke wins (I just threw up in my mouth).

ANDY: How's that taste sir?  The Noles have the Dukey's (Dooky's ?) number - Beat 'em last year on their home court and will do it again. Pitchfork-smitchfork - Fear the Spear!  SEMINOLES - 64, BLUE DEVILS - 61.

ALEX - GAME 2:  2/23 - # 17 Louisville (21-6) @ Cincinnati (19-8): Every game that Louisville plays, I hold out hope that Rick Pitino will rock that all-white suit again.  The only thing that could top that is an all-red suit. Wait, what are we talking about again?  Oh yeah, basketball.  Louisville struggled against DePaul just a few days ago and the Bearcats are rolling, fighting for a spot in the dance.  Cincy wins in a Nick Van Exel upset special.

EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' BOUT THE NEW KID IN TOWN

ANDY: Your pick just isn't "suit-able"  Get it?  Pitino's suits?  Ok, that's beside the point.  You forget the Cardinals lost that DePaul game in OT, and had nearly beat # 2 Syracuse the game before losing by just one point.  CARDINALS - 70, BEARCATS -65.

ALEX - GAME 3:  2/23 - Brigham Young (11-3) @ Gonzaga (11-3):  Shawn Bradley is the highest draft pick to come out of either of these schools.  Sad.  Gonzaga has had a long history of great players, but the first thing that pops into my mind when I hear Gonzaga is Dan Dickau's wife.  Google her.  Top 10 hottest basketball wives ever.  How do you cheer against that?  Zags.

ANDY: Googled.  I can't argue with your top 10 assessment which is indisputable, but I'm still picking the Cougs.  Rookie WCC member makes statement that they're the new # 1 in town.  COUGARS - 64, BULLDOGS - 58

ALEX - GAME 4:  2/25 - # 3 Missouri (25-2) @ # 4 Kansas (22-5): I didn't miss a second of Mizzou's win over Kansas earlier in the season.  One of the best games of the year.  This is a bitter rivalry that potentially could be coming to an end with Mizzou leaving to go to the SEC which has angered Kansas.  Like never play again, ever, angry.  I can't imagine Kansas losing this game at home.  Too much pride. Kansas.

ANDY: Oh the pain.  That is for Missouri when they play SEC football.  AND for the beatdown they'll take at Allen Fieldhouse.  AND for me agreeing with you on a pick.  JAYHAWKS - 78, TIGERS - 65.

GOOD RIDDANCE MIZZOU.

ALEX - GAME 5:  2/27 - # 20 Notre Dame (19-8) @ # 9 Georgetown (20-5): I wonder how many matching tie/highlighters that former Notre Dame head coach Digger Phelps owns?  Anyway, this is going to be the game of the week.  The Hoyas have a great defense and Notre Dame just overcame a twenty point deficit against Villanova.  I wouldn't be surprised if this game goes into OT.  Georgetown wins because I have an East coast bias.

ANDY: Forget your East Coast bias - what's with your suit and tie fetish?  Stick with Original Retro Brand shirts buddy!  The only Bulldogs I like come from Georgia and that's that.  FIGHTING IRISH - 64, HOYAS - 60.

LUCK BE A LADIES SHIRT TONIGHT.

Ok, we're both done.  Thanks to Alex for joining me this week (and the upcoming weeks) and I highly recommend you check his website and LIKE them on Facebook before submitting your picks.  We have a new poll over on the right too.  Please VOTE!

YOU WILL LIKE.

Ride The Pine features a couple of new videos every week that range from 2-4 minutes long that look on the lighter side of sports. From Tiger Woods’ terrible celebrations to coming eye-to-eye with Manute Bol’s zipper, Alex will have you guessing on what he will say next!

RideThePine.com specializes on talking about the lighter side of sports. From the crazy and wild to the popular Bleacher Babes, Ride The Pine promises to make sports talk fun!

FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FASHION, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG (above the Polls over there on the the right!), LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

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The Super Bowl is behind us, spring training is on the horizon, and the NHL playoffs don't kick in until the end of April.  What's a sports fan to do?  RIVALRY WEEK! College hoops is heating up as the stretch to March Madness is officially under way!  You can be in the thick of the action by taking part in our weekly "What's Your College Knowledge?" Basketball contest.  It's free, easy, fun, and you can win a $50 Original Retro Brand Gift Card just like Ted Turich of  Denver, Colorado did!

Yes, Ted picked 4 of 5 games correctly last week and found himself in a 3-way tie for 1st place with Bob Jaye of Florida, and Jesse Robinson of Idaho, both of whom also went 4 of 5, setting up the drawing to determine the winner of the Gift Card  (for the record, I came in at 3-2 bringing my season tally to a less than thrilling 9-6).  Ted was the lucky winner.  Don't feel too bad for Bob and Jesse as they have participated and won previous contests of ours before.  I will give Bob a heartfelt WAY TO GO BOB!, as he was the only person out of 30+ entries to pick Wyoming to knock off UNLV.  WAY TO GO BOB!

Before we get into the 5 games for Rivalry Week, here are the rules for those entering the contest for the first time:

1) Every Monday or Tuesday, I will post my 5 top college basketball games of the week and give you my predicted winners and why.

2) You will enter your picks for the same games (no point spreads; straight up wins & losses) in the “leave a reply/Comment” section at the end of this post no later than tip-off time for the first scheduled game.  ****ONE ENTRY PER PERSON ONLY!!****

3) Each following Monday or Tuesday I will announce which person picked the most winners, and that person will win a $50 Original Retro Brand Gift Card! In the event of a tie, all of the entries will be entered into a drawing to determine a winner.  If I beat everybody, nobody wins – this HAS never happened! It’s FREE, FUN, and that simple!

We’ll run this contest right up until the opening round for March Madness.  At that time we’ll step up our game with our 2nd annual “Bracket Ballers Challenge,” in which you’ll get the opportunity to test your picking prowess for the full bracket of 68 – $700 worth of Original Retro Brand gear will be up for grabs!  NOW TO THE GAMES FOR RIVALRY WEEK # 4!

THE BEARS WILL HAVE TO..

GAME 1:  2/8 - # 12 Georgetown (18-4) @ # 2 Syracuse (23-1): Customer Bobby By requested I feature the upcoming UCONN - SU matchup, but I just couldn't resist this one (heck, the Huskies have lost 8 games this year), as it could be the last time they play if SU goes to the ACC.  The Hoyas come into the Carrier Dome with a shot at pulling within one game of the Cuse in the Big East with an upset victory.  The Beast in the East (and beyond) remains in upstate New York.  ORANGE - 68, HOYAS - 63.

GAME 2:  2/8 - # 10 DUKE (19-4) @ # 5 North Carolina (20-3): Duke will win this mammoth hoops rivalry by 1 point.  I say this based solely on info pulled from ESPN that points out this point about points:  DUKE has outscored UNC 5,858 - 5,857 over their last 75 meetings and that's good enough for me.  Get the point?  BLUE DEVILS - 78, TAR HEELS - 77.

GAME 3:  2/8 - # 7 Kansas (18-5) @ # 6 Baylor (21-2): I really like what the Bears have accomplished this year.  Unfortunately I'm thinking they will have to Bear the brunt of a very pissed off and fired up Kansas team coming off a brutal (as in choke) loss at Mizzou. JAYHAWKS - 80, BEARS - 72.

GAME 4:  2/9 - # 16 St. Mary's (22-2) @ Gonzaga (18-4): The Gaels go for the season sweep of their bitterest WCC Rival on the road.  They'll put their 11-0 conference record on the line behind standout junior Matthew Dellavedova.  Not the same intensity you'll find at a DUKE-UNC matchup, but close.  Zags play spoiler.  BULLDOGS - 77, GAELS - 72.

ZAGS SAY NO TO GAELS 11-0

GAME 5:  2/9 - Ole Miss (14-8) @ # 20 Mississippi State (18-5): It's highly unlikely that the Bulldogs will go down a second time to the Rebs on their homecourt as they look to avenge an early season defeat.  A win here, with 3 sub .500 SEC games in a row they should win before they face # 1 Kentucky, will have the Mighty Maroon in the thick of the SEC title hunt. BULLDOGS - 75, REBELS - 68.

OLE MESS FOR OLE MISS.

Those are my picks for Rivalry Week, and just for fun I'm going to pick Florida to upset the Wildcats tonight @ Rupp Arena.  It's easy to pick an upset when the game isn't officially part of the picks!  NOW LET'S SEE YOURS, AND GOOD LUCK!

FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FASHION, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

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Sure, the upset specials this past week turned the BCS upside down and made for some really unexpected sick football (I picked USC!), but they also turned the Original Retro Brand "High-5" contest drawing into a veritable swamp of 3-2 entries.  Hmmm...wonder what those 2 losses were?

Gotta get ready for Thanksgiving, so let's take care of business.  Nobody went 5-0, nobody went 4-1.  Too many 3-2 entries to give shout outs to (over 50!), but you know who you are (3-2 doesn't deserve a shout out!  I too, was 3-2 which brings my record to 32-20).  The winner who beat some pretty big odds to win the FREE Original Retro Brand t-shirt this week is Walter Nelson, JR., from Beaumont, Ca.  It's kind of fitting that Walter did win because he was the ONLY person to pick USC to beat Oregon (besides me!).  Like 99% of you, he picked Oklahoma, and his other loss was Ohio State.  CONGRATS WALTER! Gotta give a quick shout out to Bob Jaye (3-2) who was the ONLY dude to pick Baylor over OU.  NICE JOB BOB - you're the other 1%!

As is our weekly custom, the rules for those just joining us for the first time are laid out below.  The rest know what to do…

1) Every week I will preview 5 of the most compelling College Football Match-ups for the upcoming weekend and offer my expertise, or more commonly lack thereof, as to who will win & why, along with a predicted final score.

2) Contestants will e-mail in their picks for the same 5 games to me, and the person that beats me and/or the person who picks the most games correctly (no point spreads, straight up wins and losses) will win a FREE Original Retro Brand t-shirt of their choice.  In the event of a tie, we will have a drawing to determine the final winner.  Send your picks to me at andyphyman@gmail.com no later than kickoff of the first scheduled game to be counted!  ***ONLY ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER***

3) I will announce the winner on this blog and our Facebook page the following week – Usually Tuesday or Wednesday – Then we’ll do it again.  NOW TO THE GAMES!

GAME 1:  # 13 Georgia (9-2) @ # 23 Georgia Tech (8-3): The DAWGS are on a tear.  They could even win the SEC Championship game!  ANYTHING could happen, right (hello Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Ducks)?  R.I.P. to legendary beloved Bulldog announcer Larry Munson, who passed this week.  Surely it will inspire Bulldawg nation to rise up.  Sorry Rambling Wreck, you're tires get flattened. BULLDOGS - 35, YELLOW JACKETS - 21.

GAME 2:  # 2 Alabama (10-1) @ # 24 Auburn (7-4): Is BAMA the next Goliath to be slain?  An Iron Bowl victory for the Tigers on home turf would sure be a nice way to end the season for the defending champs.  Sorry War Eagle, your wings get clipped.  CRIMSON TIDE - 35, TIGERS - 14.

GAME 3:  # 17 Clemson (9-2) @ # 12 South Carolina (9-2):  ACC Atlantic Champ Clemson whooped badly by the Wolfpack last week (I neglected to add NC State to the list of surprise winners)?  Cocks beat the Dawgs during the regular season, but can't beat them for SEC East Crown, and will take it out on Clemson.  Sorry Tigers.  Cocks declaw you for the Hardee's Trophy.  GAMECOCKS - 24, TIGERS - 17.

GAME 4:  # 5 Virginia Tech (10-1) @ Virginia (8-3): How the heck did the Cavs end up with a shot at the ACC Coastal crown?  A win here will do it.  Credit second year coach Mike London instilling confidence in sophomore QB Michael Rocco and a much improved defense.  The Hokies have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with Virginia for the Commonwealth Cup rights, and they have a little ol' sophomore QB of their own who can win a game (and has done so several times) all by his little self - Manchild Logan Thomas. Sorry VT.  I'm on an upset special roll, and your act is getting Hokey in Va.  CAVALIERS - 28, HOKIES - 24.

GAME 5:  # 3 Arkansas (10-1) @ # 1 LSU (11-0): I know, I know, this is not an in - state rivalry, but how can I leave out this game?  I can't.  Defense wins games, right?  Wrong.  Hogs air attack will shock the purple & gold, and really stink things up for the BCS folk as the upset special roll will continue to roll.   Sorry Bayou Bengals, but the Woo Pig hands you your first Sooie.  RAZORBACKS - 36, TIGERS - 28.

Kickoff for first game is FRIDAY, so let's see those picks & GOOD LUCK!

Speaking of Friday, I'm going to leave you with some great news:  We're having a BLACK FRIDAY SALE that starts tomorrow, Thanksgiving night, when the clock strikes 12 midnight.  Enter code OFF40 @ checkout to receive 40% OFF anything on our entire website (sale ends @ midnight Friday 11/25/11)!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

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As sports fans we put a great deal of effort into aligning ourselves with our favorite team.  We want to be identified with that special franchise, club or program.  So we do things like buy really cool Original Retro Brand clothing.

That’s easy, because it is our choice.  I chose to attend this university, or cheer for that baseball team, long ago.  But how do we square that with the one thing in life we don’t get to choose… family?

There’s an interesting dynamic for you.  We’ve heard that blood is thicker than water, but when my team is backed up to their goal line and it’s third and twelve the TV announcers tell us that the defense “can smell blood in the water.”  And half of my relatives are cheering for that defense.  I guess it’s my blood they’re talking about!

My mother was a graduate of the University of Alabama. Her brothers and sisters piled on, and that entire side of the family became Bear Bryant disciples.  To this day there are houndstooth patterned towels, clothes, picture frames, even hubcaps and dog leashes at their houses.  When I enrolled at the University of Florida my aunts and uncles refused to speak to me until Alabama beat Florida.  So it was only a few weeks, but you get the idea.

But when my cousin went to Baylor, he got a pass because...   a) they weren’t on ‘Bama’s schedule,  and..  b) it’s a fine Baptist institution.  And I’m pretty sure that was the order of consideration.

A generation later, my daughter has left home for the University of South Florida.  My reaction?  I have a new second-favorite team!  Hey, we look good in green and gold.

My best friend from high school went to Auburn, which he says easily explains why we didn’t speak for more than 20 years.  I can understand that.  But when his daughter came to the University of Florida, there he was with his new second-favorite team and typical SEC “we’re all in this together” rationalizations. I’m pretty sure now that he resurfaced because Auburn had a good football team, but that can’t be proven.

We have all long been accused of being softer on our children than our parents were on us.  Is our decision to pull for our own children’s college teams confirmation of that?  Or have we figured out that family is first and foremost?  That game will be over Saturday night, and we won’t play them again for a year.  Meanwhile the whole family will still be here next week, God willing.

Besides, maybe my Auburn Tiger friend’s daughter will give him a nice Original Retro Brand shirt in Gator orange and blue for Christmas.  It’s only a couple of months away.  But he’ll have to be good until then!

Many thanks to the author, Bob Jaye, who is filling in as a guest blogger for Andy today (despite being a Gator fan, UGA -Andy is still very appreciative - see typical SEC “we’re all in this together” rationalizations.).*

*Andy is always looking for guest bloggers so he can take naps, so if you want to send something in, please email him with what you got:  andyphyman@gmail.com

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We are now down to just 2 more weeks of the Original Retro Brand "High-5" College Football Contest including this week, and despite my sobering overall record of 30-26 (I went 4-1 this past weekend!), I must say I've had a ton o' fun since day one, and hope you have too!

Of last week's 46 entries, 38 picked 4 of 5 games correctly (probably a record, but I haven't been keeping stats like that - I need that time for important things like working my Fantasy teams & College Pick em').  Nebraska losing to the Aggies by 3 lil' ol' points prevented a headache of a drawing to pick a winner for the FREE Original Retro Brand T-shirt. 3 entries did go 5 for 5, and you'll be able to see the winner revealed in the drawing, and this weeks new picks in the brief video below.....

If your just playing for the first time, you can review the quick and easy rules in the middle of last weeks post by clicking  HERE.

PARTING FYI's: Last week we had three of our "regulars" provide their expertise for the "High-5" contest in a blog post (You talkin' to me? High 5 College Football Contest taken over by the fans) and I must say the outcome wasn't too bad...except for my buddy Bob Jaye who used the "coolest mascot method" and ended up 1-4, while Jeff & Daniel both went 4-1 - perfection eluding them thanks to the Aggies.....THE FINAL "HIGH-5 PICKS"  WON'T BE POSTED UNTIL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, so don't freak out when you check in next Tuesday and nobody's home......It's really not a secret, and you're probably expecting it, so here it is - we're having a monster sized Black Friday Sale on, you guessed it, Friday - 40% OFF site-wide!!.....check back here Friday 11/26/10, or on our Facebook page for more details.....HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FASHION, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

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The Original Retro Brand College section is fueled by images that make for a most enjoyable part of the endless tradition in sports, and those images are those of the school mascots.

With Thanksgiving upon us this week, customer Bob Jaye (left) sent in a few of his own thoughts when it comes to mascots and tradition.  Customer feedback is always welcome, and Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and sharing, right?  So here you go....

Tradition. It’s one of the things that make College Football great.

And I mean old-school, throw-back, smash-mouth, three yards and a cloud of Original Retro Brand tradition.  And some of the most important traditions are mascots and school colors.  Isn’t that why you’re looking at ORB right now?

I’m tired of these flavor-of-the-month uniform changes and football teams’ newer, more stylish Madison Avenue logos.  A football player should strap on the same colors as his predecessors, and get the same uniform bloody and dirty for 60 minutes on Saturday.  Changing for the sake of change alone isn’t going to get you a 1,000 yard halfback.

My Florida Gators are a prime example.  Remember Albert the Alligator?  A college man with his letter sweater on, and his chest puffed out  just looking for a gridiron fight.  Alas, long ago Albert was replaced by a cartoon reject from the Jurassic Park movies.  And they hired a New York marketing firm to come up with the new one.  What are the professors in the graphic design department up to?  Seems like you save a few million bucks and just give some kid an “A+” on his mid-term in exchange for that.

Remember Herbie Husker?  Nebraska’s clean cut, corn fed, ostensible two-way lineman of a mascot is apparently a victim of the steroid era.  And the University of Mississippi's Colonel Reb?  Well, we don’t even know what became of him.  Meanwhile the ranks of the “Abandon Native American Imagery Club” seem to grow on a monthly basis.

Some mascot traditions make less sense than others.  The sailor hat was a ubiquitous affectation for years.  Okay, I can see putting a sailor hat on Ducks, Hurricanes, maybe even Beavers.  But it appeared out of place on top of Bears, Tarheels, Wolfpack, several Tigers, even Wolverines and Longhorns.  Thankfully, Cowboys, Trojans, Spartans and Boilermakers require their own unique headgear.

Some programs stay the course.  Jayhawks, Buckeyes and Hawkeyes (whatever that is) seem to be hanging in there. And I’m beginning to believe we’ll never be rid of Notre Dame’s pugilistic Leprechaun.  But hey, he was probably just tailgating before the big game.

I hope you will enjoy your Thanksgiving traditions with your family.  And I hope you will preserve your College Football traditions any way you can.

Thanks again for the essay Bob.  Now you better get back to work!  Before you do, you may want to peep this TOP 10 best Original Retro Brand mascot -t shirt list that went up back in July.

FOR UPDATES ON CONTESTS, FASHION, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

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