SB Nation User Blog: Jonny Dub

The Two Hundred Mile An Hour Fastball

Jonny Dub — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:38:40 -0000

The Two Hundred Mile An Hour Fastball

So I was watching "The Forty Year Old Virgin" on USA this morning while eating breakfast. During one of the scenes the theme song from "The Greatest American Hero" is played. This got me thinking about how I loved that show as a kid and especially the episode where the main dude has to become a major league pitcher to save the world.
I can't find it online, besides buying it from itunes. This link is just the beginning. If you can find the entire episode post it!

WBC at Petco Park

Jonny Dub — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:33:44 -0000

After watching Tuesday night’s exciting game where USA came from behind to beat ~~Venezuela~~ Puerto Rico I decided I had to go to at least one game while I still had a chance. So Jbox and I headed down to watch Ichiro take on our Red neighbors to the south.

Every game on TV thus far has shown little if any crowd, so I knew getting tickets would not be a problem. I figured we could even scalp some real good seats for practically nothing. I was wrong. Jbox and I approached a few scalpers on the way to the outfield gates. We offered around 15 bucks for tickets, but no luck. I don’t get these guys, I even told one "Hey I can walk up to that ticket window right behind you and get tickets for 15 bucks. We’d be idiots to pay you more," I guess they were just waiting for some real suckers to come along. Not us I tell you, not us.

So Jbox and I got our $15 park passes and made our way down to Field Level. We strolled through a very ghostly stadium, filled with fog and a vast emptiness of seats. Good thing we had our thunder sticks brought to us by the good people of visitpuertorico.com to fight off Fidel’s spirit or whatever else might try and frighten us.

With all but a few hundred fans we decided on seats in row 2 next to the photographers box down the third base line. Not bad for 15 bucks…stupid scalpers. With the game about to start we were feeling really good about getting back to Petco. Even though I haven’t missed the Padres, I realized I had missed just going to a game.

After only the second batter of the game we had our first occurrence. Japan’s Nakajima shattered his bat while grounding out. I didn’t see the play because this big ol’ harpoon comes flying towards us and slams into the wall in front of the camera men. Ten more feet and one of us would have been dead.

Everyone around us gathered their cool and the seats around us started filling in with some of the greatest fans in the world. On our side of stadium it was mostly Japanese fans. It was a good thing I wore my M’s cap, everyone knew Jbox and I were Ichiro fans and not a bunch of "comunistas de mierda". A fan behind us was really giving it to Cuba’s third base coach all night long. Yelling and cussing at him, making fun of Castro, etc. I started feeling bad for the guy.

Anyway, the true real Japanese fans were great. I’m pretty sure a lot of them flew in for the games. Including the Ichiro party girls and some crazy wearing a goat’s head. They’re so passionate. I wish Padre fans could get this fired up. Jbox and I couldn’t help but get excited, we were high fiving everyone when Japan would score or Cuba would strike out and even when I caught a foul ball.

That’s right I caught me a foul ball. It was the bottom of third and Cuban DH Enriquez grounded a slow roller towards us. Nobody seemed interested in going after it so I jumped up, slid past Jbox leaned over the wall as far as I could without falling and grabbed it. I stood up, pumped my fist and started celebrating with my new friends. Everyone was excited, that is except one camera man.

Turns out as I was leaning over trying to balance on the top of the wall when my foot lightly grazed his back. Boy did he let me know about. At first I thought he was excited for me, then I realized this Japanese photographer was pretty pissed. He pointed to his back then my foot then gave me the thumbs down sign. I said I was sorry, but he gave me another thumbs down sign and went back to work. I mean you know disrespect dude, but seriously. I don’t know the protocol in the Tokyo Dome, but that’s just the way it works over here. Foul balls are like gold and casualties are bound to happen.

The game wore on and after 4.5 innings it was already 10 pm. These WBC games seem to take forever and it was getting cold. So Jbox and I decided to pack it up after the sixth and a commanding Japanese lead that eventually eliminated Cuba.

All in all, it was a great time and if you have the chance head out to tonight’s final game at Petco or drive on up to Dodger Stadium.

Padres fans to see lower prices

Jonny Dub — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:06:45 -0000

Padres fans to see lower prices

I still think we're getting ripped off!

F1 is Back in the States!

Jonny Dub — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:45:15 -0000

Well a team is anyway. On Tuesday the first formula one team based in the USA in over twenty years will be unveiled. It’s headed up by favorite Peter Windsor, appropriately a Brit. Teaming up with Peter is an actual American Ken Anderson, of Tony Stewart’s NASCAR team… I guess we’ll take what we can get. Creatively the new US based F1 team will be called USF1. Ahhh Damn! Check out Speed at Noon ET for live coverage.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited for this. The F1 world really hates America in general. To them we are just unsophisticated self-absorbed yokels. Not anymore Bernie, now we finally have a team to cheer for! One that can stick it to all those pinkos across the pond that think they are better than us.

But seriously and more importantly I hope this opens the door just a bit more for F1 to return to the States with a Grand Prix. I’m going to try and start posting F1 news and thoughts here as the season draws near. That is until SB Nation gets an F1 page. So pretty much forever.

I’m sorry for posting this on uncommon. I feel as if I posted on SB Nation’s NASCAR page I’d be ridiculed. But hey, they’re the ones watching family sedans with 1950’s technology (carburetors, really?) running is circles for hours on end. Not to mention Dex, Kev and I are gay for pre-Madonna Euro Trash driving cars that cost half a billion dollars annually to operate in exotic locations we really can’t afford to see in person. (For the record we’ve been to a few.)

Jay Cutler Throws Int in Final Minutes of Pro Bowl

Jonny Dub — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:37:17 -0000

Jay Cutler Throws Int in Final Minutes of Pro Bowl

Not that it matters at all, just brought a smile to my face.

"The AFC had a chance to take the lead late, but Julius Peppers got in the way. Down by six, the AFC started its drive on its 20 with 4:03 remaining and got to midfield. Peppers then swatted a pass by Jay Cutler with his left hand and came up with the interception that led to Carney's 48-yard field goal."

LT's Saturday Night

Jonny Dub — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:41:32 -0000

Great fight Saturday night at Staples Center. Big upset, with Shane Mosley knocking out Margarito in the ninth round. But my favorite part was when Mosley entered the ring with LT and Cuba Jr. and Jim Lampley says "L.T. won’t be playing in this one either!" Boo Yeah LT!

It’ s been a couple weeks now since the Chargers were knocked out of the playoffs. So Shouldn’t LT be getting this surgery soon? Or better yet, shouldn’t he have had that surgery done already? And shouldn’t Cuba Gooding be working on a Land Before Time sequel? And should Arnold be governing? Sly is the only one who should be there!

What If?

Jonny Dub — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:44:11 -0000

So it’s the Cardinals and Steelers. After watching yesterday’s Championship Games I realized a few things. The Bolts would have beaten the Ravens and earned a second trip to the Super Bowl. I really would have liked our chances, especially here at the Q. The Ravens looked terrible. While that Ravens D is crazy good, the Chargers could have managed a few points. And a few points is all that it would have taken against Flaco and company. Can you imagine getting to play the Cardinals in the Super Bowl? I like those odds. If only things went differently back in Pittsburgh.

After contemplating all these “What if’s?” , I’m really depressed about the Chargers loss to the Steelers. Last week it didn’t really bother me that much. Then I started thinking, and this loss troubles me all most as any Charger loss ever. The 2008 Chargers are good, but they are far from great. This year a few things went our way and GOOD could have been enough. When was the last time a great team won it all? The last several Super Bowl winners have been good, but nothing more. Today GOOD + LUCK = LOMBARDI TROPHY. Thinking back here is how I rank the Chargers all time post season departures.

1. 2006. That was our year. I’ve never seen so many mistakes in one game that meant so much. When there are six fumbles in a game and your team recovers zero, it’s just not your day.

2. 1994. Second best. It was projected to be the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history. It almost was. The Chargers and the rest of the world just watched as the 49ers put on an offensive clinic. I knew we didn’t stand a chance, but losing the Super Bowl is still a real downer.

3. Last week. Pittsburgh got all the breaks. Now the Steelers are only one win away.

Poll

What Charger playoff loss upsets you the most? (I’m too young to remember those Air Coryell days.)

2008: Steelers. It was as if a divine power was at work. But I guess not.

4 votes

2007: Patriots. Ah what could have been such Sweet Revenge.

10 votes

2006: Patriots. Best Charger team ever? Stoooopid Mistakes.

42 votes

2004: Jets. Freakin’ Nate Kaeding.

5 votes

1995: Colts. Barely a wildcard team. Where were we really going?

1 votes

1994: 49ers. Super Bolts! So close, yet so far from Champions.

2 votes

1992: Dolphins. Ross and Humphries. New found saviors are no match for Marino.

0 votes

1979,’80,’81,’82: Air Coryell. Oilers, Raiders, Dolphins and of course the Freezer Bowl.

7 votes

71 votes | Poll has closed

LT to be Traded?

Jonny Dub — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:01:00 -0000

The rumor s have been going around and I have discounted them to just that. Rumors. But now it seems more and more of a possibility. The Chargers front office is looking into dealing our star player.

I don’t like it, I say keep him. And here’s why.

The Chargers can’t replace him. Sproles is more of a specialty back. And Sproles is untested over an entire season. And while Hester can deliver a big hit, he’s no LT. When LT is healthy he’s still our best running back. But that seems to be the question. Can LT stay healthy? He has one season plus the Championship Game last year with injuries and the Chargers should get rid of him? Let him get the minor surgery, and see where he’s at.

Sproles is a free agent and it might take some doing to keep him. And it’s looking like getting rid of Turner last year might not have been a great idea. If we had Turner now, letting go of LT would be a lot easier choice.

If the Chargers trade LT the fans will go nuts. Unwanted drama will rise. We’ll lose a leader who has helped keep EVERY teammates ego in check, the backbone of our teams great chemistry.

Tomlinson is the greatest Charger that ever lived and that alone warrants giving him one more season.

Poll

How much longer is LT a Charger?

LT has worn the Lightning Bolt for the last time.

28 votes

One more year. If he has another year like 2008 he’s out.

31 votes

Three more years. He finishes out his contract and retires..

36 votes

Four or more years. He keeps on playing, shattering every NFL record possible.

11 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

Hell of a Season!

Jonny Dub — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:01:03 -0000

This is not the way we wanted our season to end, but these last six weeks leading up to today have been the most exciting six weeks of football I can recall. We rode the highest of highs after twelve weeks of truly heart wrenching football.

Six weeks ago The Charge trounced the Raiders. Then Rivers lead the Chargers on one of the greatest comebacks in the final minutes in Kansas City. Going into Tampa, the Bolts were underdogs matched up against a playoff team. It didn’t matter, the Chargers put together a complete game and it wasn’t even close. All the time our team needing a colossal collapse of historical magnitude by the Broncos. The Bolts got it and capitalized on Denver’s fall in a big time way.

After destroying Denver I was satisfied. If the season ended after that magical night at the Q it wouldn’t have mattered. The Chargers lost so many close games. Every game early this year they were in position to win, but like today, nothing would go their way. Redemption was ours, the Chargers were Champions.

The Colts game here last week was the cherry on top. An epic playoff game for the ages. Our rivalry with Indy continues, as we have their number. It was the greatest game I’d ever seen in person. One I’ll remember forever.

So listen here Charger Fans! This was a great season! The Chargers showed a lot of heart, including today. I’m proud to be a Charger fan and you should too!

Top Ten Signs You Are Watching Too Much Football

Jonny Dub — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:32:43 -0000

Top Ten Signs You Are Watching Too Much Football

Number 5 is pretty good.