Heading into the summertime, along with the sound of crackin' Louisville sluggers, the smell of pine tar and women wearing those beautiful sun skirts, nothing is more gratifying than grabbing a cold one out of the igloo on a hot summer day. Since I (Poncho Sinatra) spend my days in the food and beverage development business, I figured I would add some critiques of the most popular American draughts across the country. I will not segregate premium ales, nor inferior lagers, just a straight opinion on what is on your shelf at the local grocer, dive bar or convenient store.
Referred to as the BEAST nationwide with a cult like following, the Pride of Milwaukee has an underground following in the Northeast and Midwest that rivals Natural Light down in the Dirty. A beer that surprisingly can be purchased and enjoyed "40 style" by the codename Tallboy. No discrimination here, this freedom is enjoyed by hardcore thugs, or sitting in back of a Ford F-150 chasing Woodland creatures with your Uncles 30 odd 6.
I grew up with the Beast being our first choice while throwing a party after a big JV football win, or while we were sitting in the Woods in Mid-November. It calls out to the inner "American" in all of us and captures your dirty white boy style.
The Product:
Ah the beloved beast, fear the Reaper. By far one of the most sub par beers of the Macro Lager style. BUT!.., if you want a nice yellow-toned beer to warm up to, give it a try and say a prayer. Aroma is of mild grainy malt (that's why it can be placed in a brown bag) and extremely bitter hops. The BAD bitter hops. Taste is very grainy with a trace amounts of malt syrup in the mix. The mouth feel of the Beast is way to light, and airy and has way too much carbonation. I can't believe I drank about 25 cases of this beer while in my teens!??
According to Lou Score, " Is responsible for all four years of bad decisions in college."
According to Poncho Sinatra," I now have limited mobility in my left hand."
According to Mark," It goes great with any Jimmy Dean's product."
According to Chris," It's why I made the decision to play soccer and not football."
Numerous 80's greats had quality stache's that would make Magnum P.I. bow down to its righteous "stachitude." For every connoisseur of the 80's Major league baseball stache, it has to have a "pulse-raising" quality that is about:
Intimidation, determination, and sexin' up the ladies.
With that being said, I introduce you to Number 1: Donnie Baseball
Donald Arthur Mattingly (nicknamed "Donnie Baseball" and "The Hit Man") (born April 20, 1961) is a retired first baseman who played for the New York Yankees of the American League from 1982-1995. He also served as the Yankees hitting coach from 2004 to 2006 and Joe Torre's bench coach in 2007. In November 2007 it was announced that he would join the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers under Joe Torre, as the organization's hitting coach. However, on January 22, 2008, it was reported that he would instead assume the role as "Special Assignment Coach." Mike Easler was named as Mattingly's replacement. Mattingly joins the organization that drafted his son, Preston, in 2006.
"Donnie Baseball" is one of the most popular Yankees in the team's history. Despite not being a member of a World Series winning team, his popularity is comparable to that of Yankee greats like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio. Since returning for the annual Old Timers' Game, Mattingly has consistently received the loudest ovations.
Mattingly grew up in Evansville, Indiana and was one of the nation's top prospects as a high school player at Reitz Memorial High School in 1979, earning a brief write-up in Sports Illustrated magazine. However, most Major League Baseball teams avoided drafting Mattingly, expecting him to attend college before entering professional baseball. Taking a chance, the New York Yankees drafted Mattingly in the 19th round of the 1979 amateur draft and subsequently signed him.
"Donnie's Stache epitomized the authoritative presence he commanded on and off the field." ~Steve Sax
Mustache Tip of The Day:
Tips for growing a winning mustache
1) Smooth mayonnaise where you want the mustache to grow after a shower. 2) Stick on some fake hair or apply shoe polish to darken it. 3) The trick is to grow older. Facial hair grows thicker and denser as you grow older. The only other options are hair transplants and wearing a fake mustache. 4) An old recipe my grandfather told me was to gather up some basil from the garden, crush it up using your hands or scissors, boil up some pasta, fry up an onion and chopped bacon and mix up some chopped tomatoes. Add the basil and some pepper and let it simmer for ten to twelve minutes on low heat. While this is happening, have a shave.
After reading the "Top Most Valuable Sports Blogs on JuicedSportsBlog, I was curious to find out where TheSportHump ranked on this list of Cash Cow's in Sports Blogfrica. After doing some research I was able to find some interesting information on the $$ side of what makes a site worth Ad investment or a playa in the Ad Revenue game.
If you haven't seen the list, here is the top ten;
At this rate we feel very comfortable if my buddies from college, mom and dad, Bill in Florida, and my Aunt Grace in Maryland keep reading this everyday, we will be sitting next to Bob Costas chatting about the validity of my opinion and why we are in our 30's, single with no kids writing about the most juvenile, meaningless form of visual flattery; that is the world of sports.
With all this hype around Destiny USA and Donte Greene being drafted in the NBA lottery, I guess Syracuse forgot about the "original green" push prior to Donte's arrival on the SU campus.
Syracusans contribute more per person to global warming than the residents of any other major city in New York, and far more than people in smog-filled Los Angeles, according to a study released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution. Residents of the Syracuse metropolitan area - including Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties - annually produce 2.68 tons of carbon per person from transportation and household energy use, the report said.
Syracuse's carbon footprint ranks worse than two-thirds of the nation's largest 100 cities, the study said. Los Angeles, by contrast, produces just 1.41 tons of carbon per capita.
Well, it's my birthday today, so I am taking a timeout from my work duties to focus some thought about plowing into my fourth year of turning 30...
30 is the new 20 right??
The days of yore are long gone, and I can reminisce Al Bundy style about my high school and college prowess on the football field, or road trips on the rugby bus, or heading out on a cross country road trip with one of my best friends (and almost dying in the desert at High Noon on a mountain bike!!) I could frown on lost opportunities, including a busted business venture that left me broke, or a stand up comedy career that had me headlining the Holiday Inn in Deposit, NY..........
I like to think of my new life as a former flame thrower turned crafty old veteran. No longer can I bang it in there with the heat, or fire it pass the batter with a full count. No, I pick the spots around the plate, and make the hitter cautious of my off speed stuff. I can't go deep every other at bat (maybe in coed softball), but I use the outside corner of the plate to my advantage and make him throw at me inside.
I go to concerts now and want to leave, "before the rush and traffic." I recently got this big urge to buy a shed!?? I really want a fuckin shed right now, and I can't talk myself out of it. For me, having this little blog that my close friends and 2 other people in the Ukraine read daily has kept me settled and allowed me to keep my juvenile sense of humor even as my hairline recedes, my 40 time decreases (Used to run a 4.67 back in the day) *Not bad for a D3 white boy, .................and I am officially creepy to college freshmen.
ALBANY, N.Y. - Gay rights advocates had reason to celebrate on both coasts Thursday, with New York set to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and California preparing to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay couples on June 17.
Unconfirmed sources previously reported that the Mets were contemplating a move to California, but in light of an unforeseen shift in policy in New York, the Mets are celebrating their new stadium with a parade, inviting some of their core fan base to join the flamboyant spectacle.
The same unconfirmed sources continue to report that the potential uniform change is gaining popularity, all in an effort to more closely reflect their fan base. Although the specific design is still undetermined, the Mets have reportedly decided on a color scheme. They will keep the current blue and orange, adding yellow, red, and green to complete the symbolic colors of the rainbow.
Adding, 'As it has been suspected and denied for quite some time, we are now becoming more comfortable with our lifestyle.'
TheSportHump unofficially states- 'Well, we're not sure about this Mets thing, not that there's anything wrong with that, but we're going to remain Yankees fans. As previously posted, Jeter's resume with Maxim's hottest 100 represents our views more accurately.' - Lou Score
This is our first ever TheSportHump.com Award for the Drunkest Fans!! During the Yankees 12-6 crushing victory over Seattle on Saturday 5/24/2008, these guys were yelling profanities, pissing off other fans all around them, and loving every minute of it! One of the beloved beer vendors threw insults at them and threatened to get security, but that just gave them fuel for more buffoonery. Reportedly, the fan posing as Derek Jeter is actually the much less successful brother of Chad Kroeger from Nickelback. Love 'em or (more likely) hate 'em, they made us laugh (in despair at the thought that they may someday reproduce)! I give you... TheSportHump.com Winners of the Drunkest Fans of the Game!! - Lou Score
Heading into the summertime, along with the sound of crackin' Louisville sluggers, the smell of pine tar and women wearing those beautiful sun skirts, nothing is more gratifying then grabbing a cold one out of the igloo on a hot summer day. Since I (Poncho Sinatra) spend my days in the food and beverage development business, I figured I would add some critiques of the most popular American draughts across the country. I will not segregate premium ales, nor inferior lagers, just a straight opinion on what is on your shelf at the local grocer, dive bar or convenient store.
Otherwise known as Natty Light down in the Dirty South. It's the staple of any tailgate, College Keg Party, Beer pong tournament or Spring Break funnel for our most southernmost friends and neighbors. Natty has taken a place of prominence around ACC and SEC Universities and colleges and might be the most popular beverage in the outback of those rural towns, outside of Moonshine of course. I had the privilege to indulge in this delectable beverage while spending my college years at East Carolina University.....
Natural Light is a light lager with a primitive taste that leaves a distinct odor in the back of your throat for most of any afternoon or evening.It has a carbonated feeling as well and that lends to its pale, soft color when poured into a pilsner glass at room temperature. For most it's the quintessential college beer, that has the grainy and distinctive college rat smell after a kegger at the local rugby house.
The Product-
The Natural Light Lager is generally a lighter and less tasteful version of most other breweries light lagers. Some Light lagers are lower in alcohol but all are lower in calories and carbohydrates compared to other beers. Typically a high amount of cereal adjuncts like rice or corn are used to help lighten the beer as much as possible. Natural Light has an extremely low malt flavor with a light and dry body that is bitter to the taste. (see: Keystone in a Can)
According to Lou Score, " A true southern romance, if I was gay."
According to Poncho Sinatra," Piss in a can gentlemen, Piss in a can."
According to Mark," Fat chick remedy for the southern BBQ ladies."
Numerous 80's greats had quality stache's that would make Magnum P.I. bow down to its righteous "stachitude." For every connoisseur of the 80's Major league baseball stache, it has to have a "pulse-raising" quality that is about:
Intimidation, determination, and sexin' up the ladies.
With that being said, I introduce you to Number 2: Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers' 17-year career epitomized the emergence of the modern-day relief ace. After watching him post inconsistent results as a starter, the A's moved Fingers to the bullpen. He excelled quickly and frequently in his new role. Relying on a sharp slider, Fingers went on to notch 341 career saves. Known for his handlebar mustache, Fingers became a familiar site during the post-season, appearing in 16 World Series games. He won both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award with the Brewers in 1981.
“Before, he was a real power pitcher. Now, he's the type of pitcher who has command of all of his pitches. Another thing is the poise he has out there. He knows he's going to get them out. He gives me a lot of confidence when he's out there.”
— Milwaukee Brewers Manager, Rene Lachemann -1984
Mustache Tip of the Day:
-Place a finger on upper lip to extend hair away from skin. Trim hairs using an upward motion.
-After achieving desired length, use a downward motion to blend mustache hairs.NOTE: Use slow and light pressure.
-Too much pressure may trim off more hair than desired
As a part time NBA fan who hasn't really been in tune with the league since the Knicks started shitting the bed in the late 90's, I am somewhat intrigued by the potential Celtics-Lakers match up in the NBA Finals. After the Lakers went up 3-1 on the the Spurs last night I thought about bringing out my old Converse Weapons and heading down to the court to see if I can still dunk a golf ball..(Sorry, small hands) I remember one game in particular: Game 4, the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter before the Magic and the Guys in the Yellow Jerseys cam roaring back. Bird had hit a three point bomb with 12 seconds remaining to give the Celtics the lead, however, with a little over two seconds remaining, Magic Johnson sank the patented "baby sky hook" to give the Lakers the lead, then Larry Bird missed a second 3-point shot, with no time remaining, to allow Los Angeles to escape with a three games to one lead. With battles like that every game, the NBA would have us glued to the television. (Danny, back away from that tv, you're going to lose your eyesight!)
After the NBA lock-out, a lot of the public lost interest in the league. The Spurs and the Lakers mostly became the teams to beat, but other than Shaq and Kobe, there really wasn't that big of a draw or any meaningful rivalries. There was potential with Dwayne Wade and the emergence of Lebron and Carmelo but it has never really been what David Stern has wanted. Fans eventually did come back, but it just wasn't the same.
The way a Celtics-Lakers match up could bring the NBA back to the way it was is if these two teams could create another rivalry. If their was a "Heyday" in any sport, it had to be the NBA in the mid to late 80's. You have the working class Celtics and the Showtime lakers, aka. A Bunch of Midwestern white boys versus the street kids out in Los Angeles. I tamely hated the Celtics and Larry Bird's horrendous stache that seemed to change shape during a game. The Celtics obviously have a tough road ahead to take down the Detroit Machine which has went to 6 consecutive Eastern Conference finals. If you're a kid growing up in the 80's, you knew at the end of the school year heading into summer vacation, you were gearing towards Magic, Bird, Kareem and McHale for one more battle...
We don't follow lacrosse at all, but anytime the Orange wraps up a national championship in any sport, KUDOS! Being a Syracuse transplant, it's amazing to see how many lacrosse enthusiasts are around the area with all the High schools and kids that are look at SU as the pinnacle of the Lacrosse world.
Heading into the summertime, along with the sound of crackin' Louisville sluggers, the smell of pine tar and women wearing those beautiful sun skirts, nothing is more gratifying then grabbing a cold one out of the igloo on a hot summer day. Since I (Poncho Sinatra) spend my days in the food and beverage development business, I figured I would add some critiques of the most popular American draughts across the country. I will not segregate premium ales, nor inferior lagers, just a straight opinion on what is on your shelf at the local grocer, dive bar or convenient store.
Good ole PBR! You will find in on tap in a variety of local dives across the country, and at many a Nascar Venues. PBR is not just any beer, especially for Central New Yorkers. It is the working class beer of choice- so you would expect the history to be founded on that type of profile, but it was originally meant for the Local High Brow of consumers.
Pabst was originally called "Select," but people changed that to asking for that "Blue Ribbon" beer (Not sure when the As Soon as Possible started?) in 1882 when they started tying silk ribbons to the bottles. They officially added the words "Blue Ribbon" to the bottle in 1895 to make it seem as it had won something? For what it's worthy, PBR does a great job of being consistent to its brand and image. Whether you're a blue collar truck driver in Missouri, or a Global Micro-Finance Analysis living in Chelsea, Pabst does a body good.
The product-
PBR is a distinct premium lager that uses the 6-row barley infusion with a touch of corn sweetness. It has a strong presence of a pilsner and uses a decent Yugoslavian hop. It's large caloric content adds a great amount of draught body that sits in your mouth. Pretty fuckin good cheap beer!
According to our Own Lou Score, "Of Course it's good, it won a Blue Ribbon!"
According to Poncho Sinatra, "If I go into a bar and PBR is on tap, I hit it because it's what Americans do.
According to Mark, "You guys are disturbed, it gives me the shits!"
Numerous 80's greats had quality stache's that would make Magnum P.I. bow down to its righteous "stachitude." For every connoisseur of the 80's Major league baseball stache, it has to have a "pulse-raising" quality that is about:
Intimidation, determination, and sexin' up the ladies.
With that being said, I introduce you to Number 6: Wade Boggs
Boggs was elected to the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. With 12 straight All-Star appearances, Boggs is third only to Brooks Robinson and George Brett in number of consecutive appearances as a third baseman. His finest season was 1987 when he set career highs in HR(24), RBI(89), and slugging percentage(.588). Also in that season he batted .363 and held a .461 OBP, both stats leading the league.
"Champagne was falling down my hair like the Niagra Falls."..Wade Boggs
