***this older pic was intentionally used s/o t-ror***
Wow look at all the love those tweets got from an essentially inactive, but once v popular twitter account. If only some guy who ran that twitter account in college had a blog and was just waiting for his big break. He's already as, if not more talented than multiple people already working at barstool, how crazy would that be??? I bet if his tweets had the audience they'd get much more love as well.
There have been rumors about URI men's basketball coach Danny Hurley leaving the program for greener pastures pretty much since his first day in Kingston. The "URI is just a stepping stone school for him" narrative was heavy AF from the get go. His name was floated around when Rutgers had a head coaching vacancy. Due to his New Jersey ties it seemed like he was good as gone when the news broke that Rutgers was interested. Instead he signed a contract extension. After six seasons (holy fuck time is flying) as of now he's still here. The 2017-18 A-10 coach of the year has been linked to two higher profile coaching gigs at the University of Connecticut and University of Pittsburgh. Both can offer him more money and are historically more prestigious programs, so it seems like a no brainer to move on right? Well, Dan Hurley is not your typical coach. He didn't see URI as a stepping stone, but rather as a blank slate. URI was frankly, an irrelevant program before he showed up. From the 1999-2000 to 2011-2012 seasons the Rams made the NCAA tournament as many times as Alien Ant Farm won a grammy, which for those of you keeping track at home is exactly zero times. It was a program with aside from two Cinderella tournament runs and a coach who invented the fast-break, not much of a legacy. Playing in the A-10 in a relatively nice arena (don't get me started on the Ryan Center's design flaws) the potential to turn this program was there. It was a program that he could turn into his own. Make it his legacy to be the man who turned URI into a respectable basketball program at a national level.
In his 6 years as the Rams HC they've it to March Madness twice. I don't even count the first two years against him because he needed to recruit his own team and TBH if E.C. Matthews doesn't get hurt against American, he probably makes it to the big dance in the 2015-2016 season. So it's basically like 2 tourney appearances in 3 years.
After two straight NCAA tournament campaigns, (both time the Rams were able to win a game) URI is suddenly becoming a power in the A-10. They are talked about on a national scale, not just the ProJo or Narragansett Times. Idk if you know this or not but they had one of the deepest back courts in college basketball.
Despite interviewing with Pitt and UCONN it seems like Hurley is giving the University of Rhode Island every opportunity to hang on to him.
All Hurley wants is for URI (a historically cheap university when it comes to funding athletics) to put a little more money into the program to update it and so he can compete with other schools when it comes to recruiting. If URI is willing to spend millions building a dorm on a sink hole the least they could do is put some resources into the basketball program. I'm sure he wants a little more money too, but I don't think he's asking for too much. They don't need to pay him $4 million a year. I truly believe deep down he wants to stay, but if the school isn't going to invest in the program I understand why he'd move on.
He wants to take care of the coaches he has on staff, and the players on the team with nicer facilities (URI doesn't even have a basketball practice complex). Stuff like that matters when recruiting, shit like locker room and overall swag (what a lame wording by me) can be a deal breaker. I went to URI so I'm not exactly great with math and finances but there's gotta be a way this school with a 125 million dollar endowment can afford to retain one of the best coaches in college basketball.
So essentially Danny Hurley is willing to take less significantly less of a salary to stay at URI and keep building this program into something special if they can stop acting like a division three school when it comes to the athletic budget. In my eyes URI has two options here: 1. Build off the momentum of the last two seasons, and give Hurley what he wants to keep him, turn URI into a perennial tournament team which equals more money from the university in the long run. OR 2. Let him walk, and hire some nobody on the cheap, go back to being a middle of the road A-10 team that goes nearly two full decades without making the NCAA tournament. After they lost Jim Harrick in 1999 the Rams replaced him with Jerry DeGregorio who won a grand total of 12 games in two years. I don't wanna wait until I'm 40 to see Rhody dance again. URI already runs a bare bones operation as it is. Their facilities are garbage, they have the minimum number of men's athletic programs to retain division one status. Even if they lose Hurley these are upgrades that need to be made.
The funny thing is I don't even think that Dan Hurley is that great of an x's and o's coach, but he's been so important in changing the culture of this program that you can live with some questionable offensive decisions and inability to close out close games. I truly believe he is what made URI basketball matter again. He is why guys want to come play at URI. The upcoming URI recruiting class is a top 25 class. His name and recruiting ability turned URI from an irrelevant program to a team ranked in the top 20 with NCAA tournament wins in each of the last two seasons.
I've said this for years but I believe Dan Hurley could turn URI basketball into the next UCONN if given the opportunity. I know that sounds crazy but I believe URI could become a Gonzaga like program over time if the school would invest in the program. They play in one of the best mid major conferences in all of basketball, if not the best. Of course UCONN is a bigger school with a bigger budget, but it wasn't always that way. The success of UCONN basketball (both men's and women's) changed everything for the better for UCONN as a university. UCONN basketball wasn't exactly Kentucky, Indiana or North Carolina historically until Jim Calhoun showed up. They made the NCAA tournament just 13 times before Jim Calhoun became their head coach in 1986. Then he changed the legacy of that program forever. 3 National Championships, and a 4th that was won with his team. Storrs, CT isn't exactly a dream place to live for a college basketball star, yet he was able to get guys to go there, win and turn the University of Connecticut into a national title contender. I believe that Kingston, RI could follow suit. One thing I hate during these debates on paying coaches is the whole "he's already the highest paid state employee". No shit, that's how college sports fucking work.
To quote the great Jim Calhoun in his famous "not a dime back" press conference, he referenced how much money he and the basketball program bring brought into the state of Connecticut. Same could just as well happen for Rhody.
This decision could potentially set the program up for a decade of success or going back to being a boring middle of the pack A-10 team. It really could change the future of the university as a whole. I truly believe that. I think Dan Hurley is the type of coach who could make URI one of the mid major powerhouses. It's a great campus in a nice location, with the hottest girls in New England (there's a URI smoke on barstool like 4 times a week), you can get guys to come here as long as Hurley is around. Dan Hurley wants to stay, all the school needs to do is invest in him and their basketball program. It comes down to simple dollar and cents. Does the University of Rhode Island want to invest in it's athletics as a potential revenue stream for the University or keep cutting corners? Gotta spend money to make money. All I want is for my Alma Mater to at least act like they actually care about winning instead of money.
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Song: Stir Fry Artist: Migos Album: Culture II
Been busy with work and travel the last few days but you know I had to pay my respects to the drove of Patriots who moved to(less) greener pastures in free agency. You'd think in the twilight of Tom Brady's career the team would pull out all the stops, do whatever it takes to keep the core of the team together, but the Patriot way doesn't work that way. Fingers crossed there's a greater plan in store because I need the Patriots to be per-annual Super Bowl contenders or else my life has no meaning. When I was a kid I used to get so mad at players for not being "loyal" to the team. But as I've gotten older you realize how much of the league is a business. These guys put it all out on the line for their team, they are let go as soon as it's time to let them walk in free agency. Especially when the Patriots are notoriously cheap when it comes to extending their own guys. As much as I'll miss all these guys and agree that it is a massive loss, these aren't exactly shocking revelations.
Let's look at who the AFC Champions (and winners of 50% of the Super Bowls in the last 4 years) are saying so long to.
Nate Solder: 4 years, $62 million. New York Giants
Of all the guys leaving, this move is the most surprising to me. I'm never gonna fault a guy for going after the money in the NFL where your next snap could very well be your last, but I really thought out of tall the key free agents the Patriots had this was the one they'd keep on to. He's been involved with the community. A full time starter since 2012. Between his backstory with cancer, his charitable matters, and overall role and importance with the team Solder seemed like the one guy the Pats would bring back, like a McCourty or Hightower in their free agent years where multiple key contributors were free agents. There had also been serious rumors that Solder could retire. So in my head he was either coming back to New England or hanging up the cleats.
When you see the money (62 mil) it makes the deal a lot easier to swallow. As a football guy's guy I don't know all the inner workings of the Left Tackle market but I feel like that's a little overpaying for a guy of Solder's caliber. Not to pull a classic Boston kick a guy on the way out but, I'm okay with losing him when that's the cost. I like Solder, but he's not exactly an elite-LT, more of a second-tier guy. He gave the Pats 7 seasons, played on 4 Super Bowl teams and will clearly be missed. They say a good left tackle is like a water heater, you shouldn't even notice he's there. So as long as the Pats replacement can tread water in the NFL I think they can withstand this loss.
Dion Lewis: 4 years, $23 million. Tennessee Titans
Another guy Patriots fans knew was clearly gone, it doesn't make the loss any easier to deal with. Dion Lewis took the Patriots by storm when he emerged as a change of pace to low key work-house back in 2015 after not appearing in an NFL game in 2013 or 14. In 2015 had he not gotten hurt I think the Patriots end up winning the AFC, as the Patriots ability to move the ball on the ground all but evaporated in 2015, causing them to turn to guys like Steven Jackson who with all due respect was already done and finished when he arrived.
After a limited role in 2016 as he was handled with kid gloves coming off a knee injury. Lewis truly had his "I'm back" moment in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Texans where he caught, rushed, and returned a kick off for a touchdown. It was the first time a player had achieved the feat in post-season history. Had he been relyied on more in the rushing game this season I think Dion could've easily rushed for 1000 yards. On only 160 carries attributed for nearly 900 years on the ground. With the Titans moving on from Demarco Murray they will have a thunder and lightning backfield of Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis, which quickly becomes one of the most intriguing back fields in the NFL. I personally love the combo with how they complement each other. Even though the Titans made the playoffs in 2017 I think most people would agree they underachieved. Mariota took a serious step back in 2017, although that may be due to playing banged up. I think having a rushing attack of two great backs can only make things easier for Aloha Jesus. Either way I love this signing for the Titans from an impartial stand. The AFC South is seriously no joke, and I think with the next signing the Titans could easily take the next step towards a Super Bowl next year.
Malcolm Butler: 4 years, $62 million dollars. Tennessee Titans
As soon as the whole Super Bowl fiasco occured you knew Malcolm was as good as gone. Honestly the writing has been on the wall for over a year. He has been upset since what most fans would agree should've been his contract was instead awarded to Stephon Gillmore. His name was floated around in multiple trades with the New Orleans Saints. While I wish we knew more about the whole ordeal I'd starting to accept we'll probably never get the answers we want. At least not for a years.Talking like at least 15. Let's hold off of a 30 for 30 right before Belichick dies.
To me Malcolm Butler embodies what being a Patriot is all about. He went from a division 2 nothing, to a star in the blink of eye thanks to his famous interception on the goal line against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Always did what was asked, did his job and did it well. He was fantastic during his tenure in Foxboro. You'd think the fact that he literally stole the franchise a Super Bowl, and has played at a fare above average level since would've earned him a little more credit and respect from the coaching staff. Clearly that was not so. I'm truly bummed out to lose Malcolm, but the fact that we knew it was coming for months makes it much easier to swallow. I'll go to my grave believing if he plays in Super Bowl LII the Patriots are Super Bowl champs. Can't hate Malcolm for getting paid. So jealous he's going to Nashville as I too am trying to get back to the music city and right what was a top three mistake of my life.
Danny Amendola
When Danny Amendola came into New England before the 2013 season fans were not happy. I can remember being devastated about the loss of Wes Welker, especially considered he landed in Denver; a team who had just defeated the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The expected heir-apparent did not come close to achieving the statistically success of his would be predecessor in Welker, but was able to do what Welker couldn't. Catch the big passes in the Super Bowl.
Danny Amendola had a more than solid in his Patriot opener. 104 yards on 10 receptions. A perfect performance for the so called "New-Welker". However in that same game it was Julian Edelman's true I'm a legit WR in the NFL, stop playing me at CB and on the kickoff team moment" when he scored twice and had 79 yards on 7 grabs. Danny ended up missing a lot of regular season time during his tenure in New England and routinely agreed to take a pay cut to stay in Foxboro. He never had anything close to an 80 catch or 1000 yard season, but what Playoff Dola was able to do in January and Februray made the singing more than worth it.
Dola balled out when it mattered most. Two TDs in the 2014 Divisional Round against the Ravens.
In the Super Bowl he had 48 yards on 5 catches and a scored a 4th down touchdown during the Patriots 10 point comeback.
In Super Bowl LI Amendola had his finest day as a Patriot 8 grabs, 78 yards, a touchdown and the game tying two point conversion. Much like his entire career with the Patriots those aren't exactly earth shattering numbers, but they happened at the most important, clutch times. Welker obviously had the best regular seasons, and over all career, but come playoff time it's hard to find many Patriots who were more important than Danny Amendola. Song: Cherry Pie Artist: Warrant Don't feel like wasting time using wiki to look up the album title. It's pie (insert pie logo) day. Few hours to blog back at the airport using airport during our layover. #vegas
You hate to see it happen to such a likable franchise! But it appears the Seattle Seahawks are falling apart. How sad! Wonder how loud all those passionate 12 man fans will be when the core of their Super Bowl team is playing elsewhere and the Seahawks are going 6-10? Russell Wilson wants to be a baseball player and is more awkward than me on a tinder date.
Absolutely no talent on the offensive line, Jimmy Graham is gone in free agency, no running backs, Richard Sherman is likely gone, they just traded Michael Bennett for a taco bell gift card and let's please not forget about Earl Thomas wanting to join the Cowboys.
As upset as I still am about the whole Malcolm Butler Super Bowl situation (the most recent one, not when he stole the Lombardi out of Seattle's fish tossing hands)
Moves like this just make me soooooo grateful to be a Patriots fan. No team will ever match the run of sustained success that we've enjoyed. We've been the best, most consistent team in not just the NFL, but all of the four major sports this millennium. The Super Bowls speak for themselves.
The Seahawks and their legion of boom had a really nice run. I'm being sincere about that. They had a great run. Many thought they had the potential to be a dynasty after they won their first (and only) Super Bowl in February of 2014. From 2012-2016 they were legit Super Bowl contenders, with an all time defense. However after these moves it appears their window is closing. Yeah they still have Russell Wilson who is top 10 QB in the NFL, but he can't carry this team to the playoffs alone, as we saw this season. Their defense is their trademark. That's what won them Super Bowl 48. Sherman and Bennett are gone. Kam Chancellor (the one player on their team I truly love and won't make fun of) may never play football again due to a neck injury, and Earl Thomas wants out. Now there's rumors that they might sign Brian Cushing to help supplement their defensive losses. I'm sure that will work out swimmingly. A guy with Cushing's track record of consistency and availability will surely cover up for the destruction of possibly the greatest defensive backfield in NFL history. The window appears to be closing, and closing fast. Sure we may have lost a Super Bowl this year due to a coaching miscue just like they did, and our window is coming to a close but the main difference is we'll be back this year, and the window has been open for nearly 20 years. It's gotta close eventually. Your division just happens to have two of the most promising young quarterbacks in the NFL in Jimmy GQ and Jared Goff, so it may be a while until the Seattle Seahawks are relevant again in the landscape of the NFL. Are the Seattle Seahawks the 5th track on The Kings of Leon's 2016 #1 album "WALLS"? because their days of being a Super Bowl contender are Over. Song: Raindrop Blue Artist: King Tuff Album: The Other Idk how this song ended up in my apple music, but I'm glad it did.
What does it mean to be brave? Bravery is like pornography. It's hard to describe with words, but you know it when you see it.
Sending that "you up?" text for the first time to your crush? That's pretty brave. Saying "no" to a white man who is telling you to give up your bus seat in 1955 Montgomery, Alabama is remarkably brave. Being a little toaster,,, uncommonly brave. There are countless more examples but I'm sure you get my point that people (and toasters) can be brave in a magnitude of different ways.
Well let me tell you something loyal DOL reader, not to turn this into a competition but sharing your take that may be bashed on the internet to your audience of upwards of 80 people blows the rest out of the water. What I'm about to say is incredibly brave. Don't worry it's coming. The words are about to fall out.
According to the twitter machine today's #national ___________ day is #NationalOreoDay. Guess what? Oreos... not good. I'd even go so far to call them a trash cookie. To quote the handsome and thicc UncleChaps they're actually bad.
Have you ever wondered why they even call themselves "Milk's Favorite Cookie?"
It's out of respect to reason they still exist. A h/t by Oreos to cow juice. Oreos have been using milk as a crutch for generations and the people of the world need to realize this. Of course Oreos are grateful for milk. Because without milk Oreos would just be that hydrox ripoff that people forgot about. Oreos need milk to survive, not the other way around. If an asteroid hit earth tomorrow and only wiped out the world's Oreo supply milk would be just fine. Oreos are hard, dry and after you eat them you get that "I need to brush my teeth NOW" feeling because they are always are getting stuck in your 2nd and 3rd molars. It's not fun.
To Oreo's credit if you dunk them in milk or mix them in a milkshake/dessert situation they are incredible. I love an oreo milkshake. But that's just the thing, they need something else to make them good. The ultimate test of a food is it's ability to stand alone. Blu-cheese undoubtedly makes buffalo stuff better, but sometimes you just gotta raw dog a wing and go without. If you can't eat buffalo wings without blu-cheese, deep down you probably don't like them. Milk is to Oreos as make up and instagram filters are to ugly girls. It's what really makes them shine and gives them a chance. Oreos need milk to survive. Anybody can look good in make-up, but it takes true beauty to not need make up. Without using milk as a crutch Oreos would be nowhere. Extra, extra, read all about it. Today's headline: Oreos SUCK! I'm sorry I'm bringing this up on your National Day, Oreo but someone needed to say it. You very well may disagree with me but that doesn't change the fact that dry Oreos are GARBAGE. Oreo, you're in the spotlight today thanks to your fake national day, but that's also what brought you to the front page in my mind. Much like how I'm more likely to unfriend a person on facebook when it's their birthday. You can slip through the cracks, but when that b-day comes up and I'm literally like "who is this person?" then it's time to go. This is where I'm like I should probably unfriend this dude I met at drivers ed in 2008 and have also not spoken to since 2008. Oreos I'm sorry to besmirch you on your #NationalDay because you are great in ice cream, but I need to be true to myself and the rest of us out there who know the truth. I'm saying what I wanna say. Without milk you'd be in the wastelands of extinct desserts with Nestle Wonderballs and Jello Pudding Pops. I'm not saying I'm a hero for speaking the truth, but if you want to I'm not going to stop you. Song: Saturdays (featuring HAIM) Artist: Twin Shadow Album: Caer idk shit about twin shadow but I heard this song on the XM alt rock station Friday and proceeded to listen to it 43 times since.
I was literally just on twitter mere moments ago when I looked over towards my "trends for you" and saw Newport Bridge atop the list. Needless to say it caught my attention. I was sort of surprised. "Why is the Newport Bridge trending?" I asked this aloud to myself despite being alone. Sometimes it's nice to pretend you're not alone. Then I gazed outside my window and was reminded that there's a gosh darn Nor'easter taking place. I again said aloud "I bet something blew over or flew off the bridge". Well whatdoya know? Something certainly blew over. A container truck to be more specific although I would've just said tractor trailer.
Yo fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck thaaaaaaaaaaat. If I was on the bridge when that took place there's about a 104% chance I have a heart/panic attack. I'm more than likely dead. I can't even begin to imagine how the driver of that vehicle was feeling. My immediate guess is wet from the pee dripping down his or her leg.
I'm not afraid to admit that I have fears. I don't fuck with fires. I'm scared to put myself out there. But heights are without a doubt my #1. They say fear of heights comes from deep down wanting to jump and while I'll never confirm or deny that being the case I'm still terrified of heights. I'll still do roller coasters because I'm not that big of a pussy and they're fun. As I type that I realize I haven't been to Six Flags since 2009. Wow! But I do reaaaaaaaaally hate heights and bridges. If you ask my friends from high school they'll say I once cried going over a bridge on the way to a JV football game our freshmen year because I was scared, however since there's no video evidence of that taking please it can be stricken from any record. As far as I'm concerned it never happened. As for this tractor trailer situation, this is literally I nightmare I've had before. Side note my fear of heights used to be so bad that I used to get legit worried that when I was on the Newport Bridge that at any minute it could just spontaneous collapse. Kind of idiotic thinking by Old Dozo, but at the same time you never know. After being closed for a few hours to get humpty dumpty back up again, the Newport Bridge has been re-opened if you feel like taking your life into your own hands.
Song: My Enemy (featuring Matt Berninger) Artist: CHVRCHES Album: Love Is Dead |
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