Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Beano Watch 10.01.2008 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, October 06, 2008
Beano Watch 10.01.2008
I meant to post this Carroll H. Cook ('54 Pitt) before Saturday's game, but life happens.
Brett (Happy Valley): Penn State 5-0 heading into the next five games, four of which are away. How do you see this stretch shaking down? Lack of any impressiveness from Wisconsin and Ohio State has me feeling good about our chances...
SportsNation Beano Cook: (3:09 PM ET ) I see Penn State even money to play for the national title.
*cringe*
Matt (Duncannon, PA): Should Daryll Clark be considered a Heisman candidate?
SportsNation Beano Cook: (3:13 PM ET ) See me at the end of October. The answer is a possible yes.
In September 1997, Beano suggested Mike McQueary might be a Heisman candidate.
Craig (PA): Beano, you called Penn State's first four opponents cupcakes. Care to change your statement based on Oregon State's big win (who PSU trounced)?
SportsNation Beano Cook: The point is, they were cupcakes going in. You have cupcakes every year. Joe Paterno doesn't play many tough non-league games. The Nittany Lions do play Alabama in 2010, but at the time it was scheduled Mike Shula was the head coach, not Nick Saban.
Oregon State wasn't a cupcake until they showed up and played so poorly. Then they beat USC and looked a lot better, before looking like a cupcake in the loss last week. O and about Alabama...
Jason (Birmingham): Incorrect on the PSU/Bama scheduling. It was originally scheduled before Shula and Mal Moore asked for the game to be moved from previous date which would have been under Shula. Maybe PSU should schedule Pitt, that would be a thriller.
SportsNation Beano Cook: (3:44 PM ET ) Thank you.
See, Beano get your facts straight. Why would Temple West be a thriller though?
Matt (Jupiter, FL): If PSU wins the national title, will JOEPA retire?
SportsNation Beano Cook: I said before the 2007 season that Paterno's last season could be 2008. If he wins the national title, yes. Until proven otherwise I am not going to make any more predictions on that topic.
The candidate's brother apologized. The worst part about all of this is some McCain campaigners stopped by yesterday and I had not heard the news yet. Oh that would have been fun.
Not that I need an excuse to go to Union Station - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, October 03, 2008
Not that I need an excuse to go to Union Station
This weekend is the 100th anniversary celebration of Union Station. For some reason, the Union Station Web site does not mention this, but an AP/USA Todayarticle does. Some details:
The centennial celebration is Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. The free event will feature an exhibit of historic locomotives and passenger cars from the heyday of rail travel, as well as modern Amtrak equipment. Visitors will be able to walk through the cars and even buy souvenir stamps inside an old railway post office car. Archival photos of the station will also be on display.
My parents took us to the reopening 20 years too. I love Union Station; it is probably my favorite building in the District. The National Cathedral probably places second.
Penn State vs. Purdue prediction - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Penn State vs. Purdue prediction
Let's see Penn State had a fairly big game last week, at home under the lights vs. a ranked Illinois team. A week from this Saturday they head to Wisconsin for another night game. Tomorrow's game (ESPN, 12 p.m.) is also on the road -- a noon kickoff with Purdue. Based on these factors, a sluggish start by Penn State is a strong possibility if not a mortal lock. That being said, I don't think we have to worry, even if the first quarter ends with Penn State trailing. Purdue has not beaten anybody outside of their directional schedule and made Notre Dame look pretty good last week. They cannot stop the run either. My gut says a 10-point Penn State win, but my head says a bigger margin of victory. Let's say 41-21 Penn State.
My prediction: Penn State 35-31, but I hope its not that close. My gut tells me Purdue will have the ball late with a chance to win but (hopefully) the Penn State defense comes up big. If they don't, we lose.
# posted by The Maryland Bureau Chief :
Friday, October 03, 2008 9:54:00 AM
R.I.P. Eddie Brinkman - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
R.I.P. Eddie Brinkman
Eddie Brinkman, 66; Senators Shortstop - The Post Another former Seantor has died. Eddie Brinkman was a no-hit, good fielding shortstop for most of the expansion Senators tenure in Washington. He was 66.
1. Name one unit-to-unit match up Penn State must win Saturday. How does PSU win that battle?
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for Penn State to win the battle of kick-holding. So few people realize that how well a team holds the ball for field goal and PATs is decides 96% of college football games.
The offesnive line battle is also pretty important I understand. I think Penn State wins it easily. 2. This trip to Purdue is setting up to be a classic trap game. Do you agree? Why or why not?
I absolutely agree that this is a trap game. Sandwich between a big night game (which is it just me, shouldn't have been quite the big deal it was given that it was only September?) and an upcoming big game on the road, Penn State will probably be looking ahead. Actually, they will probably be looking ahead at some point, as this is a noon kickoff and they will still be looking behind at the start. 3. Purdue will be doing a "Black Out" this week. Putting aside that it's going to raise money for charity (each shirt sold sends money to United Way), what are your feelings on other schools organizing "[insert color here] Outs?"
I think color outs are not as big a deal as everyone makes them out to be. Are football players really intimidated when the see everyone wearing the same color? I guess it pumps the players up a bit. Before we get too proud, let's note that some teams like Nebraska and hockey's Washington Capitals get monochromatic in the stands without getting free t-shirts. Lightening Round.
Royster over 100 yards?
Yes.
Curtis Painter throws first TD ever vs. PSU?
Yes. Pat Devlin gets meaningful playing time?
No, unless Clark gets hurt. Have you noticed the "PLAY DEVLIN" chatter has calmed down a little bit?
Nats chat 10.01.2008 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Nats chat 10.01.2008
Washington Nationals - The Post "Washington Post Nationals beat writer Chico Harlan will be online Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the Washington Nationals."
I think The. Wash Times beat writer chats have probably ended for the season.
For the most part, I agree the coaching staff shake-up - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
For the most part, I agree the coaching staff shake-up
All the Nats coaches except Randy St. Clairegot canned on Sunday (nationals.com). I think Pat Corrales probably should been kept around, but the others needed to go. I am also pleased that the strength and conditioning coordinator will be replaced. I have no opinion on the video coordinator.
The big problem is that Manny Acta is not the one making these decisions. A manager should get to pick his own staff, not the GM. His contract could be up next year and if I were him, I would not sign another one without the authority to name his own staff.
R.I.P. Olsson's - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
R.I.P. Olsson's
Olsson's bookstores officially closed for good today. I bought quite a few books at Olsson's over the years and enjoyed several booksignings there too. They will be missed. I really need to see if I have the Olsson's Kermit the Frog "Read" shirt.
Belated Beano Watch: 09.24.2008 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Belated Beano Watch: 09.24.2008
Is Carroll H. Cook ('54 Pitt) jinxing Penn State and Joe Paterno already?
Alex (Allentown, PA): You mentioned Penn State as a team on the rise and a 2009 National Championship Contender. How do you believe this affects Joe Paterno's status considering he is in the last year of his contract? Does he decide when he leaves?
SportsNation Beano Cook: I think he will be back next year, I did not think that two years ago, and predicted 2008 would be it a few years back. Penn State could make a run this year given the Big Ten. I feel Penn State or Wisconsin will win the Big Ten. I am not writing off Ohio State, I am just making a prediction. I can't pick every team.
Of course, this was before Wisconsin lost to Michigan, but still Beano on the Penn State bandwagon is a scary thing.
Loverro on when it went wrong - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Loverro on when it went wrong
Thom Loverro: Nats return to scene of the (original) crime - The Wash. Times While I try to figure out how and more importantly when to write about the state of the Nationals, check out this column from yesterday about when it all went bad for the Nats -- game 4 in Philadelphia. Oddly enough, my favorite scapegoat for that game and thus the season, Jesus Colome is not mentioned.
Oh and apparently, Emilio Garcia-Ruiz forgot what city The Post as in The Washington Post is in. The sports editor did not run any Nats stories while Baltimore's team was covered. Here's a hint of what to do tomorrow -- run this Chico Harlan Q&A with Manny Acta from the Nationals Journal blog.
Penn State Football Story: Illinois game - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, September 29, 2008
Penn State Football Story: Illinois game
This is the most I have seen of the game since ESPN and/or Comcast conspired to keep me and my family and friends from watching the game. If ESPN did this to you to, you can call them at 860.766.2236.
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