Archive for the ‘Clayton Hein’ Category

I’ll start off by saying, if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. I don’t think the Rangers are broke, but they could use a little duct tape to make things better.

Here are a couple of trade ideas:

1) I read today that the Rangers are looking at acquiring Justin Upton. They’d have to give up a future 3B for him, and maybe a minor league arm. Now, how valuable will Mike Olt become? He had some injuries last year, but he has entered the elite category of Texas Ranger prospects this year. I think he’s either the answer at 1B or 3B for the Texas Rangers. If they lose Hamilton (please God, no) then he could replace some of the power that Josh provided. But if they lose Olt, would Upton fill the void, gulp, if Hamilton left as well? Could the Rangers recover from something like this? Losing Hamilton hurts, but the longer is non-contract issue plays out the more I move into coping mechanism phase. I say chase Upton and let the chips fall where they may with Josh.

2) Zack Greinke or Cole Hamels? Greinke has pitched in the AL. Hamels hasn’t had a mental lapse that cost his team for a extended period of time. Hamels has pitched in big games. Hamels could also be a stiff upper-lip to the Phillies organization for taking away Cliff Lee. Either way the Rangers should get one of these guys. But who do they have to give up? There has been talk about Jurickson Profar, the star prospect of the organization. I hope not. There has been talk about Mike Olt. I could see him being more available for an All-Star pitching Ace. Martin Perez, and a long list of other pitchers, have also been hypothetically traded away. I would be comfortable for the return on investment with either Greinke or Hamels.

3) What about a key bullpen piece? Last year it was Mike Adams. Why not chase a guy that could really help an ailing bullpen? I will add that I don’t see a lot of bullpen cogs available – because a lot of teams have the injury bug. And teams that are usually sellers are in contention (Go away Baltimore) . The Rangers could look at the Kansas City bullpen for help.

But here is my wild hair – why not look at Daniel Bard. Depending on how the Boston Red Sox look at him (probably damaged mental goods) why not see what he could do in Texas. He needs to work out some issues because the starter experiment never worked out.

Lastly, I’m excited for the second half of the season. The Rangers don’t have many off days for the rest of the year, so let’s hope they keep everyone off the DL for an extended period.

#goRangers.

After watching the 2011 Oil Bowl Friday night at Memorial Stadium I walked away a little disappointed.

Sure the Texas squad won the game against Oklahoma 17-14 in very rare overtime fashion, but the play on the field didn’t do it for me. I’ll blame it on the play calling and coordinating.

This might be the last time any of these recent high school graduates put on football pads and it didn’t look like a lot of kids on the sideline were having much fun after they were introduced on the loud speaker.

I’m glad to note there wasn’t a coach getting in the faces of the young men, telling them how they messed up. I just didn’t see a rally of enthusiasm.

I get that there isn’t much time to teach a group of young men a completely new set of plays, but throw in a wrinkle here and there.

Simple idea: Where are the trick plays, and where are the small experiments on the field?

The most exciting chances taken on the field were from the Oklahoma side when they let the 6-6 Devante’ Mccully run down the field on a go route to pull down the ball near the goal line for a 30-plus yard gain in the first half.

That was exciting. They tried to go to him two more times on an eventual touchdown drive and every time he made a move near the end zone I watched him.

The rest, ho-hum.

Texas ran something of a shotgun/pistol offense, and Lee Clubb saved his best for last when he helped Texas go down the field to tie it up before time expired.

Other than that this football game lacked “it.”

I hope “it” is found this time next year.

Ricky and Randy

Here is a list of better sibling personalities than Billy the Exterminator’s brother, Ricky, that I would like to see appear at the 32nd annual World of Wheels hosted at the Wichita Falls MPEC Feb. 11-13.

side note: (Ricky is set to be here Friday)

1. Randy Quaid – Dennis Quaid’s brother is currently on the run from the law, I think, but he is choice number one.

2. Donny Walhberg – Marky Mark’s brother is doing is New Old Kids on the Block thing right now, so he’s probably a little tied up.

3. Eric Roberts – Julia Roberts’ older brother might be a little too famous to step on Wichita Falls ground, but he would be cool to visit with. He’s a little irrelevant to today’s youth, so he might fit right in. If you haven’t seen any of the “Best of the Best” karate movies, do yourself a favor.

4. Billy Baldwin – Alec Baldwin’s brother hasn’t done a lot since “Backdraft.” He did have a run in the TV show “Parenthood,” but I think his time might have come to an end since his fake shoe company has a new boss.

5. Charlie Murphy – Who wouldn’t want to meet Eddie Murphy’s brother. Dave Chappelle put this dude back on the map, or is it on the map. He’s hilarious either way.

6. Roger Clinton – Bill Clinton’s brother. Imagine the stories. Need I say more.

7. James Belushi – Just as good stories to share about his brother, John Belushi, and his failed TV show “Accoring to Jim.” I did enjoy Jim when I was little in the movies “Mr. Destiny” and “Taking Care of Business.” Both amazing movies. I’m have a great time just recalling the movies as I type this.

8. Lawrence Hein

You might not know No. 8, my brother, but my point being that a lot of people would be a better celebrity filler than Ricky the Exterminator. Heck, last year they had Jordan Shipley, now a NFL wide receiver. I would rather meet his brother, Jaxon – who just signed a letter of intent to play at UT. Why not bring in Case McCoy while we’re at it?

Ricky Gervais needs to host every celebrity award show from now until the day he dies.

He was the reason I watched the Golden Globes this weekend. Maybe it was see to Emma Stone, who I didn’t recognize as a blond, and maybe it wasn’t.

But I turned the channel to the GGs because of Gervais. I know he likes to do a little celebrity bashing, and that is exactly what he did.

His line about “The Tourist” was hilarious. He also stuck it to Tim Allen. Steve Carell also got a taste.

I don’t think a lot of people take the actual Golden Globes very seriously, so why should Hollywood want to make it stuffy with some favorable presenter(s) who needs the love of the famous he or she’s amusing.

Just let the guy do his thing. He’ll keep me tuned in.

Who didn’t like what they received for Christmas – be honest? Everyone gets a few gifts each year when they look at their present and presenter combination and think “what the hell.”

I get a couple of odd ducks every year. I don’t think it is Christmas until you find out that a couple of people don’t really know you based on their gift.

Aside from the duds, you usually get at least one thing you really love.

This year I got a wallet and a “Walking Dead” comic book. (It’s a little more than just a book. It’s a collection of goodness based on zombies eating, or trying to eat everyone.)

My brother/sister-in-law combo bought me the comic and I think I finished it in a few hours. It is going to be something that I’ll read and reread just to give all of the great artwork a chance to sink in.

But since I’m the kind of guy that I am, I also bought myself a pre-Christmas present – Bill Simmons’s “Book of Basketball.” A must read for anyone that has watched at least one basketball game – preferably in person – or picked up a basketball in attempt to look athletic.

Simmons hammered out about 700 plus pages of cultural references, anecdotes and his theories of top basketball players in a remade Basketball Hall of Fame.

I now have a new favorite ESPN, not sure if I mentioned that Simmons works at ESPN, personality. He doesn’t make that many appearances on TV, but I’m starting to seek out his work more and more.

So that was my Christmas – buried in books while my son unwrapped his Christmas gifts. I had my head angled just enough that I could peer over my nose above the top of my books and see his enjoyment.

After multiple revisits, I’ve come to the conclusion that Kanye West’s new album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is probably one of the best albums of the year.

MBDTF is, I believe, what Kanye was trying to achieve with “808s & Heartbreak.” Both albums are something that I have not heard before, but MBDTF has a little extra something — possibly arrogance — that the emotional ball of vulnerability that is 808s lacked.

His new album is more of a journey that is missing a bit of coherence. But the trip is well worth taking.

Two singles “Power” and “Runaway” appear to be an artist’s reflection of self. Kanye West has an unique perspective when he looks at himself in a mirror.

He knows what his faults are, and he doesn’t have a problem putting himself out there to a beat. How he handles himself in interviews, when he’s not performing, is a whole different matter.

The dude might be a little crazy and conflicted inside, but I would recommend this album to just about everybody.

Wednesday the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office arrested a person they believe is responsible for fires started in the Cameron Gardens area in Wichita Falls.

And my emotions are torn. Innocent until proven guilty, right?

First, I need to make sure a jury convicts this guy, Kyle Everett Harmon. We know he admitted to authorities that he had a hand in numerous fires and he could save people a lot of time and money by pleading out.

But the main reason I’m especially mad at the entire situation, besides him being a now ex-volunteer firefighter, is the fact that my folks live in Cameron Gardens, right off Cameron Lane. One of the fires started could have easily taken everything away from them.

It is hard to say this, but my son could have grown up not knowing his grandparents under the most grave consequences. I lost both of my grandfathers one way or another before I turned 6-years old, and I don’t wish that experience on anyone.

Grandchildren are supposed to have their grandparents and vice versa. They’re the ones who spoil grandkids.

But multiply my emotions and fears by the countless number of people who also worried similarly when the fires were started in Cameron Gardens. That is a lot of distraught people looking at the front page of the Times Record News website or paper.

WCSO Sheriff David Duke noted that Harmon might not be the only arsonist involved in this string of events that played out over a lengthy amount of time.

He says the others responsible should just give themselves up; make things a little easier on everyone.

I agree.

That way, I can have the same inner-conflict with your downfall that I’m have with Harmon right now.

Steven Slater, a flight attendant that worked for Jet Blue, probably pulled off the coolest I quit moment of all time.

It is up there with Guillermo Diaz’s character, Scarface, quitting scene in “Half Baked.”

Slater, reportedly, cussed out the passengers over the loud speaker, grabbed a beer, or three, pulled the fun little inflatable emergency exit and slid down. How cool is that?

Seems like there has been a lot of support brewing for Slater. He probably should have just counted backwards from 15 and sat down in his seat to avoid that pesky legal trouble he is facing, but it is too late for that now.

I have only seem a couple of I quits in my life.

They occurred when I worked at Deli Planet, where some of the employees used to be greasier than the sandwiches. They would storm off, throw something, tell the manager where he/she could put their head for the time being and storm out the door. But, we didn’t ever have an inflatable slide outside at the time from A-1 rentals at their disposal.

I’ve thought about quitting a couple of times but my plan was never up there on the Slater-meter.

Have any fantasy quitting scenarios, real or imaginary, you’d enjoy sharing?

What would you do if a strange dog bit your loved one?

Well, I didn’t really handle it the greatest of ways, I think. I didn’t really feel right about calling the cops and letting them handle it. For some reason the cops, or talking to cops, doesn’t go over well with me.

As soon as my wife came in the door from her walk and showed me her leg I shot out the door to find the dog…albeit minus the gun.

I didn’t know what I was going to do walking toward the crime scene. I started juggling with my phone….911? Animal Control?

I, luckily, knew a person who lived at the house of the attacker. It was his roommate’s dog.  The owner apologized again and again.

“Just let us know what we need to do,” was the answer I heard as I walked away to check on my wife’s leg.

She was fine the injury looked OK. The dog owner said the animal had all of its shots.

But then the rest of the family got involved. All of them agreed, call animal control. I disagree, still do, with their stance. I don’t want a dog being put to sleep on my conscience.

That was yesterday.

Animal control was called today. And currently they are in the process of collecting the animal.

Still doesn’t sit right with me. Don’t know why.

Maya Arulpragasam, or the artist known as M.I.A., is one of the remaining “characters” in the music business. She is kind of reclusive to people in the United States, but she produces high quality music.

Her new album, Maya, is completely strange and odd and weird, but at the same time, it is really good. Just like her last two.

I have a feeling it will take a while before I can really appreciate it, but I like what is going on with this one.

It starts off spacey and it pretty much stays that way. The girl is out there.

I was thinking about this the other day in my car: if David Bowie had a kid that met Lil’ Wayne’s kid and those two met up and had a kid, it would be M.I.A. (or pineapple express). A little bit of gangsta’ meshed with Ziggy Stardust.

I’ve given “Maya” a once over, nothing too in depth, and I’m really digging it. I’m going to say one of these songs will wind up as the anthem for an upcoming Judd Apatow film.

Then some more people might appreciate her more than before.

Two things caught my attention this weekend.

1. They didn’t serve beer at the Bun B/Slim Thug concert Saturday night because, from what I heard, it was a “family event.”

2. You have to have a type (I’ll get into the particulars of this one later) of military ID to buy beer at the mini mall at Anthony’s Pizza on SAFB.

–

I still don’t know what Kay Yeager is doing. They’ll serve beer at this show, but they won’t serve at this one. But it seems, to me, if it is a potentially hood event, they cut off the flow of bud light.

Don’t get it. You have to basically be an adult to purchase a rap CD with the Parental Advisory sticker, but seeing the guys in a public Wichita Falls setting crosses the line of adulthood. I didn’t hear the show once being promoted as a “family event.”

Why wouldn’t you want to let people know that up front, at least from a business perspective. Wouldn’t some people be leery of sending their kids to the show because of the unknown tied to alcohol? Promo the thing truthfully and people won’t be disappointed. They serve beer at Kay Yeager on just about every concert event, but not this one.

Music at the Kay Yeager sounds better with a beer.

–

I can get on base because of my retired military dad, my brother who works on base and most of my buddies that do the same.

Yesterday I planned to meet my buddy, a newly joined member of the reserves serving at Sheppard, for dinner. I didn’t really feel like eating so I figured it was a safe assumption that I would just drink a beer with a guy I hadn’t seen in about seven years.

I was told I wasn’t able to buy a beer because I wasn’t 1.) military and 2.) didn’t have a military dependent ID. Showing a state issued driver’s license didn’t help.

So, I’m allowed to buy anything else at Anthony’s Pizza that I want, but I can’t buy beer? Did the general institute another new rule everybody hasn’t heard about?

The strange thing is that I have bought a beer from that exact location before and within the past three months. I told the employees last night of this previous event, but they of course blamed the past event on the stupidity of employee who did the deed.

There isn’t a sign posted, nor a written and signed agreement of such rule to walk into the mini mall; just an unspoken law that only the people at Anthony’s Pizza can pull out of thin air when they feel like it.

I wish they would have just told me that they were out of beer or they stopped selling beer past 19:21.

I went to pick my son — my beautiful 3-year old clone — up yesterday after work and my jaw dropped.

He had about a three-inch scratch from just below his left eye down to about to the line of his top lip .

I was angry, perturbed, mystified and at the same time sad that my son has yet another facial scar to add to his boy list.

He’s been in the same daycare for about one year and this is probably the most visible injury he’s worn home.  He’s had a couple of scratches before, but this hurt me the worst. It’s not too deep, so hopefully he won’t look like Tony Montana for the rest of his natural-born life.

But, I’m tired of the facial injuries. Sure he’ll have broken bones, hopefully nothing worse, but don’t already take away magic from his money maker.

He’s a cute kid. And I’d like him to remain that way. Life is easier for cute people.

So, what should I do?

I remember a very trusted friend experienced the same type of difficulty when his daughter was young. His girl was taking karate at the time, so she had a grasp on self-defense. He told her if anyone came for her face to karate chop him or her in the throat.

I can stand up for that advice. Kids, typically, aren’t strong enough to do lasting damage to a kid’s windpipe with one chop, but I don’t want to promote violence that could potentially harm someone else’s baby.

What to do, what to do….

I’ve been putting off taking my son to the movies for some time. I don’t want him to ruin the movie for me, for others and I don’t want to waste my money.

My wife and I have had an agreement for awhile that my son’s first movie would be Toy Story 3. So, this past weekend we took him to his first show. All I can say is that we couldn’t have picked a better movie.

From the beginning to the end the entire family was entertained. I was telling my wife afterward, and probably once or twice before, that Pixar has yet to make a bad movie.

I think we own nearly the entire collection of Pixar films. They make magic happen.They make movies interesting for people of every age, not just the children.

But Toy Story was their first baby. And they haven’t let the magic from that story line run out.

They don’t miss the details about the little things and they are able to capture the heart of pretty much everything else. I think with this movie that Buzz and Woody have worked their way into the realm of top cartoon characters.

I’m glad I was able to share Toy Story 3 with my son.

Today, I shed a tear or two when USA’s Michael Bradley scored the goal to even up the score against Slovenia 2-2 Friday morning.

It might have been one of the more emotional sporting events I’ve witnessed. First, the US was down, way down, and it seemed like it was over and all hope was lost for the World Cup 2010.

Then the US scored right after coming out to start the second half. Hope. Landon Donovan scored a goal I will soon never forget.

Then so many chances started to slip through the American’s fingers (or boots) that I continued to become more and more anxious. In my gut I wanted to believe they could do it.

The time continued to tick by and Slovenia kept falling deeper into their defensive shell.

And Jozy Altidore played a ball off his head that changed the way I feel, probably forever, about soccer. The ball was intended to make room. Maybe Altidore was looking for Herculez Gomez who had come charging into the box, and I thought h overran the ball. But Bradley saved the stinking day.

I cheered and yelled. And I made sure that I stayed sheltered away from my wife behind the arm cushion on the couch so she wouldn’t see me choke up. What a proud moment.

Now, I feel like a soccer fan.

This was my surprise the other day when my son wandered off for less than a few minutes. He went to the bathroom, and I thought he was in his bedroom by himself.
After a few minutes of not hearing anything (the key indicator of a kid up to no good), I went to see what was up.
My three-year old terror was in the bathroom painting the sink with his bubble gum Toy Story toothpaste. He had a grin on his face like he was working on a chapel ceiling.
It smelled good, but I don’t want my sink to be the same color as my toilet water.
Little situations like these are what makes being a dad worthwhile.
I remember, or at least my dad tells me so, a lot of these little scenarios. I’ve colored on the walls. I’ve broken things that weren’t meant to be destroyed, and I’ve generally participated in a lot of tomfoolery over my lifetime.
What my son is doing, or is destined to do in the future is probably just payback for my snot-nosed past.
Love you, dad.

So, don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, is one of the most popular times of the year for the dude to get his stuff snipped, his goods tangled, his tubes redirected.
Or in more professional terms, to get a vasectomy.
Something about it is a perfect time to give yourself or others an excuse to sit down and not move for about 3 to 4 days.
The first few rounds of the NCAA tournament are amazing, and if you need an excuse to get the potential taken away from your baby shooter, so be it.
“They” like to turn March Madness into Vas Madness with “their” little marketing schemes.
I say take a couple of days off and just watch basketball. The pain down there is too difficult to imagine. I might be in the minority with some guys my age because I want kids.
All in all, I don’t want a doctor down there with a scalpel. I’m more interested in actually sinking buckets in a game situation than simply practicing for the rest of my life.

Last night, with the Midwestern State Mustangs playing Central Missouri for a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, might have been the most exciting basketball game I’ve seen live.
Sure, I’ve seen some big names play basketball, including his Airness, Michael Jordan, but when the UCM player missed a point blank shot from about 3 feet out and missed as time expired to seal the victory for MSU, well, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Last night had it all.
MSU had the big early lead, then they went cold in the beginning of the second half. The UCM Mules came back on outside shooting and the huge inside presence of Sanijay Watts.
Watts was a monster down low. He got where he wanted to on the court and MSU wasn’t slick enough to double team early to get the ball out of his hands.
Then MSU did just enough to hang on.
All of the Mustang basketball players deserve a ton of credit. Those guys used all of their resources last night to win.
I’m not sure what the awaits them in Massachusetts (they play Saint Cloud St. Wednesday at 11 a.m.), but I wish them the best of luck.

I’ve been debating this fact with my coworkers over the past week, and I really believe going topless in a film, or any nudity, helps a woman’s chance of being recognized by the Academy.
Think about Kate Winslet.
How about Halle Berry.
And if I remember correctly, Renee Zellweger did the deed in “Cold Mountain.”
All of these women were at least nominated for their roles, and coincidentally, they showed a little skin.
Nothing is wrong with that, especially if you’re a watching.
Maggie Gyllenhall, who is nominated this year for “Crazy Heart,” shows some skin in here role while doing the deed with Jeff Bridges.
But I think the kicker is that a woman has to do this in an “artsy” film. Most of what Winslet does is “artsy.” Halle did it in “Monster’s Ball.”
I’ve looked over who has been nominated over the past decade for best actress or best supporting actress (and its really over the past decade) that woman have started to take off their clothes for infamy.
I just hope actors won’t have to start going bottomless to be recognized.

Sometimes you have to do more than Observe and Report. After I watched this video of the beating and the interview done afterward, I was shocked.
You can’t just stand by in life and see someone get knocked down and beaten severely. Especially if it is a teenager and you’re the grown man in the room.
Maybe these guards were worried about what would happened if they got involved. I’ve heard stories of retail store employees getting fired because they chased down a thief and reclaimed the store’s merchandise.
If one of the guards had jumped in and one of the others involved got hurt, I could only imagine what would happen, probably a lawsuit.
Regardless, do something. Easier said than done, I guess.