Antmeister
07-25-2007, 11:49 AM
About Me
So uh... what does bsak16 mean anyway? You probably don't wanna know what I thought it meant.
It's pretty simple and not as perverted as ya'll might think. My name is Brian Sakowski. B is the first letter of my first name, Sak is the first part of my last name and 16 was my uniform number in college because the best quarterback ever to play wore the number 16, Joe Montana. I am curious, what did you think it meant?
Where did you grow up?
For how long have you lived in the Pittsburgh area?
I have lived in the Pittsburgh area all 28 and 1/2 years of my life. Well I guess you have to subtract the 36 months I lived in Erie for College. So 25.5 years of my life. I grew up in Harrison City, Pennsylvania. It is a small town between Greensburg and Murrysville which is about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh.
What color are your eyes?
Brown
What color is your hair?
Dark brown, longer hair.
How tall are you?
I am 6 foot 4 inches, 230 lbs. I will try to find a respectable picture when I am home from vacation and post it.
What made you want to be a nuclear engineer?
I'm not actually a nuclear engineer, I am a mechanical engineer that works in the nuclear industry. I work for a company called Curtiss-Wright Electo-Mechanical Corporation. We design and build main coolant pumps and generators for Nuclear Power Plants in the US and now in China. A lot of the pumps go on Naval Air Craft Carriers and Submarines. The generators do the same but now we have designed one that will launch planes off of a carrier using an electromagnet linear motor.
My physics teacher in high school was an engineer and he talked about it a lot with me. I knew I really liked math and science, but hated English so he said to try engineering. I did and four years later I had my degree from Gannon University in Mechanical Engineering. A few years after my undergrad I got my Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. It is really interesting work. I don't do as much design work as I work in Analysis as a Structural Engineer. But it is something I enjoy doing.
What was the scariest event in your life?
What's the dumbest thing you ever did, and got away with?
I will throw this under scary and stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. When I was 18 in high school my neighbor across the street was going away on vacation. Well me and another kid asked him if he would give us the key to his house so we could go in and drink sometime during the week. The kid who was who was going on vacation said sure why not and gave us a key. The other kid and I made a deal that I would get the house to party friday night and he would get Saturday night.
So we both had our parties with only about 4 people each. When my friend who was on vacation came home, his parents discovered that some money was missing from the shop downstairs. And they realized that someone had been in the house. He called me and asked me what the hell went on and before I could answer his dad picks up the phone and says "Get off the phone, I'm calling the cops." I was scared to death that night just waiting for the cops to come to the door and question me the haul me away.
My friend never said anything to the cops about giving us the key so it eventually subsided. What really happened was at the Saturday night party there were a few sketchy kids there who unlocked another door and came back later to get the money.
How/when did you get your puppy? What made you decide to get a dog to begin with? You happy with her or has it been tough?
Since I live in a relatively big house all alone it became pretty lonely. So I thought about getting a dog for a long time, but I did not want to get a dog knowing that I would have to leave it in a crate a lot because in all fairness it wasn't right to the dog. So I spoke with my parents and the offered to come over and let the dog out a few times a day while I was at work. My mom is a retired teacher so she has a lot of free time now.
I got Addison (my dog) in May of 2006 while she was only 5 weeks old. My uncle knew a guy at the Westmoreland County animal shelter and they let me in to look at a new batch of Labs they had. I went into the cage with the dogs and picked one up, a boy, and he was all squirmy in my arm so I put him down. I noticed a little on all quiet in the corner so I went over to her and picked her up. She was so calm and cute I decided to go with her. The shelter tagged her and told her I could pick her up in 2 days after she was fixed.
The first few weeks/months were a lot of hard work. The entire time was home I kept the dog in my sight. I taught her early that if she wanted to go outside to go to the back sliding door. So the minute she would even look at the door I would take her outside. I would get up twice in the middle of the night to let her go outside. So it felt like I had a little baby. But all the hard work paid off. In the year and few months that I have had her she has peed in the house 4 times. Mostly right away after she got fixed and didn't have the muscles to hold it in.
I am extremely happy with her. She's a great dog, she'll go on runs with me, wrestles with me, and strangely enough she loves to watch hockey. Maybe it is the fast moving action. I am really glad I got her.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z50/bsak16/addie1.jpg
Addison the Day I got her.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z50/bsak16/addie2.jpg
On her birthday.
Craziest thing you have ever seen?
When I was 15 years old my grandmother died. It hit me pretty hard because she was really the only grandmother I knew because my other one died right after I was born. She also lived around 4 hours from me in a small town called Shenandoah, PA (close to Pottsville, PA where they brew Yuenling Beer). Even though I only saw her a few times a year, she always made me feel so special. My family and I went out for the funeral and we stayed at my grandparents house. I normally stayed in the room right next to where my grandparents slept.
We went to the wake then back to the house to sleep because the funeral was the next day. I had trouble getting to sleep but I finally did. Then I woke up in the middle of the night startled. I sat up in the bed and that's when I noticed...my grandmother standing at the foot of the bed. She proceeded to tell me how much she loved me and not to get upset about her death because she will always be there with me. So the craziest thing I have ever seen was my grandmother's ghost.
What were your career stats for football, in high school and college?
In high school I played my sophomore and senior year. Our All State QB got hurt my Soph year and came back for my junior (his senior year) so that’s why I didn't play much my junior year. I'm not sure my exact stats but in those two years combine I threw for about 3500 yards with 30 touchdowns. We ran the run and shoot. My claim to fame is that my first ever touchdown pass was thrown over Lavar Arrington.
In college we ran the winged T my redshirt freshman year. I started 9 of 10 games that year and threw for 1000 yards with 10 touchdowns. I hold the Gannon University record for most passing yards by a freshman. My next year we got a new coach and a new offensive philosophy. I only played in 7 of 10 games throwing for 500 yards and 3 touchdowns. We ran mostly option and I was not an option QB. My final pass was a 45 yard touchdown pass. It was pretty nice to end my career on that note.
Were you recruited out of high school?
I was recruited. A few bigger schools sent me letters and called me like Pitt, Lehigh, Princeton, Brown, and Bucknell. I sent my films to Penn State and they told me that I could be a preferred walk on but would most likely spend my entire time playing scout team quarterback. I had a full scholarship to Kentucky State but didn't really want to go there because they did not have engineering. I really wanted to go to Lehigh but my high school coach kinda blew that one for me. I told him in confidence that I would like to go to Lehigh even if I did not get an offer from them I would still consider going. Well he
told the coaches from Lehigh that and they told him to tell me to walk on and then they will see if they want to give me any money.
In the end it came down between Gannon and Penn State. I decided to go to Gannon because they had smaller classes and it gave me a chance to play football. All of the scholarships I got from Gannon were on the academic side which I liked. Because if football did not pan out, I still had the money to continue to go to school.
What are 3 things about you I "should" know to know the real you?
What are your 3 best qualities? Three worst? (job interview question)
My three best qualities are I am a hard worker, I go out of my way for people even if it means I am not happy or my work suffers, and I work really well under pressure.
My three worst are I can be a bit lazy, I know it is contradicting to what I said in the first part but let me explain. At work if I am given an easy job and finish it quick, most of the time my boss will drag his feet giving me another one. Which leaves me days of trying to find something to do at work. So I’ve learned to stretch jobs out so it leaves me less downtime but I still get them done in time but not as fast as I really could. I am a bit impatient with people. I am fortunate to have things come easy to me, whether it be at work or athletically. I tend to get frustrated when I am teaching someone something and they don’t pick up on it as quick as I’d like. Finally, it isn’t as bad as it use to be but I still do have a bad temper.
Favorite childhood memory?
I played football for 14 years of my life and in all of that time my mom made every game and my father only missed one. My dad worked the night shift at a hospital for 28 years so that he could be home in the mornings to watch me while my mom was teaching.
My favorite memory was my last football game in college. I knew it was going to be my last (my parents didn’t) and I didn’t even know if I would play but my parents made the trip from Pittsburgh to Merrimack Mass. It was a pretty bittersweet day because it was a relief that the season was going to be over but it was sad because it was going to be the last time I ever played organized football.
I was third string that day and I just remember soaking everything in and just thinking about everything that I’ve gone through and how it was my parents who where there with me every step of the way. Through all the wins and losses they were there supporting me, doing whatever possible they could to make it better for me. I did get to get in the game for the last 8 minutes because the two QB’s in front of me got hurt. I got to throw a TD pass on my final play.
After the game I remember going over to hug my parents and to thank them for making the trip not only today but for every game. And I remember them thanking me for giving them such great memories over the same period of time. I took the gameball from the game and gave it to them. I thank God every day for the parents I have and only hope that I can be half as good to my kids as they were to me.
Are you artistic at all? In what ways?
I am not artistic at all. If you count taking random pictures of sunsets, the ocean, and other scenery as artistic...well that is as artistic as I can get. I cannot draw nor paint.
What 3 things are you most afraid of?
Pigs, snakes, and needles.
What was the greatest day of your life, other than obvious ones?
I really can't pin point one day. Graduating college was a great day because it was all those years of hard work culminating in that one day.
Are you a good cook? If so, what style of food do you enjoy making.
I think I am a good cook and so do most of the people I cook for. I am into trying new things and throwing different ingredients together. I mainly do it with chicken and pasta.
I am always asked to make my fresh salsa for parties. The last one I was at I was asked by someone that owns a restaurant near me if I would sell my recipe to them.
Give us three pieces of advice for dealing with women.
I am 28 and not married. So no one wants to take advice from me. The one thing I have learned is just be confident in yourself. Women don’t like guys that are unsure of themselves. I refuse to go the cocky and funny route.
What are some things that you would like to achieve, that you have not yet?
I would like to get married, have a few kids. As far as my job goes I have no ambitions to be a manager, I really like what I do. I wouldn’t mind having a vacation home somewhere in Maryland. The one thing that I really want to do that I probably will not be able to is try and qualify for the US Open Golf Tournament. At one time a few years ago I had my handicap down at a 5.1, but that is still a long way off of the 1.5 needed to try and qualify. I know I would never qualify for the tournament but I just want to say I tried.
What is the most embarrassing thing that you have done while under the influence?
At a homecoming parade in college I was wasted and went over to the Priest who was teaching me in my Ethics and Morals class to come over to my apartment and bless the keg of beer that we were going to all drink from later in the night. Wasn’t the smartest thing I have ever done.
Random Questons
What better Jessica Simpson or Kate Walsh?
Do you still stalk Jessica Simpson?
I liked Jessica Simpson until she got the lip job. Now she looks like a swelled up fish. I didn’t mind the whole dumb act because I think it was just an act to get better ratings. Kate Walsh is just gorgeous. She has beautiful eyes and I like her with the dark red hair. She is the only reason I'll watch the show "Private Practice".
Natalie Portman, real or fake?
If Natalie Portman's boobs are fake then she has the worst plastic surgeon in the world. For those of you that don't know there is a little story behind this question.
After my junior year in college I got on a plane and flew to Boston to spend a weekend with my friend who went to school at Harvard. He belonged to a Club at Harvard which is equilavent to Fraternity at other school. The Fox Club was having a party where you wore a nice shirt (polo shirt) but boxers as bottoms. They had a few bands and a lot of jungle juice to drink.
So, surprise suprise I got drunk and I noticed that Natalie Portman was at the party. Before I ago any further it was really her, confirmed by my friend's girlfriend. This was right after Star Wars Phantom Menace so I was a pretty big fan of hers and wanted to go talk to her. My friend's roommate Keith said he had a class with her and he would introduce me. Keith and I walked up to her and he goes "There she is" and walks away. I clammed up smiled and walked away. I followed her and her possie around for the next 30 minutes which I guess was pretty funny because there she was about 5 foot tall and there I am walking behind her 6 foot 4 inches.
She was getting ready to leave the party (and of course I was in the vicinity), she turns around to face me and at the same time I am telling a story to my friend and as I am explaining something my hands go out. My left hand moves out and right onto her left boob. I look down at her, she looks up at me, we exchange smiles and she leaves the party.
Ice Cream: chocolate or vanilla?
Penn State Creamery Vanilla...it is heaven.
Do you think the penny will ever be taken out of circulation? Should it?
Since it costs more to make the penny than it is actually worth I think it should and it will be taken out of circulation in the next 10 years.
Dateline: To Catch A Predator....is it doing a noble service, or trashy television?
Never watched it. But anything that gets grimy people off the streets is ok in my book.
When you order from KFC, do you choose original or extra crispy?
Honestly I have never eaten at KFC, although I really want to eat that bowl with the mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, and gravy. It looks like heaven in a bowl.
Would you rather be cremated or buried? If cremated, would you rather be original or extra crispy?
This is something I have never really thought of but if i had to choose right now I'd like the be cremated and have my ashes spread in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hopefully I'd be extra crispy. I don't know why I remember this but a guy I know told me one time that the tongue is the last thing to go to ash when a person is cremated so I thought I would share that with you all.
What is the best coffee in the world?
Tim Hortons no question, although Dunkin donuts is second.
Have you ever picked up a woman by claiming to be Wade Belak, yes or no?
Actually the last time I was in Canada I told a girl my name was Wake Belak. She had no clue who he was, she was also 19.
Why are amarosa rolls so good?
I'm not a real big Philly cheesesteak fan. If you want a good sandwich, eat a Primanti's cap and cheese with egg.
http://community.iexplore.com/photos/journal_photos/RiversPrimantiSandwich.jpg
Ksyrup and Mario Lopez... separated at birth?
I met Mario Lopez at a bar in Pittsburgh before he went on Dancing with the Stars, never met Ksyrup so I am not totally sure.
How do you relieve stress?
I will either go for a run or beat on my heavy bag in the basement.
Favorite TV show/Movie when you were a kid and favorite TV show/Movie now? Three favorite TV shows, movies, and books? What is the best book that you have ever read?
As a child my cousin and I watched Goonies everyday. I always wanted to be Mikey and he was Chunk because he was a little...well um chunky. My favorite TV show was Family Ties. Alex P. Keaton was awesome in my book and Malerie Keaton was probably one of my first childhood crushes.
My teenage years my favorite show became Beverly Hills 90210, mainly because I had a crush on Jennie Garth and my favorite movie was Dumb and Dumber. That is the only movie I can watch over and over and still laugh at every part.
Now my favorite show is The Office because it is so funny how it is exactly like the office I work at. The similarities are errie. My favorite movie is still Dumb and Dumber and my second favorite is Miracle and my third is Wedding Crashers.
Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book. The only book I read in my life in one day. I had to read it for a drama class in college. I started it in the morning (during class) and couldn't put it down the rest of the day. My second favorite is Civil War by John Feinstein. It is about the Army-Navy football rivalry. My third favorite is Band of Brothers.
What podcasts do you subscribe to?
I am subscribed to the In The Bleachers Podcast, HockeyCentral at noon by the Fan590, Philadelphia Flyers official podcast, ESPNU College Football podcast (where they steal our material word for word), PSU football insider, PSU Football Podcast with former player Tony Pittman, and the Duke Basketball report with Coach K.
Favorite movie soundtrack.
Rocky Soundtrack. I use it all the time when I run.
You're at a party and as the evening progresses everyone strips off and dives in the pool, do you join in?
Sure why not, I am not shy.
Have you ever used a slide rule?
No but I have seen a few older engineers use it.
Your boss wants you to mow his lawn on company time, do you do it?
I have done this before. When I worked for a golf course we had to mow our boss' lawn every Thursday. So if they are willing to pay me what I make to mow their lawn, sure I would do it.
We've discussed this before, but now it is time for a firm answer: Who wins a battle royal between Charlie Weis, Ralph Friedgen, Mark Mangino, and Phillip Fulmer?
Charlie Weis has the power of the snot, if people don't realize what I am talking about watch the ND-Stanford game from 2005. It was cold and raining and Weis’ nose was running all game. The guy is a slob. But I don't think anyone beats Mangino, he's like King Kong Bundy. He'll wait around while the Fridge, Weis and Fulmer all beat up on each other then he will jump in and finish them all with the big splash.
Hows it hangin'?
Low and to the left.
I'm coaching an underdog football team and we've hung tough throughout the game...we're down 4 with 2 minutes left. 3rd down and 8 to go, my quarterback appears to have completed a 10 yard out to keep the drive alive...with the receiver catching the ball on my sideline. In fact, I was right there when he caught the ball.
You rush in, though, and claim the receiver juggled the ball. Incomplete pass.
How much grief do you believe I'd give you, how much grief would you expect, and how much would you put up with before penalizing me 15 yards?
I would have no issue with you expressing your displeasure with my call. I always listen when a coach will talk to me and tell me what he sees, and I expect the same common courtesy from him. If you start to talk or yell while I am explaining what I saw, I will just walk away from you because I feel like I am just wasting my time.
The minute your attacks become personal towards me or anyone on my crew or if you used profanity against us, you will be penalized 15 yards. If you continue after the flag has been thrown, you will be sent out of the stadium. I have no issue with admitting that I am wrong on a call if proven on film. We are all human and make mistakes, the last thing I want to do is cheat a kid out of a game. I am there to make sure the game is played as fair as possible and even though I am only reffing on a high school level, I take is very seriously.
How good is the CT and Jivin show?
To be honest, I have never listened to the show. Although CT was nice enough to answer a bunch of questions I had about podcasting and how he does it. They seem to have a really nice following so they must do a really good job.
What intrigued you to try podcasting?
Just the fact that people would download the show to listen to what we had to say. EasyMac and I did the first In The Bleachers Podcast. Then Swaggs and Vtbub joined in a few weeks later. It is a lot of fun to do the show with them.
FOFC Barbecue at your house, who are you inviting and why?
What food are you serving? Which kinds of drinks?
Anyone and everyone is invited. If you are in the Pittsburgh area on August 11th and want to relieve your drinking days, give me a PM. Each year I have a party in August for my family and friends in which I call Sakapolluza. This year is the sixth installment of it. Each year I have a theme and this year it is a Roman Toga party. So there’s the invite to everyone. Hear that Pumpy???
I have a kegorator built into my bar with a half barrel of Molson Canadian in it along with a fully stocked hard liquor bar. For food I’ll grill up some chicken, burgers, and dogs. Nothing too fancy but we are there to drink, not eat.
If you could go to a dream concert, which three bands/singers/groups would you want to be there and who would be the headliner?
I know this one will bring a lot of laughs but I would have Neil Diamond open up the concert, then Bon Jovi would play. And headlining the concert would be the Beatles.
Can a blind person feel blue?
If you mean blue by feeling down and depressed then yes. The color blue, I am not so sure unless they had a period of time where they could actually see.
Describe something you once witnessed, in person, that made you question your sanity.
When I was 10 years old I went to watch the oldest group of midgets (pee wee football) play football. In our town there were 3 teams that were grouped by ages. The oldest group was in the championship game and my father took me to go watch. Our town lost the game and I remember walking out of the place and towards my coach to go talk to him. I got about 10 feet from him and he started screaming at this coach from the other team. Next thing I knew they were throwing fists at each other. Here was someone I was suppose to look up to and thought a lot about getting in a fight right in front of my eyes. I couldn't believe it, he was someone I really respected.
What do you enjoy best about western PA?
I really like the seasons. My favorite is fall in western PA with the leaves changing. It never really gets super hot, we have our days where it hits 90 but for the most part it is comfortable.
I also like that it is relatively cheap to live here. I have a pretty nice house with over an acre of land. I know for a fact if I lived somewhere in eastern PA, NJ, or Maryland I wouldn't be able to afford it.
RWBL
Does it bother you that your Phillie dynasty in RWBL will forever be under the shadow of the mighty Chicago Cubs powerhouse I put together when involved with the league? I mean, yeah you may hold most of the records now since its been a good while since I had left, but I can only imagine how aggravating it would be to know that your fellow league members pretty much full heartedly agree with the Cubs being the "face" of the early RWBL years.*
* - Statement not verified but widely assumable.
Sunny I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you but I won 5 of my 6 titles while you were still in the league. I only won one after you left. Head to head you beat me in one playoff series while I beat you in three. Also by the time you left the league I had more overall wins than you and more playoff victories. In the 26 years in the league I won the NL East 25 times and had 18 season (consecutive) with over 100 wins.
You were the face of the RWBL for the early years because your team was so stacked, but you weren't smart with your money allowing some of you key players to leave via free agency instead of getting something for them.
Some of my most enjonyable Online league experiences were the days we used to sit and talk strategy about ootp teams/players/etc. Since Real life kind of kicked my butt right before your dominant run of titles, how much of those conversations that we used to have went into your gameplan for your dynasty?
More than you would think. You are a big reason I was able to win so many games and championships. I was always able to get the higher rated players but I could not piece them together in the right positions in the field and batting order to take full advantage of them. You taught me what type of hitter should be at what part of the batting order and what fielding positions were most important in OOTP.
Another question.. who do you feel got the better end of some of our trades that we had? I used to get alot of heat on some of them for supposedly stealing great older players, but in the end the players you got ended up superior in many cases.
I think you got the best of me in a few of the early trades. Mainly because I was trying to dump some salary and you were the only person that had the salary room to take them. But in the end some of the younger guys you sent me had some long and productive careers with my team.
The one thing I did figure out while trading with you was to hold out as long as possible when I knew you liked someone on my team. One I knew the player must be pretty good if you wanted him, and two I knew I could squeeze just a little more out of you .
I never asked you before, but did you quit the RWBL because you were sick of it, or because you were just getting too busy?
Finally, what made you decide to stop playing in the RWBL? just burnt out?
It was a combination of a few things. The first is that I really don’t like baseball. The reason I joined the RWBL was because it was a chance for me to play against other humans. I thought it would be cool to run a team against other people who had their own different philosophies. So the baseball fun just burned out for me.
Second my job became more demanding and I had a house that needed a lot of work done to it, so something had to give. It was either the RWBL or In The Bleachers and I chose to continue In The Bleachers, although I have been slacking on that too.
With all the resims that you did in RWBL, would it have killed you to let the Yankees win the World Series just once?
When you were commish of the RWBL, did you ever resim to get a better result, yes or yes?
I can’t hear or see you guys; I have two RWBL championship rings in each of my ears and one over each of my eyes.
Did you ever do a JBL sim sober?
Most of them I did do sober, although no one would’ve known if I was drunk or not because I cannot pronounce Japanese names.
Would you say that you are the exact opposite of me as a RWBL gm?
You sucked and I was great, so ya we are exact opposites.
Can you believe the fact that Sunny blamed me for drilling a hole in his japanese baseball team's locker room?
Actually it was a diversion to the fact that Sunny and I drilled a hole into your sister's bedroom to peep in.
How good would you have been if you had a brother in the RWBL? Would you have lost a game?
It worked for Sunny right? I'm kidding Sunny, don't start crying.
As a neutral observer, who is the best GM in RWBL American League history?
I cannot answer this question since I signed a clause that says I am not allowed to talk about the RWBL for two years after my departure as commish.
College Football
Who will replace Joe Paterno?
What do you see happening to Penn State football in the next 10-years?
Well first of all I see Joe Paterno retiring. His latest contract has him coaching through the 2008 season and there have not been any talks as of this moment to extend it at all. For the first time ever he has been telling recruits that there is a good chance that he will not be there when the graduate in 4 or 5 years.
In my opinion, the next Head Coach of Penn State will be the defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. Paterno has said that he wants someone from inside his staff right now to succeed him. There are many alumni and big time boosters that are worried Paterno has been sticking around longer because he wants to groom his son, Jay Paterno QB Coach, to replace him. I honestly don't think the University will let that fly, and the fans will be really pissed because like at Florida State, the coach’s son takes a lot of heat when the team loses.
I think Bradley will do a fine job as head coach. He is an excellent recruiter and has done a really good job running the defense ever since Jerry Sandusky left after the 1999 season. I don't see any reason that Penn State will go downhill. They will have their average teams and make a run at the Big Ten Title every 2 or 3 years.
That being said if anyone on FOFC wants to go to a Penn State game or is going to a game let me know and we can meet up. My family and friends always have tailgates for each game and we’d love to have more people join in on the fun. Of course the bigger the game the tougher the ticket but if you ever want to experience a great college atmosphere with almost 110,000 others, come on up.
Do you think Joe Paterno would have been successful if he would have taken over the Steelers when he was offered?
He did accept a job to be the Head Coach of New England because he got a stake in ownership of the team but the morning after he accepted the job he called and changed his mind. I hate to say that Paterno would not be successful if he went into the pros, but I don't think he would've been as successful or the icon he is today if he had jumped ship and gone pro.
A lot of Paterno’ mystique comes from his Grand Experiment where he emphasizes academics as well as athletics. As an average, PSU has graduated over 80% of it’s football players. In the pros he would have just been judged on wins and losses while in the college game people take notices of other things like graduation rates and money he raises towards the University.
Do you like Penn State in the Big 10?
Penn State is MSU's rival during "Rival Week"?????? WTF?
They aren't Notre Dame with their own National Television contract, so they needed to join a conference. The Big Ten seemed to fit. They could've joined the Big East but Paterno was still pissed about the Big East not wanting to bring Penn State into the conference before because of their lackluster basketball program. It has been rough for the football and basketball teams but for the rest of their athletic programs, the move to the Big Ten has been really good.
It sucks being the red-headed step child in the conference, the last one in. Plus there is no rival right now for Penn State, but I think as the years go on the rivalries will develop more. I think the MSU/PSU rivalry was forced upon by the league. They needed someone for Penn State to play at the end of the year. Michigan has Ohio State so I guess the one logical team for Penn State to be rivaled with was Michigan State. I must say there have been a lot of close/exciting games between the two. But most PSU fans realize that MSU’s real rival in their eyes is Michigan.
What would the ultimate Penn State win be?
The ultimate win would be a BCS National Title win. The first game that I remember was the 1987 Fiesta Bowl win over Miami that won them their second title. It is really exciting and now that I am older and have the ability to afford to go to those games, I think it would be great to see them win a National Title live.
What is your honest opinion of Dave Wannstedt?
I think Pitt will regret pushing Walt Harris out the door. Harris did a lot for that program bringing them back to respectibilty. Wannstedt is a hell of a recruiter, but he uses the angle of being a former NFL coach as his biggest weapon. But you cannot argue with his success on the recruiting front so far although I think a few of his big named recruits, mainly Dorin Dickerson, will be busts. Even though Pitt has not gone to a bowl game in 2 seasons and has had a losing record in each of his last two, he still is pulling in the bigger names. As far as X's and O's go, I do not think he is that good of a coach.
This year will tell a lot for him. If he doesn't go to a bowl game with the schedule in front of him, this could potentially be his last year. Pitt fans have been giving him a pass since he has been playing with Harris' recruits and we all know that Harris did not recruit Offensive Lineman and Defensive lineman. He was only good with the skill positions. Wannstedt will need one of his inexperienced QB's to step up and play like a veteran. I really think that they will see losses @ Louisville, @ WVU, @ Rutgers, and at home against South Florida. That means they have to win 6 of their last 8 game and they still play at Michigan State and at Virginia.
Why is Penn State so terrible at basketball?
I really wish I knew. They were turning the corner with Bruce Parkhill as the coach, then he resigned. Some say he got a cheerleader pregnant but no confirmed truth came of it. Jerry Dunn had a few good years but his style of coaching drove a lot of kids away. I think Ed Dechellis has them going in the right direction but they will never be a powerhouse in basketball. I cannot see any Penn State basketball coach convincing kids from inner city schools to come and play in rural Pennsylvania. There are too many other good basketball schools in the area for the good players to go to.
I just joined cartman's BBCF league, any advice for a noob that doesn't know a thing about college sports?
Build your offense around a strong offensive line. You can have the best QB, WR, and RB in the nation but if you don’t have anyone to block for them, you won’t win a game. I think I saw that you were in a mid-major conference, look for recruits that fit your system. Don’t waste what little money you have making reaches on players. As far as defense goes, well I am not a defensive minded player. So just build up your offense enough so that it scores more than the other team’s offense :) .
Other Sports
If you could play 18 holes anywhere, where would you?
Augusta National since it is the most beautiful course in the world and there is so much history that goes with it because of The Masters. From everyone that has been there, they have told me that TV doesn’t do the justice for the beauty of the course.
What's it like being a Flyers fan in Pens-land?
It isn’t bad. I go to the Pens-Flyers game in Pittsburgh and root for Philly. No one gives me too much grief. I have gotten into some shouting matches but nothing too serious. I don’t mind the Pens as much as the Steelers, I absolutely hate the Steelers. Then Pens I will root for when they are not playing the Flyers. What sucks the most is that I have to buy Centre Ice to watch the Flyers.
Did you cry when Darius Kasparaitis destroyed Eric Lindros?
I did not cry but I was pretty pissed off. My friends like to get on me because of the bad rap that Philly fans have, and they rightfully deserve it. I was at the game where Kasparaitis knocked Lindros out and I heard the crowd cheer louder and louder when LeClair and the trainers tried to get Lindros off the ice and he kept stumbling. They played the hit over and over again on the jumbotron. I thought it was pretty classless to cheer for a guy who is injured like that and when Philly fans did that when Michael Irvin got hurt I never heard the end of it. But they still dodge the fact that they did the same thing when Lindros got hurt.
Why the love for Philly teams?
As I said before I grew up in Pittsburgh, but root for all of the Philly teams. My dad grew up about an hour outside of Philadelphia and when I was younger I would always watch sports with him. I’d root for the same teams he did so I became a Philly fan. I am glad I did because it is a special bond my father and I have still to this day. I love taking him to the ballpark (even though I hate baseball) to watch the Phillies and the Pirates play or go to the Arena for a Pens Flyers game. We always get a bag of peanuts and a beer and buy the end of the game we both have a big pile of shells right in front of our seats. It is something I will always remember and I hope to pass that bond onto my kids someday.
The most fun him and I ever had was when we bought tickets to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between Tampa Bay and Philly. It was the first time he was ever in the new Philly arena and both of our first playoff hockey game. The Flyers won 3-2 with Keith Primeau scoring a short handed goal right in front of us where the crowd erupted. Probably the second most exciting live sporting event I was at behind the Penn State vs Ohio State game in 2005 at Beaver Stadium.
Why do we bother with the Phillies?
The same reason I bother with every Philly team, because I like when they give us hope each year only to fall flat on their face either in the playoffs or right before. I will say this, I would rather be a Phillies fan where they spend money and put a half decent product on the field than a Pirate fan where they don't do either. But hey, they have a good ball park.
How much do you dislike Jose Mesa?
He single-handedly lost the Phillies the wild card a few years ago. He stinks, they never should have got him in the first place and definitely never should have resigned him this year. I hope he ends up drunk in the wrong section of Philly and gets his ass beat.
Will the Penguins ever leave Pittsburgh in your lifetime, yes or no?
I don’t think they leave unless the NHL folds. They were close to leaving last year but I think it was even closer a few years ago when the team went bankrupt. Luckily the organization had someone like Mario that was willing to take stake in the team rather than get paid or they would’ve been in a heap of trouble.
Last Questions
Tell us something you honestly believe that, on the surface, would shock and offend us. Then explain why you believe it.
I once broke up a wedding a week before it was suppose to happen. One of my best friends was getting married to a girl who I was also friends with. They had been dating for 8 years from High School all through college.
We noticed all along that she always treated him like crap and would put him down in public but no one ever said anything to him about it. Finally me and my other friend were talking with him and he was talking how he is having second thoughts about getting married. So we told him that he deserves someone that treats him nice and respects him.
We explained that there was nothing wrong if he called it off, no one would think any less of him for doing so. We reassured him for a few days and finally he called off the wedding. Three years later (almost to the day) he married another girl that treats him like gold. So in the end I think we did the right thing by convincing him not to get married.
Not really shocking and offending but I am running out of time here.
Tell us three interesting things about you that nobody came close to getting you to reveal in the other questions.
The past 2 and a half years of my life have probably been the toughest ones of my life. Coming out of college I started dating a girl and we were together for 4 years. About 2 months before I was about to propose to her she broke up with me. Later I found out that she had been cheating on me. I went through some depression but thanks to a friend that finally dragged me back to church I realized it was just another obstacle I had to overcome in my life. In the end it has made me a stronger person.
My roommate in college and I were one win away from playing in the Stanley Cup of bubble hockey during the 2001 hockey season.
On a lighter note...this is my favorite you tube clip. Click the spoiler tag to find out why.
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Not only was this a big game, what proceeded this goal was amazing. Darcy Tucker knocked Sami Kappanen senseless and Sami got to the bench and allowed JR to get on the ice. But what makes this great is that Maple Leafs hates JR and he scored the game winning goal for one of his hated teams and it is the last time that Toronto has been in the NHL Playoffs.
Thanks for all the questions everyone! I am sorry I did not get to answer all of them. I am actually on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland and answered the questions in the morning when I got up and late at night when I came home (sober).
So uh... what does bsak16 mean anyway? You probably don't wanna know what I thought it meant.
It's pretty simple and not as perverted as ya'll might think. My name is Brian Sakowski. B is the first letter of my first name, Sak is the first part of my last name and 16 was my uniform number in college because the best quarterback ever to play wore the number 16, Joe Montana. I am curious, what did you think it meant?
Where did you grow up?
For how long have you lived in the Pittsburgh area?
I have lived in the Pittsburgh area all 28 and 1/2 years of my life. Well I guess you have to subtract the 36 months I lived in Erie for College. So 25.5 years of my life. I grew up in Harrison City, Pennsylvania. It is a small town between Greensburg and Murrysville which is about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh.
What color are your eyes?
Brown
What color is your hair?
Dark brown, longer hair.
How tall are you?
I am 6 foot 4 inches, 230 lbs. I will try to find a respectable picture when I am home from vacation and post it.
What made you want to be a nuclear engineer?
I'm not actually a nuclear engineer, I am a mechanical engineer that works in the nuclear industry. I work for a company called Curtiss-Wright Electo-Mechanical Corporation. We design and build main coolant pumps and generators for Nuclear Power Plants in the US and now in China. A lot of the pumps go on Naval Air Craft Carriers and Submarines. The generators do the same but now we have designed one that will launch planes off of a carrier using an electromagnet linear motor.
My physics teacher in high school was an engineer and he talked about it a lot with me. I knew I really liked math and science, but hated English so he said to try engineering. I did and four years later I had my degree from Gannon University in Mechanical Engineering. A few years after my undergrad I got my Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. It is really interesting work. I don't do as much design work as I work in Analysis as a Structural Engineer. But it is something I enjoy doing.
What was the scariest event in your life?
What's the dumbest thing you ever did, and got away with?
I will throw this under scary and stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. When I was 18 in high school my neighbor across the street was going away on vacation. Well me and another kid asked him if he would give us the key to his house so we could go in and drink sometime during the week. The kid who was who was going on vacation said sure why not and gave us a key. The other kid and I made a deal that I would get the house to party friday night and he would get Saturday night.
So we both had our parties with only about 4 people each. When my friend who was on vacation came home, his parents discovered that some money was missing from the shop downstairs. And they realized that someone had been in the house. He called me and asked me what the hell went on and before I could answer his dad picks up the phone and says "Get off the phone, I'm calling the cops." I was scared to death that night just waiting for the cops to come to the door and question me the haul me away.
My friend never said anything to the cops about giving us the key so it eventually subsided. What really happened was at the Saturday night party there were a few sketchy kids there who unlocked another door and came back later to get the money.
How/when did you get your puppy? What made you decide to get a dog to begin with? You happy with her or has it been tough?
Since I live in a relatively big house all alone it became pretty lonely. So I thought about getting a dog for a long time, but I did not want to get a dog knowing that I would have to leave it in a crate a lot because in all fairness it wasn't right to the dog. So I spoke with my parents and the offered to come over and let the dog out a few times a day while I was at work. My mom is a retired teacher so she has a lot of free time now.
I got Addison (my dog) in May of 2006 while she was only 5 weeks old. My uncle knew a guy at the Westmoreland County animal shelter and they let me in to look at a new batch of Labs they had. I went into the cage with the dogs and picked one up, a boy, and he was all squirmy in my arm so I put him down. I noticed a little on all quiet in the corner so I went over to her and picked her up. She was so calm and cute I decided to go with her. The shelter tagged her and told her I could pick her up in 2 days after she was fixed.
The first few weeks/months were a lot of hard work. The entire time was home I kept the dog in my sight. I taught her early that if she wanted to go outside to go to the back sliding door. So the minute she would even look at the door I would take her outside. I would get up twice in the middle of the night to let her go outside. So it felt like I had a little baby. But all the hard work paid off. In the year and few months that I have had her she has peed in the house 4 times. Mostly right away after she got fixed and didn't have the muscles to hold it in.
I am extremely happy with her. She's a great dog, she'll go on runs with me, wrestles with me, and strangely enough she loves to watch hockey. Maybe it is the fast moving action. I am really glad I got her.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z50/bsak16/addie1.jpg
Addison the Day I got her.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z50/bsak16/addie2.jpg
On her birthday.
Craziest thing you have ever seen?
When I was 15 years old my grandmother died. It hit me pretty hard because she was really the only grandmother I knew because my other one died right after I was born. She also lived around 4 hours from me in a small town called Shenandoah, PA (close to Pottsville, PA where they brew Yuenling Beer). Even though I only saw her a few times a year, she always made me feel so special. My family and I went out for the funeral and we stayed at my grandparents house. I normally stayed in the room right next to where my grandparents slept.
We went to the wake then back to the house to sleep because the funeral was the next day. I had trouble getting to sleep but I finally did. Then I woke up in the middle of the night startled. I sat up in the bed and that's when I noticed...my grandmother standing at the foot of the bed. She proceeded to tell me how much she loved me and not to get upset about her death because she will always be there with me. So the craziest thing I have ever seen was my grandmother's ghost.
What were your career stats for football, in high school and college?
In high school I played my sophomore and senior year. Our All State QB got hurt my Soph year and came back for my junior (his senior year) so that’s why I didn't play much my junior year. I'm not sure my exact stats but in those two years combine I threw for about 3500 yards with 30 touchdowns. We ran the run and shoot. My claim to fame is that my first ever touchdown pass was thrown over Lavar Arrington.
In college we ran the winged T my redshirt freshman year. I started 9 of 10 games that year and threw for 1000 yards with 10 touchdowns. I hold the Gannon University record for most passing yards by a freshman. My next year we got a new coach and a new offensive philosophy. I only played in 7 of 10 games throwing for 500 yards and 3 touchdowns. We ran mostly option and I was not an option QB. My final pass was a 45 yard touchdown pass. It was pretty nice to end my career on that note.
Were you recruited out of high school?
I was recruited. A few bigger schools sent me letters and called me like Pitt, Lehigh, Princeton, Brown, and Bucknell. I sent my films to Penn State and they told me that I could be a preferred walk on but would most likely spend my entire time playing scout team quarterback. I had a full scholarship to Kentucky State but didn't really want to go there because they did not have engineering. I really wanted to go to Lehigh but my high school coach kinda blew that one for me. I told him in confidence that I would like to go to Lehigh even if I did not get an offer from them I would still consider going. Well he
told the coaches from Lehigh that and they told him to tell me to walk on and then they will see if they want to give me any money.
In the end it came down between Gannon and Penn State. I decided to go to Gannon because they had smaller classes and it gave me a chance to play football. All of the scholarships I got from Gannon were on the academic side which I liked. Because if football did not pan out, I still had the money to continue to go to school.
What are 3 things about you I "should" know to know the real you?
What are your 3 best qualities? Three worst? (job interview question)
My three best qualities are I am a hard worker, I go out of my way for people even if it means I am not happy or my work suffers, and I work really well under pressure.
My three worst are I can be a bit lazy, I know it is contradicting to what I said in the first part but let me explain. At work if I am given an easy job and finish it quick, most of the time my boss will drag his feet giving me another one. Which leaves me days of trying to find something to do at work. So I’ve learned to stretch jobs out so it leaves me less downtime but I still get them done in time but not as fast as I really could. I am a bit impatient with people. I am fortunate to have things come easy to me, whether it be at work or athletically. I tend to get frustrated when I am teaching someone something and they don’t pick up on it as quick as I’d like. Finally, it isn’t as bad as it use to be but I still do have a bad temper.
Favorite childhood memory?
I played football for 14 years of my life and in all of that time my mom made every game and my father only missed one. My dad worked the night shift at a hospital for 28 years so that he could be home in the mornings to watch me while my mom was teaching.
My favorite memory was my last football game in college. I knew it was going to be my last (my parents didn’t) and I didn’t even know if I would play but my parents made the trip from Pittsburgh to Merrimack Mass. It was a pretty bittersweet day because it was a relief that the season was going to be over but it was sad because it was going to be the last time I ever played organized football.
I was third string that day and I just remember soaking everything in and just thinking about everything that I’ve gone through and how it was my parents who where there with me every step of the way. Through all the wins and losses they were there supporting me, doing whatever possible they could to make it better for me. I did get to get in the game for the last 8 minutes because the two QB’s in front of me got hurt. I got to throw a TD pass on my final play.
After the game I remember going over to hug my parents and to thank them for making the trip not only today but for every game. And I remember them thanking me for giving them such great memories over the same period of time. I took the gameball from the game and gave it to them. I thank God every day for the parents I have and only hope that I can be half as good to my kids as they were to me.
Are you artistic at all? In what ways?
I am not artistic at all. If you count taking random pictures of sunsets, the ocean, and other scenery as artistic...well that is as artistic as I can get. I cannot draw nor paint.
What 3 things are you most afraid of?
Pigs, snakes, and needles.
What was the greatest day of your life, other than obvious ones?
I really can't pin point one day. Graduating college was a great day because it was all those years of hard work culminating in that one day.
Are you a good cook? If so, what style of food do you enjoy making.
I think I am a good cook and so do most of the people I cook for. I am into trying new things and throwing different ingredients together. I mainly do it with chicken and pasta.
I am always asked to make my fresh salsa for parties. The last one I was at I was asked by someone that owns a restaurant near me if I would sell my recipe to them.
Give us three pieces of advice for dealing with women.
I am 28 and not married. So no one wants to take advice from me. The one thing I have learned is just be confident in yourself. Women don’t like guys that are unsure of themselves. I refuse to go the cocky and funny route.
What are some things that you would like to achieve, that you have not yet?
I would like to get married, have a few kids. As far as my job goes I have no ambitions to be a manager, I really like what I do. I wouldn’t mind having a vacation home somewhere in Maryland. The one thing that I really want to do that I probably will not be able to is try and qualify for the US Open Golf Tournament. At one time a few years ago I had my handicap down at a 5.1, but that is still a long way off of the 1.5 needed to try and qualify. I know I would never qualify for the tournament but I just want to say I tried.
What is the most embarrassing thing that you have done while under the influence?
At a homecoming parade in college I was wasted and went over to the Priest who was teaching me in my Ethics and Morals class to come over to my apartment and bless the keg of beer that we were going to all drink from later in the night. Wasn’t the smartest thing I have ever done.
Random Questons
What better Jessica Simpson or Kate Walsh?
Do you still stalk Jessica Simpson?
I liked Jessica Simpson until she got the lip job. Now she looks like a swelled up fish. I didn’t mind the whole dumb act because I think it was just an act to get better ratings. Kate Walsh is just gorgeous. She has beautiful eyes and I like her with the dark red hair. She is the only reason I'll watch the show "Private Practice".
Natalie Portman, real or fake?
If Natalie Portman's boobs are fake then she has the worst plastic surgeon in the world. For those of you that don't know there is a little story behind this question.
After my junior year in college I got on a plane and flew to Boston to spend a weekend with my friend who went to school at Harvard. He belonged to a Club at Harvard which is equilavent to Fraternity at other school. The Fox Club was having a party where you wore a nice shirt (polo shirt) but boxers as bottoms. They had a few bands and a lot of jungle juice to drink.
So, surprise suprise I got drunk and I noticed that Natalie Portman was at the party. Before I ago any further it was really her, confirmed by my friend's girlfriend. This was right after Star Wars Phantom Menace so I was a pretty big fan of hers and wanted to go talk to her. My friend's roommate Keith said he had a class with her and he would introduce me. Keith and I walked up to her and he goes "There she is" and walks away. I clammed up smiled and walked away. I followed her and her possie around for the next 30 minutes which I guess was pretty funny because there she was about 5 foot tall and there I am walking behind her 6 foot 4 inches.
She was getting ready to leave the party (and of course I was in the vicinity), she turns around to face me and at the same time I am telling a story to my friend and as I am explaining something my hands go out. My left hand moves out and right onto her left boob. I look down at her, she looks up at me, we exchange smiles and she leaves the party.
Ice Cream: chocolate or vanilla?
Penn State Creamery Vanilla...it is heaven.
Do you think the penny will ever be taken out of circulation? Should it?
Since it costs more to make the penny than it is actually worth I think it should and it will be taken out of circulation in the next 10 years.
Dateline: To Catch A Predator....is it doing a noble service, or trashy television?
Never watched it. But anything that gets grimy people off the streets is ok in my book.
When you order from KFC, do you choose original or extra crispy?
Honestly I have never eaten at KFC, although I really want to eat that bowl with the mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, and gravy. It looks like heaven in a bowl.
Would you rather be cremated or buried? If cremated, would you rather be original or extra crispy?
This is something I have never really thought of but if i had to choose right now I'd like the be cremated and have my ashes spread in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hopefully I'd be extra crispy. I don't know why I remember this but a guy I know told me one time that the tongue is the last thing to go to ash when a person is cremated so I thought I would share that with you all.
What is the best coffee in the world?
Tim Hortons no question, although Dunkin donuts is second.
Have you ever picked up a woman by claiming to be Wade Belak, yes or no?
Actually the last time I was in Canada I told a girl my name was Wake Belak. She had no clue who he was, she was also 19.
Why are amarosa rolls so good?
I'm not a real big Philly cheesesteak fan. If you want a good sandwich, eat a Primanti's cap and cheese with egg.
http://community.iexplore.com/photos/journal_photos/RiversPrimantiSandwich.jpg
Ksyrup and Mario Lopez... separated at birth?
I met Mario Lopez at a bar in Pittsburgh before he went on Dancing with the Stars, never met Ksyrup so I am not totally sure.
How do you relieve stress?
I will either go for a run or beat on my heavy bag in the basement.
Favorite TV show/Movie when you were a kid and favorite TV show/Movie now? Three favorite TV shows, movies, and books? What is the best book that you have ever read?
As a child my cousin and I watched Goonies everyday. I always wanted to be Mikey and he was Chunk because he was a little...well um chunky. My favorite TV show was Family Ties. Alex P. Keaton was awesome in my book and Malerie Keaton was probably one of my first childhood crushes.
My teenage years my favorite show became Beverly Hills 90210, mainly because I had a crush on Jennie Garth and my favorite movie was Dumb and Dumber. That is the only movie I can watch over and over and still laugh at every part.
Now my favorite show is The Office because it is so funny how it is exactly like the office I work at. The similarities are errie. My favorite movie is still Dumb and Dumber and my second favorite is Miracle and my third is Wedding Crashers.
Catcher in the Rye is my favorite book. The only book I read in my life in one day. I had to read it for a drama class in college. I started it in the morning (during class) and couldn't put it down the rest of the day. My second favorite is Civil War by John Feinstein. It is about the Army-Navy football rivalry. My third favorite is Band of Brothers.
What podcasts do you subscribe to?
I am subscribed to the In The Bleachers Podcast, HockeyCentral at noon by the Fan590, Philadelphia Flyers official podcast, ESPNU College Football podcast (where they steal our material word for word), PSU football insider, PSU Football Podcast with former player Tony Pittman, and the Duke Basketball report with Coach K.
Favorite movie soundtrack.
Rocky Soundtrack. I use it all the time when I run.
You're at a party and as the evening progresses everyone strips off and dives in the pool, do you join in?
Sure why not, I am not shy.
Have you ever used a slide rule?
No but I have seen a few older engineers use it.
Your boss wants you to mow his lawn on company time, do you do it?
I have done this before. When I worked for a golf course we had to mow our boss' lawn every Thursday. So if they are willing to pay me what I make to mow their lawn, sure I would do it.
We've discussed this before, but now it is time for a firm answer: Who wins a battle royal between Charlie Weis, Ralph Friedgen, Mark Mangino, and Phillip Fulmer?
Charlie Weis has the power of the snot, if people don't realize what I am talking about watch the ND-Stanford game from 2005. It was cold and raining and Weis’ nose was running all game. The guy is a slob. But I don't think anyone beats Mangino, he's like King Kong Bundy. He'll wait around while the Fridge, Weis and Fulmer all beat up on each other then he will jump in and finish them all with the big splash.
Hows it hangin'?
Low and to the left.
I'm coaching an underdog football team and we've hung tough throughout the game...we're down 4 with 2 minutes left. 3rd down and 8 to go, my quarterback appears to have completed a 10 yard out to keep the drive alive...with the receiver catching the ball on my sideline. In fact, I was right there when he caught the ball.
You rush in, though, and claim the receiver juggled the ball. Incomplete pass.
How much grief do you believe I'd give you, how much grief would you expect, and how much would you put up with before penalizing me 15 yards?
I would have no issue with you expressing your displeasure with my call. I always listen when a coach will talk to me and tell me what he sees, and I expect the same common courtesy from him. If you start to talk or yell while I am explaining what I saw, I will just walk away from you because I feel like I am just wasting my time.
The minute your attacks become personal towards me or anyone on my crew or if you used profanity against us, you will be penalized 15 yards. If you continue after the flag has been thrown, you will be sent out of the stadium. I have no issue with admitting that I am wrong on a call if proven on film. We are all human and make mistakes, the last thing I want to do is cheat a kid out of a game. I am there to make sure the game is played as fair as possible and even though I am only reffing on a high school level, I take is very seriously.
How good is the CT and Jivin show?
To be honest, I have never listened to the show. Although CT was nice enough to answer a bunch of questions I had about podcasting and how he does it. They seem to have a really nice following so they must do a really good job.
What intrigued you to try podcasting?
Just the fact that people would download the show to listen to what we had to say. EasyMac and I did the first In The Bleachers Podcast. Then Swaggs and Vtbub joined in a few weeks later. It is a lot of fun to do the show with them.
FOFC Barbecue at your house, who are you inviting and why?
What food are you serving? Which kinds of drinks?
Anyone and everyone is invited. If you are in the Pittsburgh area on August 11th and want to relieve your drinking days, give me a PM. Each year I have a party in August for my family and friends in which I call Sakapolluza. This year is the sixth installment of it. Each year I have a theme and this year it is a Roman Toga party. So there’s the invite to everyone. Hear that Pumpy???
I have a kegorator built into my bar with a half barrel of Molson Canadian in it along with a fully stocked hard liquor bar. For food I’ll grill up some chicken, burgers, and dogs. Nothing too fancy but we are there to drink, not eat.
If you could go to a dream concert, which three bands/singers/groups would you want to be there and who would be the headliner?
I know this one will bring a lot of laughs but I would have Neil Diamond open up the concert, then Bon Jovi would play. And headlining the concert would be the Beatles.
Can a blind person feel blue?
If you mean blue by feeling down and depressed then yes. The color blue, I am not so sure unless they had a period of time where they could actually see.
Describe something you once witnessed, in person, that made you question your sanity.
When I was 10 years old I went to watch the oldest group of midgets (pee wee football) play football. In our town there were 3 teams that were grouped by ages. The oldest group was in the championship game and my father took me to go watch. Our town lost the game and I remember walking out of the place and towards my coach to go talk to him. I got about 10 feet from him and he started screaming at this coach from the other team. Next thing I knew they were throwing fists at each other. Here was someone I was suppose to look up to and thought a lot about getting in a fight right in front of my eyes. I couldn't believe it, he was someone I really respected.
What do you enjoy best about western PA?
I really like the seasons. My favorite is fall in western PA with the leaves changing. It never really gets super hot, we have our days where it hits 90 but for the most part it is comfortable.
I also like that it is relatively cheap to live here. I have a pretty nice house with over an acre of land. I know for a fact if I lived somewhere in eastern PA, NJ, or Maryland I wouldn't be able to afford it.
RWBL
Does it bother you that your Phillie dynasty in RWBL will forever be under the shadow of the mighty Chicago Cubs powerhouse I put together when involved with the league? I mean, yeah you may hold most of the records now since its been a good while since I had left, but I can only imagine how aggravating it would be to know that your fellow league members pretty much full heartedly agree with the Cubs being the "face" of the early RWBL years.*
* - Statement not verified but widely assumable.
Sunny I hate to be the bearer of bad news to you but I won 5 of my 6 titles while you were still in the league. I only won one after you left. Head to head you beat me in one playoff series while I beat you in three. Also by the time you left the league I had more overall wins than you and more playoff victories. In the 26 years in the league I won the NL East 25 times and had 18 season (consecutive) with over 100 wins.
You were the face of the RWBL for the early years because your team was so stacked, but you weren't smart with your money allowing some of you key players to leave via free agency instead of getting something for them.
Some of my most enjonyable Online league experiences were the days we used to sit and talk strategy about ootp teams/players/etc. Since Real life kind of kicked my butt right before your dominant run of titles, how much of those conversations that we used to have went into your gameplan for your dynasty?
More than you would think. You are a big reason I was able to win so many games and championships. I was always able to get the higher rated players but I could not piece them together in the right positions in the field and batting order to take full advantage of them. You taught me what type of hitter should be at what part of the batting order and what fielding positions were most important in OOTP.
Another question.. who do you feel got the better end of some of our trades that we had? I used to get alot of heat on some of them for supposedly stealing great older players, but in the end the players you got ended up superior in many cases.
I think you got the best of me in a few of the early trades. Mainly because I was trying to dump some salary and you were the only person that had the salary room to take them. But in the end some of the younger guys you sent me had some long and productive careers with my team.
The one thing I did figure out while trading with you was to hold out as long as possible when I knew you liked someone on my team. One I knew the player must be pretty good if you wanted him, and two I knew I could squeeze just a little more out of you .
I never asked you before, but did you quit the RWBL because you were sick of it, or because you were just getting too busy?
Finally, what made you decide to stop playing in the RWBL? just burnt out?
It was a combination of a few things. The first is that I really don’t like baseball. The reason I joined the RWBL was because it was a chance for me to play against other humans. I thought it would be cool to run a team against other people who had their own different philosophies. So the baseball fun just burned out for me.
Second my job became more demanding and I had a house that needed a lot of work done to it, so something had to give. It was either the RWBL or In The Bleachers and I chose to continue In The Bleachers, although I have been slacking on that too.
With all the resims that you did in RWBL, would it have killed you to let the Yankees win the World Series just once?
When you were commish of the RWBL, did you ever resim to get a better result, yes or yes?
I can’t hear or see you guys; I have two RWBL championship rings in each of my ears and one over each of my eyes.
Did you ever do a JBL sim sober?
Most of them I did do sober, although no one would’ve known if I was drunk or not because I cannot pronounce Japanese names.
Would you say that you are the exact opposite of me as a RWBL gm?
You sucked and I was great, so ya we are exact opposites.
Can you believe the fact that Sunny blamed me for drilling a hole in his japanese baseball team's locker room?
Actually it was a diversion to the fact that Sunny and I drilled a hole into your sister's bedroom to peep in.
How good would you have been if you had a brother in the RWBL? Would you have lost a game?
It worked for Sunny right? I'm kidding Sunny, don't start crying.
As a neutral observer, who is the best GM in RWBL American League history?
I cannot answer this question since I signed a clause that says I am not allowed to talk about the RWBL for two years after my departure as commish.
College Football
Who will replace Joe Paterno?
What do you see happening to Penn State football in the next 10-years?
Well first of all I see Joe Paterno retiring. His latest contract has him coaching through the 2008 season and there have not been any talks as of this moment to extend it at all. For the first time ever he has been telling recruits that there is a good chance that he will not be there when the graduate in 4 or 5 years.
In my opinion, the next Head Coach of Penn State will be the defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. Paterno has said that he wants someone from inside his staff right now to succeed him. There are many alumni and big time boosters that are worried Paterno has been sticking around longer because he wants to groom his son, Jay Paterno QB Coach, to replace him. I honestly don't think the University will let that fly, and the fans will be really pissed because like at Florida State, the coach’s son takes a lot of heat when the team loses.
I think Bradley will do a fine job as head coach. He is an excellent recruiter and has done a really good job running the defense ever since Jerry Sandusky left after the 1999 season. I don't see any reason that Penn State will go downhill. They will have their average teams and make a run at the Big Ten Title every 2 or 3 years.
That being said if anyone on FOFC wants to go to a Penn State game or is going to a game let me know and we can meet up. My family and friends always have tailgates for each game and we’d love to have more people join in on the fun. Of course the bigger the game the tougher the ticket but if you ever want to experience a great college atmosphere with almost 110,000 others, come on up.
Do you think Joe Paterno would have been successful if he would have taken over the Steelers when he was offered?
He did accept a job to be the Head Coach of New England because he got a stake in ownership of the team but the morning after he accepted the job he called and changed his mind. I hate to say that Paterno would not be successful if he went into the pros, but I don't think he would've been as successful or the icon he is today if he had jumped ship and gone pro.
A lot of Paterno’ mystique comes from his Grand Experiment where he emphasizes academics as well as athletics. As an average, PSU has graduated over 80% of it’s football players. In the pros he would have just been judged on wins and losses while in the college game people take notices of other things like graduation rates and money he raises towards the University.
Do you like Penn State in the Big 10?
Penn State is MSU's rival during "Rival Week"?????? WTF?
They aren't Notre Dame with their own National Television contract, so they needed to join a conference. The Big Ten seemed to fit. They could've joined the Big East but Paterno was still pissed about the Big East not wanting to bring Penn State into the conference before because of their lackluster basketball program. It has been rough for the football and basketball teams but for the rest of their athletic programs, the move to the Big Ten has been really good.
It sucks being the red-headed step child in the conference, the last one in. Plus there is no rival right now for Penn State, but I think as the years go on the rivalries will develop more. I think the MSU/PSU rivalry was forced upon by the league. They needed someone for Penn State to play at the end of the year. Michigan has Ohio State so I guess the one logical team for Penn State to be rivaled with was Michigan State. I must say there have been a lot of close/exciting games between the two. But most PSU fans realize that MSU’s real rival in their eyes is Michigan.
What would the ultimate Penn State win be?
The ultimate win would be a BCS National Title win. The first game that I remember was the 1987 Fiesta Bowl win over Miami that won them their second title. It is really exciting and now that I am older and have the ability to afford to go to those games, I think it would be great to see them win a National Title live.
What is your honest opinion of Dave Wannstedt?
I think Pitt will regret pushing Walt Harris out the door. Harris did a lot for that program bringing them back to respectibilty. Wannstedt is a hell of a recruiter, but he uses the angle of being a former NFL coach as his biggest weapon. But you cannot argue with his success on the recruiting front so far although I think a few of his big named recruits, mainly Dorin Dickerson, will be busts. Even though Pitt has not gone to a bowl game in 2 seasons and has had a losing record in each of his last two, he still is pulling in the bigger names. As far as X's and O's go, I do not think he is that good of a coach.
This year will tell a lot for him. If he doesn't go to a bowl game with the schedule in front of him, this could potentially be his last year. Pitt fans have been giving him a pass since he has been playing with Harris' recruits and we all know that Harris did not recruit Offensive Lineman and Defensive lineman. He was only good with the skill positions. Wannstedt will need one of his inexperienced QB's to step up and play like a veteran. I really think that they will see losses @ Louisville, @ WVU, @ Rutgers, and at home against South Florida. That means they have to win 6 of their last 8 game and they still play at Michigan State and at Virginia.
Why is Penn State so terrible at basketball?
I really wish I knew. They were turning the corner with Bruce Parkhill as the coach, then he resigned. Some say he got a cheerleader pregnant but no confirmed truth came of it. Jerry Dunn had a few good years but his style of coaching drove a lot of kids away. I think Ed Dechellis has them going in the right direction but they will never be a powerhouse in basketball. I cannot see any Penn State basketball coach convincing kids from inner city schools to come and play in rural Pennsylvania. There are too many other good basketball schools in the area for the good players to go to.
I just joined cartman's BBCF league, any advice for a noob that doesn't know a thing about college sports?
Build your offense around a strong offensive line. You can have the best QB, WR, and RB in the nation but if you don’t have anyone to block for them, you won’t win a game. I think I saw that you were in a mid-major conference, look for recruits that fit your system. Don’t waste what little money you have making reaches on players. As far as defense goes, well I am not a defensive minded player. So just build up your offense enough so that it scores more than the other team’s offense :) .
Other Sports
If you could play 18 holes anywhere, where would you?
Augusta National since it is the most beautiful course in the world and there is so much history that goes with it because of The Masters. From everyone that has been there, they have told me that TV doesn’t do the justice for the beauty of the course.
What's it like being a Flyers fan in Pens-land?
It isn’t bad. I go to the Pens-Flyers game in Pittsburgh and root for Philly. No one gives me too much grief. I have gotten into some shouting matches but nothing too serious. I don’t mind the Pens as much as the Steelers, I absolutely hate the Steelers. Then Pens I will root for when they are not playing the Flyers. What sucks the most is that I have to buy Centre Ice to watch the Flyers.
Did you cry when Darius Kasparaitis destroyed Eric Lindros?
I did not cry but I was pretty pissed off. My friends like to get on me because of the bad rap that Philly fans have, and they rightfully deserve it. I was at the game where Kasparaitis knocked Lindros out and I heard the crowd cheer louder and louder when LeClair and the trainers tried to get Lindros off the ice and he kept stumbling. They played the hit over and over again on the jumbotron. I thought it was pretty classless to cheer for a guy who is injured like that and when Philly fans did that when Michael Irvin got hurt I never heard the end of it. But they still dodge the fact that they did the same thing when Lindros got hurt.
Why the love for Philly teams?
As I said before I grew up in Pittsburgh, but root for all of the Philly teams. My dad grew up about an hour outside of Philadelphia and when I was younger I would always watch sports with him. I’d root for the same teams he did so I became a Philly fan. I am glad I did because it is a special bond my father and I have still to this day. I love taking him to the ballpark (even though I hate baseball) to watch the Phillies and the Pirates play or go to the Arena for a Pens Flyers game. We always get a bag of peanuts and a beer and buy the end of the game we both have a big pile of shells right in front of our seats. It is something I will always remember and I hope to pass that bond onto my kids someday.
The most fun him and I ever had was when we bought tickets to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between Tampa Bay and Philly. It was the first time he was ever in the new Philly arena and both of our first playoff hockey game. The Flyers won 3-2 with Keith Primeau scoring a short handed goal right in front of us where the crowd erupted. Probably the second most exciting live sporting event I was at behind the Penn State vs Ohio State game in 2005 at Beaver Stadium.
Why do we bother with the Phillies?
The same reason I bother with every Philly team, because I like when they give us hope each year only to fall flat on their face either in the playoffs or right before. I will say this, I would rather be a Phillies fan where they spend money and put a half decent product on the field than a Pirate fan where they don't do either. But hey, they have a good ball park.
How much do you dislike Jose Mesa?
He single-handedly lost the Phillies the wild card a few years ago. He stinks, they never should have got him in the first place and definitely never should have resigned him this year. I hope he ends up drunk in the wrong section of Philly and gets his ass beat.
Will the Penguins ever leave Pittsburgh in your lifetime, yes or no?
I don’t think they leave unless the NHL folds. They were close to leaving last year but I think it was even closer a few years ago when the team went bankrupt. Luckily the organization had someone like Mario that was willing to take stake in the team rather than get paid or they would’ve been in a heap of trouble.
Last Questions
Tell us something you honestly believe that, on the surface, would shock and offend us. Then explain why you believe it.
I once broke up a wedding a week before it was suppose to happen. One of my best friends was getting married to a girl who I was also friends with. They had been dating for 8 years from High School all through college.
We noticed all along that she always treated him like crap and would put him down in public but no one ever said anything to him about it. Finally me and my other friend were talking with him and he was talking how he is having second thoughts about getting married. So we told him that he deserves someone that treats him nice and respects him.
We explained that there was nothing wrong if he called it off, no one would think any less of him for doing so. We reassured him for a few days and finally he called off the wedding. Three years later (almost to the day) he married another girl that treats him like gold. So in the end I think we did the right thing by convincing him not to get married.
Not really shocking and offending but I am running out of time here.
Tell us three interesting things about you that nobody came close to getting you to reveal in the other questions.
The past 2 and a half years of my life have probably been the toughest ones of my life. Coming out of college I started dating a girl and we were together for 4 years. About 2 months before I was about to propose to her she broke up with me. Later I found out that she had been cheating on me. I went through some depression but thanks to a friend that finally dragged me back to church I realized it was just another obstacle I had to overcome in my life. In the end it has made me a stronger person.
My roommate in college and I were one win away from playing in the Stanley Cup of bubble hockey during the 2001 hockey season.
On a lighter note...this is my favorite you tube clip. Click the spoiler tag to find out why.
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Not only was this a big game, what proceeded this goal was amazing. Darcy Tucker knocked Sami Kappanen senseless and Sami got to the bench and allowed JR to get on the ice. But what makes this great is that Maple Leafs hates JR and he scored the game winning goal for one of his hated teams and it is the last time that Toronto has been in the NHL Playoffs.
Thanks for all the questions everyone! I am sorry I did not get to answer all of them. I am actually on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland and answered the questions in the morning when I got up and late at night when I came home (sober).