2007 NFL Rookie Report

Now that their seasons are over and we can reflect on what they’ve done, I think we can all agree that last year’s Big Three draft picks– Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Leinart – really stepped up this season and emerged as top-tier rookies in the NFL. All of them came along with huge expectations, but as anyone with any knowledge of the concept of potential vs. reality can tell you, just because you did well playing college football doesn’t mean you’ll make it in the NFL. As former coach Jerry Glanville once said, the NFL stands for “Not for long” if you can’t adapt to the speed and fierce competition of the Greatest Show on Turf. Just ask guys like Ryan Leaf, Brian Bosworth, Lawrence Phillips, and Andre Ware, just to name a few. First there’s Reggie Bush, the player that the Houston Texans didn’t covet. Not only has Bush brought a new excitement to the New Orleans Saints and help take them deep into the playoffs – he’s also done everything he could to embrace a city that really needs him. He’s selflessly donated his time and money to help the state that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. He gave a local high school a new football field, and has tirelessly made himself available to help the city heal. If his performances against the 49ers and the Cowboys over the past couple weeks are any indication of what Bush is capable of doing in this league -- well, we’re in for a lot of exciting moments. Vince Young, who many NFL teams passed on, has also come into his own, taking the Tennessee Titans on his back and carrying them through a modest winning streak. A one-man show, Young learned the game more quickly than many people thought he could. The rap on him during last year’s draft was that the man wasn’t that smart. Well, he’s bright enough to win games, and at this level, that’s all that really matters. The man can throw, he can run and he has a football instinct you can’t teach. With the Titans’ recent winning binge, he may have also saved Head Coach Jeff Fisher’s job. Leinart couldn’t save Dennis Green’s job as coach of the Cardinals, but he sure is on his way to making a name for himself in Arizona. It’s “I told you so” time for all the teams who passed on him. Leinart is a prototype QB with all the skills required to take Arizona to the Promised Land. He makes quick decisions, has learned to read the complex defensive schemes in the NFL, and is improving every quarter. With a new stadium and young talent throughout their roster, the Cardinals are chirping about next year with renewed hope. Bush, Young and Leinart – they should have been selected 1-2-3. They did it for their teams this year, the ones who were smart enough to pick them, while those clubs who passed on this talented and rapidly improving trio are left crying in their beers.

Are There Any Good Contractors Out There? CalFinder Knows!

Why is it that so many people have problems when they hire a contractor? Every time I hear one of my friends mention that they are getting work done on their homes, the next thing that comes out of their mouth is usually negative. That’s why I was pleased to find a great service on the Internet recently that helps people in the Bay Area find the right contractor. It’s called www.CalFinder.net, and if you’re getting any type of construction done, whether it’s a simple renovation, a new addition or a complete restoration, the folks at CalFinder will assist you in locating and hiring a contractor who is honest, reliable and a perfect fit for you and your particular project. By using CalFinder’s project planning section, you can decide how to get estimates from contractors, who to interview and how to make the entire process problem-free and painless. Besides providing you with the right information, CalFinder takes you through the planning and implementation process, and helps you find the right contractor every time.

House Painting Ideas

In the computerized world where we live today, house painting ideas have never been more precise and high-tech. By using the latest technology and software, or by simply going online, you can get so many different useful ideas you wouldn’t believe it. We’re planning on painting the inside of our house here in SF, and it’s easier than ever to get great house painting ideas.

Printable Greeting Cards Get Personal

Greeting cards are a nice way to say something meaningful and intimate to someone. I found a place online that does printable greeting cards. They’re very cool and you can customize them any way you want. It saves you the time and money of having to go to the store and buy cards --- you just go online and order them and then when you want to send one, you’re able to put a special message on the card that’s geared specifically to the person you’re sending it to. It makes it so mush more personal.

Red Bull & I

Red Bull really helps me out when I need a boost of energy. When I’m up against a deadline that is approaching fast, coffee just doesn’t suffice. Red Bull is effective, it tastes pretty good and doesn’t have any bad after effects. That’s when I drink a can of Red Bull. In my job, there are a lot of times when I need to do a ton of writing and don’t have much time to complete it. That’s when the Bull & I get things done.

This Week's Restaurant Review: Capers in Campbell

Some restaurants just make you feel good. Whenever you go into the kind of place that makes you feel this way, you leave happy and content in the knowledge that you’ve had a great meal at a reasonable price and that the people who run the place have treated you well. There are a lot of pitfalls and obstacles that human beings can run into when dining out. Maybe the chef is having a bad day. Maybe the bartender just lost a big bet. Or maybe the waitress who is serving you is nursing a hangover from the night before. A lot can go wrong when you eat out. And a lot can go right. I have eaten at Capers in Campbell at least two dozen times and I have never had a bad experience, which says a lot, because anyone can have a bad day. Being consistently good is what separates great restaurants from mediocre ones. Capers is one of those restaurants that takes a professional and compassionate approach to its patrons. As soon as you enter the front door and are greeted by Owner Kam Rasavi, you feel good. Kam has been in the business of serving diners for several decades and the man is just a pleasure to be around – always smiling and always interested in making sure that your time in his establishment is enjoyable and that nothing goes wrong. The food at Capers can best be described as casual continental cuisine. From creative seafood entrees and appetizers to hearty meat and poultry selections, Capers has a varied menu that I’ve never tired of delving into. Sure, I have my favorites – like the Carpacio ($9.95), finely pounded filet of beef with capers, chopped onion, garlic-olive oil, mustard-melon aioli and toastettes; or the Blackened Pork Chops ($16.95), two five ounce chops, blackened and topped with a salsa fresca, are a couple items I’ve had more than once. But, by far the one dish that stands out the most at Capers is the Capers Meatloaf ($12.95), homemade with celery, onion mustard, swiss cheese and smoked ham, topped with a wild mushroom demi-glaze sauce. I am a huge meatloaf fan. Maybe that’s why I’m so huge. But, the meatloaf at Caper’s is by far the best I’ve ever tasted. It’s made with grade prime beef, cooked to perfection and oozes juices that I can only describe as sublime. Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food for me – it reminds me of eating at home when I was ten years old, watching the Ed Sullivan Show with my parents. I wax nostalgic when I sink my teeth into a good meatloaf – and Capers serves the very best there is. I can also recommend the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak ($16.95); the Panko-Crusted Chicken Breast ($13.95); and the Baked Orange Rough Fettucine ($15.95). All are well-prepared, fresh and unforgettable. Capers is in Campbell at 1710 West Campbell Avenue, Their phone number is: (408) 374-5777. Ask for Kam – he’ll make you feel like his number one customer and you’ll find yourself coming back to see him again. Capers is that kind of place.

Mark Your Territory

In places where homes are close to one another, which is what you’ll find in many neighborhoods in Northern California, yard markers are very important. They come in many forms and can be decorative or even functional. That way you can designate where your yard starts and your neighbor’s yard starts.

I'm Overwhelmed By My Own Biz Cards!

I work on so many different projects that I need a bunch of different business cards. Getting new ones can be very expensive, so I try to get a lot at once to make them more affordable. By printing them in batches I can save $$! I need one card for my freelance writing, and different ones for my sports writing, blogging, ad sales, food and restaurant review writing, as well as cards for all my web sites and blogs. Whew!

The Quality of HDTV is Getting Better Every Year!

Man, am I getting excited about the new high-definition TV’s that are coming out. The high-def revolution is moving faster than the speed of light, and the images on some of these new sets are incredible. One of the keys to high-quality high-def is using the right cables. My buddy Todd just bought an HDMI cable for his system, which gives him high-definition video in its purest digital form. We watched a basketball game at his house the other night and his picture quality knocked me out, baby!

Will the Yankees Return to Glory?

The New York Yankees are finally playing it smart and are beginning to look like a team that can make another dynasty-type run once again. The main reason for this is General Manager Brian Cashman. George Steinbrenner is no longer using Cashman like a human puppet, and is letting him do his thing and pull the strings himself, and so far it looks like a very wise business decision. Georgie Porgie has a history of moving personnel around like those little pieces in a Monopoly game. The result is that the Bronx Bombers have spent more time in Marvin Gardens than they have on Park Avenue. Last season the Detroit Tigers embarrassed them so badly that the team looked like that poor sap in Monopoly jail. This year the Yanks may just be able to bypass loser’s prison and move back into the expensive winning neighborhoods they frequented in the late 90’s. A big part of their move back to respectability involves staying away from overpriced free agent bidding wars, stockpiling young pitching prospects, leaving their minor league system alone so that it can develop and unloading old, expensive antiques. Planning for the long-term rather than getting players who are overpaid underachievers in order to try and win today is not a formula for success, and Cashman knows it. His moves this year have been just short of brilliant. Getting rid of Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson, Hall of Famers whose best days are long gone, was the right thing to do. Picking up pitchers Andy Pettite, Luis Vizcaino and Kei Igawa should work out well. Unloading questionable arms like Sidney Ponson, Jaret Wright, Tanyon Sturtze, Octavio Dotel, and Jeff Nelson was a timely survival move. And picking up Doug Mientkiewicz, a utility team player who will enhance the squad’s overall chemistry, was pure genius. By staying away from over-hyped free agents like Jason Schmidt, Barry Zito and Carlos Lee, the Yankees have clearly illustrated that they won’t throw money at the first free agent to pop his head out into the open market anymore. By keeping his team’s core intact and letting them play together for more than just one season, the Yanks will be better and tougher to beat than ever. Watch out American League, because the pinstriped boys are playing it smarter and looking at the big picture, rather than running a closeout sale every off season. The end result could be another dynasty in the Big Apple, complete with solid pitching, timely hitting and a team attitude that’s been missing over the last six years.