Look At: Talladega

Today I read an article at CBS sports in which, more than once, Talladega was called a crapshoot.
Yup, Talladega is just a random race, where there is no discernable skill involved what so ever.

Of course Talladega is one of my favourite tracks, so allow me to prove them wrong:

I took the race winners from 1999 onwards to see if there was a pattern:

1999- Both won by Dale Sr.
2000- Jeff Gordon
2000- Dale Sr.
2001- Bobby Hamilton. "Oh!" Your saying, "guess your wrong." Let's read the wikipedia article, shall we?

"The entire 500-mile race was run caution-free...A physically and mentally exhausted Hamilton slumped to the ground after exiting his car and was given oxygen from a tank before giving the standard post-race Victory Lane interview while sitting on the ground, leaning against the drivers door."

I think he deserved it.

2001, both 02 and 03- won by Dale Jr.
2003- won by Waltrip (when DEI was in it's prime remember)
2004- Gordon
2004- Jr.
2005- Jarrett (Don't make me have to argue Jarrett being a good driver. Don't embarass yourself)
2006- Jimmie Johnson
2006- Vickers (Remember he had to push Jr and Johnson out of the way to get the win too)
Both 07- Gordon
2008- Kyle Busch (one of many for Busch last year)
2008- Stewart
2009- Keslowski (Crashed out Edwards on the final lap)

So maybe that'll help clear the air of all the bull anti-dega people like to spill.

Not So Fast NASCAR...

Watch the following video:

Notice at the end that this was by NASCAR's rules, caution comes out as soon as the crash happens and there is no race to the finish. This is so safety crews can come out faster.

BUT WAIT...listen to D.W. at 7:50-7:57. He says "This is just like he did two years ago here."

No sir he did not. Nothing can erase the pain of two years ago. Allow me to explain:



As you can easily see, Mark had the lead a FULL SIX SECONDS OR MORE BEFORE HARVICK TOOK IT BACK! AT LEAST 6 CARS WERE SPINNING? WHERE WAS THE CAUTION?
So don't tell me that's what happened two years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday fuckers.

Thoughts on Bobby Leavin' 43

Well a couple hours ago I learned the Bobby Labonte and Petty Enterprises separated ways. This is sad to me because I enjoyed watching Bobby race in the Yellow/Blue 43 (actually he probably wouldn't be yellow/blue next year anyway with General Mills gone). I actually wanted Bobby gone before that, because to be honest, Petty Enterprises has been a crappy team for awhile, not because of Bobby, but just a bad win to sponsorship ratio. Their last good year was 1999, and then Adam Petty died in 2000, after that Andretti stopped performing and Kyle stopped performing.

They've had tons of drivers too, Greg Biffle, Jerry Nadeau, Jeff Green and others, all only getting a couple of top 10s. Then Bobby came and brought some life to the company, getting 3 top 5s and 8 top 10s in 2006.

In 2007 I don't know what happened, did the quality of cars stop? It seems like the cars could only get him around the top 20 as that was his average start and finish. And it carried over to 2008.

When Bobby does find a new team that might mean he'll have to adjust and that could mean a slow start. Luckily Mark Martin's coming back this year so I'll be able to root for both of them.

Here's how my 2009 Favourites Team are:
Favourite- Mark Martin
Star- Kyle Busch (Don't Hate Me)
Veteran- Tony Stewart
Rookie/Noob- ?? Possibly David Regan, Scott Speed (but I don't like Red Bull), Ryan Newman or Hell, Carl Edwards
Underdog- Bobby Labonte, or Ryan Newman/David Regan if Bobby some how doesn't get a ride

Fantasy Sports

Football Week 5

Maulers vs BackbayBashers: Projected- Maulers by 16
Actual: Maulers 65 to 77 BBB

Analysis: My team completely collapsed. QB (Romo) did amazing as usual and my Titans defence did good as well. But other than those two my highest scoring player was my kicker (Prater). You know there's a problem when.

Hamilton Maulers vs Warriors: Projected- Maulers by 31

Actual: Hamilton Maulers 73 to 78 Warriors

Analysis: My players were pretty good. Just not good enough. Lynch (RB) really let me down this week with only 6 pts and Brees (QB) did too with 13 pts to the Warriors QBs 26pts.

Trades: I have alot of players on BYE so I'm going to have to do some trades to keep going.

College Football Week 6
Niagara Maulers vs There Will Be Bud- Projected: Maulers by 1

Actual: Niagara Maulers 123 to 113 There Will Be Bud

Analysis: Although two of my team (Blount-RB Norwood-WR) got 0 pts, Daniel-QB (28pts), Royster-RB (25pts) and Robinson-WR (27pts) more than made up for it. My South Carolina Df and Decker-WR both did well too.

Trades: Norwood is dead weight (Three weeks in a row he's gotten 1 or 0). But Blount is surprising, he's gotten in the 20s for a couple weeks now and to have him get 0 is scary. I hope he's not injured.

Stingers vs Monstars- Projected: Stingers by 6
Actual: Stingers 134 to 48.5 Monstars
Analysis: Wow we wooped assage here. Everyone did good except Greg Orton-WR (4pts) and again Norwood.
Trades: Getting rid of Norwood, lots of guys on BYE this week.

NASCAR
Tony Stewart = I CALLED IT! TONY WON THE RACE BABY! FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR FOR HIM! I AM MAGIC
Elliot Sadler = 10th and led for laps
Juan Montoya = Was doing good till taken out in the Big One, led a couple, finished 25th
Mike Waltrip= Did good but got into the Big One too, led 1 lap and finished 19th

Hockey and Basketball starting very soon!

Huge Post (Football, Politics, Whatever Else)

First I'll start with politics. I hate them. First there was the fact that the Vice-Presidential debate was on and therefore The Office and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares weren't. Who the hell cares about vice-presidents?

Second I can't even watch the Prime Minister debates. Why? Because it's bullshit. It's basically you have to pick the lesser of two evils:

• Conservative- Great choice if you don't want any art in our society. Also if that recent "plagerism scandal" proved anything it was that we have the same Conservatives that the Americans have. Seriously he didn't copy the speech from the Austrailian guy. They were both given the speeches. The question you need to ask yourself is WHO gave them the speeches?


• Liberals- Great choice if you want a Carbon Tax. Such bullshit. There's a new buzz word that I can't stand and it's "Carbon Footprint". The carbon tax is basically a tax on everything. And don't believe that bullshit that gasoline won't be taxed. Have you even thought how a tax like this would work? You think you can just send a list of shit you have in? No they are going to come to your house and look through your shit. They are going to see how much you travel in your car and everything. And the whole enviromental crisis is bullshit too.


• Green Party- They are more insane than the liberals. I don't even want to imagine what would happen if they somehow got in.


• NDP- god they are really the only choice but they pretty much support the war now too. And there is almost no chance of getting them in anyway.


• CAP- this is who I'd vote for, but I doubt our area even has one. So I guess I'm going to vote for Gary McHale.

Fantasy Sports

Yeah I got lazy this week. Sue me.

Hamilton Maulers vs PSU: Projected- Maulers by 64

Actual: Maulers 71 to 51 PSU

Analysis: My QB (Brees) did great. RB's did well, my WR really let me down except Steve Smith, who I had kept for 2 weeks while he was suspended. My kicker did poorly to, but he's injured now. My TE did came up empty and my Minneapolis D did horridly. Thank god the other team had most of his players on BYE week.

Trades: I traded Ike Hillard (RB) for Josh Reed (RB) which could really bite me in the ass. I traded Brown (K) for Lindell (K) since Brown did terrible, is injured and on BYE week. I traded Baker (TE) for Gage (WR) because I have another TE who's off BYE now and Gage is injured but is one of the best WRs right now, and could even play this week.

Maulers vs Roachclips420: Projected- Maulers by 45

Actual: Maulers 92 to 30 Roadclips420

Analysis: My players were pretty good. My TE did badly and Stuckey (WR) did badly too. My kicker is the same for both my teams and he did bad too.

Trades: I traded Brown(K) for Prater of the Denver Broncos which should be fine. I traded Brandon Lloyd for Eddie Royal because Lloyds injured. This is funny because I had trade Eddie for Lloyd last week.

College Football
Niagara Maulers vs NDFightingIrish10- Projected: Maulers by 3

Actual: Niagara Maulers 92 to 123 NDFFightingIrish10

Analysis: Basically my whole team was good by not good enough. My QB had 15 points but that's 15 points less than NDF's QB. My RB's were awesome, WRs meh to bad (My best 16 his best 35) K TE and Defence were all meh

Trades: None, just put some of my Actives off because of BYE and reserves on.

Stingers vs The Okalahoma City- Projected: Stingers by 2

Actual: Stingers 100 to 62.25 TOC

Analysis: My QB RB and Defence did awesome. Everyone else did ok to bad.

Trades: None.

Golf

Golf is over now, I believe I am much better than before.

NASCAR

I did good for Nascar as well.

Earth (Day or Hour?) and Betasized

First let me talk about the "Earth Hour". It's stupid. It is almost as stupid as the Live Earth crap. What a freaking waste. I'll be honest here's what I was doing for Earth "Hour".

1. Playing my Xbox 360
2. On my television
3. with my computer running
4. with lights on.

I know what this is. It is the same idea as that stupid turn off the television for a week thing. All this is, is the media using the bandwagon it created for this "Earth is dying crisis". And it's laziness! Earth already has it's own day why not turn off the lights for a day? Hell we're half way there since a day is half natural light anyway. And Earth Day on it's own is annoying, look at this ugly ass flag! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Earth_flag_PD.jpg That in my opinion is the worst image of the Earth there is. We are left staring at Africa's ass and Antarctica. Lame.

In other news I got into the Battlefield: Bad Company beta. And although it's pretty good it has its share of problems. This weekend I never got around to doing much of anything. On Sat. I went to eat at KFC and stopped at Blockbuster and got some good deals. On Sunday I turned on the tv to watch NASCAR and here's what happened (within 5 seconds):

• I noticed the race had already started
• I noticed a wreck was being showed
• I noticed Bobby Labonte was the main car of that said wreck
• ASS!

Other than that I did nothing productive by any means. Some time this week I'm going to go to the Housing place on campus, probably after I figure out where that is.

P.S. I had another McRib and apple pie on Sat too.

20/20,000 Spectacular Extravaganza Fiesta!

Well yesterday was the 20/20,000 Spectacular Extravaganza Fiesta! The 20 is representing the 2nd decade that I've been alive for aka my 20th birthday. The 20,000 stands for the fact that I passed the 20,000 Gamerscore point this weekend. Here is my present round-up:

1. Lotto Scratch Tickets which total $10 with a Keno coupon.
2. Lost: Via Domis for the 360
3. 2 Cookies 'n' Creme Chocolate Bars
4. 3 pack of Trident Splash
5. $50 Futureshop Gift Card
6. $25 EB Games Gift Card
7. 2800 Microsoft Points
8. DVD- Goodwill Hunting
9. DVD- Johnny English
10. East Side Marios $5 Gift Certificate

In addition to cake this weekend was great fun. Played lots of Call Of Duty 4 in glorious hi-def on the big screen television. (Halo monks are singing in my head). Watched t.v. with the fam., Started playing the Lost game. Played Scene It: LCA with the family. Watched NASCAR (Bobby got 12th) And that's about it. Good ole laid back weekend. Also there was a hurrendous storm this weekend.

TGIF

THANK GOD IT'S FEBRUARY! My god! Not only is Lost back, not only is Jericho (a show I thought would never be back) coming back next week, not only is Medium still going on but NASCAR starts this month too!
Tonight I plan on finally seeing Rambo I can't wait.
Finally I'm going to eat because we don't have any milk or anything here. Bye!

This is an edit on Feb. 6
Well here is how the weekend went...
Go to the mall (check)
Buy pants (anything but jeans) (check 3 for 6 bucks each hella yes!)
Buy Chili and hot dog buns (check)
Eat at A&W (Poutine and Grandpa Burger with Rootbeer) (check)
Come back (check)
Play Halo 3 or generally waste time (check)
Sleep in till 5pm (check but 4pm)
Watch Superbowl, eat previously stated chili possibly with previously stated hot dog buns & hot dogs (check and watch it with my gf on the phone)
Finish my hmwk (check)

Great Success!

Looking Back at 2007/Stinger503's Game Awards

Well I'm thinking up the awards as I type this, so here is the 2007 Stinger503 Game Awards.
*Remember any nominations and winners can include demos and only includes games/demos I've played (so Assassin's Creed isn't qualified), here we go...

Bad Awards

Worst Game
Winner- Hour Of Victory(demo)
Explanation: Honestly playing the demo was all I needed, now that I have Gamespot and 25,000 other people who agreed with me, I can feel comfortable knowing that I'm smart for not buying this game just so I can give it this award.

Worst Demo
Winner- (Tie) Burnout: Paradise and Hour of Victory (edit: also Fusion Frenzy 2)
Explanation: Really want to know why? Well, I'm not buying Burnout because of it's demo, that's why. When I'm giving the choice of continuing to play or not and I choose HELL NO! Then you've made a terrible demo good sir.

Worst Download
Winner- Call Of Duty 4 beta
Explanation: It killed my Xbox. Don't give me that "It's the hardware, not the game" BS! My Xbox 360 survived over two years and survived it all! Oblivion, Halo 3 beta, everything! And I download this darn beta for over a day and a half! Killing my xbox two WEEKS from Halo 3 missing the launch! That's inexcusable!

Worst Backwards Compatible Game
Winner- Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Explanation: THEY KILLED THIS GAME! I excitedly put it in my Xbox 360 and started playing and couldn't get past the 1 level without the framerate dying and getting me killed! Worst bc game since 007 Nightfire and it's impossible to play flying level!

Tech. Awards

Best Soundtrack
Winner- Halo 3

Best Graphics
Winner- Bioshock

Best Download
Winner- (tie) Halo 3 beta, everything for Oblivion

Best Backwards Compatible Game
Winner- NASCAR Thunder 2003

Best Demo
Winner- (tie) Halo 3 beta, Medal Of Honour: Airborne, Boom Boom Rocket

Best Game... to play with your girlfriend?
Winner- The Orange Box
Explanation: Before I went back to college after winter break. My girlfriend loved watching me play Half-Life 2 to no end! It was strange, she even was disappointed when I said I beat the end of it without her. I even got her to play Portal. (P.S. I'm saving HL2 Ep.2 for when I see her next ;) )

Most Satisfying Game:
Winner- (Tie) Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, The Orange Box

Major Awards

Best 360 Gear
Nominees:

• Text Messenger
• Racing Wheel
• Messenger Bag
• Halo 3 Points Card
• Halo 3 Xbox 360
• Black Xbox 360 & Gear

Winner- (Tie) Text Messenger & Messenger Bag
Explanation: Typing in my Bio after the update became a whole lot easier and I finally have something that I can literally fit all of my 360 gear into!

Best Character
Nominees:

• Portal- Ai
• Halo 3- Master Chief/Arbiter
• Mass Effect- Shepard & Crew
• Bioshock-The Doctor

Winner- (Tie) Halo 3 and Mass Effect
Explanation: Definantly a tie here, I mean the M.C. and Arbiter are so badass and then you have Garrus, Shepard, etc. So it's a toss up

Best Multiplayer Game:
Call of Duty 4
Halo 3
Winner- Halo 3
Explanation: There aren't any nominees here, it was basically a showdown between these two bahemoths and it went to the 12th round. Halo 3 is superb and COD4 is too. However the only thing that brings COD4 down is it's lack of guests! The thing that's great about the Halo series is that you and some friends can play Halo 3 for hours against other people as a team. This isn't possible with COD4. So basically after COD4's multiplayer challenges, what else is there? Not really any ranking system. Halo 3 has it's achievements and ranking system and guest ability, meaning I will be playing Halo 3 far longer than COD4.

Best Voice-Overs
Nominees:

• Halo 3
• The Orange Box
• Mass Effect
• Call Of Duty

Winner: Mass Effect
Explanation: Orange Box is a close 2nd here because of Portal and it's turrets and the AI, because the AI had to basically make the story. But Mass Effect was just so well done.

Best Arcade Game
Nominees:

• Pac Man: Championship Edition
• Boom Boom Rocket
• Aegis Wing
• Switchball

Winner- Boom Boom Rocket
Explanation: As much as I'd love to give this to Pac Man or Switchball, really Boom Boom Rocket is magnificent and it's visualizer feature alone is worth 800 Microsoft Pts.

Best Atmosphere
Nominees:

• Bioshock
• Call Of Duty 4
• Halo 3
• The Orange Box

Winner- Bioshock
Explanation: Orange Box just missed out with Portal and Half-Life 2 but Bioshock really deserves kudos for this. Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 already had their "worlds" set-up so they aren't really spectacular with their atmosphere's, but Bioshock had to create a world in the 1950s...underwater...with crazy people. And that's why they get the award.

Best Story
Nominees:

• The Orange Box
• Call Of Duty 4
• Bioshock
• Mass Effect

Winner- Call of Duty 4
Explanation: The Orange Box really just missed out on this with it's Half-Life 2(which I am now a fan of!) and Portal 1, 2 punch. But with COD4's 2 levels of just story telling (you don't actually do anything you just experience it) is amazing! This is what I love in games, they could have just taken the easy way out like Halo does at times but they made it into an experience which I love. Mass Effect and Bioshock fall short because they are just too short, which suprises me about Mass Effect because it's an RPG.

Best Game
Nominees:

• Call Of Duty 4
• Halo 3
• Bioshock
• The Orange Box

Winner- Halo 3
Explanation: Halo 3 simply raised the bar to where the others couldn't reach, Forge, unstoppable multiplayer, great single player (not to mention 4 player online/2 offline), great music, video replays, etc. Those of you who don't like it... KISS MY @$$

Prediction for next year-
Best Game- Grand Theft Auto IV