Author: Kat (Page 39 of 89)

The Baldwins Are Taking Over Everything I Like

17 November, 2010 / Kat

The Baldwin family is taking over my life.

Tuesday afternoon, I received an email from Billy Baldwin, Binghamton class of 1985. Not exclusively to me, of course, but to me and thousands of my fellow Binghamton alums. Billy, who is the lesser known Baldwin by far (at Binghamton, when anyone would ask what he had been in, the stock answer always was, “the guy that dies in Backdraft“), has taken quite the shine to his alma mater as of late. His biggest contribution of note was when he led a successful campaign to save the wrestling program when America East stopped sponsoring the sport.

Now, Billy “Backdraft guy” Baldwin has emailed his fellow alums to lobby us to give to the Binghamton capital campaign. (Video wasn’t embeddable, so here is a linked screenshot.)

My first reaction: shouldn’t he be lobbying for himself? You really don’t see him in much anymore. Then I realized his more famous brother probably helps him out.

My second reaction: Paul Reiser wasn’t available? Tony Kornhesier? Heck, Progressive Insurance Flo? (Yes, all Bearcats.)

But that being said, it’s a good cause, given the dire straits outgoing NY governor Patterson has left the SUNY system in. Kudos to Backdraft Baldwin.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Twitter account shared a blog post about the new Wegmans (the greatest grocery store in the history of mankind) commercials, starring…30 Rock’s Alec Baldwin.

According to the Democrat and Chronicle, the Baldwin-Wegmans collaboration came about when Baldwin mentioned to late night talk show host David Letterman that his mother refuses to live anywhere without a Wegmans close by, and then went on to pontificate about the wonders of the store.

This is a big get for the store so wonderful it was my baby brother’s first word. (You think I’m joking.) But the way this week is going, I half expect to get a video of Stephen Baldwin asking me to buy Buffalo Bills tickets next.

Drive Up in Red Sox Style

1 November, 2010 / Kat

Example Massachusetts Jimmy Fund license plate

An example of the new release of Red Sox license plates that you could win from Ace Ticket.

One thing that struck me when I moved to Boston over six years ago was the amount of Boston Red Sox material plastered all over cars. At first, my knee jerk reaction was, “Oh look – that car has Red Sox stuff on it! You never see that in Binghamton or Rochester….oh wait, I live in Boston now.” And when I say, “At first,” I mean until six months ago.

If you are in need of some Red Sox love on your car, Ace Ticket is sponsoring a Red Sox License Plate Giveaway until November 12th. The winner will receive number 17 in the new release of Jimmy Fund Red Sox license plates (which have a preface of JF), fully paid for the first year.

To enter, email platecontest@aceticket.com with the subject “Number 17,” which will add you to the official Ace Ticket mailing list (of which you can always unsubscribe.) For more rules, regulations, and legal fun, check out the contest’s official Facebook page.

In the interest of full disclosure, a representative from Ace Ticket’s PR agency emailed me this information, but I was not compensated in anyway for the post.

Third Time’s Not a Charm: Why Bruins Fans Need to Get Over Kessel

29 October, 2010 / Kat

My father had a rule with us kids growing up. The first time you tell a joke, it’s hysterical. The second time you tell a joke, it’s funny. The third time you tell a joke, it’s not funny anymore. (This put a kabosh on using the “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana!” knock-knock joke multiple times real quick.)

As one of the only Boston Bruins fans on the planet who doesn’t hate Phil Kessel, I’m beginning to understand my father’s sentiment.

You may hate Phil Kessel all you want – sports fandom thrives on hatred, as sad as it may sound. Intense fandom means hating particular teams and defector players. As a Buffalo Bills fan, I hate the Dallas Cowboys. I hate the Dallas Stars for making my Buffalo Sabres fan mother sob in 1999. I understand the dislike of those dreaded dirty Habs. I get it. Fans hate players. Fans boo players. Fans go on rants about players.

But after a year, isn’t it enough?

Taylor Swift for the Married Set

25 October, 2010 / Kat

Taylor Swift releases a new angst filled album today. (Photo: Amazon.com)

I don’t really enjoy Taylor Swift music much in the way I can’t stand Glee or get antsy during old The Wonder Years reruns. Adolescence wasn’t horrible, it’s just something I would rather not hark back to often.

That being said, I understand the young Swift’s appeal; it sounds like she stole the diaries of every 15 year old in America and turned them into country-pop songs. That boy you thought was cute called you an awkward geek? Let’s write a song about it. You have a crush on a friend in a seemingly bad relationship? Let’s write a song about it. You have a crush on an older student-athlete who is a giant jerk but you won’t realize it until he tries to get you in bed? Yet another song. (You know Swift’s songs are universal when hockey players admit to listening to them during their “get to know your team” segments on jumbotrons.)

But someday Taylor Swift is going to grow up, and she may very well get married. What is a young woman who has built her entire career writing about relationship angst going to write about then? The heck that is changing her name post-wedding?

I stood in line for too much time
Waiting this long should be a crime
Why do the license plates move faster
I just want to change my name to Lancaster

Or her new husband’s habit of hanging with the guys after work every single night?

You enjoy one dollar Narragansetts
I enjoy having money to buy presents
You like spending 5pm with your friends
I like not having to make amends
So I won’t bring up that habit
I’d rather you’re happy so I don’t get in trouble for buying that jacket

Or those ever fun questions from relatives about when you’re going to have a kid?

Aunt Gertrude wants to know when we’ll have a baby
I want to tell her she’s pretty crazy
She doesn’t understand our student loan debts
Which will keep us from never buying a bassinet

Someone sign me to a record contract – I can be Taylor Swift for the newly married set! (Never mind that my piano teacher once told my parents, “I never believed being tone-deaf was possible until I met your daughter.” That’s what auto-tune is for, right?) If you have any other topics or ideas of what a married Taylor Swift might sing about, add them to the comments. (Namely because I’d love to get some more non-spammer comments.)

Four Questions With…Joey Westmoreland of GameDay Rugs

17 October, 2010 / Kat

Many of you have never had the pleasure of experiencing my football clad home. I have football plates, glasses, bowls, spreaders, toothpicks, platters, crock pots…it’s a little obsessive. I don’t think my husband necessarily likes it, because when we moved into our new apartment after we got married, he asked me if I was “really going to hang onto this stuff.” I told him that I collected these items in the event I ever get to hold a Buffalo Bills Super Bowl party, and I think he felt so much pity for me that he relented. (He did make me get rid of the football themed sofa throw pillows, but I agreed with him that their time had come.)

So when the folks at GameDay Rugs approached me last week and asked for a plug, of course I said yes. GameDay Rugs is a new online retailer selling team related rugs for both indoor and outdoor use. While they have started with some of the larger college football and basketball teams, they are working on expanding the line to include additional college teams and professional teams.

Clemson Football Rug

I interviewed GameDay Rugs Account Manager and die-hard Clemson football fan Joey Westmoreland about the company, his products, and Bills rookie CJ Spiller (yes, I had to go there.)

Kat: Why did you decide to get into the sports rug business?

Joey: Sports are my life, so I was very fortunate to have been brought into the business by a friend while GameDay Rugs was still in the concept stage. I had seen what the parent company had accomplished with Astroturf and knew, as soon as the opportunity presented itself, that I wanted to be part of this.

Kat: What is the most creative way you’ve seen one of your rugs used?

Joey: Actually, I was at the NC State v Boston College game this past weekend and walked right passed two little boys, they were maybe 3 or so, and were perched on one of our football field area rugs playing their own game right there on the concrete, moving small helmets around as if they were players. Also, I’ve seen a circle Alabama rug used as wall art, but the tailgating child’s play takes the cake as most creative use.

Kat: I have it on good authority that you are a Clemson fan. I’m a Buffalo Bills fan, and we’re hanging a lot of hope on Clemson grad CJ Spiller. Do you have any thoughts on him?

: GameDay Rugs NC State Field Rug

Joey: I think he’s a super guy who will represent the Bills with the integrity that he’s demonstrated to date. The fact that he came back as a Senior speaks volumes of who he is, how he represented Clemson and how he will represent the Bills organization. His record, being chosen Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, and the fact that his jersey is being retired are testaments of what he’s meant to Clemson football. In my opinion, your hopes are well placed, and you have nothing to worry about.

Kat: Your company has a good selection of football schools. Any plans to expand to other schools and or other sports teams?

Joey: Absolutely! We take daily steps toward expanding our line, and offer a way on our site to collect fan suggestions for additional teams, although it takes time to get new designs approved by the universities and the CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company). Keep checking back often as new designs are constantly being added and we have some great plans for future product lines.

GameDay Rugs has a free shipping promotion ongoing through October 31, 2010. Visit their site at GameDayRugs.com.

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Legal Note: I did not receive any compensation from GameDay Rugs or any affiliated party in exchange for this blog post.