It's official. The University of Notre Dame is going to give ME a Juris Doctor degree. I passed all of this semester's classes, and near as I can tell, I actually did it.
Tonight was the 3L dinner, which was a lot of fun. I got a rousing reception when I won the 3L superlative award for "most likely to get into trouble for playing video games at work." I really worked hard to earn this honor, and from all accounts I won it in a landslide.
About two weeks into law school, a fellow student (IIRC it was Ryan Bradel) stopped me after class to ask me to stop playing video games during class, as it was distracting. It didn't take.
In fact, Toni Mardirossian (a fellow graduating 3L) admitted that for the first half of law school, she didn't even know my name - I was simply "The Gamer."
I was up for three awards - video games, biggest Notre Dame fan, and Most Likely to Stay in South Bend.
Despite all of my attempts to secure employment in South Bend (as yet unsuccessfully), the Most Likely to Stay in South Bend Award ironically went to a fellow student who TURNED DOWN his South Bend job offer at Barnes & Thornburg, electing instead to go to Europe next year - a long way from the 'Bend.
The "Biggest Notre Dame Fan" award went to Sarah Wake, a Double Domer who could go toe-to-toe with me on outrageous gameday outfits and obsessive love of all things Notre Dame. However, my ND football blog, recent tattoo and Spring Game 30 days party weren't enought to push me over the edge.
For those of you waiting with baited breath, my sappy "I graduated from Notre Dame" post is coming soon. I promise a tear-jerker for all.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
#3 Oklahoma Sooners v. #14 North Carolina Tarheels
#3 Oklahoma Sooners
v.
#14 North Carolina Tarheels
Sooners
Description: Settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands, located in the current state of Oklahoma, before President Benjamin Harrison officially proclaimed them open to settlement with the Indian Appropriation Act of 1889 on March 2, 1889. The name derived from the "sooner clause" of the Indian Appropriation Act, which stated that no one should be allowed to enter and occupy the land prior to the opening time and that such people would be denied rights to illegally-claimed land.
Weapons: Basic settlement gear - shovels, axes, pickaxes, etc. Probably a rifle as well.
Advantages: Complete disregard for the law. Human intelligence. Hungry to act first.
Disadvantages: No particular skills in battle.
Tarheels
Description: This term, like Hoosiers and Sooners, refers generally to the inhabitants of the state of North Carolina.
My favorite explanation of the term comes from a letter by Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General, in which he states (referring to a battle involving men from North Carolina) "There they stand as if they have tar on their heels."
North Carolina used to be a major tar producing state.
For these purposes, I'm using the general militia of North Carolina from the Civil War ers.
Weapons:
Primary weapons: Whitworth rifle and Austrian Model 1854 rifle-musket
Most popular Sidearm: Le Mat revolver
Close combat: swords
Advantages: Military experience. Dogged defensemen - they hold their ground well.
Disadvantages: Outdated single shot weapon technology.
The Fight
The Tarheels approach their chosen battlefield, ready to set up defenses for the upcoming onslaught by the Sooners. Much to their chagrin, the Sooners were already there. They popped up out of the ditches, and attempted to claim the battlefield for themselves. In the initial confusion, the Tarheels took heavy losses.
After a brief skirmish, the remaining Tarheels manage to set up a defensive line, while the untrained Sooners are still running around in confusion. The military experience of the Tarheels and ability to hold their ground eventually wins out over the dogged determination of the Sooners. One by one, the Sooners are shot down.
Winner
Tarheels
Thursday, May 03, 2007
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes v. #14 Navy Midshipmen
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes
v.
#14 United States Naval Academy Midshipmen
Buckeyes
Description: The seed of trees of the genus Aesculus.
Weapons: Poison
Advantages: Hard outer shell
Disadvantages: Inanimate.
Midshipmen
Description: a subordinate officer, or alternatively a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the United States Navy. The word derives from the part of ship, midships, where they were usually stationed.
Weapons:
Aircraft carriers with 16-24 surface to air missiles and 4 in-close weapon systems (each)
Amphibious Assault Ships with Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, two NATO Sea Sparrow lauunchers, three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts, four .50 cal. machine guns, four 25mm Mk 38 autocannon (each)
Cruisers with variable number RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 8 RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 114 vertical-launch SM-2 Standard surface-to-air (with anti-ship mode) and RUM-119 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles, 2 127mm L/54 dual purpose guns, 2 20mm L/50 gatling close-in weapons systems, 6 12.7x99mm or 7.62x51mm machine guns, 6 torpedo tubes
Destroyers with 90 cells Mk 41 vertical launch systems, BGM-109 Tomahawk, surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC, one 5 inch (127mm/62) Mk-45 mod 4, two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (six Mk-46 or Mk-50 torpedoes, Mk-54 in the near future)
Submarines armed with either 24 Trident II SLBMs (nuclear warheads) or 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles (conventional warheads)
Fighter planes including the AV-8B Harrier II, F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, P-3 Orion, S-3 Viking and EA-6B Prowler.
Navy SEALS
Advantages: Superior weapon technology, cutting edge military training, amphibious ability
Disadvantages: CLASSIFIED
The Fight
Fight?
Winner
Midshipmen
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Thank you, Brady
After being drafted to play for the Cleveland Browns, Brady Quinn is moving on to make his mark on the NFL.
God knows he's made his mark on Notre Dame football.
School Records Held By Quinn:
SINGLE GAME:
Completions
Consecutive Completions
Touchdown Passes
Passes without an interception
SINGLE SEASON:
Passing Attempts
Attempts Per Game
Passing Completions
Completions Per Game
Completion Percentage
Pass Efficiency Rating
Passing Yards
Passing Yards Per Game
Touchdown Passes
Passes without an interception, multiple games
Total Plays
Yards Gained
Yards Per Game
Points Responsible For
Points Responsible For, Per Game
CAREER:
Passing Attempts
Attempts Per Game
Passing Completions
Passing Yards
Passing Yards Per Game
Touchdown Passes
Total Plays
Yards Gained
Yards Per Game
Points Responsible For
Points Responsible For, Per Game
More important than his individual records, he put Notre Dame back on the map of college football, working tirelessly to improve himself every year, and leading his teams to improve over his career.
2003: 5-6
2004: 6-6
2005: 9-3, Fiesta Bowl appearance
2006: 10-3, Sugar Bowl appearance
But what I will remember most about Brady Quinn is the part he played in representing our University during my tenure here. I suffered with him as he struggled under Tyrone Willingham, and I rejoiced with him as he soaked in the knowledge from Coach Weis and transformed a BAD Notre Dame team into back-to-back BCS appearances.
And although I never met Brady, I was immensely proud of him today as he calmly handled the adversity of being passed over time and time again for players that he knows are not as good as him. But he did not pout, he did not complain. When asked pointed questions about his plummeting draft status, Brady remained calm and collected, and when his number was called, he was gracious and optimistic about his future.
Many Notre Dame players have displayed this same kind of poise and character throughout the years as well as Brady has, but Brady and I share one thing that I don't share with all those others:
Notre Dame Class of 2007.
Best of luck to you, Brady Quinn. Today you performed one last miraculous transformation in your stellar career - transforming a life long Redskins fan into a die-hard Browns fan.
Quinn drafted by Cleveland Browns
I thought that would be the headline in today's draft, but the road to the pick was a rocky one.
The Cleveland Browns traded with the Dallas Cowboys for the 22nd overall pick, picking up the QB they passed on 3rd overall.
With Joe Thomas coming in to protect him, this is a great windfall for the Browns.
Brady is hurting right now, but he is going to be happy when his emotions settle down. This is the team he grew up rooting for, and Romeo Crennel will take care of the defense there, so he won't have to do it all himself like he did at ND.
The Browns made a tough call taking Joe Thomas over Brady Quinn with the 3rd pick, but it ended up that they got their 2nd choice anyway.
This is enough to sell me on the program.
Go Bears! Go Browns!
Beat Redskins!
The Cleveland Browns traded with the Dallas Cowboys for the 22nd overall pick, picking up the QB they passed on 3rd overall.
With Joe Thomas coming in to protect him, this is a great windfall for the Browns.
Brady is hurting right now, but he is going to be happy when his emotions settle down. This is the team he grew up rooting for, and Romeo Crennel will take care of the defense there, so he won't have to do it all himself like he did at ND.
The Browns made a tough call taking Joe Thomas over Brady Quinn with the 3rd pick, but it ended up that they got their 2nd choice anyway.
This is enough to sell me on the program.
Go Bears! Go Browns!
Beat Redskins!
NFL Draft upset
Brady Quinn was passed on by Oakland - no surprise.
The Detroit Lions took a wide receiver with their first pick - been there, done that.
The Cleveland Browns had the option to take a Dublin Ohio native quarterback from quarterback U, who had played for one of the best friends of the head coach, and they are in desperate need of a QB. So, naturally, they would draft Brady Quinn.
Nope.
The Browns drafted Joe Thomas, an offensive lineman, instead of the hometown hero, in a big upset.
Now the Bucs are on the clock, and they could take Quinn, despite their long-term relationship with Chris Simms and newly signed Jeff Garcia. Gruden has some ties to the Irish, and was in town last month to talk at the coaches clinic and work out Brady Quinn. He came away impressed, but can they really take a 3rd QB with that high of a pick?
-----
The Bucs don't give into temptation, instead taking Gaines Adams, defensive end out of Clemson.
This puts Arizona on the clock, a team that just drafted a quarterback last year.
They will not draft Brady, but they could trade the pick.
However, my team (the Skins) is sitting right after Arizona, with the opportunity to make the move that would set them up on offense for a long, long time.
Of course, this also means that it is highly likely that my team will just plain piss me off, passing on the best QB to come out of college in the last 10 years to take some 20 year old defensive end.
-----
My Redskins are on the clock, after the Cards took Levi Brown, OL from Penn State.
Brady is on the board, and he is the answer to all of our needs.
If they don't take him, I'll become a Bears fan.
------
Washington drafts LaRon Landry, safety out of LSU, thereby cutting the cord to my allegiances.
Heretofore I renounce my allegiance to the Washington Redskins, and declare that I shall now forever be known as a Bears fan (with the caveat that I might change that later in the day, depending upon where Brady actually goes...)
-----
The Vikes pass on Brady as well, selecting the injury prone Adrian Peterson.
The plummet continues, as Atlanta is invested in Michael Vick.
It's looking more and more like Brady will be a Dolphin, playing under Cam Cameron. I hate this idea, as Cam Cameron is not a great head coach. At this point, I'm hoping that Brady falls to the Broncos, Giants, or Eagles so he can play for a good team.
-----
The Dolphins pass on Quinn, taking Ted Ginn, Jr.
Now we are in a section where there are a bunch of teams that have solid QBs.
Where does this slide end?
Will I ever get to study today?
Has everyone in the NFL lost their damn mind?
-----
49ers (#1 overall pick Alex Smith at QB) pass, no surprise.
At this point, getting into the middle of the 1st round, don't be surprised if a team like the Bears or Ravens decides to make a strong move to trade up and grab Quinn.
Quinn has been taken into the Commissioner's green room for now, away from the cameras, to wait out this weird turn of events. I'm so confused right now, I have no idea where Brady Quinn will end up going today.
At least I know he won't drop past Chicago.
-----
Bills stick with J.P. Loseman, er, Losman, and take Marshawn Lynch.
-----
Carolina trades their 14th pick to the New York Jets... intrigue, my friend.
Mangini is from the Parcells/Belichik family, but the rumor is that they are taking Leon Hall from Michigan.
We'll see what happens...
-----
Jets take Derrell Revis, cornerback out of Pittsburgh (and not Leon Hall).
Pittsburgh takes Lawrence Timmons, a LB from Florida State.
Green Bay is looking for a successor to Brett Favre, but they played this game a couple years ago when they picked up a slipping Aaron Rodgers 24th overall.
Jacksonville is next on the clock after Green Bay, but they have Byron Leftwich and a solid backup in David Garrard. This is the weakest starting QB in this group, but still not a need for this team.
Then, Cincinnatti. Obviously, they aren't looking for a QB with Carson Palmer lighting it up for them.
Tennessee has Vince Young, their first rounder from last year, and the surprise success story in the NFL this year.
The Giants come after Tennessee, where they have quite a bit committed to the younger Manning, who hasn't really developed as they had hoped.
Then Denver (who has had a carousel of QBs lately) who are starting Jay Cutler, last year's top pick for them.
At this point, there is a distinct possibility that Brady Quinn goes 22nd overall to the Dallas Cowboys (I just threw up a little in my mouth).
Mortensen is reporting that the Browns are calling teams to try to trade back into the 1st round to pick up Quinn.
It's time to settle in for a long wait...
-----
Brady won't be a teammate to his brother-in-law A.J. Hawk, as the Packers took Justin Harrell, a defensive tackle out of Tennessee.
-----
The run of teams set at QB is coming to a close, as the next 3 picks are Jacksonville, Dallas, and Kansas City.
At this point, one of those teams has to take Brady Quinn.
The Cowboys, in particular, like to draft Domers. Romo is not the long term answer for the Cowboys, and Brady Quinn is exactly the kind of splash that Jerry Jones likes to make.
Still, I would have bet any amount of money that Brady would have been off the board by now.
We'll see how it goes.
UPDATE:
Talk is heating up - the Cowboys are fielding calls from teams interested in trading up to get Brady Quinn.
They have 10 minutes on the clock - looks like Brady will go SOMEWHERE this pick.
The Detroit Lions took a wide receiver with their first pick - been there, done that.
The Cleveland Browns had the option to take a Dublin Ohio native quarterback from quarterback U, who had played for one of the best friends of the head coach, and they are in desperate need of a QB. So, naturally, they would draft Brady Quinn.
Nope.
The Browns drafted Joe Thomas, an offensive lineman, instead of the hometown hero, in a big upset.
Now the Bucs are on the clock, and they could take Quinn, despite their long-term relationship with Chris Simms and newly signed Jeff Garcia. Gruden has some ties to the Irish, and was in town last month to talk at the coaches clinic and work out Brady Quinn. He came away impressed, but can they really take a 3rd QB with that high of a pick?
-----
The Bucs don't give into temptation, instead taking Gaines Adams, defensive end out of Clemson.
This puts Arizona on the clock, a team that just drafted a quarterback last year.
They will not draft Brady, but they could trade the pick.
However, my team (the Skins) is sitting right after Arizona, with the opportunity to make the move that would set them up on offense for a long, long time.
Of course, this also means that it is highly likely that my team will just plain piss me off, passing on the best QB to come out of college in the last 10 years to take some 20 year old defensive end.
-----
My Redskins are on the clock, after the Cards took Levi Brown, OL from Penn State.
Brady is on the board, and he is the answer to all of our needs.
If they don't take him, I'll become a Bears fan.
------
Washington drafts LaRon Landry, safety out of LSU, thereby cutting the cord to my allegiances.
Heretofore I renounce my allegiance to the Washington Redskins, and declare that I shall now forever be known as a Bears fan (with the caveat that I might change that later in the day, depending upon where Brady actually goes...)
-----
The Vikes pass on Brady as well, selecting the injury prone Adrian Peterson.
The plummet continues, as Atlanta is invested in Michael Vick.
It's looking more and more like Brady will be a Dolphin, playing under Cam Cameron. I hate this idea, as Cam Cameron is not a great head coach. At this point, I'm hoping that Brady falls to the Broncos, Giants, or Eagles so he can play for a good team.
-----
The Dolphins pass on Quinn, taking Ted Ginn, Jr.
Now we are in a section where there are a bunch of teams that have solid QBs.
Where does this slide end?
Will I ever get to study today?
Has everyone in the NFL lost their damn mind?
-----
49ers (#1 overall pick Alex Smith at QB) pass, no surprise.
At this point, getting into the middle of the 1st round, don't be surprised if a team like the Bears or Ravens decides to make a strong move to trade up and grab Quinn.
Quinn has been taken into the Commissioner's green room for now, away from the cameras, to wait out this weird turn of events. I'm so confused right now, I have no idea where Brady Quinn will end up going today.
At least I know he won't drop past Chicago.
-----
Bills stick with J.P. Loseman, er, Losman, and take Marshawn Lynch.
-----
Carolina trades their 14th pick to the New York Jets... intrigue, my friend.
Mangini is from the Parcells/Belichik family, but the rumor is that they are taking Leon Hall from Michigan.
We'll see what happens...
-----
Jets take Derrell Revis, cornerback out of Pittsburgh (and not Leon Hall).
Pittsburgh takes Lawrence Timmons, a LB from Florida State.
Green Bay is looking for a successor to Brett Favre, but they played this game a couple years ago when they picked up a slipping Aaron Rodgers 24th overall.
Jacksonville is next on the clock after Green Bay, but they have Byron Leftwich and a solid backup in David Garrard. This is the weakest starting QB in this group, but still not a need for this team.
Then, Cincinnatti. Obviously, they aren't looking for a QB with Carson Palmer lighting it up for them.
Tennessee has Vince Young, their first rounder from last year, and the surprise success story in the NFL this year.
The Giants come after Tennessee, where they have quite a bit committed to the younger Manning, who hasn't really developed as they had hoped.
Then Denver (who has had a carousel of QBs lately) who are starting Jay Cutler, last year's top pick for them.
At this point, there is a distinct possibility that Brady Quinn goes 22nd overall to the Dallas Cowboys (I just threw up a little in my mouth).
Mortensen is reporting that the Browns are calling teams to try to trade back into the 1st round to pick up Quinn.
It's time to settle in for a long wait...
-----
Brady won't be a teammate to his brother-in-law A.J. Hawk, as the Packers took Justin Harrell, a defensive tackle out of Tennessee.
-----
The run of teams set at QB is coming to a close, as the next 3 picks are Jacksonville, Dallas, and Kansas City.
At this point, one of those teams has to take Brady Quinn.
The Cowboys, in particular, like to draft Domers. Romo is not the long term answer for the Cowboys, and Brady Quinn is exactly the kind of splash that Jerry Jones likes to make.
Still, I would have bet any amount of money that Brady would have been off the board by now.
We'll see how it goes.
UPDATE:
Talk is heating up - the Cowboys are fielding calls from teams interested in trading up to get Brady Quinn.
They have 10 minutes on the clock - looks like Brady will go SOMEWHERE this pick.
Condoms vs. Mustangs
#2 Southern Cal Trojans
v.
#15 Southern Methodist Mustangs
Trojans
Description: A citizen of the ancient city of Troy, one of the city-states in ancient Greece, located in modern Turkey. More specifically, the warriors of Troy that battled in the Trojan War as described in Homer's Iliad.
Weapons: Chariot and spear.
Advantages: Ancient military training, armor.
Disadvantages: Technology stuck in, at best, approximately 1100 BC.
Mustangs
Description: a feral horse living on the western or southwestern plains of the US
Weapons: Hooves
Advantages: hardiness, grace, and speed
Disadvantages: as an animal, only has instinct to rely on, cannot use strategy.
The Fight
This isn't much of a fight - the Trojans have superior weaponry, intelligence, and technology. Although a Trojan would be most likely to capture and train the mustang to pull his chariot, this is a battle to the death. The mustang, despite being angry and powerful, can't get close enough to the Trojan to do any damage. The Trojan uses his spear to stab the brave horse, until the poor mustang bleeds to death.
Winner
-sigh- Condoms, er, I mean, um, Trojans
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