Weekend Wrap-up: This is Not a Super Bowl Post

Is it safe to come out? As in, come back out onto social media and the interwebs in general? Cause I was avoiding it for basically all of Sunday cause I just couldn't take all the Super Bowl trash talking in all of my news feeds. Originally I was rooting for Denver because my first impression of Seahawks fans (and Richard Sherman) wasn't a good one, but it turns out Denver fans aren't much better because they're still trying to talk shiz even though they just got whooped. Whooped bad.

But either way I don't really care cause I did some other fun things this weekend.

Things like, my very first blate with Jessa from Life of a Sports Wife, and Leanne from Being Jane!

  Ignore all the red-eye that's in this photo, by the way.

We coordinated a meet-up for this round of Cara Box swaps, which were paired by state and I was so happy to finally meet these ladies in person!

After the meet-up Jessa and her husband actually had tickets to the Suns game they weren't able to use, so she was kind enough to offer them to Nate and I, so off we went to the Suns game!

Thanks Jessa for the awesome tickets!

The Suns are my jam right now and I just can't get enough of them. All of them. I can't even really pick a favorite player. They're the biggest surprise in the NBA this season and fortunately we were able to watch them win their 5th game in a row. It was also fan appreciation night. I felt pretty appreciated, for the record. They were doing some cool promotions and give-aways for the occasion, including the lady sitting in the row directly in front of us who randomly was handed a back pack full of Suns goodies including a Jeff Hornaceck (Suns Head Coach) bobble-head. 

I didn't feel so appreciated then.

Where's my bobble-head?? I want a back pack full of Suns SWAG - which, for all you Office fans out there, is Stuff We All Get. But alas, I didn't. Maybe it should be called SOSOUG instead - Stuff Only Some Of Us Get, cause I'm pretty sure I walked away from the game sans bobble-head.

But as a consolation prize I did get this grainy, blurry, iPhone pic:

It's OK though because I love how orange my shirt is.

Go Suns!!

So, who's ready for Monday?! ...Normally I would answer, "not me," to this question, but since Monday means it's just another day closer to me being in Vegas next weekend, watching Shania Twain live in concert, I think I'm OK with this Monday rolling around.

T-6 days!

Burning Hockey Questions I Need Answers For

Lately my husband and I have been watching a lot of hockey. Truthfully, I'm really only watching it because of him. Nate's a hockey guy, and that's actually the one sport that I really know nothing about. So, in trying to learn the game and watching them play, there's a few questions that I've been wanting to ask: 

What is "off sides" and is it the same "off sides" as in football?

You're allowed to punch people in the face but you sit in the penalty box for tripping someone??

Who are they calling? Is there a bullpen somewhere I don't know about?

What's a Canuck?

Any time there's an icing call it makes me want, well, icing. 

How can you physically keep your eye on the puck with how fast it moves?

How do those referees not get trampled to death?

...or maybe they do?

Toronto Maple Leafs? Is that a typo?

If this is women's hockey...can I play?

...and where can I find a bottle of champaign that big? Or is that a Canadian thing? 

On a scale of Jennifer Lawrence to Justin Bieber, how controversial is Instant Replay in the sport of Hockey?

Enforcers - they play hockey, or their only job is to fight? 

Puck puck bo buck banana fana fo....

What's a Hat Trick, and does it involve Magic?

Lions play hockey???!!

(source)

Is the Flying V still a thing?

One thing I do know for sure:
Ducks fly together

Linking up with Sarah for Fan Friday!

Rivalries

As I was perusing the sports section of USA Today I stumbled on this article about sports rivalries. Its authors argue that the idea of a "rivalry" has become overused (kind of like the word "epic" or the hashtag YOLO...per me, not them) and watered down. So, in order to clarify they lay outline the five conditions of being an elite rivalry: (Source)

1.) Meetings between the two teams are appointment television for sports fans nationwide, 

regardless of fandom.

2.) Both teams are generally near the top of the standings in the last five years - the rivalry games have to actually mean something.

3.) Teams must meet every year.

4.) Both teams need to be located near each other. Proximity is the key to an animosity existing among fanbases between games.

5.) Teams may only have one true rivalry counted

Given all the above-mentioned, the article concluded there's only five true elite rivalries in sports:

All that to say, this article got me thinking, about the true, elite rivalries in my own life. Considering the aforementioned criteria, I've come up with five:

1.) Team phone call vs. Team text message

Talk about proximity, these two teams have to battle it out on the reg, considering they operate from the same device. And no matter your fandom, cell phone users, including myself, are tuning into their devices nationwide considering neither task can be completed without doing so.

I'm all about the text message, until that text message becomes too long and I don't feel like typing it out. In that case, the phone call comes out on top. 

2.) Team Nate vs. Team javelina

Make no mistake, Nate's killed a pig or two in his day...

...but just the other night he declared "Those f***ers are easy to kill, but they're so damn hard to find. They get me every time." Nate filled both his pig tags last year...for the win. 0 for 1 in 2014 so far.

3.) Team Carissa vs. Team gynecologist 

If animosity is what's required for an elite rivalry, I don't know anything else I loathe more in life than that-which-shall-not-be-named, am I right ladies??

This rivalry meets every year, once a year, and it's safe to say that it always means something. You know, test results and stuff...it's not a trophy but I'd say it's pretty important. Since it's kind of hard to get out of this one, I'd say unfortunately, it's Team gyno for the win.

4.) Team Peta vs. Team Gale

...because nothing says "rivalry" more than a love triangle right smack in the middle of a battle to the death. All of Panem tunes into watch the Hunger Games, and since you can see these two faces for yourself, you know they're both at the top of the standings in the game for Katniss' heart.
(p.s. don't tell me who wins, I haven't read the 3rd book yet!)

5.) Team cold vs. Team hot    

Climate in my household is an ongoing battle, much like the ongoing rivalries of those mentioned above, except instead of convening every year play, Team cold and Team hot meet roughly every 12 hours - when the temperature drops and it should be time to turn the heater on. Nate thinks his team (team hot) should always win because if you're cold (i.e. me), you can add layers, whereas if you're hot, you can only take so many layers off until you're sitting there in your birthday suit, still sweating. 

Sounds like a personal problem.

And there you have it. Five rivalries that make my life interesting. Or annoying, one or the other.

Linking up with Sarah for Fan Friday!

Fan Friday: 2013 AZ Sports in Review

With all these 'Year in Review' posts, and talk of resolutions for 2014, and reflections of 2013, I figured the sports world shouldn't be exempt. And I also figured, what better time to link up with Sarah and her  Fan Friday to do so?

Here's the thing, I reallllllly reallllly like sports.

Arizona sports, to be exact.

I'm a hometown kinda girl.

I don't blog about it often because I just figure I might lose most of your guys' interest...which this post will probably do. So I won't be mad if you quit reading right now.

Anywho, last year I wrote this post about how much it was sucking to be an Arizona sports fan at the time.

The Cardinals (NFL) went 5-11 and fired their head coach.

The Suns (NBA) finished with the second worst record in franchise history, and didn't even wait until the end of the season to fire their head coach. And then they hired some schmuck as interim head coach and fired him at the end of the season too. 

The Diamondbacks (MLB) failed to meet expectations yet again and finished the season with a .500 record. So basically, they did nothing. They lost as many as they won. 

Arizona State University Football, while finishing 2012 with a decent 8-5 record in coach Todd Graham's first year, had just come off a 2011 season finishing 6-7.  

The Coyotes (NHL) were without an owner for the 4th year straight after multiple ownership deals fell through.

So basically, there was a lot of losing going on.

And it was miserable.

But, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's fair-weather fans, and I just refuse to be one.

...And sometimes that pays off, because what a difference a year makes.

This was the cover of the sports section in the Sunday paper last week:

(Read full article here)

In 2013 the Cardinals finished 10-6, including a win in Seattle against the Seahawks, under a new head coach.

The Suns, who are supposed to be in full rebuilding mode and were projected to win no more than 10 games all season are sitting at a 19-12 record under a new head coach, (who just won Western Conference Coach of the month for December), a new GM, and a roster full of "no names."

ASU Football finished the season 10-4, won the PAC-12 South title, beat rival UofA for the 2nd year in a row, and hosted the PAC-12 Championship game.

The Diamondbacks, while finishing with a mediocre season, still had an MVP candidacy in Paul Goldschmidt (who's also suuuper hot by the way. Google him, you won't be sorry). 

The Coyotes finally have an ownership group in place.

All that to say, let's look back at the 10 Commandments of Arizona Sports and see how we've done:

1.) Thou shalt not be a fair-weather fan.

Done, and done. Always.

2.) Thou shalt not take Steve Nash's name in vain

...even if he does betray you and go play for the Lakers. 

I'm over it. He has a ridiculous Hollywood haircut, and we have Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe now.
It was fun while it lasted, Steve. I won't forget you.

3.) Thou shalt not covet other professional sports teams' players, management, winning records, or championship rings. ...none of which, are in your near future.
The future is looking brighter, Arizona!!

4.) Honor thy teams that have won in the past, for it may be a while before it happens again.

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks

Still true. But the definition of "a while" is shortening.

5.) Thou shalt not question bad trades, bad hirings or firings, or any other questionable decisions from the front office...cause the more you think about it, the more mad you'll get.
Lots of good moves last year in the front offices. Ryan McDonough, the new Suns GM has acquired the nickname 'Ryan Mc-do-work.'

6.) Thou shalt always remember the pool. 

Cause hey, if the team's losing, at least you still have a cool pool in your baseball stadium.

And air conditioning.

We have air conditioning too.

We'll always have the pool, even though it was soiled by the Dodgers last season. 
If I thought I hated the Dodgers before, I reallllly hate them now.

7.) Thou shalt obey thy Baxter, Gorilla, and Big Red

Yuuuup.

8.) Thou shalt fork 'em

#forksup

9.) Thou shalt understand: there's nowhere to go but up...when you're last

Literally.

10.) Thou shalt always remember: you're not a real fan, unless you're still a fan when they're losing.

...thanks for that nugget of wisdom, dad.

And there you have it. An entire post about stuff you all probably don't care about. But since I care about it, and since Sarah cares about it enough to host a link-up, dang it, I wrote about it.

I absolutely cannot wait to see what's in store for Arizona sports in 2014!

An Open Letter to Luis Gonzalez

Guys, I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but I just can't help it.

If you follow me on Instagram (which if you aren't, why the heck not? @MissRiss0409) you know I was just in Dallas doing a little vacationing with some girlfriends. Since this is my first post back in blogland, I should be telling you all about my trip from the beginning...

But I'm going to go a little out of order here, because I'm having some regrets and want to get a few things off my chest.

My girlfriends and I were fortunate enough to find tickets last minute to the ASU vs. Notre Dame game in Dallas (I'll tell you all about it later), but before the game even started the most amazing thing happened.

We met Luis Gonzalez.

If you're not from AZ, or don't follow baseball (which if you aren't, why the heck not?) you may not be familiar with Luis Gonzalez.

He's ONLY the guy who won the World Series for the Diamondbacks in 2001 with a hit off of Mariano Rivera, the best closer of all time, in the bottom of the 9th inning, in Game 7.

In other words, he's kind of a big deal.

His number is retired in Chase Field

And we met him.

And we freaked out.

Or at least I did.

After we asked to take a picture with him, all I could get out was 

"Thank you! Thanks so much! Thank you!"

And that was it.

So, all that to say, I'm regretting I didn't say more to him. 

So, here, I've penned an open letter to Luis Gonzalez with what I really meant to say to him.

You know, beyond "omg thanks so much!" 

Dearest Gonzo (he doesn't know it yet, but we're totally on a nick-name basis),

I was a freshman in high school when I watched you from my living room, win the World Series for the state of Arizona and the Diamondbacks.

I laid there, on my living room floor (cause duh, too tense to sit in your chair right?) with my fingers and toes crossed...but only my right fingers and right toes cause everyone knows if you cross your left limbs it's bad luck...praying that somehow, some way, you guys would make it happen. And you sir, were that person.

I also just wanted you to be aware that I faithfully combed the sports section of the Arizona Republic on the reg, so that I could cut out pictures of you and the rest of the Dbacks and make collages to hang in my locker at school. 

They were pretty BA collages. 

Just sayin. 

If I knew you were gonna be at the football game I would've brought one to show you my artistic capabilities. I mean, I didn't win the World Series for anyone, but I made a pretty mean collage of newspaper clippings.

So really, I just want to tell you that you're the shiz. And also tall. You're really tall in person. But mostly you're the shiz. 

I was totally prepared to tweet you all of this, but I can't find you on Twitter. And I wasn't really sure if "fan mail" was still a thing. On second thought, that's probably why you don't have a twitter...to avoid creepy fan-girls like me. But have no fear, I'll just tweet the crap out of all the Dbacks personnel I follow and hopefully someone will give you the message. The message that you're the shiz and I was totally star-struck to have met you and I wish I would've told you all of this in person. It's probably better that it worked out this way; you would've been embarrassed if I word-vomited all of this non-sense right there at Cowboys Stadium with your posse in tow...I would've been emarrassed...so really, it's a win-win that we go this route. 

With any luck, maybe someone with the Dbacks will tweet me back or read this blog. I used to judge the desperate teenagers who used social media to get a reaction out of celebs, but after meeting you I had an epiphany...I'm not above using social media to beg for attention. So that's what I'm gonna do. Cause I want you to read this. Or Derrick Hall. Is he still your boss?

Lastly....were you rooting for Notre Dame or ASU?? I mean, I know you said your brother played for Notre Dame (I think?) but c'mon, you have to root for the hometown team right?? Either way, we can still be friends. 

I lied. 

One more thing.

My friend Sarah told you to make something happen with our pitching for next year and you suggested she be our GM...you may wanna take her up on that offer. She's pretty good. Talk to Towers would ya?

On that note, Gonzo...you're the man.

Sincerely,  

Don't forget us, K?

Mid-Summer Catch-up: 4th of July Weekend Cont.

I'm trying to catch you all up on the fun things going on around here that I haven't quite had the time to get up on the Blogsy...until now, of course.

Check out part one here.

And while you're at it, go check out Rachel's blog over at Rachel's Country Roots where she was kind enough to let me take over her blog for the day.

Love that Rachel. 

Friday I took the day off of work so I could enjoy a four day weekend (4th of July was on a Thursday if you remember...I know, it seems like a long time ago by now). 

I started the day with my mom and sister and we went to go see The Heat.

So. Freaking. Funny.

If you haven't seen it yet, go do it.

Now.

I'll wait here...

Friday night the Diamondbacks were back in town for the 4th of July weekend and were giving out free t-shirts to the first 15,000 fans, AND had a fireworks show after the game.

I just felt like I needed to be at Chase Field for all of this fun.

 AND I needed to be one of those 15,000 fans.

I like free stuff.

I like free stuff even more when it's a combination of my favorite baseball team (i.e. the Dbacks) and my favorite country (i.e. the USA).

Nate and I waited in a line that snaked around a few blocks in 110 degree heat, and it took foreverrrrr, 

but dang it we got a t-shirt.

And I was happy happy happy.

And sweaty sweaty sweaty.

When we got inside I put my new shirt on and was ready for some baseball.

Nate made an attempt to use the restroom and asked me to hold his t-shirt, and I was like

"Aren't you gonna put this on?"

He rolled his eyes at me, but bless his heart he took it and put it on.

He hates red.

He wore red too, the day before for the 4th.

He looked at me and goes,

"I've worn red two days in a row now thanks to you."

You're welcome Nathan.

Before the game, they had a beautiful tribute to the 19 firefighters who lost their lives fighting the Yarnell fire in Prescott, Arizona earlier this month; it included bagpipes, a 19 second moment of silence, and each firefighter's picture recognized on the jumbo-tron.

The Diamondbacks organization has done such an amazing job honoring those 19 lives that were lost. It is truly touching, and makes me proud to be a Dbacks fan.

19 seats reserved for each life lost. 

After the game they turned off all the lights in the stadium, opened the roof, and let the fireworks fly!

It was pretty cool, I have to say.

Oh, and I also got to say haaaaayy to my favorite 1st Baseman:

The first time he came up to bat Nate goes,

"Here comes your boyfriend."

You're right Nate.

Here comes my boyfriend

Glad we got that cleared up.

So after Friday comes Saturday and Sunday, which pretty much looked about the same:

dogs, pool, Sonic...more dogs, more pool, more Sonic (duh?)

...and I'm not even mad about it.

Next up: my cousin's wedding in CA! 

...although that might have to wait until next week considering I haven't even gone 

through my pictures yet.

It's gonna be a doozy.

A good one though.

A good doozy.

Slowly but surely, we're catching up people!