"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives." "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."
*Photo from IronHarley.com
Friday, November 30, 2007
Evel Knievel Dead at 69
Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel, Jr. October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007
"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives." "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."
*Photo from IronHarley.com
"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives." "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."
*Photo from IronHarley.com
Chess: December Chess Carnival - Send Entries Now!
My name is Steve Owens and my blog is at sdo1.blogspot.com. Jack and I also blog at chessusa.blogspot.com where I have volunteered to host December's Chess Carnival. I would be honored if the chess blogosphere would accept this invitation to submit blog articles for inclusion in this version of the Chess Carnival.
Please follow this link to submit an item from your blog http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_2250.html or send me an email at p944dc@gmail.com with the following information:
Permalink URL
Title
Article Blog
Blog URL
Blog Name
Submitter name
Submitter e-mail
Category
Remarks
As an example I have cut and pasted Mark Week's submission below (Thanks Mark)
Permalink URL ¤
http://chessforallages.blogspot.com/2007/10/mongols-russia-and-strobeck.html
Title ¤ Mongols, Russia, and Strobeck
Blog URL ¤ http://chessforallages.blogspot.com/
Name ¤ Chess for All Ages
Additional information
Submitter name ¤ Mark Weeks
Submitter e-mail ¤ carnival@mark-weeks.com
Category ¤ Chess Events
Remarks ¤ Hi Jack - Please feel free to contact me if you ever
become desperate for a carnival host. - Mark
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Redskins: Sean Taylor - April 1, 1983 to November 27, 2007
We'll never know the heights that you could have reached as a young man, a father, a husband, or as a Redskin. The promise you displayed in all these areas pointed to so much more than what we had yet seen. We watched you grow as a Redskin and begin to assume a mantle of leadership after a period of youthful indiscretions. We rejoiced in the way your young daughter changed the direction of your life. We will miss you. Rest in peace, Sean.
Updated: Blogosphere Reaction
Bram Weinstein, HailRedskins, Hog Heaven, HogsHaven, PostGameHeroes, WashTimes, RedskinsGab, WaPost:LaCanfora, Rich Tandler, TheRedskinReport, DCSportsBog
Thursday, November 22, 2007
John Fitzgerald Kennedy 1917-1963
"A man does what he must — in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures — and that is the basis of all human morality." — John F. Kennedy, American president (1917-1963)
Redskins: Did you know Wednesday was Troy's Birthday?
Well, it was.
(Hat Tip to Postgameheroes.)
Let's let Lavar light Troy's candle, shall we?
How 'bout THAT, Cowboy?
(Hat Tip to Postgameheroes.)
Let's let Lavar light Troy's candle, shall we?
How 'bout THAT, Cowboy?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Chess: My Events Update
My last events update was in September...
Starting with ICC. Both of the events I am in there are drawing to a close.
In 2007Seven.02 I have four wins (as White against John3v16 and AntonioMendonca and as Black against jonesey and OnGoldenPawn) with no draws or losses. Two games are yet to be decided. As Black against Stahlberg I am a Bishop to the better and have a King side attack brewing in the middle game of a Caro-Kann: Panov-Botvinnik attack. As White versus az2112 I played the London and we are just entering the middle game. Again, I have a strong King side attack brewing and am a pawn to the better. I came into the event as the highest rated player but I have had to fight for each point.
In 2007Quad.08 I have two wins, two draws, and no losses (yet). I have finished my games with The7thGuest and Molton having won once and drawn once with each. Both games versus my last opponent (Boromir) are ongoing. As White, I played a suspect line in the London System but I think I have equalized out of a bad spot. I grabbed a pawn in the opening and have been paying for it... Grabbing pawns in correspondence chess when there are other things to be done is a no-no! In my game with Black we have entered the middle game of a Reti/KID and I think I have at least equalized and may have a small plus.
az2112 and Boromir have both over stepped the time limits and have been warned by the TD. Hopefully we can get those games going in good fashion again.
I would post cross tables but it seems they have not been updated since the events began. With my latest result (the win over Molton), I have achieved my highest ICC Correspondence rating so far (1999).
Woah... Maybe I should play 3's and 9's on the lottery. I have a 1999 rating as of 19 November with 33 wins, 3 losses, and 3 draws for a total of 39 games. Cue the spooky music!
Over at ICCF I have finished all my games in WS/O/109. Several of the leaders have yet to finish games. Right now I am in Third, but I anticipate no better than a Fourth place finish. As I wrote in September, for my first ICCF event I think I had satisfactory results. My loss to Pötz hampered my goal to finish near the top.
XD = result by default
XF = FIDE Elo
XP = provisional
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
In event WS/O/120 I am in clear second with one game to go. The three of us at top each have only to finish our games with Sanchez Carmona. Of course, I don't know how the other games are going, but in my game with Sanchez Carmona I am the Exchange up as Black in a Caro-Kann: Gurgenidze System. We are entering the end game (R,B,B vs. R,R,B and four pawns each) and I just need to put this puppy away. I could finish anywhere from first to third. I think second is most likely. I had too many draws in this event. Jan Gantar has four wins already to my three.
XP = provisional
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
In my latest ICCF event, WS/O/138, again I have too many draws to be a favorite, but I'll finish near the top. I missed my chance to stand out from the pack with Black against Dumitrescu in a Spanish Berlin game. I had a clear advantage but missed the win in the end game with two passed pawns. Pareschi and Sarak are still playing thier game and so have a chance to pass Dumitrescu and me in the standings. I'll at least finish second or third assuming I can take care of my last game with Van hentenryck.
XP = provisional
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
I am in the midst of my second USCF Walter E. Muir event (USCF/WS/07WM41). Back in August I finished first in USCF/WS/07WM27. This one is going to be much, much tougher. I have wins in both games against Bill Evans again. No knock on Bill, sometimes another person just seems to have your number. My opening repertoire seems to be set up perfectly for his. The other players in this event all have multiple first place Muir finishes.
As an example of how tough this event is, here are the tournaments won by participants in the last several months:
OCTOBER WINNERS
Walter Muir Webserver
William Evans 07W28 5-1
William Evans 06W22 3 ½-2 ½
Thomas Haggard 06W22 3 ½-2 ½
William Evans 07W08 5-1
Joe Hoffmann 07W25 6-0
SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENT WINNERS
John Collins
Thomas Haggard 05C39 4-2
Walter Muir
Joe Hoffmann 07W16 4 ½-1 ½
William Evans 07W01 6-0
William Evans 07W21 6-0
Yikes!
Also of note: friend of the blog Anthony Ragan has a Muir win, too!
SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENT
WINNERS
Walter Muir
Anthony Ragan 07W16 4 ½-1 ½
In my games with Bill Evans, as Black we played a Semi-Slav: Meran. In the early middle game I was able to disturb his King side pawns with an exchange of his f3 Knight for my light Bishop. The open g file left by the recapture of the light Bishop was immediately exploitable by my Queen and King side Rook. In the other game Evans responded to 1.d4 with a Dutch Defense. I used a Catalan/Reti style setup with which I was familiar, and advanced my Queen side pawns aggressively. At about move 16 Bill dropped the f pawn in an exchange of Knights. A few moves later I was able to win the Exchange and then invade the seventh and eighth ranks with my rooks.
The other games are ongoing.
Against Thomas Haggard, in my game with Black Tom opened with what he called the "Haggard Gambit" in the Caro Kann Exchange. I'm not sure he has received compensation, but play continues... In my game as White, we are in a Bogo-Indian and things are very much in flux. Both games are in the opening stages.
Against Joe Hoffman, as Black I have the Bishop pair in the late middle game of a Caro Kann Exchange game. What is it with all these Exchange and Panov games? Has everyone abandoned the Advance against the CK? In our game that I have White, we are in the late middle game stages of another Bogo-Indian. It has been very tight but I am a pawn up. As compensation Black has a protected passed central pawn while my passed pawn is outside and isolated.
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
My USCF rating is up to 1621 as of yesterday. If my current games are any indication I may be leveling off at between 1600 and 1700 for USCF Correspondence.
Starting with ICC. Both of the events I am in there are drawing to a close.
In 2007Seven.02 I have four wins (as White against John3v16 and AntonioMendonca and as Black against jonesey and OnGoldenPawn) with no draws or losses. Two games are yet to be decided. As Black against Stahlberg I am a Bishop to the better and have a King side attack brewing in the middle game of a Caro-Kann: Panov-Botvinnik attack. As White versus az2112 I played the London and we are just entering the middle game. Again, I have a strong King side attack brewing and am a pawn to the better. I came into the event as the highest rated player but I have had to fight for each point.
In 2007Quad.08 I have two wins, two draws, and no losses (yet). I have finished my games with The7thGuest and Molton having won once and drawn once with each. Both games versus my last opponent (Boromir) are ongoing. As White, I played a suspect line in the London System but I think I have equalized out of a bad spot. I grabbed a pawn in the opening and have been paying for it... Grabbing pawns in correspondence chess when there are other things to be done is a no-no! In my game with Black we have entered the middle game of a Reti/KID and I think I have at least equalized and may have a small plus.
az2112 and Boromir have both over stepped the time limits and have been warned by the TD. Hopefully we can get those games going in good fashion again.
I would post cross tables but it seems they have not been updated since the events began. With my latest result (the win over Molton), I have achieved my highest ICC Correspondence rating so far (1999).
Woah... Maybe I should play 3's and 9's on the lottery. I have a 1999 rating as of 19 November with 33 wins, 3 losses, and 3 draws for a total of 39 games. Cue the spooky music!
Over at ICCF I have finished all my games in WS/O/109. Several of the leaders have yet to finish games. Right now I am in Third, but I anticipate no better than a Fourth place finish. As I wrote in September, for my first ICCF event I think I had satisfactory results. My loss to Pötz hampered my goal to finish near the top.
| WS/O/109 | TD Millstone, Michael | |||||||||||||||
| Rated | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Score | SB | R | Place | |||||
| 1 | AUT | 10588 | Pötz, Florian | 1800P | ½ | 1 | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.5 | 9.5 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | CZE | 130711 | Kýhos, Alois | 1701 | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 1D | 4 | 7.75 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 3 | USA | 514360 | Owens, Steve | 1800P | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1D | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 4 | POL | 421419 | Deren, Marcin | 2019F | . | . | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1D | 3 | 4.25 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 5 | USA | 514348 | Thomas, Gerald K | 1800P | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 6 | GER | 85582 | Kaspschak, Mrs. Karola | 1800P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 7 | ITA | 241236 | Barzaghi, Andy | 1800P | 0 | 0D | 0D | 0D | 0 | 0D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
XF = FIDE Elo
XP = provisional
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
In event WS/O/120 I am in clear second with one game to go. The three of us at top each have only to finish our games with Sanchez Carmona. Of course, I don't know how the other games are going, but in my game with Sanchez Carmona I am the Exchange up as Black in a Caro-Kann: Gurgenidze System. We are entering the end game (R,B,B vs. R,R,B and four pawns each) and I just need to put this puppy away. I could finish anywhere from first to third. I think second is most likely. I had too many draws in this event. Jan Gantar has four wins already to my three.
| WS/O/120 | TD Marconi, Ralph P. | |||||||||||||||
| Rated | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Score | SB | R | Place | |||||
| 1 | SLO | 480238 | Gantar, Jan | 1800P | ½ | 1 | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | USA | 514360 | Owens, Steve | 1800P | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 3 | AUS | 30119 | Ramsden, Jim E. | 1852 | 0 | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 4 | ESP | 160980 | Sánchez Carmona, Gerardo | 1800P | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 5 | USA | 514396 | Lynn, Bret | 1800P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | . | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 6 | TUR | 490209 | Ciklabakkal, Metin | 1800P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | . | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 7 | NOR | 360548 | Stenseth, Bjørn Gunnar | 1800P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
In my latest ICCF event, WS/O/138, again I have too many draws to be a favorite, but I'll finish near the top. I missed my chance to stand out from the pack with Black against Dumitrescu in a Spanish Berlin game. I had a clear advantage but missed the win in the end game with two passed pawns. Pareschi and Sarak are still playing thier game and so have a chance to pass Dumitrescu and me in the standings. I'll at least finish second or third assuming I can take care of my last game with Van hentenryck.
| WS/O/138 | TD Millstone, Michael | |||||||||||||||
| Rated | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Score | SB | R | Place | |||||
| 1 | ROM | 440627 | Dumitrescu, Florian | 1800P | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 5.75 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | USA | 514360 | Owens, Steve | 1800P | ½ | ½ | ½ | . | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 5.75 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 3 | ITA | 241242 | Pareschi, Remo | 1800P | ½ | ½ | . | . | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4.5 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 4 | GER | 84051 | Sarak, Michael | 1800P | ½ | ½ | . | . | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4.5 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 5 | BEL | 40214 | Van hentenryck, Alain | 1689 | . | . | . | . | . | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | ||
| 6 | USA | 511398 | Peterson, Miss Janet | 1676 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | . | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 7 | SUI | 100390 | Galanti, Sergio | 1628 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
Sorted by place. Click to sort by start list order.
I am in the midst of my second USCF Walter E. Muir event (USCF/WS/07WM41). Back in August I finished first in USCF/WS/07WM27. This one is going to be much, much tougher. I have wins in both games against Bill Evans again. No knock on Bill, sometimes another person just seems to have your number. My opening repertoire seems to be set up perfectly for his. The other players in this event all have multiple first place Muir finishes.
As an example of how tough this event is, here are the tournaments won by participants in the last several months:
OCTOBER WINNERS
Walter Muir Webserver
William Evans 07W28 5-1
William Evans 06W22 3 ½-2 ½
Thomas Haggard 06W22 3 ½-2 ½
William Evans 07W08 5-1
Joe Hoffmann 07W25 6-0
SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENT WINNERS
John Collins
Thomas Haggard 05C39 4-2
Walter Muir
Joe Hoffmann 07W16 4 ½-1 ½
William Evans 07W01 6-0
William Evans 07W21 6-0
Yikes!
Also of note: friend of the blog Anthony Ragan has a Muir win, too!
SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENT
WINNERS
Walter Muir
Anthony Ragan 07W16 4 ½-1 ½
In my games with Bill Evans, as Black we played a Semi-Slav: Meran. In the early middle game I was able to disturb his King side pawns with an exchange of his f3 Knight for my light Bishop. The open g file left by the recapture of the light Bishop was immediately exploitable by my Queen and King side Rook. In the other game Evans responded to 1.d4 with a Dutch Defense. I used a Catalan/Reti style setup with which I was familiar, and advanced my Queen side pawns aggressively. At about move 16 Bill dropped the f pawn in an exchange of Knights. A few moves later I was able to win the Exchange and then invade the seventh and eighth ranks with my rooks.
The other games are ongoing.
Against Thomas Haggard, in my game with Black Tom opened with what he called the "Haggard Gambit" in the Caro Kann Exchange. I'm not sure he has received compensation, but play continues... In my game as White, we are in a Bogo-Indian and things are very much in flux. Both games are in the opening stages.
Against Joe Hoffman, as Black I have the Bishop pair in the late middle game of a Caro Kann Exchange game. What is it with all these Exchange and Panov games? Has everyone abandoned the Advance against the CK? In our game that I have White, we are in the late middle game stages of another Bogo-Indian. It has been very tight but I am a pawn up. As compensation Black has a protected passed central pawn while my passed pawn is outside and isolated.
| USCF/WS/07WM41 | TD Dunne, Alex | ||||||||||||||||
| Unrated | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Score | SB | R | Place | |||||
| 1 | USA | 514322 | Hoffmann, Joe | . | . | 1 | 1 | . | . | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 2 | USA | 514360 | Owens, Steve | . | . | 1 | 1 | . | . | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 3 | USA | 514306 | Evans, William | 1620 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | . | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 4 | USA | 514316 | Haggard, Thomas | . | . | . | . | . | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | ||||
My USCF rating is up to 1621 as of yesterday. If my current games are any indication I may be leveling off at between 1600 and 1700 for USCF Correspondence.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Redskins: Add Anthony to the Mix
Awesome addition. The Skins FINALLY went out and got a true possession/red zone WR. I saw this guy at Auburn and in high school at Baldwin County. Mix knows how to shield the defender away from the ball when covered, and corner backs have almost zero chance of jamming him at the line. Mix makes very good adjustments to the ball and anything thrown within reach has a great chance to be caught. At Auburn Mix ran very good routes with crisp breaks and good posture. Mix doesn't catch the ball with his body, he knows how to catch and squeeze it in with his hands. Mix also has a mean streak and will look to pound on defenders, especially when they try to knock him off routes or get physical. He is also an accomplished blocker at WR both in run support and down filed for other WRs. Mix is the type of player that intimidates defenders, and that is rare. Sort of like having a linebacker be productive on the offensive unit.(Disclaimer: I tend to have a blind spot for faults in players that line up with the intent to destroy the opponent physically, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Keep your JoeyT. I'm a Riggo, Jacoby, Grimm type of fan.)
Some draft sites had Mix listed at 6'5" but when I saw him at Auburn I thought he was stretching to make 6'4". Still, Mix is very strong and at 235 has the tools to play TE or H-back if Gibbs goes back to that.
Mix has some negatives. He didn't work well during the week in college and that translated to reduced playing time under Tuberville. I don't know if this continued with the Giants.
If Gibbs and crew can motivate him, this guy can put up BIG numbers. Obviously, Campbell knows him and chemistry shouldn't be hard to achieve. Oh, yeah. At Auburn Mix was clocked at 4.49 in the 40. He can run. 6'4" and 230 lbs and he runs a sub 4.5 40.
And he likes to pound on DBs.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Redskins: Just One Yard, Skins Lose to the Pukes 28-23
4-1-DAL 32 (8:59) (Field Goal formation) 6-S.Suisham 49 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-67-E.Albright, Holder-4-D.Frost.
That was the play. Fourth and one at the Dallas 32 yard line. That was the moment, the time for the ultimate question in this game, and perhaps the pivotal point not only in this season, but in the second tenure of Joe Gibbs. The Redskins were up 7-0 and driving for another score. The Cowboys had been stymied so far by the Skins' defense on their first three possessions. This was the third time with the ball for the Redskins offense, the first had been a wonderful drive for a TD and the second a three and out. The Skins were again moving the ball, making plays...
One yard. Just one yard.
Sure, Suisham had hit from beyond fifty yards which this kick called for, but not without question. Sure, during the first part of the season the defense had seemed unbreakable against the top offenses in the league, but in recent games they had lost their top two secondary defenders, and the best players on both the line backing and defensive line units were playing injured. Add to this a young offense just starting to pick up their stride after absorbing an unheard of amount of injuries to the line and receivers, but regaining their stride nonetheless especially behind the running of Clinton Portis and the revamped line...
Just One Yard.
Back in the year that the Skins last captured their Super Bowl, a young Cowboys team invaded RFK and won a game, meaningless to the Skins on their way to the Lombardi, but meaning everything to the upstart Cowboys and their fans who had endured a decade of mediocre play, and everything to Jimmy Johnson who was building a dynasty out of the dregs of 3-13 and 1-15 teams. Johnson threw everything in the playbook, and some things not in the playbook, at the more talented and experienced Redskins. Johnson not only won that game, he set the tone for a team that would win three out of four NFL Championships.
This was the moment, needing just one yard, that Joe Gibbs could have turned this organization around for much better things. This was the moment that this young quarterback, this rebuilt on the fly line, and this running back in the midst of recapturing the aura a greatness that two injury plagued years had sapped needed to set the stage for possible greatness. Get the first down, drive for the score, put the Dallas offense in a hole and let the defense tee off on Tony Romo... Knock off the team being crowned as this year's NFC Super Bowl representative in their house. That yard, just that one yard, could have done that.
Instead, Coach sent out Suisham and gave the Cowboys excellent field position and they proceeded to tie up the game. The Skins gamely battled, especially on offense, but the battle was uphill and the grade too steep from there. Instead of dominating Dallas, putting the "foot on the neck" as the expression goes, that one yard, just one yard, got the Cowboys back in the game and stole the momentum from the Skins' offense. That one yard could be the last chance for the second Gibbs regime to be the one to bring championship football back to Washington.
That was the play. Fourth and one at the Dallas 32 yard line. That was the moment, the time for the ultimate question in this game, and perhaps the pivotal point not only in this season, but in the second tenure of Joe Gibbs. The Redskins were up 7-0 and driving for another score. The Cowboys had been stymied so far by the Skins' defense on their first three possessions. This was the third time with the ball for the Redskins offense, the first had been a wonderful drive for a TD and the second a three and out. The Skins were again moving the ball, making plays...
One yard. Just one yard.
Sure, Suisham had hit from beyond fifty yards which this kick called for, but not without question. Sure, during the first part of the season the defense had seemed unbreakable against the top offenses in the league, but in recent games they had lost their top two secondary defenders, and the best players on both the line backing and defensive line units were playing injured. Add to this a young offense just starting to pick up their stride after absorbing an unheard of amount of injuries to the line and receivers, but regaining their stride nonetheless especially behind the running of Clinton Portis and the revamped line...Just One Yard.
Back in the year that the Skins last captured their Super Bowl, a young Cowboys team invaded RFK and won a game, meaningless to the Skins on their way to the Lombardi, but meaning everything to the upstart Cowboys and their fans who had endured a decade of mediocre play, and everything to Jimmy Johnson who was building a dynasty out of the dregs of 3-13 and 1-15 teams. Johnson threw everything in the playbook, and some things not in the playbook, at the more talented and experienced Redskins. Johnson not only won that game, he set the tone for a team that would win three out of four NFL Championships.
This was the moment, needing just one yard, that Joe Gibbs could have turned this organization around for much better things. This was the moment that this young quarterback, this rebuilt on the fly line, and this running back in the midst of recapturing the aura a greatness that two injury plagued years had sapped needed to set the stage for possible greatness. Get the first down, drive for the score, put the Dallas offense in a hole and let the defense tee off on Tony Romo... Knock off the team being crowned as this year's NFC Super Bowl representative in their house. That yard, just that one yard, could have done that.
Instead, Coach sent out Suisham and gave the Cowboys excellent field position and they proceeded to tie up the game. The Skins gamely battled, especially on offense, but the battle was uphill and the grade too steep from there. Instead of dominating Dallas, putting the "foot on the neck" as the expression goes, that one yard, just one yard, got the Cowboys back in the game and stole the momentum from the Skins' offense. That one yard could be the last chance for the second Gibbs regime to be the one to bring championship football back to Washington.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Chess: Another London Win, a Caro Kann Draw
[Event "ICC correspondence 2007Quad.08.02"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2007.08.18"]
[White "sdo1"]
[Black "The7thGuest"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1971"]
[BlackElo "2035"]
[ICCResult "Black resigns"]
[Opening "King's Indian: London system"]
[ECO "A48"]
[NIC "QP.03"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nc3
This is a thematic and positional mistake. White should play the Knight to d2 instead of c3 if developing before moving the c pawn in any case, and especially in the London where c3 is a support for d4 and the Knight at d2 helps support the thematic e4 push coming later.
5. ...d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O a6 9. a4 b6
I was not happy with my position. The fifth move still irked me. In OTB play that would probably have been enough to lose the game for me, and as improving real time play is a reason I play correspondence, perhaps I can translate the experience into a beneficial mindset OTB. The position, while not what I wanted, is still a good one and 9. a4 took steam out of any expansion Black had wanted Queen side.
10. d5 h6 11. e4 g5 12. Bh2 g4 13. hxg4 Nxg4 14. Bg3 Nde5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Re1
Black lashed out with his King side pawns and his Knights, but I think he only damaged his position. The dark Bishop is still a nuisance to him, his Knight's post is temporary, and his King has a lot of open attacking ground to the front. My goal from here was to exchange off his King side pieces while getting my pieces to the King side. If he didn't exchange off his Knight for the light Bishop, I had several candidate plans with the f and e pawns and the e file to get my pieces into the action. One enticing target is the isolated h pawn.
16. ...Bd7 17. Qh5 Bg4 18. Qh2 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Ra7 20. Re3 Kh7 21. Bf4 Rh8 22. Rg3 Bd7 23. Re1 b5
I thought 23...b5 was a mistake. I was expecting something to get the Queen involved in the center or King side defense. Perhaps Qf8, e5, or f6 were better defensive tries.
24. Qh5 Qf8 25. e5 dxe5 26. Bxe5 Rg8 27. Ne4
Now my pieces are all on the King side and in great attacking position. Black doesn't have time to do anything on the Queen side with his pawns and Rook and still defend the King.
27. ...Bxe5 28. Qxe5 Rxg3 29. Nxg3 Bc8
After the exchanges and the retreat of the Bishop, White's pieces are still in attacking position, the Black King is still exposed to those pieces, the Black Queen is the only Black piece directly defending the King but is very over worked. The ISO doubled d pawns can't be exploited and the d5 pawn will soon advance into the Black position. The Black Queen side is ready to give up material.
The White Queen rules all, attacking in every direction and in command of the board.
30. axb5 axb5 31. Rc1 Bd7 32. Rxc5 f6 33. Qe3 Ra2 34. Rc7 {Black resigns} 1-0
33...Qf7 or Qe8 probably gave the most resistance. Ra2 loses material very quickly. After 34...Qd8 35. d6 the e pawn will fall and Black will be compelled to lose more material.
In the other game of our match (2007Quad.08.01) I relied on my trusted Caro Kann against the higher rated player. The Caro Kann player must not fear the exchange of his light Bishop, and in fact he must be able to embrace it in several lines of the Classical variation. The tempi invested by White in the exchange should allow Black more than enough compensation.
In this game the CK lives up to its dull reputation as both players could find no chinks in the opposition's defense.
[Event "ICC correspondence 2007Quad.08.01"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2007.08.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "The7thGuest"]
[Black "sdo1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2055"]
[BlackElo "1969"]
[ICCResult "Game drawn by mutual agreement"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: classical variation"]
[ECO "B18"]
[NIC "CK.10"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Nh4 e6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Qf3 e5 12. Be3 exd4 13. Bxd4 Qe7+ 14. Qe2 Be5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. Bc2 Qc7 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. h3 Re8 20. Rd1 Ned7 21. Qd2 Nb6 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Qg5 a6 24. Bb3 Nbd5 25. Qh4 Qe5 26. Qc4 Qc7 {Draw (Black Offered)} 1/2-1/2
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2007.08.18"]
[White "sdo1"]
[Black "The7thGuest"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1971"]
[BlackElo "2035"]
[ICCResult "Black resigns"]
[Opening "King's Indian: London system"]
[ECO "A48"]
[NIC "QP.03"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nc3
This is a thematic and positional mistake. White should play the Knight to d2 instead of c3 if developing before moving the c pawn in any case, and especially in the London where c3 is a support for d4 and the Knight at d2 helps support the thematic e4 push coming later.
5. ...d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O a6 9. a4 b6
I was not happy with my position. The fifth move still irked me. In OTB play that would probably have been enough to lose the game for me, and as improving real time play is a reason I play correspondence, perhaps I can translate the experience into a beneficial mindset OTB. The position, while not what I wanted, is still a good one and 9. a4 took steam out of any expansion Black had wanted Queen side.
10. d5 h6 11. e4 g5 12. Bh2 g4 13. hxg4 Nxg4 14. Bg3 Nde5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Re1
Black lashed out with his King side pawns and his Knights, but I think he only damaged his position. The dark Bishop is still a nuisance to him, his Knight's post is temporary, and his King has a lot of open attacking ground to the front. My goal from here was to exchange off his King side pieces while getting my pieces to the King side. If he didn't exchange off his Knight for the light Bishop, I had several candidate plans with the f and e pawns and the e file to get my pieces into the action. One enticing target is the isolated h pawn.
16. ...Bd7 17. Qh5 Bg4 18. Qh2 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Ra7 20. Re3 Kh7 21. Bf4 Rh8 22. Rg3 Bd7 23. Re1 b5
I thought 23...b5 was a mistake. I was expecting something to get the Queen involved in the center or King side defense. Perhaps Qf8, e5, or f6 were better defensive tries.
24. Qh5 Qf8 25. e5 dxe5 26. Bxe5 Rg8 27. Ne4
Now my pieces are all on the King side and in great attacking position. Black doesn't have time to do anything on the Queen side with his pawns and Rook and still defend the King.
27. ...Bxe5 28. Qxe5 Rxg3 29. Nxg3 Bc8
After the exchanges and the retreat of the Bishop, White's pieces are still in attacking position, the Black King is still exposed to those pieces, the Black Queen is the only Black piece directly defending the King but is very over worked. The ISO doubled d pawns can't be exploited and the d5 pawn will soon advance into the Black position. The Black Queen side is ready to give up material.
The White Queen rules all, attacking in every direction and in command of the board.
30. axb5 axb5 31. Rc1 Bd7 32. Rxc5 f6 33. Qe3 Ra2 34. Rc7 {Black resigns} 1-0
33...Qf7 or Qe8 probably gave the most resistance. Ra2 loses material very quickly. After 34...Qd8 35. d6 the e pawn will fall and Black will be compelled to lose more material.
In the other game of our match (2007Quad.08.01) I relied on my trusted Caro Kann against the higher rated player. The Caro Kann player must not fear the exchange of his light Bishop, and in fact he must be able to embrace it in several lines of the Classical variation. The tempi invested by White in the exchange should allow Black more than enough compensation.
In this game the CK lives up to its dull reputation as both players could find no chinks in the opposition's defense.
[Event "ICC correspondence 2007Quad.08.01"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2007.08.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "The7thGuest"]
[Black "sdo1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2055"]
[BlackElo "1969"]
[ICCResult "Game drawn by mutual agreement"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: classical variation"]
[ECO "B18"]
[NIC "CK.10"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Nh4 e6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Qf3 e5 12. Be3 exd4 13. Bxd4 Qe7+ 14. Qe2 Be5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. Bc2 Qc7 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. h3 Re8 20. Rd1 Ned7 21. Qd2 Nb6 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Qg5 a6 24. Bb3 Nbd5 25. Qh4 Qe5 26. Qc4 Qc7 {Draw (Black Offered)} 1/2-1/2
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Redskins: A Win is a Win, But... Landry a Bright Spot
Despite the victory, despite Shaun Suisham's return to form, despite Clinton Portis finding room to run against what may be the weakest run defense in the NFL... 
Redskin Fans have plenty to worry about after the Skins' 23-20 win against the stumbling Jets in New Jersey.
The defense demonstrated that blitzing is not something to be set aside and later picked up when desired. While it is nice that Gregg Williams put the blitz back in the arsenal, it will likely take a game or two to get back in synch. The CBs are again playing too far off the receivers. Kellen Clemens had a decent day taking what the Skins' D gave him, and despite being sacked a few times, was very efficient on third down. A top defense should not have allowed a QB making his second start that kind of production, especially as Leavingus Coles couldn't play. Clemens made more of an impact with his depleted line and skill players than Campbell did with his depleted line and skill players, and Campbell wasn't facing a top defense. Has anyone else noticed that two of the three worst teams in the NFL, with a combined record of 1-16, have taken the Skins to over time?
One of the bright spots so far this year has been the play of our first round draft pick, LaRon Landry. Landry and the 49ers' Patrick Willis are hands down the best rookie defenders this year.
I initially wanted Willis after seeing him play against Auburn, but I was VERY pleased with Landry when the Skins grabbed him. Of the other "can't miss" defensive draft prospects, Adams got his first start for the Bucs last week, Anderson has been starting all year for the Falcons but has disappointed, and Okoye started strong but has fallen behind Willis and Landry of late.
Redskin Fans have plenty to worry about after the Skins' 23-20 win against the stumbling Jets in New Jersey. The defense demonstrated that blitzing is not something to be set aside and later picked up when desired. While it is nice that Gregg Williams put the blitz back in the arsenal, it will likely take a game or two to get back in synch. The CBs are again playing too far off the receivers. Kellen Clemens had a decent day taking what the Skins' D gave him, and despite being sacked a few times, was very efficient on third down. A top defense should not have allowed a QB making his second start that kind of production, especially as Leavingus Coles couldn't play. Clemens made more of an impact with his depleted line and skill players than Campbell did with his depleted line and skill players, and Campbell wasn't facing a top defense. Has anyone else noticed that two of the three worst teams in the NFL, with a combined record of 1-16, have taken the Skins to over time?
One of the bright spots so far this year has been the play of our first round draft pick, LaRon Landry. Landry and the 49ers' Patrick Willis are hands down the best rookie defenders this year.
I initially wanted Willis after seeing him play against Auburn, but I was VERY pleased with Landry when the Skins grabbed him. Of the other "can't miss" defensive draft prospects, Adams got his first start for the Bucs last week, Anderson has been starting all year for the Falcons but has disappointed, and Okoye started strong but has fallen behind Willis and Landry of late.
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