Love this version of “Personal Jesus” by Shaka Ponk:

I followed the game on a very delayed radio broadcast, the NFL.Com highlights and the chat room so take that for what it’s worth.

But here are some thoughts:

First of all–I miss Steve Savard on the radio broadcasts. He was very good. J.B. Long is just another guy–but Savard was really good. Farr is reduced to sideline reporter. So he’s there, but he isn’t. Maurice Jones-Drew is the other guy and he is…okay. Nothing special. Not terrible. I’d rather have a former Ram there.

NFL.Com is okay for some stats and highlights.

The chat room was fine. Ag brought his “A” game as usual and “as usual” ZN could barely contain his cheerleading efforts. Explaining away the dismal time of possession–ZN insisted that the Rams “wanted to get a look at the defensive guys”. When Goff fumbled he explained that this was simply a “new passing style they were trying out”, something that LOOKS like a fumble but would have gone for a touchdown if only Quick was where he was supposed to be at the time. The penalties were for “pre-season” infractions–just stuff the NFL was trying out and would not have been penalties during the regular season.

I was brilliant of course and correctly predicted the Rams would win this one 21-20 when the last three seconds were running off the clock. It’s a gift I have for these kind of things. I can’t explain it.

As for the team–I do agree with ZN about the running game–very impressive. Mason picked the right time for his meltdown. The Rams are loaded.

Wish I could say that about wide receiver–but once again–Quick shows his inconsistency. I hope the young guys come through.

The secondary has me a bit concerned but Troy Hill had a nice game I hear. They need some guys to step up.

Next game is the BIG pre-season game, I guess. #3. Good test.

They certainly need to make sure that Keenum is ready because he is obviously going to be the starter for a little while. I expect him to play the first half. Goff the second. Mannion will see some more time in Game #4.

Got to this thing late. Listening to radio broadcast. Sounds like Goff is not doing so hot. Defense is iffy. Not much improvement from last week. Hopefully they play Goff in the second half.

I think that Trump may be doing something even worse.

He’s sort of hijacking a progressive message, at least on some issues–and in the future when a true progressive brings up things like trade or companies leaving the United States not being rewarded for that, people will roll their eyes and say, “Trump.”

When he says some of the same things Bernie says–lobbyists, etc. he may be somewhat killing that message by making it come from the mouth of a crazy guy. Maybe this is even intentional. Maybe he is a Clinton plant. Probably not–he’s probably just using what works for him.

But you have to wonder.

I’ve been a fan of both writers for years.

But you don’t see them very much on the boob-tube. There you will find the same useless talking heads week after week.

Pre-season is such a difficult thing to judge.

That doesn’t mean I don’t reach quick emotional conclusions about what I’m watching. So, having said that, here are some thoughts:

I wonder why the Rams didn’t give Mannion more of a chance. I get it–they loved Goff–and they see him ultimately reaching a level that Mannion will never sniff. But last year would have offered many opportunities to take a better look at him. They didn’t. He looks very good–yes–against back-ups. Still…

This kid Spruce looks like the real deal. He is what I’m looking for–someone to make the tough catches. Reliability. I like him.

Cooper showed flashes. Has moves. Gotta make that catch though.

Michael Thomas? Bit disappointing. Only one game. We’ll see.

Higbee? Love him. Could be the best tight end they’ve had in years. Exciting.

Goff? Good things, bad things. I’d like to see more of that pocket movement he’s so famous for. He didn’t have much pocket awareness. His passes looked very good though. Has a good arm.

The secondary? Worst unit on the field last night. Horrible. I hope they get that fixed or it will be a very long year.

Lots of back-ups on defense. Hard to tell anything.

I was thinking last night about distractions: the move, new stadium, Hard Knocks, new faces.

How will that play out this year? Hard to see them getting double digit victories in a year like this. I can see another 6-10 to 8-8 kind of year. And because of all the distractions–yes–Fisher will get another pass.

Loved the rookie running back…#36. Can’t recall his name right now.

Tre Mason? Bye-bye. Time to move on .

Bennie also looked great.

First thing I want to see: NO INJURIES.

After that, in no particular order:

Wide receivers: show me something. Something–anything.

Higbee: I want to see the anti-Jared Cook. I want to see someone who is awake on every snap.

Robinson: Do NOT get any of the QBs killed. Consistency, my friend. Consistency.

Ogletree: I want to see him pick up where he left off.

Goff: Just don’t look like Foles. I get you’re a rookie but don’t horrify us with any sort of meltdown play. If you can do what Wentz did I’ll take it.

GZ: consistency. I don’t need you to kill 64 yard field goals. Just make the ones you should make.

Is Quinn even playing?

Sit out Gurley. No point in playing him here. Gotta find another guy to replace Mason anyway.

Zooey wrote:

PA Ram wrote:

Two words: Eric Kush.

A star in the making.

I hate “reality” television.

But he’s good. Very good.

It was a little surprising to hear someone explain that inch-wide shoulder straps on tank tops are a more formal look than spaghetti straps.

Hah! Kush was great. He brought about 50 pairs of disposable socks so he wouldn’t have to wash them. What a character.

Two words: Eric Kush.

A star in the making.

I hate “reality” television.

But he’s good. Very good.

I don’t think he will win.

But…..I didn’t think he’d get as far as he did either.

The American people are fickle and it’s got two of the most unpopular candidates ever to run for the White House. Anything is possible. When you step into the voting booth you can do anything you want. Will people vote for him when no one is watching?

You never know.

Billy_T wrote:

The Socialist Alternative is a possible source for future, leftist leaders.

http://www.socialistalternative.org/

They have an elected official in Seattle (Kshama Sawant) at the moment. Hoping they can expand their presence quickly and broadly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshama_Sawant

It will be interesting to see how a socialist movement will do going forward. In the past, anything that was “anti-capitalism” was “anti-America” and there was no traction to be gained.

While Bernie is no true socialist, he wasn’t afraid of the word either–and he did pretty well.

So we’ll see what the future holds.

I still think it’s an uphill battle but it may not be so far to the top of the hill now.

Lindsey Thiry ✔ @LindseyThiry
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein just nailed a 64-yard field goal in the Coliseum.

Can I just go on record to say that I really don’t care how many 64 yarders GZ hits in practice? Instead of that–move into the fifty to fifty four or five yard marks and just hit consistently. I’ll take that instead.

Yep. Worst summer for movies in years. Same sort of repetitive bs. Let’s start with “story” Hollywood and go from there.

These days Hollywood us all about style without substance. I want to see a really good film again.

Interesting, Nittany. But what about patenting seeds? What about terminator seed technology? That seems to be messing with nature in a bad way.