Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to everyone who has followed my adventures for these past two years! I'm currently taking a little bit of a break from blogging, but will be back in the New Year with all my usual Shenanigans.

In the meantime, above is a photo of Venice that I came across while digging through some old pics. I had never touched the picture before, simply because we were traveling and I didn't have the time to edit it. The waterfront facades look incredible, and it made me miss the wonderful corners of Europe! I can only imagine how many more pictures like this that I have sitting somewhere on a portable hard drive...

Have a great New Years and I will see you all in 2010!

J. Twice

Snowball Fight!

Things can get a little "out of hand" when I return home for the Holidays... games, meals, and usual shenanigans. However, with the possibility of snow in the forecast, you can be sure that there will be a snowball fight or two. I didn't catch any previous snowball fights on film, so below I've used a little help from the good people at "Jib Jab" to create a re-enactment. Enjoy!!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

My "legacy" forever secured...

This sent in from avid blog reader Joey Mertlich, who also doubles as one of my best friends (not sure in which order.) Joey is currently renovating his garage, and wanted to be sure that he prepared in the likely event that an archeologist in the distant future discovered his home. I can now rest assured that my legacy as a football player is secure for all time.

"Jason, your U of A football poster is about to be forever entombed behind some R-13 insulation and drywall. Future civilizations will ponder what it 
meant to "get with the program" and what purpose the elbow arm band had for an early 21st century footballer."

Sorry to everyone out there for my blogging haitus. I've been in Edmonton, Canada braving MINUS 45 CELSIUS temperatures, which doesn't bode well to creative thought and/or avoiding hypothermia. I'll be back after Christmas but in the meantime here's our 2009 Eurobowl ring. Champs baby!





J. Twice

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Location:Ring ceremony

Cold Coach = Victory

On ESPN.COM's Page 2, there is always a great assortment of quotes, quips, and interesting analysis, often not directly involving what is happening "ON" the field. I love reading The Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, and have quoted him on this blog before. Gregg Easterbrook is also a fav, writing a lengthy but very interesting weekly column entitled the "Tuesday Morning Quarterback." I was, shall I say, scrolling through the article this morning when I came across commentary that I had thought just hours before - WHY IS MIKE SINGLETARY WEARING SUCH A HUGE COAT DURING THE 49ers/SEAHAWKS GAME?

Ready to call the defense, or climb K2

Yes, the Pacific Northwest is suffering from an unusual spell. However, the game time temperature at Qwest Field was still around 35 degrees, or 2 celcius. This is not an arctic blizzard. I vividly remember seeing Singletary and thinking, "His players must think it's really cold if he's wearing that... and it probably does affect their play!"

You see, cold is an enemy of all football players. Let me make this perfectly clear: NO ONE likes playing in the cold. Even Brett Favre, the ultimate "cold weather QB," was once quoted as saying that he "hates the cold just as much as the next guy." He only pretended to like it to increase his chances of winning. Same goes for those lineman that come out in Saskatchewan in November wearing just T-Shirts -- it's ALL MENTAL.

That being said, the Tuesday Morning Quarterback hit the nail on the head with Easterbrook's observation of this weekend's NFL action. I quote:

As snow begins to fall, TMQ's immutable law, Cold Coach = Victory, comes into play. The kickoff temperature was 37 degrees in New Jersey on Sunday, and Phillips was so overdressed in a heavy ski parka apparently intended for a Maine mountaineering camp, he looked like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Meanwhile, Giants coach Tom Coughlin looked manly in a varsity jacket. The team with the manly looking coach prevailed. With a kickoff temperature of 35 degrees in Seattle, Mike Singletary was dressed in what appeared to be a North Sea oil rig worker's survival suit, while the Seahawks' Jim Mora the Younger looked manly in a varsity jacket. If the coach acts afraid of 35 degrees, what message does that send his players? Cold Coach = Victory. Ridiculous K-2 Ascent Gear ⊰ Victory.

Cold Coach = Victory

It even rang true in the Civil War (Oregon-Oregon State Version, not Gettysberg. I have no information on the dress of their generals. Actually I could find it, but it would take forever and then I'd have to also google the weather on that ill-fated day and chances of finding that are slim to none.)

Reader Comments: Chris Brill of Phoenix wrote to me early in the Civil War contest, "I'm watching Oregon versus Oregon St. right now and I already know who is going to win. Its below 30 degrees and Chip Kelly is wearing what looks like a thin wind breaker, with no gloves. Oregon St head coach Mike Riley looks pretty comfortable in his ski jacket. Cold Coach=Victory. I'll go with Oregon."

Two other great non-game action facts of note from TMQ:

Disclaimer of the Week: Recently I bought a United Airlines ticket at the United Web site. The "fare restrictions" warning was 6,679 words. The United States Constitution is 4,427 words.

Winston Smith Opens Sports P.R. Agency: Tim Graham reports the Bills have photoshopped Dick "Cheerio, Chaps" Jauron out of team pictures, as if he never existed. Maybe he didn't! Maybe the Bills should interview Nikolai Yezhov for their coaching vacancy.

God Bless the Internet. And great work Gregg!

~ J. Twice

I'm 30

No pictures. No funny jokes.

Today, December 7th, 2009, I turned 30.

Not excited.

Jason

Zona stuns USC, finishes 2nd in the Pac

My Alma mater, the University of Arizona Wildcats just pulled off a stunning 21-17 victory over the USC Trojans in the LA Coliseum. The victory clinches 2nd place finish in the Pac-10 and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. Unlike the Oregon game which I watched in a packed bar in New York, this time I was cheering solo in my house is Seattle. Here's how it went down when Zona clinched it:

The last time the Cats made the trip to San Diego I was a true freshman in 1998, and we pulled of a victory over Nebraska. It was an incredible memory!

Congratulations to Coach Stoops and all the Wildcats on a fantastic finish. See you in San Diego!

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The ironic 13th man

Oh, the irony.

The 97th Grey Cup was played this past weekend to determine the Canadian Football League champion. The game matched the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Montreal Allouttes, and was one of the closest championship finales in recent memory... Other than of course the 2005 final when my Eskimos won the Ring in double OT.

The Roughriders notoriously have the most passionate fans in the CFL, which is easy to explain when your field is named after a fertilizer company. Face it - there's just not that much to do on the plains. So taking their cue from the Oakland Raiders (you knew there'd be a tie in), these green crazies routinely put watermelons on their head and call themselves the 13th man... As normal Canadian teams play with 12.

I say normal because the 13th man is actually what LOST the Roughriders this game. With just a few seconds left and trailing by 2, the Als lined up for a potential game winning 47 yard field goal. The clock struck zero and the kick sailed wide - which should have won the game for Riders. The only problem, the Riders were flagged for having TOO MANY MEN on the field! Yes, at that moment the 13th man really was a nightmare!

After moving up 10 yards, the Als easily made the kick and were crowned Grey Cup champions. No word on exactly how that guy pictures above felt as he looked at his sign...

J. Twice

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Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles in the early orange glow

I woke up early last Tuesday for some "magic hour" photography as the sun came up over Los Angeles. After a two minute google search, I settled on the Griffith Observatory Park just north of downtown, and wasn't disappointed. Here's a couple shots... enjoy!

Another sunny day in California

But California is all about the beach, so I thought I'd do my own "footprint" photo.

~ J. Twice

How NOT to catch a mouse

Act 1: Capture the Invader

With a mouse in the house, it was up to our fearless heroes to bring him in. Lucky for us, Chad was quick on the draw!

Act 2: The Great Escape

After safely capturing our intruder, a slight lack of concentration created an opportunity for a daring escape. Or as Chad would put it, "Jason, what were you thinking?!"

Act 3: Regroup

The heroes track the mouse to the closet and plan for a second attempt, this time in the closet. Carefully note the teamwork and positive encouragement within our fearless gang.

Act 4, Scene 2: On the move

The moment is here - will our quick handed friends be able to capture the furry villain? Stay tuned!

Act 5: The Final Move

They've battled over carpet, behind couches, and in the closet. Time is running out and it all comes down to this!

With our mouse STILL in the house, stay tuned for the Sequel...

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Crazy games

Not to turn the blog into cheesy family home movies, but here's what happens when everyone (including my two nephews Rees, 4, and Cole, 2) has too much pie! We call it, "Hot Wheel Trick Shot Dance Party." Enjoy!

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Turkey Bowl

Turkey Bowl survivors. In the middle are two Euro veterans: WR Joey Stein (white shirt) and myself. The real goal is having a great time with people like this!

A long-standing American tradition on Thanksgiving is the "Turkey Bowl." This annual male-bonding ritual springs up on fields across the nation, and features weekend warriors battling for bragging rights. I was invited to play with my brother in Fresno, and was lucky enough to be joined by Danube Dragon receiver Joey Stein, who I had gotten to know from playing against him in Austria. Joey is originally from Fresno and has a great attitude that is necessary for playing ball overseas. He currently is completing his Master's degree at Chico State.

It was a great chance to throw the ball around and share some laughs, but as fate would have it we were all drafted onto different teams. I did my best to make some plays, but we unfortunately lost when Joey took a hitch 50 yards for a TD. Here's a (controversial) highlight of one of Europe's best imports making some Americans miss:

Now for the real game of the day - eating 10,000+ calories!

J. Twice

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Dueling Manhattans

Saturday: Manhattan Island, New York

SUNDAY: Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles

We wrapped our incredible time in New York on Saturday night with a trip to the top of Rockefeller Center. The views were spectacular from the 67th floor observation tower as the city stretched for what seemed like forever beneath us. I then jumped on a Virgin America flight across the country the next morning, and must pause to say that flying Virgin was awesome: free wifi, satellite TV, chill people... I will DEFINITELY fly them again if I have a choice.

I landed in LA around 3, and thus had a little time to kill before the sun went down. I grabbed a smoothie and headed to the nearest beach - ironically called MANHATTAN BEACH! What are the chances that I flew from one Manhattan to another? I flipped my iPod to Alanis Morissette and shot surfers at dusk, marking a fantastic end to a week that is quickly running out of superlatives. Enjoy the shots!

~ J. Twice

Just can't get enough NYC

Radio City Music Hall

Bag 'o Nuts ready for roasting

The George Contreras Memorial Statue

(Actually featuring Cuban hero Jose Marti)

Crazy Taxi

Photography Tip: Not every picture needs to be completely "still." When I was walking through New York, I noticed how many cabs would fly by us, and I thought about how to capture on film. A technique to do this is to "drag the shutter." If you have a digital SLR camera that allows you to adjust your shutter speed, set it anywhere between 1/2 to 1/30 of a second, and then as a car goes by you, follow it with your lens, attempting to keep the moving object in the same place in your frame. As you pan while the shutter is open, the object (car) will stay relatively clear while the objects in the background (buildings) will become a blur. This creates the feeling of motion the old fashion way. And you thought everything I did was in Photoshop...

~ J. Twice

A Day in New York

FALL IN CENTRAL PARK, 9:12 am

Nowhere else in the world does such a wide variety of urban life exist than in New York. It is the true melting pot of the United States, much more than one would ever experience in Nebraska or Spokane. On Thursday we spent the entire day exploring the city, without a true "destination" in mind other than to get a true glimpse of the soul of the city. These pictures tell an 8-hour adventure, enjoy!

CENTRAL PARK

FALL LEAVES ON COBBLESTONE: Central Park 9:21am

THE MALL, Central Park 9:43am

FALL WALKER, Central Park 10:06 am

Central Park is an oasis of green in the otherwise monochrome urban jungle. In my opinion the most photo friendly spot is the southeast corner, along a stretch called "The Mall." It is slightly more quiet than the busier paths that bustle with joggers, bikers, and horse-drawn carriages, and makes a beautiful photo in ANY season.

THROUGH THE CITY

SUBWAY, 11:02am

The subway is the great equalizer in New York, where people from all walks of life come together. Or should I say cram? We found the subway network to be efficient and a great chance to people watch, from a homeless guy blasting his stereo to an accountant trying to hit on two French girls. Always great reality TV.

WALKER, Chelsea Art District 12:02pm

WINDOW WASHERS, SoHo District 12:37pm

AFTERNOON SIDEWALK, Broadway & Spring 1:51 pm

This is my 70's record cover-photo, or perhaps for a Rolling Stone feature on The Eagles. I purposely let the picture slightly out of focus to convey the perspective of fighting your way through a sea of people with the sun in your eye.

LITTLE ITALY, 3:05pm

This waiter (I'm guessing: Giuseppe) was classic! He would serenade passersby in a deep baritone, singing, "Bella! Bella!" at any woman that would draw near. I asked to take his picture, but he told me he was working, so instead I just stood on the corner and took it all in. It literally felt like I was back in Rome's Piazza Navona.

CHINATOWN FRUIT, 3:31 pm

Directly adjacent to Little Italy lies Chinatown, where you can find a huge bazaar (that is sometimes also bizarre) filled with purses, clothes, perfumes, and food. A side alley caught my eye where a group of vendors were selling fruit you probably won't find in Safeway.

BROOKLYN BRICK, 4:21pm

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge created a surprising change in atmosphere from the financial district in Manhattan. It felt a little more "roomy."

STATUE OF LIBERTY, 4:32pm

Sunset over New Jersey - my first glimpse ever of the Statue of Liberty!

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

CABLES, 4:46pm

PINK SKIES, 4:49pm

Manhattan, 5:03pm

A perfect way to end the day, with a view back towards Lower Manhattan. I must say that New York has made a definite impression on me, much more than my last visit that only lasted 3 days during the dead of winter. The people, industry, and culture here are so vibrant, and the constant interaction with people reminded me of a European city.

After dark, we walked to Ground Zero where construction pushes forward 24 hours a day on the new World Trade Center. It was a sobering reminder of all that happened, almost surreal that there is now this huge hole in the city. Yet I came away with hope, directly from the people of this great place.

~ J. Twice

Beardown... New York!

So I'm in New York, kickin' it with my friend Dana Lapan an she takes us to a bar full of Wildcats. (no, not cougars. Sorry Keith). And so they are going CRAZY with every play. Here's a little sample of NYC's finest!

J. Twice

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NYC Images Part 2

Art is everywhere in New York City

Having been in New York for three days now, I've had the opportunity to see a fair amount of this vast and deeply fascinating city. It amazes me how so much can happen so close, yet feel worlds apart - from Central Park to Times Square, subterranean subways to towering skyscrapers. We've elected to walk as much as possible, providing me the opportunity to snap a few pics. Well, OK, I probably would have done that anyways :-) But still, it amazes me that we've seen so many major landmarks, and I've still yet to lay eyes on the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, or even the set of The View. I guess that's why we have tomorrow!

Perhaps it was our visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka "The Met") but I am getting a little more professional and "artsy" with my photos. Take a look!

Central Park

Patriotic Flags

Swinging for the Fences

Off Season

Towering Skyline

Broadway Billboards

City Ice

New York's Finest

Grand Central

~ J. Twice

NYC Images

Home plate in central park - a magical place to play at dusk.

The "Meatpacker" district of warehouses has gritty walls.

The Tavern on the Green in Central Park

~ J. Twice

The "Architecture Olympics"

Start spreading the news

With the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver fast approaching, I have been thinking more and more about everything that I see as a form of competition. Not just sports - imagine the top culinary chefs facing off, car manufacturers revving up, and the politicians... well, let's just leave politics out of this. With this premise in mind, I bring you the hypothetical "Architecture Olympics."

Our arrival in New York reminded me of what America is good at architecturally, with its bright lights and towering buildings probably offering the best chance for America to grab a medal. Call it our Michael Phelps of prefabrication. Yet my travels to over 23 European nations has convinced me that the Old World still may still hold the edge. Here's my breakdown of Europe's top architecture, by nation.

Honorable Mention

FRANCE

Paris - it's iconic, but you know what Lloyd Christmas said about the French.

BELGIUM

Bruges - not just the site of a Colin Farrell movie

SLOVENIA

Bratislava is a definite darkhorse

DISQUALIFIED DUE TO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES: Holland, Russia

BRONZE MEDAL: Switzerland

The Swan is real... I'm serious.

When you look at Switzerland, you want to go over and touch it to make sure its real. You consider having your dinner served on the ground - it's that clean. Oh yeah, and the lakes have swans, because, well... why not. Add in the Alps as a backdrop and cowbells for your soundtrack, and you pretty much have the picture. Or was it just the chocolate in my hand that influenced my vote?

Lakefront Luzern

SILVER MEDAL: Austria

Innsbruck's colorful buildings stand out against the snow

They may have won the gold at the 2009 European Football Championships, but the silver in building beauty goes to Austria. Vienna might be the most underrated architectural city in Europe. Salzburg is alive with the sound of music. And my last hometown of Innsbruck makes the Tiroleans' swell with pride. In a word with many slashes, Austria is quaint/beautiful/cute/cool.

Salzburg

There's a reason that the word Alm has no English translation.

GOLD MEDAL: Italy

Positano

No one does iconic architecture better than the country that gave us the Coliseum, Leaning Tower, and the Vatican. And like the wine, it seems to get better with time. Just taking a glance at these masterpieces provides the same calming effect as a glass of Chianti. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the Gold Medalist in the 2009 Architecture Olympics, Italy.

Venice Street, aka Canal

What more can I say? Colorful Cinque Terre

~ J. Twice