Ready for some football?

What a busy August! Tonight the Eagles took the field for the first time since the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Storylines aplenty for this preseason game, the primary one being the absence of Terrell Owens from the Eagles lineup (and sideline). I can only say that I hope that Owens plays this season, and plays well for the Eagles. What I saw of the game tonight was promising, the young receivers looked good and Ryan Moats looked great carving up 3rd team defense for Pittsburgh. The starters got smacked around, however, and the special teams had a very poor first quarter. Ultimately, the preseason means nothing, and any team that escapes a preseason game without any serious injuries can consider themselves a winner.

I am just now starting my homework for Fantasy Football 2005. I have two leagues this year, both free, one autopick draft and one live online draft. I think drafting strategy in fantasy football is based largely on the scoring system and roster spots. I try to design my league every year so that there is no one position that is far more important than another, although running backs always tend to go early no matter what. Sleepers? Not sure yet, but there are a couple of guys I'll overvalue and reach for in the early to middle rounds. When will Steve Smith be drafted? Terrell Owens? Ricky Williams? Ronnie Brown? Julius Jones? All good questions, all of which make the draft fun.

I picked up Madden last week and I like it. I have kept the passing vision on so far, since that's how the makers meant for the game to be played. Real NFL observations based on Fake Madden Football:
1) Tampa Bay will be terrible this season, with no passing game or short yardage pass protection.
2) Oakland's offense will balance their highly suspect defense and lead them to a winning season, even with Kerry Collins throwing at least 2 INT's a game.
3) The Eagles and Vikings will battle it out in the 2006 NFC Championship Game.
I haven't settled in with all the glitches yet, but I am taking my game online on the Xbox live, with mixed results.

Finally this morning, it would be remiss of me to make another post in a weblog titled "One Very Important Thought" without mentioning that Boards of Canada have a new CD coming out on October 18th. I am very excited for this new release, the Scottish duo's first since Spring 2002. Looking for more information, I found that Fiona Apple is finally releasing her third CD in October as well. New NHL, NFL seasons and new music, that's a great October.
List: Top 5 Boards of Canada tracks
1. Olson: I bounce between the version that appears on Music Has the Right to Children and the version recorded for Peel Sessions, but it is the original that pushes forward a melody with such a thick undercurrent of sound that it really relaxes the listener and takes one to a more comfortable time or place, if only for 1:15.
2. Roygbiv: Also from Music .. , this short track is another favorite for the melodies that could be pulled from 1980's public television, then warped and respun with a slight beat and child's vocal sample added.
3. In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country: from the EP of the same name, this is my favorite longer track on any official release.
4. Magic Teens: This track is from the Internet circuated A Few Old Tunes and may or may not be genuinely created by BOC, but I think so (just an opinion)
5. Oirectine: from Twoism. Repetitive and placating.

The End