Late night open thread

Sleep tight, don't sweat the little sounds tonight, probably nothing...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Gotta have a big bad wolf story tonight

We got a letter from the wolf/werewolf union last year and felt we'd make a better effort to represent the wolfen demographic. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs with 'Little Red Riding Hood'

Open your windows, put a speaker in the window, then turn your lights off

Gold. Now turn this up and watch the people on the street.

Halloween night, you gotta watch out for those Witchy Women

The closer you get to midnight the more hideous and evil they look until by midnight they look like Joe Walsh.

The Eagles and 'Witchy Woman' joining the Halloween 2017 party.

From the master of horror, Walt Disney and---er whaaaa?

That's right, Walt Disney and The Skeleton Dance

Everyone's favorite Halloween song from, well, forever...

Bobby (Boris) Pickett & The Cryptkicker Five with the timeless (and undead) 'Monster Mash'

For the night is dark, and filled with terrors

When Johnny says Don Hinson & The Rigamorticians...

...you say 'Monster Dance Party'

Sure, play this one on the car dashboard if the mood strikes.

Starting Halloween off with the Flametrick Subs & Satan's Cheerleaders

A Jersey City Desk Halloween favorite, Flametrick Subs & Satan's Cheerleaders rocking you out to 'Creepy Dead Folk'

Late night open thread

Make sure to come back for our big all-day Halloween themed fun day tomorrow. So, get to sleep for Santa won't come.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Both Politico and the Jersey Journal have the 'Fulop Tape'

In along day of political news this morning Politico released transcripts of the Fulop bid rig tape and later int eh day the Jersey Journal followed suit. We've been covering this tape for quite a while now so here's the link to the Jersey Journal story.

Doesn't sound good for Fulop and how he does business and those he employs to do business for the city.

Giants football Gameday!

What's that? A bye week? Hmmmm. OK then:

Fearless Forecast
Bye Week 24
New Jersey Giants 20

We'll be back with Draft Watch® next week

Late night open thread

The Saturday Night Scoreboard Show, sure, save it for church tomorrow, when you laugh out loud that's on you...

Ohio State 39
Pedd State 38
And James Franklin has still won just ONE big game at PSU

Wisconsin 24
Illinois 10
The Badgers continue on their run through the B1G West, filled with mouth breathers, goofballs and slug-a-beds

Wake Forest 42
Louisville 32
Woke Forest

Iowa State 14
TCU 7
Happy Halloween from Ames where they just whacked and stacked yet another Top Five team just passing through. They say on a clear night you can hear the tortured cries of Oklahoma and TCU players screeching, "Seriously, Iowa fucking State? Awwwwwwooooooooooo"

Nebraska 25
Purdue 24
Husker fans, Johnny thinks the road back to glory runs through Nick Gregath's liquor cabinet. You might just want to help him keep it filled


Georgia 42

Florida 7

Have you heard the new Florida Georgia Line song, 'That Bulldog Must Have Given That Gator A Swirlie for A Good 30 Seconds'

Dayton 27

Butler 22

Dayton scored 7 points in the 4th quarter. Good thing too, or they would have lost

Furman 28

Western Carolina 6

Johnny's Furman shirt is dirty so he couldn't wear it today. Probably nothing to that nonsense anyway

Cornell 29

Princeton 28

Cornell gets big power up in the 4th quarter with 13 unanswered points and defeat Princeton by one unit of measure

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®

Kentucky 29

Tennessee 26

Let's help Butch Jones find a really really really good costume he can use to get out of Knoxville after this. Oh he was gonna get the Rocky Top boot anyhoo but losing to UK for the second time in 33 years? A REALLY good costume. UK players may now loot and pillage Butch Jones' house for the next 24 hours

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Rutgers football Gameday!

Here we are with our little Rutgers Gameday thread and on a two game winning-streak to boot! That's right, a two game Big Ten winning-streak which makes today's game that much more enjoyable if you allow yourselves to dream RU fans. Why, a win today would level the Scarlet Knights record at 4-4 and move them into fourth place ahead of Michigan in the B1G East and people might just start thinking bowl game.

But first, Michigan, in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor today at noon. Let's take a look-see.

The Detroit and SE Michigan media are not being very kind to Jim Harbaugh. They've started pointing out he's the third highest paid coach in NCAA football and they expect more than a 1-4 record vs MSU and OSU and fourth place in the B1G East.. Getting waxed by other B1G teams doesn't help. So no doubt after he does his "Who's got it better than us" song to the team, the Wolverines will run through that tunnel expecting a big bounce back and an easy Homecoming win. Will they get it?

Can Rutgers stop Michigan from running and setting up play action? Can the RU corners spend one great afternoon this year playing like flypaper? That's what it's gonna take friends. We don't think the RU offense will get that much going consistently enough to scare Michigan, even with their pop-gun offense. Defense defense defense must be the order of the day. Somehow Chris Ash's charges must keep Michigan 17 points or under and under 100 yards rushing. Sure, it's a tall order but that's what great wins are made from.

At some point Michigan is going to want to get their next big thing QB of the future Brandon Peters onto the field. RU will see him one of two ways, John O'Korn is awful and inefficient like he was in the rain vs. Michigan State OR he'll come in with Michigan comfortably ahead. Gonna be up to Rutgers to see how that plays out. Either way, expect Jim Harbaugh to find Peters some game time today. Know who else will see the field a LOT? Karan Higdon, Michigan's bell cow running back. He's probably ready to run through walls about now knowing he'll be a big part of Michigan's game planning. Watch what kind of first quarter numbers he puts up. Good or bad it may start to tell what kind of game this will be. The most successful Jim Harbaugh, the Stanford and early Michigan Jim Harbaugh pounded the ball behind a mammoth offensive line and took no prisoners. Two and three tight ends, fullbacks, it was big and imposing. If Michigan starts with long passes and reverses and special teams trickery it would seem he's playing to his critics.

It's just a fact the Wolverines are bigger and stronger in those trenches with many more impact players and important positions. They have a coach ESPN cannot shut up about. They have the history.

So why are they 6-5 their last 11 games?

THAT right there is what RU has to tap into to get the win. Doubt in Michigan's minds. Right now, for the first time really in Johnny's life, Michigan is waiting for something bad to happen near the ends of games. Been that way since the RichRod days. Rutgers cannot afford getting down 14-0 or 17-3 in the first half and make today work. While current Minnesota and former Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck preaches rowing the boat, RU today must "sow that doubt" all around Michigan Stadium. Easier said than done.

When all is said and done in Ann Arbor, and the fans have moved on to Zingermann's or The Real Seafood company, the Mongolian Bar-B-Que or the White Castle on Carpenter and Packard, how does this one play out Johnny, and what about that two game winning streak?

Fearless Forecast
Michigan 30
Rutgers 14

Late night open thread

What a great day on tap. Football then the Halloween party to end all Halloween parties. Johnny always enjoys taking the dire wolf out for a late night walk with his costume on so yes, a great day and night on tap.

Also a shout out to Johnny's old high school team, the Brandon Blackhawks, on a thrilling 45-44 win on a FG as time expired in the opening night of the Michigan high school football playoffs. That did not happen when Johnny played at Brandon. Not many 3-6 or 1-8 playoff teams. Pfffft, standards.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BARRY WHITE!

You were expecting Halloween songs? Halloween is Tuesday. We'll have Halloween then. Be patient, but in the meantime:

On such a night as this, when the weather gets chilly outside and the wind makes it that much cooler and you're under the blanket with the windows open watching a movie with the one you love on the couch or in the bed Netflixing life, who better than Barry White to set that special mood. Let the Walrus of Love make tonight extra special with his classic 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NO DOUBT!

So I'm taking the Mr.
From out in front of your name
'Cause it's a Mr. like you
That puts the rest of us to shame
It's a Mr. like you
That puts the rest of us to shame

Now we're cookin! The message is age old but when done right never fails to excite. "Excuse Me Mr.' batting second tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE HIVES!

As always trying to send you dear reader out the door on an upbeat song and this certainly fits that bill. The Hives with 'Hate to Say I Told You So' to end yet another Music Series.

Info on that big storm that's going to swing by Sunday into Monday firms up

This storm that will sweep up the east coast and douse us here in Jersey City and the surround at press time is right near Nicaragua (If a butterfly flaps his wins in the Amazon). You can track the storm and learn more about the wind, rain and flooding on it's way by clicking this handy link.

Think you know the candidates for Ward B? A link to learn more

Terrence T. McDonald has interview snippets from the Ward B city council candidates to help you, the Ward B voter a more informed voter. Never a bad idea to read up as a candidate you never considered touches on an issue important to you in a way you like. Take a few minutes and get your learn on this morning.

Late night open thread

Ant races til dawn on this analog TV outpost.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

On the 5 year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, a nor'easter will hit Sunday

Heavy downpours and very windy conditions, aka a nor'easter is making plans to wallop us on Sunday, the 5 year anniversary of Sandy. Stay with the Jersey City Desk Action Weather Team for more on this developing serious situation.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ward A is up for grabs, here's a chance to know more

Ward A, long the red-headed stepchild of Jersey City politics, has a chance to reset what they want as a ward when they make their choice on election day. Whereas in Ward E you have candidates within a shade or two of each other politically, Ward A offers choices on vision and the topics the would-be councilperson, (Frank Gajewski is not running again after four years playing Boo Radley) would move to the forefront.

As always, Terrence T. McDonald has you covered with quotes from the candidates on their strengths and ideas.

Right on time, that D+ JCPD showing itself in our B+ city -- UPDATE

Police in Jersey City (And elsewhere) really do think they are a special breed. There aren't many people who haven't seen a cop run his lights to get through a long red light and then magically, once through, the lights go off. Since nobody will ever say anything to cops they simply do what they want when they want. This morning apparently there was some big pow-wow between someone at Toll Brothers and several JCPD officers going inside, getting a tour, talking stand around jobs, who knows. Lots of JCPD brass at Toll on Bay St. That sets things up.

So into the neighborhood the police vehicles come, almost all of them parking where anyone with an ounce of self-awareness might, in a row where there is no parking on one side of the street thanks to Parking Authority fliers. Copacetic. There was one however, in one of those shiny new Ford SUV's (maybe one of the ones taken away by the mayor after the wild west shootout that ended with JCPD kicking an accident victim on fire) who acted like he was in charge and who parked in the most ridiculous spot one could imagine, blocking the ONLY route E-W on Bay St at Provost. Here's our hero's parking job:

See that empty space behind the vehicle? What you also cannot see is the copious parking on the right side of the street or behind Johnny. Nope, not this guy, pull up and jump out. What's the problem and where does the sheer ignorance kick in? Here you go:

That's just the FIRST woman Johnny saw having to have a friendly passerby to help LIFT The baby carriages around the police vehicle. They had to lift the strollers around the police vehicle on the only goat path available to residents at that point. Awesome!

So Johnny went asking around of the police standing around the Toll property who's vehicle it was and isn't that kind of an ignorant place to park it. It was at this moment Johnny knew who parked it, the word ignorant set off one of the cops (pictured below) and he immediately tried defending the parking job. Johnny kept after him after his continued lame defense the truck wasn't blocking anything, in that we as residents/taxpayers should have to put up with, well, ignorance and laziness. Johnny was simply having none of it. He explained to everyone on the veranda outside the Warehouse Cafe that indeed you Mr. Officer can park anywhere being an emergency vehicle and you CHOSE that spot. That's just ignorant. It was very nice of Officer Parkjob to turn back for his picture to be taken. So down the veranda Johnny and the cop in the street went. The more people who gathered the meeker the cop became as, he was in the wrong and it was quite apparent why. Get your head right or yes, Johnny is gonna earhole you and he's simply not afraid to say something.

The way you get a better world is, you don't put up with substandard anything.

 -- Joe Strummer

UPDATE 10:06AM -- The reason for the huge police presence and the detectives and what not are that the Toll Brothers job site, so poorly locked down each night, with gaping holes in chained fences and not much elsewhere, had a bundle of materials stolen. Big surprise. No cameras, no security, just bad fencing. All that money and no security on their site. Tell that to the insurance company.

Late night open thread

It's rare Johnny really gets excited about getting a thing or a product or electronic gadget. He was however giddy and did the happy dance when after two years of waiting for one to be made and a month for a ComicCon exclusive to leak into the open market, Johnny got his Funko Pop Lyanna Mormont ordered tonight. She'll look so choice with the others.

Enough small talk, why you here?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

One to watch; Mayoral debate on Thursday to be on the television & livestreamed

The best part of the mayoral debate on Thursday will be the one who asks the questions, the hard questions and all the follow ups, Jersey Journal reporter who covers Jersey City so well, Terrence T. McDonald. Now Johnny is going to go ahead and say that when Mayor Fulop found out who'd be moderating he had to make a stop at the drug store for indigestion medicine. Some of the questions that he'll be asked, the hard questions without the cover of lackeys or crowds, are the kind that can change elections. Bill Matsikoudis, the challenger enters the debate needing some kind of big big hit on style points on Fulop or a knockout blow all while not stumbling in front of someone who covered his old boss, former Mayor Healy.

We're happy questions that need asking will get asked and the candidates will have to deal with them. You can click this link to find out which Bat times and which Bat channels will have the debate and how you can livestream it on the series of tubes that is your interweb.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Exactly the reason we at the Jersey City Desk don't take money from candidates or companies

Case in point folks, this is why Johnny decided long ago at the Ypsi City Desk he was not taking ads nor revenue that could EVER put him in someone's debt. Read this and understand why we do things here the way we do. We never have to keep our stories straight.

Reminded of the words of Neko Case tonight from her song, 'Man'
I'm a man
You'll have to deal with me
My proxy is mine
You'll deal with me directly

Late night open thread

Whew, that was a close one today, the Browns almost lost the first pick in the draft. Rotten shame Joe Thomas lost his streak though.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Giants Football Gameday!

It's a 4:25 kickoff in the New Meadowlands today for the suddenly 1-5 Giants. We warned last week about foolish wins and boy did the Giants go track one down last weekend. Luckily for them the Bears and Chargers decided to get power up and win as well, more on that below.

The Giants looked good last week, no? Hard to believe they got better by losing WR's so it must have been the change in play callers, right head coach Ben McAdoo? Seriously, if your offensive problems can be completely resolved with you out of the play-calling why do the Giants need you at all? Running today would be a very good idea for the Giants. They seriously have a chance at another foolish win if they can run and work the passing game through play-action. Eli won't have a lot of time to throw, ie last week he only threw 19 times but was sacked thrice. The Seahawks, though not their scary former selves can still dial up the defense pretty well. Eli Manning, game manager.

The Seahawks weaknesses play right into Big Blue's hands, what luck. The Seahawks offensive line has been a mess, much like the Giants, but the G-Men have a defensive front to take advantage of matters. Containing Russell Wilson is a pain in the ass for 60 minutes but if the Giants can pull off a semblance of that they'll at least be in the game late.

This smells like a low-scoring game, one decided late and probably one where special teams in the 4th quarter win or lose this for someone. If the Giants are behind late, at home, with the possibility of going 1-6 this could get ugly. We don't think that'll happen.

Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Giants 20
Seattle Peahens 14

Draft Watch
Last week the Bears, Giants and Chargers all went out and got pointless, foolish wins. The old draft pros, The Browns and 49ers, did not. The 49ers keep coming close, like every Sunday. Sooner or later they'll win one. The Browns will probably win one along the way but it'll be one nobody sees coming. This week the Bears fall off the list and Draft Watch welcomes the Colts

Standings for #1 overall pick:
1) Cleveland Browns
2) San Francisco 49ers
3) New York Giants
4) Indianapolis Colts
5) Los Diego Chargers

Hope everyone is enjoying this epic fall Sunday

AND those tasty St. Paul Pork Products for breakfast.

Late night open thread

The only Scoreboard Show in America that guarantees it's scores

Louisville 31
Florida State 28
Florida State's 4th loss prompted FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher to challenge fans with "New Coaches" signs to a fistfight. Good thing security stepped in or he'd be 2-5

Rutgers 14
Purdue 12
Break up the Scarlet Knights! If I were RU head coach I'd eat the biggest steak tonight because for the first time since he took the job he can digest it

Miami (FL) 27
Syracuse 19
The Hurricanes are undefeated and the Orange are respectable again

Wisconsin 38
Maryland 13
Johnny's godson sent him this shot LIVE today from Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. Like Dickie Dunn in Slapshot,  Johnny is just trying to capture the spirit of the thing

Furman 28
Mercer 21
Johnny wore his Furman shirt all day so obviously science proves that kind of thing matters

UCLA 31
Oregon 14
Johnny is pretty sure he saw the Oregon Duck drinking out of a paper bag off exit 14C asking for money. Hard times indeed

Mississippi Valley State 53
Virginia-Lynchburg 5
The Virginia-Lynchburg safety in the 4th quarter probably helped them cover the spread

Central Michigan 56
Ball State 9
Not much ball in Ball State at David Letterman's alma mater

Auburn 52
Arkansas 20
Johnny would have put on 15 pounds walking around the parking lots and tailgates before this game just smelling the cooking

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Randolph-Macon 63
Apprentice School 14
Gee Johnny, usually the Game of the Week is a close one or some kind of miraculous comeback. Yeah, not tonight, Johnny saw this one and noticed it looked like the Leave No Witnesses Game of the Week. Randolph-Macon was up 35-14 entering the 4th quarter so then really the only thing left to do was keep beating the corpse to a pulp with a big 28-0 4th. Stay down. For this take no prisoners approach the Randolph-Macon players may loot and pillage Ashland Va. for the next 24 hours

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Rutgers football Gameday Homecoming Edition!

It's Homecoming in Piscataway and for once the alumni are coming home to a winning streak. Sure sure, it's one game and was preceded by a long losing streak but today for one day, it's about the win.

A much improved Purdue team arrives today not looking like the automatic W for the opponent they used to be. Purdue, while improved, aren't exactly Ohio State yet either. They will come into RU hoping not to fall victim to the team most consider the worst in the B1G. Purdue has made some positive strides this season, those might be considered lost with a road loss to the Scarlet Knights.

Purdue is a road favorite for first time in 5 years today, coming in as 8 point favorites. Johnny thinks that's hogwash. RU has the momentum and again, Purdue isn't OSU or MSU or Wisconsin right now; They're a good up and coming story but there are still hurdles to clear before they even become Iowa or Indiana. Johnny thinks today could be one of those hurdles.

RU RB's Gus Edwards and Raheem Blackshear will need a similar effort as Illinois. Run the ball, shorten the game, makes it easy on Giovanni Rescigno should he see the majority of playing time again this week or Kyle Bolin in relief. Purdue will want to open and spread the field. Rutgers can't let them pass all day and cannot let the Boilers keep the ball. RU at the end of the day needs time of possession to land on their side of the ledger.

Purdue looking for bowl game eligibility which will give them plenty of emotion and fight though Johnny thinks the back tot he wall keep bowl hopes alive tend to come in weeks 10-11-12. So, somebody gets second conference win today and either way it will hopefully change impressions. A Purdue team looking to play in a bowl would change tat impression of being a dump program in a dump town. If RU can get their second win in a row maybe, just maybe Chris Ash can get some breathing room even for a week. Two wins in a row would be a high point for the program in the B1G and that chance comes today in High Point Stadium

So, a crossroads for two teams today in Piscataway. One looking to keep climbing and one looking to set their feet on solid ground. It's a glorious day for football in New Jersey today and Johnny sees no reason to spoil the party now.

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 28
Purdue 25

Late night open thread

Ok all you wannabe Joe Kenda's out there, answer this riddle and see how well you pay attention. The answer to the riddle will be in comments.

A woman is sitting in her hotel room when there is a knock at the door. She opens the door to find a man whom she has never seen before. The man said, “Oh I’m sorry, I thought this was my room.” He then went down the hallway and took the elevator. The woman went back into her room and phoned security. Why?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GLORIA JONES!

Epiphany night. From the vaults of "you've probably never heard this version of the the song" 'Tainted Love' so you don't know who the fabulous Gloria Jones is or the fact this song didn't come from SoftCell in the 80's but 1964. Do enjoy, tonight perhaps for the first time, Gloria Jones and the original cut of 'Tainted Love'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with AEROSMITH!

Or as they were known in high school, Aerosmithling. But you don't care about that do you? Oh hell no, you wanna put some rock in your roll tonight and as always, Aerosmith can be called upon to fill that bill.

'Draw the Line' giving us some serious 70's big guitar, big bass, and big voice sass tonight. #Snarl

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PETER GABRIEL!

Would you look at that. It's been ages since we've Shocked the Monkey around this place. Peter Gabriel doing what he does best and then sending us out the door into a fabulous fall evening in Cool City.

Late night open thread

World's easiest movie trivia night. What 1970's movie was this Jerry Reed song used in that co-starred Jerry Reed? Take your time. Use the picture. Winners will prove they don't need the government stepping in and putting them to sleep. Losers get MAGA hats.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

More debates, more politics and more citizen questions make for better city government

There will be quite a few more chances, though that window is closing due to the calendar, to hear from candidates in debates and forums all over town. If you'll simply click on this helpful link you can read about the who's and where's and when's of this Jersey City debate season.

Late night open thread

To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.
 -- Edward R. Murrow

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Ghost of Uncle Joe's Halloween benefit in Harsimus Cemetery is this Saturday

It's the perfect fall festivals back to back, last weekend's Art and Studio Tour and this weekend the Ghost of Uncle Joe's Halloween benefit in Harsimus Cemetery. What's that? You didn't know the story on this event goes back to 111 First St. (as so much great Jersey City history does)? Well then, you've got a lot of catching up to do

This party will be off the hook. music, fun, partying late into the night, it's all right there in the cemetery, Saturday night.

Late night open thread

I firmly believe that respect is a lot more important, and a lot greater, than popularity.
 -- Julius Erving

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Steve Fulop/Anthony Cruz bid-rig story takes yet another sad turn

Attributing pretty much all the questionable ethics surrounding his first term to political stunts by his opponents, Mayor Fulop today released info he took a $1000 donation from the company at the center of the bid rig at the heart of the original story. Sure, that bid didn't get pushed through (though there is quite the story still building around the tape of the bid rig for Green Energy Inc.) because the way it was happening came to light, so let's take more money from that company. Terrence T. McDonald, one great reporter, take it away:

The re-election campaign of Mayor Steve Fulop reported receiving a $1,000 donation last month from the managing partner of an energy company that is at the center of allegations of attempted bid rigging by a group of city officials in 2014.

The Fulop campaign, in reports made public today, said it received the contribution from Javier Barrios, managing partner of Good Energy, on Sept. 7. Asked to comment, the Fulop campaign questioned the relevance of the reported donation.

Just more sleaze from the guy who claimed from every mountaintop he'd change the ethics in the office of mayor. He has not. It almost feels like most days Bill Matsikoudis isn't running against Fulop so much as a cult of personality.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Who wants a Monday night politics fix?

That's right citizen, you do. Terrence T. McDonald asks the question of some candidates, if you're a Steve Fulop ally, how do you stay independent and how do you show you're being independent. Some hemmed and hawed but none made quite the hash of the question Ward C candidate and Fulop ticket member John Hanussak did. We're not going to step on McDonald's journalism here, you go click that link and watch a slow motion car crash in real time.

Late night open thread

See, this is what Johnny warned you Giants fans of; The Chargers and Bears took utterly foolish wins today that will do nothing to get them into the playoffs. Currently the Giants are ahead 17-3 and on their way to a foolish win. People, if you want those top top picks (or in the Browns case trading them away) you've got to stay strong and suck every week like Cleveland and San Francisco though the 49ers do seem to come close every week.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Giants football Gameday!

*Noseplugs on*

OK, we're entering some stinky territory, Johnny wants you Giants fans prepared.

Who here remembers their M*A*S*H episodes? If you do you'll recall "Five O' Clock Charlie" who everyday around 5pm would fly his dilapidated bi-wing plane over the 4077th and try and drop one bomb/grenade from above towards the camp munitions dump. Think hard because that is the Giants offense right now. A sputtering, laughable, almost clownish attempt at NFL football. They can't run, even against bad defenses. All their receivers are hurt. All that's left is for Eli to start getting mashed in the pocket as he throws to what Johnny calls (In harkening back to his computer game PlayMaker football) WR-1, WR-2 & WR-3. Luckily they are in Denver tonight vs the 3-1 Broncos so any gas in the tank will be burned early and everyone can go to bed at a decent hour.

But Johnny, (you jerk) the Giants defense is their strong suit and the Denver Donkeys are not their old selves on offense. It's not their strong suit. Players have literally quit, others seem to be sleepwalking and nobody is communicating.

This thread today will be quick. Denver will be up for a big game and the Giants have already checked out. On paper this looks like a blowout but it IS the NFL so in that spirit:

Fearless Forecast
Denver Broncos 28
New York Giants 20

Draftwatch®
OK, we'll start our new Giants Gameday feature, (or is it a bug?) Draftwatch® in which we'll show you the games Big Blue fans should also be watching today in jockeying for position for the #1 overall pick in April.

The Standings:
1) New York Giants 0-5
2) Cleveland Browns 0-5
3) San Francisco 49ers 0-5
4) LA Chargers 1-4
5) Chicago Bears 1-4

This is the actual updated #1 pick standings, you must factor strength of schedule and other numbers but as of today the Giants are on the clock. Now is not the time to get a win in Denver, capice? OK the Browns will more than likely lose in Houston today, the 49ers face Washington (a chance for a win) while the Bears are in Baltimore for an expected loss and finally the Chargers are in Oakland and may have a punchers chance.

Late night open thread

Welcome to the Saturday Night Scoreboard-a-palooza Show!

Michigan 27
Indiana 20 OT

LSU 27
Auburn 23
This Tiger on Tiger violence has to stop. #TigerLivesMatter

Ohio State 56
Nebraska 14
The Buckeyes won the toss and elected to kick the bejeezus out of the Cornhuskers

West Virginia 46
Texas Tech 35
Texas Tech led the Mountaineers going into the 4th quarter 35-24 and felt that was plenty and went on a team hayride to the pumpkin patch. It was not plenty

Lehigh 54
Georgetown 35
Two weeks ago Lehigh didn't have a win. Now they lead the Patriot League at 2-5 overall

Michigan State 30
Minnesota 27
PJ Fleck learning to 'row the boat' in the B1G

Oklahoma 29
Texas 24
If Texas were smart they'd have worn Iowa State jerseys today in some kind of Halloween/Scare the Sooners crossover

Appalachian State 23
Idaho 20
Idaho jumped out to a 20-0 lead and sent in their stunt doubles

Charleston Southern 7
Presbyterian 0
When Charleston Southern ran it in with less than 4 minutes remaining the band playing the fight song probably woke some people from their slumber

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Central Connecticut State 51
Wagner 45 4OT
Back and forth they went inside the confines of Wagner College Stadium until one Cameron Nash of Central Connecticut State decided to take the game over scoring all three of his TD's in overtime, forcing his will upon Wagner. For the next 24 hours Cameron Nash may loot and pillage Central Conn--strike that, Connecticut isn't that big, he can loot and pillage the whole state

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Rutgers football Gameday!

When we saw the sun come up this morning over New Jersey, OK for argument's sake let's pretend we all saw the sun come up, was there a little extra aura 'round these parts with the sun? A little something something in the air? Could it be.....hope?

Look, the B1G losing streak is long and getting longer. However the Scarlet Knights are in Champale-Urbana today vs the Lovie Smith-led Illini. The Fighting Illini on paper don't send shudders down anybody's spine. Don't believe Johnny? Check out this graphic from the ESPN:










There's nothing there that says Rutgers can't win this game. Defense isn't the problem and therein lies the hope. Johnny has long thought that the day Rutgers breaks the B1G losing streak it'd be on the road away from the jeers, the pressures, and overall malaise that has overtaken Piscataway. Today is the day, Johnny just has a feeling.

The biggest key to today is a fast start by the Scarlet Knights. Former Red Wings and now Maple Loafs coach Mike Babcock always preaches showing up ready to compete with your compete level being high and starting on time. Babcock seems to know winning. Rutgers, Start. On. Time. Pop Illinois in the nose, get a lead, work on that lead. Again, there is nothing in those offensive stats above that say Illinois is a comeback team. Want some more hope with coffee this morning? For as poor as the Illini offense is, the defense is worse. If the football field is a parkway the toll booths are open and you can E-Z Pass and run on Illinois. Lovie's Eleven are giving up an average of 248 yards through the air and 181 on the ground. For as average at the RU offense has been there should be the ability to step up today, you're not facing OSU, MSU or U-M's defense, open the playbook, let the kids PLAY. Johnny thinks the offensive key is Rutgers play-action passing today. Illinois gives up a lot on the ground, this should open the medium range passing game. Again, nothing fancy, a nice medium range game could be enough. It'll allow Kyle Bolin to stay in a comfort zone.

Defensively, take some chances today Coach Ash, again, PLAY football. Jeff George Jr. is not going to beat you throwing, he's not. Challenge him, make him move. 1 TD and 5 INT's? The defensive Rutgers players should be bouncing off the walls inside their locker room about 11:45 Central Daylight Time and ready to make a difference.

Sure, Illinois is on a two game winning streak -- against Western Kentucky and Ball State. When faced with B1G talent Big Chief Illiniwek has fared about as well as Rutgers has.

So, Johnny is today the day?

Fearless Forecast
Rutgers 27
Illinois 24

Late night open thread

Nothing rhymes with Orange. Know what rhymes with loser? Clemson. Whoa, for a second the Scoreboard Show came pouring out a night early.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SHEILA E!

So, homework assignments from earlier this week. Everyone did their reading of the The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women and listened to a lot of those incredible albums and cuts from those albums, right?

"I'm not joking, this is my job."

Johnny did read and re-read the rules if you will and how these choices were quantified. This very night he wanted to have answers for the pupils on why one would say in a list named The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women we'd have the B-52's with Fred Schneider being such an integral part of the albums, or Chris Stein of Blondie with co-writing credits on almost everything. The Pretenders who Chrissie Hynde herself said were a James Honeyman-Scott tribute band for a while make it on such a list. The truth is sometimes we do have to suspend all belief in numbering and rating. You bet Sarah McLachlan deserved a slot on her own merit in the top 150 albums, but we understand their reasoning ie lumping too much in with Lilith Fair here. Please do read their reasoning and let's just all listen and celebrate tonight.

We'll start off with Sheila E and the song here, 'The Glamorous Life' from her album of the same name, which the list ticked off at #105.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ARETHA FRANKLIN!

Johnny could have, but won't just cherry pick this list for Detroit talent, but apologies and parting gifts to Madonna, Anita Baker, The Supremes, Aaliyah, and Gladys Knight & the Pips who also made The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women. Did you know 10% of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees hail from Michigan. It's a fact.

Aretha Franklin, 'Rock Steady' and you are now free to move about the room

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CAROLE KING!

Johnny fell in love when he was a young lad, the night before Thanksgiving at his cousin Cindy's apartment. Johnny always looked up to Cindy because she was the hip, cool older family role model he didn't have elsewhere who just loved music. Johnny and his sisters got dropped off at Cindy's (and other relatives slept over too) and she'd ferry the whole mess to downtown Detroit the next morning to hook up with the rest of the family at the parade. While the youngers played games, Johnny hung out with the olders and it was that night when Cindy put on Carole King's Tapestry he fell in love. That voice, the piano, the lyrics, WOW, epiphany. Of course Tapestry would finish in the top ten of The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women, and Johnny's just as much in love as he was that snowy November night so long ago. 'I Feel the Earth Move' live tonight, making your ears all happy and stuff.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with WANDA JACKSON!

Here's where they blew it. Every list will have hits and misses and Johnny as he said above was good with looking the other way at certain qualifiers but do you know who on this wonderful list of extraordinary women is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame AND the Rockabilly Hall of Fame? Nobody, that's because the people choosing somehow couldn't find an album of the great Wanda Jackson they could use.

That's a paddlin', go see Jasper down the hall.

So to rectify an obvious overlook here is lit Wanda Jackson with 'Let's Have a Party'

Late night open thread

Bruce McCulloch, he saw it coming.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Art and Studio Tour is this weekend!

One of the best parts about living in Jersey City is the up close access to the The Jersey City Art and Studio Tour which hits every October and would you look at that, here we are again. So many spectacular artists who have space in Jersey City who would just love for you to put your eyes on their work. We're going to link to the map where you can find the artists and do realize there is ample E-Z shuttle service between the many many sites. Let's face it, all the artists and art are so big in Jersey City it cannot be contained in a square mile. Sure, it's great if you can buy something, artists have to live but the best part of this weekend is getting out and about in your city and enjoying some great art.

Noon to six pm Saturday and Sunday

Saturday 73º with the odd shower

Sunday 81º and sunny

The map, yes, the map of treasures.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City Desk victory for JC taxpayers

When we're right, and we were, we're going to crow. Johnny has pointed out since the implementation, this particular EV car charging station was (a lot of the currently never-used EV spots will go back to people who can thankfully use them) an abatement "give back" looking for a place to be shoved in. This bank of chargers on First St. was one of the worst places for it, its not near any road spur, and it became quite clear, (and we're re-running the article that may have been the tipping point for JC hearing enough from the Jersey City Desk making sense) this was embarrassing. The city obviously felt we have to do something. Here is that article so all our readers can look back with Johnny and see what right looks like. It was a poor choice, and obvious poor choice by so many in JC government.

So, something they will finally do, the city council tonight votes on 16 charging stations around town, located more by road spurs and popular roadways, not buried inside tiny neighborhoods. Ron Zeitlinger with the info on the new program can be found here.

Like the four candidates for Ward E said last night, the abatement system is broken and it's badly broken. The EV's outside the Oakman for Shuster show broken on steroids.

Once again, Jersey City is a B+ city with a D+ police force

Oh those crooksters at the JCPD, with so many of the cops busted in the federal tax evasion stand around job fiasco being vets of the force, hey, the kids gotta break rules and live where they're not allowed and take away from the less fortunate if they want to fit in at the JCPD don't they?

Two noob JCPD officers have been found out by Jersey Journal reporter par-excellence to be living in subsidized housing in Newport. When contacted by Terrence T. McDonald for comment that he was basically found out, know what JCPD hero Joseph Connors Jr. thought about first? Himself. Not the fact he was improperly (illegally?) living in subsidized housing, (And officer Francesca Zappella was detected as being a bad actor) no his first question back to McDonald was who told on him.

Truly disgraceful to pull something as awful as this but hey, Jersey City Police Department. Much more on this story including what LeFrak & Newport plan on doing about it at this link here.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Great debate tonight from the Ward E candidates

Jake Hudnut, Nicholas J. Grillo, James Solomon and Amanda Symes all gave a fine accounting of themselves and their ideas for Ward E tonight in the Hudson Media Group Ward E debate (Which if you click this handy link you can rewatch the debate AND see the debates from Wards A, B, C & D) and help make an informed choice come election day.

While all four come from the progressive range of the political spectrum there were differences you'll want to watch and learn from. Johnny is not going to prejudice your viewing. They'll be touching on tax abatements, schools, the lack of funding for schools, safe streets and bike lanes, affordable housing, the disaster that was the idea to roll Jersey City Parking into the city constraints among other issues facing residents.

Good stuff.

Late night open thread

Cougar, it means something different today.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We're handing out a homework assignment and oh is it a good one

NPR this past summer released the Greatest 150 albums created by women and it is an extensive list. As with any list like this there will be hits and misses on general principle and this particular list does have it's own set of issues for you the reader; Is Wild Planet by the B-52's really an album created by women with the great Fred Schneider being so prevalent? You'll want to have your 'calling bullshit' flag elsewhere on the list as later this week we'll dig into it and this Friday on the Music Series all the cuts will come from this magnificent list.

Learn it. Know it. Live it. Plus there are some really great images like Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde and The Slits hanging out and looking forever young.

Late night open thread

It's not piling on if nobody throws a flag.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Giants football Gameday!

What a game we have on tap for you Giants fans over at the New Meadowlands today. It's so humid your jerseys and shirts will wear you. It'll rain off and on and did we mention, the Giants are 0-4 and their opponents today, the recently relocated Los Angeles Chargers are 0-4. You really have to love G-Men football to go to this one today. In fact Johnny's going to guess that season ticket holders were like Santa Claus this week, "Hey ah, Anthony, I know you've always wanted to go see a Giants game, how about you take MY tickets and take your girlfriend Laina with you."

Earlier this morning Anthony made a phone call, "Hey, Joey, I know you've always wanted to see the Giants play at MetLife..."

Let's skip the crapola analysis and just say if Big Blue wins today this is one of those wins you look back on draft day when you're drafting 8th not 3rd and wonder why they even tried.

Enjoy drafting 8th.

Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Giants 24
Lower California Traveling Wilburys 23

Late night open thread

You wait all year for a Saturday Scoreboard Show like this

Michigan State 14
Michigan 10
You kids watch this documentary from the University of Michigan and we'll see you below

This is Sparty's 8th win in 10 vs Michigan. Jim Harbaugh is now 1-5 vs Mark Dantonio and Urban Meyer. Who's got it better than us? Anne Arbor is a slut...

Iowa State 38
Oklahoma 31
Oklahoma was a 30 point favorite. They were at home in Norman. The Iowa State QB hadn't played before. Enjoy these recreations of the great Sooner Playoff River crossings through the years. This gif is funny, because it's true

Washington State 33
Oregon 10
Wazzu is for real kids, grab a cider, watch the show

Miami 24
Florida State 20
Remember when this was THE game? FSU is now a cool 1-3

LSU 17
Florida 16
Tomorrow in Gainesville: LINE UP FOR PAT DRILLS

Lehigh 41
Colgate 38
Hard to believe it but it's true, the Mountain Hawks first win this season

Dartmouth 28
Yale 27
In Ivy League terminology, Dartmouth bested Yale by one unit of measure

Furman 41
Chattanooga 17
Johnny didn't wear his Furman shirt and they did just fine. Johnny is starting to think there's no correlation to wearing the shirt and Furman success

Alabama 27
Texas A&M 19
A&M kept it within one score today. They're your clubhouse turn leaders in hanging with Bama this year

The Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Western Michigan 71
Buffalo 68 7OT
Yes, 7 overtimes and these two teams set the NCAA record for points in a division 1-A game. That box score looks like this:

So, Johnny, WMU gets to loot and pillage Kalamazoo for 24 hours, right? No no, not tonight. The one who gets to loot and pillage is Donnie Ernsberger's sister. She as you may have heard ran onto the field in Buffalo, and mobbed Donnie after he caught a 14 yd TD pass for Western's first TD in overtime. She got a flag thrown on her and for that and her show of family love, she gets to loot and pillage Kalamazoo for the next 24 hours

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Head on over to Word Bookstore at 3pm today for a rich Jersey City history lesson

Author David Goodwin will be discussing his new book, "Left Bank of the Hudson: Jersey City and the Artists of 111 1st Street" at Word Bookstore 123 Newark Ave just steps from the Grove St. PATH. Goodwin spoke with the Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald and his research and the history of stops and starts in the Powerhouse Arts District and the amazing history of the 'original art house' at 111 First St. Johnny's long heard rumors about the old warehouse there, and how one Lloyd Goldman did everything in his power to bring it down. But what do we know, these are just the rumors told over beers and coffee in the PAD. Perhaps Goodwin will delve into some of the seedier history of the old P.. Lorillard Tobacco Co. warehouse.

Goodwin will also be back at Word for another round of Q & A on his book Oct. 15 at 2pm as part of the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour.

We'd love to write up a Rutgers Gameday thread

But alas, RU has the week off before heading back into B1G play next weekend at Illinois, a winning game. Make sure to come back for the world famous Saturday night Scoreboard Show later tonight.

Late night open thread

Joe Girardi, what a boob.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JOE JACKSON!

So many great Joe Jackson songs to choose from Johnny had a litany of ways to start off the Music Series tonight. He figured with so many people heading out about now on a brilliant fall evening we'd start with 'Steppin' Out' to get everyone in a good mood with something upbeat you can take your best shot at singing along with.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE KINGBEES!

Ah yes, as the 70's turned to the 80's when bold new graphics had something new, pixels....as big as hams. This isn't about the graphics kids, no no. This is about the hot rockabilly sound of The Kingbees and their big hit, 'My Mistake' and Jamie James' very unique voice.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SIMON & GARFUNKEL!

Nobody doesn't like this song. Johnny just took an informal poll in his head and just knew it's such a fun, bouncy tune that people would be singing this to themselves at the show or the bar or at dinner later on. Try it yourself. Just push play for 'Cecilia' and see what you're humming and or singing later on tonight.

Late night open thread

Johnny's Red Wings did something tonight they haven't done since 1979, play a home game somewhere other than the cathedral that is Joe Louis Arena. The vision of the great Mike Ilitch, recently passed Red Wings owner, of a dazzling and glorious new arena dedicated to Detroit's rich hockey history, Little Caesar's Arena opened and how about it, a Red Wing would score the first goal.

Anthony Mantha, welcome to hockey trivia.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Fulop & Matsikoudis spar over affordable housing

This is why spending the first 3.5 years of your mayoral term basing your decisions on how they'd be viewed if he ran for governor not only hurt Steve Fulop, it hurt Jersey City. Fulop went before the assembled group at New Jersey City University Monday; he had to admit his administration had fallen short on this and promised to play catch up. Three and a half years worth of catch up mayor? Matsikoudis who has previously released his plan on affordable housing won huge cheers from the crowd on Monday when he said:

"It's out of control," Matsikoudis said. "I'm hearing about people that are getting pushed out of Jersey City, who've had to move from Downtown to the Heights or from McGinley Square to Greenville and the next step is out of Jersey City."

"Right now there's no door to knock on, there's no phone number to call," Matsikoudis said on Monday. "If you need help finding affordable housing, well, it's up to you to figure it out. Well, we're going to change that."

Johnny railed on this forever, all of Fulop's decisions were filtered through the idea he'd run for governor and how decisions on Jersey City issues might impact him outstate. Now those delays in focusing on the city play out in the numbers. Terrence T. McDonald pointed out the mayor was claiming construction or approval of 1,444 affordable units. When only units completely built are included, the number of affordable units is 173. 

Playing catch up indeed, just not in the mayor's race yet.

Late night open thread

But Johnny's it's not all that late. It is if you just finished building a new Warcraft map (yes, he's that level of nerd) and you want to play it.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

More chances this week to hear mayoral candidates Fulop, Matsikoudis square off

Mayor Steve Fulop and his only challenger, Bill Matsikoudis, met on the New Jersey City University campus Monday night in their first debate.

Steve Fulop on why he should be re-elected:
Fulop, 40, who is seeking a second term on Nov. 7, highlighted his administration beefing up the police force by over 150 officers, installing new closed-circuit security cameras and starting a city prisoner re-entry program as achievements. "I'm here to tell you that I'm running for another term because we still have more work to do," he said.

Bill Matsikoudis on what needs to change:
Matsikoudis, 45, painted a starkly different picture of Fulop's first term, noting a sharp increase in homicides -- 13 homicides in 2012 versus 24 in 2016 -- saying there is a "dearth" of recreational facilities on the city's south side and characterizing relations between police officers and residents as deteriorating. "We can do a better job," Matsikoudis said twice.

So, round one is in the books and round two comes -- WHOA, tonight friends! The talk is at at School 11, 886 Bergen Ave. starting at 7 p.m. and tonight will be sponsored by Safe Streets JC and Bike JC and will center on safe streets, safer bike lanes and pedestrian safety, something important to ALL Jersey City residents. Follow this link for more on the Monday debate and upcoming times Fulop and Matsikoudis will debate.

The Jersey City Desk: Never for sale

In the nearly nine years Johnny has helmed the Jersey City Desk (and the three years before that at the old Ypsi City Desk) he likes to think he's created a kind of brand around town. The Jersey City Desk is always the blog unbeholden to advertisers, politicians or those with something to sell you and can and has always been up front and honest with you. We can criticize the mayor and council and department workers and bosses as we don't have any kind of built-up palsie walsie cultivated friendship. We don't go hang with the candidates and officeholders socially. Not what we do. We don't take ads, Johnny has been bombarded with opportunities to sell things here and make some coin, he refuses.

We also do not endorse candidates for local offices. Johnny doesn't believe in pitting one neighbor against another in writing a dismissive missive for one or two neighbors for no other reason than 'that's my guy/gal,' as it just isn't a good enough reason. You end up holding back on the one you endorsed to look good and wise. What Johnny does do is take on candidates on their words and deeds. Since he hasn't endorsed anyone he's free to have critiques and even little digs and elected officeholders and those running. Example, on Twitter yesterday Johnny disagreed with James Solomon, candidate for Ward E, on a city parking issue. If Johnny had publicly come out and endorsed Mr. Solomon (and he's a very good candidate thank you very much) he wouldn't have been as insistent on his point for fear, "Hey, you endorsed him, dumbass."

So, with a mayoral election and all the council seats up for grabs wouldn't you like to know there's one place that doesn't go all in with the candidates and can be completely objective? Isn't that where you want to get your Jersey City politics fix? Johnny does thank you for the trust you put in him by showing up here to read his writing. He'll continue thanking you by being a true independent voice for Jersey City residents. 

Late night open thread

Still one of the 20 all-time best beginnings to a song.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Two more Jersey City cops plead guilty in federal court in Newark, one had quite the excuse

Sadly, two more Jersey City police officers pled guilty to the stand around jobs that have cost, and will cost so many JCPD officers their jobs and further run our good name through the mud. Today it was Ehab Abdelaziz and Andrea Fahrenholz's turn to admit to their part in the scheme that involved not paying taxes or reporting their stand around work to the city, as required. While that what wheel keeps turning one thing DID stand out to Johnny today; the attorney's statements to the media on behalf of their clients. Fahrenholz's attorney said this:

Aidan O'Connor, told The Jersey Journal, "Andrea has taken responsibility (for what) she did. She agreed to forfeit the money to the government and she hopes to move forward in a productive and responsible way."

OK, that's a fair accounting and a hope to move on from this. Proper.

Abdelaziz's attorney, Anthony J. Iacullo, went a different route, one right into the Dark Crystal, now comes the witches and newts excuse:

"Officer Abdelaziz was a hard working police officer who got caught up in a scheme that was created by others and unfortunately tempted even those officers who were not looking for no-show jobs. His desire to provide a better life for him and his family resulted in his deciding to partake in such conduct and that is something he regrets tremendously."

Created by others, perhaps dark lords or witches. Tempted, yes, tempted by those bad others. BAD others. He wasn't looking for this sort of lawbreaking, he was lured by Satan. His family, think of his family at this time of the guilty plea. THEY didn't do anything. Kee-rist, what nonsense.

There's a right way to handle serious matters in life, we all make mistakes but do realize there's also a right and wrong way to cop to it.

Late night open thread

Hopefully by morning the American media can decide if a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician is really dead or not.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

With all we're processing today did we really need to lose Tom Petty too?

Stupid fate, you couldn't just wait one day could you?

Late night open thread

Well Giants fans, 0-4 it is. Next Sunday it's brunch at noon and maybe take your camera out in the fall woods. Again, trust a Browns fan, it's a better plan.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Giants football Gameday!

As the world around us devolves into madness, the Giants have become a microcosm of said whirling suck. The losing, the poor efforts, the touchdown celebrations that cost money and yards, and then last week a walk-off 61 yard FG to beat them. It's a mess, there are a million different people with different ways on how to fix 0-3 but with a feeling deep down this shitwreck of a season is over already (more on that in a bit). Today does provide one last Jon Snow coming back from the dead opportunity as the NFC isn't the best division in football. 1-3 must then become 2-3 but one game at a time.

Big Blue is down in Tampa today to take on the Buccaneers (Hey, where are your Buccaneers? Under my Buc'n hat) who are 1-1 after having one game hurricane'd out. We do know from the Bucs first two games you cannot run on them but boy can you pass on them. Giants fans, did those ears just perk up? 72 yards against on the ground on average (if there's a true average after just two games) but 335 in the air against and THAT does standout. Both the Vikings and Bears were able to throw on Tampa Bay, and they're not exactly the Patriots are they? If the New York offense did finally wake up in the 4th quarter last week then it should be able to keep on keeping on today. Johnny doesn't exactly see either team with a committed ground game today as it's just going to be too hot, 91 in Tampa with a heat index of 108º by the 4pm game time. Depth could be what wins today. Nobody can get used to that weather, it's ghastly.

So then, can the Giants contain Mike Evans who is Jameis Winston's favorite receiver and all-around big time, big play threat? Let's think on this, IF the G-Men can contain Evans, and that stout d-line can indeed control the game against the run and pressure Winston (3 TD's 3 INT's) the Giants could shorten this game and get the upset. In fact, if the Giants can fairly deal with the heat and humidity he thinks they matchup quite well with Tampa thank you.

So, your team is 0-4. Let's suppose things go wrong in Tampa and the Giants fall to 0-4 and the season is for all intents and purposes over, Johnny being a Browns fan has tips for you as 0-4 is like a bad penny, it keeps coming around for him. Look, who cares until Draft Day, it's not your problem. Go to brunch. Go to a movie, put up your Christmas lights or hope Barcelona is playing in LaLiga on BeIn Sports. All you'll need now is an NFL score app where you punch in the following teams in the race to the #1 overall pick, Browns, Chargers, Bears, Jaguars, 49ers, & Jets (The Rams just got off the list). As a Giants fan you cheer for these teams to win games by any means necessary. Yes, you DO have to hope your team loses, it's odd for a Giants fan but trust Johnny. At 0-4 you're going to have to understand that win in November against Washington dropped you from the #4 draft spot to #8. Capice?

There you go, one last gasp vs a fall of freed up Sundays, which will it be?

Fearless Forecast
New Jersey Giants 28
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24