One of the bands that formed my musical tastes thanks to their massive hit, "I believe in a thing called love," has released a new album. Should I listen? Heck yes! The Darkness recently dropped "Pinewood Smile," the band's fourth since the debut "Permission to Land" that had IBIATCL on it. While I haven't kept up with how their music's been, I noticed the new album in a deep dive of browsing new releases on Spotify, and based on the nostalgia of Duluth road-trip sing-a-longs I decided to give "Pinewood Smile" a try. The album doesn't quite live up to the iconic hit, but it is pretty groovy at times, and quite clever. I particularly enjoy the song "Solid Gold." Give it a listen. Worth it.
Fantasy football is continuing to go down hill. I can't win to save my life in my main league, and dropped to 0-7. I had a good week in dyansty, but ran into a buzz saw of 173 points and fell by about 40. I'm down to third place, but I'm still very safely in playoff contention, so I just need to stay ready for playoffs. In my third league I'm in 11th at 1-6 :(
Many photos from the weeek of Oct. 12-17. You can find them here.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Hungry
I recently saw that "Eric and Jesse" was coming back (the reality show featuring Rocori standout athlete and NFL WR Eric Decker (who I once played in Little League)). I was confused. Why is a receiver who hasn't done much of anything since leaving Denver, and a country singer, who hasn't had a single hit, get their once-cancelled show back. However, searching through the "new releases" function of Spotify today to find an album to review, I got my answer. Jesse James Decker has a new album out, "Southern Girl City Lights." Not sure why a record company would give her another chance, considering her previous failures to chart, and lack of true talent. Clearly they did, and went all in by getting their boring reality show back too. I've unfortunately watched a couple episodes out of curiosity to see the man whom I once was decimated by as a pre-teen. It was awful and unwatchable. Even worse than this sorry excuse for an album by Jesse James Decker. She's an above average singer at times, but she also has a nasally annoyance on a lot of her notes. Her songs are also super generic. One song, toward the end of the album (which I am still surprised I made it all the way through) was "Hungry." It wasn't awful.
Anyways, fantasy has plugged on. I'm 5-1 in dynasty, but 1-5 and 0-6 in my redraft leagues. It just isn't my year there. As far as dynasty goes, I honestly wasn't planning on being competitive for a few years, but since I am, I went all in. I traded both first round picks I acquired to get Jerrick McKinnon and Deandre Hopkins. I now have a seriously legit chance at winning. I could really use it, because I certainly am not winning anything elsewhere. Daily has been down lately too.
Lastly, I have a number of photos from Upsala volleyball, Little Falls football, Royalton volleyball, Royalton and Pierz cross country. You can see those photos here.
Anyways, fantasy has plugged on. I'm 5-1 in dynasty, but 1-5 and 0-6 in my redraft leagues. It just isn't my year there. As far as dynasty goes, I honestly wasn't planning on being competitive for a few years, but since I am, I went all in. I traded both first round picks I acquired to get Jerrick McKinnon and Deandre Hopkins. I now have a seriously legit chance at winning. I could really use it, because I certainly am not winning anything elsewhere. Daily has been down lately too.
Lastly, I have a number of photos from Upsala volleyball, Little Falls football, Royalton volleyball, Royalton and Pierz cross country. You can see those photos here.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Life of the Party
Though it pales in comparison to their earlier work, a decent album was recently released by one of my favorite of the pop punk genre, All Time Low. That album is "The Last Young Renegade." It was kind of disappointing compared to their 2015 release, "Future Hearts," which was a refreshing throwback to their best works like "So Wrong, It's Right," and "Nothing Personal." This was a step back, but that's kind of how it has gone for ATL, up and down. That said, one of my favorite tracks on the album is "Life of the Party."
I dropped to second place and 4-1 on the year in my dynasty league. I also lost in my main re-draft league, falling to a dismal 0-5 after scoring better than 6 of the 10 teams in my league this week. I'm still trying to fight and piece together a team. Wish me luck. I did earn my first win in my autopick league, and am now in 11th place at 1-4. No giving up there either. I've been hovering around even in daily so far, just keeping my money around to try and hopefully hit a great lineup and take home some $$.
I have many photos from events between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3. See them, purchase them, here.
Here is one of the best from Little Falls tennis:
Stay tuned for more musical musings and updates. Have a suggestion for me to review? Leave a comment or email me at tylerohmann@gmail.com.
I dropped to second place and 4-1 on the year in my dynasty league. I also lost in my main re-draft league, falling to a dismal 0-5 after scoring better than 6 of the 10 teams in my league this week. I'm still trying to fight and piece together a team. Wish me luck. I did earn my first win in my autopick league, and am now in 11th place at 1-4. No giving up there either. I've been hovering around even in daily so far, just keeping my money around to try and hopefully hit a great lineup and take home some $$.
I have many photos from events between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3. See them, purchase them, here.
Here is one of the best from Little Falls tennis:
Stay tuned for more musical musings and updates. Have a suggestion for me to review? Leave a comment or email me at tylerohmann@gmail.com.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Breakdown: NCHC hockey preview
My earliest memory of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is listening to the band's greatest hits album in the mid 1990s with one of my older cousins, who was probably in high school at the time. Looking back, she was pretty damn cool to listen to that. I remember specifically being drawn to the song "Mary Jane's Last Dance." Of course at the time, I was naive to who "Mary Jane" was, but as I grew older my love for the song never faded. I also learned to really appreciate the span of Petty, who had mega hits in the 70's, 80's and 90's. His 1994 album "Wildflowers" was brilliant, and contains one of my favorite Petty songs of all time "You Don't Know How It Feels."
I'm writing all this because the world lost another great one. R.I.P Tom Petty.
In honor of Petty, I've named my annual NCHC hockey preview to his 1977 hit, "Breakdown."
First, let's take a look at how I predicted the conference a year ago and how it actually shook out.
No. 1 in 2016-17: UND. Actual finish: 4 (35 pts). The Fighting Hawks weren't as powerful as I predicted.
No. 2 in 2016-17: Denver. Actual finish: 1 (59 pts). The Pioneers were a dominant force a year ago, eventually riding their amazing regular season to a National Championship.
No. 3 in 2016-17: SCSU. Actual finish: 5 (31 pts). I overestimated my alma mater. The Huskies didn't have the fire power I figured that their young talents would provide, plus they were average at goalie.
No. 4 in 2016-17: UNO. Actual finish: 6 (29 pts) Way off, though I predicted they'd be tough to predict, which was true.
No. 5 in 2016-17: Miami. Actual finish: 7 (23 pts) Miami had one of its worst seasons in the past two decades.
No. 6 in 2016-17: UMD. Actual finish: 2 (52 pts) Boy was I off about the Bulldogs having a down year. They went all the way to the national finals.
No. 7 in 2016-17: Western Mich. Actual finish: 3 (42 pts) It was quite the leap that the senior-led Broncos went on a year ago, which I don't think anyone predicted for the perennially bottom half team.
No. 8 in 2016-17: CC. Actual finish: 8 (17). The Tigers have been cellar dwellers for years, and this was the easiest pick to make and I nailed it.
As you can see, predicting is a fickle business, even in an eight-team college hockey conference. However, I did my research and hopefully 2017-18 will prove to be better to me. Here are my thoughts on the upcoming season.
1. Denver: There should be little chance the defending champs stay on top. They return most of their scoring from a year ago as well as goaltender Tanner Jaillet. Denver also has a strong recruiting class, though they will be a bit thinner at D without Will Butcher and others that left/graduated. The key to the Pioneers' season will be keeping Jailet healthy.
2. North Dakota: A lot of fellow prognosticators have the Hawks closer to where they were a year ago, but I think they should really be solid. They will be stout in net with Cam Johnson back for his senior year, and that is going to be a key. They will need to find a replacement in scoring for departed star Brock Boeser, who left early for the NHL.
3. SCSU: The Huskies should be much better on offense this year as most everyone returns and should be a year older and more improved. Goalie might still be a question mark as Jeff Smith is back as a sophomore, but was decidedly average a year ago. Slovakian David Hrenak could challenged for spot.
4. UMD: The Bulldogs should drop quite a bit as goaltender Hunter Miska left early for the pros as did a couple other players. Scoring should be pretty good yet, but defense is also a bit of a question mark. The key though will be finding a replacement for Miska, who was sensational last year.
5. Miami: Miami should be back in semi-contention and around 30 pts this year. They do lose top scorer Louis, but return most of the rest of its scoring and defense. Recruits were light, but the key for the Red Hawks is goalie Ryan Larkin. If he makes a huge sophomore leap, Miami could get a home playoff series.
6. UNO: Head Coach Dean Blais is gone, so a new era begins for Omaha. Goalies all come back, but they weren't particularly good, plus they lose Ortega, their leading scorer. Recruits were pretty good, but the key will be new coach and former Red Hawk defenseman Mike Gabinet. It could be a bit of rebuilding year.
7. Western Michigan: Two of the Broncos' best left early for the pros. Several others graduated, so the Cinderella story from a year ago looks to be headed back down near the cellar. Recruits are weak apart from Josh Passolt, but the key will be to replace scoring, which could prove difficult.
8. Colorado College: Bergh and LeClerc return, but Gerdes and Hansen are gone. However, the Tigers were not good a year ago. Can recruits such as Vanderbeck make them better? That will be key.
Anyhow, that is how it will happen. I'd say five of the teams will make the NCAA as UMD and Miami both squeak in as four seeds. Denver will be a one. UND will be a two and SCSU a three seed. I'm looking forward to a good season.
For sports photos from the week of Sept. 21-26. Click here.
I'm writing all this because the world lost another great one. R.I.P Tom Petty.
In honor of Petty, I've named my annual NCHC hockey preview to his 1977 hit, "Breakdown."
First, let's take a look at how I predicted the conference a year ago and how it actually shook out.
No. 1 in 2016-17: UND. Actual finish: 4 (35 pts). The Fighting Hawks weren't as powerful as I predicted.
No. 2 in 2016-17: Denver. Actual finish: 1 (59 pts). The Pioneers were a dominant force a year ago, eventually riding their amazing regular season to a National Championship.
No. 3 in 2016-17: SCSU. Actual finish: 5 (31 pts). I overestimated my alma mater. The Huskies didn't have the fire power I figured that their young talents would provide, plus they were average at goalie.
No. 4 in 2016-17: UNO. Actual finish: 6 (29 pts) Way off, though I predicted they'd be tough to predict, which was true.
No. 5 in 2016-17: Miami. Actual finish: 7 (23 pts) Miami had one of its worst seasons in the past two decades.
No. 6 in 2016-17: UMD. Actual finish: 2 (52 pts) Boy was I off about the Bulldogs having a down year. They went all the way to the national finals.
No. 7 in 2016-17: Western Mich. Actual finish: 3 (42 pts) It was quite the leap that the senior-led Broncos went on a year ago, which I don't think anyone predicted for the perennially bottom half team.
No. 8 in 2016-17: CC. Actual finish: 8 (17). The Tigers have been cellar dwellers for years, and this was the easiest pick to make and I nailed it.
As you can see, predicting is a fickle business, even in an eight-team college hockey conference. However, I did my research and hopefully 2017-18 will prove to be better to me. Here are my thoughts on the upcoming season.
1. Denver: There should be little chance the defending champs stay on top. They return most of their scoring from a year ago as well as goaltender Tanner Jaillet. Denver also has a strong recruiting class, though they will be a bit thinner at D without Will Butcher and others that left/graduated. The key to the Pioneers' season will be keeping Jailet healthy.
2. North Dakota: A lot of fellow prognosticators have the Hawks closer to where they were a year ago, but I think they should really be solid. They will be stout in net with Cam Johnson back for his senior year, and that is going to be a key. They will need to find a replacement in scoring for departed star Brock Boeser, who left early for the NHL.
3. SCSU: The Huskies should be much better on offense this year as most everyone returns and should be a year older and more improved. Goalie might still be a question mark as Jeff Smith is back as a sophomore, but was decidedly average a year ago. Slovakian David Hrenak could challenged for spot.
4. UMD: The Bulldogs should drop quite a bit as goaltender Hunter Miska left early for the pros as did a couple other players. Scoring should be pretty good yet, but defense is also a bit of a question mark. The key though will be finding a replacement for Miska, who was sensational last year.
5. Miami: Miami should be back in semi-contention and around 30 pts this year. They do lose top scorer Louis, but return most of the rest of its scoring and defense. Recruits were light, but the key for the Red Hawks is goalie Ryan Larkin. If he makes a huge sophomore leap, Miami could get a home playoff series.
6. UNO: Head Coach Dean Blais is gone, so a new era begins for Omaha. Goalies all come back, but they weren't particularly good, plus they lose Ortega, their leading scorer. Recruits were pretty good, but the key will be new coach and former Red Hawk defenseman Mike Gabinet. It could be a bit of rebuilding year.
7. Western Michigan: Two of the Broncos' best left early for the pros. Several others graduated, so the Cinderella story from a year ago looks to be headed back down near the cellar. Recruits are weak apart from Josh Passolt, but the key will be to replace scoring, which could prove difficult.
8. Colorado College: Bergh and LeClerc return, but Gerdes and Hansen are gone. However, the Tigers were not good a year ago. Can recruits such as Vanderbeck make them better? That will be key.
Anyhow, that is how it will happen. I'd say five of the teams will make the NCAA as UMD and Miami both squeak in as four seeds. Denver will be a one. UND will be a two and SCSU a three seed. I'm looking forward to a good season.
For sports photos from the week of Sept. 21-26. Click here.
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