Norm Johnson Shows You How to Kick a Field Goal
During this awesome Degree Men-sponsored trip, Norm Johnson gave us a tutorial on how to kick a field goal at Century Link Stadium in Seattle. It’s a lot harder than it looks, too. People love making fun of idiot kickers, but when you’re out on a field with no one around you and you start maxing out at extra point distance, you really get a new found respect for these guys.
Norm Johnson kicked in the NFL for 18 seasons. He played for the Seahawks (82-90), Falcons (91-94), Steelers (95-98) and the Eagles (99). I asked him what it was like to be a Seahawks guy who spent time in Pittsburgh. He said he enjoyed playing for Bill Cowher and that Cowher was a fair coach. He’d get in your face when you messed up and be the first to pat you on the back when you did well. Norm’s impression of the old Steelers coach was spot on, too. He said he remembers missing a crucial kick and having Cowher come up to him, get right in his face, curl his lips in that classic-Cowher scowl and scream “You owe me!” before walking away. The description really doesn’t do the performance justice.
When asked who the funniest player was that he ever played with, Norm talked about his first season with the Falcons, when the team had two good ole boy QBs, Brett Favre and Sean Salisbury. He said those two guys in tandem were just totally ridiculous. Just ripping off the best/worst hick humor he’d ever heard. They fed off each other and just made for good times. You could totally see that.
Anyway, back to the tutorial. Here’s the video of Norm Johnson teaching the fundamentals of field goal kicking:
Well that caps off all the recaps from a great trip. Thanks again to the guys at Degree Men for putting together such a fun series of events. From the mud-splatter to the race track to the football field, I got to experience some fun stuff while staying protected from odor and wetness with the motion-activated Degree Men Adrenaline series deodorant.
Oct 12th
Mack Strong Shows You How to Throw a Football
We met up with former Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong during the Ultimate Seattle Seahawks experience that was sponsored by Degree Men. It was part of an adrenaline-filled weekend that included time at the Tough Mudder course, an interview with Bear Grylls, go cart racing and a tour of the Seattle Seahawks stadium, Century Link Field.
Mack was super chill. While hanging out on the field, Mack shared stories about his playing days, including a reference to his “welcome to the NFL moment” when Bill Romanowski dug an elbow into the back of Mack’s neck and pushed his face into the ground during his first NFL preseason game. Even though he was a fullback, Mack could still put some zip on the ball. He gave us a quick tutorial on how to throw an NFL football:
Even with the extra training, I still got worked in the passing drill. Thanks to the Degree Men Adrenaline Series, at least I smelled awesome while stinking up the joint with my errant passes. Fun times though!
Oct 12th
Week 6 NFL Picks
Pittsburgh -6.5 At Tennessee
The Steelers don’t play well without Troy Polamalu, but the Titans don’t play well period. Sure Woodley is out too, and the Steelers haven’t exactly been lights out against the run, but don’t be fooled. The Titans are a bad team and the Steelers have the weapons to get the W on the road.
Pick: Steelers -6.5
Cincinnati -1.5 At Cleveland
I think the Browns will show up ready to take the second round of the Battle of Ohio. They lost first matchup by a touchdown in Week 2. Now they get to play at home. The Browns aren’t as crappy as their 0-5 record, and the Bengals are a vulnerable 3-2.
Pick: Browns +1.5
At NY Jets -3.5 Indianapolis
This game feels like a textbook letdown game for the emotionally charged Colts, but I think they can sustain their emotion and build on it.
Pick: Colts +3.5
At Tampa Bay -4.5 Kansas City
Brady Quinn finally gets his shot. I think he’ll blow it.
Pick: Bucs -4.5
At Atlanta -9 Oakland
The Raiders will try to pound the rock and keep Atlanta’s offensive stars on the sidelines. It won’t work.
Pick: Falcons -9
At Baltimore -3.5 Dallas
The Ravens always have these weird road games where they take weaker opponents too lightly. That’s what happened in KC. Back at home, the Ravens will be a different team.
Pick: Ravens -3.5
At Philadelphia -4 Detroit
Both these teams feel like they’ve underachieved, but the Eagles are 3-2 and the Lions are stuck at 1-3. The Eagles are averaging only 16 points per game. That’s for 31st in the league. Yikes. But the Lions can’t stop anything. Remember, Detroit gave up 44 points to the Titans, a team that hasn’t put up more than 14 points in any other contest. As much as ball security is an issue for the Eagles, they should be able to get going at home against the Lions.
Pick: Detroit +4
At Miami -4 St. Louis
Reggie Bush has got some knee issues, but dude loves putting up big yardage at home. This gritty Dolphins team has got something good going and they’ll be honoring former greats Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. S-Jax won’t run big and the Amendola-less passing game will falter.
Pick: Dolphins -4
New England -3.5 At Seattle
How legit is Seattle? Well I picked them to win last week, but against the Pats, I’m not so sure. Yea that defense is great, but the Pats are back in a big way. Wes is in play. Hernandez could return. They’re not going to drop 52 points, but the Pats will earn the W.
Pick: Pats -3.5
At Arizona -4.5 Buffalo
The Bills have allowed a ridiculous 97 points over the last two games. Buffalo’s not exactly facing an offensive juggernaut in Arizona, but this Bills team has just been demoralized and demolished the past two weeks.
Pick: Cardinals -4.5
At Washington -2 Minnesota
I just like the Vikings. I like AP to run angry and show the Skins that they can tear his knee, but they’ll never break his all-dayness.
Pick: Vikings +2
At San Francisco -6.5 NY Giants
Both of these teams want to pretend that they’re disrespected underdogs, but it’s just not true. They’re both solid, but the Niners have been too dominant lately to not be favored by a TD at home.
Pick: Niners -6.5
At Houston -3.5 Green Bay
What’s up the Packers? They start slow on offense and blow leads on defense. There just seems to be a strange malaise about this team. Now they have to go on the road and play the undefeated Texans. In Houston. In primetime. The loss of Brian Cushing is pretty sever for this hot Texans team, but I think they can edge out the Packers in a high scoring affair.
Pick: Texans -3.5
At San Diego -1.5 Denver
Don’t hand the division crown to the Chargers just yet. Broncos will roll into San Diego and make some serious noise. Gates and Mathews go off, but Peyton turns in a gem.
Pick: Broncos +1.5
Last Week: 7-7
Season 38-38-1
Last Season: 140-120-12
Oct 11th
Bear Grylls Interview
Bear Grylls is one baddass Brit. He’s a survivalist who spent time with the British Special Forces. He’s a skydiver who has a black belt in karate. He climbed Mount Everest when he was 23 and at age 34, he was the youngest person to be named Britain’s Chief Scout. In Man vs. Wild, he showed audiences around the world how to survive in the toughest of situations. He’s an affable guy whose on-air presence matches his off-screen personality.
When I toured the Tough Mudder course in Seattle as part of an adrenaline-fueled weekend sponsored by the Degree Men Adrenaline Series, I got to meet Bear see his Tough Mudder creation called the Timber Tantrum. The obstacle featured three logs that you have to climb before scaling a wall and dropping down safely on the muddy other side. When the Tough Mudders got to the obstacle, Bear was cheering people on to conquer his creation.
I got to interview Bear the day before the Tough Mudder event. We talked about his love for Tough Mudder, his favorite insect meal, his Bear-whispering skills, upcoming projects, his favorite spot on planet Earth and what it’s like to be known around the interwebs as the guy that drinks his own piss. He actually shared a funny story about how his son leveraged this rep and played a prank on his unsuspecting dad. Here’s the interview:
Oct 10th
Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow Los Angeles
Last week I had the good fortune to attend “The Balvenie Rare Craft Whisky Tasting Experience” hosted by Balvenie brand ambassador Lorne Cousin. Lorne is a charming Scotsman, scotch expert and internationally known bagpipe player. His assignment for Balvenie finds him touring the United States in a wood chassis Morgan convertible visiting local craftsmen and highlighting the Balvenie brand.
Balvenie is a rare breed in today’s spirit marketplace. Every stage of production screams handmade craftsmanship. Much of their barley is grown on site; it is malted by hand using the traditional floor malting method. Their barrels are maintained by on-site coopers, their copper stills are kept up by a master coppersmith in their employ for over 50 years. Each batch of whisky is tasted daily by the Balvenie Malt Master, David Stewart. He alone decides when the whisky is ready to be bottled and sold.
It’s an incredible process that takes well over a decade to complete. That process results in some of the most pleasant and drinkable whisky I’ve every enjoyed.
One of the problems with whisky is that it’s often described as an acquired taste. Most of the more popular brands are dark and thick, with a bite to those first few sips. It’s enough to keep your casual consumer away, for fear of becoming the girly man who coughs after each draw off of his glass. No such fear with a Balvenie. They had a half a dozen scotches out for sample and each sip illustrated what a premium product they sell. In an age of homogenization and brand consistency, Balvenie embraces the subtle differences in its products that hand crafting produces.
Here’s my take on a few of the stand outs.
The accessibility of the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 year really stood out. It manages to be rich yet smooth at the same time. It sat on my tongue and brought out notes of vanilla and raisin. The sweetness of the malts and the thickness reminded me of honey, the color was light amber, the finish warm and smooth. It’s just the kind of scotch that new comers can sip and enjoy (responsibly, of course).
The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 year old found itself on the other end of the spectrum. Single barrel scotch is transferred directly from the barrel to the bottle, no blending or mixing of other varietals takes place at all. This scotch is full bodied, has a strong peppery first sip but a very smooth and sweet finish. Definitely the biggest pop of the bunch, I could feel the heat of its 47.8% alcohol content as it sat in my mouth. The finish impresses but was surprisingly short. I would have enjoyed another second or two of that warm sweetness. The good thing is, with a single barrel scotch, each run of bottling is different so you can enjoy (responsibly!) your bottle, buy the same brand and get a slightly different drink.
The purpose of the event was to promote the brand’s new 17 Year Doublewood. Truly the belle of the ball in my opinion, too. It’s an infinitely accessible scotch, very drinkable for newcomers to the genre. It’s sweet on the tongue, light yet slightly full-bodied. The malts and honey really come out and the peat flavor is gentle and pleasant. Its finish is smooth and lingers nicely in your mouth and down the pipes.
All in all quite the successful debut for me here at MANjr. Having so many of the Balvenie products out and available for tasting really showcases the premium nature of their product and allows the taster to delve deeper into the subtle nuances of each individual offering.
If you want more info on the Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow’s scheduled stops you can visit www.balvenie.com/roadshow. You should also check out a documentary they had produced about the 2011 version that featured Andrew Weir, The Morgan and Nicholas Pollacchi.
Slainte!
Oct 9th
Tough Mudder Seattle
This past weekend I dominated the Gladiator Run at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Okay, maybe dominate is a strong word. “Completed” is probably a more fitting description. With the help of my teammates, I finished all the obstacles and made it through the course. It’s a 5K run with 15 obstacles created by Dan Clark, aka Nitro, from the original American Gladiators. The course kicked my ass a bit and I was proud that I got through it. But I knew, deep down that my victory was a mild one. The Gladiator Run doesn’t come close to what goes down at Tough Mudder.
The weekend before I did the Gladiator Run, I got to tour the Tough Mudder course in Seattle as part of an adrenaline-packed trip that was sponsored by Degree Men. I knew there was no way I could hang with running that Seattle course, and the challenge of my recent mini-5K just confirmed that. After my little mud run, I got nothing but the deepest respect for the true mudders out there.
I got some cool cuts of the Tough Mudder Seattle event, and after grinding away at the Gladiator Run, I wanted to share some highlights from the big boy course:
Oct 8th
Week 5 NFL Picks
Arizona -1.5 At St. Louis
Cards. Believe.
Pick: Cardinals -1.5
Atlanta -3 At Washington
Matt Ryan leads the league in passer rating (112.1). He’s thrown for 1,162 yards for 11 TDs and just 2 picks. He’s got weapons everywhere, a serviceable rushing game and a defense that’s holding opponents to 19 points a game. The Skins have a quality offense, but their passing defense ranks last in the league. Whether it’s Tony G, Julio or Roddy making the plays, enough plays will be made for Atlanta to win by three. Especially against the league’s second-worst pass defense.
Pick: Falcons -3
At Pittsburgh -3.5 Philadelphia
The Steelers are whole again. They get their primary RB and two huge defensive playmakers (Harrison and Polamalu) back on the field just in time. Tomlin’s teams are 4-2 ATS after bye weeks. It’s time for the Steelers to step up and grab a big win at home.
Pick: Steelers -3.5
Green Bay -7 At Indianapolis
Greg Jennings is out, but even without their best receiver, the Packers are more than a touchdown better than the Colts. The Colts had an extra week to prepare for the matchup, but they also lost their head coach for the foreseeable future. Even if the team comes out inspired, it likely won’t be enough.
Pick: Packers -7
At NY Giants -9 Cleveland
The Browns kept it close with the Ravens last week, which was a bit surprising. There are things to like about this 0-4 squad, but the matchup is too difficult. The Giants are averaging 29.8 points per game. Cleveland’s averaging 18.2. The spread’s about right.
Pick: Giants -9
At Minnesota -5.5 Tennessee
Hasslebeck gets the nod in the dome and suddenly Chris Johnson can run forward. Time for a Tennessee turnaround? I think not. The Vikings are the surprise leaders of their division, winners of two straight and the safer bet at home.
Pick: Vikings -5.5
At Cincinnati -3.5 Miami
What the what? The Fins have the best run D in football, you say? They’re only allowing how many rushing yards a game? 56.8? Bananas, I tell you. But what about their pass D? Oh, they’re allowing almost three bills a game. 30t hin the league. Damn. Good news for AJ Green (who would be leading the NFL in receiving yards if it wasn’t for that pesky 253-yard Hartline stat line last week). The Fins can move the ball too though. They got a promising QB and Reggie Bush is averaging 5.5 yards a carry. Both teams are hurtin’ at the corner spots, too. This game feels like it could hit the over by halftime. Bengals win the shootout.
Pick: Bengals -3.5
Baltimore -6 At Kansas City
When did the Ravens become an offensive powerhouse? They’re putting up 424 yards and 30 points per game. And they’re well-rested heading into Arrowhead. The Chiefs are going to pound the rock and hope that Matt Cassel can stop throwing picks. Ravens avoid the trap.
Pick: Ravens -6
At Carolina -3 Seattle
Seattle’s letdown loss last week was easy to anticipate, but I like them in this matchup. It’s really a strength-against-strength thing. Carolina gets the checkmark on O and Seattle’s got the D. It’ll be interesting to see how the battle plays out between a strong pass rush and a QB who can gash you with big runs. I think the Seahawks can rattle Cam into a pouty, towel-over-the-head style finish. And then there’s this fun fact: The Panthers have allowed over 300 rushing yards the past two games and they’ll be going up against the NFL’s leading rusher in Marshawn Lynch (473 yards).
Pick: Seattle +3
Chicago -6 At Jacksonville
Cutler looked sharp last week. He was decisive and he kept throwing TDs even after the game was long decided. Jacksonville isn’t going to be able to feed MJD all day and expect huge chunks of yards. The Jags need to make plays with the passing game. Good luck doing that against a defense that leads the league in INTs.
Pick: Bears -6
At New England -6.5 Denver
The Pats made a statement last week, dropping 52 points on the Bills. They seem to have a tough time beating Denver though. I get the feeling this game is going to come down to the wire. Probably a field goal. Pats will likely win and not quite cover.
Pick: Broncos +6.5
At San Francisco -10 Buffalo
If the Bills pair of starting RBs can’t get going against the Niners, then no one can. I know the 49ers are supposed to be super good at defense and covering spreads at home and all that, but I’m not sold on this spread. Seems a bit steep. The Bills can move the ball better than the Jets, but they’re still likely to lose convincingly.
Pick: Niners -10
At New Orleans -3.5 San Diego
The only winless teams in the league are the Saints and the Browns. After Sunday night, the Browns will be in sole possession of that dubious distinction. Brees blows up at home in the dome, and if he’s going to unleash some 0-4 frustration, might as well do it against the team that let him get away.
Pick: Saints -3.5
Houston -8 At NY Jets
The Jets are a mess and the Texans are firing on all cylinders. Sanchez needs a big game to quiet the calls for Tebow. If the Jets somehow show up at home it could do wonders to stop the downward spiral of their season. I think a convincing win by the Texans is more likely. Houston may clinch their division by midseason.
Pick: Texans -8
Last Week: 9-6
Season 31-31-1
Last Season: 140-120-12
Oct 4th
Bulleit Bourbon Review
I’ve always been more of a Scotch guy, but I know a good whiskey when I see one. Lower-end whiskey choices tend to be too sweet and too syrupy. When you want a stiff drink, you want that drink to have some flavor. You want it to have a bold and memorable taste, something with some depth and complexity. You don’t want that drink to taste like an alcoholic Slurpee.
So when I tried Bulleit Bourbon for the first time, the first thing that stood out to me is the nuance, the I-don’t-have-to-be-too-sugary-to-succeed taste. What I like about good Scotch is the subtleties that are at play in the drink. You get a certain scent, a certain immediate, on-the-tongue flavor and some sort of afterthought finish. It’s a process, and not every drink can deliver each step of the way. Bulleit Bourbon can.
Tom Bulleit revamped the Bulleit Distilling Co. with the goal of using his great-great-grandfather’s 175-year-old recipe to make fantastic, authentic bourbon. Bulleit Bourbon is aged al east six years in American White Oak barrels that are housed in single-story warehouses. This allows for more control over the maturation process. The consistency is further enhanced by the mingling process, where two to three distillates will be mingled together to achieve a consistent nose and finish. Bulleit Bourbon uses large amounts of rye grain and proprietary yeast that is cultured on-site at the distillery.
The nose is spicy, but the taste and finish are so smooth. The finish lasts for some time too, which is a good thing. Bulleit Bourbon is great to us in cocktails, because it can stand alone of give itself a proper place to stand out when mixed with other elements. I think it’s a pretty good base for old fashioneds. I tend to like my old fashioneds a little less sweet (with a small spoonful of simple syrup of the crushed sugar cube), but I really like how Bulleit plays with the bitters. Add some citrus-type garnish and you’re good to go.
And if you’re a purist, you don’t need any mixers. Just sip on this quality Bourbon and enjoy the long, smooth finish without any interference.
Oct 3rd
Degree Men Adrenaline Fueled Weekend
This past weekend Degree Men flew me out to Seattle for a sweet set of events that showcased the motion-activated power of the Degree Men Adrenaline Series. Most deodorant sticks respond to a person’s wetness, but the Degree Men Adrenaline Series is some DEFCON-level deodorant that uses MOTIONsense™ technology to respond to actual activity and body movement. This patented piece of odor-fighting tech starts working more the more you move around. It’s a clinical-grade antiperspirant designed to last for long stretches at a time (up to 48 hours). Even the most extreme adrenaline junkies can’t outstink these sticks.
The Adrenaline Series features a full line of products that cater to specific conditions and preferred man-smells:
- Adventure – A citrusy blast of forest fueled goodness. Musky without going overboard.
- Everest – A cool sensation of wintery clean. Almost mentholated in its briskness.
- Extreme – A minty-citrus combo with an outdoorsy undertone. Fresh side of the great outdoors.
- Sport Defense – Rustic black pepper meets odor-busting chillness. Just the right amount of spicy.
- V12 – Calming herbal blend that mixes subtle scents with a crisp finish. Simple and meditative.
With the full product line at our disposal, the Degree Men’s crew treated us to some awesome displays of man-tensity:
Interview with Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is the ultimate symbol of staying cool in extreme situations. I sat down with him to chat about the spirit of Tough Mudder, the obstacle that he designed for the course, his favorite spot on planet Earth and you know, that whole what’s-it-like-to-be-known-as-the-guy-who-drinks-his-own-piss thing.
Tough Mudder
We toured the Tough Mudder course in Seattle the day before the race and I got to see the clean version of the course – a 12-mile track with 22 savage obstacles – before it was muddied and bloodied by over 8,000 participants. The following day I watch as these muddied masses pushed themselves through all the brutality, with a lot of teamwork, camaraderie and respect on display.
High Speed Go-Cart Racing
Multiple rounds of intense, spinout-fueled competition on go carts that reach speeds of 50 MPH. The Crave Online guys dominated the final race at PGP Motorsports Park.
Ultimate Seahawks Experience
I got to tour the stadium with a fun-loving historian. Saw the scene of the Golden Tate crime, scoped out the visitor locker room and got some practice time on the field. Former Seahawks kicker Norm Johnson and former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong gave us some tips on how to kick field goals and throw spirals.
So yea, good times this weekend. With good people, too; from Crave, AskMen.com and the Yahoo Mansome crew. Stay tuned for more posts from this weekend’s awesome events!
Oct 1st
The Valvoline NextGen Undercover Salesman Challenge
Check out NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series drivers Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Trevor Bayne as they take the Valvoline NextGen Undercover Salesman Challenge to see who can get customers to try out NextGen recycled motor oil.
Sep 27th
