It's NFL Time
Well, in two weekends anyway. Which means it's time for a sports post.

Last year, around November, I made a post that argued that Kurt Warner wasn't the problem with the New York Giants' inability to perform basic football functions like winning games. I didn't post it in this blog, but on one of my various dorky internet boards, I argued that the problem was, in fact, the offensive line.

Various pundits were calling for Kurt Warner's ouster last year, especially after the Giants dropped to 5-4, saying (like Tom Coughlin, the Giants coach) that "the offense wasn't clicking." So they inserted untested rookie Eli Manning, who promptly lost 6 of his 7 starts.

Eli Manning was injured this last weekend in a game against the Carolina Panthers, by Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers (article here).

This quote from the article pretty much tells the whole story:
"Coughlin allowed that protection for Manning, even by a markedly upgraded Giants offensive line, has been a concern."

This tells us two things:
First, the offensive line was pretty bad last year. Good offensive lines don't usually get "markedly upgraded," because they don't need to be.
Secondly, that if the line is so much better and is still having problems, the offense will struggle again this year, because Manning is going to spend a lot of time staring out of his earholes rather than his facemask. Because his helmet will be turned around by the impacts, you see, and...oh, forget it.

Sometimes, it's nice to be able to say "I told you so." But the Giants' OL has given up 10 sacks in two preseason games.

A Quote Worth Reading
"Few breeds of animals are as adept at singling out and terrorizing the weak as the average human child."

Just thought I'd bring it up.

How the Mighty Have Fallen
Oh, Sir Mix-a-lot...where hast thou pride gone? And why hast thou fallen so far?

Click theehere if you don't know what I mean...click the one that says "Baby got back...pack."

Verily, the day of doom is upon us.

Money to Blow
Not really, but I just thought I'd throw this out there.

For those who may not recall, this is what my car looks like today, minus the bland warehouse backdrop. It's a fine car, orders of magnitude better than my old one (artist rendering). But it's a Hyundai, and I have to admit it's a bit bland. I played that McDonald's Monopoly game religiously for several years, especially right after I got my old Toyota, because I knew precisely how I'd spend that first 50,000 dollar check - repainting the Frau Farbissina. And redoing the engine. And getting chrome rims and low-profile tires, a body kit - basically, the works.

You see all sorts of modified Toyotas out there, but not so many modified Hyundais, except the Tiburon. Unsure why that is, other than that the Elantra GLS does look a little pedestrian (click up there again and picture that car with a little old lady inside. No, not the flattened car, the other one. Smartass).

But, as it turns out, some enterprising souls DO sell body kits for the 01-04 Hyundai Elantra design series. Check it out:

There's Astrel, a simple look, that just gussies up the car a little.

There's this one the Junbug EVO III kit, with the addition of racing wheels. I think the spoiler is an exceptionally nice touch. Notice that they left the stock grille, though. Tsk, tsk. Everyone knows you really want a billet grille and "Lambo Doors". Duh.

Then there're these kits. I'm exceptionally fond of the GT Tech XD2 kit.

Or, you could just Make your own grille and go stock the rest of the way.

Want to replace the decorative vents on the bumper with something useful? How about some fog lights?

All of these parts flying around the internet raise two questions. Firstly, why are people willing to spend 5 grand on a car that'll only set you back 15 grand to start? Wouldn't it be easier to, I don't know, buy a nicer car in the first place? Maybe a used BMW?

Secondly, do you think my student loan company will notice if I skip a few payments for those kickass lifting doors?

Not Everyone's in the Club
Some may remember this post from early this baseball season, wherein I advocated for striking Alex Sanchez's suspension from baseball (he tested positive for steroids) simply because he plays for the Devil Rays.

Today it was announced that Seattle Mariners pitcher Ryan Franklin tested positive for steroids in a recent test, and will also be suspended for 10 games.

Franklin, this season, is 6-11 with an ERA of 4.61.

Once again, give the guy a break - he plays for the Mariners, and has an ERA on the wrong side of four and a half. He needs all the help he can get.