burrito day 1/26/05

After a long NFL season, we now know the teams for Super Bowl XXXIX -- New England Patriots vs Philadelphia Eagles. In the process, there has been talk about the New England Patriots QB, Tom Brady, becoming the best all-time QB with his 3rd Super Bowl victory. Before this issue can even be addressed, the currrent best all-time QB must be established. The BDC is up to this challenge and is willing to take an unbiased approach. Follow along, and let's see who comes out on top

I think we are all willing to agree that it really comes down to 2 QBs -- John Elway vs. Joe Montana

Let's look at the comparative stats:

Joe Montana John Elway
Games Played 192 234
Wins 117 140 (most all-time)
Yards 40551 51475 (2nd most all-time)
Career Passer Rating 95.3 80.0 (91.2 after Shanahan arrived in 1994)
Touchdowns / Interceptions 273 / 139 300 / 226
Rushing yards / TDs 1676 / 20 3407 / 33
Total TDs per game 1.52 1.42
Super Bowl appearances / Wins 4 / 4 5 / 2
4th Quarter comebacks 33 47 (most all-time)

When it comes down to it, two stats stand out -- 1) Most Wins and 2) 4th
Quarter comebacks. Why? The NFL is about winning. One QB has recorded more wins and has carried his team on his back in the 4th quarter more than anyone else. John Elway clearly stands out in both of these categories. If any member of burrito day was a fan of Elway during this time, they would remember that no game seemed out of reach, no mountain was too high, no pathetic coach or poor supporting crew could inhibit his genius. Time and time again, Elway rose up when
his team needed him most. One could argue that Joe Montana had more Super Bowl wins and a better QB rating, and therefore should be considered the best. However, the BDC offers that both of these stats are strongly influenced by coaching and a talented offense. Until 1993, Elway had neither of these. He played with the Three Amigos (i.e. Vance Johnson, Mark Jackson, and Ricky Nattiel), who were nobodies. Montana, on the other hand, had superstars like Jerry Rice
(undoubtedly the best receiver of all-time) and John Taylor. Montana also had the benefit of Roger Craig for the majority of his career, while Elway was forced to work with Sammy "Mississippi Mudwalk" Winder and Bobby "I beat my wife" Humphrey -- not your all pro running backs! Once Elway had a talented offense (i.e. Terrell Davis, Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe) and a quality offensive coach, Mike Shanahan (who by the way was the 49ers offensive coordinator / QB coach for the
majority of Montana's career), Elway won two Super Bowls in four years, and his rating improved to something comparable to Montana's Putting everything together -- the answer is clear: JOHN ELWAY is the best QB of all-time ....when playing with a Super Bowl team ...or a very average team. Regardless of the situation, he is a true winner -- simple as that.

Tom Brady is well on his way up the ladder ...but talk to me in 7-8 years after he has experienced some NFL hardship, and let's readdress.

burrito day 1/14/05

Once in a lifetime, a TV show comes along that truly grasps the Americanpsyche. 24 started it's fourth season this past Sunday, and without adoubt, this series has developed into an innovative American drama as captivating, albeit somewhat farfetched, as anything American TV hasever seen. ..best of all, the series star, Jack Bauer, is consumed with uncontrollable duty when he in the field. Just to give you a hint of what has happened in the first four hours of the 4th season: (Background - Jack Bauer is a FBI Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) field agent who has superhuman powers. In the first series, Jack Bauer's wife was killed in the line of duty -- he has been an emotional wreck ever since, though he has saved the day again and again -- that's all the background you really need to know)

1) Jack Bauer has been fired from CTU after becoming addicted to drugs while working undercover in Colombia. Jack has now fallen in love with the daughter of the Secretary of Defense. They openly express this in the first 1/2 hour - a little painful :-).
2) The Secretary of Defense and his daughter are captured by terrorists from Turkey - now the action really gets going.
3) Jack, who is now working directly for the Department of Defense,happens to be at CTU at the time of the kidnapping and naturally joins the chase with the current CTU field agent -his pathetic replacement.
4) The terrorists announce over the internet that within 3 hours they plan to try the Secretary of Defense for 'Crimes of Humanity' ...and then execute him.
5) The current CTU field agent is killed in duty (thank goodness)...and naturally Jack takes over and begins tracking a suspect who can lead him to the Secretary of Defense.
6) Jack needs satellite back-up in order to track the suspect, but of course, the satellite will not be working for 15-20 minutes - damn those things!
7) The suspect stops at a gas store. To buy time, Jack decides to rob the store. Yeah that's right - he is crazy enough to hold up the store to buy himself 20 minutes. He has lost it once again! He holds up four innocent people, and eventually a police offcer on duty. He locks them all in a freezer. - WELL DONE JACK!
8) After more police arrive on the scene, Jack manages to escape with the suspect, who he has taken hostage, and is able to convince him that he is truly a robber and not working for CTU. He lets the robber go,and the suspect continues on with his mission that will lead Jack right to the department of Defense. This is realistic - right?.
9) Jack is then arrested by the police.

....the fifth hour continues on Sunday night. Watch it! Throughout the first four hours, Jack is progressively more intense, and his level of rage within the first 4 hours of the show reaches levels that has not been seen since TMT erupted at Alondra! The intensity of the show, and especially Jack Bauer, are simply unparalleled. The BDC highly encourages viewing by all burrito day members.

burrito day 1/7/05

Ah YES ...a NEW YEAR ...and with it comes new ambitions to improve oneself. Everyone American makes some type of resolution, whether outspoken or not, aimed at improving their one personal being - it's the American way. ...but ridiculous nonetheless! When you really think about it, New Year's resolutions simply set oneself up for failure. Each one of us may make some small effort to improve for a short time, but these feeble attempts inevitably wane as the year progresses and we all settle back into our comfortable lives and eventually are once again content with the fact that we are who we are ...and that's life. We here at the BDC are determined to stick with the norm, and remain Status Quo. If some burrito day members have made some sort of unreasonable New Years resolutions - GOOD FOR YOU! ...but on this burrito day, you can let it slide - no one will tell, and your conscience will get an ass-whooping if it rears its ugly head! Whether your resolution is to eat better, and not gorge yourself at a single sitting ...or maybe it's to be more patient with your daily activities -- whatever it may be - let it go on burrito day! For one day, burrito day members can come back to reality and enjoy the finer pleasures of a true burrito day experience spent gorging yourself and complaining about whatever the hell you want. We at the BDC are here to listen :-) ...unless of course you begin boring us, and then we will promptly cut you off! HA!

Happy New Year to all burrito day members (although to be quite honest, the BDC is not really sincere in this wish. In the words of one honored BDC member - "After all, whether or not they have a "happy" year is of little (or no) consequence to me. It wouldn't bother me (that much) if they had a happy year, but why would I actually "wish" it? After all, its occurrence (or lack thereof) really won't do anything for me" WELL SAID!