We Get To Watch The Game on Sunday...which is nice

I haven't been able to get back into a rhythm with last week's trip to South Bend coupled with catch-up at the job but there are a couple things worth mentioning.

While looking at the Justin Timeberlake/Andy Samberg Mother Lover creation, I realized that it perfectly captured the week-in-angst for Charger Fans. You'll have to think about it....

Keep thinking about it.

No Blackout on Sunday.....rejoice.

College football in person is a fantastic experience.

Celebrating Halfway-to-St.-Patrick's day is a good time.

Calling someone you don't know 'buddy' or 'hondo' is a permissible gesture of conviviality.

Using 'hoss' is friendly but has suspect connotations (think--'hey, fatboy!')........

'Pal' will get you a raised eyebrow....

The coup de grace; 'guy'. The descriptor 'guy' will bring about your destruction with extreme prejudice......

You'll have to trust me as this conversation was a 36 hour filibuster in the Great Lakes region last week.

Stop the Wildcat!

Peace, Hondo.

Survivor Pool Week 2

Last week the masses spoke: Survival shall be achieved by backing the Vikings on the road against the Laughingstock Lions.....

...and right you were, Faithful Eleven (errr, eight). The Vikings, resounding 14 point winners, help me stay alive in the FFL Survival Pool. There's only 7 of 12 players that remain with yet another sucka falling last week. Once again I solicit your advice.

Vote.

If you've got a better course of action, write something in the comments section. Keep the following in mind; I've already used New England and Minnesota; I need new socks and the bills are coming due......

The Ray Lewis Take on Norv's Play Calling

I still haven't seen the game so I don't know if I'm qualified to comment on whether or not Norv is as big a moron as he's being portrayed.......but........why don't we all listen to the Ravens' Ray Lewis and then make our judgement (click the third video option):

Hmmm....

More from the Baltimore Sun:

.....None of the Ravens' stands was more dramatic than the last. On first down from the Ravens' 23, the Chargers (1-1) took their shot at the end zone, but Ravens cornerback Frank Walker (who replaced an injured Fabian Washington) broke up the pass to receiver Legedu Naanee.

Three plays later, on fourth-and-2, Lewis said he knew what play was coming as soon as quarterback Philip Rivers dropped the ball down to hand it off. Calling it a risk, he slashed through the middle of the offensive line unblocked and pounced on Sproles to essentially end the game.

Some players acknowledged that they were shocked at the Chargers' play call. San Diego, which had its starting center and right guard out with injuries, decided to run the ball up the middle with the game on the line.

Well allow me to retort: Hmmm.

Charger Fan In Donkey Land: Week 2 Ravens

Another nail biter, this time ending with a negative result.

However, what is one to expect when sitting with a 4th and 2 with a quarterback who is having the most productive game of his career?

I think I speak for every Bolt fan who walks the earth, when I say that handing the ball off deep in the back field was the last possible play that would have been called.

Though the game should have never come down to that play, you have to look to Norv to make a better decision in that position.

With the injuries we encountered in week 1, it is evident that we will be playing wide open over the coming weeks. The learning curve for SD's linemen will be steep and we can not afford to have another penalty stricken game like Sunday. Kicking field goals vs. touchdowns is unacceptable, specifically when you are on the 1 inch line and take a delay of game penalty. WTF was that?

We need to shore up the Defense as well, with them giving up the uncharacteristic yardage in both of the first two weeks. It looks like our Defense, as a whole, have an allergy to any quarterback we face. One sack today is unacceptable, and I would expect a minimum of 3 per game from our guys. If not that, then how about we slow the run down. Stopping it doesn't seem like a realistic expectation after the display shown during the first two weeks.

Moving forward, the confidence prevails and I feel we will take care of the Dolphins next week in our house. I am waiting for the breakout game for the Defense and watching our Chargers run up the score and play up to our potential. It was nice to get our loss out of the way for the season, and we only look up from here.

Keepin the Bolt Pride Alive.

Charger Fan in Donkey Land

Editor's Note:
I was out of town and upon return last evening I knew nothing about the game against the Ravens nor did I even know that Jamal was out for the year. As I piece together the home opening debacle from word of mouth and detail deficient UT articles I still can't explain the rumors that we kicked a FG on 3rd down as well as the decision to run .43 cent at the beastly Ray Lewis (I, however, have read that Ray Lewis wasn't at all surprised by the Chargers' play call in that situation.....something about it being predictable based on the previous week's game film. Huh...predictable?). I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Feel free to help me out as I didn't tape the game.

The Charger Fan in Donkey Land: Week 1 Raiders

As the Chargers in their POWDER BLUE embark on a new season we begin with a game for the centuries. In fact it was just that, the 100th meeting between the Chargers and the Haiders.

The excitement was high as Nate kicked the ball off to begin the final game of week one, capping off a Monday night double header. The excitement quickly was disrupted as we witnessed the unthinkable; the Haiders ran the ball up the gut with little resistance from our defensive line, or linebackers for that matter. In this house a calm silence rang out, as what began as a fluke seemed to continue for what felt like forever. The Raiders first drive was not stopped as we have grown accustomed to from our standard BOLTS DEFENSE. As I sat on the edge of my seat dumbfounded at what was occurring before my eyes, Jamarcus tossed the ball to none other than Quentin Jammer. THAT IS THE DEFENSE WE REMEMBER..

As the television went to break, allowing a brief moment to secure another cold one, the excitement was back as the offense was sure to come out with a purpose unlike the D.

However, that was short lived as we began the 09-10 season with a three-and-out..... discouraging to watch, but the confidence never wavered for us true bleeders of Blue and Gold.

Sproles showed up in the kicking game as expected and put us in a most generous position on not one, but two occasions that I recall specifically. Considering the lack luster play we witnessed overall we were tied at the half.

As the second half began the excitement again entered everyone, as our expectations were there to be had yet again. As the ball finally seemed to be thrown in the direction of our many play making receivers, things began to look up. Unfortunately only to end in punts for the third quarter.

With the fourth quarter beginning, we all looked on knowing it was only a matter of time before we took control of the game. With the score 17 - 13 and the Haiders with a 3rd and 15 the feeling that we were in a good spot was there, specifically after Weddle laid the hit on the receiver jarring the ball loose and leaving said Haider in a bad way on the turf. Then came that horrific 4th and 15 play that for all of us, and YES I can speak for ALL of us; the worst defensive display we will see all season. Glad we got it out of our system in week one.

The last drive was one to build on. With LT starting the drive with a couple of decent runs, and Rivers getting a bit, and I mean only a bit of time to throw the ball we were moving down the field as we all knew we were capable of doing. With Sproles catching the check down passes and taking them for first downs, as we all were anticipating to have seen throughout the game, the confidence never wavered, not for a moment. Even with time running down, there was NO doubt in this Charger Fan's Mind that we would not come out victorious. Sure enough with :18 on the clock little 43 ran right up the gut for the winning touchdown.

This was far from our best performance, but a win is a win, and there are many a team out there sitting 0 and 1 wishing they were in the position our Chargers are in.

Next week we will come out with more of a purpose as we defend the Murph and show the league what is coming their way over the next 16 weeks in preparation for OUR post season run.

Here is to another great year for all of the Charger Faithful.

Charger Fan in Donkey Land

GO BOLTS!!! 1 and 0

Survivor Pool Week 1

Cool throwbacks....even cooler gloves. Randy Moss needs a Randy Moss 'throwback' moment. He's been an intolerably good citizen since arriving to NE.

I've never done a survivor pool before but it is a component of the FF league that I'm in this year, so I'm awkwardly navigating the terrain. What I'm saying is that I really don't have a strategy. I'm not looking ahead because who knows how far it'll go with only 12 players involved (4 were already eliminated in Week 1). So my only gameplan for week 1 was to pick what I felt was an ABSOLUTE lock!

I started with the Chargers on the road but opted out for the Patriots at home. What a disgusting feeling to be rooting for the Patriots during that comeback against the Bills last night. I felt dirty.....like Ace Ventura after the grim realization that Finkle was Einhorn. I too should have burnt my clothes, turned on Boy George and jumped into the shower to cry.

Somehow I was able to do it. Perhaps it was the Patriot throwbacks that allowed me to push on through. They looked less threatening; more like the doormats they were back in the day. I dug it.

Anyways...it's week 2 and I'm soliciting advice from the Faithful Eleven that frequent this site. I've narrowed it down to three Mortal Locks of the week. Cast a vote or offer up a better option. I need new socks and I've got bills to pay.....

12 In A Row: San Diego Chargers 24 Hapless Raiders 20

The Bolts have no linemen left. LT (hurt his ankle?) didn't play during crunch time. Richard Seymour showed up yesterday, met his teammates and dominated the Chargers' O-Line. No discernible pressure on the Phunky Phat Quarterback.

We do have .43 cent......and at least we won.

I wonder if anyone was pissed about the Chargers coming out on top?