On my drive home yesterday Cooley and Czabe were talking about their GAF (Give A F@#%) and Hope indices. Basically they wanted local callers to give them a 1 through 4 ranking of how much they cared about each of the four major local teams (Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, Redskins or Caps, Wiz, Nats, Skins for the true believers). It's an interesting premise and they weren't too specific with the parameters so callers took a lot of liberty. Being a transplant city, you had a lot of people calling in who were fans of one or two but indifferent about others. I obviously fall into that category since I hate the Redskins, follow but don't love the Wiz and Nats (Jazz and Padres for life!), and am a full blown Caps fan. Anyway, the discussion got me thinking about my teams. Here are my GAF and Hope indices (I feel like not saying indexes is incredibly pretentious, but I'm also a grammar Nazi. First world problems . . .)
Brad's GAF Index (as of 2/8/2014)
I defined this as what I care about right now. I'll try to limit crossover to my Hope Index, but I'm only human.
1- San Diego Chargers. If I am being honest with myself, the Bolts have to be #1 in every GAF ranking I write that doesn't involve my wife, my family, and my friends. Sorry, everything else in life, I love the Chargers more than I love you. We had a very encouraging rebuilding year that saw us return to the playoffs and even win a road playoff game. We played Denver tougher than anyone not located in Washington State and swept our other division foe, the Chiefs, who also had a breakout year. Much thanks to Baltimore and Miami for gagging down the stretch, much thanks to Ryan Succop for missing that field goal in week 17, and a big middle finger to the Steelers. FACE!!!!!
2- US Men's National Soccer Team. Once again, if I am being honest, I have to put our lovable losers towards the top of my GAF Index. In a head to head show down with any team not named the Chargers the national team wins every time that doesn't involve a trophy being handed out. Maybe I'm overly excited because it's a World Cup year, but soccer has me. I'm addicted. I admit this openly.
3- Team America. The Sochi Games are a flaming dumpster fire and I can't take my eyes off of it. NBC coverage is awful and vindictive. The timing sucks. Russia's insistence on making this political is exhausting. NBC indulging Russia in that political game makes me want to mute my TV. In spite of all this, sports are sports and I love the Olympics. It only happens every four years so I am not going to let it be ruined. I will drink in all the Olympics I can for the next 13 days. With the exception of ice dancing. Because that is not a thing.
4- SDSU Hoops. My Aztecs are ranked 5th in the country even though we only have one player who can score. We play suffocating defense so the games aren't always pretty, but we get results. March Madness is going to be awesome. The games aren't always played at times that are convenient for an east coast dweller, but I am doing my best because this is a dream season.
5- UVA Men's Basketball. I have adopted my wife's alma mater since I live in their home market. The team is fun to watch and is actually winning this year (currently ranked #20 nationally). They have more players that I like than my Aztecs do.
6- Washington Wizards. It feels sacrilegious to put them above the Jazz on this list, but the Jazz are in rebuilding mode and NEVER on TV here. The Wiz aren't great, but they're pretty fun to watch. There's something compelling about living in the market too. Hearing the home broadcast, listening to local sports talk, and being able to attend the games go a long way with me. I doubt I will ever become more of a Wiz fan than a Jazz fan, but you never know.
7- Washington Capitals. Hockey is really the best thing going right now, but the Caps are frustratingly inconsistent and the net minding is mediocre at best. They're struggling to score despite The Great 8 leading the NHL in scoring. Despite all these problems, they would be higher on this list if not for the Olympics right now. The NHL break from the 9th to the 24th hurts in the current GAF rankings.
8- Utah Jazz. I've already written too much about the NBA, but I have to admit that I watch Jazz box scores like a hawk and genuinely GAF about how they're doing even if I can't watch and they aren't good.
9- San Diego Padres. Eight is really low for the team that occupies my favorite sports venue EVER. PetCo Park is my church. I LOVE that place. I guarantee you that the Pads will not be this low once games start.
10- Washington Nationals. Like I said earlier, going to the games really influences me. I plan to attend at least 15 of the Nat's 81 home dates this year (including all 3 games against SD). I like the Nat's players (shout out to fellow SDSU alum Steven Strasburg!!) and want them to do well. They have the third highest Vegas odds of winning the World Series this year, so you can expect to see them higher in my Hope Index.
11- SDSU Football. Not in season. National Signing Day made me want to puke. I will GAF about this in August, but not today.
12- Sports in General. I ALWAYS GAF!!!! My blessing, my curse.
Stuff that didn't make the cut but I still GAF about: Golf; Women's Tennis; Men's Tennis; Watching the Lakers when they suck; Laughing at the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and NY Giants; Hating the Patriots; Hating the Jets; Hating the Raiders; Hating Duke; Hating the Dodgers; Hating LeBron; Hating Nadal and his Capri pants; Germany's Men's National Soccer Team (Die Nationalmannschaft); EPL Soccer; USA Women's National Soccer Team; NASCAR (just kidding, I absolutely don't GAF about NASCAR)
The Hope Index
I defined this as "who could actually win a title (do something meaningful) and how soon?"
1- SDSU Hoops. Bring it on, haters. SDSU has talent, depth, and the advantage of low expectations. I don't need a trophy. Just give me one game in the Elite 8 and I'll be happy. Hope means different things to different people.
2- Team USA. We're always a safe bet at the Olympics. We're gonna win a ton of medals. Probably not the most medals, but a ton nonetheless.
3- Washington Nationals. Last year Davy cursed them by talking World Series too early and they missed the damn playoffs. This year they are going to learn from last year and get it together. Second week of November, I'll be playing hooky to attend a parade down Constitution Avenue. It's on my calendar in INK!
4- San Diego Chargers. Don't stop reading! Please hear me out. We could have won the AFC this year. I concede that Seattle was a buzz saw on Super Sunday so I am not saying we would have won the title, but we beat Denver in Denver earlier in the year and played them tight in the playoffs. One break goes our way and that's us playing a depleted, overrated Pats team in the AFC Championship. We're only a 3 point dog going in and we played better on the road all year long. Totally winnable. Mike McCoy, I love you. Thank you for the 2013 NFL season. While we're at it, EFF YOU, NORV!!!!!
5- Washington Wizards. Stop laughing. This team is sneaky good. Recent wins over OKC, Portland, and Miami indicate that the team is headed in the right direction. Plus the Eastern Conference is garbage. My hope here is that they finish 6th or 7th so they can avoid the Pacers until the East finals. I'm not afraid of the Heat. They are one LeBron sprained ankle away from being total garbage (think Bosh's Toronto teams).
6- Washington Capitals. Scuffling? Sure. Injury prone? Yeah, at times. Dangerous? Damn right! The Kings won the Stanley Cup after sneaking into the playoffs as the 8 seed a couple years ago. This madness happens in hockey. The Caps showed last year that they can get RED hot and make a run. I realize that this probably sounds like I am selling myself on this. Hope is a dangerous thing.
7- UVA Men's Basketball. Wahoo Waa!!! They're gonna sneak up on a higher seed in the second round. I predict a heart breaking loss in the Sweet 16, but that is pretty good for this program. They've been an ACC punching bag for years and they deserve some success.
8- Sports in General. I'm gonna try not to get emotional here. Sports inspires me. Sports are the ultimate drama. Sports are poetry in motion. Sports = hope in my world.
9- Utah Jazz. The organizational track record indicates that the Jazz will be good again soon. Their market limitations mean that they probably won't ever win the Larry O'Brien Trophy, but they can get back to winning and making the playoffs. I'm hoping for the Jazz. You can't stop me.
10- San Diego Padres. Recent ownership issues. Refusal by ownership to spend money. New Dodger ownership. Are you sensing a theme here? This franchise will never be a consistent winner unless it decides to get serious and spend the money that you have to spend to win in baseball (spare me your Tampa and Oakland comparisons. They're cute stories, but they aren't winning The Series any time soon either).
11- SDSU Football. The SDSU athletic department doesn't care about football so no one cares about SDSU football. It's tragic really. San Diego is a top 10 recruiting area loaded with talent. Talent that leaves to play at more glamorous programs. The campus is amazing. The university offers surfing classes. There is no reason that SDSU shouldn't be a top 10 program in the Western US. It's maddening.
12- US Men's National Soccer Team. Man, this one really hurts. Having no hope is a terrible place to be, but here's how it is: American's mostly don't care about soccer. The rest of the world cares passionately. How are we ever going to catch up under those circumstances? We got drawn into the Group of Death (AGAIN!!) for the Cup in Brazil this summer. We'll be lucky to take a single point from our three games based on the competition and the scheduling. It's JUST NOT IN THE CARDS. At least we are the best team in CONCACAF (suck it, Mexico!!!)
I apologize for ending the Hope Index on such a negative note. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed hearing about things that matter to me J I welcome you to leave your GAF and/or Hope indices below. Comments also welcome. Unless you use evidence to contradict me. I don't need you going all Bill Nye with your facts. I believe what I want!!!!!
Brad's GAF Index (as of 2/8/2014)
I defined this as what I care about right now. I'll try to limit crossover to my Hope Index, but I'm only human.
1- San Diego Chargers. If I am being honest with myself, the Bolts have to be #1 in every GAF ranking I write that doesn't involve my wife, my family, and my friends. Sorry, everything else in life, I love the Chargers more than I love you. We had a very encouraging rebuilding year that saw us return to the playoffs and even win a road playoff game. We played Denver tougher than anyone not located in Washington State and swept our other division foe, the Chiefs, who also had a breakout year. Much thanks to Baltimore and Miami for gagging down the stretch, much thanks to Ryan Succop for missing that field goal in week 17, and a big middle finger to the Steelers. FACE!!!!!
2- US Men's National Soccer Team. Once again, if I am being honest, I have to put our lovable losers towards the top of my GAF Index. In a head to head show down with any team not named the Chargers the national team wins every time that doesn't involve a trophy being handed out. Maybe I'm overly excited because it's a World Cup year, but soccer has me. I'm addicted. I admit this openly.
3- Team America. The Sochi Games are a flaming dumpster fire and I can't take my eyes off of it. NBC coverage is awful and vindictive. The timing sucks. Russia's insistence on making this political is exhausting. NBC indulging Russia in that political game makes me want to mute my TV. In spite of all this, sports are sports and I love the Olympics. It only happens every four years so I am not going to let it be ruined. I will drink in all the Olympics I can for the next 13 days. With the exception of ice dancing. Because that is not a thing.
4- SDSU Hoops. My Aztecs are ranked 5th in the country even though we only have one player who can score. We play suffocating defense so the games aren't always pretty, but we get results. March Madness is going to be awesome. The games aren't always played at times that are convenient for an east coast dweller, but I am doing my best because this is a dream season.
5- UVA Men's Basketball. I have adopted my wife's alma mater since I live in their home market. The team is fun to watch and is actually winning this year (currently ranked #20 nationally). They have more players that I like than my Aztecs do.
6- Washington Wizards. It feels sacrilegious to put them above the Jazz on this list, but the Jazz are in rebuilding mode and NEVER on TV here. The Wiz aren't great, but they're pretty fun to watch. There's something compelling about living in the market too. Hearing the home broadcast, listening to local sports talk, and being able to attend the games go a long way with me. I doubt I will ever become more of a Wiz fan than a Jazz fan, but you never know.
7- Washington Capitals. Hockey is really the best thing going right now, but the Caps are frustratingly inconsistent and the net minding is mediocre at best. They're struggling to score despite The Great 8 leading the NHL in scoring. Despite all these problems, they would be higher on this list if not for the Olympics right now. The NHL break from the 9th to the 24th hurts in the current GAF rankings.
8- Utah Jazz. I've already written too much about the NBA, but I have to admit that I watch Jazz box scores like a hawk and genuinely GAF about how they're doing even if I can't watch and they aren't good.
9- San Diego Padres. Eight is really low for the team that occupies my favorite sports venue EVER. PetCo Park is my church. I LOVE that place. I guarantee you that the Pads will not be this low once games start.
10- Washington Nationals. Like I said earlier, going to the games really influences me. I plan to attend at least 15 of the Nat's 81 home dates this year (including all 3 games against SD). I like the Nat's players (shout out to fellow SDSU alum Steven Strasburg!!) and want them to do well. They have the third highest Vegas odds of winning the World Series this year, so you can expect to see them higher in my Hope Index.
11- SDSU Football. Not in season. National Signing Day made me want to puke. I will GAF about this in August, but not today.
12- Sports in General. I ALWAYS GAF!!!! My blessing, my curse.
Stuff that didn't make the cut but I still GAF about: Golf; Women's Tennis; Men's Tennis; Watching the Lakers when they suck; Laughing at the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and NY Giants; Hating the Patriots; Hating the Jets; Hating the Raiders; Hating Duke; Hating the Dodgers; Hating LeBron; Hating Nadal and his Capri pants; Germany's Men's National Soccer Team (Die Nationalmannschaft); EPL Soccer; USA Women's National Soccer Team; NASCAR (just kidding, I absolutely don't GAF about NASCAR)
The Hope Index
I defined this as "who could actually win a title (do something meaningful) and how soon?"
1- SDSU Hoops. Bring it on, haters. SDSU has talent, depth, and the advantage of low expectations. I don't need a trophy. Just give me one game in the Elite 8 and I'll be happy. Hope means different things to different people.
2- Team USA. We're always a safe bet at the Olympics. We're gonna win a ton of medals. Probably not the most medals, but a ton nonetheless.
3- Washington Nationals. Last year Davy cursed them by talking World Series too early and they missed the damn playoffs. This year they are going to learn from last year and get it together. Second week of November, I'll be playing hooky to attend a parade down Constitution Avenue. It's on my calendar in INK!
4- San Diego Chargers. Don't stop reading! Please hear me out. We could have won the AFC this year. I concede that Seattle was a buzz saw on Super Sunday so I am not saying we would have won the title, but we beat Denver in Denver earlier in the year and played them tight in the playoffs. One break goes our way and that's us playing a depleted, overrated Pats team in the AFC Championship. We're only a 3 point dog going in and we played better on the road all year long. Totally winnable. Mike McCoy, I love you. Thank you for the 2013 NFL season. While we're at it, EFF YOU, NORV!!!!!
5- Washington Wizards. Stop laughing. This team is sneaky good. Recent wins over OKC, Portland, and Miami indicate that the team is headed in the right direction. Plus the Eastern Conference is garbage. My hope here is that they finish 6th or 7th so they can avoid the Pacers until the East finals. I'm not afraid of the Heat. They are one LeBron sprained ankle away from being total garbage (think Bosh's Toronto teams).
6- Washington Capitals. Scuffling? Sure. Injury prone? Yeah, at times. Dangerous? Damn right! The Kings won the Stanley Cup after sneaking into the playoffs as the 8 seed a couple years ago. This madness happens in hockey. The Caps showed last year that they can get RED hot and make a run. I realize that this probably sounds like I am selling myself on this. Hope is a dangerous thing.
7- UVA Men's Basketball. Wahoo Waa!!! They're gonna sneak up on a higher seed in the second round. I predict a heart breaking loss in the Sweet 16, but that is pretty good for this program. They've been an ACC punching bag for years and they deserve some success.
8- Sports in General. I'm gonna try not to get emotional here. Sports inspires me. Sports are the ultimate drama. Sports are poetry in motion. Sports = hope in my world.
9- Utah Jazz. The organizational track record indicates that the Jazz will be good again soon. Their market limitations mean that they probably won't ever win the Larry O'Brien Trophy, but they can get back to winning and making the playoffs. I'm hoping for the Jazz. You can't stop me.
10- San Diego Padres. Recent ownership issues. Refusal by ownership to spend money. New Dodger ownership. Are you sensing a theme here? This franchise will never be a consistent winner unless it decides to get serious and spend the money that you have to spend to win in baseball (spare me your Tampa and Oakland comparisons. They're cute stories, but they aren't winning The Series any time soon either).
11- SDSU Football. The SDSU athletic department doesn't care about football so no one cares about SDSU football. It's tragic really. San Diego is a top 10 recruiting area loaded with talent. Talent that leaves to play at more glamorous programs. The campus is amazing. The university offers surfing classes. There is no reason that SDSU shouldn't be a top 10 program in the Western US. It's maddening.
12- US Men's National Soccer Team. Man, this one really hurts. Having no hope is a terrible place to be, but here's how it is: American's mostly don't care about soccer. The rest of the world cares passionately. How are we ever going to catch up under those circumstances? We got drawn into the Group of Death (AGAIN!!) for the Cup in Brazil this summer. We'll be lucky to take a single point from our three games based on the competition and the scheduling. It's JUST NOT IN THE CARDS. At least we are the best team in CONCACAF (suck it, Mexico!!!)
I apologize for ending the Hope Index on such a negative note. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed hearing about things that matter to me J I welcome you to leave your GAF and/or Hope indices below. Comments also welcome. Unless you use evidence to contradict me. I don't need you going all Bill Nye with your facts. I believe what I want!!!!!
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