Catching up.

I've been gone from the blog for a few days, so here's some updates:

- Louisville defeated Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl 24-13. At center is future All-American, and good friend of the website, Eric Wood.

- It has also proven to be Coach Bobby Petrino's last game with the Cardinals. Petrino will replace Jim L. Mora (the son of Jim "PLAYOFFS!!!" Mora) as head coach of the NFL Atlanta Falcons. This will also prove that the confusion at the U of L Athletic department switchboard regaring coaches' last names (Petrino, Pitino, Petrino, Pitino, let's call the whole thing off!).

- The UC Bearcats won the inaugural International Bowl in Toronto on Saturday, as they defeated Western Michigan, 27-24. The Broncos forgot (Bill) Poland.

- The NFL Wild Card: In the AFC, the Colts defense gets it done when it counts against the Chiefs, while the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick gets back at his old assistant Eric Mangini and that oach's NY Jets. The NFC matchups were more surprising: the Cowboys and Tony Romo fall in a hard-fought battle in Seattle, followed by another exciting game between Jeff Garcia and the Eagles, who got past the NY Giants, whose running back, Tiki Barber, has played his last game. It surely won't be the last time you see Tiki on Tivi. (TV)

- Apple is set to announce BIG THINGS on Tuesday for MacWorld Expo 2007 in San Francisco on Tuesday. When Steve Jobs says "One More Thing..." you'd better stick around this time.

- Oh, and Kings Island has announced that a major announcement is coming soon. Like you didn't know that.

Viral Vault: Burgundy's ESPN Audition

From the "You may have seen this" file: Ron Burgundy, anchorman from KWVN Channel 4 of San Diego, traveled to Bristol, CT to audition for this then-new network called "ESPN" (Pronounced 'Eee - Ess - Pee - Enn'), back in 1979.



Let's just say he was as interested in the SportsCenter job, as Cindy Sheehan is interested in working with George W. Bush on an Iraq strategy...

Viral Video: Reporter Blows Bowl Proposal Surprise

The first video truly from the new year:

New Kings Island logo revealed

While browsing Kings Island's website today (still located at www.pki.com), I stumbled upon the Season Pass page. I looked at the art/designs for the season passes, and quickly noticed something different - and great...



This is no doubt a sign that my home park is losing its long-time yet not-so revered Paramount branding. It is similar in the style of Carowinds' new logo, and similar font as seen with Cedar Point. Stay tuned for even more, including a higher-resolution version of this logo, and more announcements regarding the 2007 season.

Viral Video: One Bank, David Cross style

Was I not the only one cringing when hearing Bank of America's "One Bank?"

Well, you might like this parody:

Orange Bowl Alert

Now on Fox, it's the FedEx Orange Bowl from Dolphins Stadium in Miami FL. The Big East powerhouse Louisville Cardinals vs. the surprising Wake Forest Demon Deacons are facing off tonight.
Oh, and watch for Louisville junior center Eric Wood, #77 - my old friend, who played HS ball at Elder on their state champion teams in 2002 and '03. GO CARDINALS!!!

Update: At halftime, Louisville leads Wake Forest 10-3.

Viral Video: Saddam and the Rope

Happy 2007, everyone! While jsut about all of us are looking forward to a great new year, one man didn't get the chance...

Watch as the condemned dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, gets a noose around his neck, before he takes the final dive of his life...

The Best Viral Video of 2006

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mrs. Connie Chung!

Viral Video: Why I Hate Cell Phones

The following video is evidence that I am not the only person in America that finds cell phones horribly annoying and distracting.



Only one more video left in 2006. The final clip will be a classic, I assure you.

Viral Video: B of A Cringe Fest!

Watch as Bank of America's Jim DuBois turns a great U2 song into something just awful...

Viral Video: Kramer's Racist Tirade

You may have seen the Christmas parody. Now, the original, starring Michael Richards.

NSFW: Contains strong, racial slurs and other offensive language.

Viral Video: Brokeback to the Future

Having learned of the death of former U.S. President Gerald Ford, I'm not feeling very funny right now, but nonetheless, it's time for a Viral Video of the day...

And since 2006 is almost over, it's now time to show some of the funniest and wackiest videos of this year. I'll start off this one, a mix of two great movies of two different topics, so I'll say this...

I've seen the Back to the Future trilogy many times. I also saw Brokeback Mountain a couple times this year as well. But I never thought of Marty McFly's relationship with Dr. Emmitt Brown being like that of Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar...

Viral Video: Best Weatherman Ever

From the Viral Vault, you may remember Mark Mathis, who was the flamboyant and wild weatherman for a Fox affiliate in Charlotte.

Carowinds' new logo?

It's been lurking around some forums, and some folks at PKICentral.com came across what may be the first non-Paramount logo for one of the "former" Paramount Parks:



The logo looks sort of funny (the ® is placed weird: "Car®owinds"), and the black looks kinda grainy, like it came from a fax. The park name is presented in the same font as Cedar Point's, including the flag in place of a dotted "i", but in a straight across design than the double-arched style of CP's. Also, since the parent company has sort of renamed itself, "Cedar Fair Family of Parks" sounds more appropriate than simply "A Cedar Fair, L.P. Park."

If this logo is going around, it might not be too long before Kings Island's new logo is revealed - will they go in the same style as Cedar Point and Carowinds, bring back the classic logo from 1972-92, or create something different?

A Christmas Kings Island Aerial Update

http://photos.pkicentral.com/thumbnails.php?album=lastup

Again, our friends from PKICentral flew over the park for us, with a new update on what's on the way for 2007. First, the first real glimpse at Son of Beast, sans-loop. Also, there has been more progress at Fort Cooper...

Of course, stay tuned for more. There could be an announcement or update even BIGGER coming very soon...

A Merry Christmas Viral Video: Regis & Rudolph

Viral Video: Weird Al "interviews" Kevin Federline

A-Yank and K-Fed discuss the latest national disaster since Katrina...

Andy Furman to return to Cincinnati radio

Andy Furman's ouster from Cincinnati radio is soon coming to an end. It's been announced that Furman will host a late-afternoon sports talk show on 96.5 FM, SuperTalk, beginning Monday, January 8, 4-7 PM.
Furman, well known for his controversial remarks, was suspended by 700 WLW after remarks said about Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who did not show up for a live talk show that Furman co-hosted in October. Three weeks later, Furman was fired.
Furman joked, “If Miss USA got a second chance, why shouldn’t I?” in reference to Donald Trump's decision to not fire Miss USA after inappropriate behavior.

Welcome back, Furball!

Cedar Fair announces $83 Million in Additions & Improvements for 2007; $10 M for Kings Island

Press Release

Today, amusement park superpower Cedar Fair announced a total of $83 million in capital expenditures, including new attractions and other improvements. Flagship park Cedar Point will receive the most with Maverick, a $21 million launch coaster, first officially announced in September. Second in line is Kings Dominon, one of five former Paramount parks acqured by the company in June, which is expanding its WaterWorks water park. The $11 million investment includes a second wave pool, along with two major slides.
Also very notable is Kings Island, which will receive $10 million, including a new thrill ride yet to be named. Knott's will get $8 million, including the rumored family spinning coaster.

A certain P-word was not mentioned in the release...

X-Flight coming down quickly...

Geauga Lake Today posted some new photos from Wednesday of the dismantling of X-Flight. Much more of the track is now gone, instead laying in the parking lot... as it did just six years ago when Six Flags was building it.