Category Archives: A Word From Joe

Joe’s NFL Picks, Week 11: Chiefs over Broncos and other Upsets

Share Button

Picking the winners and losers of week 11 in the NFL.NFL 2013 week 11 predictions

Last Week: 9-5.  Season: 44-26 (62.85%).

HUGE week in the NFL! The Chiefs finally square off against the Denver Mannings. The Eagles get a chance to show what they know, and many other noteworthy games.

On to the notes.

Thursday Game:

Indianapolis Colts (-1) at Tennessee Titans
Straight off you have a Titans team that got beat by the lowly Jaguars in week 10. Think it might have been a tough and emotional week for these guys? On the flipside, the Colts aren’t the same with Reggie Wayne. T-Rich isn’t explosive for the offense. A suddenly hot Rams team exposed the Colts as inconsistent at best last week in a 38-8 drubbing, In Indy! Look for the home team to exercise some demons this week.
Titans 30, Colts 20

Sunday Games:

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (-1.5)
The coin flip of the week. A case can be made for the Jets to win this one, but I don’t trust them. Too many recent snafus, headaches, heartaches, erratic decisions and butt fumbles for me to pick the Jets this week. The Bills team is on the rise, Manuel’s back and they are playing in Buffalo.
Bills 16, Jets 10

Baltimore Ravens at Chicago Bears (PK)
Ravens are too erratic on the road. I’ll take Trestman’s Bears at Soldier Field in a November game.
Bears 28, Ravens 21

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-6)
Bounce-back week for Cincy in the battle of Ohio. Cleveland is nasty on D and pulls its wins out this year like a magic trick, but Cincy is nasty on D, explosive on O and playing at home.
Bengals 34, Browns 23

Atlanta Falcons (-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs finally put a scratch in the ‘W’ column last week against the Miami Black Eyes. It was only a matter of time (see their game in Seattle two weeks ago). Glennon, Revis, Schiano and the rest of the Buccaneers will get it together this week at home against a Falcons team that has gone adrift.
Buccaneers 34, Falcons 30

Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars (PK)
Well, at least this isn’t on Monday Night Football this week.
Cardinals 14, Panthers 13

Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans (-7.5)
Welcome Back, Kubiak. Case Keenum, J.J. Watt and the boys have missed you. I sense a very close one over a tough-minded Raiders team. RIP Todd Christensen.
Texans 34, Raiders 31 (OT)

San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins (-3)
I know that west coast teams often have trouble flying back east for a game, but this Dolphins team is in turmoil and minus the left side of their offensive line. I expect a huge game from Philip Rivers. Gimme the Charge on the road.
Chargers 38, Dolphins 21

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles (PK)
Has Chip Kelly re-adjusted to the adjustments made by the NFL? This game we figure out what Chip Kelly has figured out. Gimme the home team in a moment of truth.
Philadelphia 42, Redskins 21

Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)
The Lions are roaring. Matt Stafford grew up against Dallas, and showed that in the victory last week at Chicago. Pittsburgh is tough at home, but are a shadow of their contender teams. I wonder what amazing thing Megatron will do this week?
Lions 35, Steelers 24

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-7.5)
I agonized over this one for two weeks. It finally comes down to what I believe. I know this Chiefs team has been through the hottest of fires last year. The strongest steel of a team has been forged in Kansas City. It is passion, belief, mojo. It is winning nine weeks in a row. It is belief. I believe the Chiefs have some of the most amazing win-ugly luck ever simply because of the fact that they make their own luck through belief, preparation and effort. There is no fear. They already saw the worst that could happen last year. Manning is beat up, less mobile and is already hearing footsteps. Keep telling the Kansas City Chiefs that they can’t. They know better.
Chiefs 31, Broncos 28

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (-6)
My upset of the week. The Seahawks are beatable at home (see the game versus the Bucs two weeks ago). The Vikings are looking to come to town and punch somebody in the mouth. Somewhere between a Jared Allen stamp and an Adrian Peterson cleat mark a Vikings victory will appear.
Vikings 27, Seattle 20

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints (PK)
I like the 49ers team a lot. After a tough week 10 loss, they are playing for their playoff lives. I really have a hard time picking against the Saints in their ‘dome – but if the Jets can do it, the 49ers can do it better. Break out the paper bags.
49ers 38, Saints 34

Green Bay Packers at New York Giants (PK)
I don’t see a floundering and thin Packers team coming into NY and beating Eli Manning’s Giants. No way.
Giants 42, Packers 10

Monday Night Game:

New England Patriots (-3) at Carolina Panthers
The bright lights on Monday Night Football finally have something to highlight. This Panthers team is H-O-T. Solid defense, solid personnel, freak-of-nature QB and confidence. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have their hands full. I’ll take the Championship Quarterback on the Big Stage of MNF.
Patriots 27, Panthers 21

Share Button

Joe’s NFL Picks, Week 10: Eagles, Bears, Broncos Win, Bucs Roll

Share Button

Picking the winners and losers of week 10 in the NFL.nfl 2013 season, week 10 predictions

Last Week: 6-7.  Season: 35-21 (62.5%).

What a week in the NFL! Key injuries for the Packers, a WORLD of drama and outrage in Miami, a suddenly intriguing match-up with a reborn, Foles-led Eagles team visiting a wounded Packers team at Lambeau Field. More close battles will take place this week than you can shake a stick at.

Let’s take a look.

Thursday Game:

Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings (-1.5)
The Washigton Redskins turned in an impressive performance last week in downing the Chargers. As well, the Vikings played very strong against Dallas, but can they shut down the Redskins? Give me the home team in a close one.
Vikings 23, Redskins 20

Sunday Games:

Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (PK)
Atlanta appears rudderless. A swath of injuries have hobbled a once powerful team. I’ll take the Seahawks because they are the better team (top-to-bottom), the better defense, and they have a better coach.
Seahawks 24, Falcons 14

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (-3)
Another vicious matchup with the Division lead at stake! Although the Lions have grown (I love Stafford’s heads-up QB sneak against Dallas), Chicago is rolling under Trestman, feeling good after winning in GB for the first time since 2007. Bear down Chicago Bears.
Bears 30, Lions 28

Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (-7, -105)
Red Alert: Aaron Rodgers is out. Seneca Wallace wasn’t getting the job done versus Chicago last week. In comes the suddenly-hot hand of Nick Foles and the much-maligned Chip Kelly Experience. It pains me to say it, but . . .
Eagles 34, Packers 27

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans (-3.5)
The Titans are too tough-minded to lose at home. I don’t see them letting the Jaguars off the mat. Mr. Clowney, welcome to Jacksonville!
Titans 21, Jaguars 7

St. Louis Rams at Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
The Colts absolutely stole one in Houston last week. If Kubiak didn’t have a mini-stroke then the Colts comeback never happens. That said, the Colts should hold serve well versus the Rams.
Colts 35, Rams 28

Oakland Raiders at New York Giants (-9)
Giants QB Eli Manning is due to flex his mid-season form. The Raiders and Pryor aren’t strong enough yet to travel back East and take one away from the G-Men.
Giants 42, Raiders 24

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)
There is no way that a Bills rookie QB is going to come in and have success against the Pittsburgh defense. Dick LeBeau is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time and he eats rookie QBs for breakfast.
Steelers 28, Bills 13

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-3)
“Nevermore”. This is the week that the ‘Bad Good Team’ (Ravens) puts down the ‘Good Bad Team’ (Bengals). A defending Super Bowl Champion has certain duties . . . one of them is winning at home against the Bengals.
Ravens 31, Bengals 24

Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers (-6)
Biggest match-up here: Cam versus the 49ers D. I know Newton is improving and the Panthers are on a roll, but the S.F. Harbaughs will be well-schemed for the Panthers phenom. It doesn’t hurt that the 49ers are returning some of their receiving assets (Davis, Manningham) and Kaep has his mojo workin’ again.
49ers 34, Panthers 26

Denver Broncos (-3) at San Diego Chargers
P. Manning has spent more time in the hot tub this last two weeks than P. Diddy. With fresh ankles and rest, look for the Broncos to show the World that they will be just fine with Jack Del Rio holding the reins until John Fox returns.
Broncos 48, Chargers 38

Houston Texans (-3) at Arizona Cardinals
Keenum is the real deal. If Kubiak is back and calling the plays then I expect Houston will take this one on the road. Heck, I expect it if Case Keenum is calling his own plays.
Texans 30, Cardinals 20

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints (-4)
Rob Ryan readies for Romo. The Saints look to bounce back from an embarassing loss to the Jets. I’m sure Dallas will throw the kitchen sink at the Saints, but the Saints at home in the dome will win the shootout.
Saints 49, Cowboys 47

Monday Night Game

Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5)
I don’t remember a poorest slate of MNF games for an entire season. Pitiful. How can Miami be expected to win this week without the left side of their offensive line? Perhaps they should have been running a tighter ship and not have allowed a buffoon to jeopardize the success of the team. Sure, I understand initiations into groups (remember the Friar Tebow haircut?), and that is part of things in a traditional sort of way . . . but if you’re going to stock your team with individuals that make bad decisions – then you had better be policing them something fierce.
Buccaneers 42, Dolphins 0

Share Button

Joe’s NFL Picks, Week 9: Chiefs Go 9-0, Cowboys, Bears Win

Share Button

Picking the winners and losers of week 9 in the NFL.NFL 2013 Week 9 Match-Ups and Predictions

Last Week: 10-3.  Season: 29-14 (67%).

Week 9 in the NFL! The start of the stretch run toward the postseason. A lot of close battles will take place this week in some great match-ups.

Will the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated for another week? Can the Texans turn it around? Let’s take a look.

Thursday Game:

Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins (-1)
Cincinnati is red hot. Their defense has been strong all season, and now with the added deep threat that Jones brings, it is ‘pick your poison’ for opposing defensive coordinators. Miami is struggling and will continue to. Give me the Bengals in a close one.
Bengals 28, Dolphins 21

Sunday Games:

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (-1.5)
Halloween? Call the Ghostbusters! Kansas City has been dispelling a lot of ghosts this season, and their 26 year losing streak in Buffalo is next up. Buffalo is tough and scrappy and this will be a very physical game. Buffalo’s DL is going to cause problems for KC. Good thing Andy Reid can scheme for that.
Chiefs 24, Bills 17

San Diego Chargers at Washington Redskins (-3.5)
AFC West vs NFC East? Hmmm. Yes, I think I know how this one goes. The Chargers are playing excellent football, and the Redskins (as usual), have problems. I think the Redskins will start winning again when they finally change their name to the Washington Bravehearts.
Chargers 34, Redskins 21

Atlanta Falcons (-1) at Carolina Panthers
The Falcons are in free fall. Injuries have stacked up and morale is down. Carolina is playing well and will be tough to beat at home. Give me the Panthers at home.
Panthers 23, Falcons 20

Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys (-1.5)
The Vikings QB situation is reminiscent of last year’s Chiefs. It is a debilitating distraction with no good options. Dallas is looking to make a statement. This is where they speak up.
Cowboys 30, Vikings 10

Tennessee Titans at St. Louis Rams (-4.5)
The Rams are strong up front and they need their skill positions to hold up their end of the bargain. Expect a close one with the home team managing to eke out a ‘W’.
Rams 20, Titans 16

New Orleans Saints (-1.5) at New York Jets
The Saints have no business even making this game a close one. The J-E-T-S are a disaster.
Saints 42, Jets 14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (-7)
Seattle is a monster. They are an even bigger monster at home. The Bucs have leadership issues with the lame-duck Schiano. Also, morale can’t be very high for this team.
Seahawks 28, Buccaneers 21

Philadelphia Eagles (-1.5) at Oakland Raiders
Another AFC West team, another NFC East team. Chip Kelly’s Eagles are going to get swallowed in the Black Hole.
Raiders 34, Eagles 17

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (-4)
Belichik has been talking up the Steelers, which is an old Lou Holtz trick. He’s pulling out all the stops because his start QB has a fat hand, the receiving core is maligned and the defense has experienced significant losses. The Pats win if the can keep Le’Veon Bell from putting cleat marks all over them. Hopefully the new DT they picked up can plug the hole left by Wilfork’s absence. I’ll take the home team. There’s still some magic left in Foxborough.
Patriots 30, Steelers 28

Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) at Cleveland Browns
Which Ravens team is going to show up on the road? My gut tells me the defending Super Bowl Champs will come in and pound Cleveland. Just because they are supposed to.
Ravens 24, Browns 17

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (-4.5)
Hello trap game, it’s been a long time. Houston is sick (x3) of losing, and Case Keenum gets his first home start. I sense a lot of emotion will be coming from the Texans. Keenum either wins this one or Houston fans can start looking forward to the Johnny Manziel era (which may actually be coming to Dallas if Romo can’t earn his paycheck in the playoffs this year).
Texans 31, Colts 17

Monday Night Game:

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-4)
Finally, a MNF game worth watching! Da Bears. Da Packers. Green Bay is shallow in the receiving department and will miss Clay Matthews on Monday night. I’ll take the flying Ditkas on the road.
Bears 31, Packers 28

Share Button

Joe’s NFL Picks, Week 8: Chiefs Go 8-0, 3 Upsets: Raiders, Jets, Redskins

Share Button

NFL Week 8 Predictions

Welcome to the Chief's Kingdom

Picking the winners and losers of week 8 in the NFL.

Last Week: 11-4.  Season: 19-11 (63%).

Ah, week 8 in the NFL. Teams are finding their identity and establishing their playoff credentials. Let’s take a look:

Thursday Game:

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5)
I’ll take the Panthers on the road. Cam Newton is playing well. Also: The Bucs are hapless.
Panthers 28, Buccaneers 13

Sunday Games:

Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions (-1)
“Getcha Popcorn” for Megatron and Dez Bryant: The Showdown. This game has the makings of a potential classic. Dallas is on a roll and the Lions are desperate and dangerous. Nobody puts baby in a corner. Give me the Lions in a nail-biter.
Lions 31,  Cowboys 30


Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5)
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Arrowhead Stadium for today’s game . . . First, In this Corner . . . The Snake-bit Challenger . . . Weighing in at over 12,000 lbs . . . Featuring a Nasty Defense and a Bumbling Offense run by yet another back-up Quarterback . . . in the Brown Trunks . . The Cleveland Browns!” (Spattering of Boos, Heckling). AND In this corner, weighing in at over 13,250 lbs . . . Sporting a Defense with over 35 sacks in only 7 games . . . In Front of the Loudest and Proudest Stadium of Fans in the World . . . Having been through Hell and Back in the Last Few Years . . . Coached by a rejuvenated Andy Reid . . . In the Red Trunks . . . The Kansas City Chiefs!!!” (THUNDER).
Chiefs 24, Browns 7

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-7)
Miami is a year or three away. Even though the Patriots are a shadow of their former selves, I don’t see the Tom Brady losing this one on Foxborough.
Patriots 31, Dolphins 17

Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints (-6.5)
I like how Buffalo has been playing lately, but it is too much to ask of them to go into New Orleans and get a ‘W’. Too much Brees, too much Payton . . . and possibly too much fun on Bourbon Street the night before the game for the visiting Bills players.
Saints 30, Bills 21

San Francisco 49ers (-10.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars [London, England]
One of these weeks the Jaguars are going to rise up and win a game. I don’t think that this is the week.
49s 28, Jaguars 9

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (PK)
“Dear Magic 8 Ball: Is this the game where the fraying around Chip Kelly’s security blanket takes a severe uptick? Could Eli Manning and the Giants be really, really tired of losing?” Giants 34, Eagles 13

Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) at Oakland Raiders
Yes, the Steelers beat the Ravens last week and look much better. But that was last week. Welcome to Oakland, CA. Welcome to the Black Hole. Worse? The whipping boy of the AFC West is going to take you to the woodshed. Dig ya’ll lock your doors?
Raiders 24, Steelers 17

New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5)
Cincinnati’s defense is way too good to let them lose this game in front of the home crowd, right? I mean, Andy Dalton can just throw the ball to AJ Green for an 80 yard touchdown every time, right? This Jets team isn’t that scrappy, is it??!!??
Jets 27, Bengals 21

Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos (-6)
Every time my neck hurts, I think of how Peyton Manning’s neck must hurt – especially after 4 surgeries and a few vicious hits by Robert Mathis last week. Ankle my foot. Every time my knee hurts, I think about how much better RGIII’s knee must feel than mine does. Also, I remember being 37 recently. More vivid are my days as an invincible 23-year-old.
Redskins 34, Broncos 31

Atlanta Falcons (-4) at Arizona Cardinals
I look for the Falcons to further implode – while, simultaneous – the Cardinals do a wicked impression of a playoff team. Midnight in the desert. For the Falcons.
Cardinals 31, Falcons 20

Green Bay Packers (-1) at Minnesota Vikings
Any Given Sunday. I see pride coming into play here for Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson and the company. Look for a very tough, grind-it-out, punch-em-in-the-mouth game from the Vikings in front of a raucous home crowd.
Vikings 24, Packers 23

Monday Night Game:

Seattle Seahawks (-4) at St. Louis Rams
With a huge disparity in QB play and a margin of talent difference both being in favor of the Seahawks, I’m bailing on the Rams at home. It really is too bad Favre is too old. They actually should have called Tim Tebow. Say what you want, but the guy gets wins.
Seahawks 20, Rams 6

Share Button

NFL Week 7 Picks: Chiefs win, Broncos win and an upset in Miami

Share Button

NFL Week 7 Predictions

Welcome to the Chief's Kingdom

Picking the winners and losers of week 7 in the NFL. Last Week:8-7. Season 8-7.

Once more into the fray:

Thursday Game:

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
I’ll take the Seahawks on the road. Pete Carroll has them playing very strong..
Seahawks 28, Cardinals 17

Sunday Games:

St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers
Rams really showed up last week versus Houston. Are they that good? I’ll take the Panthers at home.
Panthers 24,  Rams 17

San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Phillip Rivers is focused and Antonio Gates is back. The wideouts are talented and the running game eats clock. I’m even more impressed with their defense. The Jags will win a game this year. I don’t see it being this one.
Chargers 34, Jaguars 21

Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions
A second straight road game after the surprising overtime game in Buffalo? I’ll take the home team.
Lions 24, Bengals 20

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
I picking an upset here. Buffalo will win in Miami.
Bills 34, Dolphins 28

New England Patriots at New York Jets
Tom Brady and no receivers VERSUS Geno Smith and no receivers? I don’t care if this is being played on the Moon. Gimme the Pats.
Patriots 38, Jets 24

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas is playing strong. Jerry Jones will smack Chip Kelly with his wallet.
Cowboys 35, Eagles 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
If the Falcons can’t eke this one out at home, then they might as well trade Tony Gonzalez back to the Chiefs.
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 16

Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins
Chicago is still figuring out their offensive timing – while winning. The Redskins are snakebit. Da Bears.
Bears 31, Redskins 21

San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans
Tennessee is tough. Under Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers win tough games. Even on the road. It doesn’t hurt that Vernon Davis is back and rocking.
49ers 20, Titans 10

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Houston is having horrible QB issues. Their team is lost. That isn’t going to improve at Arrowhead in front of the loudest (137.5 decibels) crowd and facing the extremely awesome defense of the Kansas City Chiefs. I predict a flyover, lots of great BBQ, and another 10-sack game. I think the ghost of Derrick Thomas will be there as well. Go Chiefs!
Chiefs 23, Texans 10

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore is inconsistent. Pittsburgh is starting to get its groove back. I’ll take the home team in a smash-mouth affair.
Steelers 28, Ravens 21

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers
Cleveland still doesn’t believe they are in a lost season after trading T-Rich. Green Bay will help remind them. I hope it snows for this one.
Packers 36, Browns 17

Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning wants this one. I know Luck does too, but Manning has a better supporting cast. Gimme the old pro in his best season returning home.
Broncos 49, Colts 34

Monday Night Game:

Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants
Someone is going to win this one. I’ll take the Giants at home. Poor ESPN.
Giants 28, Vikings 13

Share Button

NFL Week 6 Picks: Chiefs Over Raiders and Jags Put Up A Fight in Denver

Share Button

NFL Week 6 PredictionsWelcome to the Chief's Kingdom

I’ve always wanted to officially do this. So here goes:

Thursday Game:

New York Giants at Chicago Bears
Giants continue tailspin, Bears need a win to keep pace in Division.
Bears 28, Giants 14

Sunday Games:

Cincinatti Bengals at Buffalo Bills
Bengals continue to flex and Bills rookie QB gets tough lesson.
Bengals 31, Bills 17

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay will come in more motivated. Not sure which Ravens team will show up. Anyone got a coin to flip?
Packers 35, Ravens 28

Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
An ugly game for Detroit with Megatron highly questionable to suit up. Cleveland seems to be getting the job done lately even though they traded T-Rich and their QB shuffle rolls on. I’ll take the home team.
Browns 28, Lions 24

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings
I expect an emotion Vikings team delivering an excellent effort. Especially from ‘All Day’.
Vikings 38, Panthers 21

St. Louis Rams at Houston Texans
Schaub gets well this week by thumping a snake-bit Rams team. Bradford continues to look confused.
Texans 42, Rams 20

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs finally get offense rolling and unwrap Dwayne Bowe this week. A dominating performance and a statement game by the Chiefs. All this in the middle of the World’s biggest BBQ party and LOUDEST NFL stadium (Sorry Seattle).
Chiefs 44, Raiders 10

Pittsburg Steelers at New York Jets
The Ugly Bowl. I see Steelers rookie LaVeon Bell having a geat day against the J-E-T-S very tough defense.
Steelers 24, Jets 20

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lots of question marks here. I believe the ego of Chip Kelly wills this victory.
Eagles 31, Buccaneers 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
A 28-point spread? I’ll take the Jags and the points. I predict an actual game. Henne has a career day, ‘Sooner Magic’ makes an appearance in Denver and the Broncos look remarkably human. Denver still wins.
Broncos 38, Jaguars 28

Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Titans win by out-muscling the Seahawks. Seattle loses some mojo and a home game.
Titans 23, Seahawks 20

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots
New Orleans is going to do to the Pats what the Pats used to do to everyone else. Wilfork is missed.
Saints 35, Patriots 14

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Kaep has an injured foot. Cardinals smell blood.
Cardinals 27, 49ers 20

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Romo earns his money this week as the ‘Boys roll in Jerryville.
Cowboys 41, Redskins 20

Monday Night Game:

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Andrew Luck is even better this year. T-Rich gets back on track. Bad news for the Chargers.
Colts 34, Chargers 27

Share Button

Taking the Leap of Faith, part 1

Share Button

Founding a business of any kind requires many things of the person ‘crazy’ enough to ‘go for it’. It takes a lot of guts to jump out there and say “Okay World, I’m starting a business named _(x)_, and we will be providing _(y)_ to the _(z)_ market”.

Taking a leap of faith.I’ve decided to start a series of blog posts devoted to exploring the many things that go into starting your own business. There’s a lot to it.

First, I admire anyone that has the guts to take the ‘Leap of Faith’ and start their own business – it is an exciting and scary proposition. In addition to starting my own business, I have had the pleasure of consulting scores of new entrepreneurs/business owners (and potential ones) in nearly every industry for over nine years.

There are many things that entrepreneurs have in common across all industries, the foremost being that for every business that you see – there is a person(s) with a dream behind it. Once you fully realize and appreciate what it takes to manifest a dream, you can’t help but appreciate the journey that someone has undertaken. I believe everyone should start their own business at some point in life – even a smaller business – just for the experience.

There is magic there when someone endeavors to make their dreams a reality.

I will explore some of the elements and milestones that come with starting and building a business. From Goethe quotes and interviews with local business owners – to ‘crazy energy’ and ‘war rooms’.

When I jumped in and started my company, I did not have all of the answers, I was not able to build a business plan for investors, it was impossible – as there were no other businesses with a business model to use for comparison.

What I did have was passion, drive and vision. I KNEW that the business was going to work. I was ABSOLUTELY sure. Once I took stock of my experiences, expertise and resources (I.e. the rest of my life), I knew I could make it happen – the idea was so compelling that there was no way that I could keep myself from ‘going for it’.

Everyone comes up with ideas at different times in their life for new products, services, types of business, etc., but it is the ideas that are tremendously compelling that ‘snare’ you.

One thought I wrote in my journal:

“You can’t start out with all of the answers. You have to go out and earn them.”

 

Share Button

Infinite Light (New Poem from June 5, 2013)

Share Button

Infinite Light

what fools we are
Infinite Light is our power source - we need to spread light - it is our function.little lamps of divinity
shining, outshining and dimming
blinking on for the first time
blinking out for the last
worried about the style of our shade
our placement

our function is to shine elegantly, exquisitely
and amplify our brightness unto the world
little fools that blink and worry
be glad for charge and connection
to The Almighty power-soul-source
our charge is given
our brightness to the world is our purpose

Joe Wooldridge
June 5th, 2013 @ 3:28am.

Share Button

Defining the Future – Kansas City’s Opportunity

Share Button

Dear People and Companies of the World,

Young and old, big and small – the future is ready, are you? It spreads in the daring minds of pioneers. Architects of the future are now increasingly valued in the World – more than at any time in recent memory. Those minds are being encouraged and fed greater resources.

Resources to build, room to dream, frontiers to conquer, sails to set and horizons to eye.

It is happening.

Today, explorers and adventurers have the ‘royal ear’ and the New World is here once again. It is our same old World seen through transformative eyes . . .

New Kansas City, New Austin soon.

What will we call that place on the slopes? New Provo sounds nice!

Google is sending out the fearless, the bold, and are planting flags of the future in the Heart of America. A new product launching called Google Fiber – and running glass – fiber optic cable, to connect the World in ways in which we should have already been connected. As daring and bold as it is, what we are seeing is merely the groundwork for what is to come – people connecting, sharing, building new things – better things for a better tomorrow.

Ford, Chevy, Sony, Microsoft, Apple and Small Businesses – there are new ‘roads’ being built for your products and services. Get off your laurels – the time to act is now – and ever now.

Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber (as of 05/08/2013).

The only foes in this bright and exciting New World are those keepers of the old order – fat, complacent cats dining on old hoarded cheese. The Fiberbahn is being built, line-by-line, street-by-street, pole-by-pole, city-by-city, and mind-by-mind. When someone jumps in to build a better World, a better way – open your mind and wallet and get on board. Buy-in and build.

Enjoy being part of building and creating the new and improved – FOR REAL.

Don’t think 20% better, or twice as good . . . .

Think 100 Times – Faster, More Powerful. The old ISP and cable feudal lords know that the ‘gig is up’. Sad that someone entirely outside the industry had to come in and build a platform for the future – but there is much excitement, because a fiber-optic network is finally underway. The clamor for Google Fiber is resounding throughout our land – ask any city leader about the calls and emails that they get, saying “Can we get it? When can we get it??!”.

Indeed. Thank you, Google for having the vision and guts to begin building what will hopefully grow into a nationwide fiber-optic network. And thank you for choosing Kansas City as your first market.

The light is shining, the future is here – and it is double-parked . . . Let’s Go! Envision how our bright future will look and help build it.

There are no monsters in the uncharted waters. The Earth is not flat. The waters of the oceans don’t spill off the edge of the map into oblivion.

There are new vistas to behold, new ground to break – and it is all around you as far as you can see – wherever you are.

I see the pioneers of today building the World that they want to live in. Elon Musk is building a fleet for travel into space with plans for colonizing MARS. Ree Drummond, ‘The Pioneer Woman’ has built a fairy tale into a televised, and best-selling reality in Pawhuska, Oklahoma! I can’t wait to dine at her new restaurant that is in the works (from what a little bird told me).

I LOVE Ree, she calls me 'Josefus'!
Ree and ‘Josefus’

Google is laying a fiber optic network which will transform the way we live in ways that we are just now starting to imagine – and providing tools and opportunity – necessary means for us, our children and the leaders of tomorrow in America – to employ.

Build the future, think of ONE HUNDRED TIMES . . . Bigger, Better, Stronger, Faster.

Be part of a New Renaissance of all communications, commerce, products, services and their exponential impact of their application.

Leave complacency behind – on the couch, in the cubicle. Re-think goals, dare to dream ‘What if?’ and put on your running shoes and join in.

I’ll see you on the frontier.

– Joe

Share Button

Alee (New Poem from May 1, 2013)

Share Button

Alee

At times in my mind
So perfectly locked away – so freeLove never dies, it sails at night
Free from sailing and crying
From flailing and worry
The slight tinnitus rings
Like a billion faint nano-locusts

Times of inner peace amid global turmoil
God is present, biding, tending
Lending a loving hand
Guiding this ship captain through
Rocks, reefs, mortal enemies, and Djinni
Nailing whitecaps at full sail

Alee I sit in my mind
Pondering the mundane, the obtuse
The infinite, and the unlikely
Nascently seeking uncharted waters
Beauteous mermaids and angels
To break the heart of darkness

Shattered so strongly sending fifty million
Diamond splinters raining upward and outward
To light the infinite sky
With reminders of Love’s courage
To show that someone cared so much
A universe, born of fury, chasing forever away

Joseph Wooldridge
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 @11:54am.

Share Button