Althouse: At the Number 12 Café...

January 15, 2012

At the Number 12 Café...

... we're in Austin, Texas, but we're rooting for you.

98 comments:

edutcher said...: I hope you're rooting at your son's home.

That place looks like it may do good takeout, but it's no place to sit and relax for a couple of hours.; 1/15/12, 4:13 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Watching somewhere else, but in public. Good view of a big screen. Others here are rooting for the Giants, though.; 1/15/12, 4:15 PM
Alex said...: Meh, after the 49ers miracle victory yesterday I can't get too excited about this.; 1/15/12, 4:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Suggestion: Go home up US281, thence to I44 and up that way. Slower, but some nice country to look at, and I'll wave as you go by if I spot you.

Regards,
Ric; 1/15/12, 4:29 PM
Curious George said...: How the fuck is that not a goddamn fumble?; 1/15/12, 4:29 PM
ricpic said...: After the game gotta go to Taylor Texas for some a' that Louie Mueller BBQ. The brisket is to die for. Just up the road a piece from Austin.; 1/15/12, 4:35 PM
Ann Althouse said...: @curious The rule must be that when that happens its not a fumble. The officials saw what we saw, so you need to adjust your conception of the rule.

= lawprofs style analysis.; 1/15/12, 4:36 PM
Anonymous said...: How the fuck is that not a goddamn fumble?

The play was over the instant his knee touched. Then he lost the ball.

Obvious 'no fumble' call.; 1/15/12, 4:46 PM
Beth said...: I'm rooting for the Pack now. Dammit.; 1/15/12, 4:55 PM
HT said...: I'm rooting for the Pack, simply because their winning is in the order of things. It's the correct thing to happen. They are the better team, even though at this moment in time the Giants may have the more interesting story. The pack is better and deserve to win, well, it they play like it.

(Though they have had some terrible setbacks of late.); 1/15/12, 5:01 PM
HT said...: uh oh; 1/15/12, 5:10 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Hi, Beth. We were rooting for the Saints yesterday.; 1/15/12, 5:12 PM
Curious George said...: "Ann Althouse said...
@curious The rule must be that when that happens its not a fumble. The officials saw what we saw, so you need to adjust your conception of the rule.

= lawprofs style analysis."

Nope. Not as issue of rules. Issue of judgement.

"campy said...
How the fuck is that not a goddamn fumble?

The play was over the instant his knee touched. Then he lost the ball.

Obvious 'no fumble' call."

Ball was clearly out before the knee touched. Both announcers, and the former Exec for NFL officials called it a fumble. Outside of Packer fans...except those that have self honesty...everyone else it America, excpet that ref, knew it was a fumble.; 1/15/12, 5:17 PM
David said...: Giants playing well. Packers not so much.

It's not a fumble unless the refs call it a fumble (fortunately for the Packers.); 1/15/12, 5:26 PM
MadisonMan said...: I hope the Packers win, but they don't seem to be peaking at the right moment this year. We'll see.; 1/15/12, 5:29 PM
Lincolntf said...: As a fully satiated Pats fan, I say... kinda looked like a fumble to me.; 1/15/12, 5:40 PM
hawkeyedjb said...: Giants are peaking this week. Packers peaked in... November. Bummer. SF vs NY, Balt vs NE.

Who Cares.

wv: extude. The Pack are extuding the ball; 1/15/12, 5:44 PM
HT said...: Awful.

I guess this year, it's all about the D.

Similar to the San Fran game.; 1/15/12, 6:08 PM
Tim said...: "Hi, Beth. We were rooting for the Saints yesterday."

Ha ha. More the reason for me root for the Giants. I want my Niners to play the NFC Championship game at the 'Stick.

We have a defense that breaks players.; 1/15/12, 6:12 PM
Tim said...: "I guess this year, it's all about the D.

Similar to the San Fran game."

Indeed so. Sleeping on the 'Niners = a trip home, out of the playoffs.; 1/15/12, 6:14 PM
HT said...: Yeah, but I'm not quite sure you can say NO slept on the niners. If you watch Saints games, they always start slow. And have turnovers.

San Francisco - where the west coast plays like the east coast.

New England - now there's a west coast offense.; 1/15/12, 6:15 PM
HT said...: And I'm still so p.o'ed about the Saints losing that if NY wins (what is HAPPENING in our universe??), then I hope they schlack the Niners.

Sorry.; 1/15/12, 6:17 PM
Beth said...: Thanks, Ann. There's a nice overlap in Saints-Packer fandom, at least among my circle. It makes for some awkward football parties a couple of times a year, but all in good fun. And it means I get brats and summer sausage and good beer at least once a season. In fact, two of the folks at our house last night are from Madison.; 1/15/12, 6:17 PM
Beth said...: I've done all the parsing of that game that I can stand to do, but I'll say this: if our D coach heads to St. Louis, as rumored, I won't be too upset.; 1/15/12, 6:18 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: You can tell by their hats they all root for the same team at the 12 cone café.; 1/15/12, 6:23 PM
David said...: So Brees and Rogers can go fishing together, eh.

10 down with 8 to go.

yuck.

Nice onside kick call, Packers. (Remember that?); 1/15/12, 6:23 PM
David said...: Grant fumbles.

Game over.; 1/15/12, 6:24 PM
HT said...: Beth, he was really good when he was in Washington. Something happened, maybe he rested on his laurels.

But this game right here, she's over.

Too bad for the Pack. Really too bad.

I wonder what else is on.; 1/15/12, 6:25 PM
Tim said...: Giants coming to the 'Stick; 'Niners going to host the NFC Championship Game.

We have unfinished business with the Giants from the 1990 NFC Championship Game. The bill will be collected.; 1/15/12, 6:25 PM
Tim said...: HT said...

"And I'm still so p.o'ed about the Saints losing that if NY wins (what is HAPPENING in our universe??), then I hope they schlack the Niners."

Not gonna happen.

Our defense breaks players.; 1/15/12, 6:27 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Damn I knew the Giants were hot but I hate NY and hate when they win.

I am now rooting for a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl.; 1/15/12, 6:28 PM
Tim said...: PS: It's shellack. Like the Giants are doing to the Packers.; 1/15/12, 6:28 PM
Alex said...: 49ers hosting the Giants for the NFC title, is this the 1980s????; 1/15/12, 6:30 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Tim:

I loved it when they knocked out the NO running back early in the game.; 1/15/12, 6:32 PM
Tim said...: "I am now rooting for a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh Super Bowl."

Yes, that would be epic. And, given that Alex Smith very likely won't have the chance to beat Michael Vick, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, Roethlisberger, Brees, Rogers and Brady this year, it might was well be Har-bowl II, with the 'Niners winning the rematch.

Can't wait. 'Niners winning again; all we need is Obama to be defeated, and much of the order of the universe will have been restored.

We'll all be happier for it.; 1/15/12, 6:33 PM
David said...: Cheesehead suicide watch.; 1/15/12, 6:35 PM
Donn said...: Only the refs are keeping GB in this game.; 1/15/12, 6:38 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: How does a cheesehead commit suicide?; 1/15/12, 6:38 PM
Brian Brown said...: Oh well, at least WI has Ms. America.

It was a good year for the Packers.

Losing the offensive coordinator this week has hurt more than was probably talked about.; 1/15/12, 6:45 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Jay - what happened to the offensive coordinator? Take a college head coach job?; 1/15/12, 6:47 PM
Curious George said...: 15-1. One and done. Suck it Packers.; 1/15/12, 6:48 PM
Donn said...: Joe Namath goes 4 for 4 in his playoff predictions! See here.

Go Niners!!!; 1/15/12, 6:48 PM
Palladian said...: Oh, it's another session of inscrutable conversation about multi-millionaires in tight pants chasing after a ball. Me? I tend to chase balls in pairs, preferably when they're inside the tight pants.; 1/15/12, 6:49 PM
Brian Brown said...: AJ, his son drowned.; 1/15/12, 6:50 PM
Curious George said...: "AJ Lynch said...
Jay - what happened to the offensive coordinator? Take a college head coach job?"

His son drown. But he was at the game. And his son was found dead only 5 days ago so with the Packers bye they had plenty of time to prep.

The Packers simply got their ass handed to them. Their defense sucks.; 1/15/12, 6:50 PM
Palladian said...: Sports and partisan politics both interest me not at all, and for the same reasons.

Teams never made any sense to me.; 1/15/12, 6:51 PM
Palladian said...: "His son drown. But he was at the game. And his son was found dead only 5 days ago..."

A good encapsulation of what's loathsome about professional sports.

Drowned sons, coaches molesting little boys- none of it gets in the way of chasing the little ball around!; 1/15/12, 6:53 PM
Humperdink said...: It has been reported (somewhere)the Packers are favored to win next years Super Bowl.; 1/15/12, 6:55 PM
Humperdink said...: May even go undefeated.; 1/15/12, 6:55 PM
Alex said...: I commisserate with Packer fans. As a lifelong 49er fan I've been through this 1-and-done thing where the 49ers were 14-2, 13-3 and go beat BADly at home in the div. playoff. The one that comes to mind the most is the 1987 team. They were 13-2 that year and the Vikings beat the 49ers by something close to today's blowout and making Steve Young crawl at one point. But from that humiliation followed back to back Super Bowl victories in '88 and '89. You never know how things will go in pro sports. Today humiliation, tomorrow crowing glory.; 1/15/12, 6:57 PM
Alex said...: Palladian - the NFL is a $10 billion/year industry. It's hardly just a game. Does Apple shut down the iPhone plant when an employee's son dies?; 1/15/12, 6:58 PM
Curious George said...: Discount double choke.; 1/15/12, 7:06 PM
Tim said...: "As a lifelong 49er fan I've been through this 1-and-done thing where the 49ers were 14-2, 13-3 and go beat BADly at home in the div. playoff."

Yep. I remember that Viking game, and Anthony Carter shredding the secondary. Awful.

But that was then.

This year's 'Niners aren't going to let that happen.

It was an AMAZING day at the 'Stick yesterday - sea of red, standing throughout the game - and Smith earns redemption.

So, for the NFC Championship? The 'Niners beat a better team in the Saints yesterday. Should be great fun.

Who's got it better than us?

Noooo-body!; 1/15/12, 7:07 PM
David said...: One of the great survival characteristics of the dog is that most dogs can transfer their intense allegiance from one human to another if the first human disappears.

Go Patriots!!!; 1/15/12, 7:09 PM
Humperdink said...: It is difficult to catch a pass if you have one hand clutching your throat ... a malady prevalent among the Packer receivers today.; 1/15/12, 7:10 PM
pauldar said...: Anti-Recalls gods are smiling; 1/15/12, 7:12 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: Lambeau Leap off the ledge.; 1/15/12, 7:12 PM
Ann Althouse said...: That sucked.; 1/15/12, 7:14 PM
Nichevo said...: Bwahahahahahahahaha suckaz!!! Been trying to get on all eve to brag on my once and future World Champeen Noo Yawk Jints© just in case Troop was unavailable, but I see I must content myself with postbrag. Go Giants Go!

Also I see the Packis seem to think that games are won with late hits and junk play. As Olivier said to Hoffman, why don't you try acting (like football players, or like men), it's much easier.

As for how lawprofs think, Althouse, if true, they should be beaten with rods (ideally three-foot rebar) till they stop thinking that way. Just sayin'.; 1/15/12, 7:14 PM
Humperdink said...: I will struggle mightily if it's Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh. Can't stand either. May have to root for Ol' Red Face .... that would be the Basset hound coaching the Giants.; 1/15/12, 7:15 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: That is a real tragedy what happened to the coach's son. It had to affect the Packers a little even if he coached today.

I remember my brother coached his Pop Warner team the morning after our mother died. Soldiering on after personal stuff like that takes a lot of guts. I couldn't do it.; 1/15/12, 7:22 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: 15-1. One and done. Suck it Packers.

Good thing they didn't come in 16-0. Imagine all that pressure!; 1/15/12, 7:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winnner.

Packers did not play well - much of it the Giants and much was poor execution.

Some improvement on defense and better hands on the offense (yes, I'm looking at you Jermichael) will put us back in the playoffs next year.; 1/15/12, 7:37 PM
MadisonMan said...: The four remaining teams are from Leftist Enclaves.; 1/15/12, 7:54 PM
Sprezzatura said...: At least you Wisc[aaa]nsiners should be happy to know that there was a bar in Bellevue WA that was in your corner.

Nothing personal, and only because of my contrarian-hipsterness, but I was the only one for the Giants! Snatch.; 1/15/12, 8:00 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "Some improvement on defense"

Considering that your defense sucked all year long, that seems like an understatement.

P.S.

Palladian,
Football is a manly pursuit. It's like golf. Hunting and gathering balls is as close as most of us get to the real thing nowadays.

Damn you grocery store!; 1/15/12, 8:04 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: The Niners game yesterday was an instant classic. When Smith ran in the TD with 2:11 left I was screaming at him to fall down in bounds at the one. Then they could've done a few meaningless snaps and Akers could've kicked the winning FG as time ran out. Instead they made it much more interesting, to say the least.; 1/15/12, 8:13 PM
Tim said...: AJ Lynch said...

"Tim:

I loved it when they knocked out the NO running back early in the game."

Indeed so. Like I said, my team's defense breaks players.

Breaks them.

This isn't Bill Walsh's 49ERs team - except for the well-coached, play-60, come-from behind with epic, game-winning, clutch TD passes in the waning seconds part...lol!

Who's got it better than us?

Nooo-body!

'Niner nation sounds off.; 1/15/12, 8:13 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: Speaking of 3:16, Tebow must've been 3 for 16 in passing at some point yesterday. You could buy 3 beers for $16 at the Patriots game. I think the Broncos stopped the Patriots on 3 out of 16 possessions. Tom Brady probably threw for 316 more yards than Tebow yesterday.; 1/15/12, 8:20 PM
Tim said...: "When Smith ran in the TD with 2:11 left I was screaming at him to fall down in bounds at the one."

I get it, but that was never gonna happen.

Instant classic; instant redemption.

Alex Smith made himself this year, and yesterday especially, a 'Niner quarterback. That play, and his game-winning, clutch throw from the 14 with nine seconds left to VD will never be forgotten by the Faithful.

Epic day - ranks up there with The Catch against the Cowboys 30 years ago, Catch II fifteen years ago (damn near the same spot, too) against the Packers, and the Garcia-led comeback against the Giants in the '02 wild-card game.

It's shaping up as '81 did. Unbelievable.

PS: Saints fans at the 'Stick were very classy, start to finish. Probably the classiest fans of visiting teams that I can recall, ever. Steelers fans are really good too. Raiders fans are the worst. Cowboys, Giants, Eagles and Packers fans are pretty damned obnoxious. They all think their teams perfected football. Insufferable.

PPS: My team's defense breaks players.

Just breaks them. Just so you know.; 1/15/12, 8:24 PM
Anonymous said...: PB & J -
Our defense sucked but that proves the point that a little improvement will make us dangerous again next year.

it's actually the same defense that helped us win the superbowl last year and had the most INT's this year and was the difference when we beat NewYork a few weeks ago (pick 6 for Clay Matthews).

I think they need 2 things (I'm just a fan andhave no professional training ):
1) Consistent pass rush
2) Better fundamental tackling - we gave up lots of big plays this year because of this. Example - Hakeem Nicks is a beast. You can't tackle him with a one shoulder.; 1/15/12, 8:26 PM
Michael Haz said...: The season is over. Time to move on to other things.

As for the Packers...the smart thing to do would be to fire defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

And re-sign Donald Driver.; 1/15/12, 8:32 PM
Sprezzatura said...: ALH,

Nice link.; 1/15/12, 8:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Devastated by the Packers loss, Jon Huntsman just quit the GOP Presidential Race and will endorse Mitt Romney.; 1/15/12, 8:37 PM
Wally Kalbacken said...: WTF hit me?

Was I out for long?

Still in shock.

Well, and this doesn't amount to consolation, but SF looked mighty yesterday and New England looked fine too, so maybe this was destined to happen sooner or a little later. I don't care anymore, except to say that any team with a murderous thug like Ray Lewis should not proceed into the Superbowl. I think the Patriots will take care of that business. That is all.; 1/15/12, 8:46 PM
Joe Schmoe said...: ALH, you're right; the Packers aren't far off. Defensively they've got issues, but Starks or Grant don't scare anyone running the ball either. I think opposing teams focused on stopping the pass the second half of the year. Rogers was their most effective runner.

And Haz, yes, they'll probably fire the def. coordinator as that's the easy fall guy, but what about the personnel? Pack fans made much hay about how great Ted Thompson has done, but clearly his success has been on one side of the ball. What says he about his defensive drafts and acquisitions?; 1/15/12, 8:50 PM
Hazy Dave said...: McCarthy's timeout at the end of the first half that let the Giants take a ten point lead to the locker room was a turning point. And suddenly Driver was the only end that could catch, what's up with that? The week of rest? The defense was surprisingly capable, the special teams, apart from the failed onside kicks, was adequate, and the officiating favored the home team... I didn't expect the Pack to go all the way, but I didn't anticipate them ending the season in a burst of dropped passes and fumbles...; 1/15/12, 8:51 PM
Phil 314 said...: I'm a Broncos fan

Ah feeelll yur pain

(But must admit, have never liked the Packers...
except for when they lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl.); 1/15/12, 9:06 PM
Anonymous said...: Phil said-
"But must admit, have never liked the Packers...
except for when they lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl"

And I'm pretty much the opposite - always liked the Broncos but HATED them for a two year period after they beat us in the SB. I'm over it now. Kind of. Except I still see Elway spinning thru the air for a first down when I close my eyes at night.; 1/15/12, 9:17 PM
Phil 314 said...: I still see Elway spinning thru the air for a first down when I close my eyes at night.

Oh yeah!

That was a most excellent day of gratification for Broncos fans; 1/15/12, 9:26 PM
James said...: You missed your chance for Dublin Dr. Pepper. But go to Torchy's anyway.; 1/15/12, 9:46 PM
Alex said...: I have to admit, I was severely rooting against the Packers in that 1997 Super Bowl. I never cared for Elway, but I was rooting for him hard.; 1/15/12, 10:00 PM
Beth said...: "PS: Saints fans at the 'Stick were very classy, start to finish. Probably the classiest fans of visiting teams that I can recall, ever."

Tim, that's nice to hear.; 1/15/12, 10:54 PM
Palladian said...: pbAndjFellowRepublican said... "Palladian,
Football is a manly pursuit. It's like golf. Hunting and gathering balls is as close as most of us get to the real thing nowadays"

As someone who has actually hunted, and butchered (well, assisted with butchering) meat, I recommend it over watching football on T.V. It engages the senses, lets you experience the quiet and sublimity of Nature, gets you some fresh air, and possibly nets you some delicious grouse in the process.

I will say two good things about football: it seems to spur genial conversation here among people who are usually arguing about even stupider things like politics, and some of those round, muscular asses really do look good in the tight stretch pants.; 1/15/12, 11:13 PM
HT said...: I am always delighted whenever I meet people from New Orleans as I travel. They are among the most sociable people on earth, together with the Spaniards and a couple of other groups of Southerners.

Great people.; 1/15/12, 11:13 PM
Palladian said...: "You missed your chance for Dublin Dr. Pepper."

We all missed our chance, damn it. The corporate goons at Snapple killed them. May they rot in Hell.; 1/15/12, 11:16 PM
Patrick said...: My 9 y/o son was crushed by the result. He never became interested in football until the playoffs last year, so he had almost no experience with the Packers losing. Contrasts remarkably with my own experience at that age.; 1/15/12, 11:34 PM
Alex said...: Patrick - I can empathize. When I was 13 I was absolutely devastated when the 49ers lost to Giants 15-13 in the 1990 NFC title game. I was disconsolate for months.; 1/15/12, 11:38 PM
Ironclad said...: I live in Austin too (but I am working in Korea) You are obviously in south or central Austin, but there are some good places up in the north part of town too. The Noble Pig restaurant (sandwiches) cure all their meat and you can get a pastrami duck sandwich that is great. Ditto on pork ones too.

Hope you get to Lockhart south of town for some REAL barbeque from Kruze Market or Smittys; 1/16/12, 4:19 AM
Toad Trend said...: Too many dropped passes and 3 turnovers - not the bakery type - and the Pack will be joining you at the cafe', unfortunately.

wv - flogi; 1/16/12, 6:13 AM
Curious George said...: 100% spot on. But not exactly what they were thinking.; 1/16/12, 8:30 AM
Tim said...: "When I was 13 I was absolutely devastated when the 49ers lost to Giants 15-13 in the 1990 NFC title game. I was disconsolate for months."

I still resent Bill Parcells, Leonard Marshall and Matt Bahr, although they played as well as they could. It's time to pay the bill.; 1/16/12, 9:22 AM
John Cunningham said...: A grim weekend for me, I was backing the Tebows, Texans over the thuggish Ravens, and the Pack. I lived many years in Alaska, where the Packers are beloved for playing in the snow and ice. I watched the games with my NY-loving buddy, the bet was that after loss, I had to throw my cheesehead to the floor, and kick it through the house....; 1/16/12, 12:33 PM
X said...: the Pack got dismantled. Their 2 touchdowns were solely due to bad calls by the refs.; 1/16/12, 12:47 PM
gloogle said...: ummm, Tim, I think that bill got paid in full in 2003:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recaps/20030105/nygsfo.html; 1/16/12, 2:09 PM
Steve Koch said...: Might want to check out San Marcos, New Braunfels, and San Antonio while you are in central Texas. San Marcos is the home of Texas State U which has the beautiful spring fed San Marcos river running through campus. Nice U to teach at in semi retirement. When it gets hot in summer, time to tourist elsewhere.

New Braunfels has the Guadalupe River running through it. Great river for canoeing. There is a great park, iirc Landau park, that has the Comal river originating in a big spring. Gruene has Grist Mill (a converted grist mill), a cool place to eat with lots of outdoor decks. Next to that is an old time Texas dance hall that is a lot of fun. There are also lots of shops with interesting stuff that Althouse might enjoy.

San Antonio has the river walk, which women typically enjoy quite a bit. Pretty with lots of shopping and places to eat. Alamo is there also, of course. There are some other old well preserved Spanish missions that are awesome. San Antonio also has a great, big park with a river running through it that is great to walk in.; 1/16/12, 4:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Ann, consider this your engraved invitation to jump aboard the Patriots bandwagon. All are welcome.; 1/17/12, 2:06 PM
Claudio Timber said...: We have had a family member with us for a week. She has Obama's birthday in her iPhone calendar. iphone unlock; 1/8/13, 3:07 AM