10/10/16 – by James Fedewa

Have you ever seen the movie “The 13^th Warrior” with Antonio Banderas?   In the movie, there was a dispute among two Norseman clans; one larger clan (within their territory) and another smaller clan, a group of questing Viking Warriors.  They were all countrymen with the same king, but the smaller group of Vikings were all fierce and seasoned warriors. The larger clan were not Vikings (only Norsemen), but yet they were still worthy warriors.  But just that, only warriors. Vikings and warriors are quite different.

After the dispute, the Vikings had to calm rumblings down between the two clans, and the Vikings needed to set an example (to show dominance). They had to punish the large group of Norsemen and they targeted one person; the largest, biggest and most intimidating warrior.   A smaller, older and well seasoned Viking picked a fight with the larger and younger warrior, and it did not appear to be a fair fight. There was one-on-one, melee battle and the Viking made the bigger warrior look like he was winning though out the fight. But overall,  it was only a show…

The Viking warrior “appeared” he was losing the battle all along, but in the end, once the ordeal was nearly over, and the Viking warrior looked defeated, the Viking quickly chopped off the head of the big Norseman warrior (like it was no big deal).  The battle was a show, an example and nothing personal. It was a lesson to all the Norsemen watching.  The lesson being, you might be big and you may be strong, and you think you are a fierce warrior, but in reality, the Vikings could kill all of you at any moment.

This is a prime example of what the Chargers need to do.  Find the biggest coach, and chop his head off.   This will set the players straight (the Norsemen), while the leader of the Vikings (Dean Spanos) sets his example.

Tom Telesco must give the Chargers players an example, Mike McCoy’s head (or at least, just fire him)

Spanos and Teleco need to set that example, a big example…

…if you think you can cause all these errors & miscues, multiple times; we are going to fire your boss and trade your ass to Cleveland (for a ham sandwich and a bottle of Yoo-hoo).

8/25/16 – by James Fedewa

The San Diego Chargers first round draft pick, Joey Bosa, still has not signed his rookie NFL contract. One month of vacant negotiations, valuable missed practices at training camp, and lost football education opens Joey Bosa’s professional football career.  Sure, Joey Bosa stands by his representation at Creative Artist Agency (CAA) and it is any ones guess which side is worse at contract negotiations. Fingers are pointing and fans are getting jittery.

One side will cave in and fold, and soon this ordeal will all be forgotten. The San Diego Chargers will not let a third overall pick slip through the 2016 season, reenter the 2017  NFL Draft and Bosa will not lose a years salary based on his contract demands. There will be a deal, but negotiations must improve as both sides are being very ridged.

CAA is being very firm with their bargaining stance, and the media seems to follow CAA side.  A prospect like Joey Bosa can change the face of an NFL  franchise, and CAA knows it, so Bosa is CAA’s “Great White Hope” and they are not wavering any discounts or deferred payments.  NFL analysts and players appear against CAA and Bosa stance, and favor the Chargers, but both media and analysts are only subjective opinions.

With the Chargers significantly increasing deferred contract payments (from 60% of 85% in the first year of the contract) and CAA continual rejecting contract San Diego’s offers, this shows there is “other” contractual verbiage that is causing rejections and counter offers.   What stands out is the “DOUBLE DIPPING” contract payments.   If Joey Bosa gets cut by the San Diego Chargers (within the first four years of the contract), the Chargers want to eliminate his contract from their books (which is normal for NFL teams) but hard for rookie to absorb. And if Bosa does sign with another team, Bosa wants to get paid by the Chargers (guaranteed rookie contract) and the NEW team that signs him will also pay him (hence, double-dipping).  In reality double-dipping is “promoting negativity” as is viewed as a reward for poor performance. The Chargers are trying to protect themselves if Bosa busts.

Unlike the NBA or MLB, the NFL does NOT guarantee player contracts, so this “double-dip” an odd stance by Bosa and CAA, but very savvy. However, Bosa’s rookie contract is guaranteed,  double-dipping goes well beyond guarantee money.   CAA is targeting guaranteed contacts by the Chargers, which is a good thing for NFL Players, but fiction for NFL owners.   The NFL does not guarantee contracts, nor are guaranteed contract set in the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The NFL rookie wage scale is set, albeit guaranteed, but there are some limitations in the terminology guaranteed rookie contract, which is a lot less than what it used to be (ask Sam Bradford and JaMarcus Russell).  So the only real negative hit the Chargers would face, if Bosa is ever cut within his first 4 years of his rookie contract, would be against the Chargers salary cap.

Overall, this contact holdout is really an NFL salary cap issue. If Bosa does get cut, will the balance of his contact go against the Chargers salary cap (i.e. Donald Butler/ Jared Gaither), but not against rookie guaranteed money. This CAA/Bosa contract issue is led by Ed McGuire, the Chargers Vice President of Football Administration, Player Finance (and Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco letting accountants and lawyers subtract from his team).

August 9, 2016 by James Fedewa

Alpine Duet IPA, loved it but I was drinking with a random friend at a bar so I couldn’t really review it thoroughly. A+
I recommended it to a couple people at the bar and everyone of them.
Sculpin Gtapefruit IPA, same thing as above but let’s give it a grade of B+. I had it for the first time a couple weeks ago and it tasted better then.
Braufactum Progusta IPA, another very very good beer great floral hoppiness with a big head. A-

7/9/2016 by James Fedewa

Abv 6.4%
Ibu 82
Nice clear light bronze color tone with virtually no head at all*. Smells fantastic with a great crisp citrus hoppiness. A little high on the carbonation, which probably mellows out the hoppy bitterness of a true IPA. It has a fantastic malty sweetness to it in the beginning, but the hops do linger in the backend, which make it a good IPA. A very very unique IPA with outstanding smell and layers of flavors the warmer it gets.
Grade: A-

*growler fill
** I would have given this beer a full “A” grade if there was more of a head (as I do like a good beer foam mustache)

***guess what beer Label is on the glass…

11th Hour IPA, Crow Peak Brewery (Spearfish, South Dakota)

7/2/16 by James Fedewa

Nice light bronze color tone that is a little cloudy. Not much of a sudsy head but a nice smokey floral hoppy IPA flavor. A mild malty middle distinguishes the heavy hoppy bitterness, and it is finalized with a tangy short & quick aftertaste. It has a very Euro tangy (or yeasty) smell to it as well,which is not too appealing, but it is an overall very nice IPA.

It’s not overly unique, but it is a little different with the smokiness to it (which is good).
B-

*My folks went to Sturgis and brought this beer to me as a birthday gift, which is outstanding. What is the best beer? Free Beer!

We have some great craft beer bottle shops here in the Seattle area.  No matter where you are around the Sound, you’re never really too far from a craft beer bottle shop that offers a wide se…

Source: Tavour Offers A Unique Craft Beer Delivery Experience

6/17/2016 by James Fedewa

Nice dark bronze tone with a small hop smell. Thick hoppy floral front end, with a good lingering bitterness. A nice malty undertone with a crisp quick aftertaste.

Rich foamy head. A big beer, but nothing too distinguishing, yet not just standard.

Grade: C+

** My 5 year old son picked this beer out for me. I told him to find the coolest looking label, and I will try it. The label didn’t stick out to him, but when I said Dead Frog Brewery, my son stuck with it.  I told that to my wife, she got pissed. I say artwork, she says adult beverages.

6/16/16 by James Fedewa

Very rich and quick, hopy front end, with a long sharp aftertaste. One swill of this IPA you’re blasted with a strong bitter hop flavor (with some lighter roasted malt flavors buried in the layers). It has a crisp and carbonated middle, that makes this a sharp floral hopy flavor linger. The color is a light cloudy bronze and the head is very flat that dissipates quickly. The smell is probably the weakest part of this IPA, as it’s not bad, but just a little sour and tangy, which could be caused by classic English yeast. This is more of a classic double English IPA than a PNW IPA (as claimed).

This is a very good beer and what makes it different is front end nearly pungent floral hop flavor. I’d probably only buy singles of this beer. A six pack may be too many of this IPA to drink in a row. Think of it as an after-dinner smoke.

Grade: C+

Avatar Jasmine IPA, by Elysian Brewing (Seattle)

5/11/2016 Review by James Fedewa 

One of my all-time favorite IPA’s. It’s really two different beers; Serve very cold (nearly freezing), it’s a crisp, refreshing and a light IPA, that can be gulped. But serve just barely cold, around 60 degrees, it’s a unique tangy and sharp IPA with a light light floral (jasmine) undertone. Both cold and not very cold are so good and noticeably different. It better to have one large beer and take your time drinking it (all the way to the tasty last drop), or pour two beers and drink the first one slowly.  This IPA has a fruity smell, golden tone, with a very small head of foam. A traditional Euro IPA yeast is probably used (that offers a very unique and tangy aftertaste). Avatar Jasmine IPA falls into a very good traditional IPA (x2).

Grade: A- (this beer has been around for a while, and probably had an A+ grade 6 years ago. Anything from Elysian Brewing worth buying and I’m glad they are still brewing this one)