Thought for the Day: Underrated?
August 7, 2003
First things first:
ESPN's Page2's Underrated Ladies and Gentlemen of Entertainment
I was so amazed that when I looked at both of these lists, I went "Wow, I find it hard to believe how many of these people I agree with." Especially when they listed my boy, Nick Hornby. Then again, they also listed Mark-Paul Gosselaar, so you know, it is a little hit and miss.
By the way, the top three in the also receiving votes category for the ladies are among the most underrated in the game today. Them and Ms. Hannigan, though I think the recent American Wedding media blitz altered that a little bit. Here we see Alyson in one of my favorite photo poses.
But, as I was mowing the lawn, I got to thinking, is it perhaps better to be underrated?
Certainly it has several advantages, the foremost among them being that there are only two possible outcomes if there is an argument about whether you are underrated, either you are, which garners you sympathy, or you're not, which means that your level of acclaim is appropriate, which is also a pretty good thing as well.
No one ever chants "Underrated" at you if you're ahead at a college football game.
If you're overrated, you're usually vastly overrated. If you're underrated, you're criminally underrated. Think about that for a minute, it means a person thinks so highly of you, they would be willing to press charges on your behalf against those who form the national consciousness of persona because you have not gotten your due acclaim. That's pretty cool.
If you're underrated, your fans are usually more rabid and unrelenting without seeming like bandwagoneers.
It plays into the American personality of pulling for the underdog. If you're underrated, it means that you're not the favorite. No one ever cheers for Goliath, as Mr. Chamberlain once said.
Underrated means you can come out of nowhere and surprise people. It makes for a better story.
If you're underrated and someone is arguing for your inclusion in the Hall of Fame, they are usually arguing for your inclusion, not your exclusion. Which is nice.
Underrated people rarely suffer from brand overexposure and backlash.
Being underrated also helps keep your ego in check and should prevent you from feeling guilty about the praise you receive for your efforts. It's good to have something that keeps you humble.
So, in the end, why not gun for underrated? You could do a whole lot worse.
Tigers Incompetence Metrics as of August 7, 2003:
Detroit 30-81 .268 winning percentage (1.75 games ABOVE the Throneberry Line)
Detroit team's batting average: .234
Detroit opponent batting average: .277
Detroit's on-base percentage: .295
Still need 12 Wins to Beat Infamy
Well, well, well, will you look at that...Bonderman helps Tigers prove that maybe Billy Beane didn't know what he was doing, win 3-2 to avoid abject humiliation. By the way, Barry Zito is only 8-10 this season. Hmm.
Woo-hoo, 30 wins!
Quarterbacks of National Champions: 1990-Present
You know, some how, I knew this, but when you see it all in one place, it just boggles the mind.
Then again...[ponders for a moment...] B. Johnson, Brady, Dilfer, Warner. Maybe quarterbacks in general are overrated for championship teams? (Note on Kurt Warner: Yes, I know that he had a hell of a season in 1999, but remember that was still when we thought that he was the Seattle running back...)
Query: If you tried to write a novel a year ago about the recall of the governor of a large Western state and the massive floodgate of people running to fill the State House, including a famous actor, a washed-up sitcom actor, and a pundit with a voice that theoretically induces seizures, do you think you could have gotten it published?
N.Y.'s Hamptons Ready for Secession Vote
As secession supporter Roy Schieder said "I think we're going to need a bigger house."
Your daily reminder:
The Allison LaPlaca 2003-04 Open Television Death Pool
Homer: Eh! Come on angel!
Marge: What are you doing with that?
Homer: I'm locking it up in my safe deposit closet with my other valuables. [opens door]. I'll just
leave it in here for a few years and let it appreciate in value.
Bart: It's probably a million years old dad, I thinks its as valuable as it's going to get.
Homer: Pftt. That's what they said about this Billy Beer, smarty pants. [drinks]
Mmmm...we elected the wrong Carter.
-- "Lisa the Skeptic"
Today's Line That Can Never Lead to Any Good:
"A government-access television station wasn't allowed to tape a Denver City Council discussion of the city's budget crisis Wednesday because a councilwoman said she didn't want the group to be shown eating the cinnamon rolls she brought to the meeting."
Denver Council Bars TV Access Over Rolls
It's good to know that our ability to view public meetings can be stymied by Cinnabon.
Today's Installment of "I am shocked, Louie, just quite simply shocked!"
Secret code? Blazers to draft rules of conduct for players
Rule 1: Don't do anything stupid...
Rule 2: Oh boy, this is gonna take a while.
That's all for today, until tomorrow,
I am Craig Barker, safe in the knowledge that a Craig and a Barker have quarterbacked teams to "National Titles" in my lifetime.
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