Greatest Hit Ever!

FROM POTUS (as he was having technical difficulty posting this video):

GOTSOO usually posts about sports, but today, inspite of Cleveland's inability to beat Cincy last week, and the second team Colts appathetic performance yesterday, (and missing the playoffs with a 10-6 record), I had to post this video of what will be one of the greatest football hits in history.

When I saw it live, I told FLOTUS, "That's a hit that we will see 20 years from now." After seeing multiple replays, I remained certain of it.

Enjoy!

Endorsement

So – when I was first invited to participate in this blog of M.E.A.T. (Men Eating Animals of Taste) I must admit – I had mixed emotions. First, I was excited to be honored with the invitation. Then, my excitement turned into nervousness. After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression… Isn’t that right Tim Couch? So, I thought long and hard about my first entry and while speaking to POTUS by cell during the Browns game yesterday (A special shout out to Tommy Lee Jones who enabled us to watch the game FROM THE BROWNS BENCH) it all crystallized for me. This, my first entry, on the last day of 2007, needs to also be the first official endorsement of 2008. That endorsement, of course, is for POTUS. You probably don’t need me to tell you this if you are already reading this blog – but this guy is top notch. He’s Clark W Griswold (the world’s last true family man), Nick Naylor (great lobbyist from Thank You for Smoking) and Hoke Colburn (Driving Miss Daisy, ie… Hoke, you’re my best friend) all wrapped into one. While he isn’t officially family yet (we need to wait until Lefty Jr. marries Princess) we love him – and his family – like they are our very own. This and my future entries, like the short ribs at Downtown 140 (Stretch’s favorite trough – after all, this is about STEAK), will be short and sweet. Happy New Year! Lefty

Playoffs? Playoffs?

Sorry to all my Browns-fan-friends. Hell of a season, though.

From Drudge...

This story is wrong on so many different levels. I don't even know what to say...

Girl won Hannah Montana tickets with fake essay

GARLAND, Texas (AP) — An essay that won a 6-year-old girl four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert began with the powerful line: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."
While gripping, it was not true — and now the girl may lose her tickets after her mom acknowledged to contest organizers it was all a lie.

The sponsor of the contest was Club Libby Lu, a Chicago-based store that sells clothes, accessories and games intended for young girls.

The saga began Friday with company officials surprising the girl at a Club Libby Lu at a mall in suburban Garland, about 20 miles northeast of Dallas. The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on Jan. 9.

The mother had told company officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq, company spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said.

"We did the essay and that's what we did to win," Priscilla Ceballos, the mother, said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW. "We did whatever we could do to win."
She had identified the soldier as Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, but the Department of Defense has no record of anyone with that name dying in Iraq. Caulfield said the mother has admitted to the deception.

"We regret that the original intent of the contest, which was to make a little girl's holiday extra special, has not been realized in the way we anticipated," said Mary Drolet, the CEO of Club Libby Lu.

Drolet said the company is reviewing the matter, and is considering taking away the girl's tickets.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

AFC North

Well, the AFC North is shaping up, and it looks like the Stillers have clinched the division, but the Browns participation in the post-season is hanging in the balance. In fact, if the Tennessee Titans are victorious over the Indianapolis Colts next week, the Browns will find themselves on the outside looking in.

Before you stand up and cheer with joy at the obvious mismatch, consider this--Tony Dungy has already made it clear that Peyton Manning will be a part-time player this week (not to mention some of the other key starters for the Colts). Couple that with a Titans team who is playing to stay alive--you get a recipe for disaster for the Browns.

Add to that, the Browns are facing a 49ers team who just beat the rough and tumble Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the bright side for you Browns fans--rest assured your arch-rival Stillers are a one game and out playoff team. Over the last two weeks, they've lost two of the most important players on each side of the ball (Aaron Smith, DE, and Fast Willie Parker, RB). Losing the league's leading rusher will be devastating to a team that relies so heavily on the threat of the run to set up play action.

I hope I've analyzed this wrong--but I dont think I have. At any rate: Go Stillers!

Up tonight is the Christmas Eve Party at the Brother and Sister-In-Laws in the CT. On the menu, Crab stuffed shrimp, Tenderloin, and lots of booze. I look forward to reporting back to you all. Have a very merry christmas, friends.

Santa's workshop just before Dec. 25th

The North Pole - In the hours before Christmas, tensions run high in Santa's workshop, as seen in this video provided to SteakMatters by Hardgrove.

Warning: If you have an elf phobia; do not like strong language; and are opposed to the bastardization of a Christmas special classic, we recommend not viewing this video.

However: If you want to know what it looks like when you cross Full Metal Jacket with the Christmas classic Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer footage, take look. Its some funny stuff.

- POTUS

UPDATE: Blake's hit by Norwalk Virus

Radio tipped me off to the virus (pictured above) at Blake's on the Tuesday after our dinner. He was supposed to entertain some clients and got a call from the owners. They needed to move the lunch to Hyde Park so the resturant could be cleaned. He and I escaped, but others in our party were not so lucky, which would explain why FLOTUS was up on Sunday night/Monday morning....

Stomach flu hits Northeast Ohio as holidays near
Saturday, December 22, 2007
http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/119831601253430.xml&coll=2

Harlan Spector
Plain Dealer Reporter

Hold the egg nog, pass the Imodium. Just in time for Christmas, stomach flu is making its seasonal appearance in Northeast Ohio.

About 100 patrons of Blake's Seafood Restaurant & Bar in Chagrin Falls came down with gastrointestinal illness in the past week or so. It appears to be a highly contagious norovirus, also known as the "Cruise Ship Virus." It typically peaks this time of year.

The Cuyahoga County health board recorded about a half-dozen outbreaks in hospitals, day-care centers and schools in recent weeks, said Chris Kippes, director of disease investigations.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are the telltale signs. The distress usually lasts a day or two.
If you have these symptoms, health officials suggest you do everyone a favor and stay home.
"It's one of the more contagious illnesses we come up against," said Kippes. "It's so easily contracted person to person or [by] coming into contact with surfaces that are contaminated with the virus."

So many workers at Blake's Seafood called in sick that the restaurant closed for the day Tuesday, said Joe Saccone of the Hyde Park Restaurant Group, which owns Blake's.
Although found at the restaurant, the virus is not a food-borne illness.
The restaurant disinfected its kitchen and instructed staff on food-handling precautions and illness policies, the health board said.

"We don't want to spread it," Saccone said. "Everyone was shaking hands, everyone was saying, 'Happy holidays.' It's too close. We have an obligation to protect the staff and guests."
The health board said it's still investigating the outbreak.

Noroviruses descend from the Norwalk virus, named after a huge outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in Norwalk, Ohio, in the late 1960s.

The Ohio Department of Health has recorded 71 norovirus outbreaks in 2007. Cuyahoga tops the list with 12 outbreaks. A department spokesman said he didn't know if cases are peaking now statewide.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
hspector@plaind.com, 216-999-4543

Thank you, Mr. Coffey...

The last World War I veteran in Ohio, and one of only three known remaining U.S. veterans of the conflict, has died.

J. Russell Coffey was the last WWI vet in the state, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. He died Thursday at the age of 109, said the Smith-Crates Funeral Home in North Baltimore, about 35 miles south of Toledo. The funeral home did not say where Coffey died or the cause of death (ummm...he was 109).

Coffey, born Sept. 1, 1898, did not see action overseas. He enlisted in the Army while he was a student at Ohio State University in October 1918, a month before the Allied powers and Germany signed a cease-fire agreement.

Coffey played semipro baseball, earned a doctorate in education from New York University, taught high school and college and raised a family. He drove his car until he was 104 and lived on his own until three years ago, according to the funeral home.

The other known surviving American soldiers are Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, W.Va., and Harry Landis, of Sun City Center, Fla., according to the Veterans Affairs Department.

Thanks for your service, Mr. Coffey.

Lest we forget...

The Fuzz, a Marine and current police officer, sent me the following email about the placing of wreaths on the graves of the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery. I'm not one for forwarding emails, because most are factually in accurate. This one is not, as I was surprised this morning by the nice piece of reporting by NBC, of all networks, on the annual remembrance. Its well worth checking it out: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22324242#22324242

-------------------------------

From The Fuzz:

I had no idea this was done. I thought you might want to see it. Rest easy, sleep well my brothers. Know the line has held, your job is done.Rest easy, sleep well.Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.Peace, peace, and farewell...
Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. Of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.

-------------------------------

Thank you again to those we know and don't know that provide the blanket of freedom under which we sleep.

- POTUS

Blake’s of Chagrin, big taste, big food

You have to love the Holiday Season. For me it started on Nov 16 with the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s annual Public Officials Reception. I look forward to the Beef Tenderloin every year. And this year’s was not exception. Since then, it seems there has been one party/reception/gathering/get together every night.

So last Saturday night, we joined a group of friends for dinner at Blake’s in Chagrin Falls. Now you have to understand something, we were also hosting our son’s ‘kids’ birthday party earlier in the day with 25 screaming knee knockers running around Fun Time Fun. But we were fortunate because the kids of the 3 couples that we were going out with that night were all in attendance and 2 of the families had already experienced what we went through when they had their kid parties there earlier in the year. [BTW –Who thought that we would ever long for the days of bad pizza and animatronics at Chuck E. Cheese’s. At least at CEC they sell beer.]

By the time we got home for FTF, got the sitters some food, we missed the pre-dinner cocktails at the wine bar across the street so went straight to the restaurant. One of the other couples, facing the same challenges as us, had just walked in before our arrival so we settle in the nicely appointed bar and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive, which happened with in minutes.

As we took our seats, which had a wonderful view of the Falls (pictured above), I reviewed the menu. At that point, I made the executive decision that FLOTUS and I would overcome our exhaustion from the day’s activities and have dinner, instead of scooting out after apps., as we had originally planned.

Boy was I ever happy we stayed.

My meal started off with the Calamari, which had been recommended by several people. It was served with a Thai sweet hot chili pepper sauce and was excellent. The portion size was great, which allowed it to be shared among the table of 8. Following the calamari, I had a Caesar side salad which was served on a chilled plate. The romaine lettuce was crisp and the dressing was served ‘easy’, allowing it to be enjoyed.

I was very impressed with the menu options. Blake’s bills themselves as a seafood restaurant, which they are, but because of their Hyde Park heritage, they have a great selection of land based meals to choose from. Having had a strip steak the night before I decided to get the Filet Mignon (8 oz), medium. The rest of the table got a mixed bag of surf and turf, which all looked wonderful when it came out, and from the silence during the first moments of eating, it tasted just as good.

My filet had a light char on the outside, a little less then I normally like, but its presentation had me anticipating the first bite. It was served over a bed of grilled asparagus, which was a requested substitution over garlic mashed potatoes that normally accompany the steak. The first cut of the knife revealed a tender cut of meat that was cooked to my requested temperature. The center was a nice red color, with a pleasant texture. The steak was juicy, which added to the overall flavor of the meal. Needless to say, I was very happy with my selection and was reminded of the glory days of Hyde Park restaurants.

After finishing our dinners, we reviewed the extensive desert menu and while the ladies, sitting at one end of the table chose to pass, the men on the other end decided to get some after dinner drinks and a piece of triple chocolate cake for the table to split. Little did we know what we were in for….

When our server arrived at our table with the cake, her tray had 4 plates with 4 massive pieces of cake on them. We laughing reminded her that we ordered one piece to share with the table, to which she recited the cake’s description from the menu – 8 layer, triple chocolate cake, serves 2 – 4 people. Well those must be some big ass people, because those were some big ass pieces of cake. [We could only imagine what the damn thing would have looked like had we not asked to split it 4 ways.] So we shared some with the wives, not because we wanted to, but out of necessity and our desire to not see it go to waste, or at the very least, to avoid bringing it home and the ensuing sugar high that our kids would most certainly experienced.

The evening ended with a promise to bring the group back together for another dinner. And FLOTUS and I made a promise to each other that we would come back again to experience the fine dining and the ambiance that is Blake’s of Chagrin Falls.

Finally, I would be remiss, if I didn’t thank Radio for putting the evening together. Excellent choice. We look forward to doing it again.

- POTUS

Never to cold to grill

Having some PTO to kill, I took last Thursday and Friday off. FLOTUS went to the store to pick up some provisions and surprised me with a steak 3-pack! She correctly figured one for her and two for me. Additionally, she made some of her famous chilly earlier in the week and had some ground beef left over. So I pulled out my handy-dandy, patent pending hamburger press and made a few burgers too. After all, I was heating up all 3 burners on the Char-Broil, why let all that go to waste, let alone the USDA choice hamburger that was sitting in the fridge.

Now the key to grilling at home is to get the grill nice an hot. On this night it was a bit tougher than most nights because, well, it was snowing outside. I got the Char-Broil's 3 burners going and let it sit for 10-mins until the temp gage read 600.

Now here is where opinions differ. The Brain, likes to char his steaks on both sides in an iron skillet (provided the beef is boneless). Then it gets put on the grill, once on each side. My CB has a side burner so I think I'll try that next time.

Lefty likes to get the grill to temp and then sprays Pam on the grill to avoid stickage. I was skeptical at first, but I've eaten enough steak at Lefty's to see it in action. Although I'm still concerned about the flames climbing up the spray and blowing off my hand like a 12-year old on the 4th of July. [GOD BLESS AMERICA!]

Me, as I was saying, I like to get the grill to 600, and drop the steaks on the grill; close it for 5 mins; open, flip, and close for another 5; then open flip and turn (to get the nice square char) and close for 3 mins, and repeat. There by cooking the meet on each side twice. It seals in the juices and makes for a nice presentation on the plate.

Needless to say, the steaks turned out great. The Princess decided that she didn't want one of the burgers I was cooking simultaneously, so I shared part of my two steaks with her. Let me just say I believe I've created a monster with her, but I feel safe in knowing that I will have someone to pass the SteakMatters' grill torch to once I'm gone - but not for a very long time!

Happy grilling!

- POTUS

This just in...

I've just been informed by the Co-conspirator that, on the Christmas-Eve menu at the in-laws (in the CT)--drum roll, please . . . . . . . Beef Tenderloin. Thank you, Santa. I look forward to reporting back to you--pictures and all!!

G

Lefty Got it Right

Lefty hosted this year’s Office Christmas / Hanukah / Festivus party at the Residence, which is currently on the market for anyone looking for a move-in-condition, 4 bedroom, 2/1 bath, colonial, w/ finished basement in one of Cleveland/Akron’s premier suburban communities. Close to shopping, parks, golf, etc. (Feel free to request info in the ‘comments’ section.) But I digress….

I have to say Lefty and Stretch went all out on this one. (An added benefit was that the whole family was invited.) So after being told all this, plus the fact that BEEF was being served, I loaded the First Family into the Princess Jeep and headed to the party.

Prior to our arrival we shot down the street to Clark Griswold’s house. Now I’m telling you this guy is the real deal. His house, his trees, his lawn, you name it – it was all lit up. This guy rents a cherry picker every year to put his lights into his trees; we’re talking 30+ feet in the air. The dude’s serious. Well Clark’s rep preceded us, because The Boss and her husband were pulling past the house as we were pulling up. FirstEnergy loves this guy. But I digress, again….

After viewing the lights, we get over to Lefty’s. The house is decorated tastefully for the holiday’s - lights outside, tree inside, a menorah, and carols on the Hi-Fi. As I stood in the foyer exchanging pleasantries with everyone, I spied a wonderfully catered dining room area. More specifically, my eyes were drawn to the two wonderfully presented platters of beef tenderloin with peppers and olives (pictured above). On the dining room table were chaffing dishes with items that included red skin potatoes, rice, green beans, and a Caesar Salad, among other items. Don’t quote me on the other items, as I can only confirm the salad, based on my laser focus on the tenderloin. Stretch, being the good hostess, insisted that I try the appetizers before the main course.

As you would expect, the apps were great, including the chicken skewers with a sweet glaze and a cheese plate with enough sharp cheddar (my favorite), among others, to stop a small army, if you know what I mean and I think you do. Finally, after several ‘surveillance’ passes through the dining room, Stretch said I could have at the tenderloin.

I knew I was in for some wonderful beef when I attempted to remove my first piece of the layered loin. As I gently lifted the first slice that I had so painstakingly chosen for my first taste, it literally pulled apart because of the weigh of the other pieces that encircled the platter. Not wanting to leave behind its other half, I placed the first half of the slice on my plate and returned to the platter to ever so gently retrieve the second half of the slice, along with two more.

Taking my first bite, I was overcome with pleasure. The beef was served chilled. It had a light pepper crust, which added just the right compliment to the flavor of the beef. The meat had been cooked perfectly, allowing for a nice texture on the outside, and, while red in the middle, was not chewy and melted in my mouth. I was able to lightly cut the other slices with the side of my fork and ate them as quickly as the first.

I half jokingly asked Stretch what everyone else was eating. [I swear I could have eaten one platter myself and got pretty deep into the second without missing a beat.] Stretch rightly shoed me away so that the other guests could enjoy.

Well, once everyone got through – FLOTUS, The Boss, Spin Doctor, Tommy Lee Jones, GOTSOO, Co-Conspirator, and the families – what was left was fair game. [I went back several times that evening, but made sure to leave some, because Lefty promised, and delivered, a ‘take home’ that was consumed the next morning.]

The rest of the evening was filled with more food, drink and of course, great conversation. We were also treated to 15 seconds of Lefty’s 15 minutes of fame when we convinced him to play the clip of him playing golf in the Desert on ESPN. It was awesome.

Oh, I almost forgot, the Conductor and family, attended as well. But as is usually the case, he was late – by 2.5 hours. (Who said conductors keep the train on time.)

The evening ended around 12:00 midnight, with FLOTUS and me carrying the First Kids, exhausted from the day’s activities, in our arms. With heads on our shoulders, their winter coats covering their PJs, and a night breeze rustling the holiday lights in the trees, we loaded the car for the long road home.

It was a wonderful evening - A meal well served and time well spent.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
- POTUS

Clueless wireless

I’ve been a bad blogger. I’ve been delinquent in posting about one of my most recent SteakMatters experiences. But I must first lay my humble explanation for my delinquency:

Unlike some bloggers, who live in their parents’ basement with the walls cover by Cavs Girls calendars and Farrah Fawcett posters, I hold a day job that puts food on the table and roof over the First Family’s head. Anyhow, being technology challenged, I was a bit put out when my wireless router shut down on me. Complicating all of that was my attempt to communicate my problem with the tech geeks at MicroCenter. Not only was I trying to get a replacement router (its was less than a year old), I was also attempting to swap in the DVD burner from my old PC into my new PC. What a pain in the ass.

So basically after wasting an hour in traffic and an hour in the store, I was left with a DVD burner that’s a year and a half old and useless because it would be cheaper to just by a new one (WHAT?), and; a replacement router and NO idea how to get the thing working after 2 hours of attempting to install the damn thing.

[I posed this question to Lefty regarding computers, software and hardware and people who don’t have an IT department to help them out. To which he responded, “You spend 4 hours on the phone with some dude from India who doesn’t speak English and you can’t understand!” Lefty doesn’t have IT dept.]

Well that’s where I lucked out. My IT guy took care of me – setup my router, encrypted the connection and talked me through the home set up – all before 9:00a while battling a wicked cold and waiting for his doc to call him back for a ‘day of’ appointment.

To you EDIT – The U.S.D.A Steak Award for the Month of December! You are the Man!

So with that brief explanation….back to the SteakMatters.

- POTUS

LL Cool J

This has to be one of the greatest movie clips ever. If you like Old School Rap...you HAVE to watch this.

See how many people you can identify in this one minute clip. These guys can't act, they can't dance, but Damn LL can rap...classic.

Stay tuned...

POTUS has promised to soon post one of the best submissions to this blog yet. Subject: Lefty's X-mas party. Now, I was there, and there was some fine, fine tasting tenderloin. So, I'm looking forward to seeing where the leader of the free Steak world will take this much-anticipated post.

Not much going on today--catching up on some reading and listening to Rush pick Billary apart...all and all a good day.

Stay tuned...

Republicans Retain Gillmor Seat with Latta Victory

Contrary to what the "drive-by" media wanted folks to believe, the race for the 5th Congressional district was never close. That was evidenced tonight in the form of a decisive victory for Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green).

With 100% of precincts reporting, Latta defeated Democrat, Robin Weirauch, amazingly, by the same margin that Gillmor defeated her just over a year ago: 57-43.

Maybe she'll get the message that the people of the 5th District (which encompasses all or parts of 15 of Ohio's 88 counties: Ashland, Crawford, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood) are looking for conservative representation. He won every single county--convincingly.

Maybe she should move to Lakewood and try her luck there...

Congratulations Congressman Latta

I wonder how many taxpayer dollars were wasted on this Newsflash...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of several types of cancer, including lung cancer and colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
The work is the first big study to show a link between meat and lung cancer. It also shows that people who eat a lot of meat have a higher risk of liver and esophageal cancer and that men raise their risk of pancreatic cancer by eating red meat.
"A decrease in the consumption of red and processed meat could reduce the incidence of cancer at multiple sites," Dr. Amanda Cross and colleagues at the U.S. National Cancer Institute wrote in their report, published in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine.
The researchers studied 500,000 people aged 50 to 71 who took part in a diet and health study done in conjunction with the AARP, formerly the American Association for Retired Persons.
After eight years, 53,396 cases of cancer were diagnosed.
"Statistically significant elevated risks (ranging from 20 percent to 60 percent) were evident for esophageal, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer, comparing individuals in the highest with those in the lowest quintile of red meat intake," the researchers wrote.

The people in the top 20 percent of eating processed meat had a 20 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer -- mostly rectal cancer -- and a 16 percent higher risk for lung cancer.
"Furthermore, red meat intake was associated with an elevated risk for cancers of the esophagus and liver," the researchers wrote.
These differences held even when smoking was accounted for.
"Red meat intake was not associated with gastric or bladder cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, or melanoma," added the researchers, whose study is freely available on the Internet at http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document& doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040325.

Red meat was defined as all types of beef, pork and lamb. Processed meat included bacon, red meat sausage, poultry sausage, luncheon meats, cold cuts, ham and most types of hot dogs including turkey dogs.
Meats can cause cancer by several routes, the researchers noted. "For example, they are both sources of saturated fat and iron, which have independently been associated with carcinogenesis," the researchers wrote.

Meat is also a source of several chemicals known to cause DNA mutations, including N-nitroso compounds (NOCs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Jeanine Genkinger of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Anita Koushik of the University of Montreal said the findings fit in with other research.

"Meat consumption in relation to cancer risk has been reported in over a hundred epidemiological studies from many countries with diverse diets," they wrote in a commentary.

His people may not be able to speak their minds or access the internet...

but I'll be damned if that doesn't stop the Iranian tyrant from spewing his twisted views of the world. At the least, it gives you a window to his "soul". What is most entertaining are the reader comments on the right. Some are critical, some praise him. Unbelieveable.

http://www.ahmadinejad.ir/

The Donald

I'm sure many of you have read or heard of the story that has The Donald leaving his waiter at the Buffalo Club a $10,000 tip. How much was the bill, you ask? $82. See actual receipt above.

I'm interested in how others perceive this story. I'm suspicious of people in general, so I lean toward thinking this was just a publicity stunt.

Then again, The Donald has unfathomable (at least to me) wealth. Perhaps the guy just did a great job and Mr. Combover rewarded him handsomely. $10,000 on an $82.00 bill, though!? Wow. Now that's a good days' work.

And now back to the SteakMatters...

After the weekend that was the Buckeye Miracle, I was fortunate enough to have dinner with some colleagues of mine. We try to get together quarterly, I think it’s the banker in all of us, with this one being a celebration of the Christmas season and the year that was.

I was lobbying hard for Red the Steakhouse for two reasons – it’s on my side of town and I’ve been there for drinks [with the Rabbi, whose lives even closer to the place than me], but never dinner. As it turned out, Red was closed for a private party, but they had availability at their sister restaurant Moxie. [The restaurants are physically connected via the hallway to the bathrooms. That night they actually were paying some poor schlub to sit on a stool and make sure no one crashed the private party.]

We all had drinks, Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Apple Martini, Chardonnay, and Cabernet. [Two guesses as to what I had and the first one doesn’t count.] As I scanned the menu, while recounting funny stories and funnier colleagues, I saw a beacon of light from the top of the menu and that beacon was the section of the menu simply titled “meat”. [I knew immediately that, like the atmosphere and the company, I was going to like this meal.] And directly under the title was the item that prevented me from looking any further – filet – Yeah, I’ll have that.

Now I was a little worried, because like the time at the Oval Room, the menu included a description of a bunch of stuff I never heard of, and a reference to a sauce. [And we all know that if you cover a steak with something, you’re hiding something else.] I waited with baited breath for the arrival of my ‘meat.’ “Garson, more wine!”

I started out with a Caesar salad, which was good, although the amount of Romano cheese, while one of my favorite cheeses, was piled a bit too high, taking away from what had to be a dressing made from scratch.

As our meals arrived the presentation was excellent, to my left another filet, to my right scallops. I can’t remember what was across from me, because when my filet was placed in front of me, I believe I lost consciousness. The sauce and other ‘stuff’ didn’t cover the steak, but were part of the presentation. [Oh the joy!] Joining my perfectly cut and appropriately cooked filet was a potato/cauliflower with cheese and breadcrumb bake, which looked great and tasted better. [In spite of my desire to limit my carbs during the holidays, I went on to eat most of it as it was that good.]

I had ordered the steak medium. It was spot on. The char on the outside gave it the texture I desire and added to the flavor without overpowering it. As my knife sliced its way through the ten ounces of beef bliss, I discovered a treasure in each bite. The temperature was perfect, with the center cooked preciously, allowing the beef to melt in my mouth. It was a meal that left me wanting more. [But then again, what good steak doesn’t?]

We capped the evening with some freshly brewed coffee and headed out in to the cold December night. And as I walked to my car, with winter's early snow blown across the moonlit parking lot, I was certain that I just experienced one of the best non-steakhouse steaks in Cleveland and now understood how appropriately the restaurant had been named.

The Bucks, The Browns and the ‘Burg

Its official…Congrats to the Buckeyes on their BCS National Championship selection. I’m looking forward to taking on the overrated LSU Tigers, who made a jump that Shaquille O’Neal (LSU ’00) would be proud of into the #2 spot. While I’m happy we’ve made it back to the Championship game, I think that this year’s process again demonstrates the need for a play off in D-I.

The Browns almost pulled out another one today, but they didn’t deserve to win it if they had. Sorry to say it, but they played like crap – fumbles, interceptions, and undisciplined penalties.

Looks like the Rooney’s mopped up and patched up the embarrassment that was Heinz Field last week, although it’s only half time. With as much money as the franchise and family is worth, and as much as that field gets played on, you think they could find some coin and put in field turf. Maybe they should move the games to Carnegie Mellon. They have field turf.

The Crew vs Phoenix

Just as I posted last night (this morning), I got a call from Bob the Builder, Mr. Annoying and Pat Sajak. It seems the PS was on a West Coast swing and Mr. Annoying, not having anything else to do, drove in from SoCo, and they all hooked up BTB in Phoenix for today’s Browns/Cardinals game. At least that’s what I think. Trying to understand anything they said was nearly impossible. All I know for sure is that with our crew in PHX supporting our Team, victory is all but assured for our beloved Browns! (Or at least a victory for the economy of the bars in the City of Phoenix.)

I look forward to reporting back after the Browns victory and the BCS Selection.

BCS Bound Buckeyes Baby!

This is probably the first time and the last time that I say thank you to Pittsburgh. And hats off to the Oklahoma Sooners! What a crazy year in D-I football. Ya' just have to believe that it is Ohio State’s year. [Question: Why are you penalized more for a late season lost?]

Having been at that ‘88 National Championship game when the Domers kicked the Mountaineers asses in AZ [Major Harris was a great arena football QB…]. Today is only made better by Pitt’s victory over the John Denver loving fans of WVU. Gotta love NOLA for the BCS championship. Can you say “ROAD TRIP!?!?!”

I’m sure some will write that OSU backed into this one. Well let me tell you this, D-I needs a playoff for those upset about OSU’s return from the Rose Bowl (like that’s a brides’ maid). Mizzou had their chance, but they couldn’t beat Oklahoma, not once, but twice!!

I just listened to the ABC commentator say that LSU should be in the BCS Championship. What a load of crap! LSU has been overrated all year. They can’t win the big game. [So I guess they should be in the BCS so OSU can walk all over then just like KY and AK...HA, HA!]

8:00p eastern – for the BCS selection!! Go Buckeyes!!

p.s – Shout out to Lefty and his Big Screen HD TV. The Tribe went to Lefty’s for dinner – homemade sause by POTUS and salad by Stretch. Plus two bottles of Red. Good times.

p.p.s.- Shout out to my boy Bruce Willis in A-town. BW and I worked together over a year ago, but we send random text and emails, mostly about our beloved Buckeyes. I was encouraged by his 8:15pm “Go Sooners!” email. How right he was.

BCS Nightmare

Well, one thing is for certain, Ohio State is heading to the BCS Championship! That's the good news. I was rooting for the Mountaineers of West Virginia to defeat their arch-rival (and 28 point underdog) the Pittsburgh Panthers. Unfortunately, even with the crowd (and referee's) on their side, the Mountaineers have to settle for being Big East Champions (kinda like kissing your sister, eh--insert Redneck joke here).

Now, since Oklahoma pummeled the Missouri "paper" Tigers, the question remains--who will Ohio State face in the National Championship game? We won't find out for sure until tomorrow night, but if you listen to the pundits tonight, number 7 LSU deserves to jump numbers 4-6 to make it to the National Championship game. Why you ask?

Well, number 4 Georgia lost 2 games (and didnt even win it's SEC division--much less the conference--won by LSU); number 5 Kansas is in the same boat (they didnt win the Big Twelve or their division in the Big Twelve). BUT--number 6 Virginia Tech won the ACC Championship title by defeating Boston College--and soundly at that (30-16). Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, they LOST to LSU 48-7 in the second game of their season. They also lost the Boston College in mid-October.

So, that puts Virginia Tech at 11-2 and LSU at 11-2. LSU's two losses were both in triple overtime--to Kentucky in mid-October, then to Arkansas last week.

My opinion: it should be OSU v. VTech. That's not going to happen though, i think the BCS and it's jacked up formula will put LSU to number two--and we'll be playing LSU IN New Orleans come January 7.

So much for the theory that losing late knocks you out of BCS contention.

Go Bucks