The Game Guy isn’t just some modern, fly-by-night nerd who focuses only on video games and fancy gaming systems.  No sir: The Game Guy has classic nerd running through his body that been transfused by years of comic books, TSR role play gaming, and Magic: The Gathering.  Despite the satisfaction video games can bring when that competitive itch comes up, there’s something sophisticated and classy about gathering friends together around a board or card game with some brews for a night of gaming.

It dawned me after a hard-fought night of Risk with friends, that Sacramento really needs a game-friendly pub where booths can be occupied by pints and players, without the need to fight against the tools trolling to get a piece at the bar- a place where I could gather at a metaphorical hearth and smoke my metaphorical pipe with other friends (who may or may not be metaphorical).

So I ask you, dear Raggers, do you know of any game-friendly environments at the established drinkeries in our town? I don’t mean the team trivia nights, but the kind where a guy and his five friends can show up with a copy of Zombies! in tow, pint-up, and get their nerd on?

Now, I realize that there aren’t many who watch Canadian football out here.

But, family and friends of Sac State Hornet alumnus Brandon Smith might, especially during this past weekend. Smith, as a defensive back on the Calgary Stampeders, defeated the Montreal Alouettes in yesterday’s CFL championship game, and is now a 2008 Grey Cup Champion.

Congrats Brandon!

Great story about the Cristo Rey High School football team in today’s Bee. Go Saints!

Dan Meyer, Chris Denorfia

Don’t forget, the PCL Champion River Cats’ season is not over yet. Today Sacramento will play the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (cool team name!) in Oklahoma City for the unofficial AAA championship game, pitting the International League and PCL champions against each other in a one-game “Bricktown showdown.” The River Cats won this game last year, the second year it was played. Because they are the best minor league franchise EVAH.

The game will be on at 5:00 pm on ESPN2. GO CATS!!! Update: Champions!!!

As promised, our collective picks for some of the categories in this year’s Readers Choice awards. Make sure to vote online today or tomorrow. I had the date wrong last week, voting ends tomorrow. In addition to the below, we would appreciate your votes for Best blog, Best blogger (pick your favorite), and Best Sacramento Web site.

Food & Drink
Best restaurant: Maritime Seafood & Grill
Best soups: la bonne soupe
Best Thai: Thai Cottage
Best Wine Bar: 58 degrees & Holding
Best small plates: Formoli’s Bistro
Best BBQ: Big Joe’s BBQ (if you dolts vote for Texas West I’m going to come over to your house and give you a spice rub where the sun don’t shine (if you know what I mean))

Continue reading “Our picks for 2008 News & Review Readers’ Choice” »

Via zokuga, two photo blogs to check out for images from Beijing–Paul Kitagaki’s images on the Sac Bee photo blog, and former Bee photog Kevin German’s photoblog “Wandering Light.” German lives in Vietnam and does kickass photo documentaries of Southeast Asia, as I learned in the last five minutes. Here is my favorite of his so far:

Sac Bee’s Sam Amick is reporting that Kings point guard, Beno Udrih, who filed for free agency yesterday, will be staying with the Kings after all. Whew!

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run was to be held this coming weekend, and it has been cancelled for the first time in its 35 year history.  Some idiots have been calling radio shows saying that if the runners are stupid enough to go 100 miles, then what’s a little smoke?

The bottom line is that hundreds of people have invested countless hours and few thousand dollars (at least, for the locals — even more so for people coming from every corner of the world) to train for this.  I was an entrant in the race in 2006, so I know how much of an emotional, financial, and physical investment this takes.  

Continue reading “Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event” »

With the heat wave ushering in the summer ‘08 season, Sam McManis has a timely article on staying hydrated.*

Being an avid ultramarathoner on the trails, I have a lot of experience with two issues that can easily ruin a perfectly awesome day: blisters and poison oak. Here are some of my tips for making your outdoor adventures more comfortable, whether you’re a trail veteran or considering making your debut out on one of our region’s many recreational treasures.

Continue reading “RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ‘08 Edition” »

Adrian Williams-Strong

Boarding a plane at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday morning on my way home, I noticed a woman who looked a lot like Monarchs guard Kara Lawson. I dismissed it as merely the random thought of a sleep-deprived traveler (my flight the night before had been cancelled). But then she walked past me and took her place in line… next to (Sac Rag favorite) Jim “Koz” Kozimor and Coach T, Tom Abatemarco. The Monarchs were headed home after a close game win the night before over the Minnesota Lynx.

They failed to get any kind of group recognition as they filed onto the plane and sat in coach. I boarded the plane and 6′ 5″ center-forward Adrian Williams-Strong was getting herself all settled in my ticketed seat. Hers was just across the aisle so we switched it up. Go Monarchs!