Who's that Bill? part II

Today was a bad day at Wrigley Field, both financially and on the field. But I was able to play ‘Who’s that Bill?’ and figure out what percentage of the money I bring to the park. (See previous post) Here’s what I found out.

After brining 41 (worth a total of $90) bills to the game today, I came home with 24 of the same currency, which means I kept 58% of the bills I started with. But with those 24 all being one-dollar bills, I only held onto 27% of my original $90. Having named my cash after NFL running backs, here are the 24 that never left my possession today:
Willis McGahee ($1) Julius Jones ($1)
Domanick Davis ($1) Kevin Jones ($1)
Warrick Dunn ($1) Corey Dillon ($1)
Willie Parker ($1) DeShaun Foster ($1)
Chester Taylor ($1) Joseph Addai ($1)
Tatum Bell ($1) Fred Taylor ($1)
Ron Dayne ($1) Ahman Green ($1)
Curtis Martin ($1) Mike Anderson ($1)
Dominic Rhodes ($1) Brian Westbrook ($1)
LaMont Jordan ($1) Chris Brown ($1)
Cederic Benson ($1) TJ Duckett ($1)
Marshall Faulk ($1) Deuce McAllister ($1)

I have two interesting observations on this. 1) I started with 30 singles and left with 24 of those same bills. Meaning that in perspective, I could have just braught six bucks and not had a problem. The reason I don’t do this is simple though. If my first sales all pay in one dollar bills, as they did today, then I’m good. But if the first three sales I make all buy two hot dogs each, which equals seven dollars, and they pay in Hamilton’s (tens), I have to have one’s available for change. 2) This experiment shows how valuable five dollar bills are. I lost all ten of my fives, and I probably did this within the first half-hour of work. Cinco’s, as I like to call them, are great because of their versitiltaty. You need $12 in change? Here’s two fives and a couple singles. You need $16? A ten, a five and a one will do. I value these bills because there small enough to be used in place of bigger bills, like a ten or twenty, but big enough to be given to customers who hate carrying around lots of cash in their wallets.

As for the team on the field, I’ve noticed that they have been playing better, but it is still not resulting in very many wins. In true Cubs fan fashion, my friend Brian and I were discussing baseball today when he goes, “Well, there only 14 and a half back”. To a Braves or Yankees fan, that’s the equivalent of not even fielding a team. But a Cub fan sees it as ‘If we play .800 ball for the next three months and the Cardinals slip a bit, were right in this.’ In reality thought, it’s Wait Till Next Year.

RANDOM THAUGHTS

-I like what the Bulls did in the NBA Draft, only because Paxon and Skiles didn’t do anything dumb. Ty Thomas can play, and I’ve never heard of Viktor Khryapa or Thabo Sefolosha, but supposedly they are athletic and enjoy playing physical D. I doubt any of these guys will make an impact in ’07.

-Before the rest of the Draft observations, one more thing about the Bulls. A lot of people are saying they are going to go hard after Ben Wallace. While I like Big Ben, and there’s no doubt he’s a great defensive player, I don’t think spending a bunch of our salary cap room on him is a wise decision. While he is by far the best big man available, teams tend to overpay for size, and especially with a player who will offer about as much as Luc Longley did to the offensive end, I don’t think Wallace is worth $65 mil and five years. Keep the cash, give the extensions to Hinrich, Deng, B.G. and Noch, and try and make a deal packaging Tyson, Chris Duhon and one of our future first round picks and get a big man.

-Other then the Bulls, the teams with the best drafts in my opinion were Charlotte and Minnesota. Jordan’s Bobcats took Adam Morrison and the mustache (Sounds like a band my Dad would listen to) with the number three selection. If he had put up the numbers he did at Gonzaga (28.1 points a game, 42% from three-point range) in Italy, there would be no doubt in my mind he would have gone number one. He’s everything you want out of an offensive player. He wants the ball every time down the floor, he can take you off the dribble or shoot from outside, and he’s a gym rat. Critics say he can’t play D. Considering neither does 85% of the entire league; he’ll fit in well.
The T-Wolves picked up Randy Foye, the combo guard out of Villanova. Go get yourself a tape of the ‘Nova-Boston College Sweet 16 game from a couple months back if you don’t think this guy can play. He was the only Wildcat in double figures that night, dropping 29 against a top notch Golden Eagles defense. And he was doing it in every which way. Inside, outside, from the line. Unstoppable. Still, the Cats almost lost that game, thanks in large part to BC forward Craig Smith, who also was drafted by the Wolves. A physical player, he should fit in well next to KG. Also, anybody remember where that ‘Nova-BC game was played? That’s right, Minneapolis.

-I also like, for personal reasons, what the Utah Jazz did. Dee Brown will be a good player in the NBA, because he can shoot, pass and most of all, he loves the game of basketball. With Deron Williams already there, #11 should be comfortable (on the court) already. And if there were any way he could pull of a deal for Luther Head, Jerry Sloan would be the biggest G in the entire world.

-The worst non-Knicks draft of the night goes to Seattle, who picked Saar Sene. At best, this guy will be another DeSagana Diop. And if you saw Diop play at all when he was a Cavalier, you know that’s not a compliment.

-As for soccer, I picked France at the start of the World Cup, so I’m sticking with them. Yes they have to beat Brazil and probably England just to make the final, but I trust them.

-The Boston Red Sox are by far the most fun team to watch in the Majors. They hit, they pitch, they field, and they have some entertaining players. There’s Big Papi, David Ortiz, who has become the most clutch athlete in the world. Then you have Curt Schilling, who goes on Boston message boards and talks crap about opposing teams. And then Manny. The guy who put a water bottle in his back pocket when he took the field because he knew he would get thirsty. The guy who snuck into the Green Monster during a pitching change to use the bathroom. And he’s also one of the top hitters in baseball. They need some more pitching, but the Saux look like they could win it all…again.

-As for the other shade of Sox, they will make for an interesting series this weekend at Wrigley. Three thing’s I’m looking forward to 1) Michael Barrett’s name being called during the pre-game lineup announcement 2) AJ Pierzynski’s first at bat and the BOOOOOO’s that will follow 3) The awkward Thanks for getting the media off my back by calling out Marriotti conversation between Dusty and Ozzie….Cubs win 2 of 3, and even up the season series.