(As per request, Dono gets his flaming heart with a Halo above it because he emailed me such. Since rghan did not email me a request I assume he wanted a basic stick figure. Let that be a lesson to all of you going forward.)
Its official: Phi Slamma's First Annual Unnamed Bracket Tournament of Champions of the World is a big deal.
You know something is a big deal when it attracts controversy, rumors of cheating and shady doings, drunken angry emails to my gmail account at the wee hours of the morning demanding recounts/asking for justice/crying endlessly. Before you make assumptions it was not just from the people in the last matchup, it was from a bunch of people legitimately worried their own future matchup might be corrupted if something was not done fast.
I have no way to actually tell with my access how the voting is going down, however, I assure you people are on it. It might be the case of more people voting and a misconception of how the poll system updates itself. Being relatively tech savvy I can tell you if someone were trying to sway the polls it would take quite a bit of effort and know-how, and most likely, would be reflected in the thousands, and not dozens of votes.....
You know, that or....
(Halowood has found a way to get his revenge. Well played sir, well played.)
Reminder: Email me (mrguyofstuff2@gmail.com) ahead of time, get bonuses. What bonuses you ask? Oh, something along these lines:
All that you need to know about Dono Romantico. Born and raised in SoCal (currently residing in San Diego) Stathead I am NOT! Follow the game with my senses and believe with my heart and mind. Love keeping things light and humerous on HH. Let's all figure it out and get along.
How I became an avid Angels fan: Through fate (if you want to call it that) I was fortuneate enough to work with someone who's brother was a big league pitcher for the Mariners (Matt Young). So every time they played the Halos I was hooked up. Then it would turn out that Matt was traded to Los Doyers, so I was able to meet the players up close and personal, sit in the dugout before the games and hang with Tommy Lasorda. It also made me realize just what a crappy place Chavez latreen really is. And that most Doyer fans belong there. I was never a hater of the Doyers, but because I was fortuneate enough to get up close and personal with the Doyer players I became a bigger fan of the game of baseball. Turns out that Matt Young was traded to the A's and in 1988 was on the losing end of that year's WS against his former team. Moving to Newport Beach in '92, I started following the Halos much more closely, met one of my best friends who ended up turning me on to halos heaven, and started attending numerous Angels games.
In late 2007 ended up selling everything and moving to Costa Rica for nearly all of 2008 after going through an emotionally draining divorce. Best place I've ever lived. Nothing was better than sitting in my favorite bar on the beach in Playa Samara and watching Angels games while sipping my 23 year old rum and drinking an ice cold Imperial. As it turns out, I am back together with my ex and 2 boys and loving life!
My Personal Baseball Highlights:
1. Attending Game 1 & Game 7 of 2002 WS
2. Attending nearly every practice and spring training game in 2007 with my youngest son. Getting to speak to Arte Moreno on a personal level several times & being treated like family by nearly everyone working for the Angels that spring.
3. The day before game 1 of the 1988 WS., walking onto the warning track in Dodger Stadium and being greeted with a hello by Dennis Eckersly who was jogging by, then proceeding to sit in the visitors dugout with the Oakland A's watching Jose Conseco take b.p. while sitting next to Mark McGuire.
4. The numerous Angels games I've been able to attend with my two sons.
0 recs | 138 comments
rghan has really strengthened his candidacy with his recent string of prospect reports
I enjoy them a lot, so he gets my vote.
angelsownredsux - January 13, 2012
+1
The Don’s great, but rghan contributes so much good stuff about our prospects. All the news I get about up and comers other than Trout makes this blog twice as good as it would already be. His info has gotten me so much more interested in going and seeing the players he talks about with the 66ers or maybe see the Bees at Fresno or something.
The prospect info is the honey on this already delicious Halos Heaven biscuit.
gitchogritchoffmypetis - January 13, 2012
+1
5thStarter - January 13, 2012
Yeah but ...
rghan does that every time this year. Dono Romantico stays in all year long, in fact, some may say he stays in a little too long. rghan is the favourite here, but perhaps only just a prospect?
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Can I vote for the revised Halowood portrait
ItCouldHappen - January 13, 2012
AMerica
DAD OF VLAD - January 13, 2012
What on earth does this mean?
The Limey - January 13, 2012
I do not know.
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
It's DoV, he's on a roll - just let it go.....
mustard_man - January 15, 2012
Aw, you could have at least made rghan all ninja-like.
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
........
fine.
FINE
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
Heee!
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
Damn Girl ...
Yous gots some pull.
eyespy - January 13, 2012
I don't know why.
I like it, though.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
That is awesome
Thank you. I’m going to use that for my new avatar thingie.
rghan - January 13, 2012
Is that a sai with attached nunchucks?
Damn, that is some innovative weaponry!
Commander_Nate - January 13, 2012
Don't know about Sai-chucks?
Wow.
Welcome to 2012, bro.
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
I like the past, dammit!
Commander_Nate - January 13, 2012
Much better.
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
Seriously, I like your artwork better than the photos.
Although that one of mayhem wearing horns and not much else is pretty spectacular.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
actual intouched photo
Moondoggy - January 14, 2012
Thanks dude
It’s a work of art
rghan - January 14, 2012
I didn't know all that stuff about you, Dono.
Thanks for the great essay.
Now I’m waiting for rghan’s presentation.
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
I got a good chuckle from imagining the SBNation tech guy that was contacted re: the last vote.
HH: Yeah, we’re having some problems with the site…might have a serious problem.
Tech Support: Oh really? What’s going on?
HH: Well, we’re doing a vote on which Halos Heaven member is more popular, and one guy won by a lot. We think someone cheated.
Tech support:
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
Working on it
not
DAD OF VLAD - January 13, 2012
Both of these GIF's made me laugh out loud
LanaBanana - January 13, 2012
for a second I thought that was Prince
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
Or
the email he got shortly before
Rev: Hey, a super important tech question for you
Tech: Sounds like a big deal, whats up
Rev: We are in need of making one poster’s posts different from others for exactly one year.
Tech: Which poster
Rev: We do not know yet
Tech: Stand out how?
Rev: We were thinking deep lilac purple with shades of opal, a touch of animated sparkles around the border….. not too much, dont want to overdo it, and if possible an animated .gif in the corner with Tim Tebow with a panda head “tebowing” at rapid pace. We had more ideas but we dont want to waste your time.
Tech: ….this isn’t a joke is it?
Rev: Remember the panda head part.
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
quit messing with the IT
DAD OF VLAD - January 13, 2012
I'm friends with the IT guys at work
Those guys are the masters of messin’ around. They probably enjoy challenges like this.
Commander_Nate - January 13, 2012
Oh no!
Can’t sleep; clowns will eat me.
opiejeanne - January 13, 2012
Then you should look for a good book
eyespy - January 14, 2012
Reading Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Going to see it on Tuesday afternoon, if we can get through all the snow. We have our first big cold storm rolling in tomorrow, going to get enough snow to close the schools and jam up the freeways, i.e., about 2 inches.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Tuesday is the Old People discount day.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Got your fake I.D. for xMas?
eyespy - January 14, 2012
I'm 61 and my hair is nearly white.
They don’t know I’m still a teenager inside, though.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Two things against DONO....
Pretty sure he changed his handle back in 2008. Which is just weak all around.
Dude doesn’t post that much anymore…especially compared to Rghan who has twins, teaches public school and still has time to throw down some in-depth scouting exclusively for HH.
BOOM.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 13, 2012
should have added:
formerly known as Rex Dakine Budler. Come to think of it, I don’t really know why I changed my name. Oh well.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
You remove a "Gh" and replace with a "Y"
And you get Ryan.
Not sure if this is a good or bad thing, even though I’m pretty sure Mr Ghan’s given name is Ryan.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
This is true
It’s got to be the most unoriginal handle out there
rghan - January 14, 2012
Dono Romantico sounds straight Jersey. So minus one.
The idea of living in Costa Rica w/ access to Angels games in veyr intriguing though, so plus something.
NathanielS - January 13, 2012
Jersey
yawn. but funny!
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
What's that about your lawn?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 13, 2012
condominium living has taken away my lawn.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
Yeah but chicks did that.
Hell with the lawn, if you got a jacuzzi and an indoor apartment, you’re golden dude.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Well, I do actually work on click spam, among other things, at the big G.
And some cad did actually “vote” 50+ times for Highland in the last poll. (I can demonstrate how it’s done if you want to mock trial at some point).
But I’m happy to fall on my sword for the old Brit, having learned of his long tenure in Halo fandom.
And in any case, I would have unilaterally surrendered to Mr. Ghan in the next bracket, as he is my HH community icon.
My vote goes to him — he’s almost too sane for this place, but I think he’s the best feature on this site.
Turks Teeth - January 13, 2012
This tournament is going to rip Halos Heaven apart.
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
I don't know if that knowledge makes me feel better
or like crap.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
i am looking into it
tech support wise as noted above
Rev Halofan - January 13, 2012
I don't know how you could stop it, but one thing I thought of was keep voting open for only so long.
The last vote was over two days long…lots of time for multiple shenanigans to go down.
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
couldn't we just limit the voting to
the thread only and forget with the polls. No longer anonymous but this is all in good fun anyway, don’t think there would be many hurt feelings.
MH252525 - January 15, 2012
Heck, a lot of people told me exactly why they weren't voting for me.
I can’t imagine anyone more techy than I am, and I wasn’t too bothered.
opiejeanne - January 15, 2012
Don't even bother, Rev.
Any kid with an anonymized browser can open ten tabs, vote ten times, close them, reopen and do it again — and you’ll never track the IP. Hell, you could do it with Photon on an iPad. And that’s not talking out of shop — no coding necessary.
The final vote isn’t a big deal — it ain’t worth debugging. I think this is more about shittalking and backslapping — it gives Phislamma a wicked project and this site can never have enough Helen Keller Paintshop.
Onward!
Turks Teeth - January 13, 2012
So there is a reason for all of this
eyespy - January 13, 2012
"Helen Keller Paintshop"
You know what…. I…… how da-….I just……
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
You da man wida memes, Phi.
That dude’s toothsome.
Turks Teeth - January 13, 2012
He gets around
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
Hostility abounds?
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Haters gonna hate
Mayheminthehood - January 14, 2012
Did you do the animation?
Or did you find it like this?
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Right on Turks!
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
That's awfully nice of you.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Haha! show me how to vote for myself 50 times so I can lose by a respectable number.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
I would like to know which cad
As I had no part of it (laptop and mobile phone both being down). I apologise if there seems any sense of corruption on my part.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Not at all, HH.
You’re a gent. Never suspected otherwise.
Turks Teeth - January 13, 2012
I said yesterday when we were noticing the odd surges in votes
that I wouldn’t expect it from any of the principals, more likely it’s some idjut being funny.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Indeed myself as well
I did not know that some thingy voted for me 50+ times. Honestly, I barely have a laptop that works, a mobile phone that barely works, and almost no friends. But I do have a lovely wife, although I wouldn’t think she’d be behind any vote rigging.
If Indeed I gained my spot through some unknown vote-rigging thingy I will gladly give it up. As I said in the prelude to the whole tournament, I don’t really give a shit.
Except about the Angels. GO HALOS!
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Same sentiment, my man.
I was just enjoying the late night Iowa-style horserace. There were perhaps five votes between us all day, with votes trickling in at the rate of about five an hour.
Then suddenly, one browser refresh later and 55 votes went to the distinguished Londoner, and I gave a wolf whistle. I met my match.
I think in hindsight, it would have been impossible to predict a victor. So tie goes to the longer lived. I bow to the highland mage.
Turks Teeth - January 13, 2012
I think the polling system is POSSESSED!
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
How didn't you win again?
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
Had to have been voter fraud.
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
Because people love my charming and witty personality.
That’s OK. I’m going to get clobbered by WiHaloFan.
red floyd - January 13, 2012
I was just happy to be nominated.
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
I was surprised to see I was in this thing.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
You missed the highly sophisticated thread in which we carefully decided,
using advanced blogger sabermetrics, who gets in and who gets left out.
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
That's your idea of sophistication?
I’d hate to see your idea of lowbrow!!!
red floyd - January 13, 2012
rocket scientist!
Moondoggy - January 13, 2012
Now that I learned a new trick from TT
Maybe. Maybe Not
eyespy - January 13, 2012
Just keep that junk out of my face dude
Like the first time :)
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Oh GOD NO!!! No not again
Mayhem’s low-hanging junk.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
what about votes by rec?
can you beat that system?
DAD OF VLAD - January 13, 2012
You could do vote by comment
People who just be like "Phi has my vote’ in the comments.
Would be a total pain in the ass to tally, however.
PhiSlamma - January 13, 2012
tooo many loose ends.
My vote goes the first guy
ItCouldHappen - January 13, 2012
Maybe we could vote by sending money to Stirrups.
Stirrups - January 13, 2012
That there is a good idea ...
Hey wait a minute. But to where?
eyespy - January 13, 2012
Yawn....
No wait, I’m voting for rghan. His minor-league reports are Panther.
angelslogic - January 13, 2012
Pujols Dons Halo
that’s short for Dono Romantico. nuff said! Yawn….thank me later.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
LOL BONERS ARE HILARIOUS!!!!
red floyd - January 13, 2012
LoL
eyespy - January 13, 2012
Are they?
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Apparently
LanaBanana - January 14, 2012
Quite hilarious
It is the new fad around here
ryanfea - January 14, 2012
Not everyone feels that way
eyespy - January 14, 2012
I voted Dono
Because his essay was better than most of those written by local politicians in the voters guide. You know, the ones where every other word is in bold. And rghan didn’t even write one.
Rally Manatee - January 13, 2012
Rghan's would have been two pages long
articulate, informative and prolly not that funny.
Dono is a guilty pleasure and I smile (most of the time ) when he posts on the gamethreads. He’s like that friend that is the amusing sidekick, the Pat Buttram to the Gene Autry. No one takes him seriously, but he makes me laugh with his quips.
Plus Dono is passionate about baseball and the Angels. He coaches little league, and I know many of you have done and/or do this (or have had fathers who have done so). It is a labor of love that is an enormous task and pain in the ass. So while according rghan all the rtespect he deserves for the prospect updates, I’m casting my futile vote for Mr. Romantico.
Moondoggy - January 13, 2012
hehehehe Butt-ram
ItCouldHappen - January 13, 2012
Are you Beavis or Butthead?
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
a guilty pleasure eh? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrracias!
I shall drink an Imperial in honor of your vote and kind words amigo.
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
"I don't always drink beer"
aww shit, yes I do and if I run out of Imperial, whatever’s in the fridge will do."
—Dono Romantico
Moondoggy - January 13, 2012
since I've moved to SD, I've been enjoying the local craft beer scene
but Imperial is my favorite because it brings back such vivid memories and is quite tasty too!
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
favorite SD craft breweries
Ballast Point
Mother Earth
Coronado Brewing Co
Port Brewing (gotta love Pizza Port)
Green Flash
Hess
Iron Fist (Vista)
Alesmith
Lost Abbey
Lightning
Dono Romantico - January 13, 2012
SD has an unhealthy obsession with IPAs
cant wait for that trend to end.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - January 13, 2012
Wow
This earns you some points brutha.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Spent 2 1/2 months in Costa Rica in 2002
I had to go with the Heineken as the imperial and that other Costa Rica brew just didn’t cut it with me, gave me a headache for some reason.
steelgolf - January 14, 2012
for whatever reason I was able to acquire a taste for the local brews of Costa Rica
Pilsen is actually better than Imperial.
Dono Romantico - January 14, 2012
I got a whole lot of good waves
but both of those Costa Rica brews were brutal on me, the Heineken and whatever else i found were fine for me. I spent the majority of my time down at Pavones by the Panama border on the pacific coast. $7.00 per night cabinha, $1.25 per meal (beer extra).
steelgolf - January 14, 2012
I've spent some time in pavones myself
Longest wave I’ve ever ridden, legs were dead after 100 yards but the wave just kept going.
2pintsofbooze - January 14, 2012
Yep, great place to surf
I would ride all the way into the final bay past the restaurant bar and hike back up the beach and paddle out again. Every 5 or 6 waves I would stop and get bite and maybe a beer and start all over again. Stayed at a ranch owned by a guy named Romane a little further south right at the Panama border on the beach.
steelgolf - January 15, 2012
That sounds like me ...
and i went through … :) Mind you rghan’s prospect reports are mind-blowing and I always look forward to the next installment. Tough call. However, I rate Jean Segura higher than rghan, therefore my vote goes to Muchacho Romantico.
highlandhalo - January 13, 2012
Gracias amigo.
Looks like I’m getting my ass kicked in the voting department. Yawn.
Dono Romantico - January 14, 2012
UNDER
STATEMENT
Moondoggy - January 14, 2012
I can't wait for...
A representative of the Black Panther Party, claiming fraud, and show up at Mayhem’s abode and this happens…
cupie - January 13, 2012
Ah, shit. You mean I'll have the Black Panthers after me...again?
Mayheminthehood - January 13, 2012
Is this mayhem?
What is it about him and not wearing clothing?
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
I don't know...good question. It started when I went to college in Humboldt. Drunken parties on miles of isolated beaches would always lead to people going for a naked swim around 3 or 4am.
It was a combination of two discoveries:
1. Getting drunk and skinny dipping(or at least down to your skivvies) is awesome. But spontaneity is key.
2. Doing whatever you think sounds fun, and really not giving a shit what anyone says, is also fun.
When I left school and came back here, if there was a party at a place with a pool you can be sure I was getting in that thing. Sometimes other people followed suit. Sometimes I was the lone madman in the water, wearing nothing but boxer briefs and floating on a childrens inflatable, yelling at my friends to throw me my bottle of Seagrams.
Doing that enough times, your shame slips away and it becomes not only a test in one’s hedonistic envelope, but you also just sort of wanna blow people’s minds, like seeing two Hells Angels making out or Soy Bomb’s little soy bean dodging in on Dylan.
I’m not sure if I’ll be so adverse to partying clothed in the future, but at least I’ll have the memories. Living on the internet and the chests of purveyors of fine t-shirts, via Halos Heaven. Forever.
Mayheminthehood - January 14, 2012
This comment needs to be a tattoo....
mattwelch - January 14, 2012
Proud to be beside you, man
Moondoggy - January 14, 2012
Good times
LanaBanana - January 14, 2012
I get it.
But skinnydipping in Humboldt? BRRRRRR!!!!
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
Liquid thermals aka booze.
Mayheminthehood - January 14, 2012
I don't think I've ever been drunk enough.
opiejeanne - January 14, 2012
you really should start drinking gain
2pintsofbooze - January 14, 2012
this was directed at mayhem
2pintsofbooze - January 14, 2012
The world's probably a better place if I don't.
I’m abstaining for the future of mankind.
Mayheminthehood - January 14, 2012
I dunno man
these pictures that keep popping up are pretty amazing. I’m assuming these won’t continue being made now that you’ve gone dry. Hopefully you’ve got many more stashed away in a safe place.
2pintsofbooze - January 14, 2012
Dry ≠ Boring
Although it increases the amount of awake in public time that one is clothed.
Rev Halofan - January 14, 2012
not saying he's now boring, just that he may not be as photogenic
2pintsofbooze - January 14, 2012
Were you turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
When you travelled time
For the future of mankind?
red floyd - January 14, 2012
Vote rghan!
Think actual baseball-content contribution and the answer will come to you…
LAASurfin - January 13, 2012
Dono has 16 sb nation screen names.
RexTookMyStash - January 14, 2012
15
I voted for him
Moondoggy - January 14, 2012
So I may still be the deciding vote here
eyespy - January 14, 2012
haha!
Dono Romantico - January 15, 2012
Massive Defeat
DAD OF VLAD - January 14, 2012
I appreciate both posters
I’ve always been a sucker for minor league info. Rghan gets my vote, plus us teachers have to stick together ;)
MH252525 - January 15, 2012
That would be "we teachers." :p
angelslogic - January 15, 2012
good thing I teach math then huh lolz
MH252525 - January 15, 2012
SWEET 16 !
Yes
Dono Romantico - January 15, 2012
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