I get my Master of Wine exam results at the end of next week. There are three possible results. Result 1. I passed the exam. This is not going to happen as I know many areas that were not up to par in my answers. I'm sorry, but I didn't know enough about wind impact in farming. That's on me. Result 2. I passed an area or two across three tasting exams and five essay sections. This is what I'm hoping for as I can then really focus on filling in on my shortcomings and have some confidence moving forward. That means I can try again next June. Result 3. I failed completely and am excommunicated from the program. I don't think I did that poorly, but the education committee has a well documented history of not liking how I write (i.e. not like an English University student) and depending on who graded what, you can get totally lit up. If that happens I could get booted from the program and then have to wait two years to re-apply to put myself into the meat grinder once again. Thus, not knowing what scenario I am in has me struggling to stay motivated to study fermentation chemistry details and grape farming practices in volcanic soils in the Greek Isles. I'm treading intellectual water right now and I don't like it.
On the other hand, it feels like a year ago as to when I took that exam so I'm sort of done with sweating about it. I keep forgetting that the results are coming next week until reminded by others. That exam is something "Old Greg" did. "New Greg" is doing Cowslingers practice and getting ready to harvest some grapes in France. I have a morbid curiosity as to what the result is, but I'm not waking up in the middle of the night freaking out because I can't remember what grapes are used in Sicilian wines. Whatever happens is going to happen and I'll react accordingly. Just let me know what the deal is so I can plan what I am going to do for the next 9 months. This MW quest is essentially a solo challenge with minimal tangible reward that is almost impossible to achieve, especially so if you don't reside in the waters of academia in the UK. There was one new MW named this summer, and it was a woman that is a "multi sensory flavor perception" professor at the University of Copenhagen who got a PHD from Oxford, a Bachelors in computer science at CalTech, a Masters from MIT ands was the Captain of the Oxford Blind Wine Tasting Society. By contrast, I went to Kent State, hung out with guys named Apeman/Jimmy Jazz/Bag Man, and later sold media sponsorships to Tough Man Contests and strip bars. My smarts are a bit more street than the latest MW I'd reckon, but much less useful in this application.
I will tell you this... The Oxford Blind Wine Tasting Society can zero in on a Burgundy vintage, but I'll bet they can't get you a winner on Sunday. It's time to get this season going, and I'm fresh off hitting that Dallas v Philly UNDER last night so I'm feeling good. My first step is to leap right into dangerous waters and take the Cleveland Browns +6 over Cincinnati. Look, we all agree that the Browns are not going to win a bunch of games this year. I think we can also agree that the team will be much better early in the season than late. For the next 6-7 games barring injury, Joe Flacco is going to try to be competitive and provide an example for the two shitty rookie QBs looking on before the team hands the keys to them to "see what they've got". Spoiler alert, what they've got are a couple potential backup QBs that are going to look terrible in the windy Nov/Dec portion of the schedule. There's no need to worry about that now though. This is a weekly game we are playing, and we just need the Browns to stay close. Divisional home underdogs cover these games, especially in Week 1. If it makes you nervous, chances are that it's a good bet. No guts, no glory. Cleveland +6
I have the same mindset with Atlanta at home +2.5 over Tampa. When I look at Tampa and Atlanta, I see pretty much the same team. They would both have losing records but are fortunate enough to play in the NFC South so somebody has got to win the division. Tampa got all the good breaks last year so that means it should swing Atlanta's way this year. Cousins killed Atlanta's season after he hurt his shoulder. I think he threw 4 backbreaking Q4 interceptions to lead Atlanta to losses before he got benched for Pennix last season. Pennix came in, looked at least better than Cousins did, and they won some games. Divisional game at home with Tampa having two O line injuries? Why not Atlanta? Atlanta beat Tampa twice last year with Cousins. I think they can do it again at home with Pennix and points. Atlanta +2.5
Let's go for a third... I'm on Seattle +1.5 at home vs the 49ers. The narrative on SF is they are "back" after an injury plagued 2024, and with an easy schedule will breeze back to the playoffs. Seattle dumped out on Geno for Sam Darnold, which sort of seems like saying "I traded in my Hyundai for a Kia" horizontal change, but maybe they know something we don't. They sure knew that Russell Wilson was d-u-n done before the Broncos did (though I do have some concerns that their old coach Pete Carroll brought Geno into the Raiders building ASAP). The Niners are starting the year with a bunch of injuries. All their playmakers except an increasingly rickety Kittle are out or on the injury report. McCaffrey having a calf injury before Week 1 certainly doesn't inspire confidence. I am looking for a boring Seahawks team to win a close game at home. Seattle +2.5
Here's a concept for you. Teams with new QBs and new offensive coordinators don't score a lot of points in Week 1. With this in mind, I was going to go UNDER on the Steelers v Jets game, but instead just jumped on the Jets team total. I'm getting the Steelers defense playing against Justin Fields who they practiced against all last year with his new OC calling the plays at a game at Heinz Field. As someone once wisely said, "The Jets Never Cover The Spread". Mike Tomlin needs a win out of the gate, as does Aaron Rodgers. I think they dial it up and come with 100% focus at the Jets. No better time for Jets fans to be disappointed than fresh out of the gate in Week 1. Jets Under 17.5
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