Reaction to Chuckie's brutal knee injury

 Chuckie Keeton walks off Merlin Olsen Field Friday night with crutches and

a knee brace. Keeton left the game Friday night versus BYU tied 7-7, but the 

Aggies ultimatley fell, 31-14.

I don’t have words to describe the emotions that existed in my gut until the bottom dropped out and coursed throughout my being when Chuckie went down. From my vantage point it looked bad, but I had no idea it could sideline him the rest of the season.

Then I came upon the gif. I was already panicking with disbelief and now there was reason to cry. I couldn’t muster up the tears because my state of shock continued for minutes, perhaps hours.

The field general that was leading the charge to put Utah State football back on the map was taken from us on a play that showed for the second time in the game that he could run on BYU. He likely only suffered a torn ACL, but my love for the wizard I commonly referred to in texts as “my man CK” had reached unprecedented heights. Not only was I openly cheering for the Aggies to beat my childhood Cougars, I wanted this to be the night Chuckie undisputedly captured the Utah Quarterback Championship Belt.

Taysom sure as hell didn’t take it from him, but he played well. Yet I digress, because Hill is not Señor Keeton. Sr. Keeton throws touchdown passes that hit his receivers in perfect stride to the extent that they’re even often surprised a football landed in their lap.

I’ll miss you Chuckie. Get well soon is a silly sentiment to express, but my denial coma prevents me from digging into the depths of my fear to ask you to just promise us now that you’ll rehab and come back for your senior season ready to take the Beehive Boot from the jerks who think they’re better than you.

The question that will now linger like the product of bad flatulence until next year is: Is Keeton injury-prone? A neck injury ended his freshman season and now his junior season looks like it’s in the books. I would scoff at the idea and point to some of the hits (See Kyle Van Noy link below) that he took in 2012 in Provo and PLAYED THROUGH. He’s going to “rub some dirt on it (kid), and get back out there” better than ever.

Attempts to convince myself of a bright future fail at this point. *Veronica the little spoiled bitch from the chocolate factory voice* I WANT TO WATCH HIM NOW!

Travis Wilson and Taysom Hill. Taysom Hill and Travis Wilson. Wilson Travis and Hill Taysom. LiL SomTay H and Trav Wilis-Son. The possible cool names that could be created by rearranging the letters of their names are endless, but they don’t change the fact that Chuck “Kie” Etone is who they both should be looking up to.

They’re bigger and perhaps stronger. Chuckie is like He-man though, and would conquer both of their teams if it wasn’t for Skeletor (KVN) and that little puppet (or whatever the hell Orko [Andy Philips] was).

My man crush is down. We have to go on a break, according to doctors. I just hope it isn’t one of those deals where one of the partners says they’re going out for cigarettes and never comes back.

Reds playoff preview

Johnny Cueto grimaces in pain during the first 

inning of the Game 1 of the 2012 NLDS.

To say that I am nervously anticipating the National League Wild Card matchup tonight would be an understatement. Dusty Baker is essentially wagering the Reds' World Series chances on Johnny Cueto's oblique/lat/leg/brain muscles. 

After 17 seasons without a postseason series win, my anxiety is overpowering my excitement. Sure Cueto looked good in his two outings since he returned from the disabled list, but his latest 7 innings of work came against the hapless Mets, which was preceded by 5 innings facing the Houston (just in case you forgot where they play) Astros.

Cueto's line since returning is solid: 12 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 10 K but again it came versus two teams going nowhere fast. Eighteen of his outs recorded came by way of the ground ball in those two games, while 15 putouts were recorded on flyouts.

The Reds' hopes aren't only tied to Johnny's muscle stability/strength but also his ability to keep balls down in what will likely be stellar hitting conditions at PNC Park. 

I don't want to admit it but I wouldn't be surprised if we see Sam Lecure in tomorrow night's game. Johnny's 12 innings of pitching at the Major League level over the past three plus months came on 181 pitches. Even if Cueto holds up and can give 6 solid, he'll likely have a pitch count up around 100, which Dusty, considering his past, will not want to surpass by much. 

Johnny was erratic at best in his last start. He was aided by a couple of spectacular defensive plays, and walked three guys despite getting some lucky strike calls throughout the game. I am nervous, and the only thing that would settle my worries would be Jay or random player X giving JC some early run support.