Better Know an OTE "Writer": babaoreally

This is the second in a series of articles that introduce or re-introduce the "writers" of offtackleempire.com to the readers of offtackleempire.com. The first BKaOTE'W' article was written by and about MNWildcat. Check it out here. I have met MNWildcat, and he is a tall guy.

Who am I?

I grew up near a very small town in Southwestern Indiana. I enjoyed playing sports and Nintendo as a child; I played tennis and basketball in high school. I wasn't great at either one, but I did score 16 points in one half of a JV game once. I also had four fouls. That was great, but not as great as my third singles invitational tournament championship that I won in tennis. I was ahead and the guy was coming back on me, but it started raining so I got the W. I was happy to have it.

I'm a 2002 graduate of Purdue, where I studied Industrial Engineering under the late great James Barany. I happened to be just the right age to be there for all three Brees years, and a "Cowboy" Kyle Orton one. It was a crazy fun time, but I regret not going to the Rose Bowl because I was too cheap. Oh well. I'm sure I'll get another chance to go to a Purdue Rose Bowl very soon.

After school, I got a job as an engineer at a plastics factory near my hometown. A few years ago, I moved to Northeastern Indiana to work as a software tester.

How did I get here?

I started my blogging career by volunteering to join good old BT Powerhouse when it was just getting started. I soon climbed the BTP corporate ladder to co-manager position, where I wrote articles that hardly anyone read or commented on. I do remember a post where MNWildcat and I traded Luka Mirkovic pics in the comments. My crowning achievement was a dunk contest over the summer that I managed to stretch out over twelve posts. At a certain point, BTP imploded and I quit that non-paying gig. After a year or so of the site being pretty much dormant, the guys who run it now took over. They are doing a great job with it. Go check it out: btpowerhouse.com.

At OTE, I complained in the comments about MSULaxer27's terrible 1-11* Purdue prediction post, and a man named chadnudj said they would be glad to have a Purdue writer. So I sent Graham an email, and here I am. Four years later, I don't "write" as much as I used to, but it isn't a lot of fun to write about a historically bad football team that makes me sad.

* Purdue went 6-6 that year and won the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl.

What do I do for fun?

I tried curling last year, and have been obsessed with curling ever since. It is just the best. You throw some stones, sweep, complain about the ice, and then go drink a beer at the bar. The bar that is in the curling club. There aren't too many other sports in which drinking is an accepted component. If any of you is ever in the Fort Wayne area and wants to curl, let me know.

I played bass in a terrible bar band for a couple years, which was fun. Definitely not worth the effort though. I once drove an hour and a half to a gig; the heater was broken in the middle of the winter. It was like 40 degrees in there and everybody left. At least we got paid though: $46 split three ways. Good times.

What do I do that is not fun?

I watch Purdue football games.

What is the best season of The Simpsons?

Season 4. Mr. Plow, Monorail, Last Exit to Springfield, Whacking Day, Krusty Gets Kancelled, et al. I grew up on The Simposns, which is why I'm so smart and funny.

Here are a few lists of things I enjoy.

TV shows

• Homicide: Life on the Street
• Justified
• The Shield
• The Wire
• The Simpsons
• King of the Hill

Movies