94 Sports

Thursday Thirteen III

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:40:00 +0000

This edition of the TT13 is a barely sports related topic. Thirteen good reasons it must be good to be Jimmy Johnson (former NCAA and NFL coach). In no particular order.

1. Being Rich - yes state the obvious huh.
2. Won 2 NFL Superbowls
3. Won a NCAA Championship
4. Lives in the Florida Keys - that has to be pretty darn not too bad.
5. Owns a Yacht - who wouldn't want one, even Elmer J. Fudd had one.
6. Pulled off the Herschel Walker trade - most one-sided trade ever.
7. Is a football analyst on FOX - and can say just about anything and who cares if he is wrong.
8. Football genius credibilty - Three championships will give that to you.
9. Man Law commercials - who wouldn't want to say Duh Umb to Burt Reynolds.
10. Went to high school with Janis Joplin - there has to be a good story or two there.
11. Gets free burgers at Bob's Big Boy - yum.
12. Motivational Speaker - has to be an easy high paying gig.
13. IQ of 162 - well sure.

So there it is, maybe not the best of lists but a list nonetheless. Enjoy!

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Thursday Thirteen II

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 07:13:00 +0000

In this second TT13 I got the idea from a couple of coworkers of mine who were discussing their favorite NFL quarterbacks they have seen play. My list is not based on what kind of men they were or are or even how good of quarterbacks they might have been but just who I have enjoyed watching play the most.

1. John Elway - Broncos - just the way he would pull out come from behind wins and seemed to always have that smile on his face reminding us all it was truly a game.

2. Jim Kelly - Buffalo Bills - yes the qb of my favorite team during their hayday but such a competitor and threw a great long ball.

3. Joe Montana - San Francisco 49ers - the best surgical quarterback ever, the precision in which he would execute that offense was almost artistic.

4. Dan Mario - Miami Dolphins - threw it all the time even when defenses knew he had to and such a quick release.

5. Brett Favre - Green Bay Packers - yes you just gotta love the gunslinger mentality and had that just awesome Monday Night game versus the Raiders.

6. Randall Cunningham - Philadelphia Eagles - the first real scrambling qb in the league, makes the list alone on that move against the Giants.

7. Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts - the closest thing to Montana since Montana in my opinion.

8. Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles - makes the list almost just with the smile and how it reminds you how this really is a game.

9. Steve Young - San Francisco 49ers - ran that true West Coast offense but threw in those runs as well, seemed to just be so grateful to have is shot after all those years as a backup.

10. Tom Brady - New England Patriots - just simply seems like your average guy or the soft spoken western hero.

11. Dave Krieg - Seattle Seahawks - strangest qb on my list I know especially with all those fumbles but he just seemed to have to out work and hustle everyone, I admired that.

12. Joe Theismann - Washington Redskins - hard not to like his moxie even though I was never a fan of his team.

13. Jake Delhomme - Carolina Panthers - enjoy is his fire and like how he has made the most out of his opportunity and seems like you could just walk up and talk to him.

So there is my list which I am sure any sports fan will have some agreement and some beef with. Feel free to let me know about either and share with us who was your favorite QB to watch ever.

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Thursday Thirteen I

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:17:00 +0000

This inaugural TT13 will be about 13 things that bug me about the fight that happened between the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida International Golden Panthers, and the subsequent media coverage about said fight.

1. The fight itself. Yes football is a violent sport and even the best of men can allow their emotions to get out of control but it is regrettable when it escalates to the level it did.

2. Players kicking other players who were on the ground. This is not defending your teammates, this is assault. Pull someone off your teammate, restrain them but don't kick a player when he is down even if he has on a helmet and pads. Two FIU players were kicked off the team for contribution to this.

3. Swinging a helmet at another player. Same as above. Anthony Reddick was suspended indefinitely by Larry Coker for this.

4. Don't act all shocked all you media types out there. Many of the analysts are former players and they know how emotional players can get. Acting shocked that a fight happened in football is just ridiculous pandering to those viewers you feel want you to be shocked.

5. Dogpiling on Miami. All of a sudden said analysts are all in full Hurricane bashing mode. Like I said you all come across as acting like you deplore Miami because you are supposed to. What happened to looking at the situation even handedly?

6. Where is the talk or outrage about FIU? I know the University of Miami is the more well known program but isn't there anyone out there that wants to talk about the other combatants in this fight. It all seems more rating driven than objectively looking at the story driven.

7. Bringing up the stomping on the logo at Louisville as a relation to this fight. I have seen other teams meet in the center of the field in warmups several other times, why some Louisville players took offense to this is beyond me. I guess they just needed more of a reason to be mad at Miami. ( Can't fault them though cause they did beat Miami )

8. Craig James saying all of America is rooting for Duke. Seriously that just plain stupid. Most of America knows absolutely nothing about Duke's football program. Many might only think they compete in Basketball. That is taking the severely easy "root for the underdog" approach. Where is the analysis there? Also if you were really wanting to root against those suspended Miami players then root for them this week when they are back actually playing for Miami.

9. Saying the suspensions are conveniently placed against lowly Duke. Suspensions always happen right after the fact. It is common discipline practice. You don't ground your child a month after they do something wrong do you? It wasn't like those players thought let's fight FIU so we will only miss the Duke game. They lost their cool and deserved to miss the next game or more no matter who they were up against.

10. Saying Miami should forfeit a bowl game. Many fights have happened over the years in football some I sure more severe than this one. Forfeiting a bowl game I feel is too harsh a punishment and just an easy knee jerk reaction. What about FIU? Should they have to forfeit the first bowl game they might make even if it is years from now? I don't think so. Bowl games should only be forfeit for serious, premeditated rules violations knowingly broken by the current coaching staff.

11. All the talk about U of Miami president Donna Shalala. This is an athletic happening. How come we are not hearing about athletic director Paul Dee? Shouldn't things follow that chain of command? I understand everything falls under the president's eye but I feel Donna Shalala is being brought up more because she is a known name having served in Clinton's cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services more than for her true role in this story. Once again no talk about her FIU counterpart Mitch Maidique.

12. The unprofessional comments of commentator Lamar Thomas. I know he is a Hurricane alum and all but talking about wanting to go down the elevator and join the fray is just plain unprofessional. He was fired for this and I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing if I was his boss. It may seem knee jerk yes but commentators just have to hold themselves to a higher standard.

13. Looking a gift horse in the mouth. All this media coverage is so slanted at bashing Miami, yet the talk goes on and on (yes I am guilty too). However I say all of this to point out how you have to know that they all love having this topic to discuss. I feel if you are going to discuss something like this and benefit from it you should have at least some part of your on air staff looking at things objectively in a real journalistic manner than just playing the role of trying act shocked and disgusted at Miami. Remember it took two teams to fight and the first blow was thrown by FIU. Also lost in all this is the suspensions that FIU did hand down. They kicked two players off the team and suspended 16 others indefinitely. Where is the coverage on this even if it slants it to praise them for handing out harsher punishments than Miami?

While it may seem I might be pro-Miami I am not. I have no allegiance or rooting interest in them other than I have one good friend who is a big fan. I just dislike seeing more and more one-sided looks at the situations that happen in sports. Since when did sports become politics? Just my two cents.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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something cool

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:28:00 +0000

I just happened to catch the celebration as the Detroit Tigers baseball club closed out the New York Yankees in the ALDS here in 2006. To see the players come back out of the clubhouse, champagne bottles in hand, and share the celebration with the fans, to spray them with that cherished of things as series winning alcohol was if I may say bluntly pretty damn cool.

It was so refreshing to see the players just be human. The connected with their fellow humans who all had come together in one common cause. Sure it is just sports but in those moments all those people in that stadium were a part of something greater than just themeselves. How many times in our lives to we really get to feel part of something like that? I know we all yearn for that. It is a universal human truth.

I am sure religous fellows might point to their beliefs and practices. I understand that when done from a unjudgemental place this is indeed greater than any celebration a sport can give us. However with as cluttered as most of us are, as burdened and biased our lives become sometimes sport is how we can get that feeling if only in a very small portion.

In Detroit they got even more than they bargained for, more than they hoped because a group of men paid so much to play just a game decided in a moment to not be anything more than happy human beings wanting to share their happiness with as many other humans as they could.

Just simply something cool.

PS... I have neglected this area of writing to long, I will endevor to not do so again.

Crazy times

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 03:52:00 +0000

I would like to have written all my thoughts now about the Houston Astros winning the NLCS and making it to their first World Series ever and also about games one and two and how good they were even if now they are down 0-2 and headed back to Houston.

However life comes first sometimes. Promises have to be kept. Not only to others but to myself. These are all good responsibilites. A job I enjoy and am thankful that I do so. Family that I love. Friends that I care about deeply. Teamates of my own that thankfully I did not let down this weekend as they did not let down me. Yeah its Kickball and you might scoff but it is still a team. It is still a group of people striving towards a common goal. We strove and we succeeded and I am so very thankful for that, just as I know all those in the Astros' clubhouse feel the same way about all their wins and losses. From 15-30 to the World Series and even possibly a championship. It isn't over till its over. I say that if its up 3-1 with two out in the NLCS and even if its down 0-2 in the World Series.

More details to follow just about everything cause now I have to prepare for my promise to friends and especially to myself, a much needed first trip ever to Las Vegas. 34 years is much too long to have waited I think and thankfully to three good friends of mine I won't make it to 35 years of waiting.

Life happens quickly.. so keep your eyes open.

We all enjoy being a part of something greater than ourselves. That's powerful I think.

Go ASTROS! Get'em in Houston boys!

a moment please

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 04:37:00 +0000

too hard to write about game five right after it happened
too blubbery to write about game six right after it happened

almost never thought I would see the Astros in the World Series
now I do

much more tomorrow
when I can collect all my thoughts and emotions

Congrats Guys!

Enjoy the moment completely

Games Three and Four

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 05:09:00 +0000

A two for one here as I finally sit down to let my thoughts land upon the page.

Game of inches is the running theme here. So cliche but so true. Two Astro wins in Houston. Same as last year. The difference is that they took game two in St. Louis where they lost last year. So now it comes down to can they sweep the three games in Houston just as last year or do they once again go back to St. Louis just needing one of two. A daunting task no matter how the injuries are plaguing this Cardinal team.

Game Three I sat down and watched every pitch. Made the time for it. The moment that sticks out to me of it all was the ball hit to Lamb that he had to dive for and guess on where the hop would be since the runner on first was sheilding him from a clear view. That ball bounced off his glove into shallow center field where Biggio chased it down. I thought there could be today's inch. I really did. I went back to my thinking that the Astros need 5 runs to win. Five runs a game. Not sure why I am stuck on that number but I am. I guess subconciously its one run more than a grand slam. Would seem fitting for someone like Pujols to hit one in this series. He is just that good.

Speaking of Albert Pujols the stat where he has come to bat more than half of the time to lead off the inning is huge. The Cardinals are missing having their biggest RBI guy batting more than half of the time with any chance of driving in more than himself. I think this has given the Astro pitchers that slight bit of confidence in pitching to him. Just slightly cause who would have much confidence pitching to Pujols.

You have to be confident when Lidge comes up against the Cardinals these days, don't you? I mean look how the announcers keep talking about his scoreless innings pitched streak. Every time they do I cringe like they are just about to jinx the kicker like they always seem to do in football. Being up 4-2 in the ninth of game three I kept thinking I would have liked to have that fifth run. When the Cardinals put their third run I was indeed nervous. I am from the camp that firmly believes its not over till its over. Luckily Lidge did what he does so well and saved the game and the Astros now were up 2-1 in the series.

Now to game four. The first game of this NLCS that I did not permit myself to watch. I had to get some work done. Sometimes life does take priority over sport. So as I worked I had the game up on MLB.com. Checking back to it periodically. 0-0 through 3. 1-1 after 4. Both teams pitching out of some jams. Now the 7th and LaRussa gets ejected and the Astros plate a second run. I am happy for the run but nervous cause it is so close. Gallo, Qualls and Wheeler pitch the Astros into the 9th and the score is still 2-1. Lidge time again. I kept thinking one run maybe not enough cause the Cardinals know they got to him for one run last night. He has to be just that little bit better. Just a little.

Suddenly its first and third with no outs and I am trying to work as if I keep doing so I will earn some little bit of karma or something. Eyes to matching up orders, back to the computer screen, back to orders, back to computer. My leg even starts a nervous shaking. Ahh the joys of being a fan. Then on the screen with Sanders hitting it says ball in play, out(s) recorded. It seemed like it stayed that way for so long. Did Pujols get home? Did they possibly get him out or keep him held at third? Oh I can't take it!!

Finally it says Pujols out at home, by inches and its still first and third but now one out. Larry Walker on third, Reggie Sanders on first and John Mabry up to bat. I kept thinking double play, double play, double play. I probably was chanting it. Luckily I was the only one at work. Again the ball in play, out(s) recorded shows up on the screen after a called strike and a swinging strike. No more looking at work. Eyes fixed upon the screen and hands clinched.

DOUBLE PLAY!

Game over. WOW!

Yes I must admit I did a happy dance. Once again no one around to see luckily. Something about not actually watching the game had me even more keyed up. I am not sure why. I guess watching my beloved Buffalo Bills loose 4 Superbowls gives me more pause when I watch my teams. However get me just checking the scores online or via radio and I am much more a wreck. Odd indeed.

I calmed down after a short bit. I did not want to over celebrate. After all its just a 3-1 series lead. Its not over till its over. The Astros have won three straight, so who is to say the Cardinals cannot repeat the favor. Also the Astros were just one win away last season being up 3-2. Something about having that one more game, that one more chance makes me feel more hopefull and gets me excited. We'll see won't we.

And we will see if Mama Clemens talk about the White Sox on her last day on earth will be prophetic or not. Just don't tell me who she saw winning.. I don't want to know. It would take all the craziness of being a fan and right now I am quite enjoying it.

See you boys Monday. Good Luck and Go ASTROS!!!!!

Game Two 2005 NLCS

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:55:00 +0000

Good bounce back game for the Astros tonight. As expected another quality pitchers duel. Oswalt and Mulder both looked strong. That being said I was still not sitting back all comfy with a 4-1 lead late and Brad Lidge on the mound. I know his numbers against the Cardinals and in the past two postseasons. Flat out amazing. However thats why they play the games and I respect the Cardinals too much to think anything is over till its over.

I clap and have my reserved little celebration after the last out. Going back to Houston with a split is a good thing but not even close to the end of the series. The Cardinals could easily get a couple of breaks and take three straight. I would be surprised though if the series does not return to St. Louis with either team sweeping three straight.

Sure I remember last year. Those three amazing games in Houston with all the heroics to come from 0-2 down to lead the series 3-2. I didn't think last season they were a lock for the World Series then and I will not think so this year till they can put the final out on a series clinching win. Cliche yes but its not over till its over.

I just hope for at worst for the series to once again go back to St. Louis with the Astros up 3-2 because that will mean just like last season that they have a chance.

Keep it up boys. Play hard and have fun.

Finally some words about those Astros

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 03:46:00 +0000

Yes it has taken me a while to get to sit down here and type out my thoughts of this years Astro team and their endeavor at the playoffs. Now however is the time so here it goes.

15-30
After a loss to the Cubs on Tuesday May 24th this was the record of the Houston Astros.
No more Carlos Beltran. No more Jeff Kent. Lance Berkman recovering from offseason surgery and Jeff Bagwell with his deteriorating shoulder. Three rookies playing in the outfield. Things were bleak.

Who knew they would make the playoffs by playing well down the streach and holding off the likes of the Marlins and Phillies. Pretty amazing at first glance, but not really. This team has resolve. They keep at it trying their best. The do not give up.

This is instilled by several people in that clubhouse but my favorite and my opinion the key is one mister Craig Biggio. Selfless. Always giving the team what it needs no matter what position he has to play. Catcher. Second Base. Outfield. Now this season back to Second Base. Personally I like him back there even though the Astros definitely miss Jeff Kent's bat.

Now they clinch the wildcard for the second straight year and travel to face the Braves again. Since they have faced the Braves everytime but once in the playoffs since I became a fan of the Astros I was a little bummed. I felt maybe last year was the team's lucky break against the Braves but could they win in consecutive years? I was nervous even with Pettitte, Oswalt and Clemens all healthy. I know all to well how one bounce of the ball here or there can make all the difference.

Flash forward to game four with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Brad Ausmus hits a shot I knew would be close but I did not think it would be quite close enough. I saw Andruw Jones running but I thought he would be just a step short and Brad would end up with a double and keep hopes alive for one more batter. A game of inches it is as he hit it just a fraction above the yellow line for a game tying home run. Wow! A game five to come in Atlanta or not I was thrilled to see that the Astros once again never gave up.

I had no idea 9 more innings were to follow. I had no idea Roger Clemens would come out of the bullpen in releif for only the second time in his career (never knew he did the first time in 1984) and pitch three solid innings to give unlikely hero Chris Burke a chance to end the series with one swing of the bat. I never liked the Crawford boxes at Minute Maid more than I did at that moment.

Its amazing to watch almost six straight hours of one baseball game. It was really the first time all year that I was able to sit down and watch every pitch. Wow. What a time to make the time to do so. Life gets so busy or more to the point is so busy. All the time in fact. Some of it is good some of it is mundane but it is all busy just the same. Sitting down to watch all of that epic battle where neither team, the Astros or Braves, just did not want to let this one slip through their fingers was a pure selfish joy for me.

Last season getting to see the Astros win a playoff series finally and then take the Cardinals to 7 games was awesome. It helped remind me why I became a fan in the first place. Reading Bill Simmons and all his writings about his beloved Red Sox reminded me too. Part of it makes me sad that I am not in Houston to have fellow fans to talk with about the Astros all the time like Bill does with his friends about the Red Sox.

I feel that is why sports talk is so good to a lot of us men out there. Tuning into your favorite show makes you feel like you are with those friends, talking up the game. It is hard to remember at times that the voices you hear everyday are indeed really not your friends, that they don't know you as you do them. I respect those on air personalities for putting themselves in the position for us normal guys to forget this at times.

So now I have written this after watching game one of the 2005 NLCS. A 5-3 loss for the Astros tonight to the might tough Cardinals. It will take some magic like last year to win this year too, because even with the likes of Pettitte, Oswalt and Clemens the bats will still have to find a way to generate in my opinion an average of at least 5 runs per game. Tonight they fell a couple short. Maybe one less pitch to Reggie Sanders. Maybe one less ground ball hit right at an infielder. Remember a game of inches. Hopefully tomorrow the Astros will get a lucky bounce.

Every now and then remember to break from the busy and hecticness of life to take in a game and let life slow down to enjoy it before moments like game 4 of the NLDS might pass before your closed eyes.

Miami vs. Florida State

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 05:03:00 +0000

What is with this rivalry that just kills kickers?

Seriously these two teams can recruit arguably the best athletes and football players in the country. So why do their kickers continually come up short?

It is really baffling to me. They even look calm, even after missing kick after kick but they still come up empty.

One would think the coaching staffs would stop trying field goals in this game. Just go for it every time.

What an amazing drive by Miami late in that game to get down to the two yard line only to have the kick blocked. I could just sense it happening. It makes me wonder if the coaches ever feel that way but decide they can't show any lack of support due to a gut feeling. I can understand how it would be hard.

One last note about this game, and all the ones I have seen before between these two teams. Don't they seem to just last forever? I swear it felt like 5 hours or more. Interesting.

Long Live WAKA

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 04:55:00 +0000

KICKBALL RULES

Astros V Nationals

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 04:39:00 +0000

Good to see the Astros take 2 of 3 vs the Nationals.
They need to play like this versus every other wild card contender.

I figure the Astros need to be at least 92-70 to have a shot at the wildcard.
A little over a .600 clip will get them there so winning 2 of 3 for each series would put them there.

It always sounds simlple.. "just take 2 of 3", but it works.
Here is hoping the Astros keep making it work.

Good Luck Guys!

Its been too long

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 04:52:00 +0000

Yes.. too long since my last blog.
What can I say, habits are hard to form and keep going.
Especially good ones.

Started running, stopped running.
Started kickball.
Started tennis.

Re-started blogging.

Wish me luck

By the way... sure didn't see this Astros run in May. More on it later.

Bledsoe - Bill to Cowboy

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 04:55:00 +0000

The Dallas Cowboys have their new QB. One mister Drew Bledsoe.

Do you think Cowboy fans are excited? Should they be?

It is amazing that in the world of sports you can get paid millions of dollars to lead a team and by most accounts to be ok. Sure how many teams these days have really great quarterbacks? Five maybe Ten? That sure does not leave much for the rest of the 22 teams out there does it. Looking at the Cowboy's options did they really have much of a choice to not go after Bledsoe, by most accounts the pick of the runty litter.

I see only two reasons why they would not have done this.
1. Drew Henson is the real deal and lets hand the reigns over to him. Guess that is a no.
2. We are going to trade up and get Aaron Rodgers or Alex Smith. Imagine the PR nightmare if they did that. Sure it might be truly the best move out there but there is no way they were going to do that.

There also was a third option.. Let Drew Henson take his lumps and also switch to the 3-4 and position ourselves for Matt Lineart next year. I know.. Too far fetched.

So the Cowboys willingly took Drew Bledsoe off the Free Agent market. Smart move by the way not trading for him. As a Bills fan I would have loved that but knew it would not happen. Who else would have offered up anything? Cleveland? Please after the Garcia thing I don't think they are going after the seasoned veteran.

(Side note on Cleveland, just a hunch but I say they pass on Smith or Rodgers and take a guy in round 2 or 3. Someone like the guy from Akron.. Frye I think. I could see him being a Romeo Crennel guy easily.)

So back to the Drew's. I think Bledsoe will perform ok for Dallas. I do not think he will truly suck. However if you are the storied franchise of the Dallas Cowboys how can you have your QB just be ok? That has to be so harsh for Cowboy fan after the likes of Staubach and Aikman. That being said I think the next great Cowboy QB still is not on their roster. I also think not sending Henson to NFL Europe to see if he could even win a job there is a mistake. I know it damages the investment and PR if he fails but to really move forward don't they have to bite the bullet.

That is what Buffalo is doing. They are handing to the reigns to one JP Losman. Good idea, maybe. Who knows but I do know I am glad they are trying. If he fails then move on. I would not be surprised to see the Bill's draft a QB somewhere, unless they like the guy they are sending to NFL Europe, just in case. For that matter if you are and NFL team why wouldn't you draft a QB almost every year just to take the chance you could hit on a Tom Brady? I know I would, but maybe that's why the only NFL executive work I do is on Madden 2005.

Being a Bill's fan , like I said, am ok with going with Losman. The 3 yard INT he threw this year gives me pause but I hope that will be just chalked up to first time NFL nerves. As for a back up I really hope they can bring in Jay Fiedler. I think he would be the right guy to help out Losman and actually be ready to play decent in a game if he had too. I would hope by now that Jay knows that is the role left for him in the NFL and would be cool with doing so with a team that could beat up on the Dolphins twice a year. That has to be some motivation for him doesn't it?

That pretty much is my pontifications on the NFL moves of the day, except for the following:

Moss a Raider.. Genius! Two reasons why.
1. The Raiders are "the" vertical passing team in the NFL and that's what Randy does best.
2. The Raiders are "the" headcase team in the NFL and that's what Randy does best.

And to call a shot... My wild ass guess is that LaMont Jordan ends up a Raider too.

Entertained much?

MLB make the "Nationals" really national!

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 01:14:00 +0000

Let me take you on a little mental journey for a moment...

Dateline - November 1, 2006 - Major League Baseball Office

commissioner Bud Selig steps up to the podium with the press awaiting his announcement. He clears his throat and says "The winner in the bid for the Nationals for the 2007 baseball season is the city of Portland, Oregon. Congratulations Portland! The Nationals are yours for next season. I apologize for all the great cities that made wonderful bids that did not get chosen and they all may resubmit for 2008. Thank you". The media now is a buzz with questions and the celebration starts in the Portland offices. The Nationals are now in their third city in their forever rotating home town. 2005 was in Washington, D.C. and 2006 was in Las Vegas, NV.

Yes Major League Baseball you can make the Nationals truly national. No more worries of seasons where the buzz has worn off and loosing is keeping fans from the gates. Each year begun anew with a whole city of fans purely happy not to have to drive hours to see major league baseball for its right there in their backyard.

Hasn't there been crazier ideas before? Disco Demolition ring a bell? How about the DH or interleague play? Think about it. How great would it be if one team was really national visiting all those cities that could not support a major league team long term but for one year is doable. It would be the PT Barnum or Ringling Brothers to end all circus's. Maybe it is even sold to them and they bring all their sideshows to line the entrances to the park. Ok now that is probably going too far.

Sure you can worry about all the logistics or all the employees and such but that can be worked out. The farm system would stay the same. It would not rotate. Also a home operations office would stay in a permanent location as well, maybe even down the hall from MLB. How many young people would not love the opportunity to spend a few years seeing a new part of the country every year. Just imagine.

So many cities would be vying for the bid each year hoping they were chosen, just like the Olympics but each year. This would have to create more jobs and give more cities and people hope. Sure a city like Pomona might never win but there are plenty of cities of enough size that the team would not start re-visiting cities for at least a couple of decades.

I can hear you now, this idea is just plain nuts but I would counter that it is not any nuttier than anything else Major League Baseball has done since they bought the Expos. So if you are going to make a farce of things then why not go so far that way that it actually becomes reasonable.

I have to go now, San Antonio is on the other line asking me to head their bid for '08.

Election Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Wed, 03 Nov 2004 08:38:00 +0000

This is something that I rarely do, that is talk politics.
My bit lately is that I am a political atheist.
It is kind of funny, to me anyway.

See, most of the political rhetoric just gives me tired head*. I do not like it, I do not believe most of it and I do not enjoy talking about it. The odd thing is though I get so drawn in on presidential election night. I think it has something to do with the maps and all. I had an election game on the Commodore 64 too that I enjoyed so maybe it is that nostalgia as well. I find it intriguing that I can be so hooked one night every four years and so out on it every other day. That probably does not make me the best of Americans but it is who I am for now.

So let me share what I see and why I find it interesting.

Watching MSNBC tonight and seeing the map and projected maps of tonight with those of 2000 was interesting. It seems to be very little change from one election to another. All this campaigning and all this money spent and we are right back where we were. This tells me that as a nation we really do not like much change. We must like things the way they are. How often does an incumbent really get voted out? I hear a lot of talk of wanting new blood in offices on the national or local level but it seems to rarely happen. Vote out this guy not my guy type of thing. Living in a society were we all seem to want the latest and greatest as consumers we like our politics to stand pat. Very odd.

It makes me wonder where this comes from. For me I know I really do not like politics. I choose more often than not to withhold my vote than to vote for someone I feel is mediocre. This is precisely how I felt about both Bush and Kerry. They are mediocre. How can I get behind that? Answer I can't. I did not vote for either one. I feel it is as much my right as it is anyone else's to vote for them. I did not vote for Bush or Gore in 2000 for the same reason. The last presidential candidate I voted for was Perot. Maybe that was more of a bit than a real feeling but I just identified with him more than anyone else. I thought the first Bush was mediocre and I thought Clinton was too much a salesman. Perot seemed more interested in getting things done than being the PR guy. I have felt for years the president should be two people, one to get stuff done and one to do the PR.

Speaking of Public Relations I do feel that is the key to get people to vote for change. I heard it said tonight that the reason Clinton won the first time was he carried some of the southern states along the Mississippi river that tradtionaly vote Republican. I think being from the south certainly helped but his charisma helped even more. People will follow charisma. People will get excited about charisma. People love it. Why else would Hollywood and professional athletics be so popular? People, especially in this country, have to be following someone or something that is charismatic to decide as a collective to change. I guess that is the mob mentality.

So what governs that mob? What makes that mob so steadfast in the face of dull candidates? Looking at the map of 2000 and the projections of 2004 one thing is definitely clear. Take the areas of the Jet setting Los Angeles, New York and Chicago and you have the democratic votes. Take the rest of more rural US and you have republican votes. I always thought republicans were the rich guys and democrats the poor. This map does not look like that to me. Of course a self proclaimed political atheist as I am, what do I know.

I listened closely tonight and the most interesting thing to me was the moral or faith idea. MSNBC's Brian Williams spoke of 21% of voters in some exit polls stating that morals played the biggest factor in their presidential decision. Morals is a very vague term isn't it? What can be moral to me might not be moral at all to you. They seemed to equate morals to faith. Faith, now that makes some sense. I am not much for religion but I believe in faith. I feel for the most part the human psyche can not do without it. Most people need to believe in something bigger than themselves or this world or this life. I think that is understandable. How would we all react if we were all told undoubtedly that this life was it, that there was nothing more. I think we would have a lot of depressed and potentially insane people. Or... maybe most would just not accept it. They would just not believe for their faith was bigger than proof. That is what makes faith, faith after all.. right?

Twenty one percent said morals (or faith) was the biggest factor. MSNBC said that of those who said that was the case voted overwhelmingly for Bush. Why? Doesn't Kerry go to church? Well Bush is Republican. Republicans are conservative. Most people who have faith follow a religion and what is more conservative than religion. How many wars are fought in holy names because someone does not believe the right way? Could a religion be liberal? Good question.

Our forefathers came here to create a country where there would be religious freedom. There is always the topic of the separation of church and state. We are all free to pray or not to pray to whatever god or deity we choose. We are all free to vote for our elected officials who will govern our land where we have these freedoms. We are all also free to have one affect the other. I find that most intriguing and to make sense in a very human way. What drives us to be who we are and to think how we do each day more, our politics or our faith? Is it a candidate giving us promises or something more giving us hope? I too would choose hope. Hope is a great thing, maybe the best of things**.

other notes
* tired head is a BAD Radio and Ticket saying I have borrowed... check the links on the side.
** taken from the movie Shawshank Redemption with much respect.
*** thirdly to be a guy... MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell has a cute smile along with providing good news coverage. Always refreshing to me to see an news person, especially female to smile every once in a while. Not too much.. just a bit.

Tip your cap to the Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 03:20:00 +0000

It is said that baseball is a game of inches. The Cardinals tonight just played a few inches better than the Astros. Pujols, Edmonds, Renteria, Rolen and Womack just got that extra couple inches done when they needed it. The Astros not quite. Jim Edmond's catch in the second inning on the fly ball to center by Ausmus was great and the first difference maker. The thing about it is when I saw him running I kept telling the ball "Get Down, Get Down" because I knew that Edmonds would get to it. I expected him to make the catch. Why? It is because that is what Jim Edmonds does. That is why he is great to watch. I just wished I didn't have to watch him make that catch tonight.

The second difference maker was Clemens not going to his breaking pitches a couple of batters earlier. Pujols then Rolen both had seen them and found the ones to hit. This is not a criticism of Roger, just a statement. If you would have said he would be pitching a game seven with a world series birth on the line on the road anytime during this season I would have taken it in a heartbeat. I would take it tomorrow too. This does not change the fact that to win a game seven on the road you have to play almost perfect and have the bounces go your way. Some did tonight some didn't, the Astros just needed a couple more.

The Astros played hard. They played with grit and determination. No doubt they wanted it just as bad as anyone. I dislike that statement oh they wanted it more or we just wanted it more that's why we won. I do not think it is accurate. There has to be a term that defines the desire and how it is effectively focused into positive results. That would be the correct term. Trust me Roger wanted it bad, but just didn't get it focused that over the hump amount on just a couple of pitches.

Congratulations to the Houston Astros. I am a fan now and always. I will always remember this 2004 season. It was full of expectation and the disappointment then that amazing late season push to leapfrog six teams to claim the wildcard spot. Then came the breaking of the playoff threshold. The won in the post season and beat the Braves doing it. They then played the Cardinals tough, very tough and just came up those few inches short.

History will remember the results. This Astro fan will forever remember the effort and emotion.

Thank you guys for all that you gave me and all Astro fans this season. It is and forever will be truly appreciated.

game 7's abound

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 07:22:00 +0000

Both championship series going to a final game 7. Win or go home for all involved. You have to love the playoffs.

First let me say that what Boston has done is remarkable. Their bullpen really held that one together long enough for the Boston bats to eventually win those games for them. In game seven the bats decided to come out first and after two it was 6-0 Red Sox. Biggest comeback or biggest choke you decide which. I am sure it will be debated. Some people will never say its one or the other, just as a friend of mine to this day says the Oilers choked against the Bills in that awesome playoff game in Rich Stadium. To me, a Bills fan, its the biggest comeback. The interesting thing for Red Sox fan is that either way you describe it they will love it just as much. That is cool in my book.

So who will those Red Sox meet? St. Louis won an intense game six with their own walk-off home run (boy there have sure been a lot of those lately haven't there) by Edmonds in the 12th inning. When Bagwell tied it up at 4 in the ninth then that is all the Astros got I just felt that they really needed that fifth run right there. Before the game I told coworkers I felt it would take 6 runs to win that game. Game five's outstanding pitching duel was the aberration of the series.

For the Astros to win a game seven in St. Louis against the potent Cardinals I think that Clemens needs to go at least six solid innings allowing at most two runs. Pitching has to step up in this one. If you would have told me that as an Astro fan I would be watching Clemens pitch a game seven with a world series trip on the line on the road I would have taken that in a heartbeat. That is all one can ask for is a chance. I hope that game six will not be remembered as the Astros chance that got away.

Lets go Roger and Roy and Brad... be the stars you all are and can be and pitch well in game seven.
Lets go Astros, hit like the Red Sox hit tonight.

43 years is quite long enough!

Here comes game six

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 04:26:00 +0000

Here we go. Game six back in St. Louis on the horizon.
Thanks to the Red Sox win tonight it will be at 4 eastern so 2 mountain. How in the world will I be able to function at work during the afternoon knowing the game is on. It will be very hard. I just might have to get sick.. cough, cough.. hack.. weeeze.

The decision has been made. Pete Munro gets the start in game six to allow Roger to pitch on full rest in game seven (if necessary) or extra rested for a possible game one of the World Series. It chills me just to type that out. I almost don't know what to do or say.

I started getting into watching baseball in the mid 80's. Growing up in a smallish town light years away from professional sports is much different I would imagine than growing up with people talking about the home team all the time. I played little league just like about every other American boy. A couple of years of it. I could field but not hit. I moved on to soccer later, then tennis. This led me to not grow up rooting for a team by birthright like so many other people. My baseball fandom grew differently.

It basically started because of a friend of mine. His name was Charles Robertson. He was a tall lanky redheaded guy with a cool sense of humor and he always wore a Detroit Tigers baseball cap. For some reason I found that to be cool. I thought I needed to get me one but which team. I did not want to copy him or just pick a team at random. That's about the same time my father finally allowed us to have cable tv, just in time to miss out on the best part of MTV. Anyway, one of the channels we got was HSE or Home Sports Entertainment. Living in Carlsbad, New Mexico logically we got the Texas feed of it. One of the things they showed on HSE was tape delayed Houston Astro ballgames. This was my introduction to pro baseball. This is where I discovered Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott and a very young Craig Biggio. I was hooked by their and his hustle right away. I had found my team. I have been an Astro fan ever since, with Biggio being my favorite player. Nothing will ever change any of those two things.

Since Biggio came up in 1988 you see that I just missed out on the 86 disappointment and of course the 1980 one too. I did see replays of some of those games on HSE too however, so rather quickly did I become familiar with the Astro history. All of this should explain why this thought of being one game away from the World Series is so new to me. It has to be why I cannot seem to think straight ever since Jeff Kent clobbered that home run to win game five.

It amazes me how sports can suck you in and make you get all wrapped up in it. I will write more of my thoughts about it in the future. One thing is certain and that is that playoff baseball, or football, or hockey or basketball, or whatever surely not only intensifies the players but intensifies how us fans get all twisted up inside. It is certainly one of the most interesting things about us being human.

There are so many ways these two games can end tomorrow in the AL and NL. So many storylines and subplots. It has to be making Hollywood quite jealous, doesn't it?

What A Ride!

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Tue, 19 Oct 2004 07:12:00 +0000

It has been a few hours since Jeff Kent launched that three run homer to put the Astros up 3 games to 2 and I still can't think straight.

Tomorrow is and off day and will allow me to better collect my thoughts on these 3 games at Minute Maid Park.
It might be almost time to call it hallowed ground, winning four of five playoff games and 18 straight to close the season. Amazing!

A big challenge is still ahead. Winning one game in St. Louis might be harder than winning all three they did in Houston, however for the moment I am going to enjoy the feeling of my favorite ballclub being one win away from their possible first World Series.

I sure hope the Astros can keep better focused than I.

Instant Replay?

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 05:22:00 +0000

Was that game two or did it rain out and they just ran the same tape from yesterday?

I wasn't so sure. Basically the same type of game. The Astros jumped out first behind the bat of Beltran. The more I watch him the more I think the sky really is the limit with this guy. The young Astro starter, Munro this time, pitched not stellar but solid but got lifted too soon. With the lack of effectiveness of the Astro bullpen right now the starters better go 7 innings. Are you listening Mr. Garner? You mentioned before we have to ride these horses (meaning Clemens and Oswalt) so let them go 7 unless they totally meltdown.

That is the key to the rest of the series. The Astro starting pitching will have to be effective and last. Both clubs will get their hits and more than likely it will take 5 or 6 runs to win any of these ballgames.

On that note my pal Jason called after Beltran hit his 6th playoff home run and we talked for a bit about the game. I told him it will probably take six runs to win tonight. Seriously. But of course who could not see that about this series. I would be shocked if either team gets shutout in a game.

Game 3 is big. If the Astros can win it then the series will probably go back to St. Louis, if they do not win expect the Cards to celebrate in game 4. If I am gauging this right though, look for the Cards to wrap it up in game six, however being the fan I am how I would love to see a game SEVEN.

All you Minute Maiders let me hear you! Go Astros!

NLCS Game One

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 04:59:00 +0000

Tip your hat to the Cardinals.
They have been touted as the best team in baseball with their 105 regular season wins and they looked like all of that tonight. Some Astro fans might be saying right now they got lucky, a lot of bloop and broken bat hits. They would be partially right. The Cardinals did have many hits like that tonight. They had that luck, however good teams take advantage of that luck as the Cardinals did tonight.

Here is my breakdown.

First it was good to see the Astros get on the board in the first. Beltran looks as advertised. Biggio did well to get on ahead of him to have Carlos' homer make it 2-0 Astros. Did Astro fans think it would be that easy? This one didn't. Albert Pujols showed that he is as advertised as well. His home run in the bottom of the first made it 2-2. After that Backe and Williams pitched well for three innings and kept things in check. Only a walk and a pitch Jeff Kent got a hold of in the fourth made it 4-2 Astros. Williams came back and got a one two three inning in the fifth to keep things in control for the Cardinals.

At this point I was thinking that it will take more than 4 runs to win tonight. I didn't see Backe or Williams going deep into game and both teams will be able to score on the bullpens. The bad part there is that Houston's bullpen is more suspect, much more. Having injuries to Pettitte and Miller made bullpen guys into starters, i.e. Munro game two's starter. This has thinned out the Astro bullpen. They just do not have anyone there right now outside of Lidge that scares the opponent. That's what the Astros are really missing in this series is a good old Nasty boy like Rob Dibble , Randy Myers or Norm Charlton. I hate using Reds as a reference but hey that kind of intimidation out of the pen is what this Astro team is lacking. Facing Qualls or Gallo just doesn't strike any fear or doubt into the opposition. Besides the o so slim chance that the Astros will re-sign Beltran, getting a guy or two like that for the pen would be the priority. Anyway I digress.

The bottom of the fifth inning I feel was key for this game. The Woody Williams double where he got just enough of it to get over the drawn in Berkman was huge. If Lance makes a spectacular grab or just happens to be not playing the pitcher a tad shallow (and who wouldn't) that gives Backe two outs with Womack coming up. His groundout would have been the inning. Trust me the Cardinals would have still scored more runs eventually, they are that good, however maybe its to just tied up the game and not take the lead.

Backe did as best as he probably could tonight, especially on only 3 days rest. The Cardinals just found a way to get to him and the bullpen tonight. The rushed Vizciano throw and missed scoop by Bagwell are going to happen in a series such as this. A trip to the World Series is on the line and it will make players press a bit. I am sure the Cardinals will do so too before this NLCS is over with.

To finish I was glad to see the Astros put some more runs on the board before it was a final. I think it shows they will not give up and to win the Cardinals, as good as they are advertised to be, will still have to earn it. As an Astro fan I can live with that. Possibly I feel that way because the Astros already accomplished the big task of winning in the post season. Possibly I feel that way because I am trying not to get my hopes too high. Either or both could be true, but this I know is true ... I am a fan because the likes of Biggio, Bagwell, Berkman and know Beltran all play hard no matter what and win or loose that effort will always keep me coming back for more.

Keep your chin up guys... Go get 'em in game two and try to sneak off with a win on the way back to Houston!

NO MORE O FOR!

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 04:45:00 +0000

Finally!

I was nervous to sit down and watch tonight but I am thankful I did. I am an Astro fan. That will never change. However history changed tonight for the Astros. No longer can they say O for 7, O for 8 or O for whatever. A playoff series has been won. Won by a team that never gave up on their season even though most everyone else did. The most die hard of Astro fans have to admit tonight that in the middle of the season our hopes were slim. I was already feeling bad thinking it might be the last year of Biggio and Bagwell leading the charge. If it is well what a charge they led.

The main reason is team. They had a lot of guys out there who rose to the occasion and produced when needed. Regulars like Berkman and Kent and Ausmus. The newcomer Beltran who was stellar. Vizcaino stepped in when Everett went down. Ensberg held down third. Guys like Lane, Palmerio, Lamb, Chavez and Bruntlett all took their roles on with focus and dedication. All the men who pitched made things happen, even those with such limited big league experience when injury took down the likes of Pettitte and Miller. An amazing run that has reached the platform of best Astro season ever. Looking at the results that is how you have to look at it. No disrespect to the teams of 80 or 86. Nor to the teams of late nineties. Winning a post season series takes you there. It is great to see the Astros as a team get themselves there, especially when it would have been easy to falter in game 5 in Atlanta.

The key to me was, besides their mental state tonight, was the following. First getting out of the sixth with no hits and no runs after the disasterous 3 run sixth inning homerun last night. Secondly being able to mount more pressure right away by getting 4 more runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. Truly the key to their success this series was the number of 2 out runs scored. The Astros did it much better than the Braves. Third and finally was getting that double play in the bottom of the seventh. After they turned that I knew I could not celebrate yet with six more outs to go, but deep down I felt it was over. The Astros had finally knocked Donkey Kong off their back and would not let him get back off the ground. Sweetness.

The main reason I am happy tonight is to see two quality men who have approached the game with such respect and work ethic finally earn, I emphasize EARN their due. Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell both mentioned quickly in their post game interviews "the team" and that this "team worked together". This is so true and so clearly defines their respect and admiration for their teammates. These are humble men who have given Houston and all Astro fans much more than they could ever receive in return, yet in their wisdom they would tell you the inverse is true. I consider myself lucky to have become an Astro fan and have two men such as they to root for.

A world series title may or may not come in my lifetime, that remains to be seen, however I have gotten to root for such gentlemen as Biggio and Bagwell and now see them earn playoff glory.

Three cheers guys, three cheers.

Two quick notes

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 05:46:00 +0000

First - Congratulations to Biggio for hitting that three run homer. He is my favorite baseball player of all time and I so enjoyed that and felt it warranted mentioning.

Second - Baseball is just a game and the Astros lost one today, but even worse they lost an alumni. Ken Caminiti died today at age 41 of a heart attack. My condolences to his family and for all his friends and ex-teammates. I enjoyed rooting for you while you played 3B for the Astros.

Game 4 Gets Away

noreply@blogger.com (Will) — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 05:34:00 +0000

I just might have to finally hate the Braves after this one. What a kick in the gut.

Before the game I was hoping that Roger Clemens could just go six or seven and give up only 2 or 3 runs. I was basically hoping for the line Bill Simmons wanted for Pedro in game two of the Boston/Anaheim series. (click the link on the right and you can find the article). Top of the sixth rolls around and out comes Qualls. The crowd just flattened out a bit with that and it seemed he was flat too. Bam... just like that it was tied. Jeff Kent's head was down before the ball went over the wall. I just about did the same thing.

I was afraid of this. That moment that allows doubt to creep in. That moment where the Astros and all their fans begin to think "Here we go again!".

I hope the Astros can show some moxy tomorrow and get up and take it to the Braves like they have nothing to loose. I hope Roy Oswalt pitches the game of his life. No walks, no hit batsmen. Keep Furcal off base. When he was hit by Springer I just knew that was it. Berkman did give me hope with his hit, but just as when that Bartman guy messed with the foul ball in Chicago last year you just knew it was over, that's how today felt. I want to be wrong in the worst way.

Go Astros... believe for yourselves. Believe for me.