Blair's Blog

2006-05-25T16:37:00.000-04:00

2005-10-04T07:54:00.000-04:00

A Reminder of What Is Great And Good About October Baseball

Here, reprinted with permission from this author who still enjoys the aftertaste of last season, is a reminder of the madness and magic of the post season. Game is on.

One more thing. hte red sox will win tonight.

****************************************
Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Red Sox Win Game 6 of the ALCS

An introduction to the evening, with a bit of forshadowing.....and we had no idea Roy Hobbs was about to take the mound for the Red Sox.

RedSox DieHard: I have a bad feeling. Talk me down
BLAIR: get over it
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: That's what I want to hear, baby
BLAIR: Jon Lieber will become John Burkett right before our eyes
BLAIR: ‘Mudge is here tonight. Watching the game at my place
RedSox DieHard: Ha... I got the '67 glass on the coffee table
BLAIR: the logic: the Sox are on the road, so is he
RedSox DieHard: I still feel like s**t... I don't like it
BLAIR: sorry u feel like s**t
BLAIR: but the Sox will deliver
BLAIR: there is no way the Red Sox will not prevail
BLAIR: and I am wearing a new shirt. a new BoSox shirt
RedSox DieHard: Not a need for a new shirt
RedSox DieHard: Did you wear a Sox shirt last nite?
BLAIR: No
RedSox DieHard: You must repeat everything from last nite
BLAIR: i can't do that
BLAIR: my diaper was a disposable
RedSox DieHard: Make ‘Mudge go home
RedSox DieHard: ‘Mudge, you're messing up the mojo!... LOL
BLAIR: NFW
BLAIR: he is not
BLAIR: the Sox are on the road. so is ‘Mudge
RedSox DieHard: Don't listen to me. I'm certifiable by this point
RedSox DieHard: OK, I buy it
RedSox DieHard: It's so warm and humid here I had to close the windows and put on the AC. Neighborhood happy -- won't hear me screaming tonite
BLAIR: oh yes they will
RedSox DieHard: :-)

And so it goes. The Boston Red Sox sacked up tonight at Yankee Stadium and have improbably forced a seventh game in this year's ALCS.

Curt Schilling was brilliant. He was dominant with his command, velocity and location through seven full innings. Most interestingly, his stuff seemed to get better after the fourth inning. A performance for the ages - - - bleeding through his uniform like Roy Hobbs. Guts, pure guts.
Foulke: sacked up. Bronson Arroyo: sacked up.

Game 7 awaits. October baseball is extraordinary.

2005-04-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

Yankees Luxury Tax Exceeds Payroll of Devil Rays
Unbelievably, the New York Yankees will pay more than $30M in MLB luxury taxes for the 2005 season.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have a PAYROLL of $29M for the same season.

Incredible.

There must be both a floor and a ceiling for MLB payrolls. Sure the Yanks spend like jealous, drunken sailors, but crummy owners like the cheapskate in Tampa should be forced to use the luxury tax/revenue sharing windfall to improve their own roster.

2005-04-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

Ozzy, We Knew You When.......
Well, back when you were pissin on the Alamo and biting the heads off of bats. Those kind of antics emboldened this blogger way back when I was an impressionable teenager - - so much so that I successfuly lobbied Mom to allow me to drive 90 miles to Houston to see Ozzy in the Houston Summit on a school night. It was a hell of a show, particularly with Metallica opening things up with a fabulous set.

I knew the show would kick ass before we were even allowed inside....a group of holy-rollers (musta been hundreds of'em) joined hands in prayer near my friends and I and then broke out to speak to us concert goers, asking why we were about to attend a 'black mass', and asked us to reflect on what God really thought of Ozzy and this concert.

I thought God wanted me to have a good time that night. We did -- probably moreso since we knew it meant with the disapproval of those freaks.

Well, I am glad I saw Ozzy at his best (such as it was), because he's never reclaiming those lofty heights. With permission from 'Mudge, I am reprinting an instant message thread prompted by a view of Ozzy's latest effort as its featured on iTunes:

Xtopher19: UGH - Ozzy has disintegrated to the point where he's down to covering sappy Beatles songs
Xtopher19: what a sad decline
MU91: lol
Xtopher19: new video on iTunes: "In My Life"
Xtopher19: UGH
MU91: Geez, its time to listen to 'Over the Mountain' and think of what used to be
MU91: love it!
Xtopher19: iTunes video is full of old clips of his old stage show
Xtopher19: yes, ozzy... remind everyone of just how far you've fallen
Xtopher19: ONLY thing about this video is at the end, when he's he getting up off a park bench to go walk his dog, and the dog pisses on the foot of the businessman next to him
Xtopher19: otherwise, this is chica music
Xtopher19: and by that i do not mean music you play while getting some
Xtopher19: but on that album he has a cover of sympathy for the devil
MU91: yuck, what a waste
Xtopher19: OMG
Xtopher19: he covers STAYING ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Xtopher19: OMFG
Xtopher19: he has totally fallen
MU91: awful. Even Tony Manero is disgusted. No wonder Sabbath dumped him for Dio.
Xtopher19: he is a total pussy
MU91: lol
Xtopher19: and it's more dance than rock
Xtopher19: OMFG
MU91: He's toast....unfriggin real. He used to scare my parents. Give him another bat head!
Xtopher19: LOL

2005-04-13T11:05:00.000-04:00

Kill'em all
Cats are a nuisance. These arrogant creatures expect humans to go to great lengths to care for them, yet offer no companionship in return. In a sense, cats are a drain on society and kill untold thousands of innocent birds for the helluvit.

With that in mind, our nation made a great leap forward this week when the folks in Wisconsin voted to legalize cat hunting. Bravo! I hope it is an uninterrupted 12-month season with an automatic renewal, year-over-year. The only good cat is a dead one, I say. Now if a cat strays outside of the comforts of home, wheel wells and bullets will be waiting.

Dogs rule. Every cat should realize that now.

2005-04-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

How about that ring ceremony yesterday at Fenway?
That was incredible, and kudos to MLB.COM for offering fans a chance to watch it on the Web for free.

Highlights of the ceremony -- three things:
1) New England veterans delivering the rings one by one;
2) the wonderful 2004 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS banner that covered the Monstaaaah;
3) Johnny Pesky as the last recipient of a ring --- and thanking every, single person as he made his way down the line.

Priceless!

Add in the win over the Yanks and the standing ovation for Mariano Rivera (he sure had a nice sense of humor about it) and Opening Day at Fenway doesn't get any better.

2005-04-02T22:15:00.000-05:00

Baseball is Back
OK folks, baseball is back and so is the blog. After a month-long hiatus (nothing more than a shameless homage to the Mudge), its time to get going again.

Earlier today I hosted one of the great Man Days of the year: the 2005 fantasy baseball draft. The day was predictably enjoyable - - - 10 hours of baseball talk, mild-mannered heckling, great food, beer, and paying for the players of your choice. I'll get to my roster selections later, but I am inclined to like my team out of the gate this year. Its a good thing the Mudge is on hiatus -- his team will be terrible.

Regardless, the Red Sox begin their defense of the 2004 World Series crown on Sunday night when they travel to the lovely South Bronx to take on the Yanks. Gotta love it.

2005-02-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

Kansas AG to Women's Wombs: "You will be mine, you will be mine all mine"
The Attorney General for the State of Kansas is on the warpath, hoping to peer inside the wombs and sex lives of females. The esteemed Phill Kline wants to lower the boom on women and teenagers who had sex before the age of 16 (its illegal there), as well as those who may have had abortions after the 22nd week of the pregnancy. On top of that, he wants details on the sexual history for at least 90 women who fall into these categories.

This 'law' limiting abortions after 22 weeks is particularly troubling. Many insurance companies restrict the number of ultrasounds per patient, limiting a woman's opportunity to closely monitor a fetus' growth and development. Moreover,"many structural abnormalities in the fetus can be reliably diagnosed by an ultrasound scan, and these can usually be made before 20 weeks." But 'many' does not mean 'all', no woman can be assured that she'd be able to have this diagnostic test before the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Here's the kicker: severe deformaties and life-threatening defects in unborn fetuses may go undetected until later in the pregnancy, in some cases indicating whether or not a child could survive outside of the womb. In these cases, the mother's life is not 'in danger', but its clear that the fetus either won't survive or might have a small chance to survive with grave consequences. In Kansas, mothers now have a jurisdictional clock to watch as they are making decisions about the future of a high-risk pregnancy.

Don't mothers have enough to worry about? Do they really need to consult a lawyer and Father Time first?

As for arresting those who have sex before the age of 16, Mr. Kline had better start building new prisons in the middle of his wheat fields since we all know that roughly half of kids lose their virginity within the general vicinity of their 16th birthday. Well, maybe not in Kansas. According to the CDC's most recent report on teen sexual behavior and well-being, Kansas is completely abstinent. The CDC did not secure any participation from Kansas for this otherwise revealing study. It seems that Mr. Kline's would rather rely on his methodology for unearthing the sexual habits of Kansans.

2005-02-21T21:01:00.000-05:00

Got Nukes? No Problem!
Who says being the leader of a bankrupt nation with no appreciable natural resources is a bad thing.

Kim Jong Il is livin' large. This turkey gives Saddam Hussein's reign a run for its money.Here's a guy who wags his finger at the United States, kills thousands of his own people via starvation and/or a modern day Gulag, threatens the very existence (on a daily basis) of the United States' closest ally on the East Asian mainland, and actually possesses nuclear arms in violation of dozens of international treaties -- yet President Bush turns the other cheek for this member of the 'Axis of Evil'.

Methinks Kim Il Jong is friggin' THRILLED that he does not have any oil under that dusty North Korean soil. Or maybe he's just happy to have not run afoul with Bush 41. What's not to love about United State foreign policy?

2005-02-20T11:35:00.000-05:00

Beer is Good
And one of my favorite Web sites, The Beer Advocate, can help you decide which beer should be the subject of your next binge drinking experience. One of my favorite beers is Sprecher's Special Amber, reviewed here by about three dozen folks.

Sprecher is a terrific brewery in suburban Milwaukee -- I just wish they had a distributor that could throw a few cases into my zip code. All the Sprecher beers are terrific, most notably the Black Bavarian, Dopple Bock and India Pale Ale. My favorite aspect of any Sprecher beer? The hefty 16-ounce bottles!

2005-02-14T21:19:00.000-05:00

My High School Interogatory
OK, so I've been delinquent in updating this blog since launching the Internet's best resource for Marquette Basketball. For the dozen(s) of you that I've disappointed of late, I give you the ultimate in blogospherian delight: the complete ripoff of another blog.

With props to Pete over at A Perfectly Cromulent Blog, here's my High School Interrogatory:

What year was it?
Graduated in 1987

What were your three favorite bands (performers)?
Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen. Could I be more cliche? In my defense, I was onto Metallica way before they emerged as a juggernaut. Heck, I even saw them open for Ozzy back in early 1986.

Which bands did you hate?
REM, Depeche Mode, New Order, The Communards

What was your favorite outfit?
KLOL 'Runaway Radio' t-shirt and a jean jacket to go with my nifty black Converse Weapon hightops. Wearing a t-shirt from a Houston radio station made me feel like such a headbangin' bad ass.

What was up with your hair?
I had a near-mullett once but was not able to make it work. Mostly, it was just a dry, brown puffy mess.

Who were your best friends?
Rather than best friends, I had a circle of about a half-dozen friends, some closer than others. And the one I stay in touch with the most didn't even go to my high school. I remember standing around at graduation practice realizing that I'd never see most of these people again as long as I live. I was right.

What did you do after school?
Played basketball (well, I mean, I was on the team)

Where did you work?
Skaggs Alpha-Beta. I sacked groceries there for a couple of summers before moving onto Pizza Hut. I also participated in a control group for an allergy study for a day. Honest.

Did you take the bus?
Nope. Parents took care of the trip until I could drive. At that time, I became the proud owner of the Blue Bullet -- a not-so-fast 1979 Chevy Malibu with a vinyl top. I always wanted this to become some sort of cool, signature car. But there were too many rebuilt classic Mustangs in the parking lot for me to overcome.

Who did you have a crush on?
Most of the girls that I knew would never date me.

Did you fight with your parents?
Sure. But what would adolescence be without that? This must be the stupidest question on the list.

Who did you have a CELEBRITY crush on?
Like Pete, I'd have to say Diane Lane from Streets of Fire. Also, Heather Locklear from Dynasty (Sammy Jo was hot!), and any SI cover girl of that era.

Did you smoke cigarettes?
No.

Did you lug all of your books around in your backpack all day because you were too nervous to find your locker?
No. I'd algorithmically arranged the contents of my bag based on class locations and materials required. Routinely going back to a locker was beneath me.

Did you have a ‘clique’?
Nah. I was rather dorky for much of high school. I knew it wasn't the end game that so many folks seemed to think it was. Truth is, I couldn't wait to graduate and get outta town.

Did you have "The Max" like Zach, Kelly, and Slater?
As with Pete, Pepe's and its neighbor, Whataburger were about it. College Station was incredibly boring.

Admit it, were you popular?
Nope. Though one of my senior year 'highlights' was the day I was able to cross-dress as a dance team member. Supposedly this was reserved for the popular senior guys in the last pep rally of the year. I am not sure, but I think someone called in sick. And looking back on it -- that was kinda dumb.

Who did you want to be just like?
Eddie or Alex Van Halen. No doubt about it. Well, maybe Larry Bird.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A college basketball coach. Lets just say life took a different turn, thankfully.

Where did you think you’d be at the age you are now?
Well, I always wanted to live in NYC, so I've essentially nailed that one. Beyond that, I never thought much about life past the age of 21 anyway.

2005-02-08T18:31:00.000-05:00

Dropping a Pair
Many of you might remember the clever Comedy Central bit that spoofed the MasterCard '..priceless' ads. Dennis Leary delivered the closing sequence in that one, preparing to lose his part of his manhood as payback for the Red Sox claiming the 2004 World Series Championship.

Well, this silly Welshman upped the ante by dropping a pair. Literally. As payback for some drunken bet, he performed a quick double amputution when his rugby squad beat the English team (what would he have done if his squad beat the French!). Being down no balls and one quick strike in baseball ain't bad - - - but it sure hurts in rugby.

2005-02-01T21:02:00.000-05:00

"You're out of order!"
USA Today has often been called a paper without a soul because of its lack of a definitive editorial voice, so today's oped caught me by surprise.

Chalk it up to my naivete on the subject of judicial perks. Sitting Supreme Court justices and Federal judges are cashing in on their seat of power at a remarkable rate. Poor ol' Clarence Thomas has accepted more than $42,000 in gifts since 1998 -- that'll buy plenty of Coke-a-Cola to share with your female clerks, judge. We also know about the absurdity of Scalia's hunting trip with Dick Cheney at a time when the court was considering a case involving the vice president was being heard.

Thomas and Scalia are not alone, "More than 500 judges have gone to seminars funded by groups or corporations that favor conservative free-market positions on issues that repeatedly come before the courts. The lessons have been taught at a golf resort in Tucson and a Montana ranch retreat. After the trips created a ruckus, the judges cut back on public disclosure of the value of such trips."

I'd expected more from the top judiciary minds in this nation. These folks are selected to serve lifetime appointments in these roles, yet they want to change the rules so they can squirrel away even more perks? Acute self-interest ought not be a prerequisite to leading our nation's judiciary.

2005-01-31T07:52:00.000-05:00

Where is all of the Travis Diener banter?
Not here, that's for sure. In order to keep up with the burgeoning interest in Marquette basketball and the nation's best (now injured) senior point guard, Travis Diener, a new blog was created to focus exclusively on Marquette Hoops. All (well, most) future comments & analysis of MU hoops will now be found at Marquette Hoops. Enjoy!

A return to reguarly scheduled Blair's Blog programming is forthcoming. After all, pitchers and catchers report in roughly two weeks, and there's more to life than MU hoops.

2005-01-27T20:52:00.000-05:00

Treadmill time to exorcise the Michelin Man
Its no secret that I've been a lazy bum when it comes working out regularly. Routinely, I threaten to get back in the game and make the commitment to take better care of myself. However, in the last couple of years, nothing has worked.

Previously, I did a good job with this --I ran regularly. For whatever reason, I lost the edge. Now, I have nothing to lose (except a few pounds), so I laid out some cash and bought a treadmill last week. I've only had it for a few days, but so far it's working. Surely some of the enthusiasm is based on the 'newness' of the machine (heck, home exercise equipment is most useful as an extra place to drip-dry clothes anyway), but this fits this into my lifestyle more easily than any other workout option right now. We'll see how this goes....

2005-01-25T22:36:00.000-05:00

Google, the browser company?
OK, I won't go too deep into technology, but this little blurb caught my eye. Ben Goodger, one of the lead programmers for Firefox - - the browser that's taking share from Darth Gates' buggy Internet Explorer product -- cast his lot with Google (and announced it on his blog!).

To date, the guys at Google haven't outlined a specific browser strategy, but you'd have to think they are looking into that now. Google's aggressive move into Web e-mail (with g-mail) and blogging (with Blogger) already prove that the nascent company has an eye for emerging technologies that can expand its brand seamlessly. Heck, they already sent Yahoo! scrambling for replacement search technology when Google eroded the Yahoo! brand.

Ultimately, more choice for technology consumers is good -- and if Google jumps in and resurrects the browser battle, Microsoft will be forced to fight if it wants to maintain its enormous marketshare since many of their other (non-monopoly) businesses lose money.

2005-01-24T20:29:00.000-05:00

Johnny, Ed and iTunes
Ed McMahon laments the death of his meal ticket. Johnny Carson's passing is sad, and the nostalgic clips we'll see on tube for the next few weeks will remind us all just how funny he was. Those same clips will remind Ed McMahon that he was lucky to be Carson's sidekick -- as if he didn't realize that after a few years of StarSearch followed by a decade of nothing to do but watch re-runs. Ed McMahon, the official warm body mascot of latenight TV.

In this brief homage to randomness, let's move over to consumer music downloads, shall we?

Apple is both frustrating and amazing. Every time I have an opportunity to use one of their computers, I'm amazed that the PC clone won out. Now, Apple is riding high with the iPod and iTunes, today announcing that their online music service has sold more than 250 million songs and counting. 250 million songs on iTunes and 60% marketshare with iPod. Somewhere Bill Gates must be chuckling as he dusts off the script that led to the tragic fall of one-time innovator Netscape (or maybe he'll look at the script that marginalized Apple roughly 20 years ago). Perhaps Steve Jobs can reverse the curse and keep this going.

2005-01-23T13:29:00.000-05:00

Hoping to get home today
Mother Nature enjoys her petty torments. Soon enough, I'll be off to Mitchell Field to begin dealing with the joys of delayed and uncertain airline travel. Here in Milwaukee, the city is recovering from about one foot of snow - about half of what the NYC area received! Winter roars back with a vengeance.

2005-01-22T18:17:00.000-05:00

Like I said the other day...
Marquette is playin' for the right to be #65. Charlotte pounded MU on the boards to the tune of 41-28, including a ridiculous 18 on the offensive end, on their way to a win in Milwaukee today. Charlotte wins. MU loses. Same story, different game - though there were a few bright spots. Freshman big men Ryan Amoroso and Ousmane Barro played well against Charlotte, as did surging sophomore Dameon Mason. Nevertheless, please see the blog from the DePaul game for a look at today's Charlotte game.

2005-01-20T23:31:00.000-05:00

Marquette is NIT-bound
What a disaster. After watching DePaul dominate Marquette this evening, for the first time I'm genuinely frustrated with the program. For each of the last two seasons, MU has fallen apart early in conference play, unable to match-up with stronger, more athletic teams that apply pressure. Moreover, MU lacks the backcourt talent to change the flow of a game defensively, ensuring that most opponents shoot at or better than 50% from the field with few turnovers. Add in post players who can't score, and the situation is more dire.

In short, Tom Crean's squad is a poorly conceived mix of players that will once again compete for the right to say, 'We're number 65!'.

Travis Diener is a terrific player, but as with the recent Memphis game, he was both turnover prone and demonstrated poor shot selection. He carries an unfair burden for this team --- there is no other player on the roster that can handle the ball. With that in mind, MU is incredibly easy to defend since they can't consistently break down a defense; opponents are free to over-play their man and eliminate any offensive rhythm for Marquette.

This lack of quickness and length on the perimeter hobbles the offense as well -- MU is terrible in halfcourt sets, with poor movement without the ball resulting in few open looks. This offensive stagnation has completely negated Steve Novak's ability to gain open looks from behind the arc, and mitigates Diener's effectiveness as well. Surely there must be better ways to highlight the abilities of Ryan Amoroso and Dameon Mason in particular.

And defense. Defense? DePaul clobbered MU on the glass to the tune of 21 offensive boards, beating MU to every open ball throughout the night. 21 offensive rebounds!

I remain a huge fan of Tom Crean's, but don't understand why this team seems no better than the previous vintage. There is still time to recover, but he'd better figure things out quickly...Bobby Lutz' talented Charlotte 49ers come to Milwaukee this weekend. This is a must-win.

Here's hoping Crean turns things around, or MU is back in the NIT not only this year - -- but probably next year as well. Losing Diener and Marcus Jackson in your first Big East season is not a recipe for the Field of 64. At that point, in seven years under Crean, MU would have 5 NIT appearances and two NCAA bids - - both of those with a guy named Wade. Now surely there are other measures of Crean's success (huge attendance, new on-campus facility, acceptance to the Big East, spikes in endowment/applications, etal) but soon enough, the bloom could be off the rose (for some).

Thankfully, that's quite a ways off (if at all).....its time to beat Charlotte and right this ship.

2005-01-19T07:13:00.000-05:00

"If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili is good."
Gotta love Al McGuire. This weekend I'll be back in Milwaukee at Marquette University, and probably will enjoy a few bowls of Real Chili (best when ingested after being over-served at one of the many campus establishments). Additionally, you simply can't beat the prices for cold beer on college campuses; its like going to Canada.

--Travis Diener, All American. Take the time to read this article by Skip Myslenski in today's Chicago Tribune. "It was always just the fact that I had to win. There never could be a time where I felt like I failed competing against someone else. Growing up, if you didn't win, you felt like you failed."

--I've added a new link here -- a funny site I stumbled on yesterday, Hanging Two The Left. The site claims to dive to the core of the weak, the dumb, and the downright hilarious. Consider me hooked.

--If you ever needed proof that CNN enjoys needling President Bush, take a look at this headline, "Bush: Better Human Intelligence Needed". If this wasn't accurate, it'd be ironic.

--Tonight I finally sat down to watch the 2004 Boston Red Sox DVD, the one produced by MLB. This was one helluva DVD! The DVD is hosted by Dennis Leary, and spends most of the disc highlighting the 2004 World Series games. I've seen this movie, and I know how it ends. And I'll watch it again, and again.....well, you get the idea. The Boston Red Sox are the 2004 World Series Champions.

--Roger Clemens, Mercenary. I'm a long-time Clemens fan, but I contend that he should go into Cooperstown with a '$' on his hat rather than any team logo. His latest decision, asking for an insane $22M in arbitration from his hometown franchise -- a team that is teetering on the edge of competitiveness --- reaffirms that Rocket is only concerned with numero uno.

--Back to college basketball.....how good are Tom Crean's Marquette Warriors? As Tim Gutowski points out -- nobody is quite sure just yet. Two games in three days against DePaul and Charlotte will be a good indication of where Crean's guys stack up. Should MU sneak out with wins, Warriors fans should be ecstatic. Methinks the best to expect is 1-1. Here's hoping Crean's guys surprise to the upside; a surprise to the downside would be devastating. At least Travis Diener takes the court for the good guys.

2005-01-18T07:23:00.000-05:00

"I like SRO. You need charisma. There should be electricity. When I walk into the arena, the first thing I do is look at the four corner seats. If those are sold, I've done my job."
One of the most striking improvements in Marquette basketball during the Tom Crean era has been attendance and the emergence of a rockin' atmosphere in the once cavernous and quiet Bradley Center. Crean's program draws in excess of 15,000 fans per game, and the student section routinely draws at least one-third of the student body. In addition, the MU faithful don their 'Tom Crean Gold' for the games, and the head coach salutes the crowd before, during, and after games (convincing the crowd that they have ownership of the program is a key tenet of the resurgence of interest in MU hoops). And of course, Crean drew up a loud and celebratory pre-game introductions sequence, one that immediately engages the crowd creating an exceptional college basketball environment.

With props to Yoco's College Basketball Blog, we know that Wake Forest noticed the environment at MU games. A couple of years ago when MU topped Wake in the Bradley Center, Skip Prosser called that game a "watershed event" for his Wake Forest program and immediately flew in one of MU's event leads to duplicate the experience at Wake Forest.

Looking ahead....Marquette at DePaul this Thursday night. One team is playing well (DePaul), the other is struggling (MU). Should be a dandy.

2005-01-17T07:31:00.000-05:00

"Yeah, I was in the show. I was in the show for 21 days once -- the 21 greatest days of my life."
Sure we're in the middle of college basketball season, but I can't help but look ahead to baseball. With the the Red Sox standing atop the baseball world, the rites of spring are more anticipated than ever for yours truly. I'm gearing up for the season by reading the wonderful O'Nan/King chronicle of the 2004 Red Sox season, Faithful. It is a nifty book, chronicling the authors' experiences throughout the season via traditional reporting and off-the-wall email exchanges.

I'll close with a gentle reminder of the magic comradery that teammates share during the course of a 162-game season:

"Keep your ass away from me while I'm working!"
-- pitcher Bob Gibson, when McCarver approached the mound during a game.

Pitchers and catchers report in 28 days.

2005-01-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

Do Not Misunderstimate This President
As President Bush approaches the start of his second term, he is now able to demonstrate a fifth grader's mastery of the English language and the social skills to match. In a profound statement earlier today, the leader of the free world revealed that "Sometimes, words have consequences you don't intend them to mean" .

2005-01-13T19:38:00.000-05:00

Conservatives Having a Bad Day
The Right had a banner day today. First, the hawks awoke to the less than urprising news that the Administration is ending its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Something about Saddam never having them, nor the capability to manufacture them were the only roadblocks our government could not overcome. Not surprisingly, White House mouthpiece Scott McClellan talked down to the media when one reporter had the balls to ask him if there would be consequences for going to war based on such bad information. Scotty concluded that "it was the right decision to go in and remove Saddam Hussein from power."

Whatever, Scott. I figured this was the primary reason the Bush Cabal decided to enter the nation-building business as an aside from the War on Terror. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll in Iraq continues to be far more real than the pretenses under which this nation embarrassingly went to war.

Item Number 2
Hicks in Georgia can no longer slap stickers on science textbooks which claim that evolution is a theory rather than a fact. Holy Jesus, what will the Hick Right do now?

Science appears to have won out, at least for the moment. Year after year when these fringe folks of marginal intelligence but impassioned conviction organize to drive science from the texts, I'm continually amazed at the support they gain in certain parts of the country. Science matters, as does religion. That they can co-exist is not an issue. But when religious zeal is heightened specifically to marginalize science, folks out to be able to take a step back and recognize that science is not a threat to religion.

Its good to be back on the blog!

2005-01-05T06:40:00.000-05:00

Torture Smorture
Here is what our country needs ..... another spineless, yes-man in a top Cabinet position where he can directly oversee the sabotage of individual liberties in pursuit of specious political goals. From the Washington Post,

"But one of the mysteries that surround Gonzales is the extent to which these new legal approaches are his own handiwork rather than the work of others, particularly Vice President Cheney's influential legal counsel, David S. Addington.

On at least two of the most controversial policies endorsed by Gonzales, officials familiar with the events say the impetus for action came from Addington -- another reflection of Cheney's outsize influence with the president and the rest of the government. Addington, universally described as outspokenly conservative, interviewed candidates for appointment as Gonzales's deputy, spoke at Gonzales's morning meetings and, in at least one instance, drafted an early version of a legal memorandum circulated to other departments in Gonzales's name, several sources said."

Super. Our new Attorney General rubber stamped language on the use of torture because Dick Cheney's henchman wanted it.

2004-12-29T17:17:00.000-05:00

Let's Ante Up
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year folks....its vacation time for the Blair Clan, so keeping the blog active will have to wait until next week. However, this hell-on-earth tsunami had me searching around on the Web this afternoon, looking for ways to help. If interested, take a visit to the International Red Cross and see how you can get involved and help the millions of people still at risk from the worst disaster in many lifetimes.

2004-12-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Andy Katz -- Following My Lead
Thanks for paying attention to the blog, Andy. It is true -- Columbia hoops is NYC's top program, glad you noticed.

BTW, the nation's best point guard, Travis Diener, poured in 32 points last night as Marquette clobbered Nebraska. MU outrebounded the Huskers by better than a 2-1 margin -- a far cry from the Arizona game where Lute's Cats buried MU on the boards en route to a win at the Bradley Center last weekend.

MU is now up to 10-1 with two more winnable games before the conference season starts. Based on early reports of last night's game, Crean will likely accelerate Niv Berkowitz' acclimation to the program. Berkowitz could be a huge lift for the program in conference play; the kid is a playa.

2004-12-15T22:09:00.000-05:00

Columbia Basketball -- NYC's Best
After more than a few comments from an anonymous Columbia fan, I decided to take a closer look at the state of Columbia University basketball. Well, not really -- but I did read a terrific article in The New York Times about the rapid improvement in the men's hoops program.

Joe Jones has the Lions roaring again. That's right, the never-before-mighty Columbia Lions are New York City's premier college basketball program these days after sprinting out to an impressive 6-1 start. I smell academic fraud and recruiting scandals, how 'bout you? Nah, just kidding, we're talking about Columbia, where Jones' squad beat Sacred Heart a few nights ago in front of 607 passionate fans. Hey, it was finals week --- if these guys were 1-6 roughly 49 fans would have made their way to the gym. The excitement on campus is palpable.

In his third year at the helm, Joe Jones' Lions have gone from 2-25 to 10-17 to the present 6-1 start. I don't know much about Ivy League basketball, but I'd posit that this turnaround is based more on coaching than talent. Turning around a moribund program so quickly is remarkable given the barriers Ivy League coaches face -- lack of funds, mediocre facilities, and extraordinary academic requirements (just to name a few). Way to go, Coach Jones. Its about time Penn and Princeton were toppled in the Ivy League.

2004-12-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

Seth Davis Is Also Paying Attention
SI's Seth Davis joins Andy Katz and Dick Vitale as pundits who've noticed Diener's sensational start to the 2004-2005 season.

"If you're picking an All-America team right now, your three guards would have to be Rashad McCants (North Carolina), Travis Diener (Marquette) and Nate Robinson (Washington). And you could do worse than select Diener as your national player of the year."

2004-12-12T18:24:00.000-05:00

Travis Diener Dominates Arch-Rival
The beat goes on for the nation's premier point guard, Travis Diener. In Marquette's biggest rivalry game of the season, Diener dominated the nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers, scorching the weasels with 29 points, including five three pointers. Diener pounced on the Badgers early, scoring 10 of MU's first dozen as the Warriors jumped to a 12-1 lead. As the second half began, Diener set the tone again, draining a pair of threes to jumpstart Crean's squad. Senior power forward Marcus Jackson dominated inside for MU, pulling in a career-high 15 rebounds as Crean's inside rotation neutralized the Badgers' talented frontcourt.

Marquette is now 8-0 this season. Travis Diener is averaging better than 21 ppg on 46% shooting to go along with five assists and four rebounds. Dick Vitale finally noticed as well.

The victory over Wisconsin was a necessary complement to fine early-season wins over Air Force, Illinois State and Kent State. MU has only one out of conference road game this season, making each home game a near must-win.

MU has a week off for finals, and hits the hardwood again on Saturday when Arizona comes calling at the Bradley Center. MU will welcome Niv Berkowitz to the lineup next week -- a classic 'X' factor for Crean's squad this year. If Berkowitz can contribute as a backup PG and sometimes combo guard, Crean will have even more flexibility in how he uses Diener and the emerging sophomore, Dameon Mason.

In terms of program building, Travis Diener is to Tom Crean what Mateen Cleaves was to Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He's the 'glue'. Diener was a highly-recruited kid, yet arrived on campus with more than his share of skeptics. Barring injury, Travis Diener will leave Marquette as the university's all-time leader in scoring, three pointers made and perhaps free-throw percentage. He'll end up second on the all-time assists chart as well. Moreover, Diener has emerged as the cornerstone of the MU program -- proof that rural Wisconsin kids can excel at Marquette, proof that Crean can develop talent, and proof that the MU program is here to stay.

2004-12-09T23:08:00.000-05:00

Background Noise for Your White Trash Party
By the grace of God, I'll be in NYC on Saturday night drinking and partying with friends at a karaoke bar. I can't sing, but that's fine. If I enjoy enough beer, perhaps my vocal cords will magically sing in tune -- not unlike what happens when I play darts.

For those of you at home on Saturday night, I'd like to encourage you to throw an ol'fashioned White Trash Party for all of your friends. Here's the recipe: Get out your John Deerre gimme cap, Wrangler jeans, make some tuna salad, and drive your circa-1993 Pontiac Grand Am over to a rented double-wide manufactured home and tune into the insipid Dale Earnhart movie on ESPN.

For some reason, a high school dropout redneck who drove in circles for a living is a demigod to many. I'll never understand it. But its at least a reason to have a spectacular satirical party and laugh as Barry Pepper (a friggin Canadian, for cryin out loud) backtracks through evolution to deliver the performance of the weekend.

2004-12-08T22:34:00.000-05:00

The Waiting
Is the hardest part.....Marquette's Board of Trustees will take more time to evaluate the merits of a potential nickname change. Read about it here in the Milwaukee Urinal-Sentinel.

2004-12-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

Warriors or Golden Eagles -- a decision could be made today
Unconfirmed reports have the Marquette Board of Trustees deciding between Warriors and Golden Eagles later today. Onward Warriors!

It has been more than a decade since MU dropped Warriors in favor of Golden Eagles, and nearly 18 years since the last time a living mascot graced the floor of the old MECCA (a mascot that was created with the cooperation of the major tribes in Wisconsin). Folks are passionate about this issue, that's for sure.

More than enough time has passed on this one. MU can easily change the name back to Warriors and separate the nickname from Native American imagery. Change the name, and keep an eagle as a mascot. It works for Utah, as just one example.

2004-12-06T20:48:00.000-05:00

Random Thoughts

War is hell. The Washington Post's report on the madness in the last few moments of Pat Tillman's life is amazing. What a patriot, what a shame. Great reporting here.
Based on this report, anybody who has seen me lately will know that I have not been getting much sleep in these past few months.
Texas A&M is going back to the Cotton Bowl. As a kid, my dad took my brother and I to four Cotton Bowl games -- each of them memorable. Getting back to Dallas is significant for the A&M program -- despite losing 'major bowl' status, the Cotton Bowl is hugely appealing to the old Southwest Conference schools.
I can't get uptight about Cal getting squeezed out of the Rose Bowl. They've waited for nearly 60 years, so what's another decade or so? The Pac-10 stinks anyway, it was basically a two-team conference. The Big12 South was better than the Pac10 this year.
Travis Diener, the finest point guard in the nation, has a fairly severe ankle injury. I am one nervous Marquette hoops fan. If he's out for any length of time, Crean's squad will be wiped out of any post season opportunities. He last hurt his right ankle in the NIT - - and was laid up for nine weeks recovering.

2004-12-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Travis Diener is the Best Point Guard in the Nation
There is no doubt about it. Have any of you seen Raymond Felton -- he can't shoot a lick. Chris Paul -- this title is his next year, if he strings more than two good games together. Chris Thomas -- if his mouth kept up with his game, he'd be all-world.

Nevertheless, Diener rules the roost this year. His early season performances have propped up a less-than-great Marquette team, delivering a 7-0 record to date (albeit with just a few quality wins). There is no player in the nation who is more valuable to his team than Diener. MU is a ten win team without him.....with him, they are between 17 and 20 wins with a shot to dance in March.

To date, Diener is averaging better than 21 ppg to go with six assists, and four rebounds per game. He's a blistering 91% from the charity stripe and a stunning 50% from three-point land. Throw in an assist to turnover ratio of 2.5/1, and a measure of his heart & guts -- its easy to see that no point guard in the nation is better than Travis Diener.

2004-12-03T21:04:00.000-05:00

Boys and Girls -- be very scared of sex
The 'family values' of this Republican administration continue to emerge. Courtesy of the federally funded abstinence education program, America's youth are being brainwashed into accepting Puritanical beliefs about that nasty ol' sex thing. Who needs science when we have Republican principles to uphold!

2004-12-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

Jason Giambi as Heidi Kreiger
Yeah, you must remember Heidi Kreiger.....the 'roided up East German shot putter who was so full of steroids and hormones that she became disfigured and had to undergo a sex change operation.

Now, its Giambi's turn to admit he destroyed his body and his integrity. In testimony to a federal grand jury, the new 'Roid Boy admitted taking steriods for three season as well as testosterone and human growth hormone. Quite a cocktail, eh.

Time for Jason Giambi to look for a mansiere. He's already developed tumors from the performance enhancing treatments - and he's demonstrated that he can't perform at an elite level if he is playing clean. He's proven to be a first-class liar as well. At least he's taking George Steinbrenner's money.

What a fraud. Game 7 of the 2003 ALDS should no longer count, and he should turn in his tainted MVP award.

2004-12-01T21:48:00.000-05:00

Texas decides not to kill a poor African American?
To say I am stunned is an understatement. Nevertheless, Governor Rick Perry today blocked the execution of Frances Newton -- albeit for only 120 days. This is a case that further demonstrates why the despicable practice of capital punishment must be ceased until this nation figures out how to apply the ultimate punishment only after a fair, competent, and exhaustive process has been completed. Until then, the capricious, state-funded killings will remain the norm. At least George Ryan saw the light in Illinois.

With props to Norbizness, here are the details. Frances Newton was convicted of killing her husband and two kids back in 1987, but the case reeks of racism, a broken public defender system, lazy judges and arrogant prosecutors.

Let's take a look at the representation she received, courtesy of the great state of Texas, as reported in the Houston Chronicle:

"The attorney appointed to handle her 1988 trial was longtime Harris County defense lawyer Ron Mock. Mock has seen 16 clients sent to death row and frequently has been accused of doing shoddy work on capital cases, court records show. Newton said that, in the months leading up to the trial, Mock rarely spoke with her about her case. In a court hearing shortly before the trial, Mock said he had not filed any motions, spoken with any witnesses or submitted a list of possible witnesses to subpoena."
..........
According to Mock, ""I did 19 capital cases and I was tired," he said earlier this year. "I didn't want that case. (Judge) Charlie Hearn asked me to take it."....Mock has been barred from accepting court-appointed capital cases since 2001, when state legislators enacted landmark reforms in the way indigent legal defense is handled in Texas.

OK, so here is a woman about to pay the ultimate price -- and this was the clown who defended her? My goodness -- why does the state even employ prosecutors? Of course, there's much more to this -- evidence not considered, witnesses not interviewed, leads ignored -- the standard stuff for minorities on death row.

Anyway, please watch this closely. This case is still very scary, and very alive. Being a poor African-American woman on death row in Texas is about as bad as it gets. If you are interested in helping out, please go to Amnesty International and help keep up the pressure on the elected officials in Texas. Unless you think Frances Newton indeed had a fair trial and sound representation.

2004-11-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

"Warriors, come out to play-i-ay"
Despite the arrogant, out of touch editorial today by the consistently negative (towards Marquette) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, here's hoping Marquette's Board of Trustees votes to change the university's nickname back to Warriors from the current Golden Eagles.

The J-S has rarely, if ever, constructed a rational argument in support of MU policies. In this case, MU created a broad, public, inclusive process to investigate the nickname decision fully --- but the J-S didn't care enough to acknowledge that. Many thousands of alums and friends of MU participated in this process during the last month. Apparently none of these communities mattered to the lazy op-ed staff because they immediately defaulted to the Tribal Council's point of view as if the nickname choice out of MU's hands because of that council's opposition. And somehow the editors fabricated current student opinion on this matter, which is not a surprise.

Nice self-serving op-ed, J-S. The MU Board of Trustees meets next month, perhaps a decision will be made around that time.

2004-11-23T08:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from a lazy blogger
OK, times are hectic....family in town, work is rolling along, and free time is short. Nevertheless, Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy a safe holiday.

If you are bored this weekend, take a look at this. 'Mudge posted on this a few days ago, but as I mentioned above -- I'm just plain lazy. How about some faith-based NATIONAL parks folks? Many thanks to the Red States for emboldoned idiots like this, as well as an administration ignorant enough to ignore the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and tacitly stand behind a park ranger as he sells his faith-based book and preaches that the Grand Canyon was created during Noah's flood. Round up your animals, two-by-two!

Our cowardly administration refuses to take care of this mess, of course. Science is a mere nuisance to the current administration -- one that is unnecessarily complicating the powers of the Hand of God!

We're lucky that Darwin fella completed his work while different political ideologies were in power.

2004-11-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

Travis Diener is the Best Senior Point Guard in the Nation
And the second-best PG in the nation behind Wake Forest's stellar Chris Paul. And its clear that no player is more valuable to his team than Diener. Last night, Diener poured in 34 points, including 11 in a row in the second half when the game was in doubt, leading Marquette to a win over the Air Force Academy.

MU upped ts record to 3-0 on this young season with the victory, and Diener is off and running on what should be a spectacular and record-setting senior season. If Diener averages 17 ppg through the rest of the regular season and one CUSA tourney game, he'll pass George Thompson and become Marquette's all-time leading scorer. More than Butch Lee, Maurice Lucas, Don Kojis, Tony Smith, Doc Rivers, Jim Chones, Bo Ellis, etal etal. In addition, he'll end up as MU's top three-point shooter and #2 all time in assists. Remarkable.

In the first three games of the season, there are other encouraging signs for MU:

Steve Novak has improved his offensive repertoire with a solid mid-range game;
Marcus Jackson is healthy (finally) and appears to be a rebounding machine;
Ryan Amoroso is a promising freshman who can score;
Dameon Mason is off to a reasonable start -- he'll heat up as the season wears on;
Niv Berkowitz is waiting in the wings;
MU makes their free throws.

On the downside:

MU's 'bigs' can't score with their backs to the basket and are foul-prone;
The team is overly reliant on Diener;
Dameon Mason needs to produce within the flow of the offense;
MU is struggling to defend the perimeter -- again.

It'll be an interesting season for MU. This team will morph an evolve rapidly this year with so many newcomers seeing big minutes between now and the start of conference play. If Diener stays healthy, this squad has a shot (though it may be long) to eek out 20 wins.

2004-11-13T22:39:00.000-05:00

Bob Jones Reappears
More from the freaks who voted Bush back into the White House for another term. It's astonishing that people in America think like this -- invoking the name of God in making demands of the President of the United States.

Here are a few samples from an open letter from Bob to Bush:
"It is easy to rejoice today, because Christ has allowed you to be His servant in this nation for another presidential term. Undoubtedly, you will have opportunity to appoint many conservative judges and exercise forceful leadership with the Congress in passing legislation that is defined by biblical norm regarding the family, sexuality, sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and limited government. You have four years—a brief time only—to leave an imprint for righteousness upon this nation that brings with it the blessings of Almighty God."

The biblical norm? Obviously, those silly Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, and Hindus (among others) have no place in present-day American society. And apparently Christ allowed Bush to win -- I thought it was the rural, cultural conservatives who'd made the commitment to live poor and vote rich.

But wait, there's more love coming from the Christian right, "You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. Honor the Lord, and He will honor you."

Anyway, if Bob Jones knows what the Lord wants, and further knows how the Lord will reward our president with if he follows the Will of God --- shouldn't folks be praying to Bob Jones III on Sundays?

2004-11-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

Tom Crean Delivers Big Time
Marquette University will join the Big East conference next season, and Marquette head coach Tom Crean landed one of the program's most celebrated recruiting classes in the last 15 years. MU's biggest need was at point guard, and TC gained the commitment of Dominic James - one of the nation's top 10 high school points. James fills the biggest need, yet Crean referred to Wesley Matthews, Jr., as the program's top priority this time around. Matthews, whose father had a successful NBA career, matriculates to MU from Madison, WI. Jerel McNeal, a SF from the Chicago area, will bring tremendous athletic ability and defense to the program - - likely a steal for MU. Top it off with the shrewd signing of 6-5 Matt Mortenson from Utah (he'll be a freshman in 2007 after completing a Mormon mission), and there's reason to believe that Marquette will have a solid program for years to come.

2004-11-12T07:39:00.000-05:00

Time for Theo Epstein to go to work
In addition to being members of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Orlando Cabrera, Jason Varitek, and a few others are now free agents.

As always, the off-season will be busy in Boston. I'm guessing that Pedro and Varitek are back in Sox uniforms next season, while the others walk. We'll see....

2004-11-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

Movie Review from Hell
If I had any interest in seeing a full-length movie based on a book that I can read in 15 minutes, this review would have made me cry. But, I rather enjoyed reading this particularly scathing review of The Polar Express, courtesy of Manohla Dargis at the New York Times.

It seems that Mr. All-American Movie Guy, Tom Hanks, is nosediving off of the pedestal of popular film, about to hit rock-bottom and explode from the impact of de-cceleration trauma. From The Ladykillers to this? I think Tom needs to go back to his roots and commit to Bachelor Party 2: The Second Marriage (now that Tawny Kitaen hit the ugly tree and abused lefty Chuck Finley). Adrien Zmed and Barry Diamond can certainly use the money, and I'd like to see Hanks crawl behind the wheel of the infamous St. Gabriel school bus on his way to pick up chicks from Milt the bodyguard's pimp. If those names mean nothing to you, rent Bachelor Party.

Back to this review. Here's the quintessential exerpt:
"Tots surely won't recognize that Santa's big entrance in front of the throngs of frenzied elves and awe-struck children directly evokes, however unconsciously, one of Hitler's Nuremberg rally entrances in Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will." But their parents may marvel that when Santa's big red sack of toys is hoisted from factory floor to sleigh it resembles nothing so much as an airborne scrotum."

Ho-hum. Mudge speculates that the reviewer sounds like a cynical, angry Christian unhappy about Santa getting more attention that Jesus. You decide: "Essentially Mr. Van Allsburg's story is about faith, not in Jesus, but in the fat man in the red suit who pops around each year on Jesus' birthday." Mudge may be onto something!

2004-11-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

Small Town Small-Mindedness
Snook is a tiny town a few miles outside of the booming metropolis of College Station, Texas, that is home to the best kolaches on the planet and one of the best basketball programs in high school basketball history (10 state championships, including seven in a row at one point).

It appears that Snook has not progressed much since that last title in 1984 -- they've taken to banning the New Yorker magazine because a recent photo essay on political activism featured topless AIDS activists with the words, "STOP AIDS" painted on their torsos.

Apparently static electricity is to blame here - - see, the pages stuck together when the teachers evaluated the content. Nevertheless, this might be the only kind of electricity making it to Snook these days because there's no evidence of enlightenment from the superintendent's office. The school district immediately cancelled their usage of the New Yorker entirely and confiscated the Snook-defined smut. Texas Highways anyone?

So, 15 and 16 year-old high school sophomores are too immature to evaluate a photo essay on political activism during an election year? How sad. These photos were not erotic, nor is the magazine they appeared in. Essentially, these small town kids are robbed of an opportunity to evaluate art, activism, AIDS and provocative points of view because of a community that's terrified of nudity, regardless of the context. Another red state stands up for the values that make America great.

2004-11-09T07:38:00.000-05:00

The Dullest Crayola in the Drawer
This is a very apt description of prudish Americans, at least when it comes to evaluating and understanding pop culture trends and terminology. For instance, more than 25 years ago the forgettable Starland Vocal Band scored a huge hit with 'Afternoon Delight' proving that the American population rarely looks beneath the covers. The song, a less than clever homage to afternoon lovemaking, was a huge hit and spawned a short-lived television variety show. Somehow the Moral Majority missed this one.

Fast forward to the mid-80s with Frankie Goes to Hollywood's only hit single, 'Relax', which created a fashion trend as well (t-shirts bearing the term were ubiquitous). 'Relax' was a less than clever song about prolonging one's lovemaking abilities, encouraging folks to hold on during a song that had a ridiculously quick and loud bass line. America fell in love with the nifty little British guys singing this catchy tune, paying little mind to the hidden in plain sight sexual recommendation. Somehow the Moral Majority missed this one.

Come with me to New York City, 2004.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York officials were red-faced on Friday after they discovered that clothing ads on city buses that appeared to promote reading suggested a love of books could be rewarded with oral sex.

The advertisements that ran on about 200 buses across the city in recent months carried posters displaying a suggestively posed woman in hot pants kneeling among a pile of books beside the snappy slogan "Read Books, Get Brain." What unhip, unsuspecting local transportation officials did not know was that "get brain" is street slang for oral sex.

The ads, promoting hip-hop clothes from Akademiks, appeared on NYC buses and subways beginning in September. Nevertheless it's a good thing the swift folks at the MTA were paying attention -- now this smut has been removed, which is nice because according to a spokesperson the ads were "demeaning women." Gay men, take note. Hilariously, the MTA thought the ads promoted not only a new clothing line, but literacy as well.

Generational ignorance is surely the biggest issue here, as our hero, the MTA's Tom Kelly, confirmed when conducting focus groups to better determine the appeal and content of the ads:

"I went downstairs to the mailroom and showed some of the young guys a copy of the ad," he said. "I was watching their faces and they all start smirking.

"Apparently it's on all the music, in music that's how they refer to it," Kelly said. "I didn't know anything about it and I'm sure the people that approved the ad didn't."

The MTA. America's belated cultural conscience.

2004-11-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

Back at it
Ok, one week in between blogs is the lazy man's way. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the election results were disappointing (though not unexpected). I guess we'll all have to start spreading the Gospel and repeatedly commanding our elected officials to offer their personal perspectives on John 3:16 if this nation is to make progress in the next four years.

But after a week away, I can't rehash the election. The Sunday papers around this fine God-fearing, Christian nation did just that today. Now its time for the New Testament (or the Enlightened Second Term), and its heartening to see the Christian leader of this Blessed Land using the 'capital' he built up in the election cycle to move swiftly to annihilate those heathens in Fallujah. Praise the Lord, Bush the Unenlightened has more lies, guns and 'capital' to use in taking over emaciated desert nations.

However, for your entertainment and distraction, I wanna recommend Bravo's new 100 Scariest Movie Moments special. As luck would have it, I stumbled on part of the countdown over the weekend and soon realized how much time I've been wasting doing my job and enjoying the family -- I've missed so many of these darn thrillers, I don't know if I'll ever get around to seeing them all.

The television special is better than the list on the Web, which amounts to a rundown of movie titles. I thought the point of the countdown was the top 100 moments, not a list of movie titles, but I suppose the good folks over at Bravo would rather you watch the boob tube instead.

Among the more entertaining clips I viewed over the weekend (and with TiVo's help, I might get through them all sometime soon):

the vomiting dead girl appearing in Haley Joel Osment's tent in the Sixth Sense;
the no-longer drowned guy in the tub as he pops out his fake eyeballs in The Diabolique;
the bit in The Thing where Kurt Russell delivers amps to a petri dish of blood exposing the mutant while the crew is tied up in a row and he can't get the flamethrower lit - - what a great scene;
the final scene in The Vanishing -- I hate it when protagonists are stupid;

Anyway, this is list is fun. I need to see how the top 30 fared though -- I see that Jaws topped the list while The Exorcist was mired in third place. But which scenes? The Exorcist was a much scarier film. Oh well, the voters must have recounted their ballots after the election last week. In today's America, a fictional Satan can't top any list.

2004-10-31T20:13:00.000-05:00

As the weekend closes...
It's a pleasure to note that the Boston Red Sox are the 2004 World Series Champions. On the trick or treat route this evening, my Bosox hat screamed out like Nathaniel Hawthorne's scarlet letter. I'll wear this one with more pride than ever - - its as if nobody in the neighborhood recognized the logo during any of the past seven years. It'll be my pleasure to remind them often.

Oh, there' s a big election on Tuesday. Get out and vote.

2004-10-29T07:53:00.000-04:00

Watching a Trainwreck
I've gotta hand it to the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox. New York still can't get over the historic defeat you dealt them, and now that the you disposed of the Cardinals, the Yankee fan base is inconsolable.

Consider:
* 1050 ESPN Radio's Michael Kay, longtime Yankee beat writer and broadcaster, claimed to become physically ill watching the Red Sox win the World Series in such convincing fashion. This from a guy who claims he is not a Yankees fan.
* On WFAN, Mike Francesa continued his diet of crow through last night's drive-time show. Keep in mind, the Giants and the Jets have games this weekend, yet New York City's most popular sports radio program is talking about a Boston team. Francesa was the chump who guaranteed a Yankees win in ALCS Game 7 ('not on Mickey Mantle's birthday', 'not in our house', 'some things in life are certain -- the Yankees will always beat the Red Sox'). To his credit, Francesa is taking on all comers this week. And there are many, many of those.
* On the Mac & Sid show on WFAN, the twisted mind of the Yankee fan was exposed further. Yankees fans were actually more upset about the Red Sox winning the World Series than they were about losing to the Sox along the way.
* Can you guess what the lead sports story on the local 11pm news was last night? Yes -- the Red Sox.

It is with great satisfaction that I continue to listen and view this urban angst. Victory is indeed sweet -- but so is the lingering malaise and utter confusion blanketing so much of the Yankees fan base. Go Sox!

2004-10-27T23:47:00.000-04:00

"History be damned!!!We are World Champs!!!"
That. Was. Awesome. "Time for the Nation to rejoice. Time to dance. Time to go to your window, open it wide, stick your head out and scream, 'The Red Sox won the World Series.' "

On a night when Busch Stadium sounded like Fenway Park West, I don't really know what to do. I am numb, literally. Tonight was quiet -- I enjoyed the game silently in my basement with the Red Sox Hawaiian Shirt/New Fitted Cap Mojo. And the mojo generated from the pilgrimage to Game 2 was more than worth it now, as if there was ever a doubt.

Derek Lowe, you sacked up tonight. Keith Foulke, you did what you were signed up to do. Manny Ramirez, nothing gets you down and wow can you hit. Papi, I am glad the Twins gave up on you. Pedro, extraordinary. Johnny Damon, you've converted thousands if not millions. Trot, clutch. Cabrera, you make every play. Schilling, wow. Tito, every move you made worked. On and on and on.

Where it began
I can't begin to knowin'
But then I know its growin' strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believed you'd come along
Hands, touchin' hands
Reachin' out
Touchin' me Touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would

Many thanks to Gramps for sharing a few moments on the phone to revel in the moment. As he pointed out, we brought the team a measure of good luck. Many thanks to 'Mudge for calling me from a bar in Boston as Foulke made the final out, and then for calling again from somewhere in Back Bay as the crowd made its way to Fenway. The euphoria I heard over the speaker phone each time was sublime....two more terrific memorie to add to the magic of this incredible October.

The Boston Red Sox are the 2004 World Series Champions.

And don't forget....
I'm gonna tell you a story
I'm gonna tell you about my town
I'm gonna tell you a big bad story, babyAww,
it's all about my town
Yeah, down by the river
Down by the banks of the river Charles (aw, that's what's happenin' baby)
That's where you'll find me
Along with lovers, fuggers, and thieves (aw, but they're cool people)
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, you're the Number One place)
Frustrated women (I mean they're frustrated)
Have to be in by twelve o'clock (oh, that's a shame)
But I'm wishin' and a-hopin, oh
That just once those doors weren't locked (I like to save time formy baby to walk around)
Well I love that dirty water
Oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, yeah)
Because I love that dirty water
Oh, oh, Boston, you're my home (oh, yeah)
Well, I love that dirty water (I love it, baby)
I love that dirty water (I love Baw-stun)
I love that dirty water (Have you heard about the Strangler?)
I love that dirty water (I'm the man, I'm the man)
I love that dirty water (Owww!)
I love that dirty water (Come on, come on)

2004-10-26T23:38:00.000-04:00

Game Three
Fresh from the Game 2 Fenway Park experience, I returned to the trusty basement with my RedSox Hawaiian Shirt/New BoSox Fitted Cap Mojo. Much is going right for the Red Sox in this series, and I realize my basement mojo has nothing to do with it. But still, things are really clicking for this Red Sox team. I viewed Game 3 as the swing game......Pedro was the last starter that the Sox would throw at the Cards who would provide the good guys with a decided advantage on the mound. After this game, it'd be about the bats and the bullpens. And it still might be.

But I don't care about that right now, because the Red Sox are up 3-0 in the 2004 World Series.

What an incredible performance tonight by Pedro Martinez. If folks wondered about his Red Sox legacy, tonight's performance will expand the pool of the converted. Seven shutout innings in his first World Series effort on the road against a prolific offense. His stuff was extraordinary after Jeff Suppan created his own Seinfeld episode, 'NO SUPPAN FOR YOU!', courtesy of the fine posters over on the Sons of Sam Horn. Somehow the Cardinals forgot that they are a sound National League team and began running the bases like Ken Macha's Oakland A's in the 2003 ALDS. Fundamental baseball killed the Cards tonight but was a non-factor for the Sox in games one and two. Go figure.

Regardless, the Sox lineup is incredible. No Cardinals starter has lasted through the fifth inning yet this series. The Sox bats are relentless in working pitchers - - full counts are routine, as are foul balls. These guys see more pitches than most lineups and its paying off handsomely. That said, the Sox only scored four runs tonight -- so the Cards 'pen did hold the line after the early jailbreak on Suppan.

But with Pedro's dominance tonight, four runs felt more like six or seven as no Cardinal reached base until the 9th inning after the Suppan gaffe way back in the 3rd. Why the Cardinals didn't make a point of working Pedro deeper into counts, I'll never know. Of course, they might not have had to do that if Suppan knew a bit about baserunning, and if Manny Ramirez had failed to make that wonderful throw to nail Walker at the plate in the first inning.

Go Sox.

2004-10-26T13:18:00.000-04:00

Worthwhile reading
Here's a shout-out to a friend and fellow member of Red Sox Nation, Steve. A former journalist and lifelong Red Sox fan, he penned this riveting personal account of life as seen through the eyes of a Sox fan for Boston Magazine. Give this one a read, its terrific. And Go Sox!

2004-10-25T21:39:00.000-04:00

Game 2
Losing was not part of the script for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Not on this night.

The confidence of Red Sox Nation was evident as soon as Gramps and I pulled into the parking lot on Landsdowne Street, directly behind the Green Monster. ‘Go Sox’ donned windows in cars and buildings alike as fans excitedly filled their afternoon with beer, street meat, souvenirs, and occasional chants. There was joy in Mudville, that was clear.

On Saturday, the Sox won despite repeated attempts to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. Historically in big games, those same attempts were granted without exception. Big deal. This was different, it felt different - - a confident but not cocky atmosphere that provided a little hop in everybody’s step around the Fens. And in Game Two the Red Sox would go to battle with Curt Schilling – he of the sutures, bloody socks and immeasurable heart and guts. As I said before, losing was not part of the script.

Moreover, my grandfather and I were at this game. As you know by now, Gramps is an 82 year-old Red Sox fan who was successful in recruiting me to the Nation about thirty years ago. At times I’ve smarted over that decision, particularly since moving to New York in 1996 and promptly watching the Yankees run off their most successful stretch in nearly four decades. But, on this night, I remembered why I’d grown so passionate for the Red Sox.

At its core, baseball is a simple, beautiful game. It is played on grass, in the outdoors, without a clock or a timetable. Momentum can change in an instant, and often does. Despite the large expanse of the outfield, baseball is often a game of inches, nuance and instinct – the kind of minutiae best appreciated from years of boxscore analysis, statistical comparisons, watching game after game after game.

But to truly appreciate the depths to which baseball appeals to the studious nature of many fans, one must account for the passion it generates. Passion for the game magnifies the experience. For me, the passion is rooted in childhood when my grandparents and my folks took my brother and I to games in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, alternating summer to summer. For kids living in the south, the visits to New England every summer were the highlights of our year - - largely because of the baseball element. Despite living more than a thousand miles away, baseball provided a connection to my grandparents, a thread that continues to this day.

Certain memories stand out. In 1979, Gramps and Grandma took my brother and my folks to a game in Fenway. On this day George Brett hit three homers (ok, I had to look that up on the Web - - I didn’t remember the year initially, but I did remember Brett’s performance), but that’s not what we remember about the game. We all remember the sweltering, oppressive heat, and the mustard Gramps was sprayed with when somebody stepped on one of those miniature condiment packets. I still remember the shirt Gramps wore -- it was one of those John Newcombe polo-style shirts with that odd logo of a moustached man blinking back at you.

Despite being all of ten years old, this game is seared into my memory (not only because of the heat). The combination of family, baseball, anticipation, and the feel for the game remains with me today.

Last night, more than 25 years later, was my turn. Sure, I nearly had to mortgage my home to afford the tickets to Game Two of the World Series, but it was worth it. How often does one spend money knowing that many positive, lifelong memories will follow? Money well spent.

After waiting out the early drizzle in the car by reading our World Series programs and eating a predictably scrumptious Italian sausage, Gramps and I made it through the crowds and into Fenway Park – Gate C, out in centerfield. Jimmy Fallon walked in right before us; weird dude.

There were some great signs at Fenway too, including my two faves:
'World Series ticket: $70
World Series program: $15
2004 New York Yankee World Series Tickets: WORTHLESS'

.....and .....

'Quien es tu Papi?'

Anyway, we enjoyed a quick beer before heading to our seats - - Section 37, Row 36, Seats 9-10. Soon after, three Sox legends tossed out the ceremonial first pitches: Dominic DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky and Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr. Again, losing was not part of the script.

Once we settled into, we did not move. In fact, Gramps and I did not miss a single pitch on this night. It was as if neither of us wanted to take a way from the experience - - beers and bathrooms could wait. Of course, Mother Nature was a bit rough; the wind howled ferociously throughout the game from our perch near the top of Fenway Park (our seats were actually higher than the Green Monster). Gramps was so bundled up he felt like Ralphies’ younger brother Randy from A Christmas Story.

Our seats were underneath and slightly behind the enormous centerfield scoreboard. To see this on TV, you’d think we were watching from a spot on Beacon Hill. Truth be told, the seats provided terrific views of the action because of the compressed nature of the park. The fans around us were terrific. At Fenway, beer can only be secured by leaving your seat and heading to the concession stands…on a night in the 40s with a huge wind, there was little incentive to run laps to the beer stand. The atmosphere in the ‘bleachers’ was akin to what you’d expect in box seats: smart, knowledgeable fans who were pleasant enough to spend a few hours with.

Gramps is definitely one of those smart fans. Throughout the game, we talked baseball, discussed some of the trends we noted as the game unfolded. We were both pleased to see the Sox deliver three clutch hits with two outs, to see several batters grind out walks after being down 0-2, and to see the remarkably Polish Doug Mienkiewicz enter the game as a defensive replacement. Of course, we also wondered why the heck Bill Mueller could not field a ball cleanly on this night, and couldn’t believe the luck Mueller had when he tagged out Reggie Sanders in the second inning to end the Cardinals’ biggest threat of the night. We talked about little else through the roughly 3:30 minute game - - yet the conversation was never forced or labored. It was a natural.

The Sox won. Curt Schilling was sensational. Red Sox Nation erupted as the Cards went in order to end the game, sending the good guys to St. Louis with a 2-0 lead in the Series.

A Red Sox win was the only possible outcome tonight. As we piled into the car to head back to New Britain, CT, we began an active conversation that took us through to our 2:15am arrival at his house. I don’t remember much of what we discussed on the ride home, but the time flew by as we closed out a classic experience; the kind that only baseball can provide.

2004-10-25T08:37:00.000-04:00

"BLAIR GRAMPS AT FENWAY MOJO IS ON!!"
There was no way the Red Sox were losing Game Two last night. None. I'll get back to the blog this evening with details - - Fenway in late October is one special place. Go Sox!

2004-10-24T01:15:00.000-04:00

One down, and now I am on my way to Fenway Park
Game One game was ugly, ugly, ugly...the Sox walk away with an 11-9 win in Game One of the 2004 World Series. Despite six walks, four errors and at least a dozen runners left on base, the Sox pulled it out. Imagine if the Red Sox actually played well (of course, Cards fans would rightfully ask us to imagine what would have happened had Rolen and Pujols actually hit).

Now, its my turn to join the fun. A few days ago I opened up a second mortgage on the home (well, just about) and bought a pair of tickets for Game 2 of the 2004 World Series. I had to do it - - I had no choice. This might not happen again. All the better, I'll be joined at the game with my 82 year-old grandfather.

My grandfather and my grandmother are the reasons I am such a huge Red Sox fan. My father is a lifelong Yankees fan, but as a kid, my grandparents worked some magic and pulled me into their camp. Most interestingly, my family hails from New Britain, CT, which is exactly 111 miles from Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. Is it any wonder the family is divided on our choice of baseball teams?

Regardless, I am thrilled to treat my Gramps to a World Series game. Here's a lifelong Red Sox fan who has never seen his team win the World Series. Think about that! And here I am -- family man, balding, and rapidly aging -- still able to enjoy my grandfather for something as special as a Red Sox World Series. Priceless stuff. Look for us in the centerfield bleachers.

Go Sox.

2004-10-21T01:55:00.000-04:00

Happiness
Congratulations to the 2004 American League Champion Boston Red Sox. Extraordinary. Many thanks to 'Mudge for joining me for this marvelous experience. This is marvelous, just wonderful. Wow.

The Greatest Comeback in Major League Baseball History.

Thank you, Mike Lupica. "The Red Sox finished off their miracle and finished off the Yankees and officially became one of the best stories of all time, in any sport, in any ballpark or arena where a team is told that you are never supposed to give up........"

The Greatest Comeback in Major League Baseball History.

2004-10-20T01:25:00.000-04:00

Red Sox Win Game 6 of the ALCS
An introduction to the evening, with a bit of forshadowing.....and we had no idea Roy Hobbs was about to take the mound for the Red Sox.

RedSox DieHard: I have a bad feeling. Talk me down
BLAIR: get over it
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: That's what I want to hear, baby
BLAIR: Jon Lieber will become John Burkett right before our eyes
BLAIR: ‘Mudge is here tonight. Watching the game at my place
RedSox DieHard: Ha... I got the '67 glass on the coffee table
BLAIR: the logic: the Sox are on the road, so is he
RedSox DieHard: I still feel like s**t... I don't like it
BLAIR: sorry u feel like s**t
BLAIR: but the Sox will deliver
BLAIR: there is no way the Red Sox will not prevail

BLAIR: and I am wearing a new shirt. a new BoSox shirt
RedSox DieHard: Not a need for a new shirt
RedSox DieHard: Did you wear a Sox shirt last nite?
BLAIR: No
RedSox DieHard: You must repeat everything from last nite
BLAIR: i can't do that
BLAIR: my diaper was a disposable

RedSox DieHard: Make ‘Mudge go home
RedSox DieHard: ‘Mudge, you're messing up the mojo!... LOL
BLAIR: NFW
BLAIR: he is not
BLAIR: the Sox are on the road. so is ‘Mudge
RedSox DieHard: Don't listen to me. I'm certifiable by this point
RedSox DieHard: OK, I buy it
RedSox DieHard: It's so warm and humid here I had to close the windows and put on the AC. Neighborhood happy -- won't hear me screaming tonite
BLAIR: oh yes they will
RedSox DieHard: :-)

And so it goes. The Boston Red Sox sacked up tonight at Yankee Stadium and have improbably forced a seventh game in this year's ALCS.

Curt Schilling was brilliant. He was dominant with his command, velocity and location through seven full innings. Most interestingly, his stuff seemed to get better after the fourth inning. A performance for the ages - - - bleeding through his uniform like Roy Hobbs. Guts, pure guts.

Foulke: sacked up. Bronson Arroyo: sacked up.

Game 7 awaits. October baseball is extraordinary.

2004-10-18T23:31:00.000-04:00

Red Sox Win Game 5
An underrated way to spend an evening watching the ALCS is as follows:
1) Watch the network broadcast of the game;
2) Use instant messenger technology to counsel fellow fans through the ups and downs of baseball;
3) Get used to limiting your bodily functions to short commercial breaks;
4) Follow the in-game thread on the Sons of Sam Horn web site -- there were some 80+ pages on this thread tonight through the 14 inning affair. Hilarious stuff.

Without further adieu, here is a chronicle of Game 5 immediately after David Ortiz' 8th inning bomb pulled the Red Sox to within one run at 4-3. The sofa was a key element here, as was the 1967 Impossible Dream collectible glass, the typos ('hte' rather than 'the' - - this happened early in the game - - to correct it would have disrupted the cosmos and angered the baseball gods), the repeated phraseology, and our wives' support. Keep in mind that RedSox DieHard did not have his ThinkPad with him during the actual gametime. He had to be on the sofa. You'll catch on.... and if you want more, visit the Chronic Curmudgeon

(Ortiz homers)
RedSox DieHard: He's GOD!!!!!!!!!
BLAIR: greatest red sox player ever
RedSox DieHard: Going back to sofa. Brings good luck
BLAIR: that is NOT a coincidence
BLAIR: gimme a baserunner
BLAIR: dave roberts time
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Roberts -- MVP
RedSox DieHard: Back to sofa....
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: mueller is up
BLAIR: ugh
RedSox DieHard: Ha, Rivera!
RedSox DieHard: Already. No choice
BLAIR: mueller v. rivera again
RedSox DieHard: This is un-fckg-believable. Couldn't make this up
BLAIR: remember one thing
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: i belieeeeeeeeeeeve
RedSox DieHard: Baxck to sofa,,,
BLAIR: good
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: i belieeeeeeeeeeeve
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: tie game
BLAIR: ok
BLAIR: phew
RedSox DieHard: I'm going to get the '67 glass
BLAIR: lol
BLAIR: on the sofa only, please
BLAIR: u are gonnas save us
RedSox DieHard: OK. Sierra Nevada in the glass. Back to sofa
BLAIR: ok, hurry up
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: SACK UP FOULKE (‘sack up’ as in have some cajones; get a spine. Toughen up)
BLAIR: SACK UP FOULKE
BLAIR: SACK UP FOULKE
RedSox DieHard: Foulk'n stud!!!!!!!!!!!
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: MVP: Carl Yastrzemski. Cy Young: Jim Lonborg Manager of year: Dick Williams
BLAIR: SACK UP FOULKE
RedSox DieHard: What a f**ng game!!!!!!
RedSox DieHard: This game and the game in general
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Hope you're right, my friend
BLAIR: I am right. hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Damon wins it with HR
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Back to sofa
BLAIR: bye
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Torture
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: i am pissed at Cabrera
BLAIR: he friggin bailed out on that first pitch from FruitBat (aka Mariano Rivera)
RedSox DieHard: He should have gotten bat on that
BLAIR: stay in the box, Orlando
BLAIR: at least stay on the pitch
RedSox DieHard: Yes
BLAIR: dont clearout for the catcher
RedSox DieHard: What a throw by Posada
BLAIR: it was
BLAIR: quick tag, nice play all around
BLAIR: but remember
RedSox DieHard: Arroyo
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: NOT ARROYO
BLAIR: THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOOD
BLAIR: BUT
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Back to sofa
BLAIR: BYE
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Oh man
BLAIR: Saturn Balls (aka Bronson Arroyo) sacked up
BLAIR: please do not throw that pitch again...please
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Ha
BLAIR: i cant say this more emphatically, hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: By god, I hope you're right
BLAIR: I am right
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Florida Evans coming up, could give us good times (we're talking about David Ortiz here)
BLAIR: i like Esther Rolle
RedSox DieHard: Ha
RedSox DieHard: Same person of course
BLAIR: apparently so
BLAIR: i am not the 70s popculture afficianodo that u are
BLAIR: but
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: The wife on King of Queens is hot
BLAIR: yes
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Sofa...
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: bye
RedSox DieHard: (Herdeia. LOL)
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
RedSox DieHard: Quantrill can't have sht.
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Oh god. Oh god.Oh god.Oh god.Oh god.Oh god.Oh god.
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Sofa
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: bye
RedSox DieHard: F**k
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: but that was a big missed opp
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Yeah, big miss
BLAIR: get to the sofa
RedSox DieHard: Sofa
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Why not Arroyo????????
BLAIR: i dunno
RedSox DieHard: Oh f**ck
BLAIR: matsui is hitting frickin .500
BLAIR: but i dontlike it
RedSox DieHard: F**k
RedSox DieHard: Sofa
BLAIR: bye
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Francona is doing some serious managing
RedSox DieHard: Not sure I agree with everything, but it's working
BLAIR: Dr. Evil (aka Mike Myers) gets the job done.
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Get your bleeping pitches down Embree
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: get back to the sofa, dude
BLAIR: right f*****g now
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Yes like that Embree
RedSox DieHard: OK, back to sofa
BLAIR: bye
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: EEEEEAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
BLAIR: nice
RedSox DieHard: Wow
RedSox DieHard: Gotta score now. Enough of this
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: get back to the sofa, dude
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Nice, Damon
BLAIR: wow
BLAIR: oh my gosh, did that suck (Damon pops up a bunt)
RedSox DieHard: Just horrible
BLAIR: good thing posada didnt let it drop
BLAIR: no mind
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Ha
BLAIR: they will, Steve
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Do they have anyone left in pen after Loaiza?
BLAIR: Ricky Vaughn
RedSox DieHard: Hmm
BLAIR: get to the sofa, dude
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: ughn
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: OK, c ya
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Thanks Damon
BLAIR: man, this stinks
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: get back to the sofa, dude
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: I can't believe I'm gonna get to bed late tonite for a game that started at 5:10
BLAIR: i was just thinkin the same thing
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: I have had it with Manny
RedSox DieHard: Just had it
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: faith
BLAIR: keep it
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: never a doubt
RedSox DieHard: K, Manny, Ortiz coming up
BLAIR: this is merely a test of faith
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: get back to the sofa, dude
RedSox DieHard: After commercial
BLAIR: ok
RedSox DieHard: Bye bye
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: wow, ortiz was safe
RedSox DieHard: I am so sick of bleeping Derek Jeter and lameass incompetent umpires
BLAIR: frustrating to lose two runners in the extra frames
BLAIR: but
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Sox have blown too many chances
RedSox DieHard: I'm losing faith
BLAIR: dont lose faith. hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: no doubt about it
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Another 5-hour-long game
BLAIR: i know
RedSox DieHard: We've been doing this since 5:10
BLAIR: i was supposed to do tons around the house tonight
BLAIR: and so it goes
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Sofa
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: do u believe me now? hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Uncle. Make this game stop
BLAIR: get back to the sofa
BLAIR: now
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: C ya
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: I do not understand why Varitek is still in there
BLAIR: GET BACK TO THE SOFA NOW
BLAIR: I WILL BLAME U
RedSox DieHard: Sorry
BLAIR: U WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YEAR #87
BLAIR: GOGOGO
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: ok, u can leave the sofa now
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: They HAVE to reward Wakefield now. Come on guys!!!
BLAIR: a tremendous effort by Wakefield
BLAIR: amazing stuff
RedSox DieHard: Who's up -- Bellhorn, Damon, Cabrera I think
BLAIR: no clue
RedSox DieHard: LOL
BLAIR: its all a fog for me
BLAIR: its raining here now
RedSox DieHard: Never seen a game quite like this
BLAIR: i have to walk the dog and take out the trash
RedSox DieHard: If Sox win, tomorrow could be a rainout
BLAIR: i was supposed to do that hours ago
RedSox DieHard: My wife went to bed
BLAIR: mine too
RedSox DieHard: Didn't come up and say goodnight. She said she was afraid to
BLAIR: my wife is right here next to me
BLAIR: she is sleeping in my spot
BLAIR: she didnt even ask me to move
BLAIR: or to turn off the lights
BLAIR: I appreciate that kind of recognition
RedSox DieHard: My wife is used to this. She just stays away. She also thinks she's bad luck
RedSox DieHard: :-)
RedSox DieHard: My cat ran sway scared hours ago
BLAIR: my dog is sleeping, thankfuly
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonight
RedSox DieHard: Sofa
BLAIR: go to the sofa
BLAIR: ha! hte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: hte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonighthte Red Sox will win tonight
BLAIR: Papi wins it!

...and so it goes. The Sox are still alive. And I still believe.

In closing.....courtesy of SOSH site earlier today
"Yep, my team is down to a desperate struggle. A one win-at-a-time climb from the grave to a new life. Perhaps, by this time tomorrow evening, the MFYs will have laid mercy at our miserable doors. And their fans will rejoice at yet again riding the "curse" or the "ghosts" or "mystique" and "aura".

Yet these same souls were at the stadium for Henry Cotto and Jesse Barfield and Britt Burns...er, no they weren't. They were likely Mets fans. Because that is how it is in New York or other cities (or states of mind) where it doesn't matter. You can choose your affiliations at leisure. But not in Boston.

I am a Red Sox fan. I cheer until they win it all, or the final out. It is a condition, not a choice. And if the final out comes before the championship, I wait five months and start again. And that is what truly defines my existence as a Red Sox fan. Through thick and thin, through the ugliest of the ugly, I still come back for more.

In the land of milk and honey and $185MM payrolls they may have other names for it (e.g. sucker, masochist, idiot). But here, where it counts, I know what I am. A Red Sox fan.

And I believe they can win four in a row. "

2004-10-18T18:35:00.000-04:00

Rating the Point Guards
Unlike that clown Dook Vitale, Gregg Doyel does his homework when evaluating talent. His list of the top 10 point guards is solid & well thought out. You just can't argue with Chris Paul as the top PG in the nation. My only issue is with Deron Williams being slotted as the #2 point guard in the nation - - I'd take Diener or Lucas over Williams. Lucas and Diener are better shooters/scorers - -and they've both helped their programs reach the Final Four.

Travis Diener, as noted by Doyel, is the best shooting PG in the nation. However, Diener not only led C-USA in scoring last seaosn -- he did the same in assists. Moreover, he has one of the best A/TO ratios of any PG in the nation (which is pretty amazing considering last season MU did not have a suitable backup PG). If MU can top 20 wins in the upcoming campaign, there's no reason Travis Diener should not be an All-American at the end of the season.

2004-10-18T06:01:00.000-04:00

Prolonging the agony?
As I woke up this morning, I was greeted with the news of the Red Sox' spectacular come-from-behind victory over Darth's Minions last night (had I decided to burn the midnight oil and take in the conclusion of the game, the Sox would have lost - of this I am certain).

While it's nice to know that the Sox found a way not to be swept, its too early for optimism. The fact is, Pedro Martinez pitching on short rest against a team that owns him is not a recipe for extending the series. Stranger things have happened -- but in baseball, momentum and enthusiasm are short-lived. The ability of Major League players to quickly move on from either a heartbreaking defeat or a thrilling victory is one of the most appealing aspects of the game. Down 3-1, the Red Sox have to start over today. A win today would make things interesting, but a loss would prove yet again that momentum in baseball is short-lived and quickly forgotten.

2004-10-15T08:19:00.000-04:00

College Hoops is Just Around the Corner
Now that my interest in MLB is over, college basketball has emerged to save me from a preoccupation with what might have been had Schilling been healthy for the LCS. For hoops fans, today is a magical day....its the first day of basketball practice for most universities, including everybody's favorite -- Marquette University. Led by senior All-American point guard Travis Diener (he lead C-USA in scoring and assists as a junior), sharp shooting Steve Novak, and promising sophomore Dameon Mason (his emergence during the conference slate last year was impressive - - just ask any Louisville fan), MU has a chance to be pretty good this year.

Much of their success will be based on the play of three incoming big men, Ousmane Barro, Ryan Amoroso and Mike Kinsella. MU does not return any starters from the low blocks, and these three will have a chance to play right away. Returning senior Marcus Jackson, never healthy during a disappointing junior season, will also command minutes but is limited offensively (ditto for Chris Grimm). Nevertheless, Crean needs to find an inside rotation from this group that will allow MU to defend and rebound consistently - - and hopefully pose some nominal threat on offense. Otherwise, MU will be strictly a jumpshooting team this season. In some games that will work - - Diener and Novak are the best pair of shooters in the nation - - but ultimately, Crean's crew will need to improve on the blocks.

The X-factors seem to be Barro and Israeli standout point guard Niv Berkowitz. Barro immigrated to the States from Senegal, but never played high school ball here. As a high school senior two years ago, he was compared favorably to Pittsburgh's Chris Taft - - and he's a helluva player. Barro seems to be a high-ceiling player, but will he be a consistent contributor in 2004-2005?

Berkowitz is an interesting story. He's the son of former UNLV star Mickey Berkowitz, and he wowed scouts this summer in international play. He signed with MU despite never visiting the campus, and will be eligible on December 18. Based on the few reports I've read, he's an athletic point guard, the kind of player that Crean could rely on when Diener needs a rest at the very least. If he's more than that, say Crean can expand his rotation and play Diener at the 2G slot, MU could create matchup problems for most opponents.

2004-10-14T06:53:00.000-04:00

Voter Fraud: Important Update for any Concerned Voter
OK folks, we have a problem. The RNC is using shadow organizations to marginalize or eliminate the Democratic vote. What's shocking here is that similar accounts of voter fraud are surfacing in key battleground states, independent of each other: Nevada, Oregon, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.

Please mobilize to spread the word on this. Call your congressperson, write to the Department of Justice, forward the information to undecided voters. The Snarky Cat has all of the details. Nice going, Snarky.

2004-10-13T06:31:00.000-04:00

Red Sox-Yankees, ALCS Game One
Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Yesterday was one of those days. Partially as a reward for a job well done from years gone by, the Chronic Curmudgeon scored a pair of tickets to last night's ALCS opener between the Red Sox and Vader's minions. I was lucky enough to join him for the game.

This was my first MLB playoff experience & despite the Red Sox loss it was quite a blast. There's nothing like a packed stadium in October when the games mean so much. Too bad the Sox blew it, or I'd have more to say. Frankly my wife best summed it up early this morning when she simply asked, "Did they lose?" It seems I am making progress in conveying the finer points of the heritage of Red Sox Nation to her.

As such, for tonight's game I can't imagine Pedro delivering in front of 55K pleasant New Yorkers yelling, 'Who's your daddy!". He's a head case.

For an account of our experience last night, please visit the 'Mudge.

2004-10-12T07:45:00.000-04:00

Groundhog Day
I began blogging just over a year ago because of baseball. Specifically, because of the promise of the 2003 Red Sox which predictably spiraled down into a nightmare that a fiction writer could not imagine.

Yet here we are again in the 2004 ALCS, Yankees v. Red Sox. As much as baseball completely unnerves me this time of year (when it comes to the Red Sox) and my faith the the Olde Town team is routinely tested (I fail that test every time), I would not have it any other way. For some 85 years, the Yankees have owned the Red Sox - - they've had better players, better owners, better managers and better management.

Perhaps the tide is turning; I just don't know. I made the mistake of allowing myself to believe in 2003. I can't take the bait again.

But I do know that adding Curt Schilling to the rotation (essentially at the expense of John Burkett) is a net gain to the Red Sox, while Lieber in place of Pettite or Clemens is a net loss for the Yankees. But I also know that Mike Mussina is terrific against the Red Sox -- he always has been, particularly in a big spot. So, we have a huge game tonight, but they're all big this time of year. I just don't think the Red Sox can win this series unless they win game one. Pedro will implode in Game 2, of that I am certain.

Let's get this series started. Oh, and by the way......The Red Sox are dooooooomed.

2004-10-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

Congrats to the Vice City Vultures
My good buddy the Chronic Curmudgeon is now the champion of the FLAKS fantasy baseball league. 'Mudge was exceptional this year, stretching his lead to an unprecedented 25 points before withstanding a furious charge from a noble, yet ultimately flawed competitor. Well done.

Sadly the Hazzard County Dukes, owned by yours truly, finished out of the 5th place money by the smallest of margins: one RBI. Literally. If I could have secured 749 rather than 748 RBI I would have cleared a reasonable amount of coin. ONE RBI. wow

I demand a recount! Nah, just kidding. Its all in good fun, and this year was a blast.

2004-10-02T23:24:00.000-04:00

October
October is just a great month. Here in the Northeast, the weather is generally lovely -- the month is dry and sunny, and humidity is absent. The autumn colors are amazing, and its our last chance to get outside before winter comes a-callin. Thankfully, October is also the time when baseball kicks into high gear with the playoffs, and college football cements itself as America's most passionate autumnal rite.

Today was terrific all the way around. First, Notre Dame had their asses handed to them at home on national television by a basketball school. Purdue wins 41-16. Congratulations to the Northwestern Wildcats. The 'Cats top Ohio State for the first time in 33 years.

Texas A&M continued their unexpected turnaround (Utah beat the snot outta the Ags to open the season) with a convincing win over perennial pretender K-State down at Kyle Field. Reggie McNeal is an amazing quarterback; too bad Franchione forgot to use him for most of the fourth quarter. Hopefully that 62-yard touchdown run to seal the win late in the game will serve as a reminder to coach Fran: McNeal might be the best collegiate athlete to play the position since Michael Vick. Ags win 42-30 to move their record to 3-1.

God Bless Southern Football and Directv. Otherwise, I'd have had to watch that lively Syracuse/Rutgers matchup on the tube earlier today.

For a fun, witty, and well-written weekly commentary on college football, please take a look at the Jones Top Ten. His site is not updated for 2004, but the email is current. Send him and email and opt-in to his mailing list -- it's a treat this time of year, something you'll look forward to every Monday.

In baseball, the Angels clinched the AL West and the Dodgers triumphed over their rivals of more than half a century to claim the NL West. The Houston Astros have a shot to clinch their wild card slot on Sunday if they can top the rotten Rockies. Meanwhile, the Cubs managed to disappoint yet again. Ha!

BTW, the Red Sox are dooooomed. The St. Louis Cardinals will not win a post season series, and Vladimir Guerrero should be the AL MVP.

Also, the week ahead is very busy....blogging will likely have to wait a few days. And no, I don't have any information concerning naked pictures of Cameron Diaz, Linday Lohan or Tyra Banks.

2004-09-30T21:18:00.000-04:00

Nate Newton Escapes from Prison
After Nate Newton was arrested a few years ago for transporting hundreds of pounds of pot, I figured the man was simply an overly ambitious idiot. Maybe I underestimated him. Perhaps Nate is now a productive Spanish fisherman.

2004-09-29T06:42:00.000-04:00

Another Reason to Hate Bobby Knight
I love it when folks get passionate about Bobby Knight. Supporters of Knight give the goon a free pass for his embarrassingly boorish behavior because he wins games and graduates kids -- as if that is all that matters. As if choking Neil Reed on camera, assaulting a Puerto Rican police officer (and being convicted in absentia), throwing chairs across the floors during games, precipitating a shouting match with the chancellor of Texas Tech in a grocery store, and claiming that rape was inevitable and women should just enjoy it were not enough.

Now we can add Ron Felling and the tax payers of Indiana to the list of folks that have been abused, embarrassed and humiliated by Knight on his way to the admiration of many. According to the Associated Press, "Indiana University has agreed to pay $35,000 to former basketball assistant Ron Felling, who was fired by then-coach Bob Knight after a post-game confrontation in 1999."

It seems that Bobby shoved his former minion after he criticized Knight's coaching and behavior. That'll teach ya to cross my path, Ron! Ante up, taxpayers.

At least Knight graduates players and wins games (though not enough to overcome his behavior and save his job at IU) What a remarkable leader of men.

2004-09-18T10:20:00.000-04:00

Fantasy Baseball Update
It is with great embarrassment to report that the Hazzard County Dukes, the franchise managed by yours truly, is a miserable excuse for a fantasy baseball team. This year's debacle is a head-scratcher ; my draft went well and I made a few terrific trades. Clearly, I have no clue this season. I'm in a battle for seventh place. My season is over.

My main interest for the remainder of this season is 'Mudge's squad, the Vice City Vultures. The Vultures are in first place with roughly two weeks to go. As of today the lead stands at 12.5 points.

Trouble is, earlier in the week the lead was 18 points and Mudge's squad is having its worst week of the season. Mathematically, he can still plunge from his perch. I still maintain that the Vultures will prevail....its a rotten time to endure a slump, and we certainly don't want to see the greatest collapse in fanstasy baseball history. Go Vultures!

2004-09-16T22:30:00.000-04:00

ESPN Sucks
Over the years, my contempt for ESPN has grown more than my waistline. The network used to be a great place to catch a few games and watch highlights. Now, ESPN is full of jock-sniffing reporters who are more interested in being down with their athlete buddies than reporting any news about them. Stuart Scott is the biggest offender - - I wonder if the guy can report without schtick, and I further wonder if he'll ever say anything negative about a famous athlete. Check out his incoherent commencement address at UNC.

Of course, Scott learned from Chris Berman who led last year's NFL Countdown recap of the Eagles loss in the NFC title game with something along these lines, "You hate to say it, but Donovan McNabb struggled here today." Why do you hate to say it, Chris?

ESPN has devolved into a network that is committed to patting itself on the back (that ESPN 25 gig was sickening), and further littering my television with musical performances, game shows, narcissistic schtick, and an appalling lack of any meaningful reporting. God forbid ESPN report on sports' ugly underbelly, its all about the idolatry. If only Bob Ley could be the programming director.

Which brings me back to soon-to-be my new favorite Internet site, SportsCenterSucks Its supposed to launch soon, but I have my doubts. Methinks Mickey Mouse's lawyers found a way to shut this down. Regardless, Slate has a good take on this.

2004-09-13T20:12:00.000-04:00

"That's alright they'll be back. He went out for his urinalysis."
Soon there will be no need for Mr. Underhill to leave the country club for such silly matters. A couple of enterprising Kansans are making money by making urine. Synthetic urine. I had no idea there was a shortage on actual urine production in this country, much less the world. On any given day, most folks produce pints of the stuff, full of different scents and color schemes. Yet human urine is bested by synthetic stuff?

According to the article, the synthetic urine producers have been "very blessed with this". Apparently we humans are too contaminated to produce urine that can be used by laboratories to create medicines to rectify the contamination. Lovely.

2004-09-09T20:57:00.000-04:00

Jump the Shark
Oh. My. Gosh. Just when I thought the babyboomers were slipping out of that magic age range that television advertisers crave so desperately, ABC has decided to throw a bone to the makers of Cialis, Viagra, Geritol, Maalox and PreparationH. "The Alphabet network on Thursday announced details for The Happy Day 30th Anniversary Reunion, a two-hour retrospective that will bring together the original gang in honor of the sitcom's 30th anniversary."

Hopefully this reunion will generate about as much excitement as Jethro Tull's last 'big' comeback (which inexplicably allowed the aging aqualungians to claim a GRAMMY for 'best hard rock or heavy metal album' over Blair fave, Metallica).

Let's face it: Henry Winkler ain't cool anymore. Erin Moran is butt-ugly. Scott Baio is working the dinner theater circuit. Anson Williams is still trying to shed that cheesy, dorky image (he'd better not sing on this reunion gig). And I don't need the double entendre of Marion Cunningham talking about that 'robust' Howard. Donny Most? Who cares.

Nevertheless, I'll bet the producers will decline to invite Ted McGinley - the patron saint of shark-jumping. Keep in mind that Happy Days is the sitcom that coined the phrase 'jumping the shark' based on a ridiculous episode featuring Fonzie jumping said fish.

The show that originally jumped the shark is coming back for another bite? Apparently, babyboomer nostalgia as a media draw has more lives than Bronson had sequels for DeathWish.

2004-09-08T22:06:00.000-04:00

"Baseball...has marked the time"
Excuse my brief homage to the 'Mudge's top movie line of all-time, but I'm talking baseball here as well. One of my favorite pastimes is baseball statistics. My addiction to the numbers becomes more acute every September as baseball's elite players close-in on memorable milestones and benchmarks for greatness. Pitchers capture my attention more often than not. Its fun to figure out where they might stand in the annals of baseball history, and with the Web there are some great sites to help with this emerging pastime of mine.

Right out of the gate, I'll let you know that Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez remain my favorite two pitchers in MLB today. In my mind, they are this generation's best starting pitchers, with Randy Johnson making up for lost time every season. Some will mention Greg Maddux, but not me - - he's a notch below. He's a a remarkable pitcher, but Maddux pitched the bulk of his career in a pathetic baseball city where he never endured pressure and was never forced to put the franchise on his back and carry it. Note that he's pitched exclusively in the NL (easier lineups). Maddux' numbers are remarkable, but they are just that - - numbers, rather than indications of dominance or grace under pressure (he's average in the post-season).

Separating from the pack, Clemens and Pedro have done all of this and more, continuing to perform at an elite level (note that Clemens is 16-4 this season, and Pedro is 16-5).

Lets get back to Pedro. If a pitcher's own ERA relative to the league's ERA is a good measure of effectiveness, which it is .... and if winning percentage is another (that's sort of the objective) ... he's statistically the best ever. Baseball-reference.com runs a remarkable stat every year - the site tracks a pitchers ERA relative to the league ERA. Pedro's lifetime era is 74% better than his contemporaries. That's the best in baseball history, nearly 30 points higher than the second-best career total (owned by Lefty Grove). Consider that in 2000, Pedro's ERA was a full three runs less than the league average for that season. He has not ended a season with an ERA north of 3.00 since 1996. Incredible. Moreover, Pedro wins better than 71% of his decisions - -the best in baseball history (at least 125 wins).

To date, Pedro's career record is 182-72. With a few more wins, Pedro's place in history is undeniable.

On to Roger Clemens. A case can be made that Clemens is the best right handed pitcher ever. I'm not quite sure I can bring myself to this conclusion just yet, but if the Rocket keeps up his pace it'll be hard to deny this point.

Roger Clemens now has 326 wins, 4282 strikeouts, and a 3.20 ERA -- which is 40% better than his contemporaries. He wins more than 66% of his decisions. These are amazing numbers considering the guy pitched for 19 years in a DH-laden league, and 15 years in one of baseball's most notorious hitters' parks. Imagine if he'd have logged these starts in the National League, sans a DH. Don't forget - - Clemens also won the pitching triple crown (league best ERA, wins, strikeouts), twice. Clemens joined Pete Alexander, Lefty Grove and Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers to accomplish this feat.

More than that, Clemens has put entire franchises on his back many times during his career. Look what he is doing in Houston at age 41 right now. At 326 wins, Clemens now stands 11th all time in wins. With four more wins, he'd be alone at number nine all-time (and coincidentally win 20 games for the seventh time in his career -- he already has the record for the most 20-win season in the 5-man rotation era).

Rocket and Pedro. Two of the best.

2004-08-31T07:53:00.000-04:00

Here today, gone tomorrow
As the 'Mudge returns from vacation, its time for me to skip town. I'll be back next Tuesday -- hope u all enjoy the holiday. Before I go, here are a few thoughts:

- This week, my blog will be as exciting as any political convention;
- The Red Sox are teasing me again this year --- only 4.5 games out of first place. They'll be eight out by the time I return from vacation. I love wildcard baseball;
- Congratulations to Dwyane Wade, Olympic medalist. It ain't gold, but Wade earned major minutes and played well in the finale. Maybe Carmelo Anthony will grow up some day and earn some minutes on a team that does not suck;
- Maybe some day cowards like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neill will accept an Olympic invitation
- I'm finally getting around to read 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer. This is one terrific book;
- College football is back - - gotta love it. Mack Brown will again lose to OU; Texas A&M will be lucky to win more than six games; college football in the Northeast can't suck enough; the Pac10 (but not USC) is overrated.

I have not forgotten about the 'movie lines that the 'Mudge missed' blog . . . that'll be a fun one.

2004-08-27T08:38:00.000-04:00

Dan Quayle Made a Difference, After All
I figured that America had simply lampooned and quickly forgotten Mr. Quayle. As it happens, I was wrong. Quayle's passionate Chicken Little speech about the sanctity of marriage with Murphy Brown at the center of it all actually made a difference.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A judicial panel has charged an Orange County judge with chastising a deputy sheriff who had a child out of wedlock, saying she was a "disgrace to society," "had no morals," and her child was "a bastard."

Dan, your legacy is secure. Even if you are still convinced that "Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

2004-08-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

George W. Bush, Offender of Freedom
Leave it to Shrub to use the Olympics as a means to offend the rest of the world. From the 'you can't make this stuff up' file, the U.S. Olympic Committe is asking our its own national leader to pull the advertisement that uses Olympic ideals as a political prop. President Bush has taken the goodwill build up by Amanda Beard, Logan Tom and Amy Acuff (naked, Playboy) and squandered it for a few votes.

2004-08-25T06:42:00.000-04:00

Do the Olympics Love New York?
For the last few years, one of the biggest drains on local resources here in New York has been the local Olympic Organizing Committee. Somewhere along the way, some smart people endured a momentarily lapse of sanity and agreed to aggressively pursue a bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Keep in mind, this is a city with a piss-poor public school system, where thousands of kids can't get textbooks for class and are forced to learn in buildings that are literally crumbling around them. Don't forget about the city's general infrastructure maintenance (they do the best they can, but its tough to keep up with nearly nine million people), struggling economy and ballooning deficit.

Meanwhile, the Olympic supporters are lobbying to have a new football stadium built in Manhattan (as if the island needs more congestion) for the 2012 games, along with dozens of other major capital projects.

Unfortunately for New Yorkers, the local Olympic schmos seem to be immune from common sense. Football stadiums over books? Also, note that to secure one building for one week will cost the city $60 million. That's right, $60 million to secure Madison Square Garden for one week.

With this as a baseline, how could New York City afford to secure dozens of Olympic sites around the area for two weeks (not to mention the construction phase)? The cost would be impossible to calculate, and its one the local organizers refuse to address. These folks claim the 2012 games would be a boon to the local economy --- well, if the concerns and costs of securing one building for one event for one week are any indication, NYC should forfeit its Olympic bid now.

With the specter of heightened security, inconvenience and terrorism fears, the Republican National Convention will likely suck more money out of New York than it puts back in. Hotels are not booked, popular restaurants are available, and hundreds if not thousands of stores are likely to suffer losses due to the local population's exodus next week.

And somehow New York City needs to do this on a grander scale in eight years?

2004-08-24T12:18:00.000-04:00

83 Days Until the Season Opener
Here's an early look at Tom Crean's Marquette University Golden Eagles for 2005-2006. MU has the best pair of outside shooters in the country, Travis Diener and Steve Novak. Dameon Mason is a budding star on the wing. The question remains - - will there be any inside presence to help out the backcourt? Gregg Doyel examines the possiblities.

2004-08-23T21:38:00.000-04:00

Book Review: Ted Williams, The Biography of an American Hero
"A man has to have goals - for a day, for a lifetime - and that was mine, to have people say, 'There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.' "

After a multi-year hiatus from reading anything substantive, I've been on a bit of run this year. I'll never be the voracious leisure time reader that I should be - - - ESPN, Marquette's basketball discussion board, and Playstation2 tend to get in the way. However, momentum is building in favor of the bookworm. And books like this one by Leigh Montville will help to maintain my interest in reading.

I've been a lifelong fan of Ted Williams. In my early days as a baseball fan, I developed a passion for statistics and comparisons. Inevitably as Red Sox fan, I came across Williams' numbers and dominance. Heck, at age ten I'd realized that from 1939 to 1980 (it stretched to 1986) the Red Sox had only three left fielders of record - - Williams, Yaz and Jim Rice. Wow!

Back to Teddy Ballgame. Though he'd played his final major league game about a decade before I was born, I was hooked. Ted Williams became exactly what he wanted to be: the greatest hitter who ever lived. His career numbers are astonishing despite missing all or parts of five+ seasons due to military service in both World War II and the Korean conflict. Williams retired with a .344 career average, 521 career homers (top five all-time when he retired), 1800+ RBI, career OBP of .482, more than 2600 hits, on and on and on. He won six batting titles (one at age 40), and would have won another if he'd have snared just a few more at bats (lost due to Korea). He won the Triple Crown in 1947 and famously hit .406 in 1941.

The Splendid Splinter was the best at his craft.

Having read other books like The Teammates and The Red Sox Reader, I was treated to familiar tales of Williams' exploits on the diamond and details on his generally bombastic personality. For example, he was known to be a terrific storyteller, and was always quotable. Where this new biography came across more powerfully was in examining Williams' life after he went to Korea for his second tour of duty. Williams' war exploits were fascinating (he was shot down on his first sortie in Korea - - landed the plane in flames and escaped), and his return to baseball was riveting. When he returned to Boston, the Red Sox were rotten and Williams' role with the media, fans and teammates changed. He began to prepare for life after baseball - - when, in effect, his life (and the book) became even more interesting.

The book is consistent in revealing Williams for who he was: a specialist who was also a perfectionist at his chosen crafts -- hitting, fishing and flying (to some degree). Wives? He had plenty of them, but didn't have much of an interest in the give and take of a relationship. Children? He was famously absent father. This only changed when he began failing physically and his only son saw an opportunity to turn his aging father into a money printing machine. Close friends? Williams had plenty of them. And what was most interesting about the book was the random nature of how he befriended folks. Williams met people by chance in restaurants, at baseball camps, on fishing expeditions or at hospitals and inexplicably became close to them. Several of his closest friends had no idea who Ted Williams was initially. Quirks like this all added up to a fascinating post-baseball life, one full of fishing, friends and family feuds, but tempered by his quiet charitable commitment and random acts of kindness.

In these latter aspects, this book was more revealing and interesting than I thought it would be. Williams lived a remarkable life. And as a huge Ted Williams baseball fan, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the tales of his life away from baseball more than those that played out in the sports sections for more than two decades.

2004-08-23T07:35:00.000-04:00

Bob Dole re-emerges as a partisan fool
We are now at day five of the Republican Party being acutely off-message as their money-sucking convention approaches. For some reason (if there is any), Bob Dole is now attacking John Kerry's war records and implying that the Massachusetts senator was not hurt quite enough. After all, Kerry only had 'superficial wounds' from his combat time in Vietnam. He was not hurt enough, Bob? I wonder what old Bobby Dole thinks of George W. Bush's military injuries, or of the current president's Otis Campbell routine for most of the 70's and 80s.

Nevertheless, no war injuries are enough when it comes to the Right. This is the same Republican party that didn't think Max Cleland's war wounds were enough, as they made him out to be an unpatriotic wimp during the last Georgia senatorial campaign. That Mr. Cleland lost both of his legs and one arm in defending this nation did not matter.

As a wounded vet and genuine war hero, Bob Dole should know better. Months ago, fellow war hero John McCain vociferously attacked the Republican election machine for dragging Kerry's war records into question, for turning them into a political issue. The RNC ignored McCain's sage advice and now seem to live by one mantra alone - - when you're in too deep, keep on digging. Despite his withered arm, Dole is doing his best to help out.

Hopefully the Republicans will keep this discussion alive. With Bush's own military heritage, this type of discussion will only hurt the Right. Don't forget - - "Senator Kerry carries shrapnel in his thigh as distinct from President Bush who carries two fillings in his teeth from his service in the Alabama National Guard, which seems to be his only time that he showed up."

2004-08-22T01:49:00.000-04:00

1,600 media hits on Bush's henchmen lying to defame Kerry
Amazing. Big Lies for Bush

Lets hope there is a significant political price to pay for George W. Bush. Karl Rove - - I think you could have done a better job of scripting the last week before the convention.

1,600 media hits on a smear campaign gone awry.

2004-08-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

Olympic Outrage
Eventhough it took a full week for the ugly American to emerge on the world stage (thanks, Gary Hall, Jr), the story of these Oympics continues to be everything but the competition. Earlier today via Google News - Sports, I reviewed the recent Olympic headlines. It reads more like a primer on sports law than competition. Long ago I'd burned out on the Olympics, but it is genuinely disappointing to see the Games lose their appeal so dramatically.

For your reading pleasure:
Gymnastics Judges May Face Sanctions, Houston Chronicle
Greek weightlifter tests positive for drugs, could lose bronze medal, VOA News
Defiant One, Sandiego.com
Judging error gave Hamm the gold, ABCNews

2004-08-20T07:41:00.000-04:00

"the team, the team, the team"
Coach Norman Dale understood how to make a team work more effectively on the hardwood. So too did Kelvin Sampson. It's a shame that USA Basketball didn't pay attention to these guys when it constructed the current 'Dream Team' roster. Rather than assembling a team, the powers-that-be were content to construct a squad full of remarkable individual talent with little to no attention paid to the notion of a cohesive, teaming squad. There's no doubt that USA Basketball was a bit hamstrung for this Olympiad - - let's face it, out of the top 10 players in the league, only Tim Duncan and LeBron James bothered to show up. If Shaq, KG, Jermaine and their pals cared to show up, the Olympics would be simply a laughable exhibition.

Nevertheless, the absence of stars is not a surprise. The poorly constituted team is. For the 2008 Olympics, I vote for Kelvin Sampson to serve as head coach. As Andy Katz points out, "the college coaches and the selection committee got it right in selecting their own team last month. They found out who wanted to be there and ensured that they chose the best team, not just the most talented players." Sampson made it crystal clear, "The bench is key and they all have to remember that this is for three weeks, not forever,'' Sampson said. "They've got to buy into it and realize that nothing that happens here will affect their draft status. This isn't about me; this is about USA.''

All Sampson's junior natioanl squad did was claim the gold medal. It seems to me that Sampson was more interested in winning games than in created sponsorship opportunities.

2004-08-19T17:10:00.000-04:00

Kickin' ass, takin' names - and using them for my re-election campaign
Looks like Shrub enjoys putting his foot in his mouth...only he could consistently find new ways to offend the largest fraction of the global population for his own personal domestic political gain. For example, it now appears that Bush the Dauphin liberated Iraq so their soccer team could play a few games at the Olympics -- in exchange for the happy Muslim athletes becoming a convenient campaign prop. In case you missed it, the Bush team is running ads that prominently feature Afghanistan and Iraq symbols noting that "at this Olympics there will be two more free nations -- and two fewer terrorist regimes." Bush is also talking this up on the campaign trail (when he can tear himself away from the new issue of FHM featuring provocative semi-nude photos of Amanda Beard and Logan Tom)

It is too bad the Iraqis are (surprise) offended by Bush's adoption of their glorious rebirth on the international soccer stage. "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," Sadir told SI.com through a translator, speaking calmly and directly. "He can find another way to advertise himself."

Leave it to Mr. Bush to further offend a population he allegedly liberated.

2004-08-18T20:47:00.000-04:00

St. Louis Beer Disappoints Another Customer
When I first read this story, I was convinced this happened in Wisconsin and was related to the bear's affinity for PBR's. Even without that, this story is exceptional and 'bears' out the truism in the title above.

BEAR GUZZLES 36 BEERS, PASSES OUT AT CAMPGROUND
"A black bear was found passed out at a campground in Washington state recently after guzzling down three dozen cans of a local beer, a campground worker said on Wednesday.....It turns out the bear was a bit of a beer sophisticate. He tried a mass-market Busch beer, but switched to Rainier Beer, a local ale, and stuck with it for his drinking binge."

Even wild animals shy away from St. Louis beer. Hell, I wouldn't water my plants with that stuff.

Nevertheless, this bear is my new idol. This animal knew what it liked -- a small, hand-crafted brew that was unique to the area (and we're not talking about Olympia Beer). Perhaps the bear even bathed in the same streams that feed the local Rainier brewery. There must have been something familiar in those cans of Rainier.

According to a state wildlife official, "He didn't like that (Busch) and consumed, as near as we can tell, about 36 cans of Rainier." THREE DOZEN BEERS!

This bear's impeccable palate and tenacity are to be admired. When faced with capture the following day, this bear upped the ante. He successfully held out for "doughnuts, honey and two cans of Rainier Beer" before succumbing to temptation. Fat, drunk, happy - -all with a discerning palate.

2004-08-18T07:35:00.000-04:00

The Lessons of Michael Bilandic
In the days since Hurricane Charley's wrath was unleashed on the unlucky residents of Florida, I'm amazed at the amount of time its taking the local, state and federal government to bring large fractions of the population back to a safe, functional level. This is not a knock against the government -- its an observation on the horror and massive destruction caused by the hurricane. The scope is simply unimaginable. It'll just take time to overcome Mother Nature's wrath.

By most counts, this hurricane will go down as at least the second most expensive natural disaster in US history -- somewhere near $11 billion. Per the AP last night, "Some 2,200 people remained in shelters and 639,000 were without power in the state four days after the storm hit with winds of up to 145 mph." The 2,200 people are only part of the problem. Frustration levels are rising across the state- - - staples like water, milk, bread and juice are difficult to locate. In some towns, the wait for gasoline can reach an hour. Accusations of price gauging are appearing. The Department of Health and Human Services is concerned about the spread of disease because of rotted food, poor sanitation services and other factors. Apparently, unemployment claims will be up because so many businesses can't open now, or ever again.

Also, forget about those $500 insurance deductibles. The new 'Hurricane Andrew Waiver', which states that a hurricane insurance deductible is now 10% of the insured value of the home, ensures that Floridians will see money fly outta their wallets at a pace not seen for any natural disaster in their state's history. Many in Florida were unaware of this change, only adding to the post-storm angst just months before the general election.

As the Republican National Convention approaches, I'm beginning to wonder if there will be a political price to pay for Mother Nature's wrath. Florida is a swing state in the upcoming presidential election, and is led by a sitting Republican governor. History shows us that the weather can throw an election. For instance, in the minds of voters and his challenger, Jane Byrne, Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic failed to keep the city working during the blizzard of 1979. Byrne made this a campaign issue, since ultimately Bilandic was responsible for getting the streets cleaned. And big snowstorms are not exactly a rarity in Chicago.

Maybe I am too idealistic, but I don't see how the Democrats can make Hurricane Charley into a political issue, per se. However, Floridians are increasingly angry and uptight -- perhaps that rage translates into some kind of action. At the very least, the economic disruption caused by Hurricane Charley will present an opportunity to mitigate (or eliminate) the economic plank of the Republican platform for the coming election. The best Bush can hope for is a remarkable rebuilding effort within the Sunshine State that demonstrates the strength of the current leadership. But that won't do anything for the insurance deductibles, lost jobs and shuttered businesses. Regardless, Charley's economic and emotional hangover will dramatically change the dynamic of the campaign in that state. I'm just not sure the election hangs in the balance because of it.

Oh, and there is no truth to the rumor that we have seen Amanda Beard naked.

2004-08-16T21:38:00.000-04:00

Question of the Day
Some guys are just never satisfied, so ponder this.

Jim McGreevey left his wife, Dina McGreevey, for a strapping young Israeli named Golan (as in Heights . . . the marketers at Cialis surely have a promo on the way for this guy). Dina McGreevey seems like a reasonably attractive woman. I don't think that Golan Cipel is nearly as attractive.

Scott Peterson apparently left his (dead) wife for Amber Frey. His deceased ex-wife was lovely as well, however. Ms. Frey seems cute, perhaps hot after a beer or ten. Apparently a naked Playboy spread is a possibilility for Amber Frey. I don't anticipate a Playboy spread for Dina McGreevey, however.

Which pervert did the best job of trading up before getting busted ... Peterson or McGreevey?

Its gotta be Peterson, though his reward for pursuing Ms. Frey could be to assume the role as full time catcher at San Quentin.

Keep the zipper up, boys. You'll always get caught.

(yes, this is a shamless attempt to gain a few gratutious hits --- but just realize that I am following 'Mudge's lead on this)

2004-08-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

'Scuse me while I whip this out
Miller, a brewer that is now owned by a South African-based conglomerate, has decided to commemorate the 50th anniversary of rock-n-roll with a series of eight collectible cans highlighting certain rock artists. Certainly Miller is doing this to sell more beer, which partially explains by Bon Jovi is part of the campaign.

True to form, there are no Black performers on these beer cans. P.W. Botha must be on the advisory committee for Miller's parent company. If nothing else, he surely pushed for Procol Harum's inclusion because of their hit, "Whiter Shade of Pale". There is seemingly no other way to explaing why at least one of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown or Little Richard are not honored with their own recyclable aluminum cylinder.

And the only woman promoted is Blondie's Debbie Harry. Yet somehow Joe Walsh earned a spot? Joe Walsh? Maybe he is running for vice president again, but having Walsh as a rep for rock's first 50 years is akin to promoting Roberto Benigni as one of the AFI's ten best in the last half century.

The brewer insists that the selections were based on artists who'd graced the covers of Rolling Stone, which limlited their options since the magazine didn't launch until 1967. This is just a guess - - - but I'd imagine that at least Hendrix or Brown have been one cover since 1967. But whaddya expect from a South African brewer masquarading as good ol' Miller Brewing Company on Plank Road in Milwaukee?

Moreover, Miller is missing out on a chance to attract younger drinkers by ignoring younger hotties who's boobs, soft-porn photoshoots, hourglass figures and luscious lips would appeal to a younger, hornier audience (you know, the ones who buy most of the beer).

Britney Spears or Beyonce anyone? Both reached the Rolling Stone cover qualification & I'd guess would move more of the desired product than our old buddy Joe Walsh. Methinks the purchasing public Miller craves might actually collect cans adorned with hotties vs. some of the over-the-hill types they settled on. Not to mention being a little more representative of music in the last 50 years.

2004-08-15T21:31:00.000-04:00

"Your mama sews socks that smell!!"
OK, so we're wathcing The Excorcist tonight rather than the Olympics. The best part about the Web is that we don't have to be slaves to the NBC time table. Frankly, not much went on today in Athens anyway -- though I did notice an incredible amount of empty seats for the women's gymnastics competition. That is not a surprise to me - - gymnastics is always one of the most over-hyped events at the Olympics. Gimme a few good swimming events, some competitive track & field and I've had enough.

Back to the movie. This flick is now 31 years old and remains scary has hell. Linda Blair, rats in the attic, pea soup, a creepy priest questioning his vows, an evil character named Reagan, and a freaky added scene of the possessed child desecending the stairs puking blood with her back arched like a cat- - only backwards. Freaky cool, my friend.

2004-08-10T07:13:00.000-04:00

No Time to Blog
I'm out on the road this week for work, spending time in the nation that gave the world Pele. I sure miss those NASL thrillers. Here are a few things to ponder in the interim:

+ At only 10 games over .500 and two back in the wild card standings, the Red Sox suck;
+ The Brewers once again suck. From seven games over .500 on July 1, to six games under .500 on August 11. Sell, Bud, please sell the team;
+ Closing on a positive note, Tom Crean is amazing.

2004-08-05T06:42:00.000-04:00

Where is the Republican Outrage?
These folks now want Maryland resident Alan Keyes to run for Senate in Illinois. This is the same party that lambasted Hillary Clinton for actually moving to New York eleven months before an election, using catch-phrases like 'Go Home Hillary' and 'Not Here, Not Now, Not Ever' to marginality her nefarious candidacy.

But now the Illinois Republicans want Keyes, a veteran of losing Senatorial elections in his home state of Maryland, to run for their senate seat. Keyes would face the increasingly popular Barak Obama, and would only need to establish residency in Illinois sometime between now and election day to satisfy state requirements.

By pursuing Keyes, its clear that the Repubbies want to fracture the African-American vote and shore up the based in Illinois. After all, Keyes is the Last Available Black Republican Candidate, so its a natural fit.

But where is the Republican outrage? This party would have you believe that Hillary Clinton stole her Senate seat. If anything, the rebuffs will make Hillary look like a lifelong resident of New York if Keyes decides to seek this elected office. In a funny way, they've further empowered and legitimized Hillary with this Keyes episode.

I hope Keyes jumps into the mix. Bloggers and pundits will have months of fresh content watching him campaign around a state he's never known. Barak Obama will win going away, but in between we'll have loads of fun watching the Republicans trying justify the campaign (and never getting to any issues). I want one of those small-town coffeeshop moments where a couple of elderly folks ask Keyes if he'd ever been to Illinois before, and what do residents of Maryland have in common with the folks in this neck of the woods. Maybe Alan Keyes visiting the remnants of the Robert Taylor Homes - - here's a guy who's been dreaming of working for you for the past 72 hours!

Please Alan, run for the Illinois Senate seat.

2004-08-03T07:02:00.000-04:00

Politics of Fear While Seeking Re-election
For all of those who fail to see the 'fear card' being played by the Bush Administration, maybe today's Drudge Report, NYT and Washington Post will finally shake your cobwebs loose.

Courtesy of that right-wing sleuth almighty, Drudge:
"Much of the information that led authorities to raise the terror alert at several large financial institutions in the NY and D.C. areas was 3 or 4 years old... NYT Tuesday Page One Splash To Claim: Intelligence and law enforcement officials 'had not yet found concrete evidence that a terror plot or preparatory surveillance operations were still under way'... WASH POST Page One: Alerts Stemmed from Pre-9/11 Acts /// 'There is nothing right now that we're hearing that is new,' said one senior law enforcement official who was briefed on the alert. 'Why did we go to this level?... I still don't know that'... POST: 'Most of the information was compiled prior to the Sept. 11 attacks and that there are serious doubts about the age of other, undated files'... "

Hey, Repubbies - - if Drudge reports it, it must be true right?

Lets tale a look at this again: "There is nothing right now that we're hearing that is new," said one senior law enforcement official who was briefed on the alert. "Why did we go to this level? . . . I still don't know that."

Despite nearly three years of work to figure out how to manage the US intelligence engine, George Bush refuses to separate the truth from fiction when it can help him win an election. It certainly is no coincidence that the Calculating Cabal at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue decided to bless the release of this timely information 24-hours in advance of calling for a new Intelligence Director slot on the Cabinet.

Bush and his buddy Dick -- the guy who has spent his adult life fighting against his daughter's civil rights -- realize that national security is their best issue in 2004. Dems are typically soft on defense, giving the Cabal a clear path to owning fear for political purposes. Considering his economic failures, Bush has no other card to play this year - -Bush will become the first president since Hoover to preside over a national net job loss during his term; Ohio is down 300K in jobs since he took office alone.

So, America -- get ready for the autumn of fear and loathing. If this administration sees fit to use three to four year-old intelligence information to suit its election year needs, any dusty dossier is fair game to raise the collective level fear and neuter the country's confidence in a national election.

2004-08-01T16:31:00.000-04:00

A Wicked Pisssah! Nomaaaaah's gone!
Baseball is unique in its ability to capture one's attention bit by bit for seven months of the year. The game may be slow, but the statistics, rivalries, history and the splendor of the grass give baseball a timeless appeal. Too bad free agency, greed, the DH and interleague play screwed it all up.

Nomar Garciaparra was allegedly my 'next favorite major league baseball player'. Growing up, Jim Rice was the first to capture my attention, driving me to study box scores at the breakfast table. JimEd was supplanted by Roger Clemens. Nomar was to supplant Rocket, and nearly did from the start of his MLB career - - - - Nomar homered in his first game as a Red Sox (and in his first season on the roster of my fantasy baseball team, the beloved Hazzard County Dukes).

Well, a couple of brutal injuries, a prick of an agent, declining defensive skills and unreasonable contract demands have conspired to send Nomar from one tortured fan base to a drunken fan base who likens their MLB squad to lovable losers.

Garciaparra woulda, should, coulda owned Boston for the better part of fifteen MLB seasons. The Red Sox signed him to a long-term extension after only his rookie year - - employing the same strategy that allowed Cleveland to hang on to Thome, Lofton and Belle for such a long time.

Nomar repaid the Red Sox with five terrific seasons and two injury riddled-washouts. Yet trading him was the only option the Red Sox had in 2004. And what disappoints me was not that he was traded. . . . my deeper disappointment lies in the realization that a) I expected it, and b) I was not upset about it.

I was not upset about my favorite team trading my favorite player because I expected it.

Yuck.

Constant player movement now precludes the emergence of that long-term fan favorite, the cornerstone of the franchise. Baseball remains a grand game, but the lack of player affinity is startling. Fans cheer for the jersey not the player, they cheer for the romance of the game they used to know. From the time Seaver was dealt from the Mets to the Reds in 1977, baseball's slide into a game of transient workers who are annually re-introduced to respective fanbases has only become more acute with each passing July 31 trading deadline.

Sure, I'm whining. But just you wait - - - this is merely the tuneup for the October Collapse of the team Nomar left behind. Bye, bye Nomah. Watchout though - -that Billy Goat will kick you in the ass.

2004-07-20T22:21:00.000-04:00

Before I go on vacation, I leave you with a story of freedom
Red and Andy Dufresne would be proud of these gents. A group of prisoners didn't look to become fugitives from justice and go on some sort of Thelma and Louise chase to the death. All they wanted was a cold beer. And they simply wanted to enjoy it within the confines of their own cell block. Kinda like Andy and Red on that hot prison roof in Maine in August.

Stupid bastards. These dudes shoulda run like hell. I'm guessing that the warden threw them in with Boggs and his crew to teach'em a lesson. But wow, a cold beer really hits the spot in the summer.

Now its time to vacation. "Get busy living or get busy dying." Thanks, Andy. Talk to you next week, folks.

2004-07-18T21:52:00.000-04:00

MU rah-rah
OK, last week was intense and I rarely had a chance to catch my breath. Now we're back in action for a couple of days before heading off on a quick vacation.

MU hoops rocks. Head coach Tom Crean secured the verbal commitment of Wesley Matthews, Jr. this evening. Matthews, a shooting guard from Madison, chose MU over Wisconsin and Georgia Tech. Congrats to Wesley. Matthews is the third recruit to commit to MU for the incoming class of 2005 -- each of them among the nations' top 100 high school players.

Crean has one more scholarship to offer, and it appears he's going after a power forward. Let's see what happens.

Regardless, this is the first time in 15 years that Marquette can boast of a class with this much highly ranked talent & it could not have come at a better time. MU moves into the Big East next year, the nation's best basketball conference, and this influx of athletic talent at 'need' positions will ensure that Crean's crew will remain better than competitive for the foreseeable future.

Now, from a more wholesome MU perspective....Earlier today my wife and I hosted a gathering of incoming Marquette freshman from the tri-state area. We enjoyed the company of five soon-to-be freshmen and their families (30 kids from this area will head to MU in the fall. 30!).

The students we met today were such an impressive, diverse bunch -- many of whom selected MU over key rival schools like Providence, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, and even Duke (take that, sanctimonious Coach K). I am consistently amazed at the enthusiasm and promise of life at the age of 18. These kids were downright giddy about going off to college away from home, even if their parents were understandably nervous. None of them were overly concerned about their coarse of study or what they 'wanted to be when they grow up'. Perhaps most encouraging, the five quickly assimilated and found a way to steal away from the boring adult crowd and talk about the adventure they were about undertake. These are well-grounded young adults.

Whether its Wesley Matthews or the five fine folks I met earlier today - - here's hoping the values of a Jesuit education make a positive difference in each of their lives. MU is lucky to have them.

2004-07-12T07:33:00.000-04:00

Driving in cars with boys
Or should I say, Rednecks acting like boys driving in circles. NASCAR is becoming more like hockey with each passing weekend's left turn, left turn, left turn festival of banality. Now the fighting is coming along. Once in a while it's kinda funny to see one of these driver dudes pop outta their car and take a few swings at the SOB that pounded him into a wall on a previous turn. But most of the time, we never hear the dialogue between these literary sorts.

Yesterday's thriller in Joliet changed all that because the pit crews rumbled just like the Scorpions and T-Birds did on the big screen. Apparently one of the left turn experts bumped another during the race, causing the bumpee to forget his left turn roots and hit the wall. Then, the unintentional comedy program kicked into gear as the Hafields and McCoys crossed the county lines to brawl right there in the pits!

A few seconds after the wreck, Kahne's crew chief Tommy Baldwin charged into Stewart's pit. Baldwin and Greg Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief, shouted at each other, and then members of the crews began fighting. "I was just talking to Zippy and telling him his driver is a moron,'' Baldwin said. "They started pushing me and then the official grabbed me. I don't know what happened after that.''

The pit crews mixed it up for a few minutes before order was restored....Evernham (owner of the car that hit the wall)...was livid.

"You got a guy that does this week in and week out, and nobody's doing anything about it,'' Evernham said. "... We're not going to play that game. If nothing's done, we'll just figure out some other way to handle it....Nobody has ever really grabbed him and given him a good beating. "If he doesn't get suspended, maybe I'll do that.''

Attaboy, Evie! More proof that the American gene pool is stuck in neutral

2004-07-08T23:31:00.000-04:00

Get in the ring
Its nice to see that Axl Rose is still struggling. I don't usually revel in other folks' misery, but the news keeps getting worse for the guy who single-handedly killed one of rock's most exciting and promising bands a decade too soon. Since the demise of GNR, Rose has fought incessantly to retain the naming rights to his former band as well as any other related enterprise.

Well, his grip is loosening even as he slips further into the abyss of obscurity. So far this year, Axl failed to keep two GNR releases off of the shelves, Buckethead left the 'new' GNR, and a new album and tour are stuck in quicksand. All of that and he had some shitty plastic surgery (props to Pete).

Meanwhile, Slash and crew have reassembled as Velvet Revolver (with help from world-class heroin freak Scott Weiland) and delivered a terrific debut album. Slash's stylish guitar work carries this release. Bravo, Slash.

2004-07-05T22:45:00.000-04:00

Props to a great film
"People say, 'When you make it to the NBA, don't forget about me.' I feel like telling them, 'Well, if I don't make it, make sure you don't forget about me.' "
-- William Gates, in the final scene of "Hoop Dreams"

A decade after its initial release, I was once again captivated by ‘Hoop Dreams’ this weekend - - The Washington Post took a worthwhile look at the film and its subjects ten years after its initial release. What. A. Movie.

Hoop Dreams is a documentary about two kids from Chicago’s inner city. Like so many urban kids, William Gates and Arthur Agee saw basketball as their way out of the ‘hood. And like so many kids who demonstrate any semblance of talent, those closest to them applied pressure that’d make most folks implode (did they care about the kid or the playa?)

Thankfully, both Gates and Agee played college ball despite the inordinate pressures created by the nature of their craft in the city, not to mention the dysfunctional nature of their own families (and the choices each of them made).

I’m oversimplifying the film here – which is at times gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, headscratching, uplifting, and downright sad. The film provided a rare first-hand glimpse into the lives of black teenagers, demonstrating the immense hurdles that so many have to overcome just to get to school in the morning (and why coming home at night is not always a great thing).

In this film, basketball is both a blessing and a curse. Sure both guys went to college on scholarships, but Agee was marginalized at his first high school after his performance on the court made him expendable. His father battled drug addiction, yet his mother had moments of triumph. Gates was saddled with a family at a young age, a brother who had a chance to escape Cabrini-Green via hoops but failed, and a horrific knee injury that changed his perspective on life forever. For my money, the scenes of Gates talking to his doctors during rehab were the most poignant – his body language and commentary are incredibly revealing: he knew the game would thrive without him, he knew he could get left behind, he knew his dreams were somewhat dashed - - all while he was just a junior in high school. Gates’ spirit seemed to deflate in that doctor’s office.

Thankfully Gates has settled into a nice rhythm in life with his wife, four children, and a career as a pastor. Agee is still searching, it seems.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Marquette grad and had a chance to see parts of the movie as it was filmed.