Let it snow,let it snow, let it snow. As if we have any fucking choice. As I sit, pondering whether to go shovel, whether to go into work, whether to get dressed, I decided to stall. An easy choice. So, here goes, a traditional, partial reminisce of the soon-to-be-concluded year, 2010.
FOOTBALL. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeats the Texas Longhorns 37-21 in the Rose Bowl to claim the Bullshit College Series. So much controversy over a playoff formula to determine a true college champion. Who's left out, who is deserving, who got snubbed? Who the fuck cares? The NCAA is a fine example of an organization that arbitrarily dictates certain conventions to benefit the REAL rulers of the social scene. Kinda like our American government. The rich elite (politicians and their corporate and institutional sponsors) are like the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, and Southeastern conferences. They get automatic inclusion into the inner circle. The hard-working and under-appreciated middle class is represented by Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference and the Western Athletic Conference. No more than a couple of these guys get into the party, and only if some members of the ruling elite get impeached by losing more than a couple games. Oh, the Catholic Church (Notre Dame), gets a special invitation if they win enough important games. The poor, under-appreciated masses, represented by Divisions II and III, get to play, almost in obscurity, a true elimination playoff. But, enough about college football, and sorry for dipping into politics, I know how touchy some of you can be.
In Super Bowl XLIV, the New Orleans Saints beat the IndiaManning Colts 31-17 in Las Vegas, no wait, the game was in Miami, I was in Las Vegas, at the Riviera, nice party. MVP Drew Brees out-dueled Peyton Manning, Sean Payton called a gutsy on-side kick to open the second half and The Who played at halftime, with no obvious wardrobe malfunctions. Did you know that in even numbered years, the AFC is the designated home team, and in odd years, the NFC? Just might have meant something if the Dallas Cowboys could have somehow advanced to this year's XLV and play in the $billion$ dollar JerryJonesPalace. Too bad for Wade, and Jerry. Oh, and too bad Brett Favre came within one ill-timed interception (again) of putting the Minnesota Vikings into the Super Ball instead of the S'Aints. It only propelled Favre to come back for another painfully indignant season to prove once and for all, that he's old, brittle and well-hung. This year, the Tebow watch has shifted into high gear. Will the Broncos do well in next year's draft to get better? Will John Elway somehow unleash a magic wand to resurrect a crumbling, once-proud franchise? Here's an idea: why not use Tim Tebow and his magnetic Christian charm to attract all the talented God-squadders to come join his mission in the Rocky Mountains, and show those heathenistic, hedonistic, misogynistic sinners how real men play real football? There's always a bunch of G-squadders gathering after the games to form their prayer circle, Tebow could revolutionize the NFL. We could be like the Rocky Mountain Golden Bronco Christian Soldiers against the Mighty Lions, the rest of the miscreant, reprobate hoodlums of the league. Bill McCartney could coach. (Oh wait, how did that Christians vs Lions thing turn out? No Bible scholar, here.)
BASEBALL. Target Field opened up in Minneapolis, the first stadium specifically built for the Twins. Twinkies win their home opener (regular season) over the Red Sucks 5-2. Four no-hitters, including two Perfectos, were dished out, BEFORE the All-Star break. Our own Ubaldo Jimenez started the no-hit parade in Atlanta on April 17 with the Rockies' first ever no-hitter, 4-0. Remember Dexter Fowler's incredible running, diving catch in left-center off the bat of Troy Glaus in the seventh? Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletic Supporters spun a perfect 27 up/27 down on Mother's Day over Tampa Bay RainMans 4-0. Honorable mention to Armando Galarraga of the Tigers who threw a perfect game on June 2nd in Detroit, but got screwed by Jim Joyce on the call at first base, on the FINAL OUT! Or, SAFE! The warm fuzzy from this deal, was how graciously Galarraga handled it, and how humbly and honestly umpire Joyce owned up to his mistake, and how the baseball and sports-in-general world embraced this rare show of humility and sportsmanship. And, oh, Galarraga got a new Corvette anyway. On May 29, Arvada's own Roy Halladay threw a perfect game in Miami at the Marlins, 1-0. Then, on June 25, Edwin Jackson of the Arizona Diamondbacks threw a 149-pitch 'gem' at the Tampa crew and the Snakes win, 1-0. Then, Ubaldo starts the 2010 All Star game in Anaheim, where the National League finally defeats the American League 3-1 when MVP Braves' Brian McCann scorches a bases-loaded double in the seventh. Yankee owner, George Steinbrenner passed away on the day of the game, RIP the best owner in the history of sports, 11 AL pennants, 7 World Series titles. After the break, one more regular season no-no, Matt Garza of the Rays no-hit Detroit on July 26, 5-0 in Tampa. The Colorado Rockies set a new Major League Baseball record with 11 consecutive hits against the Chicago Cubs on Friday July 30, 2010, scoring 12 runs in the 8th inning, to cap a 17-2 rout of the Cubs at Coors Field. How about that? (Tribute to Mel Allen). Then, in his first post-season appearance, Roy Halladay shoves a 104-pitch, one-baserunner-allowed (full count walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth), no-hitter down the throats of the Cincinnati Redlegs in Game 1 of the NLDS. He joins the Yankees' Don Larsen as the only post-season no-hit wonders in MLB history. Larsen spun his masterpiece in a World Series, Game 5 against the Brooklyn Dodgers on October 8, 1956. Phillies go on to sweep the Reds in NLDS, the San Francisco Giants beat the Braves, then the Giants beat the 'invincible' Phillies (young female horsie?) to advance to the World Series versus the Texas Rangers. Texas beat my beloved Yankees in the ALCS after the Pinstripers swept the Twins (again) in the ALDS, and the Rangers got by Tampa Bay in game 5 of their ALDS. The World Series was anti-climactic, as the Giants scuttled the Rangers in 5, thereby bringing the first title to the Bay Area, well since the Oakland A's of yesteryear. The Chiba Lotte Marines beat the Chunichi Dragons to win the 2010 Japan Series, 4-2 and a 15-inning tie! The South Carolina Gamecocks win their first college title with an 11th inning walk-off single over the UCLA Bruins, in the very last game to be held at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, home of the College World Series since 1950.
Well, this has been fun. Maybe more later on the 'other' sports. But, I admit, I really don't follow basketball or hockey much. NASCAR and golf? Forget it! The only REAL sport is BASEBALL! Thank god for DirecTV and the MLB Channel! And I only follow the NFL because of Fantasy Football. (Congratulations, by the way, to my daughter Alison, who kicked my ass in the championship this year). Less than 7 weeks til pitchers and catchers report to spring training! I predict a Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies World Series matchup in 2011. (Who doesn't?) Thereby jinxing the two teams that should be the best, but strange things can happen in a 200-game, 7-month season (including spring training and post-season). Why, maybe even the Mets' or Padres' pitchers can record a no-hitter this year, thereby getting off the list of franchises who never have.
Best wishes to all, for a Healthy and Happy 2011! Even to you Democrats and vegans.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
'Twas the day after Christmas
The 'magical' day has passed, and here we are. Hectic activity, memorable sights of the grandsons reveling in innumerable gifts, messing up Sara's kitchen preparing 8 different quiches and a frittata, wonderful prime rib at the Moores', going to a good movie with great friends. A wonderful day!
I blazed through 4 dozen eggs in the morning and when it came to needing one egg to bake some muffins to take to dinner, the fridge was bare. Not one fucking egg! I made the cornbead anyway, and discovered why egg is important in the recipe. Oh well, they were tasty and edible.
We went to see "The Fighter", a Mark Wahlberg movie with Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Best boxing movie I've seen since "Million Dollar Baby". Highly recommended, as it was a well-done and touching movie based on a true story. The boxing wasn't over-done and fakey, the acting was superlative. But it's the story of perserverence and redemption that is the heart of the movie. Christian Bale is outstanding in the movie as a crack addict trying to bathe in the imagined adoration of his working class town's public as a fighter who once knocked Sugar Ray Leonard down in a fight so many years ago. He's training his younger half-brother (Wahlberg) in a career that's hit a wall, and hopes for a successful career are waning. Melissa Leo plays the mother of the two men, and the manager of Wahlberg's career that's going nowhere except maybe to the hospital. The extended family is a zoo. The two brothers, the controlling and small-thinking mother/manager, and the seven sisters. What a group of women! The story is a true story, about "Irish" Micky Ward and his half-brother, Dicky Eklund. In my opinion, best movie since "Hurt Locker". I YouTubed Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, and viewed snippets of their legendary three-fight trilogy back in 2002-03. Micky Ward was involved in Ring Magazine's "Fight of The Year" in 2001, 2002 and 2003, so his fights were extremely active and exciting. I quit following boxing closely following the Sugar Ray Leonard/Thomas Hearns era. The Mike Tyson era in boxing just soured me on the sport. This was a great movie about intriguing characters and a compelling story line.
Today is Championship Sunday in Fantasy Football. My daughter Alison and I are battling for our league's title, and her team is favored and leading right now. Her team, OJ's Cutthroats, has won 7 games in a row, and my team struggled into the playoffs and had to knock off the number one seed, thanks to three of his top players being benched for last week's games. Alison managed to pick up Joe Webb, Favre's backup in Minnesota. The key here is that the fantasy website lists Webb as a QB/WR, which means he can be used as a quarterback OR wide receiver. Which means if Favre doesn't play against Philly, Alison can put Webb in as a wide receiver and get points from him that way, effectively starting TWO quarterbacks for the week. Luckily for me, the mayor of Philadelphia has declared a weather emergency today in anticipation of a huge blizzard descending upon the city of Brotherly Love, postponing the scheduled Sunday night game vs the Vikings until Tuesday night. Which means, that Brett "The Ironman" Favre has two more days to recover and start at QB for the Vikings, effectively negating Webb's potential. Thank goodness for Fantasy Football, otherwise there'd be no reason for me to watch football, with the Broncos sucking so bad lately, like since Elway retired.
And what about them Broncos?! On balance it seems as though this franchise is floundering from bad decision after bad decision for the last ten years. Great coaches are made from great players, not vice versa. Dan Reeves got a lot of credit for being a stern and demanding coach, but the Broncos' success was elevated when Reeves took the wraps off Elway when the games were on the line. Shanahan, the 'genius', enjoyed increased intelligence when Terrell Davis arrived on the scene to give the Broncos a fantastic one-two punch. No Elway, no Davis, under-performing Donovan McNabb, over-paid and lazy Albert Haynesworth, Shanahan's not so much a genius anymore, eh? And forget about Josh McDaniels. No, really. I'm rooting for Tim Tebow, but from what I saw for a full game last week against the Raiders, I do not see an NFL quarterback. I see a good leader and an inspirational football player, but too many passes that were hope-and-prayer types of throws, thrown late and without the zip necessary to make those sideline timing routes a threat. He could change my mind if I see more than 16 passes and actually see him read the quick throws and complete them on time, instead if momentary confusion and tucking the ball and running. Knowshon Moreno is averaging over 4 yards a carry this year, so the tandem of Peyton Hillis AND Moreno would be a good backfield combo teamed with Tebow. Oh wait, Hillis is injured and in Cleveland, traded for our hope of the future, Brady Quinn. NOT! Oh, and we sent two draft picks to the Browns along with Hillis for Brady, the WRONG Brady. Our best hope is for the Broncs to lose their last two games, and for Carolina to win their remaining games, so Denver could get the first draft pick, trade that for a few other picks and shore up a terrible defensive roster. Champ Bailey, as much as I love him in a Bronco jersey, could still command a few players and/or picks in a trade. And I'd love it if he had a chance to play on a good team.
Well, that's all for now. Enjoyed my friend Matt's blog that he just started yesterday. I got some ideas about using this forum to vent and conjugate internal frrustration, it's just that once you hit "post" on these things, it's out there, literally forever, and that's a long time. Be good to each other out there, going to Safeway to get some eggs. Ciao!
I blazed through 4 dozen eggs in the morning and when it came to needing one egg to bake some muffins to take to dinner, the fridge was bare. Not one fucking egg! I made the cornbead anyway, and discovered why egg is important in the recipe. Oh well, they were tasty and edible.
We went to see "The Fighter", a Mark Wahlberg movie with Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Best boxing movie I've seen since "Million Dollar Baby". Highly recommended, as it was a well-done and touching movie based on a true story. The boxing wasn't over-done and fakey, the acting was superlative. But it's the story of perserverence and redemption that is the heart of the movie. Christian Bale is outstanding in the movie as a crack addict trying to bathe in the imagined adoration of his working class town's public as a fighter who once knocked Sugar Ray Leonard down in a fight so many years ago. He's training his younger half-brother (Wahlberg) in a career that's hit a wall, and hopes for a successful career are waning. Melissa Leo plays the mother of the two men, and the manager of Wahlberg's career that's going nowhere except maybe to the hospital. The extended family is a zoo. The two brothers, the controlling and small-thinking mother/manager, and the seven sisters. What a group of women! The story is a true story, about "Irish" Micky Ward and his half-brother, Dicky Eklund. In my opinion, best movie since "Hurt Locker". I YouTubed Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti, and viewed snippets of their legendary three-fight trilogy back in 2002-03. Micky Ward was involved in Ring Magazine's "Fight of The Year" in 2001, 2002 and 2003, so his fights were extremely active and exciting. I quit following boxing closely following the Sugar Ray Leonard/Thomas Hearns era. The Mike Tyson era in boxing just soured me on the sport. This was a great movie about intriguing characters and a compelling story line.
Today is Championship Sunday in Fantasy Football. My daughter Alison and I are battling for our league's title, and her team is favored and leading right now. Her team, OJ's Cutthroats, has won 7 games in a row, and my team struggled into the playoffs and had to knock off the number one seed, thanks to three of his top players being benched for last week's games. Alison managed to pick up Joe Webb, Favre's backup in Minnesota. The key here is that the fantasy website lists Webb as a QB/WR, which means he can be used as a quarterback OR wide receiver. Which means if Favre doesn't play against Philly, Alison can put Webb in as a wide receiver and get points from him that way, effectively starting TWO quarterbacks for the week. Luckily for me, the mayor of Philadelphia has declared a weather emergency today in anticipation of a huge blizzard descending upon the city of Brotherly Love, postponing the scheduled Sunday night game vs the Vikings until Tuesday night. Which means, that Brett "The Ironman" Favre has two more days to recover and start at QB for the Vikings, effectively negating Webb's potential. Thank goodness for Fantasy Football, otherwise there'd be no reason for me to watch football, with the Broncos sucking so bad lately, like since Elway retired.
And what about them Broncos?! On balance it seems as though this franchise is floundering from bad decision after bad decision for the last ten years. Great coaches are made from great players, not vice versa. Dan Reeves got a lot of credit for being a stern and demanding coach, but the Broncos' success was elevated when Reeves took the wraps off Elway when the games were on the line. Shanahan, the 'genius', enjoyed increased intelligence when Terrell Davis arrived on the scene to give the Broncos a fantastic one-two punch. No Elway, no Davis, under-performing Donovan McNabb, over-paid and lazy Albert Haynesworth, Shanahan's not so much a genius anymore, eh? And forget about Josh McDaniels. No, really. I'm rooting for Tim Tebow, but from what I saw for a full game last week against the Raiders, I do not see an NFL quarterback. I see a good leader and an inspirational football player, but too many passes that were hope-and-prayer types of throws, thrown late and without the zip necessary to make those sideline timing routes a threat. He could change my mind if I see more than 16 passes and actually see him read the quick throws and complete them on time, instead if momentary confusion and tucking the ball and running. Knowshon Moreno is averaging over 4 yards a carry this year, so the tandem of Peyton Hillis AND Moreno would be a good backfield combo teamed with Tebow. Oh wait, Hillis is injured and in Cleveland, traded for our hope of the future, Brady Quinn. NOT! Oh, and we sent two draft picks to the Browns along with Hillis for Brady, the WRONG Brady. Our best hope is for the Broncs to lose their last two games, and for Carolina to win their remaining games, so Denver could get the first draft pick, trade that for a few other picks and shore up a terrible defensive roster. Champ Bailey, as much as I love him in a Bronco jersey, could still command a few players and/or picks in a trade. And I'd love it if he had a chance to play on a good team.
Well, that's all for now. Enjoyed my friend Matt's blog that he just started yesterday. I got some ideas about using this forum to vent and conjugate internal frrustration, it's just that once you hit "post" on these things, it's out there, literally forever, and that's a long time. Be good to each other out there, going to Safeway to get some eggs. Ciao!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Criff Ree to Phiraderphia?
Alison texted me with the news late last night about Cliff Lee spurning the Yankees, and turning his back on Texas, to sign with the Phillies. Although, I am extremely disappointed in the turn of events, the Yankees really needed him, I do not like that Lee is back in the National League, I am impressed with the whole deal. The whole process was handled in a classy way, unlike the manner in which Derek Jeter was subjected to in re-signing with the Yankees. Apparently, Cliff Lee wanted to go back to Philadelphia all along, and did not seem to try and squeeze every last dollar out of the process. Don't get me wrong, $24 million a year is nowhere near the sympathy level, but he could have asked for, and gotten, more from the Yankees and the Rangers. Put together in a rotation with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, it doesn't get any better, even the 1971 Orioles with Palmer, McNally, Cuellar and Dobson, or the 1995 Braves with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Avery. I honestly don't remember the 1954 Cleveland Indians, but their staff of Early Wynn (23 wins, 270 IP, 2.73 ERA), Bob Lemon (23, 258, 2.72), Mike Garcia (19, 258, 2064), Art Houtteman (15, 188, 3.35) and an old veteran by the name of Bob Feller (13 wins in 19 starts, 140 IP and 3.09 ERA) pitched in a different era, but the Indians won 111 games that year, then were swept by the Willie Mays-led NY Giants in the Series. That was the last title for the NY Giants, who then moved to San Francisco for the 1958 season.
But, back to Lee and his signing with the Phillies. Quietly, and under the radar of the magpie New York press, nothing was heard about his being even mildly interested in anything but the NY-Texas competition. Always like it when the Eastern press gets caught with their pants around their ankles. And, I like when a professional athlete carries himself with class and meritorious comportment, on and off the field. Like Jeter, Longoria, Mauer, Pedroia, Ubaldo and, yes, Tulowitzki. Troy Tulowitzki signing a long-term contract extension is a calculated exercise in team-building. Hopefully it leads to Carlos Gonzalez convincing his agent Scott BorAss to let him stay with the Rockies long term. The Rockies have a chance to keep a solid core of plus-players to contend for the future in a very tough division. Even the Diamonbacks are getting better. The Yankees and Mets and Red Sox have proven that simply throwing money at expensive, and talented, free agents does not ensure success over the course of a long season, and post-season. The supporting roster, and player-developmental process are just as important. Yankees, alas, are getting old, and I fear the Hated Boston Red Sox with Adrian Gonzalez should pass them by this year. Matter-of-fact, they might be the best damn team ever to play in the Major Leagues! (my weak attempt at jinxing the Red Sox, after all, I bet on the Colts Thursday, and the Texans last night to cover the spread, two losses with a combined 16 seconds left)
And I end with the news report that Carmelo Anthony has asked (in so many ways) to be traded to the NY Knicks. Let him go, good riddance. He'll get crushed by the expectations and weight of the New York scene, and I dare say, the temptations of stardom in a Manhattan life-style, will bring him down. The very fact that Denver's social atmosphere pales in comparison to the Big Apple's, protected Melo from the temptations that he and LaLa so richly covet. Sign his whiny butt to the extension, and get rid of him. He's an asshole for conducting the process this way, the Knicks knowing he will only go there, means they don't have to offer the Nuggets squat. I would like to see Denver area professional super-stars that want to be here and contribute to the significant progress and history of our sports scene. John Elway, Floyd Little, Alex English, Bill McCartney, Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Joe Sakic, and of course, Bob Uecker, Denver Bears 1959. Front-row kinds of guys.
But, back to Lee and his signing with the Phillies. Quietly, and under the radar of the magpie New York press, nothing was heard about his being even mildly interested in anything but the NY-Texas competition. Always like it when the Eastern press gets caught with their pants around their ankles. And, I like when a professional athlete carries himself with class and meritorious comportment, on and off the field. Like Jeter, Longoria, Mauer, Pedroia, Ubaldo and, yes, Tulowitzki. Troy Tulowitzki signing a long-term contract extension is a calculated exercise in team-building. Hopefully it leads to Carlos Gonzalez convincing his agent Scott BorAss to let him stay with the Rockies long term. The Rockies have a chance to keep a solid core of plus-players to contend for the future in a very tough division. Even the Diamonbacks are getting better. The Yankees and Mets and Red Sox have proven that simply throwing money at expensive, and talented, free agents does not ensure success over the course of a long season, and post-season. The supporting roster, and player-developmental process are just as important. Yankees, alas, are getting old, and I fear the Hated Boston Red Sox with Adrian Gonzalez should pass them by this year. Matter-of-fact, they might be the best damn team ever to play in the Major Leagues! (my weak attempt at jinxing the Red Sox, after all, I bet on the Colts Thursday, and the Texans last night to cover the spread, two losses with a combined 16 seconds left)
And I end with the news report that Carmelo Anthony has asked (in so many ways) to be traded to the NY Knicks. Let him go, good riddance. He'll get crushed by the expectations and weight of the New York scene, and I dare say, the temptations of stardom in a Manhattan life-style, will bring him down. The very fact that Denver's social atmosphere pales in comparison to the Big Apple's, protected Melo from the temptations that he and LaLa so richly covet. Sign his whiny butt to the extension, and get rid of him. He's an asshole for conducting the process this way, the Knicks knowing he will only go there, means they don't have to offer the Nuggets squat. I would like to see Denver area professional super-stars that want to be here and contribute to the significant progress and history of our sports scene. John Elway, Floyd Little, Alex English, Bill McCartney, Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Joe Sakic, and of course, Bob Uecker, Denver Bears 1959. Front-row kinds of guys.
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