I just want to say how much I'm going to miss Mike Flanagan.
I never met him, never really saw him play, but he still touched me in some tangible way.
All I can say is that I'm sad.
Love to you, Mike.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Flanny
I just want to say how much I'm going to miss Mike Flanagan.
I never met him, never really saw him play, but he still touched me in some tangible way.
All I can say is that I'm sad.
Love to you, Mike.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
I'm just going to say one thing
The story of the death of Mike Flanagan is about a man and his family and friends. It is NOT about baseball, the lack of success of the Orioles, or Peter Angelos.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Robbie Alomar, The Ballplayer
Roberto Alomar was one of those players who played as though it were second nature. What a joy it was to have him here.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
My Orioles have fight
The O's still fight back.
I don't know if there are any bad eggs on this team. Even Mike Gonzalez has done well lately.
I don't think there are any guys I just don't like. No Albert Belles.
These guys have pride.
I don't know if there are any bad eggs on this team. Even Mike Gonzalez has done well lately.
I don't think there are any guys I just don't like. No Albert Belles.
These guys have pride.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tomatoes and Bulldozers
ROTFL and such...
Ever see "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?
The song that was central to the story, "Puberty Love", was sung by none other than...
Matt Cameron?!?!?!?!
Drummer of Soundgarden?!?!?
Awesome.
Btw, he has been the Pearl Jam drummer since 1998, but IMO, Pearl Jam hasn't put out a good album since Versus. But I digest...
If you want to hear good drumming, check out BADMOTORFINGER by Soundgarden, their true breakout album.
Unfortunately, SG is best known for their worst song, Black Hole Sun, which was played ad nauseum in 1995.
Check out the song "Jesus Christ Pose" on BADMOTORFINGER. That is where it's at.
Also check out "Hands All Over" off of their previous album, Louder Than Love.
Whoa momma.
Ever see "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?
The song that was central to the story, "Puberty Love", was sung by none other than...
Matt Cameron?!?!?!?!
Drummer of Soundgarden?!?!?
Awesome.
Btw, he has been the Pearl Jam drummer since 1998, but IMO, Pearl Jam hasn't put out a good album since Versus. But I digest...
If you want to hear good drumming, check out BADMOTORFINGER by Soundgarden, their true breakout album.
Unfortunately, SG is best known for their worst song, Black Hole Sun, which was played ad nauseum in 1995.
Check out the song "Jesus Christ Pose" on BADMOTORFINGER. That is where it's at.
Also check out "Hands All Over" off of their previous album, Louder Than Love.
Whoa momma.
On the up and up
Proud of Team USA. It was a great tourney.
•
What is this voice I hear on 1057? It's Rob Long! Rob is the man.
He sounds great with Jeremy. If Scott retires or something, I would love to listen to Rob and Jeremy together.
•
Went to two O's games this weekend!
Fri with my sis, Sat with good friends. Perfect weather.
What a beautiful ballpark we have. And how about that right fielder?!?! He has pulled his average up. What a professional.
•
Kristi! My favorite Lady Terp has reappeared! So hope she finds happiness as a pro.
•
What is this voice I hear on 1057? It's Rob Long! Rob is the man.
He sounds great with Jeremy. If Scott retires or something, I would love to listen to Rob and Jeremy together.
•
Went to two O's games this weekend!
Fri with my sis, Sat with good friends. Perfect weather.
What a beautiful ballpark we have. And how about that right fielder?!?! He has pulled his average up. What a professional.
•
Kristi! My favorite Lady Terp has reappeared! So hope she finds happiness as a pro.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Progress (?)
Is it just me, or is there anyone else who hates these new light bulbs?
It seems to me that they don't save energy if I have to use twice as many to be able to see clearly.
It seems to me that they don't save energy if I have to use twice as many to be able to see clearly.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Looking to get fit?
I am starting an exercise regimen and yesterday I was on the web, looking into home exercise equipment. I stumbled onto a website that not only gave me information and advice that I could use, but through a personal email connection with one of the bloggers, I am also now more inspired to follow through on my plans to get healthier.
If you are considering purchasing exercise equipment, I recommend visiting ExerciseEquipmentExpert.com.
Since November of 2006, Nationally Certified Personal Trainers Bret & Grechen Spottke have been personally buying and trying out home gyms, cardio equipment, ab machines and more.
The homepage says "Over 3,489,230 visitors have racked-up total of 9,071,998 minutes, which is 151,199 hours, or 6,299 days getting educated from the Exercise Equipment Expert since it’s inception in November of 2006."
It seems to me that they went to the right place.
Bret and Grechen blog their gear reviews, while also offering a "Best Of" fitness equipment list for 2011, and a glimpse at the evolution of their home gym.
But the best feature might be "Ask the Expert".
I emailed my questions about the "Marcy Mag" recumbent bicycle, a popular and inexpensive bike available from stores like Target and Walmart. Bret responded around noon and his reply was just as excellent as his site.
He was personable and considerate, and suggested different options for how I could achieve my fitness goals that suited my current fitness level and budget. He even directed me to a 6 week Beginner's Workout Program on the website.
http://exerciseequipmentexpert.com/6-week-beginners-workout/
If you are considering purchasing exercise equipment, I recommend visiting ExerciseEquipmentExpert.com.
Since November of 2006, Nationally Certified Personal Trainers Bret & Grechen Spottke have been personally buying and trying out home gyms, cardio equipment, ab machines and more.
The homepage says "Over 3,489,230 visitors have racked-up total of 9,071,998 minutes, which is 151,199 hours, or 6,299 days getting educated from the Exercise Equipment Expert since it’s inception in November of 2006."
It seems to me that they went to the right place.
Bret and Grechen blog their gear reviews, while also offering a "Best Of" fitness equipment list for 2011, and a glimpse at the evolution of their home gym.
But the best feature might be "Ask the Expert".
I emailed my questions about the "Marcy Mag" recumbent bicycle, a popular and inexpensive bike available from stores like Target and Walmart. Bret responded around noon and his reply was just as excellent as his site.
He was personable and considerate, and suggested different options for how I could achieve my fitness goals that suited my current fitness level and budget. He even directed me to a 6 week Beginner's Workout Program on the website.
http://exerciseequipmentexpert.com/6-week-beginners-workout/
Monday, July 11, 2011
Purity in Sports
A friend of mine used to say that he preferred college sports over pro because it harkened back to a more innocent time.
The play-by-play announcer on the ESPN broadcast of the US vs. Brazil game yesterday commented on the referees' dubious performance, saying that he hoped the "cynicism" of the men's game doesn't creep into the women's game.
After the Lady Terps' Championship in 2006, I bought tickets to regular and post season games, and in my opinion, it was the best bang-for-the-buck in our area.
So after watching the ugliness of the 2011 UConn men's basketball championship, and the mention of the possibility of "cynicism" creeping into the FIFA women's game, I wonder what's next?
You can find pure sport if you look for it, perhaps in your back yard with your son or daughter.
From the LA Times:
Somewhere, Mia Hamm is shedding a happy tear or two. Emotions always ran close to the surface for America's soccer darling.
Somewhere, Julie Foudy is letting loose with a whoop and a holler. "Loudy" Foudy always was one to express her feelings vocally.
Somewhere, Michelle Akers is leaping high and stretching her neck, heading in that last-second desperation goal to salvage an American World Cup dream.
Only, it was Abby Wambach who scored it Sunday. Akers was simply the inspiration, the template from the past that said no U.S. women's soccer team is ever beaten until the final whistle sounds.
Somewhere, perhaps, Brandi Chastain is once again tearing her shirt off. Or perhaps not, but she should be.
The torch has well and truly been passed, and the U.S. women's team that on Sunday knocked Brazil out of the Women's World Cup in Germany, winning, 5-3, on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie, has every right to be compared to the World Cup winners of 1999.
Dresden's Rudolf-Harbig Stadium was not the Rose Bowl, but it was exactly 12 years ago Sunday that the U.S. edged China on penalty kicks, 5-4, to win the World Cup for a second time.
Sunday's game was only a quarterfinal, but pause for a moment right there. Had the U.S. accepted defeat while the clock ticked off the remaining seconds and the scoreboard showed Brazil ahead, 2-1, few would have complained. The U.S. players had given their all.
But acceptance is not the American way. Defiance is, and Wambach typified that spirit. In slow motion, here's what happened next:
The ball was floated into the Brazilian goal mouth by Megan Rapinoe. Andreia, the Brazilian goalkeeper, threw out her arms but didn't come close to intercepting it.
Luckless defender Daiane, the same player who scored an own goal two minutes into the match and soon would add to her misery by seeing her penalty kick saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, leaped, but not as high or as forcefully or as determinedly as Wambach.
Ball met forehead and found the back of the Brazilian net. That made it 2-2 and set the stage for the cruel drama of penalty kicks.
In 1999, it was Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Hamm and, finally, Chastain who showed the resolve.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Game over.
In 2011, it was Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, Wambach, Rapinoe and Ali Krieger.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Game over.
The five U.S. penalty kicks provided the exclamation marks to an epic comeback, and those who achieved the victory — the entire team, not only the penalty takers — have every right to be mentioned in the same breath as the U.S. heroines of 1999.
Six days past the Fourth of July, Old Glory flew proudly in Dresden on Sunday night.
Coach Pia Sundhage put it best.
"I come from Sweden," she said, "but this core American value of bringing the best out of one another is infectious. I'm very proud and happy to be coach of the USA."
Spare a thought, though, for the Brazilians. They came, they saw, they almost conquered.
But again, just as in the 2004 Olympic final, the 2007 World Cup final and the 2008 Olympic final, they came across one hurdle too high, one barrier too impenetrable.
Brazil has dazzling players. Marta is a diamond brighter than all the rest. But there is an intangible that separates some teams from others and it has nothing to do with ability.
It is belief and it is impossible to teach. It comes from within. It comes from history. It comes from having been there before and knowing that nothing is impossible.
The U.S. women have that belief ingrained in them. Anson Dorrance and Tony DiCicco, the coaches who led them to their 1991 and 1999 World Cup triumphs, instilled it in them and it has been part and parcel of the team's makeup since.
It wasn't only 11 players on the field whom Brazil was up against Sunday, it was every player who has ever pulled on a U.S. jersey.
With time running out, the odds were that Brazil would prevail. But then the U.S. conjured up the past. After that, there would only be one winner.
grahame.jones@latimes.com
Jones reported from Ross-on-Wye, England
The play-by-play announcer on the ESPN broadcast of the US vs. Brazil game yesterday commented on the referees' dubious performance, saying that he hoped the "cynicism" of the men's game doesn't creep into the women's game.
After the Lady Terps' Championship in 2006, I bought tickets to regular and post season games, and in my opinion, it was the best bang-for-the-buck in our area.
So after watching the ugliness of the 2011 UConn men's basketball championship, and the mention of the possibility of "cynicism" creeping into the FIFA women's game, I wonder what's next?
You can find pure sport if you look for it, perhaps in your back yard with your son or daughter.
From the LA Times:
Somewhere, Mia Hamm is shedding a happy tear or two. Emotions always ran close to the surface for America's soccer darling.
Somewhere, Julie Foudy is letting loose with a whoop and a holler. "Loudy" Foudy always was one to express her feelings vocally.
Somewhere, Michelle Akers is leaping high and stretching her neck, heading in that last-second desperation goal to salvage an American World Cup dream.
Only, it was Abby Wambach who scored it Sunday. Akers was simply the inspiration, the template from the past that said no U.S. women's soccer team is ever beaten until the final whistle sounds.
Somewhere, perhaps, Brandi Chastain is once again tearing her shirt off. Or perhaps not, but she should be.
The torch has well and truly been passed, and the U.S. women's team that on Sunday knocked Brazil out of the Women's World Cup in Germany, winning, 5-3, on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie, has every right to be compared to the World Cup winners of 1999.
Dresden's Rudolf-Harbig Stadium was not the Rose Bowl, but it was exactly 12 years ago Sunday that the U.S. edged China on penalty kicks, 5-4, to win the World Cup for a second time.
Sunday's game was only a quarterfinal, but pause for a moment right there. Had the U.S. accepted defeat while the clock ticked off the remaining seconds and the scoreboard showed Brazil ahead, 2-1, few would have complained. The U.S. players had given their all.
But acceptance is not the American way. Defiance is, and Wambach typified that spirit. In slow motion, here's what happened next:
The ball was floated into the Brazilian goal mouth by Megan Rapinoe. Andreia, the Brazilian goalkeeper, threw out her arms but didn't come close to intercepting it.
Luckless defender Daiane, the same player who scored an own goal two minutes into the match and soon would add to her misery by seeing her penalty kick saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, leaped, but not as high or as forcefully or as determinedly as Wambach.
Ball met forehead and found the back of the Brazilian net. That made it 2-2 and set the stage for the cruel drama of penalty kicks.
In 1999, it was Carla Overbeck, Joy Fawcett, Kristine Lilly, Hamm and, finally, Chastain who showed the resolve.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Game over.
In 2011, it was Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, Wambach, Rapinoe and Ali Krieger.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Game over.
The five U.S. penalty kicks provided the exclamation marks to an epic comeback, and those who achieved the victory — the entire team, not only the penalty takers — have every right to be mentioned in the same breath as the U.S. heroines of 1999.
Six days past the Fourth of July, Old Glory flew proudly in Dresden on Sunday night.
Coach Pia Sundhage put it best.
"I come from Sweden," she said, "but this core American value of bringing the best out of one another is infectious. I'm very proud and happy to be coach of the USA."
Spare a thought, though, for the Brazilians. They came, they saw, they almost conquered.
But again, just as in the 2004 Olympic final, the 2007 World Cup final and the 2008 Olympic final, they came across one hurdle too high, one barrier too impenetrable.
Brazil has dazzling players. Marta is a diamond brighter than all the rest. But there is an intangible that separates some teams from others and it has nothing to do with ability.
It is belief and it is impossible to teach. It comes from within. It comes from history. It comes from having been there before and knowing that nothing is impossible.
The U.S. women have that belief ingrained in them. Anson Dorrance and Tony DiCicco, the coaches who led them to their 1991 and 1999 World Cup triumphs, instilled it in them and it has been part and parcel of the team's makeup since.
It wasn't only 11 players on the field whom Brazil was up against Sunday, it was every player who has ever pulled on a U.S. jersey.
With time running out, the odds were that Brazil would prevail. But then the U.S. conjured up the past. After that, there would only be one winner.
grahame.jones@latimes.com
Jones reported from Ross-on-Wye, England
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Diabetics, Rita's Sugar Free is Not Sugar Free (duh)
An email I just sent to Rita's.
The only thing more delicious than Rita's ice is being able to sicken a diabetic and get paid for it, while being on the right side of the law, no?
Btw, Regular 12 oz. Sugar Free ice:
43-79 grams of carbohydrates.
(http://www.ritasice.com/m/pdf/2010Nutritionals-Ice.pdf)
I'm not a doctor, but that could kill a diabetic, I bet.
"I had one of your sugar-free ices and felt horrible afterwards. I just looked at your nutritional information, and I guessed right. While your ice was sugar free, it certainly had more than enough carbohydrates (I assume using corn syrup or whatever) to sicken a diabetic like me. I don't care if you write back, especially if you're going to reply with some form email. This is on your conscience.
I know about the whole "sugar-free" label and how it can mean that it still has sucrose or whatever the heck. I should have asked. But damn it, if it says sugar free than it should be sugar free like diet coke. Or at least come out with a diet line. Stuff like this is why so many people hate corporate America.
And btw, I won't be able to buy any more of your products.
Thanks for the "false advertising". And I know it wasn't false advertising, but that wasn't "sugar free" either.
Thanks for making me sick."
UPDATE:
Rita's replied as I anticipated. With a typical soulless corporate America form email.
I am "[MSG:29183]"
A big FU to Rita.
"Dear Chris,
Thank you for your recent inquiry about Rita’s. We appreciate the time you took to reach out to us and want you to know that your feedback is very important to our company.
As found in the Nutrition FAQ section of our website, we use a combination of sugar alcohols and sugar substitutes in our Sugar-Free Ice; these include:
- Splenda (sucralose)
- Acesulfame-Potassium (ace-K)
- Sugar alcohols (sorbitol and maltitol)
- Maltodextrin
Our Sugar Free Ice flavors have always included sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and/or maltitol. Sugar alcohols are also commonly found in many sugar-free & no-sugar-added products, including candy, gum, ice cream, cookies, and other treats.
Sugar alcohols are an important ingredient in maintaining the consistency and stability of our Sugar-Free products during freezing.
Consumption of sugar alcohols in large amounts, or when not commonly eaten, can result in adverse effects including abdominal distress and upset. Many other factors may impact such a reaction, including other medical conditions.
We take Guest feedback very seriously and appreciate you alerting us about your concerns.
Thank you,
Rita’s Guest Service Team
-----------------------------------------------------------
Original Feedback: I had one of your sugar-free ices and felt horrible afterwards. I just looked at your nutritional information, and I guessed right. While your ice was sugar free, it certainly had more than enough carbohydrates (I assume using corn syrup or whatever) to sicken a diabetic like me. I don't care if you write back, especially if you're going to reply with some form email. This is on your conscience.
I know about the whole "sugar-free" label and how it can mean that it still has sucrose or whatever the heck. I should have asked. But damn it, if it says sugar free than it should be sugar free like diet coke. Or at least come out with a diet line. Stuff like this is why so many people hate corporate America.
And btw, I won't be able to buy any more or your products.
Thanks for the "false advertising". And I know it wasn't false advertising, but that wasn't "sugar free" either.
Thanks for making me sick.
[MSG:29183]"
The only thing more delicious than Rita's ice is being able to sicken a diabetic and get paid for it, while being on the right side of the law, no?
Btw, Regular 12 oz. Sugar Free ice:
43-79 grams of carbohydrates.
(http://www.ritasice.com/m/pdf/2010Nutritionals-Ice.pdf)
I'm not a doctor, but that could kill a diabetic, I bet.
"I had one of your sugar-free ices and felt horrible afterwards. I just looked at your nutritional information, and I guessed right. While your ice was sugar free, it certainly had more than enough carbohydrates (I assume using corn syrup or whatever) to sicken a diabetic like me. I don't care if you write back, especially if you're going to reply with some form email. This is on your conscience.
I know about the whole "sugar-free" label and how it can mean that it still has sucrose or whatever the heck. I should have asked. But damn it, if it says sugar free than it should be sugar free like diet coke. Or at least come out with a diet line. Stuff like this is why so many people hate corporate America.
And btw, I won't be able to buy any more of your products.
Thanks for the "false advertising". And I know it wasn't false advertising, but that wasn't "sugar free" either.
Thanks for making me sick."
UPDATE:
Rita's replied as I anticipated. With a typical soulless corporate America form email.
I am "[MSG:29183]"
A big FU to Rita.
"Dear Chris,
Thank you for your recent inquiry about Rita’s. We appreciate the time you took to reach out to us and want you to know that your feedback is very important to our company.
As found in the Nutrition FAQ section of our website, we use a combination of sugar alcohols and sugar substitutes in our Sugar-Free Ice; these include:
- Splenda (sucralose)
- Acesulfame-Potassium (ace-K)
- Sugar alcohols (sorbitol and maltitol)
- Maltodextrin
Our Sugar Free Ice flavors have always included sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol and/or maltitol. Sugar alcohols are also commonly found in many sugar-free & no-sugar-added products, including candy, gum, ice cream, cookies, and other treats.
Sugar alcohols are an important ingredient in maintaining the consistency and stability of our Sugar-Free products during freezing.
Consumption of sugar alcohols in large amounts, or when not commonly eaten, can result in adverse effects including abdominal distress and upset. Many other factors may impact such a reaction, including other medical conditions.
We take Guest feedback very seriously and appreciate you alerting us about your concerns.
Thank you,
Rita’s Guest Service Team
-----------------------------------------------------------
Original Feedback: I had one of your sugar-free ices and felt horrible afterwards. I just looked at your nutritional information, and I guessed right. While your ice was sugar free, it certainly had more than enough carbohydrates (I assume using corn syrup or whatever) to sicken a diabetic like me. I don't care if you write back, especially if you're going to reply with some form email. This is on your conscience.
I know about the whole "sugar-free" label and how it can mean that it still has sucrose or whatever the heck. I should have asked. But damn it, if it says sugar free than it should be sugar free like diet coke. Or at least come out with a diet line. Stuff like this is why so many people hate corporate America.
And btw, I won't be able to buy any more or your products.
Thanks for the "false advertising". And I know it wasn't false advertising, but that wasn't "sugar free" either.
Thanks for making me sick.
[MSG:29183]"
Re: (World) Football, Women's Sports
If you're not watching, you're really missing out.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-07-10/wambach-solo-help-deliver-improbable-us-victory-in-womens-world-cup
http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-07-10/wambach-solo-help-deliver-improbable-us-victory-in-womens-world-cup
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Orioles Fans: Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up and Hold On - PART DEUX!!!!
Ok, O's fans.
So far this season I predicted a fifth place finish, and then a few weeks ago I gave a firm but fair lecture on why any baseball fan could live the rest of their life without seeing their team win a championship.
Here is my latest advice, and I believe that it is integral to our ability to be patient with our Orioles and actually ENJOY baseball (it is a game!!!)
And here is where I am "officially splitting" with a certain local AM sports station, one that I have been a loyal listener for about a decade.
This weeks' topic:
Stop Blaming Peter Angelos.
I turned on my radio this morning and tuned it to that station up the AM dial that does sports 24 hours. The host took a call and the caller said that he didn't think anything the Orioles could do right now could help their situation.
The host went a step further, and true to form, he went to the "go-to play" of sports fans:
Blame.
For the past decade, I have listened to this station criticise, no, lampoon, rip, insult, belittle, however you want to say it...
They have not minced words when verbally assaulting Peter Angelos as owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
But, my point here is not to criticise their criticism of Peter Angelos. I enjoyed it for the most part. Those guys are pretty hilarious when they get on a roll.
But for me, the Angelos blaming has to stop.
The caller this morning vented his frustration, and the host said that there has only been one constant over the past 13 or however many losing seasons.
Fine. That is a fact. But if Angelos were to sell the team today to someone who would spend 200 million dollars next year on payroll, would the Orioles be a contender? Or to compete in the AL East, would he/she have to spend 250m?
All I'm saying is that you might not ever find the right person or the right thing to blame/replace/fix.
In my opinion, replacing Peter Angelos does not guarantee improvement.
Would I like a new owner? Sure, I guess. But will the new boss be just like the old boss?
I'm not trying to say that that station is wrong in crying for Angelos to sell the team.
My point is that you are chasing your own tail when you talk like the Orioles just aren't doing things "the right way".
It's just not as simple as that.
Which leads me to my final point.
Sportstalk that is just a bunch of people bitching about how screwed up the team is or the owner or this or that... is boring, annoying, lame... Criticism is one thing, but to act like a losing baseball team is a civic travesty is bunk.
When I hear sportstalk hosts and callers say another losing Orioles season "disgusts" them, or they need to SHOUT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS LIKE THEY'RE FRONTING PANTERA when talking about sports at 7:30 in the freaking morning...
Get a life.
And please stop acting like you're doing the news. Stop saying that you've "suffered" with the team(s).
I think I've learned my lesson over the years.
Just enjoy sports.
It's just a damn game.
So far this season I predicted a fifth place finish, and then a few weeks ago I gave a firm but fair lecture on why any baseball fan could live the rest of their life without seeing their team win a championship.
Here is my latest advice, and I believe that it is integral to our ability to be patient with our Orioles and actually ENJOY baseball (it is a game!!!)
And here is where I am "officially splitting" with a certain local AM sports station, one that I have been a loyal listener for about a decade.
This weeks' topic:
Stop Blaming Peter Angelos.
I turned on my radio this morning and tuned it to that station up the AM dial that does sports 24 hours. The host took a call and the caller said that he didn't think anything the Orioles could do right now could help their situation.
The host went a step further, and true to form, he went to the "go-to play" of sports fans:
Blame.
For the past decade, I have listened to this station criticise, no, lampoon, rip, insult, belittle, however you want to say it...
They have not minced words when verbally assaulting Peter Angelos as owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
But, my point here is not to criticise their criticism of Peter Angelos. I enjoyed it for the most part. Those guys are pretty hilarious when they get on a roll.
But for me, the Angelos blaming has to stop.
The caller this morning vented his frustration, and the host said that there has only been one constant over the past 13 or however many losing seasons.
Fine. That is a fact. But if Angelos were to sell the team today to someone who would spend 200 million dollars next year on payroll, would the Orioles be a contender? Or to compete in the AL East, would he/she have to spend 250m?
All I'm saying is that you might not ever find the right person or the right thing to blame/replace/fix.
In my opinion, replacing Peter Angelos does not guarantee improvement.
Would I like a new owner? Sure, I guess. But will the new boss be just like the old boss?
I'm not trying to say that that station is wrong in crying for Angelos to sell the team.
My point is that you are chasing your own tail when you talk like the Orioles just aren't doing things "the right way".
It's just not as simple as that.
Which leads me to my final point.
Sportstalk that is just a bunch of people bitching about how screwed up the team is or the owner or this or that... is boring, annoying, lame... Criticism is one thing, but to act like a losing baseball team is a civic travesty is bunk.
When I hear sportstalk hosts and callers say another losing Orioles season "disgusts" them, or they need to SHOUT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS LIKE THEY'RE FRONTING PANTERA when talking about sports at 7:30 in the freaking morning...
Get a life.
And please stop acting like you're doing the news. Stop saying that you've "suffered" with the team(s).
I think I've learned my lesson over the years.
Just enjoy sports.
It's just a damn game.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Quick follow-up to my WTF? post
And then there was one.
I'm a huge Law and Order fan, and the past year has not been kind to me.
Although, after the "mothership" was unceremoniously dumped, and LOLA was cut after NBC hardly gave it a chance (sound familiar?), I did get an 8 episode "goodbye" to two of my three favorite tv characters of all time, Bobby Goren and Alex Eames.
I'm thankful I got that. I wish they could have done something like that for Jack McCoy and the captain.
I never even wanted to watch something like Law and Order, but an elderly friend of mine used to love Schiff, Briscoe, and McCoy and I would watch it with her and, well, I guess I got hooked.
I'm a huge Law and Order fan, and the past year has not been kind to me.
Although, after the "mothership" was unceremoniously dumped, and LOLA was cut after NBC hardly gave it a chance (sound familiar?), I did get an 8 episode "goodbye" to two of my three favorite tv characters of all time, Bobby Goren and Alex Eames.
I'm thankful I got that. I wish they could have done something like that for Jack McCoy and the captain.
I never even wanted to watch something like Law and Order, but an elderly friend of mine used to love Schiff, Briscoe, and McCoy and I would watch it with her and, well, I guess I got hooked.
Down and out?
Is this the beginning of the end of the 2011 Orioles?
Will Brian Matusz ever be the pitcher we thought he would be?
Jerry Coleman, Rob Long and the rest of the local sports talk on Fox 1370 suddenly dropped?
I hope this season doesn't take a nosedive. It will be interesting to see what happens.
I already talked about my thoughts on winning in baseball in a previous entry, summed up by the number "1918", or now "1908".
What the heck happened to Brian Matusz? It seems like overnight it went from "can't wait till Matusz is back" to "Matusz can't pitch anymore". Weird.
I really enjoyed Jerry Coleman. He has been my favorite afternoon host. My line up for a long time was to listen to WNST in the morning, try to put up with The Bulldog so I could listen to Mark ViviAHNOOO (as Kirk McEwen used to call him on KML) then Bob Haynie (my favorite) and Coleman. I mix it up, but those have been my favorites.
I hope everyone winds up where they want to be, wherever that is.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Quick TV Rant
NBC, WTF?!?!?
Law and Order LA was soooo good.
Just as things seemed to be turning around with Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe back...
Curses!!!!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A note on Stover
We all know where we would be now, if it hadn't have been for Matt Stover.
The greatest defense ever might have been wasted (even more than it was).
We wouldn't have the same expectations we have now for the Ravens.
But we knew Stover was there. He didn't ever bend, let alone break.
Dare I say Stover was the greatest Raven ever?
Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and say it.
It's a claim that I believe can be honestly defended.
It's just a statement. But I think it needs to be made.
Is he the greatest?
The greatest defense ever might have been wasted (even more than it was).
We wouldn't have the same expectations we have now for the Ravens.
But we knew Stover was there. He didn't ever bend, let alone break.
Dare I say Stover was the greatest Raven ever?
Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and say it.
It's a claim that I believe can be honestly defended.
It's just a statement. But I think it needs to be made.
Is he the greatest?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Kegasus
Curious how the Kegasus campaign is perceived in the national media.
Here's a report from the Wall Street Journal, citing improved ticket sales for the "post-bankrupt" race. The blog post also offers an example of opposition to the campaign, in this instance from Maryland Delagate Pat McDonough.
If it brings needed revenue to Pimlico, then I think it's a great idea, for the time being.
If Preakness is going to return to the glorious image a lot of us think it should have, the rebuilding has to start somewhere.!
Here's a report from the Wall Street Journal, citing improved ticket sales for the "post-bankrupt" race. The blog post also offers an example of opposition to the campaign, in this instance from Maryland Delagate Pat McDonough.
If it brings needed revenue to Pimlico, then I think it's a great idea, for the time being.
If Preakness is going to return to the glorious image a lot of us think it should have, the rebuilding has to start somewhere.!
OooooK... glad I didn't watch that one!
Wow, it has gotten ugly.
But the O's need to keep their eyes on the future. Just because they're getting beat up, doesn't mean they need to start panicking. In fact that's exactly what they don't need to do right now. That's why I like hearing Buck talk about the last few games. To me, his answers sound similar to what Trembley might have said in this type of situation. And this past week has had games that reminded me of the 30-3 loss to Texas (of course, on the night Trembley was given the full-time job), so I looked to see what Buck said.
"'...they're major league hitters who are capable of better, just like our guys are,' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said when asked whether the Nationals' offensive struggles entering the game made the lopsided result even more difficult to accept. 'I think it was probably a given they were going to hit better as the season progresses. It's just unfortunate it was against us tonight.'” [Source - BaltimoreSun.com 5/21/11]
Sounds to me like something Trembley would have said. Sounds to me like something most managers would have said. Saying things like this helps deflect the urge to start panicking. Losing, even getting whipped, or as some might say, "embarrassed" [BaltimoreSun.com 5/21/11] is part of baseball. So there's no need to treat it like anything else.
People say that a baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. Running a baseball team makes you have to look at an even bigger picture, a through line that goes beyond winning, beyond a single game, a single season.
I encourage fans to do the same.
Dwelling on the past makes it hard to move on. The best thing to do after losses like these are to just move on.
The O's have to keep their eyes on the most important goal.
To keep getting better.
But the O's need to keep their eyes on the future. Just because they're getting beat up, doesn't mean they need to start panicking. In fact that's exactly what they don't need to do right now. That's why I like hearing Buck talk about the last few games. To me, his answers sound similar to what Trembley might have said in this type of situation. And this past week has had games that reminded me of the 30-3 loss to Texas (of course, on the night Trembley was given the full-time job), so I looked to see what Buck said.
"'...they're major league hitters who are capable of better, just like our guys are,' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said when asked whether the Nationals' offensive struggles entering the game made the lopsided result even more difficult to accept. 'I think it was probably a given they were going to hit better as the season progresses. It's just unfortunate it was against us tonight.'” [Source - BaltimoreSun.com 5/21/11]
Sounds to me like something Trembley would have said. Sounds to me like something most managers would have said. Saying things like this helps deflect the urge to start panicking. Losing, even getting whipped, or as some might say, "embarrassed" [BaltimoreSun.com 5/21/11] is part of baseball. So there's no need to treat it like anything else.
People say that a baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. Running a baseball team makes you have to look at an even bigger picture, a through line that goes beyond winning, beyond a single game, a single season.
I encourage fans to do the same.
Dwelling on the past makes it hard to move on. The best thing to do after losses like these are to just move on.
The O's have to keep their eyes on the most important goal.
To keep getting better.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Orioles Fans: Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up and Hold On
Ok, I think we have reached the low point of the first 98 games of Buck Showalter's tenure. The combination of the collapse in Boston, the disastrous end Wednesday against the Yankees, the beat down last night, and the sudden rash of injuries makes for a sudden and intense flashback to the misery we went through pre-Buck.
My advice: don't hit the panic button.
Personally, I didn't think the Orioles would be a .500 team this year. I picked them to finish last in the AL East. But, to me it's obvious that this years team is improved, and that Buck is the manager we need.
At the end of the season, will we have improved dramatically in the standings as a lot of people predicted? I don't think so, at least not dramatically.
But, what I see in this team right now is more important than their current win/loss record.
I see momentum.
I don't mean the momentum of a 10 game winning streak, or the momentum of a sudden offensive outburst. I see an organisational momentum that starts with Andy MacPhail and Buck Showalter.
The progress that I see makes me believe that it can continue.
That is the important thing, to keep getting better.
Personally, I've noticed that the O's have gone through phases of winning and losing this season, and the past week has been the biggest negative swing this season.
Right now, I don't know if they will reach .500 again this season. But with Matusz coming back soon, it could happen.
In March, I wrote in my prediction for the 2011 season how important it is to remember the history of baseball when predicting your teams fortune for the new season. I used to talk about it by simply mentioning a date that took place now almost a century ago.
"1918."
It took the Red Sox eighty-six years to win a world series. The lesson here is not just to look at how long that was in baseball years, but to look at what happened outside of baseball.
Babe Ruth shut out the Cubs in Game 1 at Comiskey Park on September 5th of that year. Six days later, the Sox took the series four games to two.
Exactly two months later, on November 11, 1918, World War I ended.
One of the things I love most about baseball is its history. And I don't just love the history of the sport itself. I love how far back it reaches in our country's history.
The fact that countless Red Sox fans, White Sox fans, and hopefully soon Cubs fans and Indians fans won a series only after waiting for decades... generations...
To me, that is beautiful in a way, although I would never want to live my entire life without seeing my ball team win it all.
But that is the way baseball is. Much like its six-plus month season, baseball spans out into the cornfields of history, to borrow a metaphor. Baseball has been loved by generations of kids who grew up and then passed America's Pastime to their children.
So what this tells me, is that if the Orioles had to wait to win a World Series as long as the Red Sox did, we would be throwing our World Series Parade in 2069.
With that perspective, I wrote in my prediction, you can only be an optimist as a baseball fan if your team cheats, has no class (see New York Yankees), or if you simply choose to ignore the facts.
But I think that uncertainty, the fact that anything can happen, is one reason why baseball is so great. While there are miracles, unpredictable runs for the pennant, role players suddenly carrying a team in a post-season series, there are also disappointments and even disasters. Those happen more often than miracles.
However, those tough seasons, those pennant droughts, those "there's always next year" moments, build up our anticipation and intensify our desire to see our team win it all. And when that happens, it is much sweeter than Yankees fans can know. They eat caviar, smoke $100 cigars, and buy championships. They don't really know what it feels like to win. But that blog is for another day.
So my point is:
1) In the context of baseball history, we are a very lucky city.
2) We might want to temper our bitching and moaning. Take a step back and enjoy the game. The sport is called "baseball" not "WINNING".
3) Statistically speaking, the chances of wining a World Series are poor. The chances of going .500 are... 50/50? It takes time to be a great organization, especially in baseball, in my opinion. Proof of this is: Cubs, Indians, Red Sox, White Sox, etc.
To end this post, I want to go back to my original point:
Don't hit the panic button.
But I'm not saying that because I think we're going to go .500 this year, or next, or that we'll win it all sometime before 2069, when I turn 92.
Don't press it, because you might be pressing it over and over for a very long time.
Enjoy the game. Enjoy the sport.
Go out to Oriole Park, the most beautiful stadium in sports. Take your family. Go out on a hot summer day or a cool summer night.
Take it all in.
If you haven't watched Field of Dreams in a while, you might want to put it on.
Or Major League.
That's baseball. At least, that's what it is to me.
It's something to be enjoyed. It is an American sport.
A friend once said to me that baseball is American because it is played on a field that goes on and on forever. That it is played until someone wins. Time doesn't constrain the game.
Baseball is American because it is vast, like our freedom, like our history. It is about going out on a sunny summer day, to sip a cool drink, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy watching a game that has been passed on through generations.
Passed on within our families.
Passed on throughout our history.
My advice: don't hit the panic button.
Personally, I didn't think the Orioles would be a .500 team this year. I picked them to finish last in the AL East. But, to me it's obvious that this years team is improved, and that Buck is the manager we need.
At the end of the season, will we have improved dramatically in the standings as a lot of people predicted? I don't think so, at least not dramatically.
But, what I see in this team right now is more important than their current win/loss record.
I see momentum.
I don't mean the momentum of a 10 game winning streak, or the momentum of a sudden offensive outburst. I see an organisational momentum that starts with Andy MacPhail and Buck Showalter.
The progress that I see makes me believe that it can continue.
That is the important thing, to keep getting better.
Personally, I've noticed that the O's have gone through phases of winning and losing this season, and the past week has been the biggest negative swing this season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now, I don't know if they will reach .500 again this season. But with Matusz coming back soon, it could happen.
In March, I wrote in my prediction for the 2011 season how important it is to remember the history of baseball when predicting your teams fortune for the new season. I used to talk about it by simply mentioning a date that took place now almost a century ago.
"1918."
It took the Red Sox eighty-six years to win a world series. The lesson here is not just to look at how long that was in baseball years, but to look at what happened outside of baseball.
Babe Ruth shut out the Cubs in Game 1 at Comiskey Park on September 5th of that year. Six days later, the Sox took the series four games to two.
Exactly two months later, on November 11, 1918, World War I ended.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the things I love most about baseball is its history. And I don't just love the history of the sport itself. I love how far back it reaches in our country's history.
The fact that countless Red Sox fans, White Sox fans, and hopefully soon Cubs fans and Indians fans won a series only after waiting for decades... generations...
To me, that is beautiful in a way, although I would never want to live my entire life without seeing my ball team win it all.
But that is the way baseball is. Much like its six-plus month season, baseball spans out into the cornfields of history, to borrow a metaphor. Baseball has been loved by generations of kids who grew up and then passed America's Pastime to their children.
So what this tells me, is that if the Orioles had to wait to win a World Series as long as the Red Sox did, we would be throwing our World Series Parade in 2069.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With that perspective, I wrote in my prediction, you can only be an optimist as a baseball fan if your team cheats, has no class (see New York Yankees), or if you simply choose to ignore the facts.
But I think that uncertainty, the fact that anything can happen, is one reason why baseball is so great. While there are miracles, unpredictable runs for the pennant, role players suddenly carrying a team in a post-season series, there are also disappointments and even disasters. Those happen more often than miracles.
However, those tough seasons, those pennant droughts, those "there's always next year" moments, build up our anticipation and intensify our desire to see our team win it all. And when that happens, it is much sweeter than Yankees fans can know. They eat caviar, smoke $100 cigars, and buy championships. They don't really know what it feels like to win. But that blog is for another day.
So my point is:
1) In the context of baseball history, we are a very lucky city.
2) We might want to temper our bitching and moaning. Take a step back and enjoy the game. The sport is called "baseball" not "WINNING".
3) Statistically speaking, the chances of wining a World Series are poor. The chances of going .500 are... 50/50? It takes time to be a great organization, especially in baseball, in my opinion. Proof of this is: Cubs, Indians, Red Sox, White Sox, etc.
To end this post, I want to go back to my original point:
Don't hit the panic button.
But I'm not saying that because I think we're going to go .500 this year, or next, or that we'll win it all sometime before 2069, when I turn 92.
Don't press it, because you might be pressing it over and over for a very long time.
Enjoy the game. Enjoy the sport.
Go out to Oriole Park, the most beautiful stadium in sports. Take your family. Go out on a hot summer day or a cool summer night.
Take it all in.
If you haven't watched Field of Dreams in a while, you might want to put it on.
Or Major League.
That's baseball. At least, that's what it is to me.
It's something to be enjoyed. It is an American sport.
A friend once said to me that baseball is American because it is played on a field that goes on and on forever. That it is played until someone wins. Time doesn't constrain the game.
Baseball is American because it is vast, like our freedom, like our history. It is about going out on a sunny summer day, to sip a cool drink, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy watching a game that has been passed on through generations.
Passed on within our families.
Passed on throughout our history.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Great Gonzo!!!!
Mike Gonzalez, it was just two days ago that I was thinking we should hold on to you because you were such a huge investment. I don't see how we can do that now.
Maryland accepted to "AAU"- Does Gary's recruiting record affect Maryland's recruiting future?
I wonder if the fact that Gary Williams ran such a clean program at Maryland will actually affect Mark Turgeon's AAU recruiting positively.
Was Gary a Coach K without the blue chip players? Gary never stooped to the level of a Calipari in order to get talent. And when Gary had the talent, he went to two final fours and won a championship.
What Gary always maintained was the most necessary aspect of an excellent program. It wasn't talent, or winning. It was integrity. That is the foundation of any successful organization, basketball or otherwise.
So now, Turgeon comes in with a commitment to bring in AAU talent. But instead of starting from scratch, he is head of a program that has one of the best reputations in the country. He doesn't need to build that.
So my question is, is Gary's legacy an asset to attracting blue chip talent now that he's gone?
When blue chip talent now gets the attention that Gary didn't give to AAU players, are they more attracted to Maryland than to a coach like Calipari because they know that they can play for a school with integrity? They don't have to play for "the mob" to win. They'll get to keep their Final Fours.
Would a prospect choose a clean program over a dirty one if they knew they had the chance to win at either? The chance to be drafted by an NBA team as easily at either?
Of course. Playing for a Calipari offers a hollow success. Calipari can't offer integrity. A prospect would be foolish to turn down the opportunity to play for a program that offers pride, not just trophies. When you can have it all, it's a no-brainer.
Was Gary a Coach K without the blue chip players? Gary never stooped to the level of a Calipari in order to get talent. And when Gary had the talent, he went to two final fours and won a championship.
What Gary always maintained was the most necessary aspect of an excellent program. It wasn't talent, or winning. It was integrity. That is the foundation of any successful organization, basketball or otherwise.
So now, Turgeon comes in with a commitment to bring in AAU talent. But instead of starting from scratch, he is head of a program that has one of the best reputations in the country. He doesn't need to build that.
So my question is, is Gary's legacy an asset to attracting blue chip talent now that he's gone?
When blue chip talent now gets the attention that Gary didn't give to AAU players, are they more attracted to Maryland than to a coach like Calipari because they know that they can play for a school with integrity? They don't have to play for "the mob" to win. They'll get to keep their Final Fours.
Would a prospect choose a clean program over a dirty one if they knew they had the chance to win at either? The chance to be drafted by an NBA team as easily at either?
Of course. Playing for a Calipari offers a hollow success. Calipari can't offer integrity. A prospect would be foolish to turn down the opportunity to play for a program that offers pride, not just trophies. When you can have it all, it's a no-brainer.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
My Bio
Born and raised in Baltimore, my earliest sports memory is Cal Ripken Jr. catching the final out of the 83 World Series.
I remember the Colts and I wish I could have lived the "legacy" and "community" that they were here in Baltimore.
Lucky to have met Artie Donovan, Frank Robinson and Cal. Sports for me is an escape.
We Are Ready For Some Football
As I sit looking at a story about Torrey Smith on BaltimoreSun.com, my thoughts return to a question regarding the NFL lockout that I imagine has crossed every fan's mind at one point:
"What the hell are these guys thinking?"
The NFL has been as perfect as you can get if you wanted to create a sports league. But it seems to me that Roger Goddell is hellbent on destroying it.
I agree with Derek Mason's statement. Goddell is a "joke."
But I'd like to take that a step further. He seems to me the prototypical idiot that believes that you can always "take things to the next level." It simply isn't true. In fact, it is the main reason that great things begin to die out. When you have a good thing, you should hold onto it. But, to put it metaphorically, Goddell insists that his "supermodel wife" needs a nip and a tuck.
I'm not surprised. But this is a lesson we can all learn, that there are limits to greatness, and that often the proper way to complete something great is to maintain it and keep it alive and kicking, not to keep overhauling it.
The same principle applies in the stock market, for instance. Or so I've heard. Emotion drives the market. The steady hand rules the day. Those who act irrationally, out of fear or exuberance, and ignore the facts, wind up paying the price.
I see that in Goddell. To me he seems to be leading the NFL to some imagined promised land, wherein he's actually leading it off of a ledge at the top of the mountain of success it has built for itself.
Monday, May 16, 2011
O No!
What happened? I fell asleep when the O's were up 6-2, thinking they couldn't possibly lose, but I knew it could happen. Wow. What a blow. Just when things were going well.
Lee is hurt, hopefully not for too long.
Tillman had back stiffness. Hopefully it is not a major problem.
Well, we'll see what happens! Oh man, this positive run just turned south quickly.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Great afternoon for the Orioles
At the moment, it's 5-0 O's and it's been a great day for a few reasons. Bergesen has been super-efficient, Markakis has been making basehits out of pitches out of the strikezone, and Reynolds crushed an opposite-field homer.
Jake Fox also went deep for a 2-RBI homer. This is also the first game the O's will win when Bergesen has started in like 8 tries.
Lee just drove in another!
Barring a bullpen meltdown, this will have been a terrific day for the O's and they will look to take the series tomorrow!
Friday, May 13, 2011
O's down 3-0, top of the 9th
I'm surprised that the O's are still not scoring with Guthrie on the hill. Aside from Scott, this is the offense! Don't know what else they can do. Reynolds lack of contribution seems to me to be the largest hole. Hopefully he can start hitting.
Guthrie's pitching...
Let's see if they can score some runs tonight! Hardy's back in the lineup so maybe he'll be the difference!
Zach Britton...
Omg. 9 innings, no runs, 3 hits, no walks...
Wow.
Now, this is his first time facing Seattle, but still, this young man is exciting!
Update! O's win in 12!
Wow.
Now, this is his first time facing Seattle, but still, this young man is exciting!
Update! O's win in 12!
Thursday, May 12, 2011
O's win again!
Didn't get to watch the game last night, but woke up to good news, as the Orioles beat Felix Hernandez and the Mariners 4-2. Kevin Gregg pitched a perfect ninth, Adam Jones went 4-4 and Chris Tillman made a quality start, pitching 6 innings and giving up only one run.
Quality win. A win is a win, but beating Hernandez and being in position to sweep the M's should lift the clubhouse mood a bit, I would think, especially after the O's seemed to have been struggling more lately than I have seen yet this season.
Hopefully BRob and Reynolds will start hitting again, especially Roberts, as he is so dangerous on the basepaths. Maybe he needs to look for more walks? He seems frustrated.
Series finale tonight with Britton starting for the O's. Weather should be good tonight, according to BaltimoreSun.com. 7:05 start.
Can't wait to kick back and enjoy the game!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
New coach at MD
I am very excited about the new men's basketball coach at the University of Maryland! He sounds like a great guy who will continue to run the type of quality program that Gary ran. Now, let's just kick back and watch some basketball!! In November, that is.
O's come back to beat M's
So glad the o's came back to win last night. They deserved a break, and they got one when Seattle got thrown out at the plate to end the top of the 12th. And even though Matt Wieters has a low BA right now, he has looked like a man, not a boy at the plate this year. He is hitting the ball with authority, which is very exciting to me. I think he could wind up being an offensive force and team leader we need.
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