Appalachian State is Hot! Hot! Hot! [Updated]

If you just woke up from your hangover and didn't hear, Div I-AA Appalachian State defeated No. 5 Michigan Saturday by the score of 34-32 in Ann Arbor before 105,000 fans, which is eight times the number of people who live in Appalachian State's town of Boone, NC. So, to honor ASU for that major upset victory, I present you with what must be one of the worst student recruiting alumni donation request themes that I've ever heard - Appalachian State is Hot! Hot! Hot!.

Michigan might have won if they played that song at half-time. The ASU team might have been too embarrassed to come back onto the field for the second half. Still, congratulations to ASU for that big win.

[Update]

To make up for any hard feelings with ASU fans, here are the last two minutes of their win against Michigan. Enjoy.

ASU fans are likely to use up the bandwith of YouTube watching this over and over. Doesn't that last image of a Michigan fan at the end of the video say it all?

Sports Quote of the Day

"Congratulations to Barry Bonds as he ties Major League Baseball's home run record. No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable.

"As I said previously, out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, either I or a representative of my office will attend the next few games and make every attempt to observe the breaking of the all-time home run record."

- - Bud Selig, MLB Commissioner

Do you think that he was too nice?

No Bail, Bonds - Home Run Record

There are not any steroids that can bail Barry Bonds out of his fate of where he might break Hank Aaron's home run record; and, I wouldn't count on those crowds acting as his cheering section.

Bonds is back to business only five home runs away from passing Hank Aaron. Then again, he's hit only nine since April. One a week, give or take.

Look down the Giants schedule and see the rich possibilities.

In eight days, they'll be in Milwaukee, where it all began for Hank Aaron.

In 19 days, they'll be in Dodger Stadium, where the populace hates the Giants — and one must presume Bonds, by extension — more than anywhere.

Most intriguing of all, in 33 days, they'll be in Atlanta. At Bonds' recent pace, he'd be dead on the record. Somewhere, the baseball gods would have to giggle, should Bonds hit 756 against the team whose mailing address is 755 Hank Aaron Drive.

I wouldn't throw the ball back on the field, but I sure wouldn't plan to cheer. Maybe those same two guys who circled the bases with Hank Aaron's record home run will come back for this and pick up home plate before Bonds can touch it.

Black and Latin Players in Baseball

Sheffield says Latin players easier to control than blacks - ESPN

The percentage of African-Americans playing Major League Baseball is at an all-time low and Gary Sheffield says he has a theory why that's the case.

In an interview with GQ magazine that's currently on newsstands, the typically outspoken Tigers designated hitter said Latin players have replaced African-Americans as baseball's most prevalent minority because they are easier to control.

Sheffield tries to clarify comments on Latinos in GQ - SI

Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield insists he meant "nothing derogatory" toward Latin players when he said Major League Baseball found it easier to "control them" than blacks.

"The subject was players of my race and what we deal with and why they don't look in the inner cities for that same talent that they do in other places," he said. "(Latin players) have a backing, a support when they come off the island, and black players don't. As far as authority figures, we're only going to respond to people who care about us. That's what I meant by it."

There are different opinions on racial opportunities in baseball. My belief is that there are relatively fewer blacks in baseball because black athletes in the U.S. today tend to migrate towards basketball and football, whereas athletes from Latin America concentrate in baseball, if they don't pursue soccer. In any case, I like Shef and see nothing wrong with him expressing an opinion that opens discussion and might bring about positive changes.

Baseball - All American Play

It's nice to be reminded about one of the 100 Classic Moments in the history of baseball by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The image of a major league baseball player snatching an American flag from liberals trying to set it on fire, although thirty-one years ago, brings a smile to my face today.

A summary from an L.A. Dodgers press release:

On that day in 1976, Monday was playing center field for the Chicago Cubs during a game at Dodger Stadium. Though the Vietnam War had ended the year before, it didn't stop two protestors from trying to burn an American flag on the outfield grass.

Once the fans reached left-center, one of them took out a match and tried to light it. At that point, (Rick) Monday raced towards them and just before they could set fire to the flag, he reached down and grabbed it from underneath them.

More detailed coverage along with links to a video are found at Major League Baseball and NewsBusters. Most of the story is reproduced in the "read more link" below. Try to take time to view the video, too.

Blacks in Baseball - Issue II

II. Barry Bonds*

On more news regarding black baseball players, have you been keeping up with Barry Bonds* and his quest to beat the home run record set by Hank Aaron. I don't like the inevitable conclusion that Barry Bonds* will be the record holder, simply because I think that Bonds* has been using steroids. A lot of other people feel the same way. However, I was surprised to learn that there is a racial divide in attitudes about Barry Bonds*. Well, I was also surprised at a racial divide over O. J. Simpson, so I must be clueless.

...A recent ESPN/ABC News poll suggests there is a racial divide in the nation around people's attitude towards Bonds and his attempt to set the new home run mark. In the last few years, we have been treated to grand jury investigations, congressional hearings and best-selling books, all of which have placed Bonds at the center of a much bigger steroid controversy in baseball. This being the case, in spite of all the speculation to the contrary, it has never been proven that Bonds is guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

There has long been a notion among certain members of the African-American community that once a successful black person manages to make it to the top of his respective field, there is a vested interest among other people outside of the community to see this person fall. Barry Bonds is only the most recent example of such a notion. The vehemence with which these outside forces seem aligned in their interest to go after Bonds has helped to fuel such thinking.

Many others feel that the situation is plain and simple; they believe Bonds cheated and should be punished. Again, this is despite the fact that Bonds has never been caught using steroids. This racial divide reveals different attitudes about crime and punishment, guilt and innocence in our society.

In a country that has long prided itself on a system of justice that pursued an "innocent until proven guilty" mantra, Bonds finds himself, like many other African-Americans throughout history, just plain guilty.

...In times past, some would have called Bonds an "uppity Negro." In today's parlance, though, Bonds might best be described by Ice Cube's moniker, "the n----- you love to hate."

...The history of racism in baseball is far more troubling to me than the possibility that someone might have used performance-enhancing drugs to aid his accomplishments. Yet no one would ever consider putting an asterisk by Ruth's name or that of any other white player who enjoyed the benefits of playing in a competitive league that did not allow for fair and equal competition based solely on the issue of race.

...At the end of the day, it would be great to see people put away their childish racial resentment of Barry Bonds and give the man his due, but as an adult I have no illusions that this is going to happen.

Do you agree with that writer? I simply think that Barry Bonds* has gotten to the record unfairly, and it doesn't take a grand jury or medical study to simply see how he has bullked up. One reason, too, that I don't see this as racism, is because the record that Bonds* will beat is held by another black man, Hank Aaron.

It just occurred to me. Maybe we should place an asterisk (*) by the records of Barry Bonds*. Why didn't I think of that earlier?

Additional Commentary:

More thoughts on this can be found at our friend's site:
Assistant Village Idiot

More from ESPN here:
Please stop Bonds, before it's too late By Jemele Hill
"God, can you smite Barry Bonds before he breaks Major League Baseball's all-time home run record? ...God, Hank Aaron deserves better than to see his record broken by an unlikable, arrogant cheater who has done nothing but heighten stereotypes of black athletes. "

This just in from Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Shilling on MSNBC:
Schilling rips Bonds
says he (Bonds) admitted 'roid use, 'He admitted to cheating on his wife . . . on his taxes . . . and on the game'

Blacks in Baseball - Issue I

I. Numbers of Black MLB Players

There has been much celebration made about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. However, at the recent 60th anniversary celebration of Robinson's milestone at a Braves and Astros game, not one black player was on either team's roster, which brings us to this:

By Carroll Rogers The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 05/08/07

Upset over the lack of African-Americans on the Braves' roster, members of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow-PUSH Coalition asked for a meeting with team officials. They got one Monday.

Joe Beasley, Southern regional director for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said he and Dexter Clinkscale, the director of sports for the organization, met Monday morning for nearly two hours with Braves general manager John Schuerholz, assistant general manager Frank Wren and three other Braves officials.

"The team slipped ... down to [no African-Americans]; it wasn't something that just happened," Beasley said Monday afternoon. "I think it was a lack of diligence on the part of the Braves to recruit African-American players. There's not diminished enthusiasm for African-Americans playing baseball. It's simply the opportunity hasn't presented itself."

...Less than 10 percent of major league players are African-Americans. But in a recent interview on the subject, Schuerholz said: "You go to where the talent leads you. Finding major league-caliber baseball players is far too difficult if you try to narrow your criteria down to demographics."

Countered Beasley, "As I expected, [Schuerholz's] idea is the bottom line: I'll put the best 40 men I can get wherever I can get them from on the field, and that's fair. But the fact of the matter is if they put resources into recruiting here in the United States, and more specifically here in Atlanta, there are talented players here." ....

I didn't even notice the race disparity on the team, because I'm paying more attention to batting averages and ERA's.

Sports does not lend itself as well to affirmative action programs as do other fields. You can have do-over's in business, but not on the field of major league baseball. If you make an error or strike out in baseball, the umpire won't feel bad and let you try again. Those things can cost the team wins and cost the team both fans and money. I prefer to take the top players without regard to their races.

But, blacks only represent 12.8 percent of our population, so being represented by a near 10 percent in MLB is not far off of the mark, anyway. I suspect that the problem, if there is one, results from black athletes drifting more towards professional basketball and football rather than from racism in the game of baseball--just a guess.

Maybe Braves G.M. John Schuerholz could expand his search and find some black athletes in the National Basketball Association...and, maybe Jesse Jackson could get a few white players for his team, too.

I wonder what Don Imus would have to say about this.

Telecommuting in a New Field

Telecommuting may be coming in a new field, left field, to be precise, and it involves G.M.'s favorite team.

BOSTON—Claiming that a relaxed atmosphere and a chance to create his own schedule would greatly benefit his productivity, Red Sox left-fielder Manny Ramirez has asked team officials if he can play the remainder of the season from the comfort of his own home. ...The Red Sox have tentatively agreed to allow Ramirez to telecommute, claiming that although their offense may suffer without him at the ballpark, their defense in a vacant left field may substantially improve.

In fact, I think that this is how the border patrol has been doing its job for years. Good luck to Manny, the Red Sox, and Red Sox fans.

Baseball's Back - G.M.'s Team in Brawl

It's only Spring Training and some players are already pretty serious.

Associated Press - LAKELAND, Fla. -- Magglio Ordonez was hit in the side of the head by a breaking ball from Josh Beckett on Saturday, sending the Detroit slugger to the hospital and leading to a near scuffle between the Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

Beckett plunked Gary Sheffield with a first-inning pitch and hit Ordonez in the third, forcing him from the game. He was treated at a hospital.

Detroit reliever Todd Jones then threw behind Boston's J.D. Drew in the fifth, and the benches and bullpens emptied. Players converged near home plate, but no punches were thrown.

Jones and Tigers manager Jim Leyland were ejected. In the clubhouse after Detroit's 7-6 loss, Ordonez wore a bandage that covered much of his head.

"He was groggy, but that was to be expected," Leyland said. "Josh throws a hard breaking ball. I'm sure he won't play tomorrow. I'm sure he'll have a headache."

Red Sox reliever Travis Hughes also hit Chris Shelton with a pitch in the eighth.

You could get a hit by just holding the bat in front of your head to defend yourself.

I'm anxious for the season to start. Good luck to your teams except when they play the Braves.

NCAA - March Madness

The sixty-five teams have been selected for the NCAA basketball championship tournament, aka "March Madness."

Here's your link to a viewable bracket diagram: Viewable Bracket

and, another one that you can print: Printable Bracket

and, a link to a suggestions for picking winners: Strategy to Picking.

The number one seeds are Florida, North Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio State.

Remember, betting is illegal in most places and we expect you to do this just for fun.

I Predicted Florida Win Over Ohio State

Yeahhhhh, you say. Well, I got home last night about ten minutes before the game started and right after meeting with a graduate of Ohio State and a graduate of Florida, who both drove me crazy. I told them and others that Florida would win and why. I just didn't predict a blowout. Most of my prediction had to do with seeing Florida's potential during the regular season and with the strength of the SEC and in seeing how Michigan, who almost beat Ohio State, was handled by Southern California. (USC is the University of South Carolina where I live.) I started to post my prediction then just so it wouldn't appear that I simply claimed this after the fact, but I wasn't going to miss the kickoff, which was a surprise, so you just have to believe me.

Now, all of the Florida fans are coming out of the woodwork. Today I met with an attorney and he dumped his business suit to wear Florida orange. But, I can always get to them by reminding them that Auburn beat Florida during the regular season.

With Florida and Urban Meyer, Alabama and Nick Saban, Auburn and Tommy Tubberville, South Carolina and Steve Spurrier, LSU and Les Miles, and (for you, DADvocate) Tennessee and Phillip Fulmer: the SEC is going to be one tough conference to get through without being beaten and being beat up during a season. The coaching salaries are another issue and a concern when you compare what they make to what a university president makes.

Don't ask me to predict the NFL playoff winners. But, I will predict that the Atlanta Falcons will do better next year with Bobby Patrino as the new head coach.

Next, I'm shifting to baseball. Today, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, both in their first year on the ballot, were elected to the Hall of Fame. Catchers and pitchers report soon.

I've Had It With the BCS

The BCS system to determine the national champion in college football needs to be abandoned or repaired. The Associated Press poll, determined by human analysis and experience, comes closer to correctly ranking teams than a BCS blending of polls and flawed computer rankings that go against common sense and end up making various teams mad. And, then the BCS rules limit conference participation in the BCS bowls, which penalizes other teams in strong conferences. And, I really cannot stand it when they talk about "style" ponts in rankings. Style points!!! Running up a score doesn't impress me as much as a strong defense, but defense doesn't have "style." Good grief. It's a common saying that offense sells tickets but defense wins games. How's winning for style? Give me the good ol' days when various teams played in New Year's bowl games and voters could pick a final winner from any of them. Other people have problems with the BCS, as well...this guy, and him, and these guys, too.

Anyway, here's the bowl schedule. I bet that you didn't know that there were so many. The bowl season starts with that classic "San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl." It only gets better.

Still, I don't like the BCS championship system.

Mets and Yankees Sew Up Divisions - Let's Move On to Football

Normally at this time of the year, we'll have posts on the progress and victories of the Red Sox and the Braves. Well, this year is not normal. After fourteen straight division championships, the Braves are going to sit at home during the playoffs--well, more likely on the golf courses where they probably spent too much time during spring training. The Red Sox are all but eliminated and will sit wondering how they were swept at home and blew their lead to the Yankees. If anyone is still interested in the baseball races, and we can't imagine why with our two teams out, here is a link to the MLB standings and playoffs.

How Can You Enjoy Life With Bush as President?

Just to make liberals mad, because they hate to think that anyone can enjoy life when there is so much to be miserable over with Bush in office, I offer what is really important to a lot of people this time of the year--even our soldiers.

Current College Football Rankings

1. OHIO ST (59) (3-0)
2. AUBURN (2) (3-0)
3. SO CAL (2) (2-0)
4. WEST VIRGINIA (2) (3-0)
5. FLORIDA (3-0)
6. MICHIGAN (3-0)
7. TEXAS (2-1)
8. LOUISVILLE (3-0)
9. GEORGIA (3-0)
10. LSU (2-1)
Link to Complete AP Poll - Week 4

How's your team doing (college or pro)? Is that okay to ask?

Frequently when I attend sports events, as I did at Auburn this past weekend, military planes or helicopters fly over just before the start. Guess what. The crowd loves it and applauds the military. They are proud of our troops and support them with good wishes other than whining "I'll be glad when Bush is out so that you can cut-and-run come home." Our military doesn't complain about their duties like the Left complains. Their voting records support that.

The football crowd of 87,451 stood and sang both "God Bless America" and the "National Athem" before the game. Hands were over hearts. The crews that flew over landed, came to the game, and were individually introduced and loudly cheered. Auburn even has trained our national bird, a bald eagle, to circle inside the stadium with the crowd yelling before the game. (And, I gotta tell you. It's pretty cool when an eagle is swooping just a few feet over your head.) You won't see this kind of patriotism at Harvard or Stanford.

Now, on this issue, someone from the Left will quickly bring up Pat Tillman--only for them to further show that we should be miserable for enjoying something that he can no longer enjoy. They only use his name to attack the country that he defended. I think that Pat Tillman would approve of this post and our carrying on with American traditions. Don't you think that the War on Terror allows and encourages Americans to continue with their normal activities--just as we did with the World Series after 9-11?

So, to the Left, excuse me for enjoying living and carrying on with American values and traditions, even with all the problems that you want to discuss to bring us down. There's more to life than misery. That's something that we don't need to debate. That's something that you need to learn.

Oh, and I still support the troops when I do this--a lot more than you, and our troops support and defend Americans to enjoy our freedoms and traditions. Take advantage of it.

What Baseball Race? Football Starts.

For some of us, baseball season is over, so here's what we're looking forward to now and here are two links to help you start to take your minds off of relatively unimportant stuff compared to football season--like war and politics.

For a change, it's not USC on top of the preseason Power 16. Ohio State grabbed the No. 1 ranking, but Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr. and the Buckeyes were hardly a unanimous selection. Texas, Notre Dame, Auburn and West Virginia also received first-place votes.

It's clear that the Braves string of fourteen division titles is over. I've been reading Braves GM John Schuerholz's new book "Built to Win." With budget restraints on the team's payroll, they cannot afford the players that they need. Let's hope that my favorite college teams pay their athletes better.

The Real Story on Castro's Surgery - And Baseball With Cuba

Just to prove that you can't believe the communist press from Cuba (or the communist press in the U.S.), here's the real inside story on Castro's surgery:

Bet you didn't know that. Here's more.

.

Castro has been considered by many to be the best baseball pitcher to come out of Cuba, even better than El Duque--because he has the power to torture players who get hits off of him. I've read more than one story about thrown games in Cuba to insure that the teams got out in one piece--not to mention the pressure on the umpires.

Maybe if Castro gives up ownership of the Cuban team, it can rejoin the American League rather than continue as part of the declining Communist League. This has a better chance than ping-pong diplomacy with China, as long as the spolier is gone. In the meantime, Bud Selig and Castro apologists can forget about a forced expansion into that region.

Do you thnk that baseball fans could vote on Cuba's future and its leadership when they fill out their ballots for the All Stars? It could only result in an improvement.

More on Cuban Baseball and Sports:
Baseball in Cuba and the United States and these Pictures

In the second link, note the picture of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro golfing together. Wouldn't that disappoint the anti-establishment, totally ignorant youth of today who love to wear Che T-shirts? If they only knew that Che had a ten handicap before becoming a revolutionary. (I bet he cheated.)

You're the Coach

You're the coach and have to make a crucial decision. What do you do?

Here's the set up:

You are the coach of a youth baseball team.
Your team is playing for the championship.
It's the ninth inning.
Your team is holding onto a slim one run lead.
The other team is at bat and your team is pitching.
There are two outs--one out away from the championship.
But, the other team has a runner on third base in scoring position.
And, their power hitter comes up to bat.

Here's what you have to decide as the coach: Do you pitch to the power hitter, knowing that he has a realistic chance to tie or beat you, or do you intentionally walk him to get to the next batter for an easier final out and the championship?

Think carefully about it before reading further.

-----

Oh, there is one piece of information that I didn't mention...if you walk the power hitter, then the next kid up to bat, who should be an easier out, is "a cancer survivor who needs a shunt in his brain just to live."

Okay, now knowing that, is your decision the same?

Read more about this and see the related stories (and a poll) from the source where I found it. Visit our friend's post: DADavocate - Needing A Reality Check.

What did you decide and why?

Red Sox vs. Braves - Complete Sunday Recap

That game made me want to throw up. But, there is good news. No, it's not that I saved money on my car insurance. The good news is that I couldn't go as originally planned and didn't have to sit through the disgusting performance of the Braves' relievers. My youngest son became sick before the game and I wanted to do the right "dad" thing by staying home with him on Father's Day. The other good news is that I sold my tickets to some Red Sox fans for four times what I paid. Suckers!

There will be no more "complete recaps" this baseball season. It's over for me, and I'm already looking ahead to football. Heck, I'll even take professional wrestling over what the Braves put on the field. Professional wrestling isn't as fake as this bunch of guys pretending to be professional baseball players.

That reminds me of the days when the Braves had to have a lot of promotions to fill the stands. (They may need to go back to that.) They actually scheduled to have a professional wrestling match before one game to bring in fans. Hey, they're not choosy about the class of fans who come. Then without consulting the calendar, the promotion director also advertised that the Braves would hold a special wedding ceremony extravaganza in the infield before the game. After putting it out over the radio and after about thirty couples had accepted the deal, the Braves realized the conflict with the wrestling match. The wrestling contract and date could not be changed, and the Braves couldn't tell the excited couples to forget it. So, they decided to hold both events on the same night. The couples would get married before the game, and the professional wrestlers would fight after the game. So, what did the Braves name this dual promotion? Yep. It was "Wedlock and Head Lock Night."

My daughter gets married next weekend, but it won't be at Turner Field. It will take weeks to clean up the stink that they made there tonight, and it wasn't rice that they were throwing around.

Does anyone need tickets for the rest of the season? I'll make them available for a really good price and, while our wedding list is full, maybe I'll throw in some wrestling tickets at the same time.

Now, where's that aspirin bottle?

Red Sox vs. Braves - Complete Saturday Recap

It was hot. There were a lot of Red Sox fans and they were obnoxious--realllll obnoxious.

A friend whose seat is with mine caught a foul ball. He went six straight years without missing a Braves game--costing him several jobs and a marriage in the process. (His streak ended last season for a high school reunion.) It's nice to know that he has priorities right. I gave him a ride back last night. Maybe he will give me the ball...yeah.

I'll be at the game on Sunday and will give another complete recap. The pitching matchup will be Schilling v. Smoltz--two greats. It will be Father's Day, so my gift will be to watch the Braves beat the Red Sox. I recently tore my rotator cuff, so I won't be able to help the Braves in relief, but I almost could. Happy Father's Day in advance to the rest of you.

Red Sox vs. Braves - Complete Friday Recap

The Braves faced an unfamiliar pitcher. The fireworks after the game were good.

NCAA 2006 Basketball Tournament - Conservatives Only

As conservatives have lives, we can enjoy activities outside of politics--unlike our liberal friends whose lives are consumed with gloom and despair. So, let's take a look at the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament. As a service to our readers, here is a link to a printable bracket of the tournament showing locations and times of the games--suitable for penciling in your picks. In addition, here are links to NCAA Sports, Fox Sports, and CBS Sportsline for information to help with your selections. However, we remind you that gambling on the games (outside of Las Vegas) may be illegal--and we know that you would never participate in office pools.

Who are you picking to go to the Final Four, what upsets do you see, and which team do you think will take it all?

Super Sunday for Super Conservatives

Warning to all our readers: Do not attempt to fly over the Super Bowl on Sunday. There could be life-changing repercussions: Air Force says it will shoot Super Bowl TFR violators. Nuts. Just one more experience that I will never have thanks to Islamic terrorists...well, if I wanted to. When I was at the airport the other day I thought about how we would amuse our kids for hours by taking them out there and going all over the concourses and letting them watch the big planes up close. Then, we would ride the train around the terminal. The kids loved it, and it was great entertainment all for the price of parking your car. No more.

On to the Super Bowl.... I don't have the time or expertise to elaborate, but I'm picking the Steelers over the Seahawks by two in a game to be decided in the final minutes. Part of the reason is sentimental, so the pick is not entirely with logic, and you would be crazy to make any bets based upon what I say. (I picked the Braves and Red Sox to be in the last World Series--another misguided sentimental pick.) This site by CBS Sports has more on the game, and you can track the game play-by-play with all the statistics here.

I'm sorry to report that no liberals will be able to enjoy the game, as their lives are consumed with fretting over President Bush, the military, capitalism, and, mainly, the fact that they are not in power. For the rest of you, tell us your pick and enjoy the game on Sunday. We can go one evening without worrying about the world.

What is this nonsense about USC?

Hook 'Em Horns

41-38 TEXAS YeeeeeHawwwwww!!!!

Uhh, hey, you USC fans out there? You have nothing to be Ashamed of, the Trojans played a GREAT game! (snicker...snicker.... STOP THAT!!!... ed.) (Can't help myself... Snicker... Snicker!!!)

My Blogbuddy Rick at The Real Ugly American live blogged the game and did a GREAT job. Outstanding Rick... Outstanding!!!

Brian Epps at Random Numbers perhaps had the best comment:

They [Texas] did not give up, and won the game with a 4th down broken play that was a perfect example of how they have won the entire season. It is something that one should remember always in life. When a door is closed to you, there are always options.The difference between winners and losers is whether you see and take those options."

And a special POST CARD for all football fans everywhere!!! (be sure to have your sound on and give it a few seconds to load)

texas vs. usc!

A good friend of mine, The Real Ugly American (click on the link, there is some good reading there) went on vacation and asked me (and another dude) to put up a few posts for him while he was gone. We both graciously agreed to do so, then found out that we were gonna root for different teams for the National Collegiate Football Championship. Well, that started a rivalry and below is my latest entry in that rivalry.

Not very long ago, I posted this graphic of the University of Texas Longhorn, with TEXAS superimposed above it:

Not willing to let things slide, some worthy, but ultimately losing USC fan posted on this very same blog this graphic:

Kind of puny as graphics go, only 150 pixels wide and a mere 200 tall. Nothing like my robust 250 pixel wide and 225 pixel tall graphic of the GREAT TEXAS LONGHORN

But I digress. The real reason my worthy (but ultimately gonna lose fellow conservative and otherwise brilliant) blogger bud posted such a small graphic is because if you enlarge the graphic to where you can see what is going on, you see this:

You really can't blame him though, who wants to publicize that the TROJAN mascot is rooting for TEXAS?

As I said, mosey over to The Real Ugly American and when TRUA comes back and enjoy his blog, he and his blog buds have some great reading (but you be sure and come back now, ya' hear?)

Sports Rivalry in Alabama

Traditionally, our family gets together for important events--like weddings, funerals, and the Alabama - Auburn games--the last being the most important. Within the family, loyalties are split between those two colleges, whose rivalry is the greatest and most bitter in the country. To illustrate the divide in the state, check the class picture below from an elementary school in Tuscaloosa, the home of The University of Alabama, and note the kid wearing the Auburn University shirt.

While this is worse than Democrats and Republicans getting together, at least the barbeque and tail-gating is better.

TE Leaves the Boston Redsox!

Just Damn!

Theo Epstein Leaves The Red Sox

Braves Win - Taunt Fans with Hope

-Braves 7, Astros 1

The Rocket got rocked. Smoltz became winningest postseason pitcher with fifteen. Series tied and moves to Houston.

Sorry, G.M. This just in...the Red Sox will watch the rest of the playoffs from home. The White Sox have won their first postseason series since Shoeless Joe Jackson's team won it all way back in 1917. Still, the Red Sox fans have a lot to be proud about their team. You can continue to pull against the Yankees, and you're invited to support the Braves for the remaining games.

Yesterday Was a Bad Day

*

Yesterday posting was light because I had something very important to attend. However, the day didn't go so well.

First, to the guy in the white truck going down the Perimeter at less than 50 MPH in the left lane... Thanks a lot for backing up traffic. I know it must be hard to notice everyone stacked up behind you and then passing you on the right at much greater speeds. Don't worry that all of us had somewhere to go.

To the lady at the bank... It shouldn't take ten minutes to process each transaction. But, it was nice of the bank to hire you after the tag office fired you for slowness--which was a first. Next time I'll be more careful not to make your work complicated by asking for cash back.

To the police directing traffic at the ball game... I have great respect for your position and authority. I wish that you did. Next time that you are asked to direct traffic, please ask for another assignment. When there are three directions that drivers can go and one of them is the absolute worst, don't force every one to go that way.

To the residents of the subdivision where all of us had to make U-turns because the police misrouted us... I'm sorry. But, I wasn't the one that ran over the curb and over your flowers. Send the bill to city hall.

To the Atlanta Braves, and this is the reason for my attitude... Why, why, why do you do this to your fans every year? We buy the tickets, attend the games, and root for you. You have a good year and win the division (fourteen in a row), and then in post season you fall apart and proceed to play like a farm club instead of a major league team. One World Series championship in fourteen post-seasons, and that was ten years ago. The only bright spot in your getting eliminated early is that we get our ticket refunds just in time for Christmas. Last night our starter hit an Astros batter. It couldn't have been on purpose, because if the pitcher was aiming at him then he would have missed him. Smoltz goes against Clemens tonight. I don't know if I can watch. One good thing from this. If FEMA needs to evacuate 30,000 people rapidly, put the Braves in charge. They emptied the stadium in ten minutes after giving up five runs in the eighth. Think what they could have done for New Orleans.

My condolences also go to G.M. for the poor play of the Boston Red Sox. (At least the Yankees got beat.) This will end badly for us or be among the greatest comebacks ever.

OKAY. THE VENTING IS OVER. RESUME NORMAL READING.

Boston Red Sox Need to Win "For the Children" [UPDATED]

The Braves wrapped up their division title and the Red Sox need to sweep the Yankees at Fenway to avoid a playoff game and for the possibility of a Braves-Red Sox World Series. But, there is more at stake than just a title. The Red Sox need to win "for the children." How's that? Well, follow the logic.

According to LiveScience, when the Red Sox win, emergency room visits dip. Who would have figured that? Here's what they say:

In a newly released study, researchers tracked hourly visit rates at six Boston-area emergency departments during the each of the 2004 American League Championship Series (ALCS) and World Series games.

During the lowest-rated games -- ALCS games 3 and 4, when the Red Sox were losing -- visits to the emergency room were about 15 percent above the volume expected.

Then the Red Sox won game 4. During game 5, Nielsen ratings surged and ER visits dipped about 5 percent below normal volume.

During the ALCS final game 7 and the World Series final game 4 (Boston won)-- the two most-watched games in which at least 55 percent of Boston-area homes tuned in -- ER visits dipped about 15 percent below the expected volume.

Unidentified Red Sox Fan Signals Touchdown!

Got it? The Red Sox win and emergency room visits drop. How does that help "the children?" Well, as any parent knows, kids are always getting scrapes and bumps keeping emergency rooms busy. If the Red Sox win, then more kids stay safe and out of hospitals! Pretty good logic, huh?

So, come on Red Sox! Do it not only for the fans, but win "for the children!"--and, G.M. and his beloved Norma, too. Follow tonight's action and root for the Red Sox!

Saturday Update:

The Red Sox won 5-2 Friday night. It's not starting so well on Saturday, but they have to play all nine innings. Here's the play-by-play for Saturday's game with Yankee's pitcher Randy Johnson (3.79 ERA) and the Red Sox's Tim Wakefield (3.96 ERA). Boston has to win the remaining two games at home to avoid taking the division title game to New York.

Update: Yankees win. Boston has to win Sunday just to have a chance at the playoff game. If they don't, then they will have to hope to beat the Indians for the Wild Card, but let's not think that far ahead.

Correction: I hate it when I'm wrong, especially when it is not good news. To correct previous information, the Red Sox had to have the same record in both the league and in the series with the Yankees to force a playoff game. Since the Yankees will end up with more wins against the Red Sox, they became the division champion on Saturday. But there is some good news and some hope. If the Red Sox win or if the Indians lose the last game of the regular season, then the Red Sox get the Wild Card Title and will play the White Sox to start post-season. Winning the Wild Card can be good news, as the wild card team has been winning the last few World Series.

Swami Says: Braves - Red Sox World Series!

There are a lot of important issues in the world today, but right now the one weighing on my mind is which major league baseball teams are going to the playoffs. Everything looked so comfortable a week ago with my team, the Braves, seven games out in front and going after its fourteenth straight division title, and with G.M.'s team, the defending World Champions Red Sox, leading its division. Then, after a few bad games, things have changed and nothing is certain. The Braves are barely hanging on and the Red Sox will have to fight to get the wild card position unless it can get back into first. We don't think that Bush is to blame for this situation, and it's nice that baseball can take our minds off of other problems.

Here's the link to the Playoff Race, as we enter the last week of the regular season. In the event of a tie in the AL East, the Yankees won a coin toss Monday and would host the Red Sox in a one game playoff. However, the schedule looks favorable to the Red Sox, which plays seven out of its last ten games at home with the last three games against the Yankees at Fenway. That will be a great series, and I'm pulling for G.M.'s team to make it to the playoffs along with the Braves, who still have their work cut out for them, which includes six games with the Marlins.

Help us pull for our teams, and enjoy the division races and playoffs. If all goes well, we'll have a Braves-Red Sox World Series, and I have tickets! Go Braves! ...and, Red Sox!

Info Theory

NCAA Folds Teepee on Indian Name Ban

This afternoon the NCAA announced that it was making an exception to its "No Indian Names Policy" for college teams and would allow Florida State University to continue using Seminoles, noting "the unique relationship between the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida." FSU President T.K. Wetherell, in a surely unrelated decision, dropped the threat of a lawsuit against the NCAA. Wetherell, who has had contact with the other schools affected by the policy, said "I think they (NCAA) understand, there will be other requests." In related events, it is rumored that some tribal leaders are upset that the NCAA has taken back its promise to them and are calling it an "Indian Giver."

Baseball Wars

GO BRAVES!

It's been a week. Does anyone think that G.M. will look back and see this change? Nope. It's been a few more days and he never saw this. I guess the Braves came out on top! --Woody

Judging by the number of comments on the last entry here Quite a number of readers (and Woody) are die-hard baseball fans. And that is as it should be.

I'm known to be a major fan of the Boston Redsox World Champions 2004. But if the truth be known, I'm really in support of two teams:

1. The Boston Redsox
2. Any team playing the NY Yankees.

In honor of my beloved readers, this post is just about baseball and comments should be limited to baseball. In particular, three teams; The Red Sox (for GM), The Atlanta Braves (for Woody) and any other team the readers prefer.

This is an exciting season, with ups and downs and all arounds for everyone. The Sox are up and the Braves are up in their respective East Coast divisions, and our good friend Jim's Dodgers are down, as befits any team crass enough to leave Ebbets Field ;-)

At any rate, comment to your heart's content. Baseball Rules!!!

UPDATE: Good try Woody.... LOL (Woody tried to put the Braves logo ABOVE the Red Sox logo) Close, but no cigar!

NCAA Drives Indians Off College Campuses

When it comes to the latest attacks by the PC crowd, especially at colleges, ...well, some things you just can't make up. I'm not going to waste my time explaining. Just read the following stories.

Here's what it's about:

NCAA bans Indian mascots, 'abusive' nicknames from postseason
AP NEWS via CBS SportsLine.com
Aug. 5, 2005

Fed up with what it considers "hostile" and "abusive" American Indian nicknames, the NCAA announced Friday it would shut those words and images out of postseason tournaments, a move that left some school officials angry and threatening legal action.

Starting in February, any school with a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically "hostile" or "abusive" by the NCAA would be prohibited from using them in postseason events. Mascots will not be allowed to perform at tournament games, and band members and cheerleaders will also be barred from using American Indians on their uniforms beginning in 2008.

..."Certainly some things remain to be answered from today, and one of those things is the definition of what is 'hostile or abusive,"' said Tom Hardy, a spokesman at Illinois.

The NCAA did not give a clear answer on that.

Florida State University Seminole

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline goes on to express his opinion....

NCAA takes a stand that isn't much of one
By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Aug. 5, 2005

That raises the next point. If the NCAA stops at the Native American issue, then it is diminishing issues at Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Louisiana-Lafayette. I'm sure I can find 13 Irishmen somewhere that are offended by Notre Dame's nickname. For some, "Fighting Irish" might conjure a stereotype of brawling, drunk Irishmen. If the NCAA found a Seminole tribe, I'm sure I can find an Irish nationality advocacy group.

Or what about the Aggies of Texas A&M and Utah State? To many, that nickname means uneducated, rural farmers. It's a punch line at places like Texas. Or what about the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette?

If we're going to split hairs here, let's get an ax.

...Already schools like St. John's and Marquette are among the 14 schools that have changed their nicknames on their own, bowing to societal pressure, not an NCAA edict.

...I'm more concerned that five years ago, Hawaii changed from being the "Rainbow Warriors" to just "Warriors." Some school officials and athletes thought the rainbow part had a gay connotation.

You get the point. But, just so you know that we're not making this up, here is the official press release from the NCAA Executive Committee comprised of university presidents. It also has a list of the "offending" schools:

NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events
Friday, August 5, 2005

It's just a matter of time until the NCAA caves in to the PETA protesters and makes college teams stop using names like the Tigers or Bulldogs. The PC crowd doesn't even like white people as mascots, as shown when UAB was forced to drop its Viking mascot because it was "too violent."

Some people just choose to be offended. I believe in most cases, it's not that they're that sensitive or really offended, it's just that they don't have much of a life, so they want to cause problems for the establishment whom they blame for their own failings--while giving them a sense of importance and putting them in the limelight at the same time.

I think that PC represents more than Politically Correct, because, in these cases, it might mean Psychologically Challenged. Rather than spending money on changing the names of teams, take that same money and hire psychiatrists for the PC protesters. What do you think?

Braves move into first place with "walk-off" walk

It appeared as though the Braves would drop the opener of this crucial series with Washington and fall a game behind in the race for the NL East. But Adam LaRoche tied the game with a sac fly in the ninth. Then, Andruw Jones drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk that allowed pinch-runner Jeff Francoeur to casually stroll home with the winning run amid the loud cheers of a home crowd that got to enjoy the fact that their Braves had finally overtaken the Nationals and assumed sole possession of first place for the first time since June 4. (Story at Atlanta Braves.)

No, this doesn't have anything to do with politics. So what?

UPDATE:
For our friend Jim Hitchcock--a vision from the past for a true blue Dodgers fan:

Pic: Tommy Lasorda explaining strike zone to umpire

Short Attention Span Update

For our ADD readers and our ADD writer, the types who like to wear out remotes cruising channels, the following brief posts from the week are offered for you to quickly scan--with no commercial interruptions.

Weather and Braves Dampen Red Sox Fans

Final Score from Saturday's game at Fenway Park:

Atlanta Braves: 7
Boston Red Sox: 5

The bigger story besides the score is that this was the major league debut for Kyle Davies--a local kid, whose family my wife knows. We've kept up with his progress from high school through the minors. When the Braves ran into a problem with its pitching staff--two starters now out on the disabled list--then the team had to call up Kyle up from the Richmond Braves.

Can you imagine being twenty-one years old, being suddenly and unexpectedly called up from the minors, making your major league debut against the World Series defending champions Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and having your family and girl friend fly up to watch you? Pressure!? When my wife said he was starting the game, both my son and I said something to the effect. "Well, he's going to be killed. He won't last past the third inning." I'm glad to have to eat my words in this case. Davies pitched five scoreless innings and left with four walks, six strike outs, and a 7-0 lead and earned his first major league win. I'm happy for him.

Today's match-up has the Braves' John Smoltz (3-3, 2.83) going against the Red Sox's Matt Clement (4-0, 3.56) Game time is 2:05 PM EDT.

Go Braves!! And, for the politically correct....Oh, oh, ohhhhhhh..oh, oh, ohhhhhhhh....

Help Wanted - Are you the right person!?

HELP WANTED

BE PART OF THE TEAM! A quality major league baseball club located in the southeast has an immediate opening for a closing pitcher. Must be able to hold leads and record saves. Duties include not walking the first batter, not making each outing a nail-biter, and not blowing the games--wasting the efforts of John Smoltz and other quality pitchers. Must have good and consistent location. A 95+ MPH fast-ball is a plus. Excellent pay in the high millions depending upon experience. Benefits include singing "Take me out to the ballgame" each day, playing catch with Johnny Estrada, being featured on the video board, a free jersey, and unlimited Gatorade. Short hours if you do your job. This is a summer position but can lead to permanent employment. Early retirement is your choice. Non-smoker preferred. EOE

Respond in confidence to John Schuerholz-Exec VP & GM, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315 or call 404-577-9100.

For faster response, post your qualifications and interest as a comment to this entry.

....................

This might be possibly the person we need.
Link to: "Girl throws perfect game--against boys"

Sports Update

Atlanta Braves....5
LA Dodgers........2

There was plenty of reason for the Braves clubhouse to be celebratory after their 5-2 win over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Jones boys had homered yet again, and the Braves had managed to take two of three in a big series. Chipper Jones' blast in the sixth tied the game, and Andruw Jones' blast in the seventh provided the eventual game-winner as the Braves bolstered their road trip with a series win over the defending NL West champs. The Dodgers, with this loss, fell out of first place and landed in third, behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres.

(Sorry, Jim. The Starfleet will recover, though.)

BASEBALL WARS

Oh my, the WORLD CHAMPION (I bet that was fun to type...ed)Boston Red Sox took on the New York Yankees in Fenway Park for the first home game of the season, and handed the Yanks a bitter loss. From the New York Yankies OFFICIAL website comes this bon mott:

"Before Monday's Fenway opener, the Red Sox received their 2004 World Series championship rings. Then Boston went out and played like champions, handing the Yankees an 8-1 loss in the first of three games between the two rivals."

Game 4: 8-1 RED SOX
Yankees: Win-2 Lose-2
Red Sox: Win-2 Lose-2

Play Ball!

BASEBALL WARS

The Red Sox rallied to in the 9th inning to bring the Red Sox ahead and take the win. Next game against the (ugh) Yankees is next monday. Go Sox!!

Game 3: 7-3 RED SOX
Yankees: Win-2 Lose-1
Red Sox: Win-1 Lose-2

Play Ball!