And I'm not referring to the Detroit Pistons offense in Games 3 and 4 of the NBA semifinals. Read this about former Met and mow Florida Marlin Mike Jacobs from the Palm Beach Post.
"The Marlins thought they were honoring their Jewish first baseman when they
decided to give away Mike Jacobs T-shirts as part of Jewish Heritage Day at
Dolphin Stadium Sunday afternoon.
"One small problem — Jacobs isn't Jewish, a fact the Marlins would have learned if they'd asked Jacobs himself. Better yet, they could have contacted Martin Abramowitz.
"As records custodian for the non-profit Jewish Major Leaguers Inc., Abramowitz is on a mission to catalogue every Jewish player who ever played in the majors — from Lipman Pike of the 1871 Troy Haymakers to Kevin Youkilis of the 2006 Boston Red Sox."
The article then goes on to talk about this guy and his research. Man, that's like when the Mets had Tom Seaver Day but he was broadcasting for the Yankees the same day and didn't show up.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Early Monday morning
It's 12:47 am and Memorial Day so I can stay up late and not worry about how I'll feel for work. A couple of thoughts and if you're looking for coherency, read another post.
1) I don't eat at Chili's much, maybe once a year. Each time I get the cajun chicken sandwich. Every time it gets hotter and hotter. This time I think they just rubbed the chicken in just cayenne pepper. My mouth feels better now, about 2 hours later, but that was hot stuff.
2) I'm reading the Junction Boys about the 1954 Texas A&M football team and their legendary coach, Paul Bear Bryant. I'm about halfway through, and it's excellent. Highly recommended.
3) Staying with books, my small group is reading "Messy Spirituality" by Michael Yacconelli. In the first chapter, he asks is there real spirituality possible for people who are not monks or nuns. He wrote "What about the single person in their 20's and 30's, work 60-70 hours a week, have friends who make more money than we do, and and have parents who wonder why we're not married?" And I thought, "That's me! This book is just for me!"
4) Why are there self-help books? If you read a self-help book written by someone else, how is that still self-help.
5) I almost forgot how good Outback is. On Thursday, I had my meal that I probably had about 10-12 times but hadn't had in at least 5 years. Grilled Shrimp appetizer with the 11 oz Outback Special sirloin, medium rare, house salad, mustard vinigarette, baked potato with butter, cheese, and chives on the side. It once got to be such a routine, the waiter never had to ask me about meal options. I just recited the same thing to him. Then I developed a thing for the rack of lamb. It was cool because it had this awesome Cabernet sauce and you got to cut the chops yourself. Then they made this new policy that they had to serve the chops already cut. Somehow it just lost its luster after that. I had to revert back to steak.
6) What is it with me and redheaded women.... Better than red-handed women, I guess.
1) I don't eat at Chili's much, maybe once a year. Each time I get the cajun chicken sandwich. Every time it gets hotter and hotter. This time I think they just rubbed the chicken in just cayenne pepper. My mouth feels better now, about 2 hours later, but that was hot stuff.
2) I'm reading the Junction Boys about the 1954 Texas A&M football team and their legendary coach, Paul Bear Bryant. I'm about halfway through, and it's excellent. Highly recommended.
3) Staying with books, my small group is reading "Messy Spirituality" by Michael Yacconelli. In the first chapter, he asks is there real spirituality possible for people who are not monks or nuns. He wrote "What about the single person in their 20's and 30's, work 60-70 hours a week, have friends who make more money than we do, and and have parents who wonder why we're not married?" And I thought, "That's me! This book is just for me!"
4) Why are there self-help books? If you read a self-help book written by someone else, how is that still self-help.
5) I almost forgot how good Outback is. On Thursday, I had my meal that I probably had about 10-12 times but hadn't had in at least 5 years. Grilled Shrimp appetizer with the 11 oz Outback Special sirloin, medium rare, house salad, mustard vinigarette, baked potato with butter, cheese, and chives on the side. It once got to be such a routine, the waiter never had to ask me about meal options. I just recited the same thing to him. Then I developed a thing for the rack of lamb. It was cool because it had this awesome Cabernet sauce and you got to cut the chops yourself. Then they made this new policy that they had to serve the chops already cut. Somehow it just lost its luster after that. I had to revert back to steak.
6) What is it with me and redheaded women.... Better than red-handed women, I guess.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Way to go Pedro!
From the NY Post.
Pedro Martinez, who played peacemaker during a locker-room fracas between two media members Thursday, apparently is challenging for the heavyweight championship of downtown Morton's Steakhouse. The Mets ace and three unidentified men, all wearing Mets caps, feasted on three orders of Cajun ribeye, one order of shrimp Alexander (plus three more to go), potatoes, spinach and mushrooms, asparagus and three of the restaurant's legendary hot chocolate cakes.
My reaction: The Shrimp Alexander is awesome, but who needs hot chocolate cakes when you have that cheesecake? You can't beat that, except if you go to Junior's. And I would be the champion of Morton's if I had his salary!
Pedro Martinez, who played peacemaker during a locker-room fracas between two media members Thursday, apparently is challenging for the heavyweight championship of downtown Morton's Steakhouse. The Mets ace and three unidentified men, all wearing Mets caps, feasted on three orders of Cajun ribeye, one order of shrimp Alexander (plus three more to go), potatoes, spinach and mushrooms, asparagus and three of the restaurant's legendary hot chocolate cakes.
My reaction: The Shrimp Alexander is awesome, but who needs hot chocolate cakes when you have that cheesecake? You can't beat that, except if you go to Junior's. And I would be the champion of Morton's if I had his salary!
Friday, May 26, 2006
How does this work?
At the college I'm working on right now, North Dakota State College of Science, they have a Fundamentals of Public Speaking Class. They have seven sections of that class going on in the upcoming fall semester. And one of them is online. How do you have a public speaking class online? Get a bunch of hackers to watch, maybe some Internet spies or something.
My guess is there is probably a vacant satellite classroom with a camera. The student goes in and does ther speech to the camera. If you're speaking into a camera inside a room where there are no other people, how is that public speaking. Just because the public can watch it later doesn't make it public speaking. And with my experience in this field, I know the path of where I speak.
And I know gas prices are high, war is going on, divorce is high, people are dying from cancer and heart disease every day, but this online public speaking deal has got to stop!
My guess is there is probably a vacant satellite classroom with a camera. The student goes in and does ther speech to the camera. If you're speaking into a camera inside a room where there are no other people, how is that public speaking. Just because the public can watch it later doesn't make it public speaking. And with my experience in this field, I know the path of where I speak.
And I know gas prices are high, war is going on, divorce is high, people are dying from cancer and heart disease every day, but this online public speaking deal has got to stop!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Dimitri's review
Well as I had written about few days ago, we just finished lunch. Anytime I can get 2 hours off in the middle of the day and be paid for it while eating is a damn good deal to me. We went to Dimitri's Mediterranean Grill, and I have to say the place delivered very well. It has a special atmosphere, from a small waterfall to their bar to their huge map of the Mediterranean Sea on the wall.
They have a wine list so exotic I proposed we should get half off if we could just pronounce the name correctly! Anyway, the meal was provided for us. We started off with some flaming cheese (OPAH!) called Saganaki. For those of you who have never had this, it's a Greek appetizer. After being fried, the cheese is usually covered with brandy extract, and set aflame at the table when served (typically with a shout of "Opa"). The cheese is then extinguished with the juice of a fresh-squeezed lemon, and sometimes served with pita bread. They also served pita with a couple of different spreads that I didin't go near, basically because they looked weird. I think this was the Egypt or Lebanon part of the meal. I did take a piece of feta cheese and a pastry of some type with some spinach inside. And the sourdough french bread was excellent (no surprise). And there was plenty of it in the basket for the taking.
Then they brought out a Greek salad with tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olives, pepperocini, red and onion. Excellent. Then came the main course. We had chicken breasts with some lemon oil and Greek seasoning on them. As George Foreman would say, juicy! On the side some Fine garlic whipped potatoes, a blend of vegetables (tri-color bell peppers with a bit of green beans and onion), and an amazing pasta. It was a cheese-filled ravioli cooked with mushrooms, proscuitto, and pine nuts in a white wine cream sauce. One or two people later said they wanted to lick the bowl!
Then I got a look at the menu. I have to say the prices surprised me. A half roasted chicken. Now at a place like this, I would guesstimate it would be 20 bucks. It was only 15. And 3.50 more for a Greek salad. A Greek Salad at Panera is like 6 or 7 bucks! Nothing cost more than 20 bucks. And for an independent place with such varying cuisine, that impresses me. Rotisserie lamb for 15 bucks. Also, they have a mixed grill with a chicken breast, lamb chop, gyro, and some kind of pork for 20 bucks. And a seafood medley for 16. This is mussels, calamari, and shripmp steamed in a vermouth red sauce and sweet braised baby onions served over whipped potatoes. Oh yeah, babe. And for appetizers, they have open bluepoint oysters and shrimp oreganata.
And another thing I have to point out. With all the chain restaurants where I live, it's nice to have an independent place nearby that does something different. I have to say I would go back there again.
They have a wine list so exotic I proposed we should get half off if we could just pronounce the name correctly! Anyway, the meal was provided for us. We started off with some flaming cheese (OPAH!) called Saganaki. For those of you who have never had this, it's a Greek appetizer. After being fried, the cheese is usually covered with brandy extract, and set aflame at the table when served (typically with a shout of "Opa"). The cheese is then extinguished with the juice of a fresh-squeezed lemon, and sometimes served with pita bread. They also served pita with a couple of different spreads that I didin't go near, basically because they looked weird. I think this was the Egypt or Lebanon part of the meal. I did take a piece of feta cheese and a pastry of some type with some spinach inside. And the sourdough french bread was excellent (no surprise). And there was plenty of it in the basket for the taking.
Then they brought out a Greek salad with tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, olives, pepperocini, red and onion. Excellent. Then came the main course. We had chicken breasts with some lemon oil and Greek seasoning on them. As George Foreman would say, juicy! On the side some Fine garlic whipped potatoes, a blend of vegetables (tri-color bell peppers with a bit of green beans and onion), and an amazing pasta. It was a cheese-filled ravioli cooked with mushrooms, proscuitto, and pine nuts in a white wine cream sauce. One or two people later said they wanted to lick the bowl!
Then I got a look at the menu. I have to say the prices surprised me. A half roasted chicken. Now at a place like this, I would guesstimate it would be 20 bucks. It was only 15. And 3.50 more for a Greek salad. A Greek Salad at Panera is like 6 or 7 bucks! Nothing cost more than 20 bucks. And for an independent place with such varying cuisine, that impresses me. Rotisserie lamb for 15 bucks. Also, they have a mixed grill with a chicken breast, lamb chop, gyro, and some kind of pork for 20 bucks. And a seafood medley for 16. This is mussels, calamari, and shripmp steamed in a vermouth red sauce and sweet braised baby onions served over whipped potatoes. Oh yeah, babe. And for appetizers, they have open bluepoint oysters and shrimp oreganata.
And another thing I have to point out. With all the chain restaurants where I live, it's nice to have an independent place nearby that does something different. I have to say I would go back there again.
The shark gets bitten
The first hint of a crisis in Greg Norman's (the most underappreciated golfer ever) marriage emerged two weeks ago when he arrived in Sydney for the Australian Open promotion without his wedding ring.He'd been wearing it just two months earlier for Kerry Packer's memorial service. Turns out he and his wife of 25 years are splitting up. Laura is reported to be receiving $200 million in the settlement.
Now it's not a 50-50 split. They live in Florida, where divorces are settled with a signed marital settlement agreement that unlike many other US states, does not instantly divide a 50-50 split of a couples' wealth. Instead, the courts look at what is "fair and equable".
Well let's look at the Shark as a businessman. The BRW annual rich list this week listed the man who was ranked No. 1 in the world for 340 weeks as being worth $278 million, up from $250 million last year. He topped the magazine's sports earners list last year. Norman is chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises, which deals in golf course design, beef export, instant turf, sportswear, wine, restaurants and a production company.
Legal experts yesterday speculated that a long marriage (they married in July 1, 1981, or 30 days before I was born), and living with a workaholic husband, could be the deciding factors behind the divorce settlement. This is going to be one of the most expensive divorces in Australia history.
All I want to know is what did Laura do to earn 200 million dollars? How many clubs did she swing? How many business deals was she involved with? I don't know. But what has she done to deserve take that kind of money?
That's the thing with a lot of divorces, particularly with rich people and celebrities (Donald Trump). Many times the money that's made come from one person. And usually they're already rich. So they get married, it doesn't work, and a regualr Joe can just walk away with 200 million? Makes me wonder if some people (especially some women) get married just so they can get some cash. And if it doesn't work, at least they have a little consolation in their bank account. At least Florida is doing it right by not enforcing the 50-50 split of assets.
Now it's not a 50-50 split. They live in Florida, where divorces are settled with a signed marital settlement agreement that unlike many other US states, does not instantly divide a 50-50 split of a couples' wealth. Instead, the courts look at what is "fair and equable".
Well let's look at the Shark as a businessman. The BRW annual rich list this week listed the man who was ranked No. 1 in the world for 340 weeks as being worth $278 million, up from $250 million last year. He topped the magazine's sports earners list last year. Norman is chairman and CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises, which deals in golf course design, beef export, instant turf, sportswear, wine, restaurants and a production company.
Legal experts yesterday speculated that a long marriage (they married in July 1, 1981, or 30 days before I was born), and living with a workaholic husband, could be the deciding factors behind the divorce settlement. This is going to be one of the most expensive divorces in Australia history.
All I want to know is what did Laura do to earn 200 million dollars? How many clubs did she swing? How many business deals was she involved with? I don't know. But what has she done to deserve take that kind of money?
That's the thing with a lot of divorces, particularly with rich people and celebrities (Donald Trump). Many times the money that's made come from one person. And usually they're already rich. So they get married, it doesn't work, and a regualr Joe can just walk away with 200 million? Makes me wonder if some people (especially some women) get married just so they can get some cash. And if it doesn't work, at least they have a little consolation in their bank account. At least Florida is doing it right by not enforcing the 50-50 split of assets.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The best song title of all time...
I thought it was Johnny Cash's "Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart." Now I have to award it to Willie Nelson's "I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine."
OK, I'd better clean the rest of this post up.
I stayed up until 12:30 this morning listening, well not actually listening, because something in my computer is screwy, but following the Mets-Phillies 16 inning saga. Chances are by about 3:30 today, I'll be completely dazed.
I read this on a website and I had to share it. "After going sixteen innings last night it would seem Paul Lo Duca will be on the bench tonight. Why am I pointing out the obvious? Because this means that Alay Soler, the Cuban defector, will be making his MLB debut pitching to Ramon CASTRO." Good one Glen.
I got home from the newspapaer around 10:10. And a certain girl called me back around 10:15. To protect the guilty as well as my own skin, I can't go much further into it. She told me she had just worked 10 hours, but I one-upped her. I worked 11.5 hours. Merle Haggard, thanks for writing "Working Man Blues." Nothing wrong with working though.
Tomorrow, it's a farewell lunch for Jean, one of the sales reps I work with. A bunch of us are going to Dimitri's Mediterranean Grill, a brand new restaurant that opened five minutes from my home. It's gotten solid reviews from what I hear. I hope we get to actually try the menu instead of having a catered buffet or something like that. With a large group (25-45), I think they may do something different.
I have my preliminary meeting for my Mississippi trip on Tuesday night. It's approaching faster than I realized. By the way, have you seen their state's new license plate?
And Samoa Joe is expected to be recovered enough from his knee injury for the Ring of Honor show in Chicago Ridge in exactly one month from today. Yes!
Song pick: Eminence Front- The Who
OK, I'd better clean the rest of this post up.
I stayed up until 12:30 this morning listening, well not actually listening, because something in my computer is screwy, but following the Mets-Phillies 16 inning saga. Chances are by about 3:30 today, I'll be completely dazed.
I read this on a website and I had to share it. "After going sixteen innings last night it would seem Paul Lo Duca will be on the bench tonight. Why am I pointing out the obvious? Because this means that Alay Soler, the Cuban defector, will be making his MLB debut pitching to Ramon CASTRO." Good one Glen.
I got home from the newspapaer around 10:10. And a certain girl called me back around 10:15. To protect the guilty as well as my own skin, I can't go much further into it. She told me she had just worked 10 hours, but I one-upped her. I worked 11.5 hours. Merle Haggard, thanks for writing "Working Man Blues." Nothing wrong with working though.
Tomorrow, it's a farewell lunch for Jean, one of the sales reps I work with. A bunch of us are going to Dimitri's Mediterranean Grill, a brand new restaurant that opened five minutes from my home. It's gotten solid reviews from what I hear. I hope we get to actually try the menu instead of having a catered buffet or something like that. With a large group (25-45), I think they may do something different.
I have my preliminary meeting for my Mississippi trip on Tuesday night. It's approaching faster than I realized. By the way, have you seen their state's new license plate?
If you can read this, you're from out of state.
And Samoa Joe is expected to be recovered enough from his knee injury for the Ring of Honor show in Chicago Ridge in exactly one month from today. Yes!
Song pick: Eminence Front- The Who
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
What is with these colleges?
A while back I posted a list of my favorite college names that I've encountered while working my job at Houghton Mifflin. From Pillsbury Baptist Bible College to Defiance College to Chief Dull Knife College to the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services, a lot of these college names have made me chuckle or even wince.
Now I have a new issue to raise. I'm starting to wonder once the students get inside these huge edifices with these shrink professors, what are they learning about? At West Central Technical College in Georgia, they have an actual program called the Fatherhood Initiative Program. How good does that look on a resume? You're an employer trying to hire someone for a position, you're sifting through about 50 resumes.
What kind of job are you going to get after studying in the Father Initiative Program. A porn star? A regular on Jerry Springer? Man, and just think about that homework!
Now I have a new issue to raise. I'm starting to wonder once the students get inside these huge edifices with these shrink professors, what are they learning about? At West Central Technical College in Georgia, they have an actual program called the Fatherhood Initiative Program. How good does that look on a resume? You're an employer trying to hire someone for a position, you're sifting through about 50 resumes.
What did these guys study in college? Let's see here... Engineering, this one, Speech Communiation, hmm, Biology, not bad, Social Work, oh good, Foreign Languages, and one more here, the Father Initiative Program.
What kind of job are you going to get after studying in the Father Initiative Program. A porn star? A regular on Jerry Springer? Man, and just think about that homework!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Sunday night thoughts
Did you see the Cubs-White Sox brawl last Saturday? Michael Barrett punching out AJ Pierzynski? That was the most solid contact the Cuns have made all year!
We took 2 of 3 from the Yankees. I know the Mets should have won 3, but so be it. I actually went to the Village Tavern after Ecclesia and watched the last three innings. There were about 30 of us from the group there and another 20 in the dining room. Apparently most of them were watching my face with each pitch. Suffice to say I gave a couple of fist pumps by the end.
I have to admit it seems weird whenever I see an old photo or video of Tom Glavine in a Braves uniform.
Good luck to Cuban defector Alay Soler who will start for the Mets against the Phillies this week. I look for good things from him. As long as Lima's gone, it can't be much worse.
I'm watching the True Hollywood Story on Charles in Charge, one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. The stories were great, it was funny, and very entertaining.
Congratulations to my boss, John Lemon. He just had his second son, Luke Lemon born late Friday night. Just don't ask me about the weight. I don't know and I don't see the real significance of weight of a baby.
I played some softball and absoutely ripped a couple of shots. My fingers really ached from gripping the bat so tightly and swingin so many times. I feel fine now though and the best part is my legs don't ache like they usually do after I play.
Song pick: Billy Joel: Leave a Tender Moment Alone. It's kind of fun to sing the high parts.
I guess I'm kind of rambling, so I'd better call it a night. Back to work tomorrow. Peace.
We took 2 of 3 from the Yankees. I know the Mets should have won 3, but so be it. I actually went to the Village Tavern after Ecclesia and watched the last three innings. There were about 30 of us from the group there and another 20 in the dining room. Apparently most of them were watching my face with each pitch. Suffice to say I gave a couple of fist pumps by the end.
I have to admit it seems weird whenever I see an old photo or video of Tom Glavine in a Braves uniform.
Good luck to Cuban defector Alay Soler who will start for the Mets against the Phillies this week. I look for good things from him. As long as Lima's gone, it can't be much worse.
I'm watching the True Hollywood Story on Charles in Charge, one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. The stories were great, it was funny, and very entertaining.
Congratulations to my boss, John Lemon. He just had his second son, Luke Lemon born late Friday night. Just don't ask me about the weight. I don't know and I don't see the real significance of weight of a baby.
I played some softball and absoutely ripped a couple of shots. My fingers really ached from gripping the bat so tightly and swingin so many times. I feel fine now though and the best part is my legs don't ache like they usually do after I play.
Song pick: Billy Joel: Leave a Tender Moment Alone. It's kind of fun to sing the high parts.
I guess I'm kind of rambling, so I'd better call it a night. Back to work tomorrow. Peace.
Saturday article on ACC-Plano softball
Plano 4, Aurora Central Catholic 1:
Sometimes in softball, one bad inning spoils the whole game.
After the Class A Aurora Central regional final, the Chargers would certainly agree. Second-seeded Plano (19-14-1) scored all its runs in the second inning as it topped No. 9 seeded Aurora Central Catholic 4-1 Saturday.
With runners on second and third and one out, ACC’s Lauren Konop hit Cori Barkei’s pitch to third. Courtney Hoffman fired the ball home in time, but the ball came loose and the first run scored. A groundout scored a second run, and back-to-back singles extended the Reapers’ lead to 4-0.
“I told my team I didn’t feel like we won the game, I felt like we won the half inning, but sometimes that’s all it takes,” said Plano coach Bill Sanford.
Chargers ace Mallory Regnier relieved Barkei and struck out the next batter to end the second, but then came some controversy.
Scheduled to bat leadoff in the third, Regnier had to be removed from the game when it was revealed that she had not been listed on the Chargers’ lineup card.
So her sister, freshman Casey Regnier, came into pitch and she shut Plano’s offense down. She pitched 4 innings, struck out five, allowed 1 walk and 1 single.
“We didn’t expect to lose a step with her,” Chargers coach Justen Lehr said. “We look for big things out of her in the future.”
The Chargers struggled to get base hits. They hit the ball hard several times, but often right at the Reapers’ defense, who then executed to kill any hope of a rally. Plano turned three double plays in the game.
The Chargers managed only one base hit, a two-out single from Jasmine Alfaro.
Aurora Central scored their only run in the fourth. Barkei walked to lead off and advanced three bases on three wild pitches. In the same inning, with Kristen Brouch on first, Katie Rozanski belted a line drive to left-center that the center fielder ran down, and the Chargers’ offense never really got going again.
But after last year when the Chargers went 3-28, the turnaround to a 12-13-1 finish has been exciting for the players and for first-year coach Lehr.
“Now we come into games expecting to win,” Lehr said. “That’s going to give us a lot of momentum going into next season.”
— Adam Bartolo
Sometimes in softball, one bad inning spoils the whole game.
After the Class A Aurora Central regional final, the Chargers would certainly agree. Second-seeded Plano (19-14-1) scored all its runs in the second inning as it topped No. 9 seeded Aurora Central Catholic 4-1 Saturday.
With runners on second and third and one out, ACC’s Lauren Konop hit Cori Barkei’s pitch to third. Courtney Hoffman fired the ball home in time, but the ball came loose and the first run scored. A groundout scored a second run, and back-to-back singles extended the Reapers’ lead to 4-0.
“I told my team I didn’t feel like we won the game, I felt like we won the half inning, but sometimes that’s all it takes,” said Plano coach Bill Sanford.
Chargers ace Mallory Regnier relieved Barkei and struck out the next batter to end the second, but then came some controversy.
Scheduled to bat leadoff in the third, Regnier had to be removed from the game when it was revealed that she had not been listed on the Chargers’ lineup card.
So her sister, freshman Casey Regnier, came into pitch and she shut Plano’s offense down. She pitched 4 innings, struck out five, allowed 1 walk and 1 single.
“We didn’t expect to lose a step with her,” Chargers coach Justen Lehr said. “We look for big things out of her in the future.”
The Chargers struggled to get base hits. They hit the ball hard several times, but often right at the Reapers’ defense, who then executed to kill any hope of a rally. Plano turned three double plays in the game.
The Chargers managed only one base hit, a two-out single from Jasmine Alfaro.
Aurora Central scored their only run in the fourth. Barkei walked to lead off and advanced three bases on three wild pitches. In the same inning, with Kristen Brouch on first, Katie Rozanski belted a line drive to left-center that the center fielder ran down, and the Chargers’ offense never really got going again.
But after last year when the Chargers went 3-28, the turnaround to a 12-13-1 finish has been exciting for the players and for first-year coach Lehr.
“Now we come into games expecting to win,” Lehr said. “That’s going to give us a lot of momentum going into next season.”
— Adam Bartolo
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Rain brings boredom
Well we have a thunderstorm and possible tornado for the northwest suburbs, but not near where I am. We had some rain on and off today but looking outside, it's a night blue sky fading into that shade of pink that lets you know the warm weather is coming.
But the rain has caused several soccer playoff games to be postponed and so I thought I'd take a few minutes to post to you my peeps.
First of all, the best wrestler in the world that's not in WWE, Samoa Joe, injured his knee this week. Apparently he injured every ligament except the ACL. An MRI has him missing 3-4 weeks, which would have him back just in time for the Ring of Honor show I will be attending June 24. (I got a fourth row seat too!) And his matches are worth the proce of admission by themselves, so it will be a huge disappointment for me if he doesn't wrestle. But you have to be smart with those kinds of injuries.
I won't be seeing the DaVinci Code this Friday as my boss' wife is pregnant again and he is taking some time off to be with her. So I have to work. But that's fine, most of the reviews I've seen so far are negative. And besides, I'd rather save the 10 bucks anyway. Actually I may have already spent some of it on a couple of hot dogs and fries at at Portillo's this afternoon!
And the same day I signed up for Ring of Honor, I'm also doing a financial stewardship class at Willow Creek Church that morning. I could use a little advice about money, so hopefully this will give me some insight. And straight from there I drive 50 minutes to watch wrestling. Hopefully, the lessons from that morning and afternoon won't be haunting me that night! Nah, ROH puts on good shows. I think it'll be fine.
Thanks to my father for advising me to pick up Jake Westbrook. I did and tonight against KC he's pitched a complete game shutout, allowed 6 hits, struckout only 2, and walked nobody. Then again, it is Kansas City, a team that has Doug Mientkiewicz entrenched as its number three hitter.
I heard that Magic Johnson Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley would consider teaming up to purchase an NBA franchise. That's nice, that's nice. Johnson will run the business end, Jordan the basketball operations, and Barkley the media relations. Let's break this down now. Johnson is a great business man. He owns the movie theaters, is co-owner of Starbuck's, and knows how to make a profit. About the only thing he can't do is host a talk show! Jordan in charge of basketball. Seems decent. Then again, he did draft Kwame Brown number one overall in 2001 when he could have drafted Pau Gasol, Gilbert Arenas (who the Wizards eventually got back anyway), Tony Parker, or Richard Jefferson. So I don't know if that's the man who should be in charge of the roster. And Charles? I like Charles Barkley. But putting him in charge of media relations?! Apparently they believe horrible press is better than no press. What will you do next, make Dennis Rodman the director of community relations? Come on now.
Got some new tires on my car. And the silver Met-mobile continues to cruise in style.....
But the rain has caused several soccer playoff games to be postponed and so I thought I'd take a few minutes to post to you my peeps.
First of all, the best wrestler in the world that's not in WWE, Samoa Joe, injured his knee this week. Apparently he injured every ligament except the ACL. An MRI has him missing 3-4 weeks, which would have him back just in time for the Ring of Honor show I will be attending June 24. (I got a fourth row seat too!) And his matches are worth the proce of admission by themselves, so it will be a huge disappointment for me if he doesn't wrestle. But you have to be smart with those kinds of injuries.
I won't be seeing the DaVinci Code this Friday as my boss' wife is pregnant again and he is taking some time off to be with her. So I have to work. But that's fine, most of the reviews I've seen so far are negative. And besides, I'd rather save the 10 bucks anyway. Actually I may have already spent some of it on a couple of hot dogs and fries at at Portillo's this afternoon!
And the same day I signed up for Ring of Honor, I'm also doing a financial stewardship class at Willow Creek Church that morning. I could use a little advice about money, so hopefully this will give me some insight. And straight from there I drive 50 minutes to watch wrestling. Hopefully, the lessons from that morning and afternoon won't be haunting me that night! Nah, ROH puts on good shows. I think it'll be fine.
Thanks to my father for advising me to pick up Jake Westbrook. I did and tonight against KC he's pitched a complete game shutout, allowed 6 hits, struckout only 2, and walked nobody. Then again, it is Kansas City, a team that has Doug Mientkiewicz entrenched as its number three hitter.
I heard that Magic Johnson Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley would consider teaming up to purchase an NBA franchise. That's nice, that's nice. Johnson will run the business end, Jordan the basketball operations, and Barkley the media relations. Let's break this down now. Johnson is a great business man. He owns the movie theaters, is co-owner of Starbuck's, and knows how to make a profit. About the only thing he can't do is host a talk show! Jordan in charge of basketball. Seems decent. Then again, he did draft Kwame Brown number one overall in 2001 when he could have drafted Pau Gasol, Gilbert Arenas (who the Wizards eventually got back anyway), Tony Parker, or Richard Jefferson. So I don't know if that's the man who should be in charge of the roster. And Charles? I like Charles Barkley. But putting him in charge of media relations?! Apparently they believe horrible press is better than no press. What will you do next, make Dennis Rodman the director of community relations? Come on now.
Got some new tires on my car. And the silver Met-mobile continues to cruise in style.....
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
DaVinci Code Friday night
It looks as if I'm probably going to the premiere on Friday night. Or as Kane calls it MAY 19!!!!!! I think it's funny that See No Evil, the very gory movie about Kane and the DaVinci Code come out on the same day.
If I do go, I will definitely post my comments. I have not read the book, and don't plan to at this point.
Jose Lima will get another start for the Mets this week. I think I'm going to cry.
As far as the Knicks go, Larry Brown can take a hike, but I'd much rather see Kiki Vandeweghe take over Isiah Thomas' role as GM. Brown will probably wind up in Sacramento. But here's some good news. There are rumors the Knicks will try to get Ben Gordon from Chicago to play point guard. I would get him at almost any cost. He always hits big shots, especially against the Knicks and he is a young superstar. I would trade Steve Francis or Stephon Marbury (Chicago needs a shooting guard), Nate Robinson, and both first round picks (22 and 29) to get him. The only guys I would absolutely keep are Eddy Curry, Channing Frye, David Lee, and Jamal Crawford. Quentin Richardson would be good to keep, but he may have to be traded to make it work. Everyone else can get out of MSG and stop disgracing the Knick tradition and the fans. And hey, we're already giving Chicago the No. 1 or 2 overall pick, why not help them more?!
Great Ecclesia message this past Sunday night from Ted Coniaris (Who I sometimes call the con man) on 1 Corinthians 13, aka the love chapter.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but if I have not love, I gain nothing." Absolutely nothing.
For more, go to www.ecclesiawheaton.com
If I do go, I will definitely post my comments. I have not read the book, and don't plan to at this point.
Jose Lima will get another start for the Mets this week. I think I'm going to cry.
As far as the Knicks go, Larry Brown can take a hike, but I'd much rather see Kiki Vandeweghe take over Isiah Thomas' role as GM. Brown will probably wind up in Sacramento. But here's some good news. There are rumors the Knicks will try to get Ben Gordon from Chicago to play point guard. I would get him at almost any cost. He always hits big shots, especially against the Knicks and he is a young superstar. I would trade Steve Francis or Stephon Marbury (Chicago needs a shooting guard), Nate Robinson, and both first round picks (22 and 29) to get him. The only guys I would absolutely keep are Eddy Curry, Channing Frye, David Lee, and Jamal Crawford. Quentin Richardson would be good to keep, but he may have to be traded to make it work. Everyone else can get out of MSG and stop disgracing the Knick tradition and the fans. And hey, we're already giving Chicago the No. 1 or 2 overall pick, why not help them more?!
Great Ecclesia message this past Sunday night from Ted Coniaris (Who I sometimes call the con man) on 1 Corinthians 13, aka the love chapter.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but if I have not love, I gain nothing." Absolutely nothing.
For more, go to www.ecclesiawheaton.com
Great line from ESPN's John Buccigross
This is from the NHL mailbag.
John,
"After watching the East go 1,2,3,4 in the first round and the West go 5,6,7,8, my question is, do you think this is a sign of a very strong and well-balanced Western Conference and a more lopsided East, or is it a case of a Western Conference in which the top teams weren't as good as their regular-season records showed?"
"Let's face it, Stanley Cup playoff series are like Barry Melrose falling down while drinking his first beer of the night. Once the fall begins, it's hard to bring it all back."
John,
"After watching the East go 1,2,3,4 in the first round and the West go 5,6,7,8, my question is, do you think this is a sign of a very strong and well-balanced Western Conference and a more lopsided East, or is it a case of a Western Conference in which the top teams weren't as good as their regular-season records showed?"
"Let's face it, Stanley Cup playoff series are like Barry Melrose falling down while drinking his first beer of the night. Once the fall begins, it's hard to bring it all back."
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Mets-Brewers: 50 hours and counting
A few things have changed since my rant a few days ago. Ben Sheets went on the DL for Milwaukee so Dave Bush pitches Friday and Doug Davis goes Sunday against Pedro. And for the Mets, Lima and Gonzalez were switched so I see the exciting pitching match of Jeremi Gonzalez against Dana Eveland. That brings up the obvious question. Who?
That's a damn good question. He just got called up from AAA pitching for Nashville in Tucson. Eveland will pitch on three days' rest on Saturday night against the Mets on Derrick Turnbow bobblehead night. Turnbow, by the way, has a very good head and hair for a bobblehead. Anyway, more info. Eveland made 27 relief appearances for the Brewers last season and reported to Spring Training as one of three candidates for the No. 5 starter's spot. He fell out of the running after allowing 14 earned runs on 19 hits in eight innings spanning four Cactus League outings. So far in AAA, he was 3-1 with an 0.75 ERA and 33 strikeouts vs. seven walks in 36 innings.
Now considering how the Mets hit against rookie pitchers, I should be nervous. But I think the short rest combined with a lefty will work well. I hope Chris Woodward gets a chance to play because he kills lefties.
Unfortunately it's supposed to rain all weekend, so I am certainly thankful for the roof on top of Miller Park.
On a side note, you may know MLB is using pink bats for Mother's Day on Sunday. How lame will it look to see pink bats trying to hit a Pedro Martinez heater?
Mom's got another foot surgery tomorrow, third on the same foot. Let's hope this one goes well.
That's a damn good question. He just got called up from AAA pitching for Nashville in Tucson. Eveland will pitch on three days' rest on Saturday night against the Mets on Derrick Turnbow bobblehead night. Turnbow, by the way, has a very good head and hair for a bobblehead. Anyway, more info. Eveland made 27 relief appearances for the Brewers last season and reported to Spring Training as one of three candidates for the No. 5 starter's spot. He fell out of the running after allowing 14 earned runs on 19 hits in eight innings spanning four Cactus League outings. So far in AAA, he was 3-1 with an 0.75 ERA and 33 strikeouts vs. seven walks in 36 innings.
Now considering how the Mets hit against rookie pitchers, I should be nervous. But I think the short rest combined with a lefty will work well. I hope Chris Woodward gets a chance to play because he kills lefties.
Unfortunately it's supposed to rain all weekend, so I am certainly thankful for the roof on top of Miller Park.
On a side note, you may know MLB is using pink bats for Mother's Day on Sunday. How lame will it look to see pink bats trying to hit a Pedro Martinez heater?
Mom's got another foot surgery tomorrow, third on the same foot. Let's hope this one goes well.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Painting recap
I should take a minute to discuss this past Saturday morning. I participated in Care Fest, through Wheaton Bible Church. There were about 800 of us that took a Saturday to go around and do a number of volunteer projects throughout DuPage County.
We all met at 8 a.m. for a quick warm-up meeting and then headed off to our sites. I went to Wooddale, which is near O'Hare and about 35 minutes east of my home. The spot was CareNet, a center that basically assists young women who get pregnant or are considering having an abortion. It's a very small office in a strip mall and there was basically a reception area that holds about 5 chairs and a very narrow hallway that leads to 7 or 8 small rooms. We all split into pairs and painted the hallway, the reception area, and three of the rooms. And none of the smaller rooms had windows so it got hot very quickly and the fumes were certainly noticable.
One good story. The ceiling was just high enough in the room so we could reach it, but was still high enough to where we didn't have control. All we had to climb on were these dinky stepladders with to rungs. So Vince (the guy I'm painting with) asks for a hand. We got a tall girl named Angela to do it. I held the paint tray while she painted. Now, I should say she's a tough girl. You know, she's got one of those husky midwestern voices that a lot of women out here have. My friend Rebecca had dropped in the room by this point as well.
So there are four os us and somehow this whole teasing match begins. Apparently, I said something off base because I wound up with a streak of green paint on the left side of my face. Five minutes later, I said something else and this time the paint made its way onto the right side of my face and it even hit my eyelash. So I said "That is enough!" I walked over to the painiting supplies, took a brush, gave it a nice coat of paint, walked back to the stepladder she was standing on with nowhere to go, and gave myself a green streak across my neck.
Anyway, we started at 10 were done by 2:30, includig an hour lunch break. Mom was a little upset I missed the Whittington Course garage sale, but she understood what I was doing.
After dropping Rebecca off at church, I went straight to work where I out in 4 more hours. Throw in the softball the next morning and the final result was by Sunday afternoon, I was on the couch watching a Matlock movie when midway through the 2-hour sh0w, I just fell asleep. I only missed 20 minutes, but it was still enough to make me go, "What the hell did I just miss?"
A few thoughts:
1) I don't have a problem with immigrants coming in and trying to make a better life. My ancestors did it. But at least they did it within the parameters of the law. Certain groups who I don't need to identify break in to this country at the rate of thousands a day. They don't pay taxes forcing people like me and my family to compensate for them. I rad the viewpoint of a man who I think is out of his mind, but he made some good points about this. He said either become legal citizens of this country (To me, I'd say to them at least know the Bill of Rights from Bill Clinton) or we should round them up and kick them out. I don't know if I feel quite that drastic, but I hate that these people break the law and real, natural Americans pay the consequences for it.
It feels like this. Say Gang A killed someone, but the authorities decide not to go after the gang because it would be too hard to find them. So they say forget it. Then realizing someone has to pay the penalty, they just find Gang B, round them up, and throw them in the slammer. OK, I went on a political rant. Something must be wrong here...
2) Never trust a preacher who looks 50 in the face and 30 in his hair. Or one who every time he says God has to pronounce it "God-duh" or Je-sus-uh"
3) I hope Chris Daughtry wins American Idol. If not him, then Taylor. At least there's no Carrie Underwood's this year.
4) Behind every successful man is an amazed mother-in-law.
We all met at 8 a.m. for a quick warm-up meeting and then headed off to our sites. I went to Wooddale, which is near O'Hare and about 35 minutes east of my home. The spot was CareNet, a center that basically assists young women who get pregnant or are considering having an abortion. It's a very small office in a strip mall and there was basically a reception area that holds about 5 chairs and a very narrow hallway that leads to 7 or 8 small rooms. We all split into pairs and painted the hallway, the reception area, and three of the rooms. And none of the smaller rooms had windows so it got hot very quickly and the fumes were certainly noticable.
One good story. The ceiling was just high enough in the room so we could reach it, but was still high enough to where we didn't have control. All we had to climb on were these dinky stepladders with to rungs. So Vince (the guy I'm painting with) asks for a hand. We got a tall girl named Angela to do it. I held the paint tray while she painted. Now, I should say she's a tough girl. You know, she's got one of those husky midwestern voices that a lot of women out here have. My friend Rebecca had dropped in the room by this point as well.
So there are four os us and somehow this whole teasing match begins. Apparently, I said something off base because I wound up with a streak of green paint on the left side of my face. Five minutes later, I said something else and this time the paint made its way onto the right side of my face and it even hit my eyelash. So I said "That is enough!" I walked over to the painiting supplies, took a brush, gave it a nice coat of paint, walked back to the stepladder she was standing on with nowhere to go, and gave myself a green streak across my neck.
Anyway, we started at 10 were done by 2:30, includig an hour lunch break. Mom was a little upset I missed the Whittington Course garage sale, but she understood what I was doing.
After dropping Rebecca off at church, I went straight to work where I out in 4 more hours. Throw in the softball the next morning and the final result was by Sunday afternoon, I was on the couch watching a Matlock movie when midway through the 2-hour sh0w, I just fell asleep. I only missed 20 minutes, but it was still enough to make me go, "What the hell did I just miss?"
A few thoughts:
1) I don't have a problem with immigrants coming in and trying to make a better life. My ancestors did it. But at least they did it within the parameters of the law. Certain groups who I don't need to identify break in to this country at the rate of thousands a day. They don't pay taxes forcing people like me and my family to compensate for them. I rad the viewpoint of a man who I think is out of his mind, but he made some good points about this. He said either become legal citizens of this country (To me, I'd say to them at least know the Bill of Rights from Bill Clinton) or we should round them up and kick them out. I don't know if I feel quite that drastic, but I hate that these people break the law and real, natural Americans pay the consequences for it.
It feels like this. Say Gang A killed someone, but the authorities decide not to go after the gang because it would be too hard to find them. So they say forget it. Then realizing someone has to pay the penalty, they just find Gang B, round them up, and throw them in the slammer. OK, I went on a political rant. Something must be wrong here...
2) Never trust a preacher who looks 50 in the face and 30 in his hair. Or one who every time he says God has to pronounce it "God-duh" or Je-sus-uh"
3) I hope Chris Daughtry wins American Idol. If not him, then Taylor. At least there's no Carrie Underwood's this year.
4) Behind every successful man is an amazed mother-in-law.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
The kind of Tuesday that falls between Monday and Wednesday
First of all, hey Omar, how's the 52 million dollar offense doing tonight in huge game against Philly? 3 hits through 7 innings, with one of them coming on a bunt by the pitcher? Inexcusable.
Only the Mets could tease you like this. They do absolutely nothing against Brett Myers for seven innings as I just said. Then Nady hits a 2-run homer and they're down 3-2. The unhittable Duaner Sanchez comes in for the bottom of the eighth. Gives up his first run of the season and it's 4-2. Great timing. Because Delgado would get your heart racing again as he blasts Tom Gordon's pitch over the wall and ties the score. 4-4. Then the Mets get 2 runners on. And is Angel Hernandez behind the plate again? What the hell was that umpire calling a ball vs a strike? With 2 outs, he calls Matsui out on a pitch that was high.
Bottom of the 9th. Aaron Heilman gets the first 2 outs. Then David Delucci triples because Xavier Nady apparently never learned how to play the outfield. Then Heilman hits Rollins and walkes Utley. Bases loaded. Fine, I'd rather see Abreu up that Utley in that spot. Abreu hits a tapper back to the mound, Heilman rushed forward, loses his footing, and throws the ball to Camden, NJ. Delucci scores. Mets lose. And I ave no problem with not briging in Wagner in that spot. If it was a home game fine. But they had to save Wagner for the save spot. And if Abreu gets a hit off him to win the game (boy when have I seen Bobby Abreu stick it to Mets lefty pitchers in walk-off spots?), the Mets likely lose today as well.
Don't tell me they're still 3 games up. Look at this road trip. 2 more in Philly, 3 in Milwaukee, 3 in St Louis, 3 at home against the Yankees and 3 more at home against Philly. We'll be lucky to go 7-8. With our bullpen finally showing vulnerability and the rotation in shambles and the offense swinging toothpicks, this could be the beginning of a collapse that will cost us everything in the end. At least April went well.
And it's going to be Lima Time (sorry I don't have a trademark key on my keyboard) when I visit Miller Park on Saturday night. As of right now, the Brew Crew will have Dave Bush, who they acquired form Toronto in the Lyle Overbay trade. Sandwiched around those two games is Friday's enormous match between Jeremi Gonzalez and the immortal Ben Hendrickson and Sunday's match of Pedro and Doug Davis. So the good thing is the Mets miss Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano.
My computer at HM has crashed twice in two days. That's kind of like the New Jersey Devils, who crash twice in two periods.
And my softball season has begun. Over the 2.5 hours I played, I strained both quads and hamstrings, so I'm already in mid-season form. I batted 4-for-6, scored three runs, played some good defense and some bad defense. Truth be told, we were all terrible. And we open the season on Mother's Day.
Only the Mets could tease you like this. They do absolutely nothing against Brett Myers for seven innings as I just said. Then Nady hits a 2-run homer and they're down 3-2. The unhittable Duaner Sanchez comes in for the bottom of the eighth. Gives up his first run of the season and it's 4-2. Great timing. Because Delgado would get your heart racing again as he blasts Tom Gordon's pitch over the wall and ties the score. 4-4. Then the Mets get 2 runners on. And is Angel Hernandez behind the plate again? What the hell was that umpire calling a ball vs a strike? With 2 outs, he calls Matsui out on a pitch that was high.
Bottom of the 9th. Aaron Heilman gets the first 2 outs. Then David Delucci triples because Xavier Nady apparently never learned how to play the outfield. Then Heilman hits Rollins and walkes Utley. Bases loaded. Fine, I'd rather see Abreu up that Utley in that spot. Abreu hits a tapper back to the mound, Heilman rushed forward, loses his footing, and throws the ball to Camden, NJ. Delucci scores. Mets lose. And I ave no problem with not briging in Wagner in that spot. If it was a home game fine. But they had to save Wagner for the save spot. And if Abreu gets a hit off him to win the game (boy when have I seen Bobby Abreu stick it to Mets lefty pitchers in walk-off spots?), the Mets likely lose today as well.
Don't tell me they're still 3 games up. Look at this road trip. 2 more in Philly, 3 in Milwaukee, 3 in St Louis, 3 at home against the Yankees and 3 more at home against Philly. We'll be lucky to go 7-8. With our bullpen finally showing vulnerability and the rotation in shambles and the offense swinging toothpicks, this could be the beginning of a collapse that will cost us everything in the end. At least April went well.
And it's going to be Lima Time (sorry I don't have a trademark key on my keyboard) when I visit Miller Park on Saturday night. As of right now, the Brew Crew will have Dave Bush, who they acquired form Toronto in the Lyle Overbay trade. Sandwiched around those two games is Friday's enormous match between Jeremi Gonzalez and the immortal Ben Hendrickson and Sunday's match of Pedro and Doug Davis. So the good thing is the Mets miss Ben Sheets and Chris Capuano.
My computer at HM has crashed twice in two days. That's kind of like the New Jersey Devils, who crash twice in two periods.
And my softball season has begun. Over the 2.5 hours I played, I strained both quads and hamstrings, so I'm already in mid-season form. I batted 4-for-6, scored three runs, played some good defense and some bad defense. Truth be told, we were all terrible. And we open the season on Mother's Day.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
A lot of talking to do. SCN softball
Let's get right to this. I have a beef to grind regarding St. Charles North (IL) high school softball and the lovely people they have working there. I have to give some background on this.
I track high school stats every week. One of the teams I track is St. Charles North, who's one of the better teams in our area. I met their coach, April Stary last year, who I think is around 30 years old. So it's not like she's one of those older out of it coaches. And we kept talking about stats this year, and I thought she was a good enough person. She sent them every week by e-mail. Now I always ask for them by Wednesday. This past week, she didn't send them. And three weeks ago, with the team struggling a little, she banned her players from talking to the media, which makes our jobs that much harder.
So I get into work on Saturday afternoon after missing Friday. I see two e-mails, one from Scott Mennie, a parent of a SCN player and April. Mennie sent e-mails to John, whp's my boss, and Christine, who basically covers everything softball for the area. She covers loads of games and writes features. Well this guy sent her an e-mail asking why we're not doing a feature on SCN softball players. And he signed it Director of SCN softball public relations. For a high school team?! This guy's ego is about as big as Donald Trump's! But apparently, their"director of PR" didn't know the coach was not allowing the payers to speak to the media.
Back to the e-mails. The first one is from Mennie to me. Here is the transcript.
"Dear Mr. Bartolo,
I am a parent of a softball player on the St. Charles North softball team. I am a subscriber to the Daily Herald and a regular advertiser through my businesses.
I have observed in reading the Sports Extra section of the Daily Herald that for the past weeks, you have used outdated information in posting stats for St. Charles North softball players. For instance, in this week's Sports Extra, the stats shown for SCN players are stats as of April 17 - two weeks behind the actual stats.
Is there an explanation?"
Now I should preface this. Earlier, he had apparently sent Stary an e-mail asking about who keeps stats at the paper. I got this e-mail 20 minutes later. This was her response to him and she also sent it to me as well. This is the transcript.
"The guy's name is Adam Bartolo, his e-mail is _________
Do me a favor: when you e-mail, do it as a concerned parent, not as the guy who does our stats and see what he says. (Love the subterfuge here...) I'd love to see if he owns up to getting the messages, or if he says he hasn't gotten any from me. If I was a betting person, I'd put $ on the "he got 'em and didn't put 'em in" or the "she never sent me anything".
Keep me posted...and if you want to call him..._______ is the # I call to talk to some of the reporters at the Daily Herald or 587-864. Let me know....CAN'T WAIT to see what he has to say!"
For the record, I have left a mesage on Stary's VM asking her to call me back so we can discuss this like adults. I have not contacted Mennie. John can do that although I'd certainly like a few minutes with him. But here's what I'd like to say. Yeah, there's an explanation. Your coach didn't send the stats this week, so there was no update. So it was one week behind, not two or three. How can I record information that I am not given. And why did she send me a copy of this e-mail that was totally addressed to Mennie to begin with?! I mean, who in their right mind would let me see this?
I try not to take this kind of thing personally. But I am disgusted at the actions of these people. I have done nothing wrong here. I am not out to get anybody. But I have learned over the last 2 and a half years that there are those parents and coaches who perceive people like me in the media as a robot without feelings. Now to them, I (as a clerk and corrsepondent) may just be a "media guy." To them, I may be a puppet that they feel they should be able to pull the strings whenever and however they please. Well, Mr. Mennie, that is pure crap.
I am proud of what I do. I am proud of the effort I put into my job, even though I may not own my own business or have a bogus job title. And I am proud that I treat people with respect and don't make accusations unless I have my information in place. So I don't know how this whoe thing will resolve. John is as ticked off over this as I am. I hope it will blow over, but I don't back down when I know I'm right.
I track high school stats every week. One of the teams I track is St. Charles North, who's one of the better teams in our area. I met their coach, April Stary last year, who I think is around 30 years old. So it's not like she's one of those older out of it coaches. And we kept talking about stats this year, and I thought she was a good enough person. She sent them every week by e-mail. Now I always ask for them by Wednesday. This past week, she didn't send them. And three weeks ago, with the team struggling a little, she banned her players from talking to the media, which makes our jobs that much harder.
So I get into work on Saturday afternoon after missing Friday. I see two e-mails, one from Scott Mennie, a parent of a SCN player and April. Mennie sent e-mails to John, whp's my boss, and Christine, who basically covers everything softball for the area. She covers loads of games and writes features. Well this guy sent her an e-mail asking why we're not doing a feature on SCN softball players. And he signed it Director of SCN softball public relations. For a high school team?! This guy's ego is about as big as Donald Trump's! But apparently, their"director of PR" didn't know the coach was not allowing the payers to speak to the media.
Back to the e-mails. The first one is from Mennie to me. Here is the transcript.
"Dear Mr. Bartolo,
I am a parent of a softball player on the St. Charles North softball team. I am a subscriber to the Daily Herald and a regular advertiser through my businesses.
I have observed in reading the Sports Extra section of the Daily Herald that for the past weeks, you have used outdated information in posting stats for St. Charles North softball players. For instance, in this week's Sports Extra, the stats shown for SCN players are stats as of April 17 - two weeks behind the actual stats.
Is there an explanation?"
Now I should preface this. Earlier, he had apparently sent Stary an e-mail asking about who keeps stats at the paper. I got this e-mail 20 minutes later. This was her response to him and she also sent it to me as well. This is the transcript.
"The guy's name is Adam Bartolo, his e-mail is _________
Do me a favor: when you e-mail, do it as a concerned parent, not as the guy who does our stats and see what he says. (Love the subterfuge here...) I'd love to see if he owns up to getting the messages, or if he says he hasn't gotten any from me. If I was a betting person, I'd put $ on the "he got 'em and didn't put 'em in" or the "she never sent me anything".
Keep me posted...and if you want to call him..._______ is the # I call to talk to some of the reporters at the Daily Herald or 587-864. Let me know....CAN'T WAIT to see what he has to say!"
For the record, I have left a mesage on Stary's VM asking her to call me back so we can discuss this like adults. I have not contacted Mennie. John can do that although I'd certainly like a few minutes with him. But here's what I'd like to say. Yeah, there's an explanation. Your coach didn't send the stats this week, so there was no update. So it was one week behind, not two or three. How can I record information that I am not given. And why did she send me a copy of this e-mail that was totally addressed to Mennie to begin with?! I mean, who in their right mind would let me see this?
I try not to take this kind of thing personally. But I am disgusted at the actions of these people. I have done nothing wrong here. I am not out to get anybody. But I have learned over the last 2 and a half years that there are those parents and coaches who perceive people like me in the media as a robot without feelings. Now to them, I (as a clerk and corrsepondent) may just be a "media guy." To them, I may be a puppet that they feel they should be able to pull the strings whenever and however they please. Well, Mr. Mennie, that is pure crap.
I am proud of what I do. I am proud of the effort I put into my job, even though I may not own my own business or have a bogus job title. And I am proud that I treat people with respect and don't make accusations unless I have my information in place. So I don't know how this whoe thing will resolve. John is as ticked off over this as I am. I hope it will blow over, but I don't back down when I know I'm right.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
The Joes Styles shoot promo as he exits RAW
Styles and color commentator Jerry Lawler had just gotten into a physical confrontation following Lawler's ribbing of Styles' humiliations earlier in the night. Here's the complete transcript from Monday night.
"You want to apologize? Like nothing happened. Like you didn't knock me on my ass in front of millions of people worldwide, and I'm gonna come down there and work with you. I'm not coming back, and now thanks to the magic of live television I'm gonna show the whole world, why for seven years in ECW!
I was the unscripted, uncensored, loose cannon of commentary. Six months ago, WWE called me, I didn't call this company because I was looking for a job. I didn't need a job. WWE called me because they had humiliated and fired, again, Jim Ross.
So I get JR's spot, and from week one, week after week I've got an ongoing lecture about the differences in professional wrestling and sports entertainment. I'm not allowed to say 'pro wrestling', I'm not allowed to say 'wrestler'. I have to say 'sports entertainment' and refer to the wrestlers as 'superstars'. I'm told to deliberately ignore the moves and the holds during the matches so I can tell stories. Well ignoring the moves and the holds is damn insulting to the athletes, the 'wrestlers', not the entertainers who leave their families three hundred days a year to ply their craft in that ring.
Here's the best part, because I'm not a sports entertainment storyteller I get pulled from Wrestlemania, and the reason I'm given is, is because I don't sound like Jim Ross who's the guy they fired in the first place. That makes sense, right? So I swallow the bitter pill, I'm a company guy. I get bumped from Wrestlemania.
Then I get bumped from Backlash? I'm not good enough to call Backlash?! In ECW, I called live pay-per-views on my own, solo, no color commentators dragging me down. Wasn't done before me, hasn't been done since. But I'm not good enough to call Backlash because I'm not a sports entertainment storyteller.
Well you know what? I am sick of sports entertainment. I am sick of male cheerleaders. I am sick of boogers and bathroom humor and semen and I am sick of our chairman, who likes to talk about his own semen, he mocks God... he mocks God! And makes out with the divas all to feed his own insatiable ego. I am sick of sports entertainment, and most of all I am sick of you fans who actually buy into that crap! This sports entertainment circus!
I never needed this job, and I don't want this job anymore. I quit!"
Bravo to Joey and I'm glad he wable to say what I wish I could say to Vince McMahon and the morons who are writing these shows which are just not as entertaining as they once were. Good luck in ECW Joey, because I think the company will need it.
"You want to apologize? Like nothing happened. Like you didn't knock me on my ass in front of millions of people worldwide, and I'm gonna come down there and work with you. I'm not coming back, and now thanks to the magic of live television I'm gonna show the whole world, why for seven years in ECW!
I was the unscripted, uncensored, loose cannon of commentary. Six months ago, WWE called me, I didn't call this company because I was looking for a job. I didn't need a job. WWE called me because they had humiliated and fired, again, Jim Ross.
So I get JR's spot, and from week one, week after week I've got an ongoing lecture about the differences in professional wrestling and sports entertainment. I'm not allowed to say 'pro wrestling', I'm not allowed to say 'wrestler'. I have to say 'sports entertainment' and refer to the wrestlers as 'superstars'. I'm told to deliberately ignore the moves and the holds during the matches so I can tell stories. Well ignoring the moves and the holds is damn insulting to the athletes, the 'wrestlers', not the entertainers who leave their families three hundred days a year to ply their craft in that ring.
Here's the best part, because I'm not a sports entertainment storyteller I get pulled from Wrestlemania, and the reason I'm given is, is because I don't sound like Jim Ross who's the guy they fired in the first place. That makes sense, right? So I swallow the bitter pill, I'm a company guy. I get bumped from Wrestlemania.
Then I get bumped from Backlash? I'm not good enough to call Backlash?! In ECW, I called live pay-per-views on my own, solo, no color commentators dragging me down. Wasn't done before me, hasn't been done since. But I'm not good enough to call Backlash because I'm not a sports entertainment storyteller.
Well you know what? I am sick of sports entertainment. I am sick of male cheerleaders. I am sick of boogers and bathroom humor and semen and I am sick of our chairman, who likes to talk about his own semen, he mocks God... he mocks God! And makes out with the divas all to feed his own insatiable ego. I am sick of sports entertainment, and most of all I am sick of you fans who actually buy into that crap! This sports entertainment circus!
I never needed this job, and I don't want this job anymore. I quit!"
Bravo to Joey and I'm glad he wable to say what I wish I could say to Vince McMahon and the morons who are writing these shows which are just not as entertaining as they once were. Good luck in ECW Joey, because I think the company will need it.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The Slaves sign
former Met pitcher Tyler Yates. This was a guy who was going to be a big-time pitcher from Hawaii who was going to be a solid strikeout hurler in New York. Kind of like Sid Fernandez except right handed and 200 pounds lighter. But then he had ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on February 3, 2005 and appeared in 21 games with the Mets in 2004. He was good, but not fully recovered. Last I heard, Baltimore had signed him around spring training, but I guess they let him go.
Anyway, two different Atlanta team executives have said Yates will likely be in the Atlanta bullpen before the season concludes. He'll pitch in extended Spring Training for about a week and then join Richmond in AAA.
Is there any doubt the Braves have found their star closer for this year? The only doubt I have is no more Leo Mazzone. Watch he'll average 1.5 strikeouts per inning and go about 30 for 33 in save opportunities. He'll be this year's Bobby Jenks. And a former Met will be doing it. Would anybody really be shocked???
Anyway, two different Atlanta team executives have said Yates will likely be in the Atlanta bullpen before the season concludes. He'll pitch in extended Spring Training for about a week and then join Richmond in AAA.
Is there any doubt the Braves have found their star closer for this year? The only doubt I have is no more Leo Mazzone. Watch he'll average 1.5 strikeouts per inning and go about 30 for 33 in save opportunities. He'll be this year's Bobby Jenks. And a former Met will be doing it. Would anybody really be shocked???
Thoughts on humor
After that last post, I figured it would be a good time to write about something I've been giving more and more thought to over the last 2 years or so. I really don't know what I'm going to say here, except I'll be shooting.
There's such a delicacy and craftiness when it comes to making people laugh. Some people laugh at almost anything and some only find certain things funny. Satire, slapstick, riddles, real life situations, stupid people, wahtever the case may be. Now as someone who is known by a lot of people as being a jokester (good or bad, you make the call) I am starting to ponder the whole thing and I'm starting to make some conclusions on this issue.
First of all, some people don't agree with this thought at all, particularly my mother. But I think a self-depricating sense of humor is good when it's done right. If you have some confidence about yourself, then I think it's good to tease yourself in front of others on occasion. I emphasize on occasion, because if you do it too much, it gets stale and it gets stale quickly. But I think people who poke fun at themsleves (and I am certainly one of them), they have to have a little bit of insecurity somewhere inside of them. I mean we all want to be accepted by other people, but I think this takes it to another level.
I never minded telling an outrageous joke once in a while, mostly because I like the reaction. The roll of the eyes, the groan, the sigh, the shake of the head, the smile that starts, but quickly drops down before it gives too much away. Most of the time, when someone hears a bad or risky joke, maybe a part of them is irked, but you know what I think? I think they wish they had the nerve to say it themselves.
Now I have done a lot of activities with the intent of making people laugh: stand-up, acting, they way I play Whirlyball. And my singing can't be too far behind on that list either.
But do you know what is the most frustrating thing about my humor? I am at my funniest when I'm not trying. This is according to other people and I wish it wasn't that way sometimes. But I'm starting to think the funniest things are not pre-meditated, they're just things that pop out or just happen. Random conversations, your pants accidentally dropping when you're in front of a crowd (I witnessed this, it didn't happen to me) those are things you remember. Even if you can't remember exactly what it was you were talking about, you know the feeling you had when you were laughing. That doesn't fade away.
I always thought that people who were funny always had a quick answer for everything. It seems like some people just have a gift for always saying the right thing, in just the right way, at the right time. Wit is something I find appealing. It's unusual to find and it's hard to learn. It seems you either have it or you don't.
But here's the question. (And this is rhetorical) What makes someone funny? Is it because they have a sharp mind and can react quickly in the right way? Does it depend on what others find funny and how he relates to them? Or is it that they're always in a jovial, humorous mood? Is it a combination of factors?
There's such a delicacy and craftiness when it comes to making people laugh. Some people laugh at almost anything and some only find certain things funny. Satire, slapstick, riddles, real life situations, stupid people, wahtever the case may be. Now as someone who is known by a lot of people as being a jokester (good or bad, you make the call) I am starting to ponder the whole thing and I'm starting to make some conclusions on this issue.
First of all, some people don't agree with this thought at all, particularly my mother. But I think a self-depricating sense of humor is good when it's done right. If you have some confidence about yourself, then I think it's good to tease yourself in front of others on occasion. I emphasize on occasion, because if you do it too much, it gets stale and it gets stale quickly. But I think people who poke fun at themsleves (and I am certainly one of them), they have to have a little bit of insecurity somewhere inside of them. I mean we all want to be accepted by other people, but I think this takes it to another level.
I never minded telling an outrageous joke once in a while, mostly because I like the reaction. The roll of the eyes, the groan, the sigh, the shake of the head, the smile that starts, but quickly drops down before it gives too much away. Most of the time, when someone hears a bad or risky joke, maybe a part of them is irked, but you know what I think? I think they wish they had the nerve to say it themselves.
Now I have done a lot of activities with the intent of making people laugh: stand-up, acting, they way I play Whirlyball. And my singing can't be too far behind on that list either.
But do you know what is the most frustrating thing about my humor? I am at my funniest when I'm not trying. This is according to other people and I wish it wasn't that way sometimes. But I'm starting to think the funniest things are not pre-meditated, they're just things that pop out or just happen. Random conversations, your pants accidentally dropping when you're in front of a crowd (I witnessed this, it didn't happen to me) those are things you remember. Even if you can't remember exactly what it was you were talking about, you know the feeling you had when you were laughing. That doesn't fade away.
I always thought that people who were funny always had a quick answer for everything. It seems like some people just have a gift for always saying the right thing, in just the right way, at the right time. Wit is something I find appealing. It's unusual to find and it's hard to learn. It seems you either have it or you don't.
But here's the question. (And this is rhetorical) What makes someone funny? Is it because they have a sharp mind and can react quickly in the right way? Does it depend on what others find funny and how he relates to them? Or is it that they're always in a jovial, humorous mood? Is it a combination of factors?
In case you haven't heard
From Dave's Daily
A former saleswoman who won a $1.7 million sexual harassment verdict after
being spanked by co-workers as part of a sales competition is taking her story
to television. Janet Orlando, 53, said she is scheduled to appear on "Good
Morning America,""The Oprah Winfrey Show" and a late-night talk show in the next
several weeks. Orlando won her sexual harassment and sexual battery lawsuit
Friday against former employer Alarm One Inc. She was paddled on the rear
with a competitor's yard sign two years ago during a so-called camaraderie-building exercise, according to court documents. The winners poked fun at the losers, throwing pies at them, feeding them baby food, making them wear diapers and swatting their buttocks.Wow, 1.7 million dollars. All this time, she was just sitting on a fortune. And it goes to show you out there, in times like this, you have to turn the other cheek.
OK, this blog has hit bottom.
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