Off topic posts

I need to take a break from the stuff I have been writing about and take a change in direction, if if only for one post.

Random news items

1) Karl Haist has won the World Pumpkin Confederation Weigh-Off in Clarence, NY, on Oct. 4. He grew a pumpkin that weighed 1,075 pounds. How many pies could you get out of that? And what purpose does the pumpkin serve except a really weird lawn sculpture?

2) We are apparently running out of road salt. Come winter, some people are worried we will run out of salt for the roads. How are we running out of salt? I can see oil, I can see gold, I can see diamonds. How do you run out of salt? Are we eating too many pretzels and potato chips in the country?

3) Japan just hosted a unique fashion show. The models were 40+ year old adults wearing black tights and adult diapers. Yep, the whole purpose was to showcase adult diapers. Here's the deal. Adult diapers are an increasingly common item in Japan, home to one of the world's longest average lifespans. More than 20% of the population is over 65, and the country is forecast to have the globe's largest number of centenarians — 1 million — by 2050, the U.N. says. It gets worse. Speakers blared oldies hits such as "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Here's my favorite quote. "Diapers are something that people don't want to look at," said Kiyoko Hamada of the Aging Lifestyle Research Center, a leading organizer of the show. "But if you make them attractive, then people can learn about them more easily," she said.

More attractive? This is what we are working on; how to make diapers seem more attractive? I don't care how it is marketed, I don't care who is wearing it. The words diaper and attractive go together like me and cats. Like my father and a tall glass of milk. It just doesn't work.

4) Whose says the real estate market is in trouble? With a winning bid of $1.75, a Chicago woman has won an auction for an abandoned home in Saginaw, MI. Her bid was one of eight for the home. Think about that. Seven people bid LESS than that for a house! With the utility costs in St. Charles, I can't microwave a bag of popcorn for under $1.75! And she plans to sell the house immediately. Now I know nothing about real estate. But what happens if you can only get a dollar back for the house? That's a pretty bad return. And let's say someone offers $50. Fifty to one sounds good. But is it good considering the big picture?

5) An unidentified man smashed a 6-foot hole in the wall of the Name Brand Clothing Store in Tulsa, Okla., in August and labored through the night to bust open the safe, but according to the surveillance video, he finally gave up six hours later after making only a small hole in the safe. However, when the store manager arrived later that morning, he found the safe unlocked, probably the result of his forgetfulness the night before, and no contents were missing. Though the crime was unsuccessful, the manager offered to hire the robber, based just on his diligent work ethic.

Song picks
1) "Pour Me Another Tequila" Eddie Rabbitt
2) "Real Love" Doobie Brothers
3) "Play Born to Lose Again" Ronnie Milsap
4) "I'm Gonna Miss You Girl" Michael Martin Murphey
5) "Riviera Paradise" Stevie Ray Vaughan

Predictions and a recap

Here are my fair, unbiased, unswayed picks for the baseball postseason:
Angels in 5, Rays in 4, Dodgers in 4, Phillies in 3; Rays in 6, Dodgers in 6; Dodgers in 5

Wrigley Field amazed me. As loose as their fans were in the regular season, they were that tight for all of Game 1. That was stunning. They have been so raucous, so confident all summer long. Now the cold weather has descended. Loney hits the grand slam, I thought they were playing in an empty stadium. As Francesa said, it was like 40,000 Benigno's in the stands. They were like me when I watch the Mets, just waiting for the shoe to drop. By the way, how did Manny hit that pitch as far as he did? Let's see what the mentality of Mr. Zambrano is tonight. But I believe Chad Billingsley will become a household name after this game. I see 7 innings, 2 runs. I'm not saying the Dodgers will go up 2-0, but there will be no blowout tonight.

And Omar, our wonderful GM who has another 4 years in Queens, give Manny 2 years, whatever the price. I want him in here.

Dead and buried

That would apply to Shea Stadium. And the Mets.

The exhiliration I felt when Beltran homered into the left field bleachers off Scott Olsen to tie the game at 2-2 was amazing. Endy Chavez' seventh-inning catch in left field was also amazing. If he ever makes another ridiculous catch in a big game again, I will promptly turn the TV off because I know what the end result will be. Eighth inning. Wes Helms and Dan Uggla homer back-to-back off Scott Schoeneweis and Luis Ayala, putting the Mets behind 4-2. Three minutes later, Ryan Braun absolutely drills a two-run homer off the immortal Bob Howry (who David Wright can't touch to save his life), breaking a 1-1 tie. Ninth inning, tying run on, Derrek Lee bounces into a double play, Sabathia gets the complete game and the Brewers get the win. Just as that happens, the Mets get two on against Kevin Gregg after the first two were retired. Up comes Carlos Delgado. Mr. Clutch. Now Arthur Rhodes, whose acquisition at the deadline made no news whatsoever, comes into pitch. Delgado lines the second pitch deep to left and it dies in front of the warning track right inside Josh Willingham's glove. Then I saw Luis Ayala was coming in to pitch a second inning. I knew that was it.

So now what? I am too pissed off to even think about who should be back and who shouldn't. I am especially aggravated that Shea Stadium's end comes in a situation like this. But I would like to acknowledge the Cubs for spitting the bit this weekend. And the Mets bullpen for doing the same for the whole year. As far as the playoffs go, I will watch very very little. I will now root for anyone in the AL and the Dodgers. Any sympathy I had toward Milwaukee has evaporated. I can wish them no, absolutely no, future success. But I will be fair. Good luck to them as they try to replace Sabathia and Sheets.

Great win by the Jets. Favre was great, throwing six touchdowns. Yet, it feels completely meaningless.

Friday marathon and one day to go...

the last 48 hours have been an utter whirlwhind.

First of all, after that horrific loss on Wednesday, I didn't know if the Mets had anything left. But they did come back, beating the Cubs on Thursday in an amazing show of resilience. Even though we made Micah Hoffpauir look like the second coming of Ted Williams. And I did not see the comeback happening, not only that, I did not see it. I was just too anxious and I know I wasn't the only one. I actually tuned in around the seventh, just in time to see Hoffpauir blast a three-run homer to put the Mets in a 6-3 hole. I turned it off for a few more innings. When Carlos Delgado grounded into a double play in the eighth, I figured it was over. 10 minuutes later, I found out it was tied! Pedro Martinez pitched with guile and toughness. He did everything he could. And after his traditionally terrible first inning, he settled in very well. Ramon Martinez, where did you come from??? Ryan Church's game-tying slide around the catcher in that eighth inning was one of the highlights of the season. He has not done well over the last month, but he had a huge game, going 3-for-3. But I did see Beltran's game winning smash off Hoffpauir's outstretched glove. It was a relief, but it felt temporary. It would be temporary, but we'll come back to that.

But the next morning was Friday, and I woke up at 3 a.m., 3 hours earlier than I normally would had I been working. I took off at 4 am and arrived at the Foundry in Aurora 45 minutes later. About 200 people were standing on line outside. And I watched the Mike and Mike radio show. It was an amazing experience. I chatted with a lot of people, including a guy who played for the Philadelphia Phantoms AHL hockey team, a guy who had been fired from that very restaurant one day before, and even a few Jet fans! Of course, with Greenie there, I sported my Chad jersey. He was impressed. And I commend Greenberg and Golic for their hospitality. They signed a picture for me, shook my hand, and Greenie even autographed my Jet jersey. It was awesome! I will, however, never drink an O-Bomb at 8:30 a.m. I drove home around 9 and planned to grab a nap.

I got home around 10 and of course mom wanted to go out. So next thing I know, after helping her won the computer for an hour, we're shopping for the next three hours. We did sneak lunch in at CPK as I returned for the first time in three years. Melissa, Chris, and Lindy are still there. The avocado club egg rolls are excellent. So we got back in at 3 p.m. I had to leave for Glen Ellyn at 5:15 p.m. I snuck into bed at 3:30, did not set my alarm, but somehow woke up at 5:05. Went to group, came home at 8:00. Found out about the Mets' total non-effort as the Marlins wasted them, dropping them out of the playoffs. And we did the usual work load from 8 pm-1 am. That was 22 hours that I was awake. I do not recommend this as a habit.

I will never eat corned beef hash again. If Egg Harbor can't make it taste good, there's probably very little chance I could ever like it.

Got home at 2 p.m. and the Mets were seventh inning of a game they would win 2-0. Johan Santana is amazing. On three days rest, he throws a three-hit, complete game shutout. He has absolutely delivered as an ace, right now, he probably is the best pitcher in baseball. Although we have now officially lost the division (Great double play to end kill the rally, Zimmerman), the Cubs beat the Brewers, so we are tied for the wild card going into tomorrow. We have Oliver Perez pitching against Scott Olsen and the Brewers have CC Sabathia going against something like 46 marginal Cubs pitchers. I think the immortal Angel Guzman will be making an appearance. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, I'm not overly confident the Mets will wi the wild card tomorrow wihtout a Monday playoff, but Ollie can't pitch any worse than Tom Glavine did last year in this spot. Can he?

And I will definitely have to skip the Jets game at Rookie's. This is big.

Nothing left

I'm not even going to analyze what I spent four hours of my life witnessing tonight. After losing this game when we should have won a dozen times (0-for-10 with runners on third base), I am done. Done with this year. Finished. Miserable. Ashamed. Spent. Embarrassed. Outraged. Humiliated. Depressed. Pissed. And every negative word in the dictionary. This is the epitome of emptiness, heartache, and frustration. Rooting for the New York Mets.

Baseball is officially over. After this, I hope the Cubs choke in October just like we have all freakin' year. Because since 1970, the fans of that franchise have had TWO HEARTBREAKING YEARS! 1984 and 2003. That's it. For the lousy Mets, I have 1987, 1988, 1999, (I won't even count 2000 when they lost to the Yankees in the Series) 2006, last year, and this year. Start hockey already. Get on with some more Jets and Knicks misery already. Just the same damn treadmill I have run on for 20 disgusting years. Time to get wasted.

Autumn arrives, yet the fall continues

I will keep this brief because I have been ranting a lot lately, but every day gives me another reason to do it again.

Do the Mets have any guts, any backbone, any cojones? I'm not shocked they lost to the Chicago Bubbles last night. But you cannot get humiliated by the opposing pitcher. How many teams in history have, in one season, allowed two grand slams by pitchers, one of whom has pitched in the American League his whole life? Jason Marquis is beating us now???

I want Luis Castillo cut tomorrow. Actually, his last at-bat of the game wasn't bad. Kerry Wood pitches, he takes three fastballs, does not even try to swing, strikes out. For him, that is actually productive. Eat the salary. Get rid of him.

And this is a new reason to hate Atlanta. Yes, I know someone is reading, but it's the truth. They just bend over, and let Philly smack them around. Philly is 9-0 in Atlanta, the Mets are 1-8. They are 20 games under .500!!! And the Mets still never beat them. Even when Atlanta isn't sniffing the playoffs, the tomahawk drives straight into my heart once again.

The only reason the Mets have a shot at the postseason is because Milwaukee has gagged it up even worse. They are 2-8 in their last 10. And if the Mets had not swept them in September, they would be out of the playoffs today. That is a team that fired their manager one week ago!The license plate frame is off the back of the car as of this morning. Just like last year, I am embarrassed to be a fan of the New York Mets.

And a lovely job by the Jets as well. Utterly outclassed. That is the perfect word. They were outclassed by San Diego on national TV. Favre threw 2 INT's, could have thrown four more. Kris Jenkins gets hurt and the defense cannot stop anyone. The offensive line, who I thought would be lights out, gave Favre no time to throw at all. And the defense missed tackles like it was 1995 again. What is Mangini thinking about after coming back to within 17-14, he goes for the onside kick? Absolutely terrible. The Chargers get the ball at the 45, and go straight down the field. Chris Chambers catches a 30 yard touchdown with not a green jersey to be seen on the entire TV screen (and it was widescreen) and the game was basically over.

But this was the best part of the game. Fourth quarter, Jets down by about 18. They score and go for two. SD penalty, ball goes from the two to the one. SD penalty, ball goes to the one-half. Another SD penalty, ball goes to the ONE-QUARTER line. It is IN the end zone. And what do the Jets do here? Five receivers, shotgun formation!!!! Are you kidding? Of course, the ball gets intercepted. Only the Jets.

I'm not panicking over them yet, it's 3 games in, but they have to win at home against Arizona before the bye week. Joe Queenan said it best. I'm paraphrasing here. He said that Jets fans don't see anything noble about losing. They don't see an acceptable side to it. The constant losing makes them bitter people.

Doesn't even matter

The Giants won a great game. The Patriots got humiliated by the one and only Chad Pennington and Miami at home. I think Ronnie Brown just scored again. The US breezed to the Ryder Cup victory. Yet, I couldn't give a shit.

Because those scumbags in Atlanta have beat the Mets 2 out of 3, knocking us 1.5 games out of first place. I hate this damn bullpen, who gets teed off on more than Tiger Woods tees off Titleist golf balls. Every one of them can go. And how can Jerry Manuel keep going back to Scott Schoeneweis and Aaron Heilman? Eighth inning, Mets up 4-3. Schoeneweis gets McCann out, before allowing a double and a single. Tie game. Joe Smith comes in. He has been very good, but he pitches every single day. Up comes the most unclutch free swinger around, Jeff Francoeur. That asshole triples to center field. Triples! 5-4 Atlanta. After a flyout and two intentional walks, Heilman is in and pitches to Omar Infante. 2-2 pitch, double to right, 7-4.

Can we see Bobby Parnell get a shot. Why was Eddie Kunz not brought back with the other 235 relievers for the September callups? I never thought I would say this. I trusted Aaron Sele and Guillermo Mota more at this time last year than I do these stiffs right now. Nobody has been a bigger Heilman fan than me. But it is time to either trade him or make him a starter. Because he has been hideous. His days as a Met reliever are finished. Kaput. Just like our chances for the division.

Oh and another lovely job by our tablesetter. Jose Reyes, the NL leader in hits, goes 0-f0r-5. And I love Daniel Murphy. But in this game, batting in the No. 2 hole, what does he do? 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. And Wright and Delgado had huge days, so those 10 outs were absolutely pivotal. Of course, Delgado hits a two-run homer in the ninth for the traditional tease. And then Beltran and the broken-down Easley can't put the ball in play. Game over. Year over. Simple as that.

I hate this season. I absolutely now want them to miss the playoffs because they are never going to beat Chicago. But chances are, they will make the wild card, lose in 3 to Chicago, and I'll have to watch those Northside pricks break the 100-year World Series jinx.

I love the Mets franchise. Always have, always will. I represent the blue and orange with passion, pride, and defiance in the face of constant oppression. I hate their team right now. I hate the misery they inflict on me and all other Mets fans, more pain and more horrific losses than the Cubs fans have ever dreamed of, despite what they would have you believe.

And most of all, I hate where October baseball is headed right now. It could not be any worse.

It is all but official

I have nothing left to root for in baseball but the Brewers to win the wild card. Because the Mets have dropped five games in seven days and are now in second place. They lose yet again to Washington, the worst team in baseball, 1-0. They play tighter than a vacuum sealed package of sardines. They have as much toughness as Glass Joe in Mike Tyson's Punch Out. And Fernando Tatis goes out for the year, separating his shoulder while diving for a bloop hit by the pitcher! The pitcher, who by the way, we made look like Bob Feller and Jim Palmer rolled into one. Odalis Perez, a mediocre pitcher at best. Odalis Perez, who had an ERA of around 5 coming into the game. Odalis Perez, who retired 13 straight Mets at one point. We get two freakin' hits in seven innings against him.

If I have to see Willie Harris, make one more impossible catch against us, I may send a bounty hunter out after him.

This may sound like blasphemy to Mets fans. I am tired of David Wright. If the Mets do not make the playoffs, a change is needed. And this is the change. I want him gone. Traded. He NEVER hits in a big spot. Sixth inning, two on, two out, lines out to third base. And leading off in the top of the ninth, he has an 11- pitch at bat that culminates in striking out on a fastball right down the middle. The poster boy of the Mets is quickly turning into our version of A-Rod.

And I'm taking a shot at this guy too. Since I saw Ryan Church hit the grand slam in Milwaukee, he has done nothing. Nothing, with a capital N. And he had the most excruciating at-bat of the game. Eighth inning, first and third, two out. Against Mike Hinckley, whoever he is. Church strikes out swinging on four curveballs.

And just a terrific job by the Braves tonight who actually act like they give a damn when they play us, but have no problem bending over to get spanked by Philly.

So as Milwaukee plummets (way to choke again), it will be them and the Mets "battling" for the Wild Card. The Astros do not count as Hurricane Ike and MLB screwed them right up the ying-yang, making them play home games against Chicago in Milwaukee for two straight days. I wrote it last night, and repeat myself now. I would rather miss the playoffs than play the damn Cubs in the first round. I didn't think it could get worse than 2007. With 13 games left, it is getting worse every single day.

Soft landing???

First of all, I have to see my co-worker (not that one) on the front page of ESPN.com amongst other Cub fans at Zambrano's no-hitter in Milwaukee yesterday. Wonderful. Now this afternoon, Mike Francesa talks about the soft landing they could have. Milwaukee is slumping and they are now tied for the lead in the wild card with Philly. So now I have to hear if the Mets blow the division again, they can get in the playoffs through the wild card. Some soft landing...if you don't live where I live.

For me, this is jumping out of a plane and landing on a bed of rusted nails and broken glass. That means we play the disgusting Cubs in the first round. The team who will have the division clinched in about a week. And they will have their rotation all set up. Zambrano, Harden (Who will be in pristine health), Dempster. And we haven't hit Ted Lilly in two years. Meanwhile, the Mets are playing 17 straight days, sprinting to the finish line like the Jamaican track runner. We'll probably be starting the series with Pedro and Perez. Can't wait to see our beleaguered bullpen of Ayala, Sanchez, Feliciano, Stokes, Heilman, and certainly Schoeneweis pitch in big spots to the likes of Soriano, DeRosa, Lee, Theriot, Ramirez, Ward, Johnson, Edmonds, and Soto. I don't even want to go into what that will do to my life. And I mean life.

I would rather miss the playoffs than lose to the Cubs.

Some things never change

Back in February, when the Giants beat the Patriots to win Super Bowl 42, I was thrilled, as was any human being with a sense of good and evil. I laid in bed that night and closed my eyes with a smile on my face. I was sleeping peacefully. Then, in the middle of the night, I sat up in a cold sweat. The horrible thought struck me. After seeing something this good, I just knew I would have to endure some misery. And this was miserable a sports day as I have had in a long time.

First, nothing has changed in football. The Jets still stick the knife in my heart. They can't beat New England without the overrated Tom Brady, losing 19-10.

So many disgusting moments. Lamont Jordan torching us for 66 yards on the ground. Jay Feely misses a 31-yard field goal; I think the ball landed behind him, that kick was so off-target. The Jets were penalized six times for 60 yards -- compared with the Patriots' two penalties for 10 yards. Two of them wiped out 30-plus yard gains. Also Calvin Pace with a lovely roughing the passer penalty late in the fourth that allowed the Patsies to kick a field goal to put it out of reach.

But this was all I needed to see. The offense still stinks and the coaches are to blame. Second quarter, Jets trailing 6-0. Aided by Brett Favre's 54-yard pass to Laveranues Coles, the Jets drove to the Patriots' 3 and had first-and-goal. There are so many options with Favre. Play action. Fade routes. A bullet pass on a route across the back of the end zone. Maybe run the ball once with Jones, who is running so much harder and showing so much more quickness than a year ago. These three plays followed: Thomas Jones to the right for 1 yard; Jones up the middle for 1; Jones to the left for minus-2. Every play there had three tight ends, no receivers. They may as well have said out loud we're going to run up the middle three times. No imagination, no creativity, no success, plenty of pain, misery, and heartache. Brian Schottenheimer, as far as playcalling goes, you S-U-C-K. And also to the genius head coach. Is Favre allowed to throw the freakin' football down the field?

Nothing has changed for the Jets. I know it is Week 2. But this was a prime opportunity to make a statement to football and the Satan of sports, the New Englad Patriots. The only statement made? This franchise does not have a damn clue how to win.

And then we get to the Metropolitans. The New Mets, mind you! I've been hearing for weeks now about how this is a new team. Adam, things are different. You gotta believe. I hear it from WFAN. From the newspaper. From ESPN. From friends. From my father. New manager, new attitude. Well, not a new result. After splitting a Saturday doubleheader they should have swept, the Mets lead Atlanta 4-2 going to the ninth. Luis Ayala comes in. Three batters, eleven pitches later, Greg Norton hits a three-run homer. They add two more and we lose 7-4. Didn't want Billy Wagner back, Met fans? How about now? The Mets' bullpen has blown 26 save opportunities this season. This race should have been over last week. Get K-Rod in here. Also, Damion Easley is out, his quad is acting up. Meaning we get to see more of Luis Castillo, who cannot get his $42 million dollar wallet and creaky knees out of New York fast enough. Then again, unfortunately, he can't run.

And I also must acknowledge the pusses in Milwaukee for laying down and getting wasted in four straight games by Philadelphia. The lead is down to two games. Out of seven games since Friday, only one went the right way. And even better, it was rookie hazing day. So right after this disgusting loss, the team gets a chuckle watching four Met rookies dressed like Michael Phelps in Speedos and swimming caps and waving tiny American flags. That gives me a shitload of confidence, knowing that the team is laughing after pissing this game away to a crappy team. Collapse II is in full effect.

And that fat bastard Carlos Zambrano no-hits the previously streaking Houston Astros, nearly tossing a perfect game. And the Bubble fans' love-in continues. They're going to win the World Series and that will only make them more arrogant, more obnoxious, and more rude. I may have to move to Canada. Couldn't get to church either this morning. More rain. This was as bad a Sunday as I could imagine.

Benigno, give me a beauty tomorrow. I need it.

Mets-Brewers Round 1

Well, it wasn't easy, but the Mets rallied to beat the Brewers 4-2. After 7 hours of driving and 3 hours of standing at the game, I am happy to lounge in front of the screen, turn on DDD, and relax. A few things I noticed.

1) In southern Wisconsin, we passed a sign that said Bong Recreation Center, exit 335. I'm surprised it wasn't Exit 420.

2) I met a guy (fellow Mets fan) who gives harder high fives than I do. I never thought it would happen. My right wrist has been bad for three weeks and now I don't think it will be good until next year's softball season.

3) Standing room at Miller Park is rough. Good views, but my feet are feeling the pain.

4) Eric Gagne is hideous.

5) I feel bad for Ben Sheets. So much talent, yet he is injured so much.

6) The Kid Zone is awesome. Running bases, Pitching, Posing with player models and sausage racers. I wish I could have gone there when I was a kid.

7) We walked through the parking lot and a guy told me I looked like David Wright. When I had the goatee, people called me Mike Piazza (my one flattering nickname in college). Now this. Would have been better coming from a girl, but...

8) I'm ready for bed now.

I should be working right now

But nothing has been faxed or e-mailed tonight. So I'm watching Emeril cook catfish and creamed corn and he's about to start on the lamb chops. Ten notes for tonight.

1) Tough week coming up on WFAN. No Benigno, no Francesa, and obviously Mad Dog has gone Sirius.

2) Going to two Mets games in Milwaukee next week. Can't wait. Maybe I'll see Johan hurl another complete game.

3) Fax machines are ridiculously hard to figure out. They're like the new VCR. No one quite knows how to use them and you are guaranteed to have one problem the instruction manual does not address.

4) Two weeks until Muskegon!

5) Three weeks until Festival of the Vine and some softball party time!

6) Since when did Come Thirsty go from 10 percent dating to 80 percent dating?

7) Lettuce wraps are the messiest meal ever created. And I should not be eating them at work.

8) Softball ended way too soon Sunday night. Three wins to soon. At least my defense was on display. Three diving catches, two difficult pop ups, threw a runner out at first from short center field. But there was no excuse for us making eight straight outs, especially after scoring 4 in the first. 10-5 final.

9) How did a girl I'm not even dating (1) convince me to go to DSW with her (2) convince me to buy a pair of hundred dollar shoes?

10) Thank you to a certain someone for making me miss my fantasy football draft Monday night! But it was worth it...

Don't tell me

About standing just 2.5 games out of first place. I have neither the desire or the time to write a recap of what I suffered through today. We'll be keeping this to a bubble. And today was the ultimate indignity of all. Losing to the lousy, stinky Pittsburgh Pirates at home after leading 5-1 in the sixth inning and 5-4 going into the ninth. This bullpen has broken the great spirit of Mets Nation enough over the last year. This pile of garbage has lost 8 games this year when they led going into the eighth inning. Any of them can go. Any of them. Get them out.

Holy Crap! Favre a NY Jet!

It was turning into a hideous day. Work was very rough. The Hoffman Estates police department proved what a bunch of pricks they are. I get a ticket for removing my seat belt at a red light just ten seconds away from work. So Officer Holmes, screw you. Eat another donut.

Mets lose another hideous game. David Wright and Carlos Beltran make me want to vomit. I spent three hours convincing Mom our DirecTV receiver was not capable of producing HD TV. Finally I did. So, worn down, I sat down at the computer, played some MVP baseball, watched The Graduate (an outstanding movie, by the way) and was ready to go to bed around 11:15. For whatever reason, I flipped ESPN on. And there's the news on the bottom of my brand new 37 inch Sony TV.

BREAKING NEWS: BRETT FAVRE TRADED TO JETS

I did not think this was ever going to happen. But it is kind of fitting. Because Favre should have been a Jet almost 20 years ago. Ron Wolf was with the Jets front office and during the 1991 draft, tried to pull off a trade with Atlanta to move up and draft him. They couldn't do it and the Falcons selceted Favre right before the Jets drafted another "legend" Browning Nagle. Wolf went on to Green Bay, traded for Favre, and the rest is history. It has all come full circle.

Chad Pennington will probably always be my favorite football player and one of my top 3 or 4 favorite athletes of all time. He is as tough a player I have ever seen. But I am tired of hearing the media and fans blast him and treat him like he was Bubby Brister. Chad is a winner and if his rotator cuff had not been torn twice, he would be one of the five best QB's in the NFL of the last ten years.

That said, the Jets need an identity and have needed one for years. They are coming off a 4-12 season. The crosstown Giants won the Super Bowl. They play in the same division as the evil Patriots. They spent a ton of money in free agency this offseason. They do not have their own stadium. And when they get a new stadium in two years along with the Giants, every seat will have a PSL, forcing prices so high, that some fans will get priced right out of the new stadium.

Favre will provide exactly that. He gives the Jets a face, toughness, credibility, and a legitimate leader. He has never missed a start since he took over the position for Green Bay in 1992. My concern is there isn't much of a receiver corps past Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. We have some tight ends, but I want a third receiver to emerge, whether it is Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith, Wallace Wright, or someone else. So here's what I want. I want two solid years from Favre. And I want to get to the AFC Championship Game by 2010 at the least.

And Benny in the Bronx is already crying!!! I can't wait to hear what Joe B has to say tomorrow!

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!

Falling by the wayside

Well, it was quite a birthday. I didn't see any of my family, but it was still one of those days that just gets better as it goes along.


On Wednesday, I was driving up 31 toward the Daily Herald. As I turned right toward the service road, in the grass, I saw a sign for Bennigan's. It said "Yes, We're Still Open." I thought that was weird, but I continued on my way. The next morning, I opened the Daily Herald. On the front page, was an article about restaurants struggling to stay open amidst the economy's collapse. On the second page of the article was a picture of that sign. Turns out Bennigan's has closed restaurants in St. Charles and Batavia, but that one in Elgin is still open. And that's just the local picture. Bennigan's closed all of its corporate-owned locations nationwide after filing for bankruptcy. That amounts to 160 locations, and about 10,000 employees are out of work. Managers said the mass shutdown went into effect at midnight Monday night, and there was no warning. Just came out of the blue. That brings memories for me.

I remember when Bennigan's was the coolest place to go. When I was a kid, they had the best chicken fingers and fajitas. And they make a really good burger, except they have to cook it medium well so there is absolutely no juice. That I'm not cool with. What is with the fear of food poisoning in this country? Anyway, I'll off the tangent. But in my mind, it is still much better than a lot of similar restaurants like Applebee's, Houlihan's, Chili's, and Friday's. So it's a shame they had to cut back so drastically and so suddenly. Hopefully, Bennigan's will make a comeback one day.