I have been searching for a new format for this blog. Format does not mean I plan on writing more regularly (I’m not making promises this time) it just means I want a transition that will allow me to talk about topics that are not directly related to the wide world of sports (I know, good call with the Olympics coming up). I got to thinking, what better way to change topic then to do it like removing a band-aid: quickly, extremely painfully, but quickly forgotten.
I was watching the State of the Union address last night and decided on one thing. There should be no crowd. Instead it should be held as if it were one of the fireside chats made famous by Roosevelt and later Jimmy Carter. My reasoning behind this deals with the disheartening aspect of a country divided in a time where the populous should be encouraged to band together.
Don’t mistake what I’m saying as a plea for republicans and democrats to band together and sing “We are the world”. The party system is what makes this country great and with a party system you will have disagreement. Like any relationship, politics aren’t always free and easy.
My argument or plea deals with one aspect of the speech, the crowd’s applause. At various moments the democratic half of the audience would stand in roaring applause while the republicans would sit with the “someone definitely farted” face plastered on their faces. I understand that they do not agree. I can’t say I agree with everything Obama, or any other politician, says. This picture doesn't look good for the citizens or the viewers in other countries. It allows people to passively listen and only follow the political beliefs of their party. It does not allow for personal political growth, an aspect quickly disappearing in the world today. To viewers not living in this country it comes off as a country divided, a perception we should be fighting given our economic difficulties. On the other hand, when the masses would applaud and cheer together an uplifting and pride-filled feeling filled the air. The same sentiment that leads people and teams to do great things everyday.
We as people are not the same. We do not look the same, speak the same language, we are not in the same financial standing, and we do not think the same. During the address I would not want republicans to cheer aimlessly for no reason unless they stood for what was being said. With that said I do not want them sitting there pouting. If republicans were in power, I would not want democrats spoiling the party by being the stick in the mud.
To this argument I see two solutions: one I like and one I don’t. I’m going start with the one I don’t like so I can get it over with.
Solution #1: The president's political party will be invited to the address.
This means if the president is republican then only republicans are invited to the address and vice versa. This will give the appearance of togetherness and camaraderie needed to bring the country together. I don’t like the rally-type campaign aspect to this solution. Serious issues are dealt with in the State of the Union and only allowing certain people in would allow the president to distance himself from the issues and focus on giving the crowd what they want (a scary idea).
Solution #2: No guests. One on one speech with the audience.
Tell me one reason this doesn’t work. It allows for a peaceful atmosphere on which the issues that affect us and their solutions can be heard. It eliminates the divided aspect of the proceedings, putting to rest the notion that the United States are just a bunch of spoiled kids that can’t get along. It doesn’t allow people to see the snarled faces of the opposition who look as though they are openly planning to beat the president up afterwards. Just as importantly, it allows people to distance themselves from the supporters who look like they are teens getting drunk for the first time at a Dave Matthews concert.
A secluded atmosphere gives people the ability to listen; I mean really listen, to what our leader is saying. It will let people mold their own political sentiments and ideals. It would give depth to new voters, while potentially opening the eyes of voters that have chosen a political party. Just because someone is a democrat does not mean they have to drink Obama’s Kool-Aid. Furthermore, just because you voted for McCain doesn’t mean that you have to disagree with Obama’s intentions or ideals across the board. Too many people pick a side, learn the hot words du jour (Iraq, Healthcare, etc.), and hole up until they can pretend to care about the new candidates while knowing that no matter what, they are going to vote with their affiliation.
A fireside chat cannot solve all these problems. Hell, it may not solve any of them but it’s a step in the right direction. Scott Brown referred to the seat he just won as “the people’s seat”; well the ultimate people’s seat in the United States is the president’s. If you take voting seriously and you care about your country wouldn’t it be fair to listen to what the president has to say without the filters and voices telling you how to feel? In our day and age, we cannot escape critiques from every angle but we can listen. We should be allowed to listen without having prompts in the audience. Close the doors to the State of the Union and open you ears; it’s the only way anyone can really hear what’s going on.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, April 24, 2009
Three Pitch Inning
So with the baseball season officially beginning with the first Red Sox/Yankees series I wanted to share some thoughts about the team.
1. I am worried. Now I will tell you why. Yes, it's no surprise that the Sox got off to a slow start and have turned it around of late. My concerns are with the lineup. Specifically with two players, Ellsbury and Ortiz. I can't get worried to the slow start Pedroia is off too because he's done this before and ended up winning the Rookie of the Year.
Ellsbury has been getting Papi treatment. By this I mean he had one spectacular run on a high stage ('07 World Series) and has been given the benefit of the doubt ever since. He was awful last year in the playoffs and everyone seemingly gives him the benefit of the doubt that he will be a great leadoff hitter. Yes, he is fast but has he ever shown that he could handle this spot in terms of the bat. He's shown flashes but he has a career .291 average with a .343 OBP. Not bad for a guy with less then 200 career games, but is it even a question that the only reason he is there is because of the speed. It's a nice tablesetter but from a team that values getting on base and has the personnel to do it why not hide his deficiency and use his as a second leadoff hitter in the 9 hole?
Fittingly Ortiz his the other concern. He's the biggest concern. If anyone has seen him could you ask him politely to return to the team and relieve the shell of himself that has been standing at the plate so far this season. Players start off slowly but Ortiz hasn't flipped the ignition in three seasons. Now it is glaringly apparent because Manny isn't punishing the ball behind him (Youk is but he isn't the same as Manny). Ortiz has been injury plagued and I think it has finally taking a toll in the form of his stardom. He's still a personality but we need to stop giving him the treatment he got when he was saving games in the eigth inning every week. He doesn't do it anymore. We need to move him down in the line up. If Tito wants to keep the lefty/righty/lefty why not swap him and Drew. Drew hasn't been killing the ball but he is killing pitching with a +.400 OBP. Then Ortiz can move down where there is less pressure and he doesn't need to press to be the guy. This senario would allow Youk to get into the inning more often and we know how he has been hitting and how deadly the Sox are when they string together a couple of hits.
2. The Ortiz reshuffling brings the next issue, the lack of a feared bat. People are starting no collapse the pedestal Ortiz has been on (or has he done it himself, is it just me or is he starting to look like Mo Vaughn) and the Sox have no other option. No one is scared of Youk the way they should be but that doesn't help the Sox. Manny was that presence and we dont have it. The bright side is that the sports world is collectively drowning in this economy except for the Sox. The Nation's demand for tickets would outlast any depression (which says something considering tickets are still going up).
What does this mean? Did you see what happened in the NBA at the deadline? There you go. Big names should and will be available. All these depend on whether they are contending: Halladay, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Rolen, Overbay, Dye, Thome, Konerko, Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, The entire Tigers organization (I think they get thrown in for free in you buy a Ford), Crisp, Guererro, Abreu, Lackey, Beltre, Ichiro, Washburn, Saltalamachia, Blalock, Michael Young, Holliday, Giambi, Cabrera. That's just and abbreviated list of the AL. You can bet the NL is just as extensive. This will give the Sox to bolster their lineup however they choose. People will be available and we have contracts that could come off the books soon. Yes, I did just use expiring contracts in a baseball sense. This could be the new emergence, prospects (not new) and expiring contracts. Without question the Sox need another big bat that can get things done when we leave the friendly confines where the Sox struggle.
3. I was always told end positive so here it goes. How about Tek? Sure he's only hitting .231 but he does have three homers and is making good contact. I know the numbers aren't great but remember we signed him at a discount for his abilities to handle the staff so if he can give us .240-.250 with 15-20 homers isn't that a huge bonus? If you say no you ask too much of the team and I don't want to be your friend. He's done being a big producer but if he can give us something then that's that.
The other positive in my eyes in the bargain buying by Theo coming together. The bullpen looks great and the starters look good too. Saito and company are holding down one of the best bullpens in baseball which will only get better (Bard is coming people). After that, Penny doesn't look like he's a CY contender he used to be, but a 12 win number 5 starter? Why not? The fact that Theo stocked on pitching was genious considering Dice may have killed us because he needed to prove something in a meaningless world tournament and go back to his daily 150 pitch side sessions. Does he or does he not have have fatigue? In April? Really? Thanks Dice. But Penny looks good, Smoltzy is coming and Bowden and Buchholz waiting in the wings. They seems stocked and if they aren't, well, pitchers will be a plenty come June.
The Sox have their hands full with a harder then ever AL East and only games can show us where they are going. Until next time, this was Three Pitch Inning.
1. I am worried. Now I will tell you why. Yes, it's no surprise that the Sox got off to a slow start and have turned it around of late. My concerns are with the lineup. Specifically with two players, Ellsbury and Ortiz. I can't get worried to the slow start Pedroia is off too because he's done this before and ended up winning the Rookie of the Year.
Ellsbury has been getting Papi treatment. By this I mean he had one spectacular run on a high stage ('07 World Series) and has been given the benefit of the doubt ever since. He was awful last year in the playoffs and everyone seemingly gives him the benefit of the doubt that he will be a great leadoff hitter. Yes, he is fast but has he ever shown that he could handle this spot in terms of the bat. He's shown flashes but he has a career .291 average with a .343 OBP. Not bad for a guy with less then 200 career games, but is it even a question that the only reason he is there is because of the speed. It's a nice tablesetter but from a team that values getting on base and has the personnel to do it why not hide his deficiency and use his as a second leadoff hitter in the 9 hole?
Fittingly Ortiz his the other concern. He's the biggest concern. If anyone has seen him could you ask him politely to return to the team and relieve the shell of himself that has been standing at the plate so far this season. Players start off slowly but Ortiz hasn't flipped the ignition in three seasons. Now it is glaringly apparent because Manny isn't punishing the ball behind him (Youk is but he isn't the same as Manny). Ortiz has been injury plagued and I think it has finally taking a toll in the form of his stardom. He's still a personality but we need to stop giving him the treatment he got when he was saving games in the eigth inning every week. He doesn't do it anymore. We need to move him down in the line up. If Tito wants to keep the lefty/righty/lefty why not swap him and Drew. Drew hasn't been killing the ball but he is killing pitching with a +.400 OBP. Then Ortiz can move down where there is less pressure and he doesn't need to press to be the guy. This senario would allow Youk to get into the inning more often and we know how he has been hitting and how deadly the Sox are when they string together a couple of hits.
2. The Ortiz reshuffling brings the next issue, the lack of a feared bat. People are starting no collapse the pedestal Ortiz has been on (or has he done it himself, is it just me or is he starting to look like Mo Vaughn) and the Sox have no other option. No one is scared of Youk the way they should be but that doesn't help the Sox. Manny was that presence and we dont have it. The bright side is that the sports world is collectively drowning in this economy except for the Sox. The Nation's demand for tickets would outlast any depression (which says something considering tickets are still going up).
What does this mean? Did you see what happened in the NBA at the deadline? There you go. Big names should and will be available. All these depend on whether they are contending: Halladay, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Rolen, Overbay, Dye, Thome, Konerko, Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee, The entire Tigers organization (I think they get thrown in for free in you buy a Ford), Crisp, Guererro, Abreu, Lackey, Beltre, Ichiro, Washburn, Saltalamachia, Blalock, Michael Young, Holliday, Giambi, Cabrera. That's just and abbreviated list of the AL. You can bet the NL is just as extensive. This will give the Sox to bolster their lineup however they choose. People will be available and we have contracts that could come off the books soon. Yes, I did just use expiring contracts in a baseball sense. This could be the new emergence, prospects (not new) and expiring contracts. Without question the Sox need another big bat that can get things done when we leave the friendly confines where the Sox struggle.
3. I was always told end positive so here it goes. How about Tek? Sure he's only hitting .231 but he does have three homers and is making good contact. I know the numbers aren't great but remember we signed him at a discount for his abilities to handle the staff so if he can give us .240-.250 with 15-20 homers isn't that a huge bonus? If you say no you ask too much of the team and I don't want to be your friend. He's done being a big producer but if he can give us something then that's that.
The other positive in my eyes in the bargain buying by Theo coming together. The bullpen looks great and the starters look good too. Saito and company are holding down one of the best bullpens in baseball which will only get better (Bard is coming people). After that, Penny doesn't look like he's a CY contender he used to be, but a 12 win number 5 starter? Why not? The fact that Theo stocked on pitching was genious considering Dice may have killed us because he needed to prove something in a meaningless world tournament and go back to his daily 150 pitch side sessions. Does he or does he not have have fatigue? In April? Really? Thanks Dice. But Penny looks good, Smoltzy is coming and Bowden and Buchholz waiting in the wings. They seems stocked and if they aren't, well, pitchers will be a plenty come June.
The Sox have their hands full with a harder then ever AL East and only games can show us where they are going. Until next time, this was Three Pitch Inning.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
NFL Draft
Kiper has his Big Board. McShay has his time on Sportscenter. Tirico and Crew get to put teams On The Clock. What do I get? Well, I get to complain. And I will.
Mostly, I like the draft. Not as a spectator event considering the first round lasts until Memorial Day but from the aspect that a team can completely reinvent themselves in a matter of two days. Miami started their rebuilding through the draft. Baltimore may not have made the playoffs without the draft. New England put together the best offense ever through a draft weekend trade.
So what the problem? Draft position.
It does make the most sense of any sport. Reverse order of record, with the Super Bowl competitors selecting in the last two positions. Yes, it makes sense, but as a people we constantly follow schemes that make no sense (see: BCS). So I will suggest something that makes more sense but is more confusing, although not a whole lot more confusing.
Nowadays in the NFL we see a large disparity between competitiveness between conferences. No one will claim the NFC East is equal to the NFC West. Or the AFC South is equal to the AFC West. Basically, the Wests for a long time has been terrible and although one team from each of their conferences get a playoff team, the others generally have a high draft pick.
The gripe I have is that those inferior playoff teams still get a pick higher then more competitive teams that miss out on the playoffs. This, in a sense, rewards inferior teams that make the playoffs with a higher draft pick, where the system is clearly in place to help the teams that do not make the playoffs improve so that they may be able to compete of one of those coveted playoff spots. So this year when I saw that Philly, Minnesota, and San Diego all had higher picks then my New England Patriots. Of course this piece is written out of homerism but it does happen every year.
The superior teams that miss out on the playoffs are being given the ultimate punishment by not making the playoffs and not given the ability to improve themselves in the appropriate manner to compete within a division where the disparity is smaller.
The answer is simple. The twelve teams that make the playoffs should draft in reverse order at the end of the round, with the Super Bowl teams selecting at the end. From there, starting at pick 20, the teams that miss out on the playoffs should pick at reverse order of record. This will allow teams a more fair way of improving their teams to compete within their respective divisions. This would also not reward teams making the playoffs with a .500 or sub .500 record. Yes they may need to improve more then say an 11-5 team but clearly to compete within their division. Moreover, this those teams to be rewarded twice in a league that reward poor play from the drafting perspective.
The problem suggested is tanking for a playoff spot but in a this sport that would not really be an issue. The NFL has seen a slew of Wild Card teams make the Super Bowl in recent years, as well as this year's 9-7 Cardinals come within minutes of a championship. This is a league where every team that makes the playoffs honestly believes they can win it all. This ideology suggests that tanking would not be an issue.
The system I suggested would also in theory make the final weeks of the season more excited because of ramped up competitiveness within the division. So, NFL, just something to consider...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Redux: Must see TV Thursday, a hilarious reread.
Well like I mentioned I have big plans for the summer and I have coined it the sizzlin' summer series which is served with baked potato or rice pilaf. The wondrous dish or knowledge that you could easily think of yourself if you either a) thought enough about it yourself or b) have yet to experience (like warehouse work).
So let's get started on this piece without further ado, tomorrow night marks the best night of non-season sports television. The NBA draft is truly must see TV.
Let's start with the draft itself. Of all televised drafts: Baseball (finally!), Football, Basketball, and maybe hockey but I doubt it, basketball is the one that has completely understood the television audience. We aren't all that into sitting in front of the TV watching analysts for 2 full days of drafts (or six hours for the first round); we also aren't interested in watchin a draft that last time I checked has more rounds than Billy Joel has DUI's, and that the players may never be seen for years if ever again. Basketball comes in at around 2.5 to 3 hours long and everyone taken in the first hour and a half will be on your NBA team in the fall. In addition, there are only five positions each as crucial as the other and thus we can follow players more closely and not draft a lineman that played at southern new mexican christian junior college.
It has all the makings of good television and this comes from someone who knows television than anything I have learned in a classroom. The NBA draft has all the fixins'.
The drama: What more drama do you wish then having players the likes of Garnett, Marion, Kobe, O'neil, Stoudamire, or Jefferson mentioned in trades the week before the draft. Not only that but the lottery. The name sells itself of drama, the worst teams in baseketball taking their pick of the best young players to immediately impact their fortune. My beloved Celtics lost out on the top 1 or 2...3...or 4 picks in the draft and are completely stuck at number five but it's still no less dramatic then if we did have those high picks. But I guarantee you when your team comes up you'll be shaking like Paris Hilton in front of a judge.
Comedy: Let's look at how much two storied franchises have fallen and become Pauly Shore and Andy Dick. The Knicks were a menace in the nineties with one of the best PFs in basketball in Ewing and a great shooter in Houston and Starks. They competed with the Heat in some classic payoff duels and even made the finals (protest and excuses accepted via comment section). The Celtics have many championships and a slew of the legends hanging from the rafters. Now sub .500 hundred play is more their game. Granted they have not had the best of luck, Len Bias, Tim Duncan, Pitino, Ainge, Rivers all become excuses for their downfall but the show goes on and the Celtics suck.
This leaves me at this. The coverage starts at 7 assuming is jumps into the first round I should have my first hard laugh of the night no later than 7:45 when Ainge either selects a player that does not deserve the press (Jianlian), or trades the pick, jefferson, green to the lakers for Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum. Then 18 picks later the Knicks will entertain us all with this year's Renaldo Balkman. So in advance I would like to welcome Nick Fazekas to New York and tell him that Isiah knows what he's doing and he picked you a round to early for a reason. Unfortunately, that reason was not because you were the smart pick or even a some what logical pick, sorry.
Protagonist/ Antagonist Angle: As a Celtics fan that I have one pick to look forward to and 29 to dread however for most teams there is a clear enemy. Spurs have the Mavs, Suns have the Spurs, Portland has Seattle, Chicago has the Pistons, and Cavs have the Heat. Each will wonder how their team will counteract their rival's pick while still striving for that championship trophy.
Conspiracy: Last but not least is the conspiracy angle. If you know sports and read Bill Simmon's page on ESPN (bostonsportsguy.com) then you have heard all about the '85 Ewing to New York conspiracy. Well folks it appears as though we can add '07 draft to that short list. Think about it both teams that tanked most obviously for Oden/Durant the Grizz and the Celtics end up with the worst possible picks possible statistically. Coincidence, Maybe? Message to the NBA teams from David Stern? Probably. These teams figured out the flaw in the lottery system and Stern fixed the lottery so that he would not look dumb and to keep this from happening in the future. Years from now when the celtics are into the same 50 year drought we'll look back on this draft like we were cheated and rightly so.
All of these categories and more depict the necessity and genius of the NBA draft.
Moving along to the Celtics Section.
We need to do so many things to be competitive now and I will spend the next couple of hours telling you what we should do to give us the best chance to win now. After I thought about it. Here's the list of
Can'ts:
Trade Jefferson/Rondo
Draft List:
Horford (most likely off the board)
Brewer
Noah (if we trade down)
Thorton (if we trade down)
Young (if we trade down)
Tradeable pieces:
West
Gomes
Pierce
Ratliff
#5
Green
almost anyone else.
Basically there is only one thing to do if you're the Celtics.
Don't Mess this up. Trade for a veteran that can help now or draft a rookie that can come in a produce immediatey like Thorton or Brewer. I would trade down and see if we could add another pick to add Boston College's Jared Dudley or Sean Williams to the mix. I will be there and be excited tomorrow night ad you should be to. As for now I am going to go pray ad hope God will shine some sun on the Celtics. Until then enjoy and don't forget to check out the Sizzlin' Summer series. Goodnight.
This should be interesting... Don't Do it to us again Danny!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Manny questions, One answer
Reason for hiatus- writer's strike.
With that dealt with I want to come clean and express my 'hatred' for Jason Bay. Now on the surface you would think a canadian baseball fan would latch on to fellow countryman playing for their favorite team like swamp leeches on a certain Zissou. I haven't. I do hope that I can be turned but as of now that isn't happening. He is a talented player with tremendous skills but there is just something that he doesn't have and it's the one thing I'm missing as a Red Sox fan: personality.
There is no one more vanilla on the Boston Red Sox than Jason Bay. For chrissakes, he makes Tim Wakefield look like the joker. Before you jump down my throat, there is nothing wrong about being vanilla, one of my favorite players is Mr. Vanilla Bean himself, Tim Wakefield. The difference between these too is that Wakefield earned his spot on my Favorite Athlete Pantheon for his uniqueness and dedication to the franchise. He is a dirt dog and deserves nothing less than the respect of a 'nation'. Jason Bay does not have these qualities but if I do find myself needing to fill a Close Encounters position Bay will leap onto the pantheon. No position has yet been needed. The vacant spot that he cannot fill is Mr. Personality.
This spot for a long time was filled by Manny Ramirez. I know what you're going to say: Manny is a jerk, an asshole, selfish, lazy. Yes, Yes, I'd use misunderstood, and when he wants to be. Look you can say what you will about him but his tenure in Boston was similar to discovering a really cool band before any of your friends. I just attached to him. I fed off his antics because I knew that:
A) This is what we were getting when we signed him to an 8 year, $160 millions contract.
B) Whatever he did you could pencil in .300/30/120/.400OBP/.600SLG.
C) Overall, he would help us win more games then he cost us.
I understand that the pot had boiled over an it was time for him to go but it is hard to argue against the point above. However in his time here did he not entertain us more positively then negatively? And was he not the MVP in the most important championship in New England sports history? Begrudge him all you want but he was a key component in changing the attitude of Boston sports fans forever. Plus he's the only one that made us laugh that much. But the his absence does not solely create a distaste for Bay. In fact Bay has almost nothing to do with my disdain. The Front Office does however.
Yes a move was a necessity, but the desperation was not. Manny Ramirez, with the assurance from his agent, Satan, would play hard as long as the option years were not picked up. Thus we are looking at the classic rent-a-player. If we look at two more trades you will see that the team giving up the player rarely have to give up additional pieces.
C.C. Sabathia- the Indians received four young pieces including an extremely promising outfielder Matt LaPorta
Mark Teixeria- the Braves received proven starting first baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor league pitcher
Neither of these tems gave up additional pieces to travel with their star attraction to their new home and one could make the argument that neither was as productive as Manny was with the Dodgers. So why did the Red Sox have to give up not only Ramirez but also Hansen and Moss, both of whom could play large roles on Major League Teams? There are two reasons: risk of a Manny melt down (assured would not happen), desperation out of the Front Office. I would put more money on the latter.
Bay is a nice player, as I mentioned above, but if you look at the trade and the return it doesn't quite make sense. The Sox traded their cleanup hitter and two prospects for a guy that they weren't confident to put any higher than fifth in the lineup. That scares me. That's an awful lot for an athlete who the manager isn't treating like an impact player. The Red Sox could have received similar return without the prospects I'm sure; or they could have let it ride out and as they usually do, things will turn around and we would have been more apt to compete for a championship.
Look. I don't HATE Bay. He just took away one of my beloved athletesand that is hard to deal with. Not only has he created a void but its a void he cannot fill. He's a nice player and I want him to change my mind but as of now he will take the brunt of my anger because he is the replacement.
With this said I do not think he is the answer for this team (unless Texeira signs). From a team standpoint I think we should pursue a trade for him and I have one great idea. Dangle him to Toronto for Alex Rios. Most likely a prospect would have to be included on the Red Sox side but how does this not make sense. A Canadian star going to be the spotlight on the only Canadian team. This would bring in money and fans to a struggling Blue Jays franchise. This prospects would allow us to get a player like Rios (higher upside then Bay) for a discounted price. Since, however, this is the most logical trade in a long time we are destined to never see it mentioned or even discussed.
So these are the reasons for my feeling towards Jason Bay. It's not his fault and he can change my mind. He will never fill the open space for Boston's Mr. Personality but he can turn my hatred towards someone else.
On another note. I do hope Manny makes his money and I will always like him. However, if he signs with the Yankees that adoration may see a hiatus like the one seen on this blog...
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Nights of the Round Table
Holiday dinners, lavish extravaganzas, feed time on the way to work. Our lives revolve around the kitchen table, however usually the memories do not directly jump to periods of relfection or serious one on one coversation. If you look back into your own life tell me there have not been a slew of nights where you were able to sit at a table long after the meal has been digested enlightened by the back and forth being had with the person across the table with you.
For a long time I was focused on the duty of the kitchen table: eat your meal, clear your plate, and go along with your life. However, lately I have discovered that there truely is more to this wooden feed zone.
-Unfinished but I figured I'd post what I had-
For a long time I was focused on the duty of the kitchen table: eat your meal, clear your plate, and go along with your life. However, lately I have discovered that there truely is more to this wooden feed zone.
-Unfinished but I figured I'd post what I had-
Friday, July 13, 2007
The Summer Slump
With the All-Star break come and gone the dog days of summer are setting. Not only are the Sox forecasted to slump until September (they take a month off in august every year), the Celtics are stuck with kind of a team... sort of... maybe. The thought of football is even a little boring until they get on the field for training camp in a couple of weeks. I have fallen into my own summer sports slump.
The Sox like any dependably dissapointing friend will fuel my cynicism for the next month but what is there to spin a web of hope that is so necessary for a college student having to put up with the daily grind of an eight to five. I know this sounds like bitching but going from unemployment and classes to a five-day a week, forty hour commitment, is a lot. I need some relief.
Tonight while the Sox are going back and forth against the Jays I have been flipping back and forth to the Celtics summer league games. I have to tell you Ainge has done it again. He drafts well. His last two draft days have be nothing short of a Michael Bay feature presentation (Transformers excluded because I haven't seen it yet). The trades have been inexcusable and thats really all I want to mention about that, but his draft picks are great picks. Pruitt looks like he could be a good back up until he signs with another team and pulls a Joe Johnson and becomes a star. Big Baby also looks to be a steal. Do I say this from seeing him play? Not really, but more because I didn't recognize him when I saw him. He appears determined to play in this league and he will shed his weight to do this. It may inevitably hurt him as he may have to redefine his game as a strong forward instead of a fat forward but that is adjustment can be made. He has the instinct and great feet giving me confidence that he can make it and make a name for himself in the NBA. This may not help the Celtics win this year however we can chant that the pieces are in place for the future for yet another season.
Now that my Celtics rant is out of the way, what is there to watch? Reruns suck. Ditto for game shows, World Series of Pop Culture excluded. I'm at a stand still. Please reader give me something. For now I will stick with my pathetic Red Sox and stick it out until greener pastures save me from a rut larger than a turn at Kitzbuehl after two feet of snow.
Now that my Celtics rant is out of the way, what is there to watch? Reruns suck. Ditto for game shows, World Series of Pop Culture excluded. I'm at a stand still. Please reader give me something. For now I will stick with my pathetic Red Sox and stick it out until greener pastures save me from a rut larger than a turn at Kitzbuehl after two feet of snow.
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