Ramblings
October 30, 2004
Media perpetuates "Curse"
Media to blame for perpetuating Curse
The idea that the Boston Red Sox have been hexed for nearly a century because one of their owners sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees is the appallingly flimsy crutch of writers and broadcasters who haven't formed an original thought since they ditched "what's your sign?" in favor of "come here often?" Only in sports can journalists get away with such blatantly irresponsible behavior. ...
We decry their tragic loss of the spontaneity gene, yet reporters and headline writers will turn right around and bloviate about the "Curse of the Bambino," evidently failing to realize it's the worst kind of hackneyed, scripted drivel.
October 29, 2004
Just Another Baseball Fan
The Nation's destination: Destiny
Is this how parents feel when they're about to have a baby? Like nothing has changed, but everything's about to change? That's how I felt yesterday. The Red Sox were about to win the World Series. And I was about to become Just Another Baseball Fan again.
Because that's all we ever wanted. Nobody understood that. Outsiders made up fake curses, called us losers, pointed to a legacy of failure, questioned our sanity. We kept hoping. We kept the faith. We kept passing this team down from generation to generation, hoping it would be worth it. And it was.
October 28, 2004
Fear vs. hope
"If one candidate's trying to scare you, and the other one's trying to get you to think; if one candidate's appealing to your fears, and the other one's appealing to your hopes; you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope." --Bill Clinton(Thanks Myfanwy for the link...)
Labels: politics
2004 World Series Champions
Red Sox: 2004 World Series Champions
I can hardly believe they won it -- it still seems unreal. I still haven't totally processed the comeback win over the Yankees. The soon-to-be retired (?) Bambino's Curse summed it up:
And just like that it's all gone: No more Curse; No more 1918; No more getting the rock almost to the top of the hill only to have it roll back down and crush us...
October 23, 2004
Fenway QuickTime VR
Here's a QuickTime VR of our last outing at Fenway (1.2MB) from our seats in left field. (Requires QuickTime, obviously...)
October 22, 2004
Warmongers and military service
Warmongers and military service
An interesting list of prominent Democrats, Republicans, and pro-war pundits, along with their military service ... if any.
An interesting list of prominent Democrats, Republicans, and pro-war pundits, along with their military service ... if any.
Labels: politics
Sox stuff...
Some Sox stuff...
David Ortiz from this ESPN article:
"One day I was driving from my house to the stadium on a workout day and I saw a big sign on the street that said, 'Keep the Faith.' And I saw a photo of Manny and he had a big smile," series MVP Ortiz said of the historic comeback. "I just parked in front of the photo and I just sat down for a minute and thought about what we've been through the whole year. Then I went to the field and I just expressed myself to my teammates about what the Boston nation has been waiting for us and they expect from us.
"So it doesn't matter if we were down 3-0. We just have to keep the faith because the game is not over until the final out."
Photo by Eliot Shepard (y'all remember Sinkhole, right?) of two members of different evil empires shaking hands: Jeter and Cheney.
From the Late Show with David Letterman: Top Ten Secrets To The Boston Red Sox Comeback presented by Curt Schilling
10. Unlike the first three games, we didn't leave early to beat the traffic.
2. What'd you expect -- we have a guy who looks like Jesus!
A Yankees website had this written on October 18, after the first Sox win (in 12 innings):
But, for the Red Sox to [win the series], the following things need to happen:It's still sinking in how big an accomplishment the Sox comeback was, especially against this Yankee team. Reading the above near-impossible list of "to do" items the Sox had just reinforces that.
- Boston needs to beat Mike Mussina
- Pedro Martinez needs to shut down the Yankees
- Pedro Martinez needs to go deep into Game Five
- Boston needs to beat Jon Lieber
- Curt Schilling needs to pitch well despite having a ruptured tendon sheath
- Boston needs to beat Kevin Brown/Javier Vazquez
- Boston's pitching staff needs to stop the Yankees' lineup for three more games.
If Architects Had To Work Like Web Designers
A non-Sox post, just to mix things up...
If Architects Had To Work Like Web Designers
If Architects Had To Work Like Web Designers
To insure that you are building the correct house for our entire family, make certain that you contact each of our children, and also our in-laws. My mother-in-law will have very strong feelings about how the house should be designed, since she visits us at least once a year. Make sure that you weigh all of these options carefully and come to the right decision. I, however, retain the right to overrule any choices that you make.
October 21, 2004
October 20, 2004
Why the Boston Red Sox will win Game Seven
The article "Why the New York Yankees will win Game Seven" has pretty shaky reasons. (It's also odd that this same writer predicted a Sox win in 7...talk about hedging your bets!) So I have to counter reason-for-reason with...
Why the Boston Red Sox will win Game Seven
Here are five reasons the Boston Red Sox will beat the New York Yankees on Wednesday night:
1) Recent history. Three outs away from going to their 40th World Series one night, then 6 outs away the next night, the Yankees have shown that they can't hold onto a lead and close the deal. In Game 6, the team looked even more lost and desperate.
2) Not-so-recent history. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit -- though mathematically possible, it's nearly impossible to come back. But the Sox have done the impossible and have forced a game seven for the first time ever -- history is being made. Also, look at the team rosters: Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone are not playing on either team. And check your calendar: it's 2004, not 2003 or 1986 or 1978.
3) A rested Mariano Rivera was unable to preserve Yankee leads in two games this series (not to mention some regular season failures). This Sox team is not afraid of Rivera, who in 2004 is human. He was lights out in 2003, but what has he done for Steinbrenner lately?
4) Kevin Brown. Starting for the Yankees is a pitcher who has been ineffective against the Sox offense, going back as recently as his two-inning start on Saturday. (The backup pitcher is equally ineffective Javier Vasquez.) Meanwhile, the Sox counter with Lowe and Wakefield, both who have had their troubles this year but have pitched well against the Yankees this series.
5) Joe Torre. More than ever, Torre has had his decisions questioned over the past three games -- read any New York paper or website, or turn on the radio. Perhaps it's not his fault: the bullpen isn't lights-out like days past, and he's got nobody on his bench except the starting 9. Francona has surprised people with his moves (e.g. bringing out Foulke in the 7th inning), and they've worked. While Terry isn't Joe, he also certainly is not Grady.
Why the Boston Red Sox will win Game Seven
Here are five reasons the Boston Red Sox will beat the New York Yankees on Wednesday night:
1) Recent history. Three outs away from going to their 40th World Series one night, then 6 outs away the next night, the Yankees have shown that they can't hold onto a lead and close the deal. In Game 6, the team looked even more lost and desperate.
2) Not-so-recent history. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit -- though mathematically possible, it's nearly impossible to come back. But the Sox have done the impossible and have forced a game seven for the first time ever -- history is being made. Also, look at the team rosters: Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone are not playing on either team. And check your calendar: it's 2004, not 2003 or 1986 or 1978.
3) A rested Mariano Rivera was unable to preserve Yankee leads in two games this series (not to mention some regular season failures). This Sox team is not afraid of Rivera, who in 2004 is human. He was lights out in 2003, but what has he done for Steinbrenner lately?
4) Kevin Brown. Starting for the Yankees is a pitcher who has been ineffective against the Sox offense, going back as recently as his two-inning start on Saturday. (The backup pitcher is equally ineffective Javier Vasquez.) Meanwhile, the Sox counter with Lowe and Wakefield, both who have had their troubles this year but have pitched well against the Yankees this series.
5) Joe Torre. More than ever, Torre has had his decisions questioned over the past three games -- read any New York paper or website, or turn on the radio. Perhaps it's not his fault: the bullpen isn't lights-out like days past, and he's got nobody on his bench except the starting 9. Francona has surprised people with his moves (e.g. bringing out Foulke in the 7th inning), and they've worked. While Terry isn't Joe, he also certainly is not Grady.
Game 7
I can't say anything about the Sox, other than they've been amazing and have gone much farther than I expected.
Doug Mientkiewicz said "We've been playing Game 7 since Game 4." That's true. But the real Game 7 is tonight. And I'm not sure I'll be able to take it...
Doug Mientkiewicz said "We've been playing Game 7 since Game 4." That's true. But the real Game 7 is tonight. And I'm not sure I'll be able to take it...
October 18, 2004
Give us back the America we loved
Give us back the America we loved (Guardian)
While Bush was waging his father's war at your expense, he was also ruining your country. He made your rich richer and your poor and unemployed more numerous. He robbed your war veterans of their due and reduced your children's access to education. And he deprived more Americans than ever before of healthcare. Now he's busy cooking the books, burying deficits and calling in contingency funds to fight a war that his advisers promised him he could light and put out like a candle.
Meanwhile, your Patriot Act has swept aside constitutional and civil liberties which took brave Americans 200 years to secure, and were once the envy of a world that now looks on in horror, not just at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, but at what you are doing to yourselves.
Labels: politics
October 17, 2004
October 15, 2004
Lando's been lifting!
Compare the Star Wars action figures from 1979 (the ones I grew up with) with the re-issued versions from 1997. Looks like pretty much everybody joined a gym and has been doing a lot of lifting over the years...check 'em out.
October 14, 2004
The bright side...
While the Sox played another offense-free game, I've decided to try to look on the bright side: At least this year's ALCS will merely be a "disappointing loss" rather than a "soul-crushing loss" like last year.
October 12, 2004
Yankees in Three?
Larry Mahnken of The Hardball Times writes an ultra-pro-Yankee preview ("Prediction: Yanks in Three") of the upcoming series in YANKEEZ ROOL!!! Boston is teh suck. It's a pretty funny head-to-head comparison of each position (second base: "Boston had signed Pokey Reese to prevent runs on defense, the Yankees were playing Enrique Wilson in order to prevent runs on offense").
October 11, 2004
How to Watch the ALCS
For your baseball-watching pleasure, Surviving Grady helps you out by presenting "How to Watch the ALCS [a handy guide]":
As an aside, I'm going to say Sox in 6 ... although I'd love it if they swept (not a realistic prediction, but still...) because we'll be at game 4 (go Wake!).
1. Tune into FOXRead the rest...
2. Press "mute" on your remote to spare yourself the inane blabbering of Tim McCarver and crew
3. Switch channel during prerequisite thirty-four showings of Aaron Boone's home run
4. Switch channel during prerequisite fifty-seven showings of "the Buckner"
As an aside, I'm going to say Sox in 6 ... although I'd love it if they swept (not a realistic prediction, but still...) because we'll be at game 4 (go Wake!).
October 8, 2004
Terror warnings boost president's approval ratings
Terror warnings boost president's approval ratings
When the federal government issues a terrorist warning, presidential approval ratings jump, a Cornell sociologist has found. Interestingly, terrorist warnings also boost support for the president on issues that are largely irrelevant to terrorism, such as his handling of the economy.So, what are the chances that the color-coded terror level will increase to "Elmo" as the election approaches?
Labels: politics
October 1, 2004
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