1:06pm thoughts

I did my best to avoid all the hype surrounding the Colts-Pats game from last weekend. It more than lived up to the hype with the Pats winning 24-20. Tom Brady showed why the patriots are never out of a ballgame and Peyton Manning showed a little slip in his game management skills. Of course this game will be rendered meaningless if the Pats don't win it all.....Who the f**k gave Don Shula a platform to spew senile old man rants? Nobody cares what the coach of the '72 Dolphins thinks about New Englands attempt at a perfect season. Shula's squad that went 17-0 and won the Super Bowl had an average Opponents Winning % of .387. Yeah thats right. They played nobody and struggled to get there. The Pats have dismantled all comers and overcame their first challenge this past week. Hey Don stick to saying things that you get payed for like "Hey Marino" from those ridiculous weight loss commercials.....The NFC has nobody that can even put up a fight against the whoever the AFC champion is this year. I am loving Brett Favre's rennaissance, but without a more solid running attack we are going to see ol' number 4 heaving up 4 picks in the playoffs.....Oh waitress my order will be 3 tall beers and the New York Steak. Thanks to my ultra positive(possibly drugged)buddies I will be raking in a wonderful meal on their dime when the GS Warriors are eliminated from the playoffs in a few months. The 0-4 start has definitely got me smiling, but it's more than the losses that have me brimming with confidence. The poor crunch time free throw attempts and the lack of halfcourt game when they have a lead are glaring similarities to previous Whorrior teams. Oh waitress can I see the dessert cart when you get a chance.....RIP all youthful baseball memories. This week a report surfaced that former SF Giants 3B Matt Williams was taking growth hormone in 2002. He came out and responded to the allegations and said it was for an ankle injury. Whether or not he did it before is a non issue. I have long since prepared myself for the revelation that all my childhood heroes will be dragged into the conversation at one point or another. This picture says it all........Greg Maddux deserves a clap on the back. By earning his 17th Gold Glove the other day he has surpassed all time great Brooks Robinson and Jim Kaat for most all time. It might be the fact his glove is the size of Rhode Island or that pitchers in general just suck balls at fielding in todays game. You decide......Instant Replay has finally infested the game of baseball. My prediction is within the next 15 years balls and strikes will be called by computer systems and the human element in umpiring will be eliminated. Not good.......I now decree that we shall no longer refer to Alex Rodriguez as A-Rod. From this moment on he will be called A-hole.......While drinking in the parking lot after a recent softball game the perfect team name struck me. You are looking at the next manager for the Parking Lot Pimps of your local D-League co-ed softball team. Bottoms up...

What a long strange trips it's been...

...Okay, okay you can't call a four game season a long strange trip, but
we sure as hell earned those baby blue badges of courage that were on
display at Fridays. They say that pitching and defense wins
championships. I think dropping 46 runs in two games on the opponents
might have a little do to with it as well.

You can't start anywhere else on the field, but in the middle of the
diamond. Andy firing dart after dart was lights out. With Janice calling
pitches(and saving Bobs life a few times) behind the dish there was no
stopping this duo. Helping his own cause Andy decided that he wasn't
going to screw around anymore and jacked a few balls over the fence. And
while were on the topic of fences "Edwin I got the outfield walls phone
number for you". Although the fence was quite upset you had to kiss and
run. Nice catch stud! The corner outfield positions were filled
admirably by a couple of sweet swinging gamers. Mark roaming the Left
Field line "because his old lady made him" decided to join the Crews
shortstop in the long walk back to the dugout after jacking an
out......over the fence. Joe with his smooth swing kept everyone in the
dugout alive with his blistering shots that peppered the 1st baseline.
4-H club beware. Proving that hot hitting is contagious the corners of
the infield decided to dust off the sticks and bring some leather too.
Bryan decided to take time off from his treatment in the trainers office
and grace the line-up with his presence. Even having to let a tool from
the other team know that they were being "very Un-dude". Patrolling the
'Hot Corner' was none other than Lina. She had a pressing engagement of
packing for a trip, but felt the team needed her for the playoff push.
While flashing some leather she decided to break out the playoff caliber
grunt at the plate. Shouting out "Let the girls play" with screaming
line drives to infinity and beyond. Dina stepping in for an injured 2nd
sacker adapted well to the new position, but looked a little tired out
there(obviously still shellshocked from the nuptials). Bringing her
determined game face to the batters box turned out to be nothing but
aces for the Crew. Stepping up to take over the duties in the 1st base
coaches box was Tess. Not only did she bring her baserunning expertise
to the table, but also a very large stick that seemed to encourage
people to pass Go and collect $200 at 2nd base. Finally a few words on
our fearless leader. Regina brought to the team a desire to win and
swing at as many bad pitches as possible. With the use of one good
leg(although rumored to have been caught dancing on a few bars after
curfew)she kept defying the odds and kept her spot at the top of the
line-up. It probably helped that she was writing the line-up, but who
really cares about that now. Wanting only a shirt and not caring what
further injuries lie ahead she braved the soggy outfield and made a few
nice stabs(although her form and lack of practice did give Andy some
raised blood pressure on the mound). Bringing that disciplined swing to
the park last night led to many adventures around the bases which makes
me wonder if she should have also brought a walker. A few lashings from
Tess got her in gear though. One of the key front office moves by Reg
had to have been getting that guy from behind the front desk to come out
and play shortstop for her. The jury is still out on if that move paid
off or not. I hear his agent is going to be asking for beer dispensing
batting helmets for next season.

Good job everybody. Wear your powder blue shirts with pride or just
change your oil in 'em. Either way we all did a little bit to earn 'em.
Way to take out the trash Clean Up Crew!

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