Apr 14, 2010

will you miss me?

Will be on hiatus for a couple of weeks.  See you all soon!

Apr 12, 2010

aren't you glad today is today?

Well, unlike any day that you can call "today", this "today" only happens once a year.  Never mind the weather (although high 60's and sunny is perfect); never mind the day of the week (Mondays and Fridays are the best, Saturday and Sundays are the worse); never mind the traffic (since when do we not mind traffic); never mind your work attire (do we really care what we look like on today's "today" before?); and never mind the end results (even though we normally are concerned by the end results, today's "today" will be overlooked).  Why such frivolity on today's "today"?  Simple...It's OPENING DAY and the HOME OPENER for our beloved Tribe!  Each and every person, makes no never mind what team or what league or what city is important, opening day marks the spot. The spot where everything is at 0-0; bad memories from the past are removed; future memories are not created yet; and today is "today"!  Fathers/Mothers will have son/daughter in hand, the same as when the fathers were sons and mothers were daughters, and they were "in hand".  The sight of blue will be the "bluest ever!" The green will be the "greenest ever"!  The white will be the "whitest ever"! And "PLAY BALL" will sound as "loud as ever"!  When did a the smell of a hot dog smell as good as "today"?  When did opening peanuts become such a ritual as it "does today"? When did the price of a soda or beer become...well you can't have everything "today"!!  "Today" means more than "Opening day".  It brings most of us back full circle.  What other event can do that?  There are many reasons why one can bemoan where they live; what they do; what life has dealt them.  But for a short 4+ hours that is all put on the back burner and I'll take it.  Go Tribe.  

Apr 8, 2010

do you have a Home Opener memory?

This has nothing to do with the game itself, but all leading up to the opening day game.  A youngster who shall remain nameless (okay Ryan?) was all set to take in the Opening Game Day festivities when he was told he couldn't miss school.  Talk about being bummed out!  He knew I had tickets and he really thought he was going to go.  He wouldn't talk with me for the days leading up to the game.  Well the morning of the opener, he came down for breakfast with the saddest, poutingest, maddest face a fifth grader could have.  He was so out of sorts, he ate breakfast WITHOUT reading the funnies, which was the norm.  Didn't say a word to him and just delightfully watched him stew!  Without being too direct I asked him why no comics.  He said not funny this morning.  Kinda moved him to think about reading them and eventually he started.  Then on page two he saw what he was hoping for.  Taped to the funnies were the two tickets to opening day that had some how been delivered in the morning paper (not really, but this is a story folks!).  He couldn't hide the grin.  He quickly got up and changed into his "going to the game" clothes and asked when do we leave (it was only 7:30 AM).  Told him we had to report his illness to school and then we would depart.  What ever happened at the game was all secondary to the primary scene, watching the enjoyment spread over my son's face when he found he was going to his first opening day game.  Fast forward to this Monday and Opening Day and Dad and Son will be taking in the game, and this will be another game added into our fond memories.  Go Tribe!!

Apr 6, 2010

wasn't the NCAA Final Four Game one of the best?

Have to give kudos to Coack K and the Dukies!  Great game to watch and would have loved to be there for the fan intensity.  But let's not forget the Butler Bulldogs!!  For a so-called mid-major, they did all of those mids proud!  Very well coached team; play with unbelievable intensity from tip-off to the last shot.  Should go down as one of the best FF Championship games.  And I've seen 42 of them!

Apr 5, 2010

isn't opening day something special?

We've endured months of snow; record breaking cloudy-sunless days; a 5-11 football season; a VERY long regular NBA season (still not done); but now summer is here!!  Tribe and others open the MLB season today and everyone of importance is tied for first place!  All is well for now and please make the call:   "PLAY BALL!!"  Let's go Tribe!!!

Apr 1, 2010

wouldn't you want to play Commissioner of Baseball? Part IV

Now this one is a no-brainer (kinda fits with Selig-huh!) get rid of the All-Star Game winner getting World Series Home Games!  For crying out loud Bud (I forgot, there is no crying in baseball, but..) the All-Star Game is an EXHIBITION GAME!!!!  Do you see the NFL having the preceding year's Pro-Bowl say who gets the Super Bowl?  Ahhhh....NO!  How about the NBA's All-Star Game love fest??? Ahhhhh....NO AGAIN!! Then why is MLB so STUPID to have an important league event (World Series home field) possibly determined by someone representing a team that has been out of the race since opening day (yeah, I could be looking at my young Wahoos!!)?  As much as I don't, or didn't like the home team being alternated every other year, at least that had nothing to do with a made up challenge.  Go back to 1971, Pete Rose v. Ray Fosse.  What if (then it was a BIG WHAT IF) the Tribe was in contention for the WS and because Charlie Hustle took out Fosse and the NL won, home field would have been Cincy and, and w/o the injured Tribe backstop.  Bud, you care about the game, I know I hear your passion on the Mike and Mike Show, but maybe it is time to go back to selling cars.  Either go back to the old way, or find a new way to determine home team, but whatever it will be, it has to be better than attaching it to a meaningless mid-summer game.