For those of you that don't follow professional baseball very closely, or for those of you that do, but were away from your tv's, or laptops within the last 48 hours.....Albert Pujols is no longer a St. Louis Cardinal. Yeah, it's for real. He has packed up shop and headed out west. Next spring, Albert will be putting on a new jersey, for the first time in his professional career.....11 years. And it will read Angels across the chest. As in Anaheim Angels.....or California Angels....or Angels of Anaheim, via Los Angeles, or whatever they are called these days. It's pretty interesting that the team that was able to lure Albert away from St. Louis, most closely resembles St. Louis, in the way that they play ball, right down to the way they are coached. I also find it interesting that the team mascot is the Angel, or Angels.
Interesting because, that's what Albert has pretty much been....as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals for 11 years. Since he has been a professional athlete and been thrust into the spotlight, courtesy of his athletic prowess, and pennance for hitting home runs, he has not once been in trouble with the law. Nor, has any member of his entourage (he doesn't have one), been arrested for beating a stripper, or running over a metermaid with their car...or what have you. He instead turned much of what I would assume would be nervous energy, in anticipating opening day of the next season, and used that energy to bring a boat load of doctors and dentists, with him to the Dominican Republic, where he is from, so they could help people there in need of medical attention, at no cost to them. He has supplied thousands of Dominicans with mattresses, paid for out of his pocket. He has donated millions of dollars, and spent several hours of his own time and energy, raising money for research and care for children with downs syndrome. His stepdaughter, has downs sydrome.
For 11 years, an Angel, is pretty much the right word to describe Pujols...as far as how he has behaved himself, and conducted himself while being a St. Louis Cardinal. So, I'm not sad. Disappointed a little, but not sad. I say that now, of course. But my opinion may change, when next spring, ESPN is doing full coverage from Anaheim on opening day and Pujols cranks out 3 home runs in his first game as an Angel. But, then I'll think.....yeah, that's about right. Good luck to you Albert. You brought us some unbelivable moments, and a couple of championships. I can't think of a better place that could use your Angelic services, than L.A.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
It's over....turn out the lights....shut it down...we'll see you next year.
Yep, that's right. Your favorite little fantasy football team, the Alley Cats.....are officially done. A heartbreaking loss, I repeat....a heartbreaking loss, this past week, has officially eliminated the Alley Cats from playoff contention. I knew we were in trouble going into Monday night, but remained optimistic. We were down to one player remaining for the Monday night game, Drew Brees. The score was 94-137, in favor of Da Bears, the team the Cats were playing last week. Da Bears only had one remaining player going on Monday night as well, but it was a receiver for the New York Giants, Victor Cruz. Now, just a little back info on Victor Cruz. He's a bum! I shouldn't say that.....but, he literally has come out of no where this year, and has had himself a fine little season. He's a boom or bust guy though. He will get about 120 yards receiving from 8 catches, with one of them being a touchdown....or he'll get you 12 yards on 1 catch. I was hoping for the latter. Brees and the Saints came out on fire! And within just a few minutes, I was right back into the game...and in the third quarter, I took the lead! Now, at this point I went to bed with a good, solid 15 point lead.
Well, apparently sometime between the time of my head hitting the pillow, and the time my alarm clock sounded the following morning....Victor Cruz caught himself a 75 yard touchdown pass!! Game over, season over......ugggghhhhh. I still needed quite a little bit of help, to get into the playoffs. I needed the team that has a firm grasp on the number 4 seed, to lose the last two games on their schedule. Not impossible, but not likely, all the same. So, now I have absolutely nothing to do on Sunday afternoons. My winter is shot. I would just watch the games, for the fun of it...but my favorite team, the St. Louis Rams are having themselves a worse season than the Alley Cats. They have only won 2 games so far this year, and aren't looking like they can go on any winning streaks any time soon. So, I got nothing. Only 2 and a half months before players start reporting for spring training!!
Well, apparently sometime between the time of my head hitting the pillow, and the time my alarm clock sounded the following morning....Victor Cruz caught himself a 75 yard touchdown pass!! Game over, season over......ugggghhhhh. I still needed quite a little bit of help, to get into the playoffs. I needed the team that has a firm grasp on the number 4 seed, to lose the last two games on their schedule. Not impossible, but not likely, all the same. So, now I have absolutely nothing to do on Sunday afternoons. My winter is shot. I would just watch the games, for the fun of it...but my favorite team, the St. Louis Rams are having themselves a worse season than the Alley Cats. They have only won 2 games so far this year, and aren't looking like they can go on any winning streaks any time soon. So, I got nothing. Only 2 and a half months before players start reporting for spring training!!
Why are people too scared to play their human card?
On the heels of the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky, child abuse scandal, another shocking story broke last week....about an assistant basketball coach at the university of Syracuse, and a couple of children who were ball boys for the basketball team. The main difference in the two stories, is that there isn't an eye witness testimony, as far as the assistant basketball coach, who's name is Bernie Fine, and the two children he has allegedly assaulted. There isn't that person, who has witnessed the transgression, the horrible act, with their own eyes. For the better part of last week, and the beginning part of this week, it was a, he said-she said case. Or rather, a he said-he said case. I'm not going to get into whether or not I think Bernie Fine is guilty of these allegations. The accuser, Bobby Davis, is accusing Fine sexually assaulted him from the age of 13, up until he was 27 years old. I don't know we'll ever know the truth about what happened between, Fine and Davis. Other reports, have surfaced recently, that have linked Davis, sexually with Fine's wife. It appears as though, there was some sort of sordid love triangle between the three. There are also reports, that Fine had loaned Davis over 5,000 dollars and was attempting to collect on that debt, and that's what spurred these allegations.
I'm not a detective. I don't play one on tv. I will let the authorities sort out all the details, and trust in them to arrest all guilty parties. The one thing that is somewhat similar in this case, and the Sandusky scandal at Penn State....is that there, once again, seems to be a let down in the moral code. A lack of humanism if you will. Apparently Davis, recorded a phone call between he, and Fine's wife. The dialogue coming from Fine's wife, would have you believe that she in fact, knew of the assaults, and had suspected for quite some time, that her husband was a child molester. Davis, then took copies of the recording and mailed them to ESPN, and to the Syracuse newspaper, the Post-Standard. From there, there was no action taken by either party. Now, so far, there have been no new accounts of Fine violating any more children after the telephone conversation recording between Davis, and Fine's wife. That being said, why on earth didn't ESPN, or the Post-Standard turn in this recording to the authorities!? If someone gave you a tape of a conversation, and one of the two parties involved in the conversation stated that they were going to kill someone, wouldn't you tell somebody, so that they could stop it? ESPN is bigger than any, and I mean ANY media outlet, they are owned by Disney, who has built their empire, to pretty much entertain children and their families. Who are they scared of? Why were they trying to protect Fine, and Syracuse?
It basically comes down to the fact that people these days, are scared to do what they know, down in their heart of hearts is the right thing to do. People would rather turn a blind eye, and pretend they didn't see anything, than risk personal harm, or any other damage....to help someone else. When asked why they didn't turn in the tape to the authorities, Vince Doria, who is the head of ESPN news, stated on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio sports channel, that he doesn't think it's ESPN's role to play detective and turn in evidence to the police. He stated that as journalists, it isn't their job to turn over any evidence that happens to come their way. Well Vince, what if it had been your child? What if it had been your child that had been assaulted, and it could have been prevented, had someone done what was the morally right thing to do, and that's turn over everything they had, to stop a predator! Be a human being!
I'm not a detective. I don't play one on tv. I will let the authorities sort out all the details, and trust in them to arrest all guilty parties. The one thing that is somewhat similar in this case, and the Sandusky scandal at Penn State....is that there, once again, seems to be a let down in the moral code. A lack of humanism if you will. Apparently Davis, recorded a phone call between he, and Fine's wife. The dialogue coming from Fine's wife, would have you believe that she in fact, knew of the assaults, and had suspected for quite some time, that her husband was a child molester. Davis, then took copies of the recording and mailed them to ESPN, and to the Syracuse newspaper, the Post-Standard. From there, there was no action taken by either party. Now, so far, there have been no new accounts of Fine violating any more children after the telephone conversation recording between Davis, and Fine's wife. That being said, why on earth didn't ESPN, or the Post-Standard turn in this recording to the authorities!? If someone gave you a tape of a conversation, and one of the two parties involved in the conversation stated that they were going to kill someone, wouldn't you tell somebody, so that they could stop it? ESPN is bigger than any, and I mean ANY media outlet, they are owned by Disney, who has built their empire, to pretty much entertain children and their families. Who are they scared of? Why were they trying to protect Fine, and Syracuse?
It basically comes down to the fact that people these days, are scared to do what they know, down in their heart of hearts is the right thing to do. People would rather turn a blind eye, and pretend they didn't see anything, than risk personal harm, or any other damage....to help someone else. When asked why they didn't turn in the tape to the authorities, Vince Doria, who is the head of ESPN news, stated on Sirius XM's Mad Dog Radio sports channel, that he doesn't think it's ESPN's role to play detective and turn in evidence to the police. He stated that as journalists, it isn't their job to turn over any evidence that happens to come their way. Well Vince, what if it had been your child? What if it had been your child that had been assaulted, and it could have been prevented, had someone done what was the morally right thing to do, and that's turn over everything they had, to stop a predator! Be a human being!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving
Well, I don't know if it was because my expectations were so low, for this holiday.....or if I had just accepted the fact that it was going to be a long day, so I may as well try to make the best of it. But, I have to say...this past Thanksgiving was one of the best I've had in recent memory. We made it out to my Dad's house around 1 pm. And as usual, had to wait for a few family members to get there, for about half an hour. Once everyone had arrived, we dug in. Now, at my Dad's house on Thanksgiving, there is the usual holiday fare....turkey, ham, green bean casserole, hot rolls, etc. Most people usually have mashed potatoes, and some variety of gravy. Here is where my Dad's house is different. My stepmother always makes noodles. Frozen noodles, that are bland in flavor, lacks any seasoning of any kind, and are about as tasteful as paper. That's what is supposed to be used as gravy. I hate the noodles! However, I eat them to be nice to her. Once we had dinner, and desert. We left my Dad's after a few hours, and headed back to our house.
For some reason, we thought it would be a great idea, to invite a few friends over to my wife and I's house, for a Thanksgiving late night dinner. It actually turned out to be a huge success. My wife had a friend and her family show up, I had a friend and his family show up.....everyone got a long great, and got stuffed...some for the third time that day. The adults had a few adult beverages, everyone's kids got along great and played....it was actually a really good time. Again, I don't know if it was because my expectations were low...but I really enjoyed everyone's company and had a great time. So maybe I'll use this as a lesson, going forward with the holidays. Or, maybe not........
For some reason, we thought it would be a great idea, to invite a few friends over to my wife and I's house, for a Thanksgiving late night dinner. It actually turned out to be a huge success. My wife had a friend and her family show up, I had a friend and his family show up.....everyone got a long great, and got stuffed...some for the third time that day. The adults had a few adult beverages, everyone's kids got along great and played....it was actually a really good time. Again, I don't know if it was because my expectations were low...but I really enjoyed everyone's company and had a great time. So maybe I'll use this as a lesson, going forward with the holidays. Or, maybe not........
Friday, November 18, 2011
Black Friday.
It's funny, when you think about it. All I said in the title section of the header for this blog, was two words. Yet, I'm sure all of you know exactly what I'm referencing....moreover you were probably flooded with all sorts of emotions about this day. Black Friday. A more suitable name, there could not be. The day after Thanksgiving, some 152 million shoppers will hit retail stores across the U.S. That's not counting all the people who decide not to get up at 3 in the am, but rather do their shopping from the comfort of their computer at home. 152 million shoppers! Black Friday. Such a dark nickname, for the opening day of the holiday shopping season. How did it get that nickname you ask? Well, the nickname actually goes back to the year 1975. Apparently some officers from the Philadelphia police force, coined the nickname because of the massive traffic mess it created in their city.
The day after Thanksgiving certainly isn't black for the retail stores, that are brave enough to open their doors to the public at 3-4 am. Most retailers cash in on Black Friday. In 2009, Americans spent over $10.66 billion dollars on Black Friday. Several retailers don't actually turn a profit on the year, until Black Friday. It used to be common practice, for most retailers to give their employees the day off, the day after Thanksgiving. Especially if they had to work on Thanksgiving. With the rate that people are spending money on Black Friday, the stores have responded by running their best deals of the year. As a result, it's all hands on deck for most retail shops.
You can imagine, with the increased traffic flow to some of these stores....and the limited space some stores have to deal with....it can be pretty crazy, and dangerous even, in some stores. As a matter of fact, there have been so many injuries, and deaths, that if you google Black Friday injuries, you'll have several sites dedicated to just that. Some sites have even ranked the most gruesome stories. Although, it is hard to deny some of the sales at these retail stores, the day after Thanksgiving....I think I'll do what the other half of America does, as far as holiday shopping. Which is wait until the week of Christmas to get it done. I like my sleep.
The day after Thanksgiving certainly isn't black for the retail stores, that are brave enough to open their doors to the public at 3-4 am. Most retailers cash in on Black Friday. In 2009, Americans spent over $10.66 billion dollars on Black Friday. Several retailers don't actually turn a profit on the year, until Black Friday. It used to be common practice, for most retailers to give their employees the day off, the day after Thanksgiving. Especially if they had to work on Thanksgiving. With the rate that people are spending money on Black Friday, the stores have responded by running their best deals of the year. As a result, it's all hands on deck for most retail shops.
You can imagine, with the increased traffic flow to some of these stores....and the limited space some stores have to deal with....it can be pretty crazy, and dangerous even, in some stores. As a matter of fact, there have been so many injuries, and deaths, that if you google Black Friday injuries, you'll have several sites dedicated to just that. Some sites have even ranked the most gruesome stories. Although, it is hard to deny some of the sales at these retail stores, the day after Thanksgiving....I think I'll do what the other half of America does, as far as holiday shopping. Which is wait until the week of Christmas to get it done. I like my sleep.
It's that time of year!!
In less than a week, most of you will be with various family members...hopefully enjoying each others company, and indulging in a massive amount of food. I'll be completely honest, up until I got married....I really enjoyed Thanksgiving. Now, we have to have the conversation (argument), about where we're going to go? How long are we going to be there? What are we going to take? What are we going to do afterwards? It's a production. I almost miss the days when I had to work on Thanksgiving. Which is sad, because the holidays are supposed to be about enjoying each others company, getting away from the grind....and just taking a break from it all. I don't know about you people, but I now dread the holidays. I tell you what my dream scenario would be, as far as how the holiday season should go. Wake up on Thanksgiving day, around 10:30 in the am. Have a quick breakfast...nothing heavy...maybe some toast. Then take a shower and get dressed, because company will be coming to our house for dinner around noon. I greet several members of our family, and take their jackets as they arrive. We have a bountiful dinner and watch some football. Then everyone promptly leaves, around 1:30 pm, and I take an hour nap. Keep in mind, all the while my wife is doing cleanup duty, and watching the kids. After the nap, I give my wife a hand with the rest of the cleanup, make myself a snack, and play outside with the kids. Because, the temperature is a beautiful 72 degrees, on this Thanksgiving day. Then around 8:00 pm, my wife puts the kids down for the night, and we have some friends show up, for a modest Thanksgiving dinner. We visit, maybe play some marbles, and have a few cocktails. Then our friends find their way to the door around 10:00 pm, and I play XBOX until midnight. My wife has been in bed for about an hour at this point....so that way, she can watch whatever she likes in the bedroom and I don't have to hear her complain about what I'm doing in the living room. Then a little after midnight, after I have done all I need to do to get myself ready for bed, I turn it in for the night.
Now, is that so bad to ask for? Sadly, here's how I see it all playing out. I wake up Thanksgiving day, around 6:00 in the am. I get the baby dressed, diaper changed, and feed him. My wife is on toddler duty, she gets him dressed and breakfast made. This brings us up to about 8:00 am. Now, I have to hear my stepson wine about being bored, so I suggest he goes outside to play. He does. I am still on baby duty, while my wife makes whatever dish she has settled on, to bring to her Grandmother's house in Neosho. The Grandmother who lives on a farm, and has a gravel drive up to her house, that is half mountain, half volcano. Which is pretty much a flat tire waiting to happen, but whatever....I would rather go there, than listen to my wife gripe. My wife finally finishes up around 11:00 am, and we get the kids together and leave our house in Carl Junction. We make it to the farm around 11:45 am. The toddler gets out and starts to play with his cousins, who have been there for about an hour already. They have been there early, because they live in Neosho, and got the message from the host about being there early. We did not. So after everyone gets settled and introductions/greetings have been completed it's about 1:00 pm. We sit down, wherever we can find a spot and eat. After dinner, it's about 2:00 pm. I have to listen to my wifes family complain about whatever situation, they are dealing with now....health, kids, job, take your pick. I do my best to engage them. Finally around 3:30 pm, we head back to our house. I have a massive headache. We get home, I take some Tylenol. It's about 4:15 pm. We have invited some friends over, much to my dismay. They show up and we have a small early dinner. Just enough to keep the bloat going. They are annoyed with the stepson, who is bouncing off the walls because since he's been up he's been on a steady diet of sweets and soda. All of our friends also don't have any kids he can play with that are his age, so he thinks it's a good idea to entertain our guests. His act gets old, now I am forced with a decision to make. Do I crack down on his behavior, or let him get all this energy out of his system, to the chagrin of our guests? I choose the latter, because I don't want to argue with my wife.
After this dog and pony show gets over, it's about 7:00 pm. At this point, I am shot. I do my best to help my wife with kid duty, and cleanup duty. Our guests have been gone for about an hour, and I don't foresee them coming back anytime soon. We clean up the house until we run out of energy, and then turn it in after we put the kids to bed. Kids in bed by 8:30 pm. Us about 9:30 pm.
Good times, good times.
Then comes Black Friday, and that's a whole other story in itself.
Now, is that so bad to ask for? Sadly, here's how I see it all playing out. I wake up Thanksgiving day, around 6:00 in the am. I get the baby dressed, diaper changed, and feed him. My wife is on toddler duty, she gets him dressed and breakfast made. This brings us up to about 8:00 am. Now, I have to hear my stepson wine about being bored, so I suggest he goes outside to play. He does. I am still on baby duty, while my wife makes whatever dish she has settled on, to bring to her Grandmother's house in Neosho. The Grandmother who lives on a farm, and has a gravel drive up to her house, that is half mountain, half volcano. Which is pretty much a flat tire waiting to happen, but whatever....I would rather go there, than listen to my wife gripe. My wife finally finishes up around 11:00 am, and we get the kids together and leave our house in Carl Junction. We make it to the farm around 11:45 am. The toddler gets out and starts to play with his cousins, who have been there for about an hour already. They have been there early, because they live in Neosho, and got the message from the host about being there early. We did not. So after everyone gets settled and introductions/greetings have been completed it's about 1:00 pm. We sit down, wherever we can find a spot and eat. After dinner, it's about 2:00 pm. I have to listen to my wifes family complain about whatever situation, they are dealing with now....health, kids, job, take your pick. I do my best to engage them. Finally around 3:30 pm, we head back to our house. I have a massive headache. We get home, I take some Tylenol. It's about 4:15 pm. We have invited some friends over, much to my dismay. They show up and we have a small early dinner. Just enough to keep the bloat going. They are annoyed with the stepson, who is bouncing off the walls because since he's been up he's been on a steady diet of sweets and soda. All of our friends also don't have any kids he can play with that are his age, so he thinks it's a good idea to entertain our guests. His act gets old, now I am forced with a decision to make. Do I crack down on his behavior, or let him get all this energy out of his system, to the chagrin of our guests? I choose the latter, because I don't want to argue with my wife.
After this dog and pony show gets over, it's about 7:00 pm. At this point, I am shot. I do my best to help my wife with kid duty, and cleanup duty. Our guests have been gone for about an hour, and I don't foresee them coming back anytime soon. We clean up the house until we run out of energy, and then turn it in after we put the kids to bed. Kids in bed by 8:30 pm. Us about 9:30 pm.
Good times, good times.
Then comes Black Friday, and that's a whole other story in itself.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Alley Cat update
Yep, it's that time! To find out how your fellow classmates fantasy football team is faring, in this unpredictable NFL season! Well, the Alley Cats are 4-5 and are sitting in 6th place. We had a devastating loss a couple of weeks ago, to the division leader....The Cork Soakers. But it's alright...we are looking towards the future! Specifically the final playoff spot. With around 4 weeks left in the fantasy season, the Cats are down...but not out! We are closer to out, than down now however. After the abysmal showing by Vincent Jackson last night against the Raiders. His quarterback, Philip Rivers was partly to blame, but Jackson was having trouble getting open against a Raiders team that is susceptible against the pass. Long story short, I got a pathetic 2.20 points from Vincent. Not good. I am playing a team by the name of Gator Nation this week, who is in 3rd place.
The good news is that after one game I have a lead against him. The bad news is that it's not even a 3 point lead. But, as I said....we are down but not out! Other members of the Cats are just going to have to pick up the slack, because I am NOT missing the playoffs this year. Consequently, if I did, it would mark the first year of the Cats not making the playoffs. So, lets just go ahead and keep the streak of winning and making the playoffs going. What do you say!? That's really all I got...have a good weekend everybody!
The good news is that after one game I have a lead against him. The bad news is that it's not even a 3 point lead. But, as I said....we are down but not out! Other members of the Cats are just going to have to pick up the slack, because I am NOT missing the playoffs this year. Consequently, if I did, it would mark the first year of the Cats not making the playoffs. So, lets just go ahead and keep the streak of winning and making the playoffs going. What do you say!? That's really all I got...have a good weekend everybody!
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