My Favorite Teams

People always seem to have their differences.

I always wonder why some individuals can not get along with others when it comes to certain topics. No, I'm not talking about the War in Iraq or abortion....I'm talking about PRACTICE! (always wanted to say that)

Why do some people like some teams while others prefer their rivals?

For some, favorite teams are passed down the family tree. Maybe your grandfather was a Brooklyn Dodger fan and the trend carried down to you. For me, it all revolved around cable television. My father preferred the Yankees but didn't hold a strong allegiance to them or the
Muts. While he did take my brother and I to a game every now and then, most of my exposure to the greatest franchise in professional sports (I know that pissed off some loyal readers) came via television.

In the 1980s, the NY(A) was the only baseball team on basic cable 162 times a year. If I couldn't catch the Scooter on WPIX waxing poetic about cannolis, I could always see Al Trautwig and friends on MSG. BTW, anyone seen Al Trautwig recently? I think he's with Russ Salzberg in the witness protection program or something. Since we didn't have Sportschannel because the bill was too high with Showtime, Playboy Channel, and basic cable, I found idols in Don Mattingly, Alvaro Espinoza, and Andy Hawkins.

Well, 1 of 3 ain't bad.

The same thing is true for my favorite NBA team (the Knicks). Always on MSG....Nets were always on Sportschannel with the Muts and the Devils. Despite the laughable job the current coach/GM is doing to the franchise, I've remained loyal to the team.

Lastly, the Giants became my favorite NFL team because they were the dominant football team when I was a kid. Everyone loved the passion LT had on the field when he was pounding quarterbacks (but not necessarily off the field when he was pounding lines of coke).

Some observations from the Yankees/Mets series:

• Jose Reyes is the most dangerous lead-off hitter in baseball. If you walk the guy, it's almost like you're conceding a run. The guy gets to 2nd base faster than Mike Nifong heads to the post office to apply for the South Carolina bar exam.


• The Muts starting pitching isn't on the right track. I don't know if El Duque or even Tom Glavine sends shivers into any opponent's lineup. Yes, the Yankees don't have a Cy Young candidate, but they're finally getting healthy and pitching strong enough to win game. Unless Pedro comes back at 85 % of what he was, NY(N) is going to go only as far as its offense can carry it. The Muts have an ERA over 8.00 over the past 8 games. Fortunately for the Muts, the NL is a joke (see 90-77 advantage for the AL this season) and that bodes well for their postseason hopes.


• Bobby Abreu is playing to his potential. I thought the New York spotlight might have been too much for Abreu, but he's hitting .400 with 12 RBI for the past 2 weeks.

Well, I wanted to boost my comment count....I'm sure this blog will definitely help.

Where Are They Now?

As I sit here out of commission for the second straight day with flu-like symptoms that caused me to miss out on the Live concert last night that I was SO looking forward to attending, I figured I would add to Mr. Blog.










This is one of my favorite times of year. Work is coming to an end for the summer. That's great because I get a chance to recover from the 10 month strain that is educating young minds. I worked for a major financial services provider for 5 years and this job makes that one look like child's play. People rip my profession all the time (summers off, pension, benefits, etc), but you have no idea what it entails until you try it out for a year. I know I just got Joe Pendleton a little fired up. Time to get off my soapbox.








Since I last blogged, which seems like decades ago, I made a trip to Baltimore and toured Camden Yards. Truly a beautiful ballpark. I also had the chance to head into the dugout and check out the field. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to talk gyros with Nick Markakis.





I also attended the wedding of LocalShill. Many people thought there would be a better chance of the Palestinians and Israelis of uniting or bin Laden jumpstarting a second Hands Across America than this unification occurring, but the unthinkable did happen. It was a very nice affair, highlighted by a rabbi making some ethnic slurs and a slew of dignitaries in attendance including Squawking VFR, The Sandman, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pendleton, Jersey Girl, the Girlfriend E, EAB, LocalShill (of course....but even that was in doubt until the start of the ceremony), Mr. Henn, and the Colonel.





















As I read this list, I wonder if it was a wedding or more a game of Clue.


Which begs the question...what ever happened to Tim Curry? Did he move to India? The guy has made more crap that I've never heard of the past decade.



Other actors whose mugs should appear on the side of milk cartons:

• Chevy Chase: How do you go from being one of the funniest actors of all time to not even making this kid laugh?
  





• MC Hammer: He had the BIGGEST song in the early 1990s with "You Can't Touch This", now no one wants to touch this guy. While strolling through New Brunswick, I think I saw him in line for food stamps. Baby's gotta eat!

• David Lee Roth: Yeah, he had that AWFUL radio show, but did he need the job? What do you do if you're an unemployed washed up rock sing who was a colassal disaster in the talk radio format? It's not that I feel bad for the guy, but who in this world looks at DRL and says, "YES! I need to hire him to (fill in the blank)."



• Dan Quayle: Ok, this is a bit random and he was assumed missing even when he was the VP of the United States. We haven't heard a thing from Mr. Potatoe in 2 decades. This might not be a bad thing. If he dies, does the AP even report the story?

• The Lord: He did all of these great things...made the Earth, created people, made day/night, built the Yankees, etc. and then what happened? He just left? Is the Lord even a He? Was Jesus really his representative? Stop by and visit. I'd be more than happy to have the Lord over for some chicken and rice. Don't like chicken and rice? Well, we can talk to the Sandman and he can provide alternate eating choices for Our Savior. Gennaros? Jade Garden? Hot Wok?
  

My Sopranos prediction: Paulie turns to be a backstabber and gets Tony knocked off and tries to take hold of the NJ mafia. Tony shoulda pushed him off the boat!

Anyone have the cure to a sore throat (other than rinsing with saltwater)?