BREAKING NEWS: The Crew is apparently going to make a move toward sandlot baseball next season.
Or maybe they're just replacing the outfield grass...
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Sandlot?
BREAKING NEWS: The Crew is apparently going to make a move toward sandlot baseball next season.
Or maybe they're just replacing the outfield grass...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
OK...
I know I have not posted a blog in a LONG time now, and lots has happened (for example, The Crew getting into and being expelled from the MLB Playoffs), and I've been busy moving and such. And to be honest, I don't think I'm going to continue this particular blog.
*However* there's something that continues to bug the hell out of me, and I feel the need to address it. I'm not even going to get into the hypocrisy that is the Ayers connection when Obama and Ayers simply served on the same charitable education board (one put together by a Republican, one that included other Republicans, and one that some of McCain's own donors and advisors participated in).
Republicans and McCain advisors and pundits keep stating that Barack Obama's political career was started in Bill Ayers' living room. Anyone who has followed any of Obama's career knows that Ayers was not even close to influential in Obama's ascension into and within Chicago/Illinois politics (and neither was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright for that matter).
When Barack Obama was a community organizer on the south side of Chicago, Obama made contacts with numerous black political leaders (most of whom are far more prominent personalities than Ayers, who is rarely in the news and is pretty much a behind-the-scenes school reformer these days). Obama made contacts with Emil Jones, who has been a prominent politician in Chicago since the 70s and who basically took Obama under his wing. Once Obama was elected to the state Senate, Jones (who is President of the Illinois Senate) made sure Obama was involved in a hands-on way in many pieces of legislation and also encouraged him to seek out his own legislation in a variety of areas. Obama's connection to Jones is FAR more responsible for Obama's political access and rise than Ayers has ever been. The same goes for Mayor Richard Daley (who Senator Obama met when his wife was working in Daley's city government), who in many ways is the most powerful political figure in the state. Daley's decisions often have far more influence than Governor Rod Blagojevich's. Ayers is not nearly as relevant to the political scene in Chicago as the others Obama has aligned himself with over the years. McCain, Palin and their "people" keep saying they want answers. The answers are there and have been for years. The whole thing is ridiculous and I hope that the majority of Americans who are actually capable of thinking for themselves can see this.
Rant Over.
*However* there's something that continues to bug the hell out of me, and I feel the need to address it. I'm not even going to get into the hypocrisy that is the Ayers connection when Obama and Ayers simply served on the same charitable education board (one put together by a Republican, one that included other Republicans, and one that some of McCain's own donors and advisors participated in).
Republicans and McCain advisors and pundits keep stating that Barack Obama's political career was started in Bill Ayers' living room. Anyone who has followed any of Obama's career knows that Ayers was not even close to influential in Obama's ascension into and within Chicago/Illinois politics (and neither was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright for that matter).
When Barack Obama was a community organizer on the south side of Chicago, Obama made contacts with numerous black political leaders (most of whom are far more prominent personalities than Ayers, who is rarely in the news and is pretty much a behind-the-scenes school reformer these days). Obama made contacts with Emil Jones, who has been a prominent politician in Chicago since the 70s and who basically took Obama under his wing. Once Obama was elected to the state Senate, Jones (who is President of the Illinois Senate) made sure Obama was involved in a hands-on way in many pieces of legislation and also encouraged him to seek out his own legislation in a variety of areas. Obama's connection to Jones is FAR more responsible for Obama's political access and rise than Ayers has ever been. The same goes for Mayor Richard Daley (who Senator Obama met when his wife was working in Daley's city government), who in many ways is the most powerful political figure in the state. Daley's decisions often have far more influence than Governor Rod Blagojevich's. Ayers is not nearly as relevant to the political scene in Chicago as the others Obama has aligned himself with over the years. McCain, Palin and their "people" keep saying they want answers. The answers are there and have been for years. The whole thing is ridiculous and I hope that the majority of Americans who are actually capable of thinking for themselves can see this.
Rant Over.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Not since 1992...
...has The Crew been 21 games over .500. The Crew completed a 3-game weekend sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a win in 13 innings yesterday afternoon at Miller Park (in front of yours truly). Guillermo Mota (pictured) came in with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the 13th and got out of the jam by allowing no runs. For as much as the guy's been maligned this season, good to see him come through. Mike Cameron was 5 for 5 for The Crew, and JJ Hardy picked up the game-winning hit on his bobblehead day, plating Rickie Weeks with a single in the bottom of the 13th. The Crew now sits at 76-55, 4.5 games behind the Cubs for the division lead, and 3.5 games ahead of the Cards in the National League Wild Card standings. The Crew has the fourth best record in all of baseball at the moment. Onward and upward, Crew!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Bernie Mac (1957-2008)
RIP... I'm not sure it got any funnier. He not only helped make movies like the Ocean's trilogy, and Bad Santa, he made movies like Head of State and Mr. 3000 worth watching. The Bernie Mac Show, though short-lived, was one of my favorites as well.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Favre v. The Pack
Here's an opinion that is likely to be unpopular, given the general backlash to B. Favre I've encountered in various circles. It's Brett Favre, for Christ's sake! If he wants to play for The Pack this season, it's beyond me why he wasn't welcomed with open arms. I understand The Pack's thinking about moving on, but does anyone really think they're going to be as good with Aaron Rodgers as they were (and could be) with B. Favre under Center? I also understand that it could be hard to take Favre seriously after the tearful press conference a few months back. But once again, we're talking about Brett-friggin-Favre! The moment he expressed an interest in playing, The Pack should've been all over it. Could you honestly start A-Rodg over a pro-bowler with the longest active starting streak in NFL history?
Mike McCarthy says Favre wasn't in the right frame of mind to play for The Pack, and Favre himself says he couldn't put aside the issues he was having with team management. What I'd love to know is how the players feel about it all - unfortunately, we'll probably never know the truth (or at least not for a number of years). This isn't Steve Young replacing Joe Montana. This is an unproven, injury-prone Aaron Rodgers stepping in to lead The Pack. If it's true that the reports by Ted Thompson that Favre turned them down in March were an embellishment, then that (among many other things) makes this a PR nightmare for The Pack for years to come - particularly if they struggle with the start of the "A-Rodg" era.
As for Favre, many Packer fans have turned on him, calling him anything from a selfish prima donna to a "traitor." To that, I say get over yourselves! All this nonsense about Favre "owing" it to the fans not to play for anyone else is just that - nonsense. For one, he's already played for another team. He started his career with the Falcons. For another, does anyone remember Reggie White with the Panthers? Is anyone going to remember MJ with the Washington Wizards as opposed to the Bulls? I think not. Favre's place in Packer lore should be solid pretty much no matter what he does the rest of his life (absent him becoming a mass murderer or something along those lines). Odds at this point are that if B. Favre plays again, it's going to be for another team. So what? You can still cheer for the Packers (and A-Rodg) against whatever team B. Favre plays for. It doesn't mean you have to disown the man himself. And if you do, you never were much of a fan in the first place. Are people just pissed because they all blew a grand on B. Favre retirement memorabilia? Seriously. He put The Pack back on the map, and no matter what he does from here on out, cut the guy some slack. He just wants to play football.
Rant over.
UPDATE: Foxsports.com is reporting that B. Favre has been traded to the Jets.
Mike McCarthy says Favre wasn't in the right frame of mind to play for The Pack, and Favre himself says he couldn't put aside the issues he was having with team management. What I'd love to know is how the players feel about it all - unfortunately, we'll probably never know the truth (or at least not for a number of years). This isn't Steve Young replacing Joe Montana. This is an unproven, injury-prone Aaron Rodgers stepping in to lead The Pack. If it's true that the reports by Ted Thompson that Favre turned them down in March were an embellishment, then that (among many other things) makes this a PR nightmare for The Pack for years to come - particularly if they struggle with the start of the "A-Rodg" era.
As for Favre, many Packer fans have turned on him, calling him anything from a selfish prima donna to a "traitor." To that, I say get over yourselves! All this nonsense about Favre "owing" it to the fans not to play for anyone else is just that - nonsense. For one, he's already played for another team. He started his career with the Falcons. For another, does anyone remember Reggie White with the Panthers? Is anyone going to remember MJ with the Washington Wizards as opposed to the Bulls? I think not. Favre's place in Packer lore should be solid pretty much no matter what he does the rest of his life (absent him becoming a mass murderer or something along those lines). Odds at this point are that if B. Favre plays again, it's going to be for another team. So what? You can still cheer for the Packers (and A-Rodg) against whatever team B. Favre plays for. It doesn't mean you have to disown the man himself. And if you do, you never were much of a fan in the first place. Are people just pissed because they all blew a grand on B. Favre retirement memorabilia? Seriously. He put The Pack back on the map, and no matter what he does from here on out, cut the guy some slack. He just wants to play football.
Rant over.
UPDATE: Foxsports.com is reporting that B. Favre has been traded to the Jets.
Catching up with The Crew
Since last I wrote (the day The Crew pulled even with the Cubbies), The Crew proceeded to lose a home series to the Astros and get swept by the Cubs at Miller Park. After back-to-back series wins on the road against the Braves and Reds, The Crew is back to 5 games out of first place, and still ahead (by 1/2 game) in the Wild Card standings. One thing we've learned: the Cubs are good. They're really good this year. It's not out of the question that The Crew could catch them, but perhaps the local MKE baseballers should focus on the Wild Card. Aiming for the Cubbies the rest of the way would certainly help though in solidifying The Crew as Wild Card leaders. We'll see how it shakes out over the final 6-7 weeks.
SIDE NOTE: Rickie Weeks was 4-5 today against the Reds, raising his average by about 10 points in a single game. Hopefully the addition of Ray Durham is helping to push Rickie (one of my favorite current Brewers) to perform a little more consistently on the field.
SIDE NOTE #2: Prince Fielder went after teammate Manny Parra the other night (I'll try to post a video if I can still find it). The Prince apologized, but apparently Manny isn't having much of it at this point. Word is Prince is the one guy Manny didn't high-five after today's game. We'll see if they can kiss and make up.
SIDE NOTE: Rickie Weeks was 4-5 today against the Reds, raising his average by about 10 points in a single game. Hopefully the addition of Ray Durham is helping to push Rickie (one of my favorite current Brewers) to perform a little more consistently on the field.
SIDE NOTE #2: Prince Fielder went after teammate Manny Parra the other night (I'll try to post a video if I can still find it). The Prince apologized, but apparently Manny isn't having much of it at this point. Word is Prince is the one guy Manny didn't high-five after today's game. We'll see if they can kiss and make up.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Pulling even...
Who woulda thunk it? The Crew has pulled even with the Cubbies in the NL Central. Check the standings if you don't believe me :) Another comeback win last night (and another Ryan Braun home run and clutch hit by Billy Hall). A win today would assure a series win against the Astros... and then the Cubbies head into MKE. GO CREW!!!
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