"Coulda Been a Contender...."

Good afternoon,

So, there I was last night, watching ESPN Tv, taking in the scenes of the great thing that is The World Baseball Classic. I've wondered about the American Championship Series of Baseball, and why it is called the "World Series", when no other baseball teams from around the world compete in it, nor do they compete in the regular season that leads to two teams making it to the top honor of the game within our country. Nothing against the World Series though, shoot, I watch it every year, even if my favorite team, The New York Yankees, decide to take a year off (err... I mean... uhh... this is difficult to say... even if the Yankees don't make it to the Series. Whew!... I sure don't want to say that too often *LOL) Anyhow, the game last night was between the United States vs. Mexico, for true international baseball (WOOHOO!), both teams fighting it out for advancement to the Semi-finals of the tournament, our "dream team" against their dream team. How cool is that? Take my word for it, it was pretty cool.

But what happened? Our team was eliminated from competition by Mexico, who won the game with a score of 2-1, a surprise win by an underrated underdog of a team, over a team who seemed to file into the ballpark with a swagger. Yes, us, our team was expected to run roughshod over the competition. Though when the game was over, and all was said and done, droopy faces abound amongst the players, disbelief shown by the shaking of heads in an emptying dugout and the stands, while the underdogs jumped, and cheered, and celebrated midfield. Sure, my love for the game had me feeling a sort of happiness for Team Mexico, who had been getting less than their fair share of respect from the world sporting press, even from the announcers of the game, but why are our guys once again winging their way home, while some other team is making their way to the championship? That's a question worth looking into before the next incarnation of the World Baseball Classic in a few years. Was it overconfidence by the big payroll stars on our team roster? Maybe. Was it the apparent "dream team curse" that has plagued U.S. sports in international competition? Probably. Was it half speed play that seems to take place when a team considers something to not amount to much more than an exhibition game? Possibly. Was it just the way the ball happened to drop, and it didn't drop in our favor? Definitely. With all of the talk of it being such a shame that we, the host country, and birthplace of baseball, didn't advance to the Semi-finals nor the Finals, I can't help but wonder where is the shame? Sure, I was disappointed that I wouldn't get to see Team USA vs. Japan in the Finals Championship, but those who have read anything I've ever written on here know how much I respect the notion of an athlete, or anyone for that matter, who would wear the colors of our country with the hope of representing this great nation of ours. I applaud their effort, and smile when I think I could now have a story to be able to tell my kids or grandkids in the distant future, as I don't yet have kids of my own, about how ol' gramps saw the very first World Baseball Classic. I sure hope they'll care to hear about such a story. As long as our team played their best, which I believe they did, then there is honor in that, regardless of the outcome of any game, so where's the shame I keep hearing mentioned in various publications? There's no shame in what our team attempted, they should all hold their heads held high, smile when they think of the opportunity and experiences gained, and marvel at the way the great sport of baseball has taken root in other parts of the world, even to the point of excellence. Such a thing is truly great.

Unfortunately, in an odd sidenote, there's a story about an umpire from our country seemed to relish in his ability to reverse proper calls on the field of play in a way that would prove to be suspiciously favorable to our team. The official first made a bad judgement by reversing a good and proper call made by another umpire, nearly sparking an international incident during the game between Team USA vs. Japan, later doing much the same when he reversed a proper call made by yet another umpire in the game between Team USA vs. Mexico, which cost Team Mexico a home run. I don't know what to say about that person, except for the fact that he did it with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders at the reaction from the crowd, who were cheering for their team of choice just moments before, until they united to give a resounding "BOOOO!". Thankfully, the notion of fair play is still alive and well, I was proud of my fellow Americans for recognizing a bad call when they see it, and not wanting to gain favor or win a game in such a way. Shoot, fair is fair in my opinion. Meanwhile, up in the press booth, the announcer had a rare opportunity to get a reaction from the Commissioner of Baseball himself, Bud Selig, at the exact moment of an unfolding controversy. Bud didn't have much to say, but facial expressions showed he wasn't exactly pleased, looking slightly uncomfortable about being put on the spot. If I could say anything to Bud, or to anyone in a decision making process in organized ball, I'd say get rid of this umpire, either he proved himself incapable of rendering the correct call in a timely manner, had incredibly bad judgement, failing vision, or had some other sort of agenda, whichever way, in my opinion (for whatever that might be worth) he should be out. Though, I did happen to heard rumor around the internet that he wasn't a Major League umpire at all, and if not, what the heck was he doing out there? Shouldn't the first ever World Baseball Classic deserve the very best? I say it should, or else the organizers of the tournament will continue to open themselves up for questions such as these, and suspicion from those who would compete in future tournaments. C'mon now, just do the right thing.

For anyone interested, check out the two remaining games on ESPN Tv, March 18th @ 2pm (central) for Cuba vs. Dominincan Republic, and at 9pm (central) for Japan vs. Korea, should be great games with lots of national pride at stake. Could it all be leading to a showdown between Japan vs. Cuba? Imagine that game! Ohhhh, it's the stuff that baseball dreams are made of, and I love it so.

**Update**

Team Cuba beat the Dominican Republic's team of all stars 3-1, to advance to the Finals.
One of the very best games I've ever seen, incredible pitching, fielding, and play. I was impressed by Team Cuba's confidence on their field, and their pitching was just precision. All of that by a roster of players who will never have a chance to play in the Major League, due to the politics of our our nation and theirs. I abhor communism, but the Cuban Baseball Team sure gained my respect. During the game I couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, happens to the members of that team if they were to not do well, make an error, etc. I dunno, but I would hope that their excellence in play gave the Cuban people (not their leaders) something to smile about.

Sopranos Season 6 Tonight!

Good morning,

Well, it's finally here, Season 6 of The Soprano's! And it's about frickin' time! After a long hiatus, Tony and the crew will be back on HBO to give us all something to watch on Sunday nights (and that's a good thing). What's not so good for the series is the long wait of nearly 2 years that fans of the show have endured. How's that for a build-up of expectation? All I can say is, the season better be good, and why not? They've had plenty of time to get their act together (no pun intended *LOL). C'mon now, it ain't Shakespeare they're doin' here.

Ok, enough of my gripe, I'm looking forward to the show tonight, and have been counting the days since I saw the announcement about the show making a come back. In the meanwhile, there's always a few rats out there who will talk under pressure, so here's what they've been out there saying. *LOL

If you don't like spoilers for a show, don't read past this point.

I'm no rat, but since you're all family it's ok, here's what I found online:

*Someone claiming to have working as a security guard for a place that was used as a location set, said a parking lot and nearby building was set up to look like the outside of a hospital. Word he heard on the scene was that they were filming for episode 2. Could it be that the series comes back with a bang? Maybe so, and could be a way to get people like me to stop complaining about the long wait between seasons. The security guard also mentioned a sign that read "Trauma", and reporters at the scene walking up to AJ who was smoking a cigarette while leaning on the building, Carmela comes outside.

So lemme see, if this guy was on the level, we have Tony's wife and kid at a hospital trauma unit as soon episode 2, I wonder who it could be? Nah, I'm not saying it's Tony, but it's someone close enough to the family to bring out his kid and wife. However, if you have some spare time, take a look at this "so-called" spoiler posted at a forum on the NJ.COM website, if this guy really knows what he's talking about (he says it's Tony), he could make sense of what the yackin' security guard said. Here's a link to the main board at NJ.COM, if you would like to read more message threads from fans of the show, so-called insiders, passersby, eyewitnesses, and just plain BS artists. Ya never know, it's kinda interesting.

Are you a fan of the show? Let me know what you think about what people are saying, or what you thought about the show. Episode 1 of Season 6 for The Soprano's airs Tonight, Sunday, March 12, 2006 @ 8pm.

Kirby Puckett Suffers Stroke

Good morning,

Sports fans received some sad news this morning about Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, who helped the Minnesota Twins to two World Series Championships, and who has always been highly regarded by both players and fans alike. Sunday evening, Mr. Puckett suffered a stroke, underwent emergency surgery, and is listed in critical condition.

During his time in Major League Baseball, Mr. Puckett earned a lifetime batting average of .318, went to the World Series in 1987 and 1991, won the Golden Glove Award for his achievements as a big league outfielder, and was named to the League All-Star Team 10 times. He retired in 1996, after being diagnosed with glaucoma, which eventually took his eyesight in one eye.

Though I am lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, it's tough to hear when something like this happens. As kids we grow up idolizing players and their abilities, as adults we admire them for what they can do, but never in the way we did when we were young. Time has a way of proving how mortal we all are, and though there are moments when the true magic of our youth shines through, like watching an incredible play or hearing a great story about a player, where we smile and remember a time, or cheer at a game, throwing our fists in the air with a celebratory "YEAH!", it's situations like this that remind us they are just like any one of us. Sure, deep-down we always knew it, but there was a time when it would have been difficult to convince us, and that is the magic of which I speak.

I remember as a young kid playing outfield, one day when I made a jumping catch at the wall, my dad mentioned Kirby Puckett, the first time I had heard the name, but it wouldn't be the last. Through the years I'd see the occassional news clip of one of his great plays, or hear a sportscaster compare his manner of play to someone else, and it would always take me back to that time. A time of run-down ballparks, with the smell of a concession stand wafting through the air, a crowd spilling out of the bleachers onto the parking lot, my dad and me walking back to the car after a game, his arm around my shoulder, giving me a pat on the back, my glove still in hand, and head held high or low depending on the outcome of the game, though a win or loss never seemed to matter to my dad. I still see that smile, and sure miss those days.

My prayers go out for Mr. Puckett and his family. If I could tell him anything, it would be that very story I just shared with all of you, and how his name somehow found it's way into one of my fondest memories. I wish him all the very best on his road to recovery. Get well soon Kirby.

**UPDATE**
I sure hate to say, but Kirby Puckett passed away.
My prayers go out for him, his family, and all the fans out there who admired him. If there's a team in heaven, they sure couldn't do much better than having ol' Kirby playing centerfield. May he rest well, safe at home, once again.