Countdown to Armegeddon

Well, NYE is here and we ring in the new year for 2012 in about 14 hours or so here on EST. Since the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012 according to those wacky Mayans, this will be the last one we have. Anybody remember Y2K?

Happy New Year, Y'all.

The NBA Has Started?

Judging from the comments I heard this weekend in suburbia, most people had no idea that the NBA's Opening Day/Night was on Christmas. Which pretty much sums up how this sport has devolved in the real world. Other than the playoffs in May and June, this league is a phantom. Not as transparent as the NHL, but it's pretty close.

Here in the greater metro area, we have the emerging Knicks and the woeful Nets.

The Knickerbockers actually have some playas...so after 10 years of nothing, they might actually make some noise. Unless Amar'e's back starts balking. Finally got a big man that plays D in Tyson Chandler. So if 'Melo can learn to share, there could be some good things in the near-future. On the flip-side is the Nets. These guys are absolutely terrible and will challenge for "worst team" this season. The chants for Dwight Howard began last night during a 30+ point loss (that is not a typo). The owner is a Russian Gazillionaire, so he got the rubles. Better do something quick before the exit to Brooklyn.

SoulSlam's early pick is OKC. And I still like LeBron, though I don't like Bosh. So I root against the Heat.

NYC - Nothing Like It

Absolutely great time, stayed at the Casablanca Hotel near Times Square. Awesome place.

Places we visited:

Rockefeller Center

Madame Tussaud's

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

NBA Store

NintendoWorld

NikeTown NYC

Toys R Us

Lids

Trump Tower

Can't remember all, maybe I can check my foursquare acct.

Day After Y'all

Sorry townsfolk, forgot to post on the actual day...so Merry Merry.

Quiet round these parts, the Sons of SoulSlam had a geat day.

I got a great DVD, Wiseguy, the Complete Series. And a cool Brian Wilson jersey. Awesome.

Gonna spend the day (and evening) in NYC. Sounds like fun.

The Official Eve

Here we are...CHRISTMAS EVE!

Got some running around this AM, I am showered and getting dressed as soon as I stop typing...

Most of my packages wrapped, so I won't have 4 hours of that later tonight...

Church at 6:30PM, Dinner at 4PM (or so)...

All leading up to the day. If you're a parent you want your kids to have everything, but that's not always possible, so a big smile is always the goal...

C-YA Later!

Eve of the Eve

Which is Eve removed? Not sure. Could be Eve -1.

Big shopping day, with the commandos out for blood. SoulSlam hit the mall around 8:30AM, ran to my spot and made an exit, stage left by 10. Then I stalked some sporting goods places for the next hour on the lookout for stuff they don't have. Perhaps the buyer for Sports Authority can tell me why every store has an ample supply of red Nike Diamond Elite Pros, and no other (more reasonable color)?

So I think I'm 95% done. Gotta pick up a couple of odds and ends, I can do that tonight or tomorrow morning. Get some wrapping done tonight, assess the situation, complete the mission. Countdown to Santa. And FYI - Tim McGraw has screwed me again. I'll 'splain later.

Know the Game

Let me confess something. I am not a patient person. Becoming a father helped me a little, but overall, I am not the type who suffers fools gladly.

Coaching:(definition from Webster's) one who instructs or trains ; especially : one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a competitive sport and directs team strategy.

So a guy who coaches at say, the Middle School level to collect a stipend yet not really know anything about a sport that he coaches tries the patience of SoulSlam.

Trouble is, I don't want the Sons of SoulSlam to be indicted by my actions. So, unlike myself, I have to keep it on the down-low and bite my lip.

Difficult. Stay tuned.

Chilly Bones

Got chilly bones today, everybody in the House of Slam has been sick over the last couple; am I the last target?

Office is freezing right now. Maybe I'm coming down with something...a hot bowl of soup sound good right now; to jump in!

It'll Be More Sir

OSSS wants to get YSSS (11YO) a cellphone for Christmas (we celebrate Christmas, not the ambiguous "holiday"). So we took a ride this AM to the Verizon store in our general neck of the woods.

Since he's 11 and needs nothing more than something to call and text, we pick a phone. They no got. But they can ship to my house. OK.

The "salesperson" (more like an order-taker) asks me my number, we confirm that it's an added line, blah, blah, blah. Then it goes like this (Him-OT/Me-SS):

OT:So Mr. SoulSlam, the phone costs $249 but you get an $50 credit for signing up so the total will be $199.
SS: Really, 'cause it's $19.99 on your website.
OT: Ummm, let me go talk to my manager.

At this point, I take a look at the website on my iPhone and see I was wrong, the phone is F-R-E-E. Free. OT comes back.

OT:Well, the best I could do is $129.
SS: Well, it's free on your website. You guys know you have a website, yes?
OT: It'll be more here, sir.

Can't really argue with that logic. So I will order at home. And no longer go to Verizon stores.

Тридневный викэнд

Like the way that looks! You'll need a text translator to figure it out.

Got about 9 days until the Christmas morn'...need to get it in gear shopping-wise.

Boys Travel Team is playing game #3 tonight away, we are 1-1 so far. Lot's of mental mistakes, turnovers and lack of shooting did us in, losing by 8 (29-21).

OSSS's MS Team is 0-4, basically getting doors blown off every time. Coach doesn't make many adjustments (IMO) and keeps kids not doing the job on the floor too long. OSSS comes off the bench to play hard when he gets in. Just saying, but when your starting 5 goes down by 15-20 every game, isn't it time to switch it up?

Check back later, peeps.

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

First, we are cutting payroll. Then, we can't keep the reigning batting champ, now we have this headline:

Mets acquire $40 million loan from Bank of America

Holy crap. when are the Wilpon's going to come back from la-la land and realize:
"We have NO MONEY! And we are holding the fans of the franchise hostage!

But apparently they could care less. This will be one LOOOOOOOOONG season.

Early Jump

Forgot to tell ya...

My 5th Grade Travel Team had game #1 this past Saturday, opening up with a win, something we didn't get until February 4 last season. We played pretty well with exceptional defense (100% zone). Beat a neighboring town by the score of 27-10. Game #2 is tonight with Game #3 on Friday. Let's see where we are then.

Juicer?

When the reigning NL MVP gets outed as failing a test for PEDs, no matter that a second test failed to confirm the first, it doesn't bode well for a certain Mr. Braun.

Machine = Angel

Whoa. AL West is stacking!!!

Desolation Boulevard

Reyes. Gone. No closer. Starting pitching is in disarray. Bullpen beyond help. An outfield of chaos. Catching? Who needs catching?

Welcome to the 2012 NY Mets.

I keep looking at the blogs, the papers, anywhere for a plan. No plan. Instead we get Sandy Alderson (Mr. Moneyball) telling us the team "lost" $70MM, from gate revenue. Well, Sandy-Boy, here's a clue. Nobody comes when the team FREAKIN' SUCKS!!!

Ponderous. I know David Wright says all the right things, but he's gotta want to get out of here, deep in his heart.

It's Tuesday, 5:30PM EST. Bet the next signing is Endy Chavez. Like that does anything.

My time as a Mets fan is wearing thin. Can't do it much longer.

Adios

One of the great strategies in baseball is to be "strong up the middle"; that means catcher, SS, 2B and CF.

Word is that Jose Reyes has signed with the Florida Miami Marlins for 2012 and beyond. You can read it here on Matt Cerrone's blog. Seems like the NY Mets never really tried. Kind of sad, Jose was a guy you loved to watch and play. He was a homegrown talent, now leaving for South Beach. No doubt he'll be hangin' with LeBron.

So where does that need the hapless (and hopeless) ones. AKA The Mets?

If you look at the middle right now - Thole and somebody else in a platoon behind the dish, Tejada at SS, Murphy or Turner or somebody at 2B and Pagan in CF. Inspiring.

And just wait, we might get to do this all over again with David Wright!

Awesome job.

Playoffs

Forgot to blab...fantasy playoffs began today. Top 6 teams make it with top 2 in each division getting a bye.

SoulSlam (also the name of my juggernaut team) is one of the few, playing a certain KISS fan today, who also runs league, as well as his mouth.

So about 1/3 way through the 4th qtr of the 4PM games, I am up by 20 points. I need the GB Packers to score a TD so my receivers on the Giants can get a couple of chances at more yardage and the endzone.

It's go big or go home time.

LIT UP

Spent yesterday hanging the outside Christmas lights...some new designs and the like. In the middle of all that we had an eval for our 6-7-8 grade boys league (in-town). Wow. I never realized how bad some kids were. We had about 45 boys show (10 no-shows) and I can count on two hands, with a finger or two left over, how many boys can actually play. Kind of depressing actually.

But that is the state of youth sports...you have the kids who excel, the kids who hang on, and the kids who just lag behind. Blame video games? Blame parents who don't encourage kids to get out and exercise and compete? Blame society? I wonder...

Anyway, teams got picked; mine is as strong as anybody else with OSSS and a couple of my baseball players on roster. Everybody has about 2-3 decent players, so I guess it's how the other boys grow and develop that will make the difference.

Never In Your Best Interest

Remember A-Hole? Typed out something a few back about this troglodite?

He's really done something he should have left alone. Time to pay the piper.

The piper swings hard. Fair warning.

Something Going Around

Hereabouts. Something going around, sick-wise. YSSS stayed home today from school. Now SoulSlam is feeling less than 100%. SoulSlam does not like being sick.

We Scrimmage

My 5th grade team of ninjas have a basketball scrimmage at 1PM. Some team that contacted me through a forum.

Prediction: They will either be -

All 6 ft tall with mad skills, or

A team of put-together kids that resemble a rec team, or

Somewhere in between

Real (league) games supposed to start in two weeks. So we have to be ready.

P.S. - OSSS made Middle School Team.

Halftime

Ughhhh, Nickelback is on now at halftime.

Kill me now.

Happy T-Day

Happy Thanksgiving to all the acolytes.

Enjoy your turkey, your family, your friends.

Already today SoulSlam can see it is the day of the sideline reporter on football. Gonna be a long one.

SoulSlam is cooking his turkey as we speak. Mine will undoubtedly look and taste better!

Winklevi

Watching TV last night I saw a commercial for pistachios starring the Winklevoss twins, aka Winklevi.

Let's get this out there. These guys are tools.

Let me see; come from a very rich family, attended Harvard and make a living rowing a boat, and another living suing facebook.

Why don't you two douchebags come on down here with the rest of us and see how it is?

Tool #1 and Tool #2 on a couch. Get a life, boys.

The Handicap Spot

A lot of things rile me up. But I think one of the biggest is the people who park in handicap spots with no right to do so.

We have a guy in town, let's call him A-Hole. He's retired. Used to be a cop. The kind of cop all the other cops hated. Now he drives around in his big truck. And parks in handicap spots.

Now, I used to see a "red" handicap tag hanging from his rear-view. Red meaning your temporarily handicapped, due to an injury or something. But that tag was in play for about 2 years. Now A-Hole parks in the spot, sans tag. So using my powers of deduction, he no longer has tag. But he is one of the entitled apparently.

And nothing seems to get done. Complain to local PD. Nada.

A-Hole.

Everybody Gets A Trophy

The above-named post is one of SoulSlam's pet peeves. Let me 'splain (kinda long, peeps).

Got word through the grapevine (that's the grapevine that has been around since time began - now called the GV) about a parent comment recently. Let's go backwards.

Like I said in a previous post, SoulSlam is coaching a 5th grade travel basketball team. Had tryouts in October. Now last season, due to the demise of an older team, our program had two teams of 4th graders playing travel, with 17 boys split up. 17 came out, we kept all 17. This year, it was made 100% clear that there would be one team. And a max of ten slots. It's basketball.

So tryouts roll around over two sessions to accommodate other sports schedules. And I get 10 boys total come out. Through the GV SoulSlam hears that a bunch of boys don't want to come down because they might get cut. Which would happen if we had more than 10. All of these boys play in a soccer program which has a no cut policy (to be fair, 3 boys who did come down also play soccer). Now, these boys are 10 and 11 years old, so I don't blame them for feeling like they do. But the parental units...

Look, SoulSlam go cut as a young man. OSSS (Oldest Son of SoulSlam) has been cut as a 7th grader for his MS hoops team. It happens. And as a father, I know what it feels like. A little anger and wonder why. But ultimately, it isn't the end of the world. And may make your child better. We all have heard that Air Jordan got cut in HS...and that didn't turn out too badly. It is nothing to feel ashamed about. And as SoulSlam types, OSSS has tried out as an 8th grader for the MS team again and finds out Monday if he made the cut. He's grown a year, in both stature and skill. Originally he wasn't going to tryout, which made me sad. I didn't want him not to try because he was unsuccessful last year. But he decided to give it a shot and, make it or not, I am incredibly proud of him for trying again.

Anyway, back to that GV. So a parent from my current team told somebody else that we should have kept two team again this year so all the boys (the soccer boys by the way) could still play together, and that we shouldn't cut boys. And truth be known, if a couple had come out they probably would have made roster in lieu of others. But they (parent and child)didn't take the chance and we will never know. And the comment? It's from somebody who thinks that Everybody Gets A Trophy is the way we should deal with today's youth. Which is wrong, IMHO.

As Nietsche said "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger."

True that. Out.

Live from Cooperstown

Sunday AM in Cooperstown, NY; home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Been here since Friday night and the trip back home starts in about 2 hours or so.

If you're a regular viewer to my blog, you undoubtedly know SoulSlam is a huge baseball fan. Majors, Minors, College, HS, Youth...I like watching and coaching the game. So it may come as a surprise to know that I have never been here. For whatever reason. So the opportunity to come here presented itself, so we packed up the wagon (actually the big SUV) and SoulSlam and the Sons of SoulSlam made the journey.

Hit the museum at 9AM when it opened on Saturday. Once inside the first thing that I could think of was how cool I got to share this with my boys. It was a little overwhelming for a minute or two. Then it was wall-to-wall baseball and history and legends and wonder. Only one word to describe this place:

AWESOME

Tattoos: Making Nerds Look Tough?

OK, I've had it with tattoos (SoulSlam has none) - it seems to me that the only people getting tattooed are geeks and people who think a tattoo is cool (hint: it's not).

Look at these shows on TV. While Ami James may look "cool", he is a geek. Same with all the geeks he employs. He's seen as a tough guy, because he is a tough guy compared to the geeks he hangs with. EZ.

The metropolitan movement of being an "individual (hint: you're not) " so you should get some ink is what all people with little imagination and even less chutzpa (ask Ami what it means) think they should do.

So here's where this rant emanates from. Yesterday, I went to GameStop to pick up MW3 for the OSSS (Oldest Son of SoulSlam for you newbies). There was a guy who works there and he's covered in tattoos (I wont call then "tats"). Bad tattoos mostly. Like the ones you put on yourself. And he's rulin' it in the store with all the other geeks, who are also tattooed. It was like a surreal version of every nerd character ever, in one place, acting as if they were anything more than "gamers."

And I'd rather be called the worst epithet in the world than tagged (no pun) as a gamer.

Word. Out.

Low Rent

Word out of Queens is that the Mets have cut 10% of office staff; you know, administrative assistants, graphic designers, basically people who don't come from a pampered life. People who need money to survive. I guess the Wilpon's decided that they would contribute to the unemployment rate now rather than later.

Also in the news, the Wilpon's are offering "minor shares" of the teamso they can raise $20-$30m. Awesome. Why not have a giant yard sale around Willet's Point and raise the money selling off knick-knacks instead. Or, how about you put a freakin' winning team on the field and get some fans into the ballpark!!!

PONDEROUS. And Mr. Joel Sherman has this little tidbit today. Remember my vow. Wright gets traded and it's hasta la vista as a Mets fan.

Basketball

Don't think I have posted anything about the youth basketball doings this year. For travel I only have a 5th grade boys team. We couldn't get enough boys for an 8th grade team and some other factors made us fold that team. Those boys will be able to play in a pretty good in-town rec league, so all is not lost. For a lot of them, 8th grade basketball will be the swan song I think. They also have MS hoops to tryout for.

The 5th grade team is a solid 10. We had two 4th grade teams last year, and this year about 7 boys decided trying out was not for them. So I go with 10, pretty balanced. Couple of boys need to focus more and pay attention. The 5 that played for me are above the curve on drills and plays. The other 5 played for a team that didn't do much in that respect. So they have to catch up, because the SoulSlam train doesn't slow down. We had first practice last night, another this afternoon. I'll keep all you fans posted throughout.

Frenzy (Quiet Start)

The Free Agent Frenzy has begun. Though it's always quiet the first couple of days.

Here's the SoulSlam list of top targets:
Pujols
Fielder
Reyes
Beltran
Sizemore
Wilson
Oswalt
Rollins
Papelbon
Cuddyer

Prediction: Mets will sign nobody on this list.

Annual Hope of Hopes

November 1. Every year aroundabout now I get that feeling...that warm fuzzy feeling...that the NY METS ARE GONNA DO SOMETHING THIS OFF-SEASON!!!

And every year they disappoint me. So this year, I have no hope. I'm essentially ambivalent. So when they sign some back of the rotation starter or career pinch-hitter, I won't be disappointed again.

David Wright hears news that they are bringing in outfield walls and showed up to lend a hand today!

Milk Carton Man

Missing. AWOL. Not here, not there. All words and phrases to describe me, SoulSlam. Been 10 long days since me last posting...no reason other than I tweet when I want and 140 characters or less suits my needs to be heard.

So what to speak about?
Big October snow event here in North Jersey this weekend. Schools closed today, lots of issues with power and downed lines. Halloween tonight, which means potential problems if anybody comes near those lines. Be careful.
My prediction of Texas in six was correct, only Texas didn't get the memo. Congrats to St. Louis, who just lost their man-witch, I mean manager.
I already can see issues with some of the parents of my 5th grade basketball team. These are the parents who don't know me well, so I'll nip that in the bud at practice 1.
Going to visit Cooperstown for the first time in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.
Hot stove begins!

Rapture, Interrupted. Again.

Oct. 21 - the new date of the end of the world when it didn't happen on May 21. SoulSlam was there.

I don't want to count my proverbial chickens, but w'ere almost at the halfway point of today and no impending apocolypse on the horizon yet.

I guess predicting the end is a little tougher than a parlay. Keep trying though.

Carnac Says

Texas in Six.

Running Into The Grave

With all the hoopla about The Walking Dead, I thought I'd pontificate about a certain type of individual you may or may not know exists.

I'm talking 'bout the guy (or gal) who is a dedicated runner...but looks like they are going to keel over and die. You know the type; little bit of a hunch, sunken face, wearing a shirt from some ancient 5K they entered a decade ago. Runs 365 days a year - "thanks for the Christmas present, now I gotta go on my run!"

They don't look healthy, they don't look fit, they don't look good. People with chronic anemia have a healthier glow. So SoulSlam has some helpful hints:

Eat some meat. Your probably so committed your now a vegetarian, trying to subsist on the protein found in beans. Here's a clue: RED MEAT!

Stop wearing spandex shirts. You look dumb.

Lose the lime green apparel. It is not a good color for you.

Lift a weight. In certain situations, running is a coward's activity.

Take a day off. Have a beer.

Outlook: Positive

Stood next to a guy today in a lavatory. At the sinks.

He weighed 400 lbs. easy (not a typo). So he wasn't exactly rockin' the latest fashions from Hollister if you catch me meaning.

Washed his hands, and then...he pulled the old ACE comb (a company and product so old it doesn't have a website) and did a fine job of combing his hair into a stylish 'do. I'm thinking he might be putting in a little overtimes with the moves on the ladies!

Good for you Haystacks.

1492

Fine day for a day off. Thanks Columbus.

Did he discover the "New World". Probably not, but apparently he had the best agent.

Random:

R.I.P. Al Davis. I'm a Raider fan; he was a true innovator and maverick in every sense of the word

Should've played V. Cruz in fantasy yesterday

This new blogger interfae takes some getting used to. Can't find the spellchek (apparently!)

I like the Texas Rangers to go all the way

Speaking of opting out, CC should opt out of some of those meals he has

Less than a week until The Walking Dead

Local travel baseball tryouts this week as well. About time to get back to some hardball

I am ambivalent about Halloween

I predict the NYY will spend about $200M this off-season

What's the over/under on the NBA this year?

x2

A couple of years ago, the WS looked something like this...

YANKEES vs. PHILLIES

The type of WS where I couldn't root for anybody. NOT THIS YEAR!!!

Goodbye Philadelphia. Now Jimmy Rollins can badmouth Jose Reyes from the comfort of his living room.

So this is AWESOME x2!

The Phanatic...drowning his sorrow.

One Word

AWESOME

The Savior

Image courtesy of Bleacher Report It all comes down to this. Like standing on line at the DMV or having to push a rock uphill for eternity (Hello Sisyphus!) - Yankee Fans get to see the man of their dreams, AJ Freakin' Burnett pitch the most important game of the season tonight!

Awesome.

Happy Birthday JC

A very happy birthday (#29 no doubt) to the love of my life, my wife, Mrs. SoulSlam.

 She puts up with me and my idiosyncrasies, is the best mom to our two ballplayers and makes everything worth all I do.

 LOVE

Playoffs Begin

So we get TB layin' a can of serious ass-whoop on Texas last night. Hats off to Kelly Shoppach for some day at the plate. And Johnny Damon may not be able to field or throw, but he can still swing. Look for the Rangers to get even tonight.

Does anybody have a the Weatherbug app at MLB? I can't believe that nobody saw rain coming...so now the series goes tonight from bottom 2nd. And the two star pitchers are out (at least tonight).

Conspiracy? You decide.

WILD WEDNESDAY

If you didn't enjoy the back and forth in three games last night to decide the last playoff spots, you didn't have a pulse. Unbelievable drama happening simultaneously to end a few seasons.

Division Series predictions:

AL
Tigers over Yankees in 4
Rangers over Rays in 5

NL
Phillies over Cards in 4
D'Backs over Brewers in 5

And for everybody asking me about Reyes and his "back-door" batting title.

Don't care.

Sunday Funday

We have our annual town festival, street fair, excellent day today. Postponed from a non-rainy yesterday. Greasy food, fake Oakley sunglasses, people who can't control their dogs...sounds like fun.

Randomness:

Only caught the last 30-35 minutes of Person of Interest, but it looks good.

Season premiere of Supernatural was excellent. Of course!

MLB Playoffs in 5 days. Boston is still in the hunt and it looks like the reigning champions SF Giants is out.

My FF team is a hurtin' unit. And Dez Bryant is, once again, a game-time decision. I've got less than nobody to replace him, so I gotta cross my fingers here.

NBA looks like a no-go this season. Could be a big bonanza for L&O reruns!

Boardwalk Empire is back tonight to make my Sunday evening special.

Topps sent me two full sets of their 2011 MLB sets. Awesome.

My pool pump motor died last week. I'll wait until Spring to replace. Major overhaul in 2012!

Freefall

The Brewers clinched a playoff spot last night. The Brew-ers. Brew Crew. Sausage races. In the playoffs.

And my Mets will finish under .500 again. I bought a carton of milk the other day and Johan Santana and Ike Davis' faces were on it. Six games left in the season.

What does the future hold?

Bringin' in the fences. Uhhh, duh.

Free agency with Jose Reyes.

Trade rumors with David Wright.

Yankee baseball in the playoffs. Go Texas.

Hot stove blather.

I have the distinct feeling it will be a long winter of false hope. Again.

Neither Here Nor There

That is the way I can best sum up the 2011 NY Mets. A sometimes scrappy bunch who grind it out hard and get the win, but also a group of under-achieving ballplayers who get rolled like industrial carpet the next day.

With about two weeks to go in the season...here's the way I feel about the main position players:

Wright - season cut by 1/3 due to injuries, he is a streaky guy. Feast or famine. But still the guy we count on more than anyone else. I'm sure the Mets will be listening to trades for him during winter. If he goes...
Reyes - some say he's the most exciting player in MLB. All-world, legit 5-tool guy. And he'll probably be wearing a different uniform next season.
Davis - gone so long you forget what he looks like after a season-ending (freak) ankle injury.
Bay - what happened to this guy? I guess we should have spent the dough on Matt Holliday (like I said then).
Pagan - great skill and athleticism wrapped in a 25 cent head. To sign Reyes, they will jettison this guy for the moolah-di.
Duda - better get somebody to work this guy in the outfield hard, or he becomes another...
Murphy - another guy who doesn't have a position. Can hit though. And the fans love him. They loved Benny Agbayani too.
Thole - ummm, no.
Paulino - like the facial man-scaping. A good platoon guy. I'm sure he'll be gone.
Turner - A pleasant surprise, but you gotta produce for a full season.
Tejada - the heir apparent at SS if Reyes leaves. He's no Reyes.
Evans - maybe they will leave this kid up in the bigs next year as a utility guy and stop messing with him with the up and down to minors. He's as good as the bench guys we've been carrying all season.

I'll blather about the pitchers over the next couple. Because this is too depressing to keep typing.

Amish Crimewave

There is absolutely no reason for this post other than the fact that I love this picture.

Get your shoe-fly pie and story here.

Civic Duty Cha Cha Cha

Had jury duty in Morristown N-J today. Some people made the comment that "wasn't I smart enough to get out of it?"

I think jury duty every few years is a great responsibility that comes along with democracy and freedom and all that other stuff we celebrate when we get a long weekend in the summer. But the other 360+ days a year it matters as well. So I went, was picked for jury selection for a civil trial and ultimately was excused.

Duty fulfilled. Like all good Americans should do.

Aldo Nova's Favorite Pastime

Who?

With a bit of literary license, we're talking Fantasy Football!

The journey begins again my loyal listeners. My team (appropriately named SoulSlam) began the season with an almost win. Almost since my foe (the Kiss fan) has a player going tonight. But just a Tight End, so good luck getting 23 points out of him.

Anyway, here's the team:
QB - Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford (ir bound?)
RB - Jamaal Charles, Brandon Jacobs, Jahvid Best, Derrick Ward and Maurice Morris (not Mercury)
WR - Dez Bryant (!), Hakeem Nicks, Jacoby Ford, Jacoby Jones and Malcolm Floyd (I cornered the market on guys named Jacoby).
TE - Heath Miller, Todd Heap
K - Matt Bryant
DST - Ravens

My DST and Dez B. hooked me up pretty good. So I am the driver's seat this week.

Check me back...

And in honor of this post's namesake, check out this gem.

More Of The Same

So the flooding continues...my neck of the woods is OK, but there are a lot of people in hurtsville if you get my drift. Good luck to all.

Random:

The series finale of Rescue Me (along with wedding episode) were great

Mets = .500 = where do we go from here?

10th anniversary of 9/11 is this weekend

I have jury duty next week

I am watching a lot of Gordon Ramsey lately

NFL opening weekend. I am an Oakland Raider fan. How long until we are out?

I'm hoping Notre Dame has a little better showing this week

Angry Birds is addictive

I keep telling myself the smell in the air around town will disappear

New season of TV coming up

I really want summer to last

Harsh Realm

So since my last post (which you needed a twitter account to enjoy):

1. There was major, major flooding in my neck 'o' the woods
2. The House of SoulSlam was not spared
3. But we are luckier than most (I guess)
4. A lot of friends homes were not so lucky
5. I did a clean-up job in my basement that would make Mike Rowe proud
6. We went on vacation three days late (or so)
7. Had a fun time in Rehoboth Beach
8. Got to stay a couple extra days
9. Came home to a local apocalypse
10. Back to work

That's it in a nutshell.

Catastrophe

Check the twitter feed for updates. It is not good.

So much for my vacation.

Waterworld

Went out this morning in the downpour...you can check out some pics on my twitter feed if interested...

The Long Wait

All day for the hurricane/trop storm event. Been raining for a lot, not hard, just constant.

Watching Weather Channel, and the goggle guy, aka Eric Fisher is in Va. Beach. The best part is the amount of cars whizzing by him in the background. Nice night for a ride.

Hoping that the power doesn't fail...could be bad if it does.

Fingers-crossed.

Irene, You Bitch

So my vacation from work is officially started; supposed to cruise down to Rehoboth Beach, DE tomorrow for a week of rest and relaxation and drinking and crabs. To put it in perspective, I haven't had a vacation since this time last year.

But that looks like it will be postponed at least a couple of days. See, the star of TV right now is a bitch named Irene, as in Hurricane. And she's barreling up the east coast this weekend. And since the condo we put our feet up in is about 300 yards from the ocean, we might have some issues.

So we wait and watch the news. Batten down the hatches.

Signs of the Apocolypse

1. 5.8 earthquake on East Coast
2. Hurricane Irene
3. facebook got one trillion page views in a single month

The Mother of All Limps

As we speak (or read I guess) SoulSlam is in the midst of a sprained ankle. The bad kind.

I vaguely recall rolling my ankle on Saturday, no problem that day. Sunday AM it was a little testy, then got worse as the day evolved. Monday and Tuesday, swelled up like a dead muskrat. Wednesday, still in pain. I'm debating whether to get up from my seat or not for a light lunch.

I have sprained it before (including a tremendous one about 10 years ago that was the lowlight of a Bahamian vacation) - and I'll probably sprain it again. Soldier on I will.

Toughguy.

Countdown

Until (a much-needed) vacation. Four days until work is just a distant memory, then we point the car south to a favorite destination.

CAN'T WAIT.

In other developments:

I am watching the Mets give another game away. I might be a masochist.

Watched "Unstoppable" last night on HBO. Liked it. And I wonder why I haven't paid tribute to Denzel until now.

Why do people toss things in recycling cans that don't belong. Are they just idiots?

"Front-seat banking" aka doing all your banking at an ATM should be a felony. Your time at an ATM shoulkd not exceed 60 seconds.

I always run low on chlorine at the end of August. Pool looks great though!

Took a break from coffee but that's almost over.

You are often judged by the hot sauce you eat. At least by people who like hot sauce.

I will be going to Crabby Dick's while I am away!

I am almost to the point where I will no longer buy CDs, just get it digitally from iTunes. Big step for me.

Rescue Me has been pretty terrible this season (aka the final season).

Later.

Only In Bedrock

And only the greatest caveman in the world, Mr. Frederick J. Flintstone can pull this off

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44195725/ns/us_news-weird_news/

DOPE. You are not Fred.

The A.M. Blues

You know, when you really think about it, the morning (at least the weekday ones) is kinda like the movie Groundhog Day.

You get up, do your thing (whatever your thing is) and go to work. Monday thru Friday. That is if your employed. But even if your not, I'm pretty sure it's pretty much the same.

If you dwell on it long enough, depression will set in.

Awesome.

Why SoulSlam Can't

1. Be a Little League Coach and 2. Condone what LL Coaches do.

SoulSlam can't take the field looking like an add for J Crew. Wearing a collared golf shirt and pair of khaki pants. I hate dressing that was for work, why in the world would I do it on a ballfield?

Allow the kids on my team to sing and chant in unison like a girls softball team. It is baseball. Stop the auditions for Glee, coaches!

Allow myself to be miked. I'm not sure how these automatons do it - but sometimes a trip to the mound or conversation with my batter is not pleasant. These guys are all Robert Young (who?).

And probably most important; SoulSlam would never, ever, allow an 11, 12 or 13 YO kid to throw a curveball. EVER. Bet on that one hard.

Solo Dingers

Watching the Yankees tonight (Mets are in AZ for a 9:45PM EDT start) and I see CC Sabathia give up five (5) solo homeruns.

I don't think I've ever seen that ever.

Michael Kay said the Yankees are in 'striking distance' going into the bottom of the 9th. They are down 5-1. I think your wrong, windbag. I'll apologize if you win.


You tell me that's not CC?

"The Dangerous Mark Texeira"

That's what Michael Kay (aka the giant bag of wind) called #25 as he came up with men at the corners, two out and two down in the 9th.

So is it true. Apparently we will never know 'cause the Grandy-man got picked off first!!!!

To end the game.

Digressing, it was the immortal Mo giving up the two-run homer to Mr. Bobby Abreu (aka Soft-Serve).

Awesome.

Petrol Math

Can somebody, anybody, explain to me this:

The price of oil goes up. Literally within three (3) minutes, gas stations are changing the price of a gallon. The big pole comes out and the higher price goes on the sign.

So, given this supply and demand equation, it just goes to reason that when the price goes down, then the price I pay goes down too. BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK THAT WAY!

Screwed.

Knockout

After 12 games this season, the Red Sox hold a little advantage over the Yankees. Like 10-2. Sweet.

So Clueless Joe can spin the dryer anywhich way he wants but know this:

The Yankees ACE is 0-4 against the Bosox. That is 2/3 of his whole loss total.

Is Russell Martin kidding me trying to stretch that hit to RF into a double. You slow bro.

Jacoby Ellsbury is the best CF in baseball. Take that Grandy-man.

Nick Swisher knows the object is to get on-base right?

I hope Michael Kay liked this weekend's games. I did.

Humid!

It is unbelievable out today in this jungle, aka North Jersey. High 80's but the humidity is making it seem like a lot more. Dog days are on us, I guess.

Almost time to get the trunks on and hit the pool. Which is perfect. I vac'd it this AM and did a 45 minute float afterwards. Took the boys to the batting cages to keep the swings sharp. Now I'm drinking a cool glass of agua, catching a couple of innings of the Mets on TV. game is tied 2-2. Reyes has left with a tight hamstring (uh-oh).

Yankees and Red Sox go tonight...I like my chances here. Lunch with a certain Yankee fan is the prize. I will be hungry.

The Youth Football Update

YSSS (Youngest Son of SoulSlam) loves it. Makes me happy. He likes hitting people. What a guy.

He needs to work on some stuff, he's new to it so he doesn't have a lot of technique, but I'm glad to see him involved. And this is all his. No overbearing father (moi?) coaching him! Just kidding.

Go Raiders.

How In The World?

Does a guy, making $82MM to pitch for the Yankees get spotted a 12 run (that is not a typo) lead in the 4th inning and can't get the W?

Be AJ Burnett. That's how.

This guy is an absolute stiff.

Throws hard. Right over the plate.
Hasn't won since June.
Gets unexplained shiners.
Has some of the worst tattoos this side of Rex Ryan.
Can't crack the post-season starting staff.
Can't beat the Boston Red Sox.

Glad he's yours.

Blue Turns to Black

At least for the YSSS, who is now amidst summer football practice. He seems to like it, fingers-crossed.

They plopped him at left guard last night for some run-throughs...maybe he's destined to be the man. I think playing football will do him good.

The other guy, aka OSSS has a tryout tonight to play 13U baseball this fall. Just looking for a decent situation so he can swing and keep his skills sharp.

Audi.

Countdown

To vacation time, though I have about 25 days until I get there.

YSSS starts football tonight. He's gonna be a bad-ass.

The Opposite of Opposite

SoulSlam got an iPhone. There, I said it. I have one pledge. No facebook.

I'm a conundrum.

The Fat Lady...

has sung.

Couldn't get it together in semi's last night, so my 10U team lost a one-sided game.

They went 1-9 in the spring season, then came back to go 10-2 in the summer. Including tourneys, playoffs, etc. they really showed up this summer as a team, all 11.

Good group. Season over.

Stormy Weather

Postponed our game yet again; we got in 1 1/3 innings before lightning was flashing across the sky. So we trek to the field again tonight for another attempt to play.

Stay tuned.

Waiting

Playoffs Round 2 is tonight at 8PM in another town after a rainout last night.

We beat these guys 4-2 in the 2nd game of the season, so it will be interesting to see if we still have their number.

In associated news, the 13U team is in the championship game tonight as well. Good luck to them.

Havin' A Heat Wave

It's been really hot hereabouts for the last few days, a couple of which have been over 100...today (right now), it's only 90 but I can't leave the comfort of the A/C.

Looks like it will cool off into the 80's for a day or two, which would be fine. The 10U NINJAS have their second game tomorrow night, and the cooler weather should help.

So I ramble randomly:

I like Falling Skies and Torchwood: Miracle Day

Beltran should be traded by Wednesday

LeBron James is tweeting a lot...guess he's bored

Just bought an Akadema glove on-line. I'll check it out

Bryce Harper is struggling at Double A Harrisburg; the kid is 18 give him a break!

Whisker Wars looks kind of interesting...

I would be sad to see Borders closing all it's stores if it hadn't closed the best one near me five years ago

Quizno's is next

The DMV Inspection station is always an interesting experience

Mets are .500 again. 50 Wins, 50 Losses. Not bad enough to lose, not good enough to win.

Round 1

10U Playoffs started today, and our 10U team beat a rival team (that thinks they can call themselves Blue Devils like us) by a score of 7-3. In about 98 degree heat.

We played great D, pitched well and scored when we had to, including three runs on one passed ball at the plate. Never seen that before.

Now we travel to a neighboring town on Monday night to meet the #1 seed in the East, us being the #2 seed in the West. Winner goes to Championship Game.

As I told the boys: ONE GAME AT A TIME.

Welcome Back Mr. Wright

D. Wright gets an opposite field RBI double in his first at-bat back from DL.

Great to see.

12U Season Over

Finally finished. In a way, sorry to see it over, but it was time.

The final summer record was 2-10. That included 5 losses by 1 run, and one loss by 2 runs. If only...

10U plays in 1st round of playoffs tomorrow. Gonna be about 101 degrees. Hot summer baseball.

Slope

With last night's 0-fer (as in 0 for 4) - Jeter is batting a sweet .181 since the ASB. Raised his K stat by one though.

BTW, Reyes was 2-5 w/ a run scored. Started 2 DPs as well.

Perspective

Perspective gives us the ability to see things as they really are.

Like Derek Jeter.

OK, he got #3000 on a 5-5 day that eclipsed all. If you remember I said to retire.

So since the All-Star game that he didn't attend for emotional exhaustion (OK, Mary) - what is he doing?

Batting a ripe .222; struck out 5x (in 18 ABs)!; scored a run, batted in a run (productive at the top of the order); has 4 singles, no extra base hits.

Perspective.


Walking back to dugout is his life's purpose.

Passin' Time

I like the pic of Mr. Wilson so much, I don't want to post something new!

Anyway, summer season is winding down. 10U will practice 2x this week to get ready for playoffs this Saturday.

12U - no chance at playoffs (my calculation), so we have two games left that maybe we can play spoiler. Anyway, baseball 2011 will pretty much be over around this time next week.

OSSS is looking at playing club ball in the fall, so we will go to a couple of tryouts over the next few weeks to see if we can find a program that:a) he likes, and b) I can afford. If it comes to $600 I might just build the hitting cage I've been threatening instead. YSSS is playing football for the 1st time. Should be an interesting first week of practices.

Reliving Freddie Mercury

In case you missed it, our favorite ninja ballplayer, Wilson, rocked some look at the Espys.

The remaining members of Queen might want to contact this guy!

Thank You Reuben Kincaid

Your hero and mine. Let me 'splain.

The Dogs of SoulSlam, aka Maggie and Max were outside last night around 9PM after a little bark-fest in the house. Unbeknownest to us, Pepe LePeu was lurking. The result: skunked doggies!

So we get them downstairs to the utility sink and start hosing them down. But it doesn't seem to work. But as everybody knows, Reuben Kincaid once saved the day for the Partridge Family when they got skunked on their way to a one song show.

"Tomato Juice" - the big R said; the only thing that gets rid of the smell.

So off I drove to the market to get me two big cans of the red menace. Along with a nice deodorizing doggie shampoo.

The aftermath: clean dogs. I was covered in the red stuff though.

Two Sides of a Coin

See, you've got the heads and tails. Diametrically opposed in the grand scheme of life.

Kind of like my two baseball teams.

On the one hand you have the 10U squad. Currently sitting at 9-1 and in position for a great playoff run to end the season. Playing great ball.

Then you have my 12U team - the one I have been with for the last four years. A dismal 1-6 at this point. Heart is not an attribute for most. If I look at the talent we have, and added some desire, we could just as easily be 6-1. But fire and desire are something you can't teach. So we languish. And I sleep badly. With only a week or so to go, I wait for the bell to toll.

Now my youngest is playing football for the first time. And the oldest will most likely play club baseball during the fall. I will spectate for both. A break if you will. Before hoops season begins.

Bye Frankie

The clock strikes 12 and guess who's gone?

Francisco "Frankie" "K-Rod" Rodriguez!

Adios.

They get two (2) players to be named later aka a used bag of balls. Sweet.

Let the dismantling begin.

Jeter-riffic

So at long last, the day has arrived.
JETER! 3000! LEGEND!

Congrats, Derek. I mean it. True that.

Magical 5 for 5. A homerun (that he pulled! He hasn't pulled a ball in 7 years!). Tears. Of Joy. From Jorge. And Minka. And two guys named Joe (one a Saint, the other a dope).

So SoulSlam is giving out advice. Retire today, D. Immortal moment. You can never top it. So say goodbye. Then all the Yankee fans can get their true wish and go after Jose Reyes in the off-season.

BTW, he was 1-4 today with a bunt single. K'd 2x. Back to reality.


Getting ready for "Dancing with the Stars".
Keepin' it real. Real gay.

I Took A Poll

Informal you know, but I asked a number of people how they felt about my mustache.

Overall I'd say it was a winner.

But it got too hot and itchy. So off it went.

Fu Manchu has left the building.

Grind (Absolutely)

Back to the grind today...after a nice 5 days off.

Spent a couple of days in Hershey, aka the sweetest place on Earth. Spent about 12 hours or so in the park all told. Public service announcement: skip the pitbeef sandwich. At least in this neck of the woods.

Rockin' a Fu Manchu right now. Can't say it looks good. Just is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OSSS

OSSS (Oldest Son of SoulSlam) is 13YO today! Wow.

He has been my best friend, my pal, my hero (along with his brother) since the day he was born, which seems such a short time ago. Now he's officially a teen (he's been teen-acting for awhile now). And he makes me proud.

Happy Birthday Jack. Dad loves you.

Break Time

The 4th O' July Weekend has arrived, and SoulSlam has the day off and the office is closed for a couple next week, so it's a five day break. Need it.

Also a bit of a break from travel baseball. Need that too.

10U team is an incredible 6-0. Incredible because our spring season was pretty awful. YSSS is our clean-up hitter and in an extra inning game last night he was 4-4 with 3 ribbies. He had a nice game.

12U team is an enigma. Talented, but not fiery. And that is how they play. Too many mental errors lead to errors in game on both sides of the ball. And we have a 1-3 record to show for it. I'm pretty much at my wit's end with these guys. So they have a week off due to vacations - and they have been told to show up as a different team or don't show at all. OSSS is a gamer; he made a pretty dumb mistake last night though. Mental errors.

The Veins Are A-Bulgin'

So this was a couple of nights ago:

My 12U is playing only second game of season, rainout and a dumb coach (from another town) put me behind. Playing a semi-local team. To put in perspective, they mercied us as an 11U squad last summer.

Anyway, we go down 2-0, come back to tie, go up 4-2. In the 5th, my youngest player is on the mound and with 2 outs and bases juiced, we make an error or two on the same batted ball and now it's 6-4 before you know it.

We come back with some good base-running including a steal of home to tie it up. get out of trouble in the field a couple of times. Get the winning run to 3B in the bottom of the 7th, but the bottom of my order comes up pretty small. Happens.

We give up the go-ahead run top 8. OK, now we need to score 2. With top of my order coming up I feel pretty good.

Leadoff hitter grounds out for 1st out. My #2 goes the other way with a double. #3 hitter (aka OSSS) is up. Fouls off 2 pitches, but he's on it. Pitch 3 comes in, well outside and high - so much so that the opposing catcher has to lunge up and out to grab it to keep it from going to fence and the ump calls STRIKE 3!!!

"WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME BLUE! HE HAD TO JUMP TO CATCH THAT BALL. NOT A STRIKE. YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT IN MY LIFE. YOU ARE TERRIBLE!"

My clean-up grounds out for out 3. Game over, we lose 7-6 in extras. So as I walk in to shake hands with the other team (who deserved it) I did something I have never done:

"THAT WAS SOME CALL BLUE! YOU OUGHTA BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! HORSE-SHIT, THAT IS WHAT THAT CALL WAS! YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!"

The head ump who was doing the bases tried to give me an explanation, to which I responded "the fact that you two have to explain the call means it was wrong. The only two people who think that was a strike are you two!"

SoulSlam was livid. And I never argue balls and strikes, part of the game. I was still angry when I woke up Tuesday.

Saturday Doings

Lot's of baseball this morning;

10U Squad - went 1-1 in a tourney way up in upper Bergen. Mercied the host team, then lost a 5-1 decision to another team. They play again tomorrow in pool play in the AM, then depending on how they do they play later on in the day.

12U Squad - finally got our first game in...won it 11-8. Other than the bottom of the 7th, we looked like killers out there. We let them have 5 runs to catch up a bit before we sealed the deal. A win is a win though.

Now we are going to some local parties...the sun is out, thought I forgot what it looked like.

ADIOS.

When Your Alpha is an Omega

If you follow me regular-like (I know you all do) you know the weather has been less than stellar around the North Jersey area.

We have so much rain, that even when it's not raining we can't use the fields. Like today. Though to be fair a light mist is falling.

So I'm 5 days in to a summer season with my 12U team and I haven't played yet. And unless the team I'm scheduled (actually rescheduled) to play tonight can move to their field, I'll be behind the 8-ball.

PONDEROUS.

New Link

I have a new link on the side there for Joe Petruccio's MyMetsJournal.

Very cool Joe. Awesome job.

Summer Monsoons

So as not to disappoint after the wettest spring ever...summer has begun even worse. So far we have had local tornado warnings, flash floods, violent thunderstorms, etc. Two days in by my count.

Summer baseball is in half-swing. The 10U team is 3-0 already and making the plays. The 12U team is 0-0 since we have been rained out and on Tuesday night, bumped from the field in another town because the opposing coach is a zip, a nada, a zero.

SoulSlam hisself has a couple of days of work. Need it, townsfolk, 'cause it's hard being SoulSlam.

BOOM.

Good For You Sir

You don't stand in the way of a father, a son and the opportunity of a lifetime.

Read it here.

Good for you Mr. Roth.

Ummm, Embarrassed?

John Wall can play hoops no doubt.

John Wall cannot throw a baseball at all.

Summer Baseball Begins - 2011 Version

What we all wait for...

Summer baseball technically begins next week, but we like to get a jump on it 'round these parts. So 10U opened up away (next town over) to play a quasi-club team with the most gawd-awful uniforms I have ever seen. And if you play enough baseball you will see some really bad ones. These looked like the were designed by a 14 year-old gang-banger from Compton. No lie.

Anyway, we won 4-3. Hit just enough, made the plays we needed to and pitched well. So we start the season 1-0. Better than 0-1.

12U starts Tuesday night...injuries have decimated this team, so it's like a mix and match puzzle now. With three games next week and two pitchers on DL, and one gonna be missing for a couple of games, we may be hurtin'. We'll see what we are made of.

BOOM.

Bloopin' to 3000

Mr. Jeter got 2 more today to inch ever so closer to 3,000 hits. The only Yankee ever to do this heroic feat.

Four more games on the homestand means:

He has to get 7 hits over four games. With an average of 4 at-bats per, he's gotta go 7-28. And you know nobody is gonna want to throw the meatball he hits for the 3,000. So as he gets closer, look for guys to work outside and around the strike zone.

Not hitting it on the homestand means:

That the Yankees and Steiner Sports and whoever else is lined up to make dough off the milestone will not have a captive audience at the stadium if he goes big (bloop single) in Wrigley. Can't sell those Jeter 3000 t-shirts at Wrigley

BTW, the SS for the NY Mets is hitting .346. Tearing it up. Just sayin'...

Pool Better

Not sure why, could be the fluctuation in heat, but me pool was pretty cloudy this week. Which makes me nuts. So I tended to the water like a skilled surgeon for a couple of days and now we are crystal again. Awesome.

On another note, SoulSlam was using a powerwasher this AM and in my haste, powerwashed my left thumb during the activity. My left thumb is pretty much hurtin' now. I guess no pies later.

C-YA

Being Scottie Pippen

Now, don't take this as a dis' to Scottie Pippen, who was one of the most talented players in history. He just wasn't His Airness - he was the second guy on a great team playing behind the greatest ever.

So when Lebron announced (amidst incredible fanfare) in primetime that he was joining the Miami Heat with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, the usual thought process was "wow, he's gonna be like Mike" and drive that team to the winner's circle.

Well the winner's circle can certainly be reached, but it's D-Wade in the driver's seat, with Bosh riding shotgun...the "King" is sitting in back; and he appears to be in the trunk when the 4thQ rolls in. Let's just say the words "Lebron" and "difference maker" are not being said in the same sentence during the NBA Finals.

Headin' back to Miami (with all the fans in white - creepy!) we shall see what this guy is made of. Funny how legacies can be changed.

Whaaa!

One of my favorite punching bags is the always-sensitive Joe Girardi, manager of the glorious NY Yankees. He's not happy with Big Papi...

Some advice for Joe:
1. Do you really believe everybody that plunks a Yankee is doing it on purpose, but when a Yankee pitcher hits somebody, it was just a bad pitch?
2. If Papi upsets you with his histrionics, why doesn't that fat tub Joba when he pumps the fist in the 7th inning?
3. Stop making excuses for Jorge Posada. Oh, that's right he's raised his average to .195!
4. Anybody can look like a genius with a $220MM payroll and all-stars everywhere. Right, Joe?

How To Get One In The Ear

Check it out:

Homerun and a kiss

Love the mustache.

Bottom Line

If the Mets trade David Wright, as everybody is talking about, I am officially D-O-N-E as a Mets fan.

Fair warning.

Stomach of Chaos

Not sure why but I have a stomach of chaos today. Not good.

Could be the 9th inning in last night's Mets game, but I don't think so.

Forever Awesome

That's me. There, I said it.

Sitting here watching youtube videos while I wait to go p/u OSSS and his best pal at a social scene. Now I'm the AWESOME CHAUFFEUR.

Did I mention we missed playoffs at 12U? I wasn't too awesome there. Tried to schedule a game but had a lot of "we're no around's". So we didn't play. And missed playoffs. Now my ventingly awesome self is gonna have to piece together a summer schedule, around everybody else's vacations. The House of SoulSlam vacations in August like all right-thinking baseball families.

Awesome.

Venter

OK. So I just got people's vacation schedules for summer. And in doing my 12U calendar, it's looking more and more like we may not play much. It always amazes me how people who commit to baseball have no problem taking vacation during baseball season (games), but the same people can't miss any football practices (not games) in August.

Whatever.

The Where, The Who, The How

Random ramblings:

LeBron will probably get his ring...Mavs are a player (shooter) short

Now they say Jose Reyes is staying and David Wright is getting traded. Don't believe the hype.

Deadliest Catch is appointment TV again. Hope that skel Jake gets his.

NJ climate - mid-summer already. We had about 3 days of spring.

12U team is waiting to find out of we made spring playoffs.

I am not a fan of air-conditioning.

Whatever happened to the stars of Baywatch? Except the 'Hoff, I mean?

Best hot dog in NJ is at Rutt's Hut.

Thinking about a new pair of shades.

Pool is perfect.

Memorial Day

Kinda late, but that's how we roll.

Happy Memorial Day.

Took the boys to the cages this afternoon for some swings. Prepping for summer. 10U out of playoff picture, so we begin practicing to get better in earnest. 12U has a chance if I can get one more game in by Wednesday. 50-50 chance I say.

C-YA.

Pool 2011

All vacuumed, sparkly and ready to roll...water at a nice 75 degrees. Kids went for a 2 hour swim this morning.

Summer ready. Awesome.

At Least You Get Summer

Now the Rapture (aka The Apocolypse) is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2011.

Countdown.

...And Went

Still here. Rapture over.