 Saturday, March 29, 2008
Overseas Opening Day
Another season of baseball is almost upon us. It technically started with the As-Red Sox games in Japan. BTW, I don't have a problem with MLB games in Japan. I understand the money and marketing aspect though would like games to be played in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere in the spirit of equal time. The only downpart is that US based beer and other hard working stadium vendors don't get a cut of Ricoh's or the other sponsor's money for the games played overseas. It's one less game as the As and Red Sox technically played one home game each in Japan.
Posted by The Traveling Tank in Florida.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Justice for Piazza Assault
Angels fan Roland Flores threw a water bottle that hit "Metal Mike" Piazza last season. Piazza thankfully wasn't hurt. He kept his cool and didn't run into the stands like Ron Artest. Granted, it was harder to climb into the stands like in basketball but didn't answer violence with violence.
Piazza used the non-violent justice system and Flores was sentenced to 30 days. Flores can't go to the Angels Stadium for three years. Fans can boo their or opposing players but not resort to violence. Let's hope Flores' sentence discourages others from doing so in the future.
Posted by The Traveling Tank in Florida.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bruised But Not Broken Brackets
I took some hits last weekend with the losses of Duke, Georgetown, and other favorites.
According to ESPN, only 2 out of 3,000,000+ brackets in their competition had all Sweet 16 teams in tact. I only had eight correct Sweet 16 teams but my Final Four is still intact, touch wood. More points per game are awarded in later rounds as the Final Four approaches.
Posted by a cautiously optimistic and Traveling Tank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Did My Buddy A-Rod Take Steroids?
Jose Canseco is up to his old tricks. In his new book, "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball", Canseco says that he introduced A-Rod to a steroids dealer named "Max". The book coincidentially comes out on Tuesday, which happens to be April Fool's Day. Let's hope it is a gag.
Posted by a concerned and traveling Tank in Florida.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Are Isiah's Days Numbered at the Garden?
PermaGuest Outlaw Jack e-mailed Steve and myself earlier today about Donnie Walsh leaving the Indiana Pacers to join the Knicks. Please join me in praying that Donnie succeeds Isiah as President of the Bricks ASAP to end the suffering.
Posted by the Traveling Tank in South Florida.
Monday, March 24, 2008
My Baseball Buddy Roy, R.I.P.
I met Roy at my friend Robert's house in Tampa, Florida, in May 2004. We went to a Yankees at D-Rays game that night at Tropicana Field. Mariano happened to get his 300th save that night and I did my best impersonation of the "Yankeeees Win!" I was so enthusiatic that Robert asked me to settle down because he had to do business with the clients he brought along.
Roy needed a new liver and was on the waiting list for years. He should have passed a couple of years ago but he fought the good fight, stayed positive, and inspired all who met him. He finally got his new liver over the weekend but he passed on Easter morning.
Though we rooted for opposing teams, we always liked and respected each other and our love of baseball. You'll be missed Roy. You'll be going to a place where everyday is Opening Day.
Posted by a grieving Tank in NY.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pettitte's Pain
Andy Pettitte was scratched yesterday from his Spring Training start with back spasms. The Yankees and I are relying on Andy to be a solid second starter as he has been a clutch big game pitcher over the years. The move is precautionary and he is supposed to make his next start next week, God Willing.
Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Graig Nettles
You know you are getting older when your childhood heroes get diagnosed with cancer. One of mine is Graig Nettles. Graig was the reason I played third base in Little League. His outstretched lounging catch against the Dodgers in the 1978 World Series Graig is still etched in my mind like yesterday.
Prevention and checkups are key. Graig's brother Jim advised him to get tested as it runs in their family. After the Father's Day Run Against Prostate Cancer in 2005, I was tested for prostate cancer and thankfully didn't have it. The doctor told me to come back in 2010 when I turn 40, God Willing.
Graig is going to under prostate cancer surgery on April 8 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York according to Yankees.com and ESPN 1050 AM. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
I plan to run the NYC Marathon a fifth and final time this November, touch wood, as a member of Fred's Team raising funds for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. I will do so in honor of the living like Graig and in memory of the passed on like Doug Stern.
Posted by a somber Tank on the road to defeating cancer.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Day 1 Recap of the Madness
I had a good start and won the first eight games. There are always upsets and tried to pick a couple. 13 out of 16 correct picks, touch wood. Here's where I went wrong:
(1) Notre Dame recovered after a bad Big East tournament. George Mason had two returning players from the Final Four two years ago so I thought this might be an upset.
(2) West Virginia surprised me. I overestimated Arizona. Bob Huggins is a great coach and Lute Olson isn't back until next season.
(3) I thought USC's Mayo would have gotten the better of Kansas State's Beasley in the battle of top freshmen.
Duke was nearly upset by Belmont. That would have hurt my (and almost everyone else's) picks but I didn't have them go to the Final Four. Upsets happen but you have to weather the storm and hope your Final Four picks advance. I was tied for second and in third out of 100+ brackets a couple of years ago at a prior job. I would have been in the money had if Villanova or UConn made the Final Four. They lost in the Elite 8. Darn it!
It's nice to see everyone get in on the fun, except for Senator Clinton who didn't fill out a bracket according to reports. That is one of the reasons I am running against her for President on the Baseball\Sports Integrity Ticket with Steve as my VP. Senator Obama ate chicken wings with fans at a bar in West Virginia. Senator Obama picked UNC, possibly to gain favor from Senator Edwards who is a huge UNC fan and ahead of the upcoming primaries in North Carolina. Senator McCain also picked UNC and his picks are here.
Posted by The Tank in the middle of March Madness.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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