Well, it's finally here. After a whole season of baseball it comes down to two teams. Sadly, my Los Angeles Dodgers were eliminated right in the last series, missing the world series by two games and one strike out. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it...
Well, actually, that's exactly the reason I can't enjoy it. E.S.P.N is one of those networks I hate. They're everything that is wrong in sports and most of all, they don't give a shit about anything beyond the Mississippi as they have an East Coast bias and it seems that the two teams that are heading to the world series are.. exactly from the world series.
While I hate the Yankees with a passion, I really don't have any insentive to root for the other team. Not only did they eliminate the Dodgers two years in a row, they also have some pretty stupid fans as you can see from the following two video segments.
And this classic...
So what is a baseball loving boy to do? I mean, I have to watch it, right? I can't just ignore some major end of baseball for the year, right? That's a tough call. I may be prepared to just kiss this whole world series good bye. They got rid of both the Angels AND the Dodgers. Southern California representation in baseball is all gone
They say Baseball is a cruel lover. It comes around in spring when the flowers are blooming and everything is looking pretty, like a new love. And through the summers you enjoy its company as you enjoy some hot dogs, beer and other snacks on a cool summers evening under the spotlights. Only for it to leave you when fall comes and it gets colder and darker. All the time you still love it just the same and you can't wait for the next season to come with the hope that, maybe this year it'll be your turn to celebrate the world series championship in late October.
Till spring time, my summer past time. See you opening day 2010 at Dodger Stadium.
Actually, yeah. We're not going to Philly. They're coming here. At least for two games. Then the Dodgers will head to the city of brotherly love in a hopeful 2-0 series lead. If it seems like we've been here before, we have. Not only last year, but in the history of Dodger baseball, the Phillies are a team we've seen a lot. So much so that Tommy has some beef with their god awful mascot.
Yes, that's Tommy Lasorda going after and kicking the Philly Phanatic's ass. What does he have to say for himself?
I hate the Philly Phanatic.
In fact, I am not very happy about mascots in general. I think they take away from the game on the field.
One of the worst incidents was perpetrated by the Phillie Phanatic. The Dodgers were in town to play the Phillies and somehow, it got ahold of one of my jerseys. It took the jersey, put it on a dummy and ran over the dummy again and again.
That type of a display should not be shown in ballparks, especially in front of children. It exhibits violence and disrespect.
I pulled the Phanatic aside and said, “Why don’t you run over a dummy with a Phillies jersey?”
I called the front office of the Phillies and told them how I felt. They can play with kids in the stands, but running over the dummy was simply wrong, and that kids would get the wrong impression. Apparently, they didn’t care.
The next time we were in Philadelphia, I confronted the Phanatic. I told it not to use my jersey anymore, and so the next time he did, I was forced to act. I went right up to it and body slammed it to the turf.
I often wondered how it got my jersey, and then I found out how. Steve Sax would give it the jerseys because my players thought it was a funny thing to do.
I never really thought about it before but I guess the Dodgers do have the best mascot in baseball. Tommy is really up there when I think about Dodger baseball along with Vin Scully. And realy, if you're not a Dodgers fan, you have to root for them simply so you can listen to Vin Scully call either the all L.A. World Series, or an amazing Dodgers/Yankees 1950's throwback World Series. Win or Lose, I'll be amazed to hear something like that.
But first the boys in blue need to beat Philly. I have to say, I'm a little worried. I really wish it was the Rockies we were facing, but it's just a matter of getting it over with. At least this time there's some respect in the experts picks. For the Cardinals series everyone was siding that it would be St. Luis that swept the Dodgers in 3 games. That didn't turn out to be very accurate after all. It's going to be a very tough series so you gotta route pretty loud.. Go Dodger Blue!
Well, it looks like Manny is in some deep shit right now for testing positive for something... what? who the fuck cares. Let's just say it's roids and call it a day, right? Fuck you ESPN. This also means Jose Canseco is going to come out of the woodwork again with his "I told you so." Fuck that guy too. So let's dig in here..
Manny's statement, which I'm sure he wrote entirely himself.
"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was OK to give me," Ramirez said. "Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now.
"I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons. I want to apologize to [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt, Mrs. McCourt, [manager Joe] Torre, my teammates, the Dodger organization, and to the Dodger fans. LA is a special place to me and I know everybody is disappointed. So am I. I'm sorry about this whole situation."
Dude knows how to play the PR game much better than Bonds ever did. Then again, he did pass 15 drug test over the past five years and he hasn't tested positive for steroids. He only tested positive for taking something that can sometimes be taken by roid users to get off roids.
That's the confusing part. If he's been juicing then he's been doing it forever because Manny has been putting up the same numbers his whole career. Either that or they haven't helped him for shit.
LOS ANGELES – A source close to Manny Ramirez(notes) said Thursday that the illegal substance for which the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger tested positive was not “an agent customarily used for performance enhancing.”
At least not on the baseball diamond. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the substance is supposed to boost sex drive. It is not Viagra, but a substance that treats the cause rather providing a temporary boost in sexual performance, the source said.
Ramirez tested positive for the substance during spring training, then was administered a second test more recently, and it also was positive. Major League Baseball notified Ramirez of the second positive test after Wednesday night’s Dodgers victory over the Washington Nationals. Ramirez admitted to having taken the substance and declined to appeal. His 50-game suspension begins today.
“The substance is not a steroid and it is not human-growth hormone,” the source said.
Come on. The MannyWOOD comments aren't going to stop, are they? So you're getting time off for a doctor's prescribed pill? Here's where the MLB is being stupid. Have you've seen a baseball game on TV lately? It can't go more than two hours without a Viagra ad popping up.
Goes to show you: trust your doctors
And for those of you who are asking why he simply didn't take it to the physicans in the club. Yeah, because this worked so well with J.C Romero
On July 22, Romero bought a supplement at the GNC store in Cherry Hill. He had it checked by his personal nutritionist, who said there was nothing in the supplement that was illegal. There was no warning on the label. Romero mentioned it to Phillies strength and conditioning coach Dong Lien.
There seems to have been some confusion in testimony during the October arbitration hearing. According to Romero, Lien told him to get a second opinion; Romero took the supplement to a second nutritionist, who cleared it. In the hearing, Lien testified to that fact, but at another time he said he suggested Romero not take it. Romero in no way blames Lien.
"What they now say I should have done was call the drug hot line," Romero said. "But I had it checked out by nutritionists, and I was following the guidelines laid down by the players' association in spring training."
To me, its the MLB that just looks bad now. You can punish players all you want, but where are the preventative measures? It's like a beaten wife pressing charges on her husband for like the 50th time. Yeah, its bad, but who's fooling who here?
They're taking it to new extremes with banning every pill. I know that viagra/etc is actually a banned substance in a lot of sports though I don't know exactly why. But what preventative measures are you really going to take here? To what extent do we need to invade the lives of players to satisfy our desire for some illusory concept of purity? This is like asking how sausage is made. You should not ask how it's done. Simple as that.
ESPN jumped on the bandwagon of it being some female fertility pill called HCG.. um, HCG is also used for male fertility treatment, but let's go ahead and assume the worst thanks ESPN. The funny shit here is that it was legally prescribed by a doctor. It's not like he was going to the back alley for this fix.
Sports media is all about big headlines. I now hear that they don't know if Manny will be ever included into the Hall Of Fame. Let's see what gets you denied from the HOF:
Betting on Baseball gamesFixing a World Series GameWanting to maintain a boner.
At some point someone is going to say "If only Manny retired after 2008, he would be in Cooperstown, but now.." and I'm going to find that person and push him down a flight of stairs. I know what's the next headline: "Should we put an asterisk on those two Red Sox series championships????"
Then again, Baseball has been missing old man outrage lately. You know, those freaky people who still take a pencil and book to the game and mark down every pitch. Yeah, those guys are just scary.
Wasn't it only a couple of months ago when A-rod admitted to using roids? Look how quickly we forgot about that once he comes back tomorrow. Those old facts and statistics are all meaningless now. Just face it folks and realize it's all just a game.
With that, I'll leave you with this terrible pun.
Manny, you're in a tight spot. I know, we all make our boners, go off half-cocked and then pussyfoot around the issue. But I'm glad you came forward and took it on the chin. Don't be too hard on yourself, you're doing the right penis.
Whenever I meet someone from New York I always get the same thing. Us "Out Here" in Los Angeles have no culture. I always have to question why there's so much hate from New Yorkers about the west, and yet so many show up to the shores HERE. I don't know many folks from New York who've been to any of the many cultural spots in New York. Have season tickets to the opera? Nope. Been to a broadway show? Nope. Hell, been to a freak'n museum? Nah!
Ol' Vinny and Greedo would much rather go to Yankee stadium or down to Citi field for a Mets game. Careful about the weather, wouldn't want to have a tarp be put over the field to protect it from the rain. In actuality, there's very little amount of people enjoying that culture in a sea full of culture. Whenever I'm in need of reminding of this little fun fact all I have to do is turn on the news.
You see, Pepsi promised 250 Yankees tickets along with a chance to meet hall of famer, Goose Gossage on opening day for a historic opening game at the new Yankee Stadium.
Strike one, the location of the giveaway event was moved three blocks down causing a dangerous mad dash across Time Square.
Strike two, only 100 tickets were given out and they were for a game in June. Strike three, the chance to get loose with the Goose was nothing more than a wave from the legendary Yankee relief pitcher from his limo!
So the fans went nuts.
Pepsi aint got no culture!
Yup.
I also like how the person they interview said pepsi just did this to promote their product. Oh wow really? You don't say. I wouldn't have guessed that as this is a PROMOTION. It's not like Pepsi hasn't had bad promotions in the past. Anyone remember the harrier fiasco from 15 years back? At least they made a more reasonable claim this time and offered a good amount of tickets.
But I wanna HANG LOOSE WITH DAH GOOSE
This brings a new question to mind, So what do they serve at the new stadium? Coke or Pepsi? Oh yes. It's Pepsi. Whoooops! Guess you'll just have to load up on beer when you're in the stadium. No worries there, right?
As a Dodger fan, who once called New York their home, I'm glad that Pepsi is screwing with New Yorkers. It's another reason to buy their sodas. Not that I drink much soda any way. But shit, if they're pissing off Yankee fans, then they're good in my book.
Shit. Even for a city that brags about their culture, did you know that when the Dodgers first moved to Los Angeles, their first game here drew in a larger crowd than they were getting in their entire last season in New York. Yeah, and New Yorkers claim that it was the last great game when they were in Brooklyn. Riiiiiiiiiight.
I'm sure it's partially because they are all sports fans in the video, but I'm always surprised how many stupid douchebags they've managed to cram into New York City. Next time realize that all the culture in the world can't change the fact that the place is still a urine soaked hell hole. Great to visit but you wont see me living there. Not even all the lox and bagels can get me to stay for more than two weeks.
Here's to Pepsi. May you screw over more Yankee fans regularly please.
Here's some more self promotion. With my birthday only a few days away perhaps I should actually make up my mind on what I want, right? Especially if I want to avoid the tragic tales of the last couple of years of getting nothing. On the flip side I didn't ask for anything nor was I expecting anything. So I got exactly what I wanted. What can I say, I'm a nihilist. Ok, maybe I'm not. Say What You Will About the Tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at Least it's an Ethos.
So with that in mind I'm not going to be asking for much. Most of these I'll be doing for myself. Who better to give you something than your number 1 fan, yourself. So allow me to indulge myself and speak out loud on a couple of things that I'm looking forward to either getting or doing as I depart from the ripe age of 28.
- Fly a kite. I'm turning 29 and I feel that till I have children, maybe I'm getting way too old to fly a kite. So sometime before my birthday I would like to fly a kite once more. It'll be a nice little send off to being young. Not saying that it's all over or that I'm feeling my age. It has been some time since I raised a kite into the air. So it'll be nice for this to go up and carry that age in the wind.
-Take a drive. I used to take these long drives I would just spend 8 hours on. Sometimes they would be weekend adventures. One landed me in Santa Barbra and I just got a hotel and had some wine tasting, a nice hike and then headed back to Los Angeles. I suppose that's more along the lines of a weekend trip but you get the point.
I want to fill up the tank and just drive. Where? I have no idea. When? Hopefully soon. But it'll happen. Oh yes. Some time to reflect on myself and my 28 going on 29 stage. What better way to do that than a drive to the beach/mountain/desert. Popping in some electronic music and I'll have myself a good time.
-Drink Wine on a hillside over looking the sea Pretty simple request. I enjoy wine. I enjoy it a lot. Well, what alcohol don't I enjoy? Sometimes I enjoy them more than I should. I do like wine because it's a drink that you can drink large great amounts of and all anyone will really care about is that you're creating a palate for what you like.
I have growing a small collection over time. So this one isn't even going to cost much of anything. The cost of gas to get out to a hillside. Why one that over looks the ocean? Or at least has hills that are close to the ocean? Well, I've grown to like Santa Barbara wines and most of them have the taste of the ocean since they're grown and with the cost so close.
- Burn something. Maybe it's just some wacky thing on my shoulders constantly telling me to burn things but I can't help it. I like fire. As it has been made clear by the burn on my leg, I guess I'm not that good at it. I love BBQ's, I love bonfires. I love burning things. Yes. I'm that crazy kid in your class as a kid who just kept playing with matches or a lighter.... or both (two hands, after all) Well no. Not really. But I do like the smell of a good fire cooking meat. So maybe a BBQ may be in order and would be fun. It is getting warmer, after all.
- Spend time with family? Oh, this one would be nice. But like communism it's only nice in theory. My parents a couple years back decided that they'd best use the time around my Birthday to travel. So I haven't seen them during my date of birth for a while now. As for my sisters, I guess this one's not such a great cause. They have their own thing going on. This isn't a pity party, so don't take it that way.
I'll just spend the time this year at work and then with the people that seem to mean something. I'll figure it out. I know I'll have a good time.
- Red Rider BB Gun. Why not. What? I'll shoot my eye out? FUCK YOU, I WONT! Ok, well cross this off my list then. I don't want it anymore. Fucking guns anyway. What does this look like, a gun show?
-Some Romance Check and Check! <3 style="font-size:130%;">
-A Cake I'm not much of a cake fan. I haven't ever really been. Don't get me wrong, I like cake. I just don't have much memory of eating them. They can also get really dry. I have really enjoyed tres leches cake. It's like sponge cake with a ton of different milks. How can you go wrong there?
I would like some sort of cake though. You can't put candles on a pie and think it's the same sort of beast. You ever try to put a candle into a Key Lime Pie? Yeah, I didn't think so.
-A Dodger game This is easier said than done. I don't recall the Dodgers playing on my birthday at home. They're usually away during that day. This year they'll be in Sandy Eggo playing the Padres. Last year I went to way too many games. I think I lost count around 30-something games. While fun, I think this year I'm not going to go to so many games. We are in a down economy after all.
I would like to go to a couple of key games though. The problem is that last year I had some amazing seats behind the home plate. This year, to get the same seats I'll have to be a little more willing to scale back the number of games to get to. So yes, a dodger dog, a beer and I'll be in heaven at Dodger stadium.
- A Trip to the Hollywood Bowl The summer season hasn't really started yet but I do want to make some sort of solid plans to get to at least one or two concerts for the summer at the bowl. Why? If you don't know the wonders of the Hollywood Bowl then I don't know what your problem is. I love the Hollywood bowl. What's there to not love about being able to bring in your own picnic basket, wine and whatever else to enjoy the night of music.
Especially during the summer months where the nights aren't that much colder than the days it's really a magical experience. I think the only thing that isn't nice about all this is the parking situation. Some proper planning ahead of time and you'll be square on all that. So no worries there. So let's see.. should I go for the Beastie Boys? I just don't know.
-A Trip to the Farmer's Market It doesn't have to be the actual farmer's market at the grove but I do love the ability to go to the farmer's market and get some fresh produce and get some delicious home cooked meals going in my mind.
I love going to a farmer's market and seeing what fruits and veggies are in season and try to come up with a new dish in my mind with what I can see in front of me. It usually ends up with me getting something tasty. All I know is that I do want to get to a farmer's market some time during the week. The ones I usually know of well are on other days than my birthday. So hey, maybe it'll be a late birthday gift for myself.
So you're more than likely wondering what I got for myself.
Being that comic book day is a day after my birthday, perhaps I'll just splurge a little and have a good happy birthday getting myself comic book nerdy shit that I'll more than likely label myself as a comic nerd to the masses?
A Global Knife It's a very nice knife. I have been meaning to buy one for some time now. The last good one I had was borrowed a long time ago and I never saw that cook after that. At least they didn't stab me with it before taking off with it. One sharp gift.
If the advertisements are correct then I only have roughly 25,000 mornings to live out. I think I've used up enough of those. Oddly enough I'm not much of a morning person anyway, so maybe I'm not too worried about not using all those up.
Perhaps some of these gifts will make those days a bit more enjoyable. Who knows. All I know is that I'm going to have a happy birthday and I can't help but look forward to the many years that I'll be gaining on my notch in the years to come.
I grew up in East L.A. with Dodger Stadium always in the background. I could see both Downtown and just a bit over to the right there was always Dodger Stadium. During the summer it would be amazing to see the lights of the field create this glow over the stadium. So I will now and forever more have an attachment to the Dodgers.
Going on as long as I could remember I have been a Dodger fan it does bother me that this last season was the first one in 20 years that we even won a game in the post season. So when news comes out that the Dodgers are reaffirming their humble offer by putting it back on the table, it still feels like a slap to the face since it's not what Manny was asking for. Even worse so is that there's still no change in the mood in Dodger stadium on this issue. So I'm asking that Ned gets off his ass and while there's still time, signs Manny already!
Let's lay out the facts. Before the Red Sox wanted to get rid of Manny Ramirez so badly, the Dodgers were at best a 500 team in the worse division where they were roughly first or in second place. Then National League West is simply that bad. Once Manny came to Los Angeles he changed the team around to being a post season contender. And how much did they pay for him? Not a god damn cent. The RedSox wanted to get rid of him that badly. The Dodgers were only three games away from the World Series. The first time in the last 20 years.
Three months after the World Series, one where the team that beat the Dodgers won and only a month away from spring training, Manny still doesn't have a contract anywhere. The Dodgers offered him 45 million for two years and that wasn't what he was looking for and the Dodgers pulled the offer off the table. Thus far no team has gone after him. The Dodgers need to step up to the plate and sweeten the deal a little more and get him now.
After that amazing season last year it would be foolish not to. Dodger fans took to Manny so well. Merchandise was sold of his in the boat load. Shirts, wigs, and anything else you could think of. They must have made an easy 10 million off the products alone. Not only that but the Dodgers, for the first time in a long time were so compelling. You had to watch them every single day or you'd be out of the loop and missing out on something amazing.
The dodgers pull in a crowd of 4 million people a year and the average amount spent per person is $17 on food/drinks/parking. They're on their way to meeting and beating their season ticket sales from last year and while they are doing it even without Manny signing, a lot of those buyers are asking if there's any progress on that. It's pretty clear. The Dodgers Need Manny Back!
I'm guessing that the only reason why anyone is hesitant to sign Manny is because he had a very poor track record with the Red Sox. They did not get along at all and he didn't take playing serious there. When he came to Los Angeles he was a champ and a model citizen. Cut his hair to get along with the dress code of the club and was great all around. So there really shouldn't be a reason why the Dodgers wouldn't want him back.....
Well, besides the fact that he wants a four year contract. Yeah, that's the sticking point. Four years is a bit much. Especially with someone who would be in their 40's when they are in the contract. That's "Take him out back and put him out of his misery" age for a baseball player.
But the Dodgers offer of 45 million for two years is a bit low balling. Can we find a middle ground here? How about tossing in an option for a fourth year depending on performance? But for the love of god, give this man a three year contract. Make it happen. You got rid of Andrew Jones, you can make room for a GOOD player.
While Manny might not be a given at Dodger Stadium, Vin Scully is and I wouldn't have it any other way. Recently he was named the Top sportscaster of All-time. And that's for good reason. He's been the voice of Dodger baseball for the past 60 years.
He was there with them when they were still the Brooklyn Dodgers bumming around in New York and he's been here with us ever since. Forever part of history as I'm sure we won't go too long before seeing the footage of him calling the Kirk Gibson home run or some of the other plays that simply knocked our socks off.
I'm a bit scared, to tell you the truth. For all my life he has been the soundtrack of summer. You turn on the radio and sure enough, you'll hear his voice during those nice cool summer days. After Chick Hearn, I wondered when Vin Scully would be taken from gracing the airwaves and it has been a constant fear ever since. So hang in there, Vinny, your summer days aren't over year and hopefully wont be any time soon.
Last year I finally had the majority of my seats behind home plate on the field level and during the seventh inning stretch it was amazing to look up and see Vin Scully standing in his booth area singing along with the crowd. Don't take him away, Sports gods. Don't you dare take him away anytime soon!
This week was one of goodbyes. When I wrote about D-day I didn't think I was asking to be parted with so many things that are meaningful to me. But here I am having to say goodbye to a lot of things. Don't know what I mean? Well then, let's see what we all lost this week.
Gil Grissom
I like to consider myself witty. I also like to blame my diet not working due to my stomach jumping out of my body while I sleep and consuming all of the food in the fridge. Both accusations have no facts to back them up.
Gil Grissom provided us awesome one liners for the opening of the original CSI. Making us laugh at the death of others in a way that DOESN'T get you funny stares. He was the serious face on the show that could often surprise you with something comical. Like your angry grandpa Joe who served one too many tours during WWII and he's seen more than a man should. But every once in a while he'll start cracking up about someone getting kicked the crotch.
We'll miss you Gil. Even though we have endless chances to see you on SPIKE or anywhere else that shows CSI in heavy syndication, not getting new one-liners to laugh about is going to be hard.
Ricardo Montablan
You may have known him from Fantasy Island. I and other nerds knew him as KAAAAHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNN! Yes, that's right. Kahn has past away. I wonder if he was buried in that terrible chest piece that he used in Star Trek 2: Wrath of Kahn. We'll miss you Kahn. I don't think there was anything nerds liked to scream out more than your character's name.
Friday Night Lights
I'm not a football fan. Maybe it has something to do with going to a Raiders game at a young age and seeing a massacre -Not on the field but in the parking lot. Those tailgating Raider nation fans are brutal. I really just shrugged off Football. Give me Baseball or Basketball any day. I didn't care for High School sports either. So why the hell do I even watch a show about this sport?
Even with that apathy for Football I have to say that I love Friday Night Lights. The show, while highlighted with High school football, still is one of the best written dramas on TV. Well.. that was on TV. Ok, it's still on TV, but it's like a new Tupac record, recorded long since being dead.
DirecTV made a deal with NBC to show the entire third season of this show before it started airing on NBC yesterday. So on Wednesday DirecTV aired the final episode of the season and yesterday NBC finally aired the first episode of the season. Ratings are going to be poor as anyone who wanted to see it, has already done so. It'll be a show not to get renewed. After watching the final episode I have to say it's one of the best shows around. It left an opening for season 4 but I'm fully prepared to be happy with it as the series closure. Goodbye great football drama.
Pushing Daisies
ABC... how dare you? HOW DARE YOU! You bring back Scrubs, a show that has lost so much of the fun over the years but you wont keep a critically acclaimed show? While not officially pushing up daisies yet, ABC has pushed the remaining THREE episode back to possibly summer or just doomed to be released like Wonderfalls and Firefly, to be seen only on DVD.
Fuck you ABC. Seriously. I want to see the remaining three episodes. It could provide closure. Well.. no it can't. I'm sure I'll want more like a crack fiend and I should get used to the good shows getting shit-canned. But it doesn't make the pain any less knowing this show is now pushing up daises. Now if only Ned touched the show bringing it back to life.
Prison Break
Fox has decided to not renew this show for next season and to be honest, I don't blame them. It was a guilty pleasure at best but I still liked it. Not because it was terrible Fox television. But because it was terrible Fox television. You see, that's job security for me. If Fox has pure evil programing I know it'll be on for a while. Opposed to GOOD television shows that will get canceled long before their time. As to not piss on my NDA, I'll say that prison break did provide me plenty of cash and job security. Not having another season to latch onto next season, well I'm sure there will be more shows to attach onto for a quick production buck.
Takashi Siato
After Eric Gagne broke my heart and went to a shit ton of different teams I was afraid to love a closer again. Then Takashi Siato came along and played one hell of a game. Pitching out the side and actually replacing the void that was left from the lack of Welcome to the jungle being played at the bottom of the 9th. He was good, damn good. So much that I didn't even throw away the bobble head they gave of him at the gate on that promotion night. If you know me, you'd know that bobbling headed toys give me the creeps... or at least mock me in ways that they otherwise shouldn't.
But then the heart break happened again. He went ahead and left me...er.... I mean Us, the dodger fans. He left us dodger fans and was picked up in deal with with the Boston Red Sox. Which leads me to ask when will the Dodgers sign Manny? With Siato, Penny and Lowell gone the pitching staff is going to be in bad shape. At least we can have some good hitters on the team. Come on Dodgers, get the big guns signed already!
Indie 103.1 For the last five years this Radio station, like Y-107 before it, challenged KROQ for Alternative mundaneness. And like those previous challengers, this one is now dead and buried in its turn to a Spanish language radio station. Welcome El Gato! Sure you're not going to play El Sex Pistoles, but then again, Indie 103.1 has been sort of selling itself out for a while. So this move is simply them tossing in the towel and just sticking to internet only in the pre-sell out format. Going internet only is going to cost them a lot of profit loss, but they'll keep that indie street cred.
As with anything once it dies you look back to the good days. I recall the first days of the station. Without DJ's it was amazing. They had special guest DJ's like Rob Zombie, Henry Rollins and The Crystal Method all running their own shows. It was great. Very few ads and a playlist that wasn't governed by the top 40.
At the very least Indie 103.1 FM went out the way it wanted to. When it's all said and done, not many of us can say they'd go out exactly the way they'd expect to. Many times you end up dying in some way you'd be rolling in your grave (literally!) knowing you went out like that. So for that, I tip my hat. Way to go out Your own way
And finally....
Batman He's dead. Well, as dead as any comic book character can be. I'm a huge Batman fan and well, it was pretty hard. God damn you Morrison! I think this has been well covered already. So I'll just grab the tissues and cry myself to sleep now. Where did I leave that bottle of Jack Daniels?
The old saying about how when God closes one door, he opens a window to push you out of is true. This week also is the week Battlestar Galactica comes back. Hell.Frakkin.YEAH! Only it's the last season of it. So it's just more proof that everything you love will come to an end. Some things sooner than others. Enjoy them while they last.
And no sooner than this masterpiece of a television show is back am I tempted to go grave digging to pick off the spoils. Like most other grave robbers, I have no ethical scruples with grabbing the loot before the body turns cold as many will go to the big BSG auction in Pasadena this weekend. NBC has embraced the idea of making as much money as possible. If this means selling off meaningless props that will collect dust in the prop room instead of use them for some theme park ride, then by all means they'll do it that way.
Believe you me, I worked for Universal and they'll gladly do whatever they can to save a buck here and there. Now if there's one thing about me, it's that I love props. I usually raid the prop department whenever I can get away with it. Sneaking off with props of canceled shows like a looter in New Orleans... I mean... whaaa?
But as tempted as I am to go piss away money this weekend, I'm not sure if I should. DineLA week is coming up and good food does sound like a better investment than the wall paneling of corridor 5 leading to Commander Adama's room. Besides, I think I have some bad ass props as it is. I mean, check this out. It's prop hero gun used in season 1 when they had all those funky looking unrealistic guns. Not only that, but it's signed by Lee "Apollo" Adama himself.. OOoOOOOoooh yeah! I'm a nerd.
How you frakkin' like me now, yo!
So as bittersweet it is to lose all these things in such a short time span. But there's always something new and exciting in the horizon and I personally can't wait to climb that ridge and take a glance at all that. Exciting new days ahead. A week of goodbyes followed by new Hellos.
So it's been a couple of days since the Dodgers lost game 5 and the series to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS issuing an end of the Dodgers season and the final time of the year we'll hear Vin Scully paint a masterpiece as he calls the game. That's when I know summer has officially ended. After 35+ baseball games I went to this year baseball for the year is finally coming to a close.
It was a good season. Well, a good one for the Dodgers given all the injuries, a lot of downs and some amazing ups mixed into the twist and turns of the past nine months. Third base was constantly being filled by someone new. From Nomar to Dewitt. A team that won a game without a single hit. Yes, that's correct. The dodgers won against the Angels with them pitching a shut out (close enough with no bottom of the ninth). We then got Manny and our hitting was out of the park. A Dodgers team that lost eight straight in August and still managed to beat the rest of the NL Worst. To come in and sweep the cubs and make it all the way to the NLCS. Three wins away from a World Series, the first successful post season run since 1988. Dodgers might not have made it all the way, but they gave us nothing short of a great season.
So thanks, Dodger stadium. In your newly renovated and constantly upgraded halls lies my summer of love. My enjoyment over the warm days and cool nights. The taste of Dodger dogs still lingers in my mouth and the exploits of my drunken (illegal)tailgating will remain between my hazy memory and the fine officers who wrecked that enjoyment every so often.
My summer home.
It's a bit sad to see Baseball almost come to an end. But then I realize that unlike Football and Basketball, Baseball is one of those extremely long sports that last a good 9 out of the 12 months. So it wont be too long before I'm over in Arizona for spring training.
Baseball is a fickle mistress. She comes to you in the spring time and the both of you train together. Warming up with all of springs blooming life. You spend your evenings together all summer during the day and through the night. Drinking, eating and enjoying a couple of hours together. Then as fall comes new and the colors of the leafs start to change the amount of teams around start dwindling down and she leaves you to tough out the cold winter alone.
Each year you return to her dressed in your team colors and with a positive cheer along with it. Well, not you Cubs fans. You might as well just assume it's going to be year 101. She's there waiting for the Baseball fans. Any true blue American who will embrace her year after year. Well, except for 1994. That was one of those years she was just acting like a total bitch and you were just not having any of that.
So I come before you once both AL and NL championship division teams finished off with a top dog. It'll be the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It's not the match up the media wanted, Dodgers/Red Sox, due to the potential drama of the Manny trade, the many Red Sox transplants and Joe Torre. But that was not to be. Congrats Tampa Bay. You're a young team with nothing to lose and everything to gain with an amazing record. Going from worse to first was amazing. Being the AL team, you'll be ripe for picking this World Series win from the Phillies with ease.
Till Spring Training, I'll be crying Dodger blue. Wait.. there's no crying in baseball! We got close Joe, let's do it next year!
With a title like that, you'd think that this was some sort of economy blog. NOPE! I've been there, done that, have the t-shirt. No more of that shit till another stupid thing happens in the news that I'd like to mock endlessly. This quick note is about Baseball. Is there anything more American than a Dodger Dog (Haawwwt Dawwwwg) in your hand and a cold beer in another, sitting on your ass watching grown men hit balls as far as they can.
All summer long you've enjoyed this sport and as Fox has put it, you can't script October. Trust me, they've tried. It ended a huge failure in the 94 baseball season when the Yankees SAG members and Dodgers SAG members couldn't come to a compromise on residuals for the home video market.
1994.. the year that didn't have this at Dodger stadium
Here we are experiencing October baseball. So who's ready to put some money where their mouth is at? I like my boys in blue. It's been 20 years since they won a world series, with Manny, Nomar, Maddox, Penny, Lowe, Blake and Torre I'm ready for another championship. So my meager $20 for the Dodgers to take it in the office pool isn't much when you look over to Vegas to see how many jonesing for a bet are willing to plop down.
I know one man who's itching to put something on the line. Mayor Anotonio Villaraigosa. Our fine mayor, in tradition of making completely pussy friendly bets with rival teams. In this case Villaraigosa has made a wager with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. So you must be wondering what exactly is on the line?
His name is Tony Villaraigosa and he has a gambling problem...
If (or should I say When considering the cursed) the Dodgers win against the Cubs, Chicago will have to hand over their 2016 Olympic Bid that Los Angeles lost. If the Cubs win, Chicago gets to take LA Times owner Sam Zell Back.
Now I'm torn. I really don't want the Olympics in Los Angeles again. I'm still trying to sell off all the stupid cartoon Bald Eagle crap from the last time it was here over twenty years ago. You can't give this shit away. Los Angeles is full of traffic as it is. We don't need to lure more tourist into our fine city.
Then there's Sam Zell. Any journalist will tell you that he has been a human house pet to the paper and only pisses on it every other day. Slashing jobs and destroying content. Reporting news that is days old. It's a piece of shit now. I used to look forward to opening the paper. In this modern day of internet news, the LA Times is a thing of the past.
As much as it pains me to say this, Dodgers, I think we're going to have to take a fall. Am I going to have to cheer for the Cubs now? How about we just put up a different bet on the line. If Dodgers win, Chicago changes The Friendly Confines as their motto to The worthless Chicago team. And if the Dodgers lose, they'll.. I dunno. stop putting ketchup on hawwwt dawwwgs
This makes me think of something else. I really think these sort of bets are lame. It's like when the mayor of Boston bets a crock of clam chowder and the mayor of green bay bets a wheel of cheese. What kind of bet is that? I'd like to see two teams face off from cities who's mayors have massive gambling problems. It'll be interesting to see where they'd take a bet.
Here's some of my ideas as to a wagers to put your money where your mouth is at.
Losing city has to have every city hall employee show up to work naked on the following Monday.
Six months worth of sanitation budget, straight up.
Losing city changes all border signs to read "now entering loserville" for one week.
Losing team moves all of their scheduled home games to winning teams' stadium, concession sales from relocated games go into city slush fund.
Losing City does the others laundry for a month
Sexual favors. Nuff said
Mowing the lawn of all the other cities residents while wearing their wife's Sunday dress
Playing for pink slip, yo.
Bragging rights.. to sleeping with the losers moms! Ooooh SNAP!
City hall, straight up.
So come on Dodgers...er.. Cubs. Fuck, either way we're boned with this series. So.. is there any Cubs fans out there willing to put the curse on the back burner and let it ride?
In Which I Fall In Love With Dodger Stadium All Over Again
Ah spring, it’s that time of year again when it gets darker later and the weather is nicer. Love is in the air. And if you’re at Chavez Ravine you’ll know what I mean. Plain and simply, Thinking blue has never been so good.
This is the part where I show off my seats
While opening day is on Monday, I have made it a habit to go to the exhibition games for the last couple of years. Compared to opening day, the parking is actually something that wont drive you stir crazy. That and it’s an excuse to take in a long awaited Dodger Dog a couple of days early.
Add in that with the trip comes the chance to see all the changes that have happened to the stadium since last September. For months they were showing us glimpses and really, I was getting a little worried. For example, here’s some of the before and after shots.
From this
to this
to this
And from this to
I know what you’re thinking, "Holy shit, what’s up with those Ghost?" Don’t worry, I thought the same thing. I can at least say that even with the new changes, the ghost of old players weren’t getting into fights with others because of a bad call. Then again, they haven’t had the Giants come to town yet. That’ll be the true test.
As if the pictures didn’t tell you enough, you may be asking what exactly did they add? For starters, the field section, and personally speaking the best place to sit in the stadium, has gone through a lot of changes. The old concrete look is long gone and it has a slick new shine and feel. Add in two new stadium club higher end dinning establishments as well and you got the ball rolling.
On that note, it should be mentioned that ghost get hungry. When they do, they’ll need new places to dine. Now I don’t know about your spooky old hospital ghost, but Dodger Stadium ghost are pure foodies
Add in the new food concession stands and you have yourself some amazing food to partake in while you sit and watch Joe Torre run a player into the ground. Which, by the way now has new bullpens with plenty of green. Something, I’m sure, Eric Gagne requested that they finally got around to it. Must have been why he signed to Boston.
So to run down some of the new treats, Camacho’s finally gets a spot for itself. In the years past, to get their nachos you would have to track down the one line hidden within the other stands. Now you get all the Camacho’s Nachos you can handle. Ruby’s Diner has its own stand. But since I really don’t care about that place and Angel stadium has ruined my taste for the place, I’ll just ignore it. Then you have the tried and true Gordon Biersch that has garlic fries that you would die for. There’s also a new Think Blue Bar. Which I guess it’s sort of themed. Just give me a good drink and I’ll be happy. Really, after a couple of Dodger special drinks and I really don’t know if I’ll be thinking much of anything. Have a Hurricane and you’ll be ready to rock like one.
Finally we get to the best new addition to Dodger Stadium. Canter’s famous Jewish deli now has a concession stand. Which is great because I always felt that baseball was missing kosher food. I don’t know how many times I’ve been reading my tora while a ground rule double was in play and thought to myself "Boy is it drafty in here, what does a person have to do to get a matzo ball soup around here! Oh, don’t worry about me, I’ll just sit here and die of frost." So they answered my call. To be honest I’m glad they picked Canter’s over Jerry’s, I really don’t know how they would fit Jerry’s ten page menu into the food stand.
Oy! Canter’s in Dodger Stadium. What a world!
And last, but certainly first when it comes to food at Dodger Stadium is the classic Dodger dog. And I’ll answer this one off the bat, I do put ketchup on my dog. You no-ketchup on a hot purist can rot in hell for all I care, I like my wiener the way I like it! It should be mentioned that you should only buy the Super Dodger Dog. While I put my trust into grilled meat in tube form, I still like the taste of the Super Dog better. mmmmm, first dodger dog of the season
And all that makes for signs of a great new season. Hell, so far I’ve gone to two games and am going to what will obviously be a cluster fuck Saturday game at the Coliseum. So all these are reasons for me to be excited. Maybe you also share the same feelings to the boys in blue. Just know that Dodger stadium keeps getting better and there’s no place I’d rather be on a warm summer night than catching a game at Dodger Stadium.
On a final note, if you are a guy and have ever pissed at Dodger Stadium, you would sure enough remember the troughs. Horses and cattle eat from these, you.. pissed in one.
Lovely, aren’t they? Well, Good bye troughs, thanks for the awkward memories. At least in the field level area. They re-did all the bathrooms and made them pretty advanced. I’m not sure if they got to the other section bathrooms, but on the field level is where I sit whenever I come so it’s a change for me. And really, I’m going to miss those things. Nothing brought you together as a team like awkwardly pissing in the same general toilet as everyone else.
But when the baseball gods (Frank McCourt) closes a door, he opens a window. And this window is huge. They may have taken away the pissing spot for us guys but they added one piece of technology to all the restrooms. The airblade I may just have to develop OCD so I can wash my hands and dry them in this thing 20 times in the span of a couple of innings. Simple instructions. Put your hands into it and it’ll blast both sides with blades of air. It’s like sex if you had to get wet for it and do it in the bathroom.
Once was a writer, tho, you see words to your left, so I guess I'm still that to some degree.
You can find my scribbles and mind ranting on this and various other places as a means to keep the creative, satirical and costco talk muscles worked out.
Was once apart of the tv industry, but I'm sure the NDA's are still in effect so let's move on from that. Now I spend my time slinging beer and keeping a building in one piece.
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