Case of the Mondays; PPV Porn Titles; Birthdays

Case of the Mondays
Dropped Lindsay off at jury duty right around the block from Yankee Stadium, pretty shitty area, besides the Stadium.
Drove 6 miles in 34 minutes to get back to work, and I hate traffic. (along with the rest of the world)
I just got finished moving some bleachers, real fun.
I just got finished moving some metal barricades, awesome.
I'm gonna head down to the park in a little while to stand on some scaffolding and change light bulbs in the scoreboard, soooo looking forward to that.

PPV Porn Titles
These things crack me up, although sometimes they aren't all that funny.  Last night, I re-read my post (yes, I'm a loser) and Lindsay and I were laughing so hard we were crying at the titles on television last night.  I mean loosen your screws a little and just take in the genius that is involved with selecting porn titles.

I need a laugh, so I am going over to TVGuide.com to check out some more porn titles showing today on channels 92 and 93 (for a nominal fee):
The MILFY Way:  Mom on Mom Sex - Has nothing to do with astronomy
Young Hot & Filthy Little Ho's - ???
High Class Urban Ho's:  Ghetto Sexual - I am not sure how many caucasian ho's are in this one
Bi-Girls:  Classy & Trashy Sexaholics - Classy and trashy?  Killer combination.

The weather out here isn't so bad, I just wish the sun would come out.  I have shorts on and a long sleeve shirt, but the wind out there on the scaffolding can be bone-chilling at times.

Birthdays
Doris Day turns 88 today.  "Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray,South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio..." to quote the great Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire".

Nathan turned two today.  Our little dog is growing up (I know, I sound like a crazy old cat lady) but he's a good shit.  He still only knows how to sit when he gets a treat, but that's good enough for us.  He has the occasional accident in the house (mainly on his bed, for some odd reason) but otherwise he's well-trained and well-behaved.  He barks only when we bark at him (yes, we bark at him) and everyone in the building knows his name.  Only issue is, they don't know Lindsay's name or mine.  Oh well, it's a dog community.  Woof woof!

Grandma Coiro (maternal grandmother) is celebrating another birthday today.  We sent a card out this morning, so it'll be a little late, but it's better than nothing, right?  I plan on calling her after I am done changing light bulbs.  We haven't seen her in a while, since she lives down in Florida, but I'm guessing she'll fly up once Baby D comes around.  She enjoys wine spritzers and hanging with the Red Hat Ladies at the clubhouse.  She's a social butterfly.

OK, that's enough from me, I better get to work.  I don't wanna get fired 10 days before the baby is due, that wouldn't be smart.  Off to the park, screwdriver and lightbulbs in tow.

Birthday Roll Call; Dear: Rain

Birthday Roll Call
Happy (dead) Birthday to the 4th President of this great nation, James Madison.  You'd be 260 years old today, Jemmie (what his friends called him).  This guy was the littlest President in history, weighing in at a whopping 100 pounds and standing around five feet, four inches tall.  A pretty dimunitive leader.  He made an astounding $25,000 a year when he was in office.  Happy Birthday to the guy who said "I always talk better lying down" on his deathbed.

Blake Griffin is 22-years old today.  Imagine being that talented at such a young age.  The dude's a man-child.  Here's a list of some of his accomplishments in the NBA - 2011 Slam Dunk Champ, 2011 All-Star, regular on ESPN's Top Plays.  In college, he was the 2009 Big 12 Player of the Year, 2009 Naismith College Player of the Year, 2009 AP National Player of the Year, 2009 Oscar Robertson Trophy, and the 2009 Adolph Rupp Trophy.  Those might not mean a lot to a non-basketball fan (like myself) but if you watch this kid play, he's an absolute beast.  Happy Birthday!


Dear Rain,

Just when I thought the precipitation would end for a few days, just a few days, you dump a few inches of rain on us.  At least you had the decency to bring it overnight. 

I am not a fan of your little brother snow either, but him I can tolerate.  It doesn't get me soaking wet when I step outside.  The only advantage you have is that when you're around, the weather is typically a little warmer.  Today though, it's only about 37° out there, so you're on the fence.

Sure, they've said you bring May flowers, but it's not even April, so why the hell did you decide to arrive early?

Anyway, I digress.

I appreciate what you're trying to do - green up the grass and clean the cars.  I am just glad I'm living in NY and not in Henderson Lake, British Columbia, which averages 256" of rain a year.  In Guadeloupe, Caribbean Islands, 1.5" of rain once fell in one minute - a record.  We only get around 42" of rain a  year here, so I won't bitch too much.

Anyways, you're supposed to be outta here by noon, so I can't get on you too much.  But do me a favor, rain when it's convenient for me - like during the overnight hours.  I don't drive too far to work, so I am not concerned with the toll you take on traffic, but ease up on them too.

We got a game today over at Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ at 3:30 pm.  They got turf, so I hope you don't factor in to the game.

Here's to staying dry.

Love,

Ryan

WVU and Cuse; News Desk; Birthday Time

 WVU and Cuse
 Syracuse is locked up in a tight one with Bob "I Don't Do Suits" Huggins' Mountaineers at the Carrier Dome tonight.  West Virginia took a four point lead into the half, but a 17-5 run to start the second half has pushed the Orange back in front, 43-35 with 14:46 to play.

West Virginia seems to have brought their three game with them, connecting on seven of fourteen in the first half.

Syracuse looks like they got a little talking to in the locker room - their zone seems a lot better - oops, there's a three ball by WVU.  Spoke too soon.  Still up five.

Not much else on the slate tonight, besides newly anointed #1 Kansas' trip to Manhattan to take on the Wildcats of Kansas State.  KU is laying 6.5 on the road in a game that should have been played during Rivalry Week.

News Desk
Air Nakedness - On Saturday, during a flight from Chicago to New York, an emotionally disturbed woman stripped naked while cruising the friendly skies and created quite a ruckus.  She was taken to a Queens hospital but will not face criminal charges.  I guess she was a little too late on opting for the strip search.

Vick on Oprah - Michael Vick is going to Chicago - for an interview with Oprah - on February 24th.  They'll discuss his dog-fighting past and how he's trying to make amends.  Oprah had a bet with Piers Morgan that she'd land a one-on-one with Vick before "The Owl" Larry King.  I hope he pays her the 200 pounds and not pellets.

Tiger Spits on Green - I think a little too much is being made about Tiger Woods spitting on the green during the Dubai Desert Classic.  A breach of the tour code of conduct?  I guess maybe it's an unwritten rule, and since golf is such a proper sport (see: John Daly), how could he do such a thing.  Who gives a shit if he spit or not - a bigger deal should be made over the final round 75.

Birthday Time
Happy birthday to Super Bowl XXXVI Champion Drew Bledsoe, who turns 39 today.  The first pick of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Washington State, a once proud football program, put together quite a career.  He played for the Bills and Cowboys after his hey-day with the Patriots.  This is a guy who threw for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns.  The guy was a monster at 6'5" and 238 pounds.  After he retired, he founded a winery with Seattle Mariners IF Chone Figgins, called Doubleback Winery.  Happy birthday Drew!

Birthday Bash - Baseball Edition

Now for a special edition of Birthday Bash - baseball.  For the sake of keeping order in the post, I will start with the oldest and work my way to the youngest.

A true pioneer in every sense of the word and a man who changed the game forever, Jackie Robinson would have turned 92 today.  If you don't know his story, you need to seriously reconsider your existence.

(courtesy of MLB)

Here's a few factoids for you less-educated baseball people out there, by the numbers style: 
1st:  Black player in MLB history (1947)
42:  His number, retired by the MLB for all players except Mariano Rivera
6: World Series appearances
1: World Series championship (1955)
6: Consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1949-1954)
.311: Career batting average in 10 MLB seasons

Happy Birthday Mr. Jackie Robinson, may you rest in peace.  You've a legend.

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks turns 80 today.  This 14-time All-Star has his #14 retired by the Chicago Cubs (on a flag flown at all games at Wrigley Field) and is a proud member of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  You think Ernie Banks and you think of the Chicago Cubs.  He had himself a stellar playing career:  2x NL MVP (1958, 1959), 1960 Gold Glove Award winner, 512 career HR's, 2,583 career hits, and 1,636 career RBI's.  Happy Birthday Mr. Cub.

"The Ryan Express" turns 64 today.  And based on some of the first pitches he's thrown out in recent games, he can probably still get some guys out.  This guy has staggering numbers from his playing career, including one royal ass-kicking of a young, brash Robin Ventura back in August of 1993.  Straight headlock to punching bag.

He definitely deserves a by the numbers look:
8: All-Star Game selections
5,714: Strikeouts (leads Randy Johnson by almost 1,000 for the all-time mark)
3: # of teams who retired his number (Texas Rangers #34, Houston Astros #34, Los Angeles Angels #30)
7: Career No-Hitters - this number will never be broken (Sandy Koufax is 2nd with 4)
3.19: Career ERA in 5,386 innings
27: Seasons played

Happy Birthday Nolan Ryan.  You gave hitters the business.

Hope you learned a little more about baseball today.  Go to the bar tonight and flaunt your new found knowledge of America's PastTime. 

And here's a few other notable folks who share their birthday with baseball greatness:  Musician and actor who brought sexy back Justin Timberlake (30); The voice of Jane in Disney's Tarzan, actress Minnie Driver (40); Miss USA 1997 and former Barker's Beauty Brandi Sherwood (40); former Sex Pistols rocker Johnny "Rotten" Lydon (55); and rock guitarist Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music fame (60).

Good day to you and yours.

KC Chiefs < Oakland Raiders; and it's Birthday Tiiiiiiime

It's taken some time, but the Ravens seem to have finally began to impose their will on the measly Chiefs.  After an early 41-yard jaunt to pay dirt for Jamaal Charles, not much has gone right for the AFC West champs.

The Chiefs were +9 this  year, but today, for some reason (inexperience in the playoffs) they're -2 (2 takeaways, 4 turnovers).  Cassel has two interceptions.  Charles and McCluster both have lost a fumble.  Three of their 8 possessions so far have ended in a turnover and one more ended on downs.  They've mustered up only 37 yards in the third quarter. 

Meanwhile, the Purple People Eaters have scored on 3 straight possessions, and are knocking on the door step of making it four in a row.  2nd & 4 at the KC four yard line.  TD Baltimore.  Anquan Boldin - dude's a beast.  Wacco Flacco is playing out of his mind too - 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Only thing that worries me is their running game is nonexistent.  Gotta get Ray Rice going downhill if they expect to keep playing past next weekend.

23-7 Baltimore.  Might as well get some things done before the Packers and Eagles start, this one's all but over.  Baltimore at Pittsburgh next week is going to be some bloodbath.  Let's go Ravens!

Silver & Black would have represented the AFC West better than the bumbling, stumbling, fumbling Chiefs.  Maybe they got too much of that KC BBQ sauce on their fingers.

Here's a feature I haven't spoken on in a while - one that was a regular in the repertoire last year - my birthday roll call.  Happy birthday to Kate Middleton, the fiancée of Prince William of Wales.  Her last one as a single woman, I'm sure she's on lockdown.  Maybe they'll let her family come to the castle once in a while, just to say hi.

On the sports side of things, Packers great Bart Starr is 77 years old today.  He helped lead the Packers to five Super Bowl titles - including being MVP of Super Bowl I and II.  The former 17th round pick (200th overall) was one of five HOF'ers in the 1956 NFL Draft.  Happy birthday Bart Starr.  I'm sure Aaron Rodgers is making you proud like his predecessor Brett Favre didn't.  Go Pack!

Time to take off, this game's almost over.  Marist leads Manhattan 61-55 with 1:28 left.  Both teams are struggling this year, looks like the Jaspers are hurting a little more.  They travel to Florida after the game to take on FAU on Tuesday in a rescheduled game (snow wiped out travel the first time they were supposed to fly down).

Bye!

Happy Birthday's

James A. Garfield

The 20th President of the United States of America, James Abram Garfield would have turned 179 today.  He was assassinated walking through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad.  He was in office for just over 6 months before he died, courtesy of a bullet fired by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2nd.  He died in office on September 19, 1881. 

Guiteau was a smug S.O.B. all the way to the end.  He loved being in the public's eye, waving and smiling all the way to his execution.  The reason he shot the President... ...he thought he should be given a government job.

Guiteau was mentioned in the song "Mr. Garfield" by Johnny Cash.

A few factoids about James A. Garfield:
1. He was the first left handed president

2. He juggled Indian clubs to build his  muscles
3. He graduated from Williams College
4. He learned to read at 3 years-old

5. He was 6 feet tall

Rest in peace, Mr. President.

Indian clubs

Happy Birthday's

  Just browsed a list of today's famous birthdays (courtesy of www.famousbirthdays.com) and found it interesting that there are no interesting birthday's today.  This prompted me to google "today's sports birthdays" and although I have yet to view the results, I'd imagine I can round up some pertinent information on at least 1 or 2 of these athletes.

  1.  Happy Birthday to Joliet, IL native Jesse Barfield.  51 years young today, he was once a featured gun out in right field, known predominantly for a cannon otherwise knows as his right arm.  He led all outfielders in assists from 1985 to 1987 - surprisingly, people kept trying to take an extra base on him.  He finished his career with 162 outfield assists - well short of Tris Speakers 449 career assists, but still a huge number for a 12 year career.

  Some of his on-field accomplishments included making the 1986 AL All-Star team (0-3, 2K), winning 2 Gold Glove Awards (1986, 1987) as well as a Silver Slugger Award (1986).  For his   After 8+ seasons north of the border, he was traded to the NY Yankees for left-handed pitcher Al Leiter.  He remained with the Yankees until after the 1992 season, when he took his game overseas and played for the Yomiuri Giants for a season in 1993.

  Barfield can still be found at Yankee Stadium for the yearly Old Timer's Day - throwing old dudes out at home with regularity.

  Over his 12-year MLB career, he amassed 241 HR, 716 RBI's, and 1,234 strikeouts (in 1,428 games).  He wasn't so much known for his bat, but he had an arm that base runners of his era will not soon forget.

  2.  Former NY Islander defenceman Denis Potvin turns 57 today.  He was the 1st overall pick in the 1973 NHL Draft and was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1991.  Although he is currently one of the voices of the Florida Panthers, it might best be remembered when the Islanders and Rangers played at the Garden, Ranger fans chanting, "beat your wife Potvin, beat your wife." over and over and over again.  Unless you've been to a Rangers game, you don't know the tempo or cadence of that chant, but you get the picture.  Another favorite of Ranger fans, albeit less original, were the "Potvin Sucks!" chants that bellowed from the rafters of MSG.  They were all jealous of his beard.

  I was brought up an Islanders fan (it gets harder and harder to root for them) but I will stick by them.  They play in a dump, so the end product really is no surprise.  He and Brian Trottier are the only two players Islanders to play 1,000 games for the team, a list that isn't likely to grow anytime soon.

  Let's Go Islanders!  Let's Go Islanders!  Potvin helped lead the Islanders to an unprecedented 4 consecutive Stanley Cup victories from 1979-80 to 1982-83.  (even though on the 1980-81 Cup, it reads "Ilanders").

  3. NY Mets right handed knuckle-baller RA Dickey is 36 today.

  4. Former Ohio State standout RB and current criminal Maurice Clarett turns 27 today.

  5. Puerto Rican boxing great Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (44-3-1) turns 54 today.

  SF Giants are two wins away folks.  SUCKA!  All you Rangers fans with that stupid air high five or magic fist or claw, whatever you wanna call it.  Doesn't seem to be working thus far.  Still a ways to go, but it's a good start for the renegade Giants.

Happy Birthday's

  A segment I've gotten away from a bit happens to be one of my favorites.  It allows me to dig up some random facts on whoever has a birthday on a specific date.  Today's date is October 25th, and I have yet to look up to see who shares this day as the day of their birth, but here goes:

  The General, legendary college basketball coach Robert Montgomery Knight turns the big 7-0 today.  He is most known for his intensity, outbursts, witty comebacks, sweaters, and serious temper (not to mention the whole chair throwing incident in 1985 against Purdue).  The leader in NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching wins (902) currently is employed by ESPN as an analyst and color-commentator.  There is no one I'd rather listen to than him when watching my Duke Blue Devils on TV (except well-known Dukie Dick Vitale).

  Happy birthday coach!

  Everyone's favorite California Gurl, Katy Perry turns 26 today.  Fresh off her marriage to comedian Russell Brand just off a tiger reserve in India, the singer is probably toying around with her wedding gift from Brand, a baby Bengal tiger.  Not to be outdone, she gave Russell a baby elephant as a token of her love.  Odd as it may seem, nothing surprises me when it comes to Russell Brand.  The dude is hilarious.

  Maybe it's just the British accent or the fact that I understand only 25% of what comes out of his mouth, but either way, happy birthday Katy Perry.  Keep on with the wacky outfits, but I swear if I hear California Gurls one more time on the radio, I am going to lose it.

  Lots to do today, so I gotta get a move on.  Happy birthday to all, and to all, a good day.

  Oh, and how about those Raiders?!  a 59-14 ass-whooping of the Broncos.  Kyle Orton is getting all this love all season for throwing for so many yards, maybe because his team is terrible (2-5) and they are down every game, thus forcing the offense to call more passing plays.  Regardless, the Raiders are 3-4 (2-0 in AFC West) and for once look like a professional football team.  They host the Seahawks next week before a huge game with the 1st-place Chiefs.

  Let's keep it rolling, don't fall into the trap-game mentality.  .500 this late in the season might as well Christmas in October.  But seriously, a Halloween game, in Oakland, with a chance to get to .500 - look out.  The Black Hole is normally like Halloween every home game for the Raiders, but I have a feeling they got their mojo back by the bay.  Silver and Black are back, baby.

  Bye now!

Happy Birthday's

  A feature I've gotten away from for the past several months - ah hell, I've gotten away from blogging for a while.  It's kind of difficult with no internet.  I just recently downloaded the Blogger application on my cell phone, so if I don't have a chance to sit down and really put something good together, I can always enter in a short entry.  Just to keep you readers happy.  Anyway, on to the birthdays.

  Terry Bradshaw turns the big 6-2 today.  The Hall of Famer is now an announcer for the NFL, I think on FOX5 here in New York.  He finished his career with 212 TD and 210 INT.  Not a great ratio, but considering he won 4 Super Bowls, I'd say he's HOF worthy.  He's pretty funny to listen to, but often times gets carried away and just likes to hear himself speak.

  He was also named to the 1970's NFL All-Decade Team (he was 2nd Team), a team that included QB Roger Staubach, RB Walter Payton, WR Lynn Swann on the offensive side of the ball, and DT Joe Greene, MLB Dick Butkus, and CB Willie Brown on the defensive side of the ball.  The punter was all-time great Ray Guy.  In any event, happy birthday Mr. Steel Arm.

  Turning 42 today is possibly the most well-known Mexican-American actress alive, Salma Hayek. She came to the US from Mexico but struggled at first to pick up the English language - she was dyslexic.  She bounced back pretty well, and seems to be doing alright for herself.

  Her US big-screen debut came opposite Antonio Banderas in the 1995 blockbuster Desperado.  She's also been in From Dusk til Dawn, Wild Wild West, and the cult hit Dogma (with Chris Rock).

  She's also always listed among the Top100 Sexiest Women in most men's publications.  And for good reason.  Feliz Cumpleanos Salma Hayek.

  That's all for now.  I am going to continue melting.  Unbearable heat.

Seal Island

   I as just watching a segment on ESPN about Seal Island, off the coast of South Africa, and the chain of command down there.  The dense population of fur seals is what leads to the prevalence of great white sharks.  Heading into the water down there would be insanity - something I would never even consider doing.  Just seeing those beasts flying out of the ocean and snagging a meal mid-air is amazing.


   Speaking of getting thrown into the sharks, here is my list of 2010 All-Star game snubs.  These are the guys who fell off the vote-boat.  (Answers will be at the bottom)


   1.  Position Player Snub:
   1.  Player A:  .318 BA, 21 HR, 59 RBI, .599 SLG%, 1.017 OPS
   1.  Player B:  .305 BA, 20 HR, 60 RBI, .567 SLG%, .981 OPS
   1.  Player C:  .291 BA, 16 HR, 51 RBI, .517 SLG%, .902 OPS
   1.  Player D:  .296 BA, 15 HR, 59 RBI, .502 SLG%, .852 OPS


   Three of these players are on the squad and one is not, an to me, it's not even close.  There is one guy (Player A, cough cough...) that should have been a lock.  Fans don't know players in smaller markets, and it's sad because this players team is actually competing for a change.

   I mean the Marlins tried to bribe fans with 2 free tickets to a game if you punched all Marlins to the All-Star Game on at least 200 ballots.  Doofs!



   2.  RHP Starter Snub:  9-4, 2.62 ERA, 91 K, 0.96 WHIP, .193 BAA


   His team is at the top of it's division and he has the lowest WHIP in his league and the lowest BAA in baseball.  His stuff is dirty and he's a huge dude (6'6", 225 lbs.)


   3.  Reliever Snub: 
   3.  Player A:  2-0, 22 SV (2 BS), 2.04 ERA, .241 BAA
   3.  Player B:  3-0, 17 SV (2 BS), 2.02 ERA, .231 BAA
   3.  Player C:  3-1, 12 HLD, 2 SV (1 BS), 1.03 ERA, .122 BAA, ZERO HITS to LHH


   Granted you want closers in the game, and seeing how the Pirates are so bad that their lone rep was a middle man (Evan Meek), I guess there was no room for a guy who knows how to shut down an inning to get it to the closer.  Plus, he's had four arm surgeries - this guy is known as "The Cockroach" in the clubhouse.   This guy hasn't let up a hit to a LHH - all year - in 10.1 IP.  He is a specialist.  I hope Player A or B comes in when a LHH comes up and serves one up - if only Player C was available.  Or they'll use their only other LHP, who's like 100 years old.



   That is all I have time for today, but these are three of the guys I feel got thrown to the sharks off the coast of Seal Island.  Two are in lesser markets, one is in a big market, but either way, the best players should get in.  (I'm not going to make a push for Stephen Strasburg, because he has just six appearances under his belt and I feel that although he does give the NL a good chance to win, he hype doesn't get you in to an All-Star Game)


   Oh yeah, here are the answers and players listed above:


   #1 - Position Player Snub:  Player A - SNUBBED - JOEY VOTTO, Player B - Albert Pujols (STL), Player C - Adrian Gonzalez (SD), Player D - Ryan Howard (PHI)



   #2 - RHP Starter Snub:  Mat Latos (SD)


   #3 - Reliever Snub:  Player A - Brian Wilson (SF), Player B - Jonathan Broxton (LAD), Player C - SNUBBED - HONG-CHIH KUO (LAD)


   Alright, time to go.  I hope you don't get snubbed.  And remember, if you want to see sharks up close, stand two feet from your television during Shark Week on Discovery Channel.


   Happy 34th Birthday 50 Cent, G-Unit, we in here, party like it's your birthday.  If you see him in the club, bottle full of bub.  Word, yo.

Happy Birthday America

   Happy 234th Birthday USA. 

   Celebrate and I will be back in full force once the holiday weekend is over.  Again, I apologize for the lapses in posts, things are getting busy on the home front.

   Have a great day and celebrate your Stars and Stripes!

Baseball and Birthdays

Well, the Yankees almost pulled it off last night against the Phillies.  Brad Lidge's ERA went up from a 1.12 to a 2.00 and he made the game pretty interesting.  He's been pretty automatic since he's been healthy this season, so it was good that the Yanks showed a little fight.  I was on the flight back from Dallas, so I missed it.  We flew AirTran but I wish I would have gone JetBlue.  AirTran has some of the most cramped seating of any airline I've ever been on.  K, K, BB, 2B, 1B, K.  He struck out the side, but all the drama started with a two-out walk to Mark Teixeira and could have ended with a walk-off. 

The Rays are reeling (7-6 in June), the Yankees have been fairly steady (10-4 in June), as are the Sox (10-5 in June).  The Blue Jays have fallen back down to Earth and the O's are still looking for an answer.  Shaping up to be a three horse race again, for like the fifth straight season. 

I am going to the Yankees game tonight - and am just counting my blessings I don't have to suffer through a Jamie Moyer start.  Kyle Kendrick vs. Andy Pettitte.  Andy is going for win #201 as a Yankee and #238 overall.  He is putting up incredible numbers thus far, with his only real bad outing being against the Rays on May 20th (5 IP, 9 H, 7 R) in am 8-6 loss.  Looking forward to the game - it's always nice seeing a game at the Stadium, freaking thing is awesome.  It's really a sight to be seen.

The Rays are on the docket too, as Big Game James Shields takes on Tim Hudson in Atlanta.  The Yanks could take over first place tonight.  Hudson has been nothing short of dominant this year (6-2, 2.43 ERA).  He's had some command issues (30 BB in 85.1 IP) but has pitched out of the jams for the most part.  His last outing was a 2-1 CG loss to the Twins (8 IP, 7 H, 2 K).  When he's on, he's tough to hit.  Let's go Timmy.

Party at the "Copacabana", Barry Manilow turns 64 years old today.  He's still knocking them dead - I mean he should be, he's probably had a lot of $$ pumped in and out of his face.  He's made quite the transformation - I mean normally, you go from left to right, he went the opposite direction.  Wrinkles be gone, poof!!  I am kind of glad he chose Barry Manilow, seeing how he was born Barry Alan Pincus.  He was raised in Williamsburg Brooklyn.  He started off writing jingles, and his most famous being State Farm Insurance ("Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there...") and Band-Aid's (I am stuck on Band-Aid, 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!").  Happy Birthday Barry, and thanks for taking on your mother's last name.

Back at work, gotta do some work.  Going to purchase some chain and lock it down at Gaelic.

Lock it up!

June 1 - History in the Making

Several things to cover on this most glorious day - my birthday.

Birthdays - First and foremost, I'd like to thank God for making this all possi...oh wait, I didn't win an award - I did make it to my 29th birthday.  Thanks to all those close to me, and far from me, and those who I've yet to meet.

Ryan Darcy is 29 years old today.  He is the man, a loving husband (to Lindsay), and a dog owner (Nathan).  I will not go into too much detail, as there may be some creepy stalkers out there (as if anyone reads this blog anyway).  Today, I plan on doing whatever the I want, so tough shit trying to reign me in.  Got a nice Bose sound dock for my iPod, since all I have as far as audio equipment is lousy laptop speakers, a nice dinner and show from my dog, and Red Sox tickets for July.  I am steadfast in my allegiance to the Yankees, but taking in a game at Fenway will be fun.  I share my birthday with plenty of famous people, although I've never rubbed shoulders with any I'm about to mention.

Marilyn Monroe would have been 84 today, but she passed away in 1962, so we won't go too deep into her life - she was an actress, singer, and model in her time, and for good reason.  She dated Yankee great Joltin' Joe DiMaggio for a short while - they even eloped in 1954 and went to Japan, of all places, for their honeymoon.

Also checking off another year on their calendar is actor Morgan Freeman, of Shawshank Redemption and Lean on Me fame.  He's a hell of an actor and turns 73 today.  He also played the role of God in Bruce Almighty as well as Evan Almighty, both very funny movies.  Happy birthday Mo.

Supermodel Heidi Klum turns 37 today, but doesn't look a day over 25.  I guess that's the whole idea of a supermodel.  She's married to Seal - I can't figure out what the hell is wrong with that mans face.  She hosts "Project Runway," but she has also done Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue several times.  Tough life.  Happy Birthday to all.

Big Z also turns 29 today.  Carlos Zambrano, happy birthday you nut job.  I hope you keep dominating in the bullpen out there in Wrigley.  Don't let the boo birds get you down - you can always pull a Rick Ankiel and start swinging it, you got a mean stroke. 





Local News Today - There have been several manhole cover explosions today - one on Jerome Ave., one on DeKalb Ave., and one on Bainbridge Ave.  There are also high CO levels detected.  The authorities are on the scene, if you know what I mean.

Also, a woman in her 20's was found and pronounced dead at 5:40 this morning on E. Gun Hill Rd. with an apparent gun shot wound to the head.  Police are investigating.

Thank God everything bad happens on the other side of the Bronx.  Knock on wood.

Events - In 1792, the great state of Kentucky became the 15th state.  Four years later, Tennessee was granted it's statehood.  KY was never a territory but was part of Virginia and TN was part of the Southwest Territory prior to its statehood.  Good BBQ'ing down there, from what I hear.  Only been to Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN.   Lot of Elvis wannabes as well.  There are nine minor league baseball teams in Tennessee and two in Kentucky.  The state drink of Kentucky is milk, while the state fruit is the blackberry.  The state fruit of Tennessee is the tomato and the state wild animal is the raccoon.  Who knew states official wild animals.  Only in the South y'all.

Sports History - In 1925, Lou Gehrig replaced Wally Pipp, which consequently started his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played.

Misc. History - In 1941, 12.59" of rain fell on the plains in Burlington, KS, still a state record.  The rain must fall mainly on the plain, in Kansas.  In unrelated news, in 1880, the first pay telephone was installed, so go ahead and drop a quarter in and call someone you love, just to say hello.

Back to work, blah!

Almost 30...

...according to Lindsay, I am almost 30 years old.  Tomorrow I am actually 29, but she gets a rise out of saying I'm almost 30.  She's a funny one.  Heading to NYC this evening, for a surprise put on by Nathan, still have no idea what we're doing, but I'll just have to wait and see.

In MLB news, the Yankees are pounding the Indians, 7-1.  Even Chan Ho Park is getting in on the action.  Former Miami (FL) Hurricane great Chris Perez (aka: I Whine Over Bunts) got touched up.  He came in to face A-Rod, who homered to center field on a 3-1 pitch.  He then promptly let up another homer, this one to Robinson Cano (3-2 count), and a double to Nick Swisher (3-2 count).  It is so important to get ahead of hitters and get outs early in counts - the longer an AB goes, the advantage goes to the hitter.  Case.  Point.

Andy was dandy, as Michael Kay would put it, going seven strong innings, allowing only four hits, a run, and racked up five strikeouts.  Pettitte lowered his ERA from 2.62 to 2.48, and is in line for his seventh win of the year, half of his 2009 win total.

The middle of the Yankees order (Teixeira, Rodriguez, Cano, Swisher) are a combined 8-18 with six runs scored and nine RBI.  It's always nice when you get that kind of production from the meat of the order.  Every starter has a hit, Gardner has three (along with 2 SB).

Good game for the Yankees - too bad the same can't be said for the reigning NL-champion Phillies, who are about to lose their grasp on first place in the NL East, as the Braves lead 9-3 in the top of the ninth inning.  Tommy Hanson had a solid outing, going 6.1 IP with only one run allowed.  Joe Blanton was ineffective, as usual, laboring through 6 innings (8 H, 6 R (4ER), 2 K).  It's unreal how his career has been so mediocre since he's left the Bay Area.  Half the problem is that he was hurt early on this season (oblique injury in March 2010) but the other part of the problem is his lack of an out pitch.  He averages well under a K/IP (.67 K/IP in his career).  This season, he's only averaging .50 K/IP - with the exception of Mitch Talbot (CLE), most of the pitchers having success this year have higher K/IP ratios (Talbot has a .40 K/IP).  Blanton has always featured a pretty good change up, but his velocity is/has been nothing like the mythical Joe Blanton from University of Kentucky was like in the Cap Cod Baseball League - low to mid-90's.  He's generally 86-89 on the gun. 

Gotta get ready - it'll take me about three and a half minutes - but I have to take Nathan out.

Quick Birthday Wishes

May 27

Happy would-be 173rd to Wild Bill Hickok, a gunslinger and sheriff who brought law and order to Kansas and Nebraska.  He started as a stagecoach driver but decided being a bad-ass was way cooler.  He fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.  He was also a big time gambler. 

Happy 35th to André 3000.  He's put out numerous hits, Rosa Parks and Hey Ya! are two of the most well known OutKast hits.  He's had his hand in plenty of other songs/albums.  He's also an actor, garnering roles in Four Brothers, Scary Movie 4, and the voice of Elwyn the crow in Charlotte's Web.  He's also been on the small screen on two episodes of The Shield, including the series finale.  Keep putting in work man, and keep dressing crazy.  

Misc.

Home of the 2010 MAAC Baseball Championships.  #1 Canisius, #2 Marist, #3 Rider, #4 Manhattan.  Same field as last year, different seeding, hoping for different results.

Coaches get their own rooms.  To quote the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "Woooooooo!!"  Just got up from a little siesta and buzzed the facial growth.  Couldn't really be good or bad luck, we won two and lost one since the last time I buzzed it.  Gonna wait to get ready for the dinner at 7:30pm because I sweat like an animal, even in the hotel air conditioning.

Listening to a wide array of music on this laptops version of iTunes, my home laptop has more, since this one was wiped clean.  It's pretty much as loud as it goes, which may ultimately end the life of this here laptop.  This thing is at least 8 years old, running on it's last legs.  Want to get inside my head, see what kind of music I'm listening to?  Here's a list of the past 8 songs I've listened to: "Shoot Frank" by Cage ft. Daryl Palumbo;  "We'rewolf" by Every Time I Die; "Supermassive Black Hole" by MUSE; "The Leaving Song Pt. 2" by AFI; "1,000,000" by Nine Inch Nails; "Mother Lover" by The Lonely Island; "Pledge Allegiance to the Hag" by Eric Church; "1901" by Phoenix.  Got some indie/punk/rap, some metal/hardcore, some country, some industrial rock, some rock, some funny spoof rap, and whatever the hell Phoenix is considered, alternative rock maybe?  I actually dislike this song, but for some reason I can't turn it off. 

It's 6:09pm, still got some time before I dress up for this dinner - it's a banquet at the Holiday Inn, "Pleasing people the world over". (Tagline Guru)  Pretty cool site, who knew someone would dedicate an entire website to taglines.  I guess the same can be said for me, how the hell do I have the attention span to continue blogging.  Here's some cool ones, in my opinion, and you're reading my blog, so tough crap if you don't want my opinion:  "When it rains, it pours" is Morton Salt (my father loves salt, on everything, and I guess so do I - salt on a cucumber, try it); "Wake up and drive" is Mitsubishi's, which is pretty important advice - it's tough to drive when you're not awake; "The best kept automotive secret in America" is Peugeot - they really are a secret, I've never even heard of them/that - it's  probably something above my social/economic class - just looked it up, about $35,000 USD, or £24,500; one more, lets see here; here's a jingle, "I'm a pepper, he's a pepper, she's a pepper, we're a pepper, wouldn't ya like to be a pepper too, I'm a pepper, he's a pepper, she's a pepper, if you drink Dr. Pepper you're a pepper too" is a Dr. Pepper jingle from the 1970's.  Kinda catchy.  Just watched the YouTube video of it.

 Birthday shout-outs real quick - none of my Facebook friends birthday today.

Mike Myers, the voice of Shrek turns 47 today.  He also starred in Wayne's World, the Austin Powers movies, and a recent favorite movie of mine, Inglorious Basterds.  Oh, behave!

 
Stacy London, star of one of Lindsay's favorite shows, What Not to Wear, on TLC, turns 41 today.  Good thing Lindsay hasn't nominated me for that show, I pretty much wear mesh shorts and t-shirts to work every day.  I have clothes that are nice, but really only wear them when we go out to dinner or out with  Paul and Jenny. 





Oh, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson would have turned 208 today.  Why they put that on the website is beyond me.  (All birthday's I post about I get from www.myfamousbirthdays.com).

OK, time to freshen up and dress it up.  Suit is hanging up, just gotta tie this tie - that'll take 20 minutes.

I hope the food's good, that root beer float from A&W was good this afternoon, but the burger didn't really fill me up.

Blah Blah Blah

Mr. Softie just stopped by - well, we stopped him, he was parked down the block.  Lindsay got herself a vanilla cone dipped in chocolate.  I didn't get anything, times are tough here in the Bronx, I had $4 in my wallet.  Pathetic, I know.  Gotta provide for the wife and kid (or in our case, Nathan).   She ate the ice cream coated in the chocolate and fired the rest in the garbage.  Oh well, next time I'll ask Mr. Softie if he can coat the ice cream in layers.

Just started reading a new book, my favorite author, Chuck Klosterman.  The book, Downtown Owl, is a novel about the small town of Owl, ND.  He's written for The NYT Magazine and The Washington Post and his previous books have covered topics ranging from the relationship of rock music, mortality, and love (Killing Yourself to Live:  85% of a True Story) to the history of glam metal (Fargo Rock City:  A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural Nörth Daköta) to previously published columns and articles on pop culture (Chuck Klosterman IV).  I just like his writing style, give him a shot.  You'll probably chuckle to yourself like I do.  Nathan's been trying to learn to read Downtown Owl:

Yankees vs. Mets - not looking too good for the Yankees so far.  Bay kills the Yankees.  Stupid throw by Russo out in LF - C.C. needs to get out of this jam - I hate José Reyes, stupid hair, nonchalant actions - just stay on the DL foo!  Damn, 2-0 Mets.  Alex Cora, seriously?  See, there goes Bay, HR to deep left-center.  Crap!  I'm going to switch topics, this game isn't going how I had anticipated.

Today's Birthdays:

Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Rocks!! Happy Birthday to comedian Drew Carey, who's 52 today.  I think he's still the host of the new The Price is Right.  When I'm home weekdays (which is never), I'd watch it.

Author, sports-columnist, radio-personality Mitch Albom, who's books my mother loves, is also 52 today.  I hate his hair, it's always covering his ears and just looks stupid, but he's great on "The Sports Reporters" on ESPN.  Keep up the good work Mitch, and cut the hair over your ears.  But Happy Birthday nonetheless.




Game's on - C.C. singles, Jeter singles, Gardner is so fast but hits into the 4-6-3 DP.  Will someone please step up and get some hits off Santana?  Teixeira blows!  Game's off - channel surfing instead. 

Back to work tomorrow.  Graduation was a success, everyone walked across the stage for the first time ever.  It was about 100° in the gym, but they had 8 fans that cooled off the faculty.  Parents, family, and friends suffered in the sweltering humid gym.

Flipped it back on and back off - Joe Morgan is a moron.  I was hoping his new job as special advisor for the Reds would help ease him off the SNB set, but no such luck.  Him and Jon Miller - match made in heaven for a black and white silent film.

I'm done with this game for good - Food Network is going on, even if it means I have to watch "Down Home with the Neely's". 

Monday tomorrow - time for some zzzz's.

Happy Birthday

Woke up this morning and took Nathan out only to feel an eerie calm out there this morning.  Some birds chirping, but otherwise it felt like I was walking on clouds.  Hmm, we'll see.  It's the 6-month anniversary of my marriage to Lindsay today.  Best six months of my life.

There's two people who's birthdays we'll acknowledge today

Mr. T (born Lawrence Tureaud) turns 58 today.  He starred as "B.A. Baracus" on The A-Team, and also as "Clubber Lang" in Rocky III.  Either way, he was a bad mamma-jamma.  Happy Birthday Larry.  "I PITY THE FOOL!"

"Notorious B.I.G." (born Christopher Wallace) would have been 38 today.  The man was embroiled in a lot of gang related activities, but was a hell of a performer.  His freestyle with Tupac Shakur is still played on radio today.  He loved it when they called him "Big Poppa."  Happy would-be-38th Biggie.

Got to hop in the shower and get ready for the game.  Heading in to wash the unis again.  May say a little prayer on the walk in, for success. 

Ryan Freel Retires

Former MLB'er Ryan Freel has decided to call it quits.  He spent the past few weeks in the Atlantic League with the Somerset Patriots.  In nine games, he hit .265 with 3 R and 4 RBI.  He will best be remembered for his three-year stretch with the Cincinnati Reds - 2004-2006 - where he had his most success.  He was a .268 career hitter, 100 doubles, and 143 stolen bases.  A modest career, but for three of his eight years, he was as feared a baserunner as you could think of.

During those three seasons in Cincy, he hit .273, scored 210 runs, 60 doubles, and 110 stolen bases.  I never heard of the guy but I knew he could run like the wind, and I always saw his names at the top of the category leaders in SB's.  My brother Jesse had the good fortune to play with him in Somerset this season, and said he was one of the most down to earth guys he'd ever played with.  He was with the Rays for three seasons - first in Hudson Valley (SS), then in Columbus, GA (A), then in Port Charlotte, FL (A+).  He shared a clubhouse with Pat Burrell, Jason Bartlett, Scott Kazmir - Freel was the most real.

He did have one blemish, a drunk driving charge after an opening night win over the Mets in 2005, but we're all human.

Happy Trails Ryan Freel.  Thanks for the hustle!

By the way - Dice-K still can't figure it out!  The Yanks are up 6-2, T5, Dice-K's line not looking so fine:  4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP.  He's thrown 90 pitches (53S/37B) in four innings.  Let's hope the Yankees can keep this lead and get another game up on the Red Sox.  Nathan is sleeping on the couch, taking up a lot of real estate.  Lindsay is reading, accusing me of ignorance.

Time to search for birthday gifts - I'm almost 30 - actually only 29 on June 1.  Later you old farts!

Trent Reznor

Happy 45th Birthday to Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor! 

NIN happens to be one of my favorite bands of all time.  Although people's view of the band is often times distorted, they are in all reality, a great band - well, technically they really aren't a band at all, as Trent Reznor is the only actual member of NIN.  He simply assembles a live band to perform with him every album, and when he tours, the members come and go.  NIN has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards, only winning two:  "Wish" (1992) and "Happiness in Slavery" (1995).  Two of my favorite songs are "Discipline" from The Slip (which is available free online HERE) and "Burn" off 1994's Natural Born Killers soundtrack and also as a Bonus Track on the tenth anniversary Deluxe Edition of The Downward Spiral. 

They began in 1988, and have been going strong since - putting out eight major label releases since 1989.  The longest gap between albums was from 2002's double-CD The Fragile to 2005's With Teeth.  Here's a list of their studio albums:  Pretty Hate Machine, Broken, The Downward Spiral, The Fragile, With Teeth, Year Zero, Ghosts I-IV, and The Slip.  All these albums have a similar electronic feel to them, and they are all great in their own way.

An often misunderstood fact about NIN - "Hurt" was recorded for Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral in 1994.  In 2002, the legendary Johnny Cash covered this song for his 2002 release, American IV:  The Man Comes Around.  Many people think that NIN covered the song - not the case!  Here are the links to both videos of "Hurt":  NIN's "Hurt" (live)  --  Johnny Cash's "Hurt".

Seen them several times, every time is great.  The last time was actually with Paul and Jenny and Jess.  Lots of lights, lots of noise, lots of people - some guy actually rung his shirt out to get rid of the sweat that was soaked in it, and some other guy tripped over the ATM machine (which was 4' tall).

Overall, NIN is great - take it or leave it.  And Happy Birthday Trent Reznor!!