Crosswalks

  Once used to keep pedestrians safe while crossing the street, they are often times overlooked nowadays.  Just this morning on my way to work, I nearly ran over a vagrant trying to cross Broadway - he decided it was a good idea to cross immediately after a bus passed him in the left lane.  The bus set a screen for me, and this schmuck kept on going.  I had to slam on my breaks, yelled a few choice words, and continued on my way to work.

  This is definitely not an isolated incident - this type of shit happens all the time.  And some people have the balls to just take a leisurely stroll across instead of running.  Hey, shit for brains, there are still crosswalks painted, and they even give you a white, lit-up walking man to remind you it's safe to walk (and a red l it-up "STOP" hand to tell you not to walk).  Sometimes I think the NYC educational system is totally off and really doesn't teach these morons a thing about real life.  Teach a "NYC Basics" class - walking and crossing streets, driving, subway riding tips, how to use words properly.  This would be more beneficial that the shit these kids learn.  "I is" or "I's" is one I hear all the time when I am walking around the area.  Unreal.

  I am in a no bullshit mood today.

Rants, Raves, Ridicule, and Riots

Rant:  Hello Summer!!  Although it's been hotter than hell for the past several days, today is officially the first day of summer.  Summer Solstice.  Longest day of the year.  Hottest day in recent memory.  Take your pick, but I for one am a fan that technically, summer is finally here.  The forecast looks decent for the foreseeable future - mid-80's every day for at least the next 10.  The hottest day ever in NY State was way back in July of 1926, when it reached 108 on the mercury up in Troy.  It isn't quite that hot here, but it's getting there.  Part of me questions if that is really the hottest it's ever been in NY.  108 degrees?  Maybe, it does seem pretty hot.

Anyway, welcome summer, glad you're finally on board.

Rave:  This rave has nothing to do with sports.  In fact, it has everything to do with Facebook.  People are constantly writing status updates and comments (for which I am guilty) but there seems to be one glaring issue I cannot tolerate - abbreviations.

You just wrote three sentences as a status update, but you refuse to spell out "to" and instead use "2".  2day, 2morrow, happy birthday 2 you.  It's two freaking letters.  Spell it out.  I can deal with the OMG and WTF abbreviations, but how lazy are those who shorten words.  Just spell it out, you can do it.  And the people who leave out vowels on words - come on.  I know there is shorthand, but there is also laziness.  On a CD like the Deftones new Diamond Eyes, there's a song "CMND/CTRL" - I'm good with that, because they rule.  Facebook users, you do not rule.  Spell out the words.

Ridicule:  Alejandro Falla (sounds like "fire") BLEW IT!!  You had a chance to knock the #1 seed out of Wimbledon, and you choked.  Up two sets to none, Roger Federer rallied for a 5-set victory.  I guess for a guy who's never really had much success in tennis tournaments, this is to be expected.  You need to know how to win in order to win a big match.

If a team is constantly losing (like the Pirates), when a tight situation comes about late in a game, chances are they'll find a way to blow it.  Not because they are a bad team, but because they aren't used to closing out that type of game or performing in that type of situation.  Falla has only advanced past the second round once this season (Australian Open).  Maybe it'll be good for the 65th ranked player in the world.  Something to draw upon in the future, when he's up two sets to none again.

Riot:  Good for the French.  I find it hilarious that they blame the coach for their pathetic play.  Coming in to the World Cup, they are the 9th ranked team in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.  They are in 3rd place in Group A, 3 points behind Uruguay (16th) and Mexico (17th).  They are tied with host South Africa (83rd) with 1 point.  The two teams will play tomorrow.  The French are looking for their first goal of the 2010 World Cup as well.  Pretty pathetic.  That's like saying the Yankees blaming manager Joe Girardi for their failures - all he does is put the best possible lineup on the field to give his team the best chance of winning.

These French need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and realize they are playing for the price of their country.  Stop bitching and blaming the coach and take accountability for your own actions.  Toughen up sissies.

Time for a toss.  Peace and grease.

Rants, raves, ridicule, and riots

Rant:  Bravo to Yankees OF Brett Gardner.  This little flea has scored more runs (42) than Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez.  He is on pretty often (.395 OBP) and tends to get himself into scoring position by stealing some bags (20 SB/4 CS).  He sees more fastballs than any other hitter in the majors except David Eckstein, he leads the AL in pitches per plate appearance (4.52).  He is the best role player in baseball, bar none.  He can probably hit HR's in the grand scheme of things (he has only 3 in 194 AB) but he knows his job is to get on base, and he's done that very well so far.  He's the kind of guy every team needs, a little pest that is never (or very rarely) an easy out.  He has probably developed his toughness by being told he was too small his whole life - 5'10", 183 lbs. is small by MLB standards.  Don't let nobody hold you down Gardy, you the man!!

Rave:  Here's a sweet Lego rave I found on the internet.  I didn't know LEGO was around and prospering.  The DJ looks like an aviator, and the ravers look like prisoners.  Looks like a good party to me, but I wouldn't show up.  For starters, I hate crowds.  Secondly, I hate loud, base-filled techno.  Third, I hate the Jersey Shore scene and the drug scene, both of which are intrinsic to a rave.  I am a bar guy, and if I walk in and I can't sit down or play Golden Tee, I'm probably leaving after one drink.

Ridicule:  Kansas City Royals, you are a joke.  Your 24 wins are more than only six other teams, and you refuse to score runs for last year's Cy Young Award winner, Zack Greinke.  Surprisingly, you aren't in the cellar in the AL Central, the Indians are two games worse.  Here's the shake down:  Greinke is 1-8 with a 4.05 ERA.  You've won only two of his thirteen starts, and have scored only 40 runs in those games - a dismal average of 3.08 runs per game - give me a break.  You score 4.34 runs a game on average, no wonder there are always rumors that he wants to leave.  If I was him, I'd demand a trade to a contender.  Granted he's not putting up numbers like last year, but who the hell does?  Score some runs for this kid already. 

Riots:  You know what, with all the kids at all these camps and clinics, I'm not sure even half of them want to be there.  I think their parents makke the decision for them to play baseball.  Here's what may go through some of their heads when (and if they ever) get to first base.  Kids don't seem to have the same drive as we had when I was growing up.  I'm not trying to knock the kids or anything, it's just a trend that keeps rearing its ugly head.  Anyway.

He gone!

Rants, raves, ridicule, and riots

Rant:  Well looky looky who decided to come out of his early season funk, but the cheese-man Javy Vazquez.  For the second straight start, he actually dominated the game the way he can and should.  This is the guy who's 2nd behind Randy Johnson in K's since the start of the 2000 season, and today he had 9 (vs. TOR).  Last Tuesday, he had 7 against the O's.  Today, he passed HOFer Juan Marichal (2,303) to move into 44th all-time in strikeouts with 2,305.  Next on the list is Rube Waddell (2,316).  Keep climbing Javy.

Past two starts:  14 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 16 K - sounds like numbers from a guy who $11.5 million dollars.  Get on a roll for God's sake - you are pretty good, contrary to what you might believe.  Just because you're the Yankees #5 starter doesn't mean you can't pitch like a #2 or #3 starter, I'm sure they wouldn't mind.  Keep doing it, queso!

Rave:  Although a rave is often times thought of as a drug-induced party with fast-paced electronic music, the actual definition is this (according to dictionary.com): 

–verb (used without object):  1.to talk wildly, as in delirium.  2.to talk or write with extravagant enthusiasm. 

3.(of wind, water, storms, etc.) to make a wild or furious sound; rage.

–verb (used with object):  4.to utter as if in madness.

–noun:  5.an act of raving.  6.an extravagantly enthusiastic appraisal or review of something.  7.Chiefly British Slang. a boisterous party, esp. a dance.

–adjective:  8.extravagantly flattering or enthusiastic: rave reviews of a new play.

For this part of the post, I will refer to definition 2.  There is a song out right now, "Magic" by B.o.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo.  For those of you not familiar with music, have no access to a radio, and have no access to a television, this is probably a song you've never heard.  Rivers Cuomo is the lead singer of Weezer, one of the greatest bands from the past 15+ years.  21-year-old rapper/songwriter/producer B.o.B. is coming on strong.  "Magic" may be one of the lesser known songs, but it is hands down my favorite.  "Airplanes" featuring Hayley Williams (Paramore) is #3 on the Billboard Top100.  You might have heard that one, but here is the link: "Magic" - B.o.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo.

Ridicule:  Parents, parents, parents.  I was driving to CT today and was listening to WFAN radio, 660AM and there was a discussion on trophies in youth sports and callers were calling in for around 25 minutes.  I wanted to dial the number and get on the radio, but 1. my terrible memory prevented me from memorizing the number, and 2. I don't have one of those blue tooth ear pieces (because I'm not a tool).  I think trophies up until the age of 10 or 11 is fine, but eventually, enough is enough.  Kids who get trophies for being on a team where they are a non-factors should not get trophies - trophies for everyone should stop in middle school.  I mean the kid who wins 7 games gets the same trophy/varsity letter as the schmuck who kept the book all year?  Kids (and parents) need to realize that there are kids better than them (or their kids) and accept the fact that there is no participation trophy for life.  Kids feel a sense of entitlement because they've been desensitized to failure.  There is more pats on the ass than there should be.  "You made 3 errors, so what, you guys won"  B.S.  "You played well, went 4-4 with 2 doubles.  The rest of the guys sucked, that's why you lost 10-1"  B.S.  If you show  up to work every day and get nothing accomplished, what do you get?  FIRED!  If you show up to college and try to walk-on to a college baseball team and go 0-14 in tryouts, what do you get?  CUT!  There are no awards for participation, and I believe these awards/trophies should cease after the age of 12. 

Parents who coach and play their kid over the rest of the kids because he's his own, take a good hard look in the mirror, and ask yourself this:  is my kid better than the guy starting in front of him?  If he is, then start him, because he's better, not because he's your kid. 

The cream rises to the top, and those guys should be rewarded.  That's why awards in the college and professional ranks are so elite, because only a handful of guys get them, and for good reason.  They showed up and dominated.  They didn't suck.  Those guys tend to get released or traded.  Take it or leave it.  Let's hope kids get tougher.  If my dad ever called a college coach asking why I wasn't pitching, I woulda asked him to stop coming to my games.  And I'd be embarrassed as shit.  Let the kids play, and earn whatever awards or accolades they may receive.  Work hard, practice hard, play hard.  Don't bitch if you don't get a trophy. 

You shouldn't play a sport for a trophy, you should play it because you love it.

Riots:  Just a joke i came across today - Lindsay, I wouldn't golf if this was me:  A man and a friend are playing golf one day at their local golf course. One of the guys is about to chip onto the green when he sees a long funeral procession on the road next to the course. He stops in mid-swing, takes off his golf cap, closes his eyes, and bows down in prayer.

His friend says: “Wow, that is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. You truly are a kind man.”
The man then replies: “Yeah, well we were married 35 years.”