Congratulations Big Papi!

In the event you missed it, David Ortiz has been elected as the newest member of baseball's Hall of Fame.  Ortiz was named on over 78% of the votes in his first time on the ballot.  75% was needed to win election into the hall.

"Big Papi" as he was known to Boston Red Sox fans and his teammates was a powerful player who slammed 541 career home runs, ranking him 17th in baseball history.  In addition to the 541 HRs, Ortiz ended his career with a .286 lifetime batting average along with 1768 RBI.  And during an era in which PEDs were used extensively, Ortiz was tested frequently and every time was clean.

I was fortunate to see him in person in mid September of 2015 at Fenway Park.  I was on vacation and took a tour of the park early in the afternoon prior to that night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  During our time on the field I was within about 30 feet of Big Papi and he was enjoying life laughing and joking with his Red Sox teammates.

The tour ended with a trip to the top of the Green Monster in left field while the Sox took batting practice.  I was visiting with some Blue Jay fans when another fan yelled "heads up".  I looked up to see a baseball screaming about ten feet over our heads before departing Fenway and landing across Lansdowne Street.  I knew he was strong but that blast removed any doubt of how much power he really had.  He repeated this two more times while I looked on in awe.

I had a chance to buy tickets to the Jays - Red Sox game that night, but because of having to leave early the next morning and the length of American League games I decided against it.  I should have gone to the game.  That same evening Ortiz slammed a three run homer to deep left center field off of Jay's starter Drew Hutchinson.  I looked it up today and it was his then 32nd homer of the year.  He would go on to hit 37 that season even though he was in the twilight of his career and 39 years old.

Ortiz's WAR was 55.3 which was a little lower than some of his peers in the hall, and I really didn't think he would get elected in the first year he was eligible.  But, I am glad he is the Hall of Fame's newest member.  Congratulations David Ortiz!

How 'Bout Them Dawgs!!

Those words are hard to write for a Mizzou fan.  But, those words have never been more true.  Congratulations to the University of Georgia which won the NCAA Collegiate Football Playoffs on Monday night over the University of Alabama.  The Bulldogs camefrom behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Crimson Tide 33-18.

The score was not indicative of the game.  It was even until late in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs intercepted a bad Alabama pass and ran it back 79 yards to seal the victory.

Georgia ended the season with a 14-1 record and avenged its only loss to 'Bama in the SEC conference championship game in December.  The team under coach KirbySmart then came back to beat Michigan in the national semifinals on New Year's Eve 34-11 and then won it on Monday night in Indianapolis with the victory over Alabama.  Alabama ended the season at 13-2, with its only previous loss coming at the hands of Texas A&M in early October.

I watched Georgia play my beloved Missouri Tigers the first week in November and Georgia dominated them 43-6.  It could have been worse.  Next fall the Bulldogs will come back to Columbia and while Mizzou will be much better, I am afraid it still won't be enough to knock off the champs.

This must have been a magical past three months for residents of the state of Georgia and the Atlanta area.  First the Braves won the World Series over Houston but now the 'Dawgs are national champions.  Congratulations to Kirby Smart, his coaching staff and the players.  How 'bout them Dawgs!

Happy New Year - 2022

 

I said it at the start of last year and I am going to say it again; may 2022 be a far site better than 2021.

The United States changed administrations in '21 but the country still struggled to get anything accomplished as there was very little change in cooperation between the parties.

The solution to this is term limits along with serious campaign finance reform.  I will write more on these topics when I have time.

Personally, it was a good year.  I was able to have a surgery that changed the way I see the world and I was able to vacation in the southeast United States.

Here's hoping you and yours have a verry blessed, healthy and prosperous 2022!