The Major League All-Star game is set for tomorrow night in Pittsburgh and to hear MLB tell it, it will be the grandest night of the year. And it will be an entertaining exhibition to see all of the game's stars on display. But, it doesn't really mean a thing. It's just that...an entertaining exhibition.
But, the commissioner of the game Bud Selig, who is now apparently relying on the advice of apes, has again decreed that the league winning the exhibition game gets home field advantage in the World Series. The World Series used to be the most prestigious sports event in North America but since Bud and his flunkies (or maybe more accurately monkeys) have taken over the game it has lost a lot of it's shine. The "Fall Classic" is now played in the last third of October on cold nights. Yes, I said nights...When school children have to go to bed hours before the games end. Many people now believe the World Series ranks behind the Super Bowl and the NCAA basketball tournament in it's prestige.
It's a shame because baseball has so much going for it, but it has made the wrong decision every time it has had to make a decision. Even an idiot flipping a coin would get half of them right. Part of the decision making is fueled by TV (That's spelled FOX and ABC which owns ESPN). And the greed of the media has once again ruined about a third of the All-Star break for the St. Louis Cardinals and their families. An excellent better explanation is offered by Rick Hummel of the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch writing in Sunday's sports section. And I quote:
"The Cardinals will play the Astros in Houston on Sunday, marking the third straight year they will have played ESPN's Sunday night game the day ahead of the All-Star break. "They act like you're honored to be a part of the thing," said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. In fact, it is more of an inconvenience, especially to Cardinals who have had to fly overnight to be available the next day for All-Star Game festivities, such those in Pittsburgh this year. For instance, Albert Pujols, the leading vote getter, is scheduled to appear at a Monday morning press conference.But it also is inconvenient for players who want to go home for the All-Star break, with Monday being a travel day rather than a day at home.
And it is inconvenient for La Russa, too, who puts on a charity golf tournament in California on the Monday of the All-Star break for the benefit of his Animal Rescue Foundation. After Sunday's game, La Russa flies to Scottsdale, Ariz., with lefthander Mark Mulder on Mulder's plane and then charter another plane to make it to the San Francisco area in time for the start of his tournament, having already missed the pre-tournament gathering Sunday night.La Russa is less concerned with this annoyance than he is concerned with what he perceives is an uncaring attitude by ESPN toward his team. He said he would talk to ESPN telecasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on Sunday, because they are friends. But he indicated he wouldn't go much farther than that."(ESPN) decided they were going to mess with us," La Russa said. "Cincinnati-Atlanta would be a great contest on Sunday night. The (Sunday night) game should be played in a time zone where the All-Star Game is. There are East Coast games that are attractive. There's other games, I can guarantee it."But (ESPN) is selfish. They're probably ticked off that Roger (Clemens) isn't pitching."All they do - if someone gets belted or drilled - is they show highlights of that. It's all controversy."In 2004, the Cardinals played the Sunday night game at home before the All-Star break, when the All-Star Game was in Houston. Last year, with La Russa as National League manager, the Cardinals played the Sunday night in San Francisco before their All-Star contingent traveled three time zones away to Detroit".
Those are the words of Saint Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Rick Hummel, who is one of the finest baseball writer's in the nation and is well respected by both players and journalists. It's to bad he doesn't cover the Cardinals on a daily basis anymore.
July 10, 2006
July 04, 2006
Happy Fourth of July
It's been a while since I've had time to post... I've been busy with the three G's (Girls, Golf and Gambling)!
But, I do want to take a moment today to say Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I know I have expressed concern about our involvement in Iraq in previous posts and I am still alarmed by the number of young Americans being slaughtered by the low lives they are trying to help. But, that is another topic for another post.
Today I want to express my deep gratitude to all of our brave men and women serving this country both in combat zones and non combat areas. It is something I know I take for granted but I can not express how much I appreciate these fellow country men and women putting their lives on the line.
Were it not for their courage and bravery we might not have this freedom of expression to post messages such as this one. So HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to everyone!
But, I do want to take a moment today to say Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I know I have expressed concern about our involvement in Iraq in previous posts and I am still alarmed by the number of young Americans being slaughtered by the low lives they are trying to help. But, that is another topic for another post.
Today I want to express my deep gratitude to all of our brave men and women serving this country both in combat zones and non combat areas. It is something I know I take for granted but I can not express how much I appreciate these fellow country men and women putting their lives on the line.
Were it not for their courage and bravery we might not have this freedom of expression to post messages such as this one. So HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to everyone!
June 18, 2006
Kudos to SWA
Just another post about the trip to Vegas...
I wasn't feeling real well on Thursday afternoon when I got ready to fly home. Several times in the past month I have had an incredible amount of pressure in my gut where I just can't get comfortable. Maybe it's nerves or maybe it's gall bladder. I don't know but it's not very pleasant.
Anyway, at McCarron airport I was waiting to board the flight home on Southwest Airlines and I got this pain in the gut. It continued as I boarded the plane and waited for takeoff. After we got in the air and the flight attendants were able to start moving, the lead flight attendant, came to me and asked if I was okay. I told her I had some indigestion and she told me she would bring me some Alka Seltzer. I thought it would be a while, but just a few minutes later she brought me a can of water and the A-S. I was impressed by her thoughtfulness and how quickly she responded and that she even noticed as she put it " I could tell you were under duress". I do not know her name but she was awesome. (Not to mention that she wasn't just cute, she was really pretty). And to top it off about 10 minutes later she came to check on me and brought me more ice water.
I am impressed with this lady and her true commitment to customer service. I would have let Southwest Airlines know this but I could not find a link on their web page to let them know. I like Southwest Airlines. They were early on both flights, were a pleasant experience and really cared about me when I didn't feel good. I will definitely fly SWA again!
I wasn't feeling real well on Thursday afternoon when I got ready to fly home. Several times in the past month I have had an incredible amount of pressure in my gut where I just can't get comfortable. Maybe it's nerves or maybe it's gall bladder. I don't know but it's not very pleasant.
Anyway, at McCarron airport I was waiting to board the flight home on Southwest Airlines and I got this pain in the gut. It continued as I boarded the plane and waited for takeoff. After we got in the air and the flight attendants were able to start moving, the lead flight attendant, came to me and asked if I was okay. I told her I had some indigestion and she told me she would bring me some Alka Seltzer. I thought it would be a while, but just a few minutes later she brought me a can of water and the A-S. I was impressed by her thoughtfulness and how quickly she responded and that she even noticed as she put it " I could tell you were under duress". I do not know her name but she was awesome. (Not to mention that she wasn't just cute, she was really pretty). And to top it off about 10 minutes later she came to check on me and brought me more ice water.
I am impressed with this lady and her true commitment to customer service. I would have let Southwest Airlines know this but I could not find a link on their web page to let them know. I like Southwest Airlines. They were early on both flights, were a pleasant experience and really cared about me when I didn't feel good. I will definitely fly SWA again!
June 11, 2006
A Chance to Reflect
It's been a week since I got home and I have had a chance to think about what I saw in Las Vegas. For starters, the downtown area seems more viable than the last time I was there. The Fremont Street Experience is crowded at night, and the people are filling the casinos. Also, the value downtown is probably in general better than on the strip. (I might be biased because I stayed at the Golden Nugget, which is downtown).
While downtown I discovered a great place to eat and drink. The Main Street Station has a microbrewery with a stout to kill for. It is called Wild Cherry Stout and it lives up to it's name. I went in twice and each time the experience was good. And the buffet is one of the lower priced in Vegas, but still had a huge variety and the food was really good! I don't think I will stay at this place but I sure will be back for the food and beer.
I guess the best surprise I had in Vegas was betting at the old Binion's Horseshoe. The girls working at the sports book were always friendly and always comped me when I put in my baseball wagers (which I won five out of seven for a tidy profit)! Too bad the same couldn't be said for Binion's coffee shop. The service was terrible and the food was average. The hostess acted as if she wanted to be some where else when I came in to be seated. She acted like she was doing people a favor to seat them. Hey lady, they're paying your salary. And the only other disappointment I can think of off hand was waiting for Gray Line Tours to get a bus to get me to my hotel. I waited for 55 minutes before the shuttle showed up and then it took another 40 minutes to go downtown from the airport. I would suggest you find another company if you find yourself in a similar situation.
While in Vegas I had the chance to check out the new Hooter's Hotel and Casino. Don't waste your time. The restaurant is the same chicken wings as you get anywhere else in the country. The only problem is the beer is twice as much for a draft as here in St. Louis. They were getting four dollars for a draft beer the night I was there. It will be interesting to see how Hooters does against the other players there. I think after the newness wears off they will struggle. While the Hooters girls are fine looking, they are not the only girls in town you can look at. And, the other places show a lot more than the Hooters girls if you know what I mean. ;-)
I will write more when I have time, but overall I had a blast. Talk to you soon.
While downtown I discovered a great place to eat and drink. The Main Street Station has a microbrewery with a stout to kill for. It is called Wild Cherry Stout and it lives up to it's name. I went in twice and each time the experience was good. And the buffet is one of the lower priced in Vegas, but still had a huge variety and the food was really good! I don't think I will stay at this place but I sure will be back for the food and beer.
I guess the best surprise I had in Vegas was betting at the old Binion's Horseshoe. The girls working at the sports book were always friendly and always comped me when I put in my baseball wagers (which I won five out of seven for a tidy profit)! Too bad the same couldn't be said for Binion's coffee shop. The service was terrible and the food was average. The hostess acted as if she wanted to be some where else when I came in to be seated. She acted like she was doing people a favor to seat them. Hey lady, they're paying your salary. And the only other disappointment I can think of off hand was waiting for Gray Line Tours to get a bus to get me to my hotel. I waited for 55 minutes before the shuttle showed up and then it took another 40 minutes to go downtown from the airport. I would suggest you find another company if you find yourself in a similar situation.
While in Vegas I had the chance to check out the new Hooter's Hotel and Casino. Don't waste your time. The restaurant is the same chicken wings as you get anywhere else in the country. The only problem is the beer is twice as much for a draft as here in St. Louis. They were getting four dollars for a draft beer the night I was there. It will be interesting to see how Hooters does against the other players there. I think after the newness wears off they will struggle. While the Hooters girls are fine looking, they are not the only girls in town you can look at. And, the other places show a lot more than the Hooters girls if you know what I mean. ;-)
I will write more when I have time, but overall I had a blast. Talk to you soon.
June 04, 2006
..Back home again
It's been a great week of time off from the job. I spent it in the desert and had a blast. I will give you more info about my trip to Vegas, but suffice it to say for now I had a ball made some new friends and saw the human species first hand. I have to say the American Dream is alive and well in Las Vegas. In fact, the enterprise system couldn't be better as hundreds of thousands try to get something for nothing as they gamble away their vacations.
It was fun while it lasted, but it's also good to be home. I will write when I have more time.
It was fun while it lasted, but it's also good to be home. I will write when I have more time.
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