Month: April 2008

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Slow Monday…

Not sure what to make of the day today. Only had one class and there isn’t even a Yankee game on tonight. The first time in 21 days I believe (Yanks went 10-10 in the 20 games played so far). Played some Halo, racquetball and probably some Smash later on tonight.

I woke up much earlier than anticipated on a day where my only class (Differential Geometry) was at 2 PM. Shipped out a couple of books this morning that I had sold but didn’t make any money really cause the shipping and the relative cheap price for those books don’t really make it seem worth it at times. Oh well, it’s done now. Differential Geometry probably had its best class of the year. All the hype leading up for this class and not having to take a “math” final finally happened today. We have to know about 24 of these terms and definitions where the lowest grade for the class will be B (you can choose not to take a final and walk out with a grade of B). With success in the final, you can get B+, A- or an A… hopefully it won’t be very difficult. Not a bad deal if you ask me considering we were told today what will be on the final next Monday.

Played some racquetball with Joe, Krishna and Will Walker after class (with plenty of pleading from my mother to avoid getting hit in the face or having another injury). I played a majority of the day with my left that which I think has gotten much better in the past week or two. Krishna’s got a pretty mean serve which I can’t handle at all when playing righty but left handed I can handle it pretty good I guess cause it natually puts my racket in line with the wall. Joe for being a pretty big guy can move around and pulls out ridiculous shots out of no where and finds a way to win points and even sustain long rallies. I had a pretty long rally with Joe even though we were playing 2v2 which consisted of mostly us two running around and hitting shots to each other. I ended up losing the point, getting a gym burn on my arm but ultimately won the game. I must say it does give you quite a workout once you do start running around and avoid getting hit by the ball

On another random note, old school Gatorade just does not taste the same anymore once you’ve had some G2 or Gatorade Tiger (GT). I tried my favorite Fruit Punch which hands down would beat any other drink but since I’ve tried the G2 Fruit Punch or the GT one, the original just doesn’t do it for me.

Anyways, expect a random Facebook rant soon cause I’ve almost hit the threshold on that as well and maybe a Yankee post about Joba’s role in the pitching staff. Long day tomorrow, so probably no update but we’ll see how things go.

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ABC Debate: Comedy Hour?

A lot of people have made a big deal with about the debates before where Hilary was asked tough questions and now with Obama. I have no problem with the media trying to investigate these guys (and girl) thoroughly but do it on the issues. It is not important to this election whether the guy wears a flag pin in the Senate or what he thinks about his neighbor (one that he had a limited relationship with) and his dealings with The Weather Underground in the 1960s (when Obama wasn’t even 10 years old yet!). No one questioned why McCain and Clinton haven’t worn their pins in the Senate and that’s fine because that is not an issue that someone should be (or should not be) elected President. I think Jon Stewart pointed out that the first question on economy was posed to the candidates about 50 minutes and 16 questions into the debate… shows where their priorities lied that night.

It matters what they have planned regarding the country’s failing economy, the healthcare system and soaring gas prices that have seeming gone up 10 cents in the past week. I think it was a real joke what ABC did with this past “debate” and it just seemed like a partisan attack from the get go. The moment you have someone who moderates a debate that was a key figure in Bill Clinton’s administration certainly raises questions about the integrity of the debate. Hopefully the Pennsylvanian voters are smarter than that and can see through the mud slinging politics that we are still stuck in today.

Anyways, ran across this clip on YouTube and it is pretty funny. A mock George Stephanopoulos interview with Senator John McCain on the “real” issues but you would never know it if you actually watch the debates or interviews.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCrJB8dwTrA

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22 Inning Baseball Game

I was just talking to my brother last night about lengthy baseball games after hearing it on Mike and the Mad Dog. They were talking about the long Yankee/Red Sox games that seem to take away from the rivalry now with the pitchers just unable to hand the two explosive offensive sides. This happens the very same day that the Padres and Rockies duke out a 2-1 game that lasted 22 Innings – MLB Wrap Up.

I’ve heard arguments that rosters should be expanded to more than 25 so teams can be allowed to carry an extra pitcher or two incase they get burned out the day before but I am totally against that. If a team is able to hit around your starter where you are forced to go to your bullpen rather early in the game or are unable to score runs in extra innings where you are forced to use multiple relievers, that is your fault and not your opponents. Your opponent should be rewarded for putting you in such a situation the next day where they face a tired team.

Yea we constantly hear that baseball has just become a hitters game with no respect being shown to the pitchers but I think most of these pitchers are just babied way too much. “Oh, we must put an innings limit on him” or “He’s on a pitch limit today”. Let these guys go out and pitch as long as they can. Let them get out of trouble and don’t bail them out and go to someone in your pen. None of the young guys ever learn that way and if they don’t get the experience now, you’re bound to pay for it later.

Let me know what you guys think… should the MLB expand rosters to say 27-28 where 2-3 guys are on reserve and a team is able to rotate players in and out on a given night to rest some players? So you always have 25 guys suited up for a game but in between games, a team can switch players and not have to option a guy or put him on a list. It’s an interesting idea to toss around.

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Creativity At Its Finest?

This is why NHL is the coolest sport on Earth. Where else can you find a player standing in front of a goalie trying to set a screen like this? I’m still not sure where I stand on the issue though. On one hand, it is trying to distract the goalie by obstructing his point of view but you can also argue that since he isn’t even looking at the puck, there should be some sort of rule against that. Basically, Sean Avery gets in front on Marty Brodeur and starts waving his stick and does everything he could to distract him and obstruct his view. This goes on for a little bit and you can clearly see a frustrated Brodeur. I’m not sure why any of the Devils’ players just didn’t deck him to the ground.

The NHL wasted little time however following the incident to enact the following unsportsmanlike conduct rule.

“An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play.”

I don’t blame them for doing this right now and certainly you know the GMs and Owners will talk about this during the off season but this looks like a decent enough patch up for this playoff season. Even though Brodeur allows the goal the following play, you have to wonder if the antics of Sean Avery paid off from the play before.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec_2oKWe2Gw