Deep Thoughts

Can you believe 2005 is over so soon?

Last night I stumbled across the thought that I had no clue what would happen in 2005. I doubt I will do much better at guessing at what 2006 will bring. Last January, I was enjoying my month long winter break heading into my final semester of college.

I struggle at thinking back that far and remembering much beyond my daily activities. I must have been debating many issues: whether to extend into a fifth year of school, what my gig would be like with the PGA in Miami, what life would be like at the Daily, where my next place of work would be, why girls are so frustrating, when will I make a man-sized paycheck, and yada yada yada.

I guess the uncertainty continues. I don't know where I'll get paid after March, where I'll live, what I'll be doing, what new hobby I'll pick up, or just how bad my golf game will get before I start lowering the handicap again. I'm thinking of joining my first men's golf league this summer.
I'd really like to go outside the box in 2006. Take an extreme vacation. Terrorize Ben. Volunteer more. Get in shape. Buy my first car. Get a puppy.

I know it's natural for us all to think about the future, and question how each choice we make affects each day after. If anything, I plan to be more decisive and I will follow this decree: "Don't be the bunny."

So really, I know nothing. But what the heck is a soon-to-be 24-year-old supposed to do?

Not again

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner today:

"He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee."

Yup, I just puked again.

Damon Debacle

You know when you use your hands to cover your mouth while you puke on the inside?

Yea ... I did that last night.

Johnny Damon, arguably most beloved face of the Red Sox in recent years, did the absolutely last, last, last, last and last thing their fans wanted. He crossed battle lines and is now a Yankee.
He knew it would disobey fans, but can you really blame him for taking a 4-year-deal for $52 million?

I was in my car when I heard the news, and I immediately almost swerved into a tree.

Everyone has a price and George Steinbrenner (owner of the Yankees) yet again bought the services of another all-star in his relentless tirade to kill competitiveness in Major League Baseball.

His hair and effort constantly represented that Johnny was one of the good guys. Humble, goofy, and one of the best hitters in the game, he could be the most loved Sox player in Boston (definitely amonst the ladies). I think each fan might even be willing to take a punch to the balls to keep this from happening.

Now even Twins fans have to imagine that the Yankees may not ever lose a game in the next year. Just think of the top of the lineup: Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi, .... I'm getting sick again just thinking about it.

Chalk one up for the Dark Side. The power is back in the Bronx.

The Big Launch

It's so freaking cold outside that at least the last couple weeks have gone quickly. The fruits of my recent efforts and hours of time and energy launched on Sunday: NBCOlympics.com. It seems people are starting to talk about the Winter Olympics, but maybe it's just the snow. Either way, the site has me crazy busy trying to update these sites with new stories, photos, video, etc.

Make sure to check it out, it's quite the production.

In other news, I've got some crazy Christmas shopping to take care of tonight. I wish I could hire someone to go get the perfect presents for some in my life. I mean, how the heck am I supposed to know where to find a life-size plastic blow-up doll for my roommate Ben??

Saddam or Bush?

I had an interesting thought about public opinion over the weekend. President Bush's job approval rating has sunk so much in recent months, I think it's fair to ask this question: Who's has a better public image right now -- Bush or Saddam?

Now it doesn't take much to realize that the years of killing, torturing, and other things by Saddam make you easily say Bush shouldn't even be in this debate. But because so many believe the former dictator was really irrevelent to American people, that he never really posed as a threat, and his reach was so limited to his country -- I'd argue that millions of Americans would say Bush is lower on this totem pole.

So, who do you think has the better image right now?

Give it up, Doug

Way to go, Dougie. One of my favorite Twins players in recent memory, Doug Mientkiewicz, definitely isn't loved in Boston. "Dougie Baseball" is currently a New York Met, but he spent the better part of his career with the Twins at first base before being traded to the Red Sox in the summer of 2004. At the time, the Sox were in dire need of defensive help, and Mientkiewicz brought his gold glove to Beantown and definitely aided the team. In Game 4 of the World Series, Doug found himself at first base as the final play was flipped to him. He made the out, and the Red Sox had their first World Series in 86 years. Turns out he kept the baseball in his glove as team celebrated. A few weeks or months later, I don't remember which, it was reported Mientkiewicz still had the ball in his possession and Bostonians began calling for its return. Doug did not stay with the team, kept the ball, and agreed to let the team display it for the most rabid-baseball fans in the country for one year. Well, the year is up.

Now the Red Sox have sued Dougie to keep the ball in Massachusetts. They're arguing since he was a Red Sox employee during the time he caught the ball, they are entitled to any property in his possession while he was on the job.

If I was Doug, I'd probably want to keep it. Not every MLB player catches the final out to win a World Series, after all. That's one hell of a memento besides the World Series ring, and the occasion chance to see the trophy. It's a great thing to think about passing along to the kids, too.

In the shoes of a Sox fan, which I admit I am (though not as strong as a Twins guy), I can't imagine not being able to walk into the Red Sox museum and see the ball that ended "the Curse." Especially considering the significance that the team hadn't won a Series in 86 years, I'd feel like a piece of history had been stolen from city lore.

That said -- Dougie, give the ball up. You spent less than 4 months in Boston. You were lucky to end up with a World Series ring. You cannot fully understand how significant that Series win was to that city after years of an "oh, so close..." seasons. Perhaps once the Vikings collect their first Super Bowl trophy, people around here will understand. Boston has had its share of major league success, i.e. the Patriots' Super Bowl wins and the Celtics' several championships, but it is a baseball town to the heart. They've earned the right to keep that ball.

Doug isn't the type of guy who should be disdained in Boston forever. He shouldn't let his name be dragged through the mud. It's definitely not worth the ball collecting dust on a mantle above his fireplace.