Ready For A Refuel?

At least he's above ground. As for his team...
(espn.com)

How 'bout that 5 game losing streak at the end of the season? As unhappy as I am that we backed into the postseason with the proverbial beeping noises, a clincher is a clincher, but I don't exactly have that massage chair feeling. Who would have thought that after an 8-0 series edge in June against the Yanks, that we wouldn't even win the season series when it was all said and done? Who would have thought that the Blue Jays would clock 9 homers against us in the last two games? As disconcerting as those last two questions were, there are a few things that make this recent slide not that big of a deal. For one, we won't be trotting the likes of Paul Byrd and Michael Bowden on the bright lights of October. We may not even see Manny Delcarmen hang curveballs to Kendry Morales (yippeeee!). However, they're other issues that have me a bit nauseous. Even though he is on pace for his next start, that Lester line drive did not soothe me in the least. Who would have known that a post-clincher start from a staff stud would be so nerve-racking? Better yet, how about two? Beckett's back spasms didn't exactly have me jumping for joy, which makes it the 2nd time in as many years that he has tweaked a body part before the October push. And don't forget last night's Blue Jay batting practice show when comeback-kid Buchholz allowed 5 bombs against a team who is a minuscule 28 games back in the standings. I realize that we have just humiliated the Angels in the past when the calendar turns to the 10th month of the year, but they're playing inspired baseball this season, and you can never underestimate "fallen-teammate" momentum. They have something to play for, a reason to make this season special, which gets me to this Sox team. What exactly are they playing for? From the way they have been playing this past week and from the lack of that personality vibe from the teams of the past, I don't get the sense that they want it as bad as some of the other AL teams. Not like the Yankees, who haven't won a title since 2000 and want to christen their new launching pad with a championship just like they did the last one. Not like the Angels, who are playing for a teammate whose life ended far too soon. Even the Tigers (if they even hold on) have that underdog chip on their shoulder, not to mention the whole "economy has drastically humbled our city" card and that they need to win this title now more than ever for the residents of Motown. Don't get me wrong, it's good to be in the cool kids' club. But unless we find a motive to boost our way through October, I'm afraid we''ll be back being alone in the cafeteria real soon.

Probably the star of my version of, "Little Giants".
(espn.com)

As some of you soccer fans probably know, Barça defeated Ukranian powerhouse Dinamo Kiev 2-0. It was great to actually watch the game on a full screen, unlike the last Champions League game in which I had to watch Barça - Inter Milan on one of the little game windows on those channels that packages all the games. At least I had the fun experience of listening to the game in Spanish. Anyhoo, in virtually automatic fashion, Messi scored one of the two goals in the contest. It's so amazing not only how dominant he is on the pitch in relation to everybody else, but how little he is (especially beside Ibrahimovic). In a sports world filled with the Dwight Howards, the Orlando Paces and the Randy Johnsons, it's always inspirational to me to see the little guy succeed, considering that I'm one inch shorter than the average male. So here are some of my true athletic idols, my "Little Giants", a list that I will continuously be adding to.

Leo Messi (5'7'')
Soccer's history has been dominated by little men such as Pele (5'8'') and Diego Maradona (5'5''). However, even in "the beautiful game", there has been a recent lust for the bigger and the stronger, which makes players like Messi a dying breed. But that hasn't stopped the Argentinian, who has been the motor in the well-tuned, treble winning Barça machine. He's electric fast, he's moves so well with the ball and just always has the knack to create a game-breaking play. Makes me grateful that I got into soccer in this period of time, for we maybe seeing one of the all-time greats. In fact, Messi's explosiveness has made some soccer pundits to consider him to be the best player in the globe. I'm hoping Argentina ends up qualifying for the World Cup, because the world would be robbed if they don't see this little guy work his magic.

Wes Welker (5'9'')
Who would have predicted that when he left the Dolphins in 2007 that he would be the NFL receptions leader on a undefeated team with Randy Moss in it? That's exactly what the diminutive wide receiver did in a Patriots uniform. Welker caught a league leading 112 passes and was one of Brady's top weapons on that undefeated season (now twitching). He kept the good times rolling by gaining a 2nd consecutive 1,000 + season while catching passes from Matt Cassel. What's amazing about this is that in a sport that size truly dominates, he continues to chug through the opposition with his 5'9'' frame, even after the catch. Makes me want to pick up the pigskin right now. But as I look at my spindly frame, maybe not.

Dustin Pedroia (5'9'')
In the spring of 2007, a dwarf-like 2nd baseman began his rookie season for the Boston Red Sox, and it wasn't exactly world class. Batting as low as .172 in the month of May, many were wondering if it was time for Alex Cora to obtain the starting job. What happened after that? Oh, only a Rookie of the Year, a World Series ring, an MVP, and a Gold Glove! The little man with a big swing has been as important of a cog to the Sox offensive machine as anybody in the past 3 seasons. Not to mention he has been a wizard with the glove, making big plays and saving no-hitters with his small frame, which I believe is a couple inches shorter than what is listed on the programs. Hoping that this little man guides us to the big stage when my birthday comes around.

Mochaman's Fantasy Football Report
- Boston Beersquad - 2-1 (4th, Plax's Got a Gun, 3rd in Division 2, 343.32 Pts.)
So much for that undefeated fantasy season. Little hiccup for this teams as the Holmes-Fitzgerald combination hasn't paid dividends just yet. Clinton Portis still hasn't shown up yet, thus really making me consider whether I should have any Redskins on my team, especially after the loss in Detroit. Hope to pull out a victory this week in what looks to be a tight league all around.

- Killa' Beavaz - 2-1 (2nd, Yahoo Public 179914, 318.60 Pts.)
Not being helped out by Larry Fitzgerald and Tennessee's slow start this season. Not to mention Santonio Holmes's virtual no show after his stellar Week 1 performance. Eli Manning has been a good back up for me, but need some of the other pieces to start gelling if this team is gonna get any better. Facing the last place team this week, so I hope to not make a streak with this losing thing.

A Bucket List Of Sorts

Hope to do all this before I get THIS wrinkled.
(returntomanliness.com)

After my 3rd trip to Camden Yards this weekend, and as I think of the upcoming series between the Sox-Yankees this weekend in the new Jack in the Bronx, I realized that I could get used to traveling to different sports venues. Nothing like experiencing a different fusion of atmospheres from varying fanatic cultures. In a way, I kind of regret not going to the old Yankee Stadium to watch a Sox game, not necessarily because it's gone now, but because the rivalry has lost a bit of its luster in the new house. Nothing takes away from the intensity of a rivalry like a bunch of big wigs and dark suits occupying just about every seat near the vicinity of the playing field. Anyway, I thought about what sporting events would entice me the most, events that not only have high significance in itself, but also bring an atmosphere as if you were in another planet. It's amazing to look at my Top 5, considering that 2 of the events are soccer related, which is either really progressive or really disturbing. I also listed two rivalries that aren't Yanks-Sox, and even a hockey event is thrown in, which has me looking for a doctor as we speak. I'll let you figure out my overall health as you read on. Ladies and gents, here are my main events.

Would be a great poster for the word, "Intensity".
(freepicks.org)

5. Michigan - Ohio State Football

Gosh, they're about 10,000 major college rivalries. Texas-Oklahoma, USC-UCLA and you can't forget about one small basketball rivalry down in North Carolina that gets everyone buzzing in winter/springtime. But this college rivalry seems to be the cream of the crop in terms of pure passion, and none of the guys on the field are getting paid for the animosity (or so we think). I first was intrigued with this rivalry due to the simple fact that my mom's high school colors were blue and gold while the colors of my teenage stomping grounds were red and white. It's one of those rivalries that almost makes me wish I went to a school with a good football team, but at least I can still say that my team is still undefeated. But hey, if you can make me give all my attention to a college football game, you deserve a medal, or an achievement award from the president. With a game that is always positioned at the end of the season, each contest almost screams for greatness. These two schools are clearly the giants in their conference (if not the nation), combining for 75 occasions in which they were Big 10 Conference champions. Excluding the recent domination of Ohio State, the rivalry is near-even historically (57-42-6, Advantage Michigan). And this rivalry has the classic games to back up the prestige and the hype. There is the infamous "Snow Bowl", where Michigan defeated OSU for the Big 10 title in one of the worst blizzards in Ohio history, while combining for 45 punts in a 9-3 game. There was the 1973 contest in which both teams entered the game undefeated with the Rose Bowl on their minds, and ended up battling to a 10-10 tie. A vote by all the ADs in the Big 10 followed, and the Buckeyes ended up being the advancing team, making the Wolverines and their fans go all Randy Savage for months. And don't forget the 2006 matchup in which #1 Ohio State (11-0) defeated #2 Michigan (also 11-0) in a classic back-and-forth 42-39 contest to determine who would enter the BCS title game. Who would I root for in this battle that is simply known as "The Game" by many? Let's just say I'll side with whoever will make me avoid the least bodily harm.

Scene at the 2008 NHL Winter Classic.
(upload.wikimedia.org)

4. NHL Winter Classic
Just when I've been pushed off the hockey cliff forever, here comes one of the most brilliant ideas in sports. When the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning won Lord Stanley's Cup before the '04-'05 lockout, I thought that my hockey love, which I actually considered to be my favorite sport for a period of time in my pre-tween years, had all but vaporized into apathetic energy. But a league saving idea was born before all of that in 2003, when the Canadiens and Oilers duked it out in the Heritage Classic in the 1st outdoor regular season game. That one game pretty much saved hockey not just for me, but for others who were actually starting to put NASCAR, and even boxing ahead of the NHL in their personal sports rankings. This recent annual version of toothless ice capades actually stemmed from a 1991 exhibition game which the Kings and the Rangers played outdoors in all places, Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. If you know me, you know that cold weather can scare me from pretty much anything other than obviously living here in Massachusetts. But this event has a charm that makes me forget about the icicles that will grow out of my nose. The Classic symbolizes that January day somewhere in New England or Manitoba that the ponds freeze over and where everyone realized that it was time to whip out the torn-up pads and taped-up sticks. You played with a plastic ball, or some piece of rubber that wasn't even close to disc-shaped. You would wear the thick sweaters as you skated in below zero temperatures with your breath spouting out like the neighborhood chimneys. Not only that, it reminds me of the days when I loved hockey, when there were more teams in Canada than they were south of the Mason-Dixon Line. As much as I hate shivering to watch anything, this event is so worth it because it touches on the authenticity and gritty feel that hockey should represent. Plus, the hot chocolate will be as much nostalgia as it is a necessity. If anybody can score some tickets for the Classic at Fenway, my door is always open!

Barcelona - Madrid: Truly a world classic.
(media.itsfogo.com)

3. El Clásico - Real Madrid - Barcelona
With the emergence of the Spanish Premier League in the past couple of years, this rivalry has gotten more play globally, and boy does it deserve the attention. It's one of those battles that is becoming almost as big as the sport itself. In fact, this rivalry was one of the factors in why I picked Barça as my personal favorite. Imagine watching a contest with 4 out of the 5 best players in the world playing on one pitch. That is what we will get this year when Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká take on Barcelona's Leo Messi and Xavi in the two '09-'10 installations of El Clásico. But there's more to this rivalry that adds spice to the paella. The rivalry carries not only a competitive edge (considering that the two teams have combined for 50 Spanish League titles and 12 European titles), but the duel has so much political influence blended in from the days of the Franco regime, when Madrid represented the political status quo of Franco's Spain while Barcelona stood for the diverse cultures and languages that still exist in the country. It's almost as if the Spanish Civil War replays itself for 90 minutes twice a year in each respective city, making the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry seem like a minor bit of road rage. Just ask the players who switched to the other side of the rivalry who were greeted with pig heads (Feel lucky, Johny Damon!). That's just the kind of stuff I have to see in person, with my Barça jersey of course in the friendlier grounds of Camp Nou. With Real Madrid having only an 8 win edge in the series (68 wins to 60), you are pretty much guaranteed a classic every time. If I hit the lottery within the next two months, you definitely can predict my presence in Barcelona on November 29th.

Spring Training = True official 1st day of Spring.
(letsgoredsox.mlblogs.com)

2. Spring Training - Fort Myers
Never has the sound of cracking wood been so welcome. This would be the one day that I would choose to petition as a national holiday of all the major days in sports. As you probably know, I haven't walked on Floridian soil yet, but this would be my primary landing site (well, maybe next to Miami). As another grueling winter tears through New England, the first sun ray shines through in the form of red jerseys, the arrival of offseason acquisitions, the return of fan favorites and the hopes that this year will result in a World Series triumph. No wonder the birds fly down here! The fields and the equipment seem untouched and as pure as the blue Floridian sky, not scratched or dented by the rigors of midseason. When virtually everyone is at the nearest pharmacy thinking of a last minute gift for Valentine's Day, I take that time to arrange all my Sox jerseys and T-shirts and soak up every bit of news like the fans down south soak up every ounce of sunlight, right until the arrival of Opening Day. I mean, for what occasion would I turn down sunny days and baseball? O.K., maybe for a few things, but let's just say that sentiment is probably shared by many in my gender. In my world, the vernal equinox starts a month early, and one day I hope to celebrate in the proper place of worship. Now if only I didn't have to wait so long for the games to count.

World's tourney for the world's game. Primetime!
(chinadaily.com)

1. FIFA World Cup
Now these games count! What more can I say about this event? For one thing, it's contagious. So contagious that the swine flu, tuberculosis and even the black plague are envious of the epidemic that this worldwide party creates. People who don't even watch soccer all of a sudden pick a country (usually not the U.S., for obvious reasons) and ride the mania all the way to the final minute of extra time. In every game, there seems to be enough energy in the stands to power a whole continent, and a goal doesn't even have to be scored! I realize that two sets of Olympics pass through, but it is probably the only month in a four year span in which xenophobia is the cool trend. But at the same time, it's one of the best blends of passion, culture and sport the world has to offer. Germany-Russia and Spain-England would be exciting for historical reasons alone, even if they had never played a match. Every cross, goal and headbutt are placed under the microscope, in the backdrop of the sights and sounds (get ready for those horns in South Africa) of the host country in the midst of an international soccer party. All while 32 countries battle on the pitch to determine who owns the world's most valuable bragging rights in sports. Out of all the sporting events that I desire to go to, this event sure takes the trophy, and the confetti shower to go along with it.

Honorable Mentions: Duke-UNC Basketball, Wimbledon, The Masters, The World Series, NHL Montreal-Toronto game, Daytona 500, The Champions League

Before I Peace: Leap Of Fake

(espn.com)

Wow Ocho! Just wow! At first I was sort of into your shtick. I never really got some of the nitpicking and fussing by the NFL, or should I say the "No Fun League", about some of the things that go on the field. But from the Hall of Fame jacket to the name change, it just seems like you are losing touch with the thing you are actually getting paid for: To catch footballs. And now I hear that your brave "Lambeau Leap" stunt was not only into Bengal fans, but you bought those Bengals fans tickets in order to stage your mighty jump. Kinda anti climactic, ain't it? I was sort of expecting a gutsier stunt from a tough football player, but I got another tired act instead. Sorry to say that Hollywood is a long way from Cincinnati, Ochocinco, and you are slowly turning into the league's peacock, all those flashy feathers with not much to show for it. I know that this stunt wasn't the worst thing on Earth that could happen, but for the lackluster season you put up last year, you should worry less about your next TD celebration or attention-grabber and worry more about helping your Bengals, who haven't had a winning season in about 4 years. You don't have to stop tweeting or keep thinking that your Bengals will win 12 games (although watch for the NFL to give you a random drug test for that one), but it just seems as if your antics are creating more buzz than your play, which in the end is the only thing that your Cincy fans ultimately care about. You're lucky that your team is winning, but when the downturn in the performance of you and your team comes, don't be surprised when the fans stop asking for an encore.

Struggling Teams And October Dreams

The gates to the Nation's HQ in the Mid-Atlantic.
(CEB II)

Just came back from the Baltimore/D.C. area after witnessing part of another Sox sweep over the O's, concluding a 16-2 mark against the team that is about 8 to 10 pitchers away from contending. And that showed this whole weekend. I attended the Saturday game, surprisingly surrounded by mostly Oriole fans in my section, but still felt the presence of the New England all over the park. If I were blind, I would have thought I was in Fenway from the noise Big Papi received just from stretching. If I was deaf, I would have thought the Sox moved into a new stadium from the Pedroia shirts they were selling in front of the Eutaw Street gate. The game was actually close through the 1st six innings. However, the Oriole bullpen came to save the day, allowing 8 runs in 2 innings which was capped off with a Brian Anderson homer. As you can probably picture, the mass exodus began. The 23-9 showing in the three game series was about as dominant as the 9-3 steamrolling Barcelona has dished out to their opponents in the last two fixtures. Other than the Delcarmen nuclear meltdowns on Saturday night and yesterday against the Royals (errrrrrrrrrrgh), the Sox have all but clinched a playoff spot as their Wild Card magic number is down to 7. However, with the Royals in our radar and the Angels in the Yankees' radar, I can't help but think of another shot at the division. I need something to think about, and to strive for in a season where the playoff destinies are pretty much set in stone right now. But imagine a Sox divisional comeback. We're starting to win those magical games, like the one last Wednesday where Nick Green should have struck out on two occasions before drawing a game-tying walk before a Gonzalez game-winning single, all with 2 outs. On the other end, Burnett hasn't set the world on fire lately, Joba has an 8.31 ERA this month and Pettitte's 37 year old arm is showing some wear and tear. Even C.C. Sabathia's postseason woes have me thinking the Yanks aren't as much of a lock as the ESPN Power Rankings make them out to be. That's why last night's loss to the Royals was frustrating in that the Sox could have crept up another game in the standings, making the series in the Bronx this weekend possibly more interesting. Tonight's Greinke-Byrd matchup doesn't give me warm fuzzy feelings either, but the sounds and sights of October baseball heals most of these current quandaries.

Best thing since Joe Wily?
(espn.com)

We'll I've been ready for some football, but it has looked as if the Pats have been a little under-prepared since the starting gun. This was the game I was most afraid of in this young season. Especially when it took a miracle to beat the Bills at home. On the same token, this was a game which I really wanted, considering that everyone including the Jets equipment manger had been talking trash before the game. Unfortunately, a 3-time Super Bowl champion could not outduel a quarterback making only his 2nd start in the pros. The victory was the 1st by the Jets at home against the Pats since 2000, and the 1st time the Patriots were held without a TD since December of 2006. I have been back in the New England area for only a day, and yet it feels like the Patriots season has come to an apocalyptic end in Week 2. I admit, when Stephen Gostkowski is your team's best fantasy performer on a team with a faceless defense, a troubling outcome is all but imminent. As frustrating as the first 2 games have played out, the Falcons, Ravens, the surprising Broncos and the Titans follow in a schedule that was supposed to be lax at best. But I still feel like there is too much talent on the Patriots offense (which was without Welker against the Jets) as well as all the time in the world to establish a rhythm on defense. We all knew that Brady was coming off a serious knee injury and would take a few regular season games to get into the flow of things, or at least I hope you thought exactly that. Even the defense was a bad 3rd quarter away from bringing the team a win, and only allowed 16 points for the whole game. I'll say this: If we are 2-5 at the bye week in Week 8, then and only then will I whip out the blueprint on my concrete bunker.

Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
Congrats to the Mocha Sox (I guess), who made it to the consolation bracket finals in their league. Unfortunately, the tie goes to the one with the better record as the Firehawks have to settle for the "extremely hyped" 9th place game. But the big story is that my Bubba Gump Shrimpz have made it to the big dance, making me closer to a $200 prize, a championship and bragging rights in only my second year in this league. Looks like I will only get 2 appearances from each of my starters, so every quality inning will be much appreciated. Some of my offense will have to over achieve as well after the Morneau injury. Let's get ready to rumble.


Mochaman's Fantasy Football Report

- Boston Beersquad - 2-0 (3rd, Plax's Got a Gun, 2nd in Division 2, 252.54 Pts.)
Giants' defense came through despite allowing those 31 points against the Cowboys. Kurt Warner, Ronnie Brown and Ochocinco also put up some solid performances. Need Fitzgerald and Portis to have some quality games if I am to maintain a superior position in the league.

- Killa' Beavaz - 2-0 (2nd, Yahoo Public 179914, 235.86 Pts.)
Monster performances by Chris Johnson and Ronnie Brown really helped propel this team to victory with the help of Eli Manning on my McNabb-less team. Also survived a horrible showing by the Titans' defense against Houston this weekend. Team should remain strong as long as the RB committee is up to the task every week, especially with the unknown consistency of the QB position.

Bonus: Sox - Orioles Montage

Day 'N' Nite Remix - Kid Cudi vs. The Crookers, 2008

In Memoriam To One Who Created A Stronger NCAA
Myles Brand (May 17, 1942 – September 16, 2009)
(newsinfo.iu.edu)

Monday Night Madness

Make that '2' close for comfort!
(espn.com)

Well, that was kinda close, huh? It wasn't the smoothest performance ever, but in the end, the expected result was obtained as the Pats eeked one out by T.O. and the Bills. For a while, it looked like Fred Jackson, a former member of NFL Europa's Rhein Fire, was making early bid for the NFL MVP as he was shredding up a Pats defense that is still looking for an identity. I admit, after the Jackson TD that made it 24-13 (with an inexperienced offensive line), I was already thinking about how not to lose against the Jets next week. But with 5:32 left in the game, and with a guy named Brady back at the helm, I wasn't ready to flip the channel just yet. Not with the throwbacks and the orange candy cane ref unis, which made me feel like I was watching a more violent version of Candy Land. All we needed was a scoring drive and for the Bills to do something dumb. Enter: Leodis McKelvin, who decided not to kneel in the end zone and instead coughed up the ball on his own 31 yard line with just under 2 minutes to play. One Watson TD later, the Armageddon feel lessened, and all of a sudden Pats fans are not worried about a shaky defense, which might be without Jerrod Mayo next week. Knowing my history, we will probably never know what's up with that knee, which doesn't help the psyche one bit. While Randy Moss didn't score any TDs, he did get 12 receptions, 10 more than his Bill counterpart T.O. If this continues, I estimate the Bills implosion to possibly start in T-3 weeks. While it took a combination of 53 Brady pass attempts and the untimely (but almost predictable) Bills mistake to achieve victory, I'm not worried about this shaky performance in relevance to the long-term grind. The defense has mostly veteran members, who won't take as long to regroup and find their groove as a unit. A 378 yard, comeback performance from a slightly off-kilter Brady is no reason for concern, either.

Just when I thought my heart was safe....
(espn.com)

Why suddenly does a whole fanbase need an EKG? Oh yeah, because The National Treasure is back! Dice-K makes his first start in almost 3 months as he faces a well-balanced Angel offensive attack. So which Dice-K are we going to get? Are we going to get the guy who drove us to the Tobin Bridge, only to get out of constant bases loaded jams? Or will we get the arm fatigued version that was the walking-launching pad in his 8 starts in 2009? Either way, I have officially lowered my expectations for my own health. With 20 games to go, the Sox have a firm grasp on the Wild Card with a 4.5 game lead going into a week where they will face the division leading Angels and the Orioles, who have thrown in the towel a while ago. And from what we have learned from the past couple months of trials and tribulations with the staff, another effective arm is always welcome. With Wakefield's back being preserved with a tsunami of cortisone now, there is no guarantee that he will be a major contributor in the final push for October. So I will be watching Dice-K tonight, with stress ball in hand, to see whether he can emerge from a year of shoulder weakness and utter disappointments to possibly be a late addition to a staff that has changed faces more than a recently deceased pop star. So don't pass out tonight, because the Byrd is the word tomorrow!

Mochaman's Fantasy Football Report

- Boston Beersquad - 1-0 (3rd, Plax's Got a Gun, 2nd in Division 2, 122.72 Pts.)
Can't get much better than a Week 1 victory. Capitalized with huge games from Santonio Holmes, Shockey, and the New York Giants defense. This 'Madden Curse' thing has almost brought me to prayer, considering I have Larry Fitzgerald as my top receiver. Also regretting the Ronnie Brown pick right, but it's still early. Expecting huge performances from Ochocinco and Clinton Portis this upcoming week.

- Killa' Beavaz - 1-0 (4th, Yahoo Public 179914, 103 Pts.)
Like on my other team, Fitzgerald (I know, kinda scary) and Holmes came through while Ronnie Brown produced a stinker in Week 1. Brandon Marshall didn't exactly light the world on fire, either. Had more points with Tennessee's defense than the other team had with Pittsburgh, despite opposite results in the real game on Thursday night. The big blow for this team was McNabb and his cracked rib, which really shakes things up for the rest of the year, even if he does play in the games. Not too confident in putting in Eli just yet.

R.I.P. Mr. Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze (Aug.18, 1952 – Sept. 14, 2009)
(media.photobucket.com)

All-Endorphin Entry

Lovin' the lucky sherbet tops!
(11cules.com)

I don't know if it's the arrival of the football season or how out of shape I was walking around the North End his weekend, but the testosterone is boiling and I have got back into the running game again. I feel as if a slight hangover when I finished the 4-mile run and my thigh muscles tremor every time I go up and down the stairs. Translation: I've never felt so alive! This past weekend in sports was action packed as any with the Basketball Hall of Fame inductions (which included some guy with the initials M.J.), a Sox doubleheader that virtually killed off the Rays season completely (yaaaaahooooooooo!) to go along with all of this quality football from college and the pros. And the Patriots haven't played yet! Why do I feel that I'm getting away with something? Before I type the rest of this, I will proceed to bathe myself in a jacuzzi sized tub of Icy Hot. Yeah, that will fix everything. God, I need a masseuse right now!

Before we get ready for some American football, we must dive into Fixture #2 of the Spanish Premier League as Barcelona squared up against Getafe. By the way they played in the first half, you couldn't tell that Getafe was ranked 17th in the Spanish Premier League last season, as they almost cashed in on some early opportunities given to them by the defensive backs. But then things changed, in many ways. It was Barça's star acquisition, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who cashed in with a goal (67') and an assist on a Messi goal (79') to boost the squad to a 0-2 victory. Too bad I missed most of the second half due to an apparent boatload of technical difficulties. No radio transmission from a blank screen or anything. So I basically spent an a half an hour becoming aware of every program that was going to be on GolTV for the rest of the weekend. Not that I'm into conspiracy theories or anything, but it's a potentially genius marketing ploy to use the best team in Europe to rope in tons of soccer-newbie viewers to expose them to the fruits of the network. Too bad I'm not buying the strategy, which explains this lame explanation as to why I was brainwashed into eventually watching the Atletico Madrid-Racing game to quell my Saturday afternoon soccer urges. You're telling me that a network that is vital in bringing soccer to the newest masses doesn't know how to operate their satellites/any other audio/visual equipment at this point? Granted, soccer isn't gonna completely lose me as a viewer because of this, but GolTV shouldn't be shocked with the e-mails of some angry viewers. Definitely a sour note that spoiled a great game.

Must have saw his face next to the word, "overrated."
(espn.com)

Saturday's college football provided two intriguing games. I admit, I'm not the biggest college football fan in the world. For one, every Saturday's sports ticker is always dominated by virtually every college football game that's being played on Earth, all while I'm looking for the score for the Rangers game. I'm not exactly bubbling with anticipation to see the score for West Kentucky and Southern Florida. Second, it's hard for me to get into a sport that the rankings are totally subjective, with a computer system determining the fate of who's champion. Coincidentally, it's always programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State (teams with historically elite programs) who end up benefiting in the polls despite having ridiculously easy schedules and at times not being that good anyway. The two teams I mentioned just happened to be involved in the games that everyone was buzzing about this past Saturday. Old buddy Charlie Weis and his Fighting Irish were involved in a slug fest against the much maligned Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines of Michigan. This game had magnified attention due to the fact that the game was a potential launching pad for programs who have fallen off the glory path. In the end, it was Michigan who defeated the Irish when Greg Mathews caught a TD pass with 11 seconds left, making me wonder even more why Notre Dame is still nationally televised, or why I even liked them as a kid. The golden helmets perhaps? I mean, how were they even ranked 18th when they have only won 1 bowl game in 15 years? And I'm supposed to believe Jimmy Clausen is a Heisman candidate just because he threw 401 yards and 5 TDs against Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl last December? I think the definition of overrated has been solidified, ladies and gents. Did I just hear a, "You lie" somewhere? Must be Regis. Anyhoo, to continue this Texas-sized rant on the college sports front, How 'bout them Buckeyes? It's a few years since Ohio State has won a bowl game themselves, since that Fiesta Bowl in 2006 where they played and beat (SURPRISE!) Notre Dame, which with my rant before, you can probably tell I don't take that victory too seriously. Since then, they have been demolished by Florida and LSU in the championship game after being nominated the favorites and lost to Texas in last year's Fiesta Bowl. Needless to say that I don't take OSU as a big game team. Especially when you allow a 19-year old freshman QB, who looks like could easily play one of those Californian jock villains on a show on the CW Network, to coordinate 86 yard drive a the end of the game to deflate you. Matt Barkley is now guaranteed a shirtless spot on a magazine and the opening of his brand new bandwagon, which reminds me.......

Orton: 1, Cutler: 0. I love karma!
(espn.com)

There's always a lot to marvel about when a football season begins. Every since Thursday night's re-emergence of the Madden Curse, I have recently gotten hooked into watching the NFL Network and have read every X and O for virtually every matchup for the upcoming weekend. And then, Sunday arrived. We saw the McNabb break a rib, the continuous free fall of a Mr. Delhomme and fantasy king Drew Brees opening up the season with 6 TDs against (you guessed it) the Detroit Lions. Week 1 also marked an increase in ticket sales for the bandwagons of Brett Favre and Mark Sanchez. I see the Favre bandwagon increasing in the next few weeks as he goes up against opponents like the Lions and the 49ers for the next couple of weeks. And believe me, I'm just as disappointed as the rest of you. The development of the Sanchez bandwagon is gonna go through a huge test however, as the Jets play the Patriots, Titans, Saints and Dolphins for the next month. He only beat a Texans team, which I believe is the most over-hyped sleeper pick in recent memory. Interesting to see how Rex Ryan and the gang fare after that monstrous beginning of a season in terms of schedule. Just because I picked the Jets to become the 2nd place team in the division, doesn't mean I have to root for it to happen! But hey, at least I get the joy and satisfaction that "Cry Baby" Cutler threw 4 picks in his loss to the Packers last night, making Kyle Orton look like a Joe Montana in comparison. In the meantime, his former team, who don't really look like they have a chance on paper (even with Kyle Orton, hahaha), miraculously won their first game on a tipped pass turned 87 yard reception to beat Ochocinco's Bengals. Not a good start for the Twitter King's personal 12 win team prediction. All this and Week 1 isn't over yet!

Here's to the Rays' season.
(espn.com)

This weekend, we saw some sinking fish on a wet weekend. With the sweep of the doubleheader and the series on Sunday, the Rays dropped their 11th straight game and go from fighting for the Wild Card to wildly fighting for .500. My buddy P-Mac and I had a discussion on if we felt bad for them or not, and apparently we differ on opinion. It might be mean, but I don't have one ounce of sympathy. I probably have a permanent arrhythmia from watching these guys pull Elway-like comebacks on us virtually every game, not to mention a few dark spots on my liver from the drinking away the aftermath. That Game 7 ALCS loss doesn't have me feeling like roses either. So winning these last 5 out of 6 against the Rays needless to say was like Christmas, and the Sox beating Garza in the 8th on the 1st game of the double dip was the star on top of the tree. With the Rays out, only the Rangers stand in the way of a Red Sox Wild Card berth. The Sox try to strengthen their hold in the Wild Card as they go up against the future 2009 AL West Champions and potential 1st round opponent, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (again?), however I get a little queasy whenever a returning Matsuzaka and Byrd are the 1st two probables. All of this, and Texas plays Oakland, a team that everyone else can beat but us. But touching on the brighter notes, the Sox are on a 5 game win streak, with the offense not only coming through in quantity, but in the right moments as well. And tell me if I'm dreaming, but has Buchholz become the #3 sta.... ? I'm not going to complete the question, because we can't afford any more jinxes at this point. Well, it's a day off for the Sox, which only means one thing today: Go Patriots!

Before I Peace: Kanye, How Could You Be So Heartless?

(mstrismusic.com)

And just to think that I didn't think anyone was as crazy as Lady Gaga's outfits. Last night, Kanye West proved that he is not only a sore loser when it comes to his career, but he is a sore loser when it comes to other people's accomplishments. In the MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift won the award 'Best Female Video' in somewhat of an upset, considering she was up against pop giants like Beyonce, Lay Gaga and Pink. However, it wasn't like when Jethro Tull's 'Crest of a Knave' beat out Metallica's '...And Justice For All' for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in the 1989 Grammys (still befuddled). As the victorious Swift attempted to dive into her 1st Moonman victory speech, Kanye stormed the stage, took the mike and boldly stated to the audience the Beyonce should have won due to creating "one of the best videos of all time", leaving Swift in a "pants fell down" type of shock on the stage. First off Kanye, best video of all-time? Really, Kanye? Of all-time? Sure, having 3 Beyonce's dancing around in a uni in a black/white background is titillating, and I can't ever get the song out of my head once I listen to it, but the best of all time? I have a couple Peter Gabriel videos in mind that have more creativity in 10 seconds than any of these videos had. And how can you top this sick OK GO vid? Once again, Kanye has dumped off into the deep end of his own selfishness, and has not only made a buffoon of himself, but put a shadow over what should have been a hallmark moment in a teenager's rising career, well at least until Beyonce saved the day and let Taylor Swift say her thank yous after obtaining the award for 'Video of the Year' (Shoulda waited on the rant, Kanye!). I'm not even a fan of the two female pop stars that are in the midst of VMA-gate. In fact, I only have 4 songs of Beyonce's (Yes, including "Single Ladies", I know.) and only 1% of my music collection is country (Yes, I did the math). Ironically, I like Kanye's music exponentially more than the music of the other two artists. But this is why I don't fall in love with celebrities, because they can easily become that drunk relative in the family reunion that picks up the Hennessey and won't shut up. In this situation, this is about Kanye being that drunken uncle. If you want, you can make your own channel on DirecTV and just host "The College Dropout Awards" to elect your own winners. I realize that you think you should win every music award out there. Hell, you probably think that you deserve to win the gold for female pole vaulting. Being an arrogant blowhard to get attention is one thing, but doing it at the expense of someone who doesn't even look capable of making a mix-tape to diss you is waaaaaaay below class. Just because Swift's album (Fearless) tallied over double the sales of your latest release (808s & Heartbreak), doesn't mean you have to act like a complete moron. Is it Taylor Swift envy? Who knows. Maybe it's a little Jay-Z envy, as Kanye went up to protect his girl's right to another Moonman. Hmmmm, maybe if you liked it Kanye, then you should have put a ring on it!

Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
My Mocha Sox and Firehawks have reached the semifinals in their respect consolation bracket races. The consolation prize isn't exactly the trophy you play for, but you play to win the game....or sometimes a scrap of your dignity. The race for survival continues! The real attention will be focused on my Bubba Gump Shrimpz, who are in the semifinals going for the real prize ($200, a year of bragging rights with people I actually talk to). Still nervous with the recent back issues of Lincecum, but could prove vital in a week in which he will potentially pitch twice. Hoping the Morneau and Zo-Beast go slump-busters this week. Let's get it on!

8 Years, And Still Remebered Like A Clear Day

Image still gives me chills.
(hotlibrarytech.files.wordpress.com)

I write this as the sky lets out slow tears, probably in honor of the horrific events that happened 8 years ago today. I remember it like it was 3 minutes ago. I was a sophomore at Hudson High. It was a very warm Tuesday, where I spent my first class (Biology) outside doing water quality experiments on the Assabet River, which if you are from the area, it doesn't take a pH test to tell you not to swim there. I was basking in the sunlight of the day, unaware of the events that had recently transpired in New York City towards the end of 1st block class time. My next class was World Literature, where we were dissecting the book "Things Fall Apart", which at least by title is eerie foreshadowing in retrospect. As my mind was wandering in the classroom to figure out a way to get rid of this recently-acquired river stench, Ms. Murray, who would end up being a future teacher of mine, stormed into the classroom (which was actually hers) and looked for a radio that she had. She alerted the class that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade towers. For some reason, I didn't take the news too seriously. Maybe it was because I was thinking about having another class outside. Maybe it was me thinking about the river stench. Or maybe it was me thinking of that B-25 that crashed accidentally into the Empire State Building in the mid-40's. Either way, I didn't see the crash as much more than an accident. However it was peculiar that the pilot would have any visibility problems on a superb day like that day. We continued to dissect the classic work of Chinua Achebe when about a half-hour later, Ms. Murray ran back in the classroom again, screaming that another plane crashed into the second tower. That's when the switch flipped for me. This was too coincidental to be a complete accident. My mind went from river odor to what the scene looked like in New York. When I heard that the library staff rolled out televisions, I knew this event had some severity. I was afraid of encountering a scene that was unimaginable and incomparable to anything I have witnessed in my almost 16 years of life. And when I went to the library after 2nd block, I unfortunately was right.

Just at a loss for words.
(freethoughts.org)

I caught the images on a television in the library just before entering, and with just pure shock, I froze, almost not even entering the room. The people jumping out of the towers, the long trail of smoke. And now the Pentagon's hit? Now I realized this was waaaaaaaaaaaay more than an accident. This was planned for months, maybe even years, and me and the rest of my student peers and teachers were witnessing the gruesome finished product live. I couldn't imagine being in NYC like some of my future college buddies, witnessing all of this Doomsday-like scenery outside of their classroom windows, or having to be packed in a ferry to avoid the imminent danger and destruction that was to occur on their stomping grounds as a result of the weakening structure of the towers and the buildings surrounding it. Even the firefighters and paramedics looked baffled, not knowing what was to come next. And that feeling was contagious across the nation. All of a sudden, random students were bantering about random reports throughout the day. A bomb in J.F.K. Library? A plane down in a Pennsylvanian field? An explosion at Golden Gate? It was just pure anarchy with rumor and fact colliding. I remember getting off the bus that day and walking back with the weirdest sense of vulnerability ever. It was the 1st and only time in my life I have ever felt this indescribable feeling. Were the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon the beginning of something massive that was about to happen? Should I walk or run home? I kept constantly thinking of the mini-movie that introduces the game, "Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2" where the Soviets go crazy and launch a full-scale invasion on the U.S. that made D-Day look like an 8th grade dance. After a whole night of watching the news and seeing towers go down and watching a storm of metal and plaster engulf New York City, I knew that I lost a part of me that wouldn't come back. Things for me and my generation weren't going to be "normal" ever again.

Resurrected from the rubble.
(reformedpastor.files.wordpress.com)

So how do I feel 8 years after the day? Well, I definitely don't feel the paranoia that I felt at those tense moments and the country has gone back almost to how it was pre-9/11, which is encouraging and scary at the same time. However, a bit of my innocence and self-security was robbed. It hasn't been over reactive experience for me. It's not like I check every exit of a restaurant or bar before I sit down, but this newly-developed sense of danger awareness grew in me, a sense that most of my Central Mass suburban brethren never paid much attention to until that day in '01. Since then, I do look around a lot more in huge public gatherings looking for things that are out of place. It may explain why I always cross myself on an airplane now even though I am not anything close to religious. It maybe the reason why I subconsciously don't go to too many tall buildings in major cities. An event like 9/11 just has to shape you, as an American and as a world citizen because now we live in a world your sense of security can be shattered in the flip of a switch. And the Land of the Free is no exception. The challenge is not only dealing with such a moment in history, but to keep a level head and remain somewhat rational. We all remember seeing our first guy in a turban after the attacks and holding back those images of the Middle East and terrorism that were played out in the news. We remember hearing those stories of the heroic deeds of the firefighters and the passengers on United Airlines Flight 93. We remember the sudden outburst of patriotism that spread throughout the country. We all remember the feelings of outrage and trying to figure out who exactly we should take these frustrations out on. I hate how people have somehow linked the Bush administration to all of this carnage. Sit down and think about it. Do you really think the guy who invented the term "fuzzy math" and said that it's hard to "put food on the family" would be clever enough to be the mastermind of a plot that would consist of synchronized explosions in multiple locations? I have to repeat, this is the BUSH administration folks. If you truly believe that, then shame on YOU. But I didn't write this to ramble about conspiracy theories. I wrote this to make sense of the memories that I still had of that day that existed through the aftermath, you know, the Afghanistan conflict, the lack of WMDs and our evolving anti-romantic relationships with countries like Iran and North Korea. By examining how I have dealt with it and by witnessing the actions of my country afterward, the security of our nation isn't necessarily my biggest worry. The thing I worry about is the psyche of a nation as it heals through an immense tragedy like 9/11, even with the scar tissue that will always be there.

In memoriam to all who died on 9/11/2001 and to the soldiers, alive and dead, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect us and our freedom.
(piecemakerz2.com)

Laboring Back Into The Blogosphere

Manny Parra has no chance batting against this guy.
(espn.com)

Hint: Shocks aren't supposed to be taped for stability.
(CEB II)

It's been a while, huh? Why haven't I written in the past fortnight? I kinda don't really have a clear answer. Maybe because I felt a little monotonous after a while talking about two things for the past couple months. Maybe it was the hard drive that suddenly decided to take a permanent vacation on me last week. Or maybe it's me trying to concentrate more on this never-ending job hunt, which has finally gained some serious steam and will hopefully end in the next couple of weeks. It'll be clutch, considering I am literally preserving the performance of my Jeep with tape at this point. This car has almost made me go all Shawne Merriman, but transportation is important for someone like me who has drives an average of 20 miles to hangout. Speaking of Merriman, he's now taking out his roid rage on reality TV stars? Might be "Lights Out" for you in San Diego, buddy! Since everything is more clear in retrospect, I'll write about a few events in the past couple of weeks that have been swirling through my mind since I wrote my last entry two weeks ago. Go go gadget, cobweb remover!

Thanks for the nightmares, Bradley.
(espn.com)

- The Sox officially beacme participants in the "take a Penny, leave a Penny" program, and like the Smoltz and Lugo debacles, apparently had immediate bite-back repercussions. Here we had a guy who didn't even complete 7 innings all year easily goes 8 with 5 hits allowed against the Phillies lineup, which is probably the closest thing in the NL that resembles an AL batting order. Not to mention our old buddy Mark Kotsay went 6/11 with 2 HRs and 6 RBI's in this recent hiccup in the Windy City. Why can't we get guys like that? Anyway, don't take all of this seriously, Sox fanatics. Just to remind everyone that National League pitchers still throw to their counterparts, which is an effective jam buster in itself (kinda like the AL throwing to Varitek the last few years). After facing the Padres and the Nats, Smoltz struggled a bit against a stronger Milwaukee lineup in his last start to receive the loss. In short, these moves won't play a destructive role in our playoff hunt. Not everyone can play in the pressure cooker markets, in the AL, or both. Which reminds me.........

Wish we got guys like this.
(espn.com)

- Losing 3 out of 4 in Chicago this weekend doesn't exactly have me doing somersaults, but the Red Sox are gaining more traction as they push for the postseason. Beckett threw his first quality start since Aug. 12th, but it wasn't enough as Mark Kotsay wrapped up his player of the series award. But hey, no homers allowed, right? To keep reminiscing about the brighter news, we remember that both series against Chicago and Toronto last week were no doubt beneficial to the cause. But the series at the Trop was huge mentally, considering we hadn't won a series there since Bush was still the prez. With the recent doubleheader debacle, it seems as if the Rays' season is as healthy as Carlos Peña's broken fingers. Meanwhile, those pesky Texas Rangers are hanging in there like Harrison Ford when he was President Marshall fighting Russian terrorists in the action flick Air Force One. However, the Rangers have been bit hard by the injury bug as Michael Young and Josh Hamilton have become late casualties in the AL Wild Card battle. Before the next series in the Bronx 3 weekends from now, the schedule has a eclectic blend of high caliber teams (Angels, Rays) that will measure how the Sox will play strong teams that could determine their postseason path and/or if they make it there at all. The contenders are fused with some also-rans (Orioles (twice), Royals) that if they are who we think the Sox are, shouldn't lose any games to these clubs.

For a new fan, this image never gets old.
(11cules.com)

- Make that 5 for 5 for new Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. On the 28th of last month, Catalonia's team won their 5th trophy in the past year with a Pedro goal in the 115th minute against Ukranian Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco to win the European Super Cup. Guardiola and his Barça squad have won trophies these past few months that many coaches and teams toil years to achieve. The arguments comparing the English and Spanish Premier Leagues have lingered on as a huge chunk of the world's soccer talent have fled to the emergent Spanish brand of football. But no matter what league you think is more superior, you have to believe that Barcelona has established themselves in a class of their own. The first fixture of the league season was also a success as Ibrahimovic and company tallied a decisive 3-0 triumph against Sporting Gijon at Camp Nou on the last day of August. The upcoming fixture against Getafe has me a little worried as the soccer world is coming off a fatiguing international week where many of the world's best played for their countries and for a World Cup berth. Starting with the Getafe game on Saturday, the squad will play 7 games in 22 days which includes Champions League fixtures with Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan against old friend Samuel Eto'o. Despite the grueling schedule that awaits, and that rival Real Madrid have spent millions of Euros, these recent triumphs have me confident that Ronaldo and crew won't be yanking away Barça's new found glory anytime soon.

Could a re-make of "Thriller" be in the works?
(img2.timeinc.net)

- Hear about that Michael Jackson tour? Well you might have just missed it. Michael Jackson FINALLY got buried this past Friday. The guy took a more grueling tour dead than he would have taken if we was still breathing and not covered with layers of formaldehyde and autopsy incisions. With him above ground for three months, they should have just tried to revive him a couple more times. Science has improved after all. Might have to start throwing down money in a bet that they decide to preserve his body in wax like Lenin and start paying $50 a pop to see him at Neverland Ranch. Maybe they will wire his body to do the whole "Thriller" routine every hour on the hour. At this point, no though or idea is even slightly ridiculous anymore. After all, there are still some hungry creditors waiting outside Neverland as we speak. Speaking of people who are dead/potentially dead........

I found the new mascot for "California Raisins."

(theking34s.files.wordpress.com)

- Looks like the Patriots are going to start the regular season without two defensive anchors from their dynasty years. Tedy Bruschi recently has left the Foxboro gridiron and will now be be one of the suits and ties analyzing the Xs and Os on ESPN. I loved the captain more than anybody, but the years of crashing and bashing seem to have had its effect on him the past couple of years. I will still miss the leadership, selfless attitude and the 100% effort that he provided, you know, the ultimate anti-Brandon Marshall of the league. In a shocker, the Pats also say good bye to Richard Seymour, who apparently is going through some glory withdrawals right now as he still hasn't reported to Raider headquarters, and I kinda don't blame him. A defense that was ranked 27th in YPG last year isn't exactly the main issue. With a head coach that seems to be auditioning for UFC and a quarterback that is in preparation to become a sumo champion, I could see how excitement isn't just rushing through Seymour's veins right now. It seems like every other Pats fan is complaining about this move, but remember when we just tossed Lawyer Milloy? That year ended up being not too shabby, with oh say, a Lombardi Trophy. Plus you see more genius from the Pats' front office, which is foreseeing the inevitable rookie salary cap that will enter the CBA, making that 2011 pick more of a jackpot and a money saver at the same time. As much as I will miss Seymour's presence, that 2011 first-round pick has me pumped up. That, and I am guaranteed another couple years of making fun of the Raiders.

I don't think the Bucs are worried about the SI curse.
(i.cdn.turner.com)

- Poor Pirates. After their loss against the Cubs on Sunday, a 17th consecutive losing season was confirmed for a franchise that was an inning away from making it to the Series back in 1992. Think about it, 1992! The Summer Olympics were in Barcelona, Favre (errrrr) started his 1st game for the Packers, Leno hosted his first taping of the Tonight Show, grunge music was all the rage and Barry Bonds's head was actually human sized. So is there any signs at all for a turnaround? The Neal Huntington era has started out with a fire sale of Marlin-esque proportions, and it might be the only thing to do. I realize that the Pirates had players like Jason Bay, Xavier Nady and Nate McClouth, but the Pirates weren't exactly a Murderers Row combo. Cleaning the slate of the Littlefield regime might not bring winning baseball immediately to the Steel City, but it's a necessary start. I'm a huge fan of Andrew McCutchen, however we all know he will not be enough. As we have learned from organizations like the Angels, Red Sox and Rays, scouting and player development will be the main key if this organization is going to ultimately obtain the pieces to rebuild itself into a contender similar to the Stargell years. With the Penguins and Steelers already establishing dominance in their respective leagues, I have a feeling that Pittsburgh sports fans might abandon ship (sorry for the pun) when this streak becomes old enough to drink itself into a rum stupor.

The ball must taste better in Spain.
(blog.lib.umn.edu)

- Oh, oh, Ricky Rubio. It's now official that David Kahn has filed his application for the worst general manager in the whole sport as the Spanish teenager fled Minnesota's grasp and will now play for the Regal Barcelona basketball team for at least the next two years. As idiotic as it was that Kahn wasted a a top-shelf pick, did you really get a sense that Rubio even wanted to play for Minnesota? You can't deny one thing: Rubio wanted to play in the NBA. He got the fever when he played the U.S.A. in the Olympics last year and saw blood in terms of all of the opportunities that come with playing with and against the best in the world. It only might be me, but in the draft, he had that look of a guy who was looking at the door in order to flee from an awkward dinner with the in-laws. You just saw him visualizing a map of the U.S. and guessing 10 million points as to where Minnesota might be. Instead of a New York or even an Oklahoma City, Rubio instead got brought in by a franchise who have rid themselves of a head coach and have not established a clear direction since the Garnett trade. We can't forget the factor of surviving the differences of the Mediterranean-Minnesotan climate and culture, which would just severely humble a guy that has been titled, "The Spanish Pete Maravich." Who rolls the dice on this guy in a couple of years? I'm guessing it will have to be someone higher than the 15th largest media market in the country. Stay tuned!

NY Career Tip: Stay away from the hot tub!

(blog.lehighvalleylive.com)

- Could this be another year of emerging rookie quarterbacks? I'm so close now to deleting my AFC East prediction column now that Mark Sanchez has been named the official starting quarterback for the New York Jets this season. Granted Flacco and Ryan were huge rookie success stories in the position last year, but we must realize that they are the exception and not the rule. Even guys like Peyton Manning were 3-13 their first year, so I'm not exactly comfortable now in putting all my money on the roulette table on the Jets as a shocker team. Also don't forget that Sanchez started only one year in USC, which happens to be the "Hype Factory Capital of the World" in terms of drafted talent (see Bush, Leinart). The sports world also witnessed another position battle upset with Matt Stafford snagging the Lions starting job away from the veteran Daunte Culpepper. My response: Why not? You can only go up from a 17 game losing streak, and he is not exactly going to carry the weight of expectations as his counterpart over in the New York will this upcoming season. Starting with a blank slate might be the best thing for Motown's pigskin squad as they try to begin reversing a history of futility and paper bags.


Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 158-101-21 (2nd, Steroid Freaks' Anonymous, .5 GB)
DAMN! So close to $200 bucks! Despite pulling off a series win on a terrible last week on offense (.197 average), I was a fingernail short of my 1st divisional crown in only my second year in this league. A part of me wishes that I was just blown away, but my 3-0 record against division champeen and buddy P-Mac make me a little more confident about a solid playoff push. The bye-week is good for my team because I could go on a downward slide and not have to worry about getting knocked out by a Cinderella team in the 1st round. League championship in the near future? This could get exciting, folks!

- Mocha Sox - 101-112-7 (9th, Yahoo Public 38095, 23 GB)
Looks like the "Magic" is gone. The bright side is that I won 8 of the the last 12 series of the year, which gives me at least some confidence in managing a struggling team. It was a good run, but with Sizemore and Lidge not being the same all year and Halladay collapsing as of late, the playoffs would have been a miracle for me. It's the consolation bracket for me, which could be more of a battle of existence as I am considering nixing a team for convenience. Need to find a competition rush somehow!

- Firehawks - 94-111-15 (9th, Yahoo Public 162279, 33.5 GB)
Just when this team was crawling out of the hole in the middle of the season, it got wacked off the head with one of those arcade hammers. Losing 4 out of the last 5 series is pretty much a death sentence for any team (real or fantasy) who is trying to make the playoffs from the outside looking in. Upton and Rios didn't step up this year and the recent woes of a Mr. Beckett didn't help me break through the bottom sector of the division. Like the Mocha Sox, the 'Hawks are possibly playing for a fantasy baseball spot for my 2010 roster. Still hoping for that dubious achievement in a couple of weeks.

In other news, my 2nd Fantasy Football team, the Boston Beersquad, have gone through the draft and are looking strong going into the season. Hoping the the Warner/Fitzgerald combo can guide this team to at least the playoffs. Crossing my fingers that this is the team that finally brings me to fantasy football glory. Are you ready for some football?

R.I.P. To Teddy and D.J. AM
Ted Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009)
(slowmuse.files.wordpress.com)

Adam Goldberg (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009)
(images.eonline.com)