A World Of Knowledge

Viva the motherland!!!!!!
(monitor.co.ug)

What a final! I'm probably in the minority in saying that, with everyone complaining about the refereeing and the mounds of missed opportunities. But hey, better that than every American sportscaster grilling a penalty-kick final for the next 4 years. If you look at it, it was the only way that the biggest sporting event in the world could end, with two storied soccer nations that needed an extra 30 minutes to duke it out for their first world title. As I finished celebrating Andres Iniesta's goal in the middle of The Joshua Tree in Allston, I realized that this is becoming more of an event on this side of the pond. Yeah, the American Cinderella story ended against Ghana, but many of us took a heavy interest afterward, with viewers backing their finals pick with as much fervor as they would their gridiron squads. Comes to show you that even through the midst of the brutally backstabbing mess that was LeBron's 'decision', sports can provide us moments of pure passion and excitement that's far distant from the next muliti-million dollar contract. As a student to this soccer phenomenon, I continue to learn the many quirks and nuances of the beautiful game. Here are some lessons I took from this African spectacle.

For the final time, the vuvuzela is annoying.
Just when you thought that was the sound of your TV imploding, or South Africa going through a killer bee problem in their winter time. The monotonous drone of the vuvuzela invaded and conquered the stadiums of South Africa with a high decibel. It has even blamed for spreading sickness, hacking down the performances of the world's greats and even destroying a few windpipes. The craze proved to spread like a virus, as it made its way through the American grandstands in Miami when the Marlins gave out 15,000 in a World Cup promotion that would literally and figuratively, well, blow. Makes me sort of regret that I didn't buy stocks in earplugs last month. I know it's a cultural tool. But like Heidi Montag's recent plastic surgery binges and American Idol, some things just need to stop.

Guess I see why the Dutch made it this far.
(yahoo.com)

In the World Cup, wearing a mini skirt may get you in trouble.
Apparently, two skirt-wielding Dutch ladies were arrested and detained for allegedly participating in an ambush marketing campaign for Bavaria Beer, who paid the ride for over 30 women to support their Oranje footballers in South Africa. Guess it's pretty difficult for ladies in skirts not to get attention, but to get it for some marketing conspiracy is something else. Something tells me that a vuvuzela crack down would have been more popular amongst the populous, but I guess I'm only talking for the red-blooded males here. Either way, shame on you South Africa police. Shame on you! Sideways head nods all the way around.

Diego Maradona is still a disgraceful human being.
Don't get me wrong, Diego Maradona is one of the top 3 players/compelling people to ever play this sport. But even with all the energy and love to his team he showed on the sidelines, Maradona still showed to the world that he is as much of a loathsome figure to some as he is beloved to others. Running over a camerman is one thing, but to curse him out for being there while he lays injured just seems like something that would only come from the worst behaved on 6th Street in Manhattan. And then there was him calling out Pele to go back to the museum after comments he made as well as to Michel Platini's 'Frenchness', making Maradona have about as much social grace as an elephant with ice skates. I love Messi, but it's Maradona's consistent buffoonery that forced me not to root for Argentina in 2010. That or him promising to run around Buenos Aires with what God gave him if they won. But anyway, while we're still kind of on the French....

Karma is a.....well, you know.
See: 2010 French National team. Classic! Enough said.

Nation's best friend or worst enemy?
(marcagol.com)

A hot reporter girlfriend maybe a risky proposition if you're a goalie.
The goalie position easily has to be the loneliest position on the field. You're pretty much on an island, in charge of defending a vast space, spending a majority of the game as a cautious on-looker. So it's no wonder that every once in a while you may be caught off guard, so to speak, taking a trip to Dreamland. Well, at least that's what's what the citizens of your beloved country will think when you allow a goal that puts your country on the brink of exiting the world stage. Want another reason to blame Canada? Well, Britain got on board for blaming ex and Toronto native Elizabeth Minett for distracting British goalie Rob Green's sad excuse for a stop that helped the U.S. equalize the opening game of the group stage. And then there is Spanish goalie Iker Casillas, who allowed the lone goal in that Swiss early in the group stage. Who did the blame go to you ask? None other than the main Spanish reporter for the Cup, Sara Carbonero (wowsers!), who he just happens to be dating currently. So much for the 'un-biased' interview. But I guess it worked out for San Iker in the end, and if it does, you should definitely reward here like a saint should, in front of the whole world to see!


When all else fails, blame the ball.

Believe it or not, I think I know what's been getting more heat than Howard Webb, or any other ref that has officiated over a match this World Cup. Seems like the Jabulani has been denied some love this World Cup where it has been blamed for being believe-it-or-not, too aerodynamic, while having as straight of a trajectory in mid-air as a inadequately designed paper airplane, creating the 2nd lowest goals per game average in World Cup history. It was in South Africa where we learned that a soccer ball could have 'knuckleball'-type flight. Along with the vuvuzela, the ball, whose name meas 'celebration', prevented many of the Rooneys, Messis and Ronaldos from doing just that, affecting the quality of the tournament for some. Unless it was a game involving Germany or the Netherlands, the scores read virtually binary in many of the other fixtures in the tourney. As flawed as the ball design was, it can't be blamed for the lack of goals as stellar defensive sides like Uruguay, Paraguay, Spain and Portugal became mainstays in the group of 16. Guess the run...ehem..goal prevention theory goes far beyond baseball.

Let's do it again in Brazil in 2014!
(2014-world-cup.com)

It's A World Affair

Looks like the party convoy is set to roll in.
(g.sports.yahoo.com)

Even with the Celtics in the finals and the recent resurgence of the Sox, the enchanting croak of the vuvuzela is luring me in. It's World Cup 2010, ladies and gents, about as unavoidable as soaking up a bit of petroleum product with a swim in the Gulf in recent times, or the temptation to say the name Siphiwe Tshabalala 10 times fast. As a casual soccer fan in the past, the World Cup was a prominent event of interest for me, but it was more of an aquarium-type experience as I watched the inhabitants of my town (about a third with Portuguese descent) catch the fever that only the biggest sporting tournament on the globe can bring while tapping the glass with the Ronaldo flopping cracks. With a club team chosen, the fact that I can name more than 5 players on Cameroon's team and with me using the word 'pitch' for more than a curveball, I guess you can say that this is the first World Cup that I am in the fish tank, so-to-speak. Besides, there is not too many instances in which you will voraciously re-hash Revolutionary Way/War of 1812 issues on a Saturday afternoon at your TV screen, unless you are on some rowdy debate team. In the midst of my ever-growing knowledge and interest in the beautiful game, and as a few refs are studying up on their English curse words, a few questions are going to linger in my brain until that final whistle in Johannesburg a month from now. It's gametime, world!

For the U.S., it's gonna take a little more than a lot of flexing.
(soccermogul.com)

How will the U.S. perform?
The crystal ball seems to be floating with a little optimism for our red, white and blues. The Americans arguably enter the World's game with one of the top goalies in the world in Tim Howard, and with Group C containing upstarts like Algeria and Slovenia, the U. S. of A have a solid chance of reaching the Sweet 16 in South Africa. With all that being said, I don't really have the highest expectations for the US. in 2010, at least for a having a long, successful run. Despite the Dempsey/Donovan attacking combo, the Americans seem to be severely lacking on the defensive side of the ball. Jozy Altidore's ankle sure doesn't make me feel all too cozy, and the prospect of seeing Wayne Rooney bulldozing Oguchi Onyewu and his healing left knee on Saturday is all too real of a nightmare for me. Even Landon Donovan has proclaimed in a couple of interviews that this country as at least a couple of World Cups away from truly breaking out. But hey, you can never lose too much faith in your country in a tourney as grand as this. Imagine actually pulling off a magical run while beating countries that worship soccer as a natural rite of passage, all while we as a country on average are spending more time photo shopping LeBron James into their favorite team's uni. If we even make it to the semifinals, we would just have to fly Al Michaels down in the event of the impossible to make some kind of unique utterance. Unfortunately, I think the chances of the stars and stripes winning this thing is exactly that, a miracle.

How do you say, 'Au Revoir' in Zulu?
(thenewschronicle.com)

Who will be the biggest surprise/disappointment?

So hard to pick, considering at even some of the best teams have great obstacles to overcome. From Maradona's aura to Spain's absence of luck, it only takes one lackluster game to shock a world of football fans, as well as paralyze a country that had high hopes of a confetti shower in their capital city. As much as I don't want to scare my Portuguese peers, even the 3rd ranked Portugal may be susceptible to the snake bite for being in the same group as superpower Brazil and depending on Didier Drogba's health, a formidable Ivory Coast squad. Even the English squad doesn't impress me with David James in goal, increasing my hopes for an American upset. But for the disappointments, you may not have to look further than the participants of the 2006 final. As the virtual geriatrics of the tournament, Italy title defense hopes are shaky at best and probably have the highest probability of tanking if not for being slotted in a fairly easy Group F. So the Stinky Boot will go to the hands-on French team (Had to do it!), who will not only fall victim to the salacious sex scandal that has affected a few of the team's key players (Ribery, Benzema), but possibly to a defensive-minded Uruguayan squad (not-to-shabby 16th in the world), who have the offensive punch of Forlan/Suarez to boost their advancement out of Group A, giving birth to my biggest South African surprise team.

Mr. Mandela, many nations are turning their eyes to you.

(shellinfosight.com)

How will South Africa do as hosts?
Saying that this World Cup is a big deal is an understatement. Not only is this pivotal for one of the world's fastest-growing economies, but this is of high importance to a continent who is hosting an event of this magnitude for the 1st time. Many have already lauded this South African World Cup as one of the biggest modern day historical events in modern African history. That doesn't mean that South Africa haven't caught some flak for some of the goings-on in their country. It seems as if all I've seen is more of South Africa's peccadilloes, all those stories on ESPN's Outside the Lines on corrective rape and human trafficking seem to be the images emitted by the cathode rays to the public as of late. On top of that, we've all been reminded of the country's high rape and murder rate to go along with that nasty bout in their past with apartheid and how it still affects a free-South Africa to this day. Turns out that the nation is hoping that this World Cup will attract more white talent to a predominantly black football corps, exposing some of the complicated race and class issues that still plague South Africa. We also can't forget the tragedy of the Togo bus ambush at the Cup of African Nations in Angola almost 5 months back. Hell, even the vuvuzela, the official noisemaker of the World Cup in 2010, could potentially spread flu according to some studies. But like the world at large, the nation of South Africa has been prepping themselves physically and mentally for this event. They know as much as anybody that this is grand moment for the reputation of a continent, and they will not let anything take away from the magnitude, as well as what the World Cup could potentially improve from an economical and social standpoint with all this media exposure. It's not necessarily that they won't screw this up, South Africa just can't afford to.

The obstacle to world greatness maybe closer to home than you think.
(fcdenver.org)

Will South Africa be the launching pad for Messi's legend?

International success, or the lack of, seems to be the one big counter-attack that many of Messi's detractors have been proclaiming that separates him from some of the all-timers in the sport's rich history. Judging from the 45 goals he scored for the reigning champions of Spanish football, the galaxies are lining up for something special for the next month. As a culé myself, the possibility of Lionel Messi breaking out on the international stage is the main reason why I am so excited for this World Cup. However, it may not be his foreign opponents, but a few domestic factors that will inhibit the high climb. With options like Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, head trainer Diego Maradona (Yup, that one) has plenty of options of how to put the ball to the back of the net. In fact, the mercurial Maradona maybe the single most important factor as to whether Messi finally achieves the international success that will possibly propel him over Maradona's legendary accomplishments. It's a big fear for me, as well as every other Messi fan that the combination of Maradona's ego and options up front will not only destroy Messi's chances of being an all-time great, but more importantly ruin Argentina's chances up holding up the trophy for the 1st time since that glorious day in Mexico 24 years ago. Even with an Argentinian triumph, let's just hope that a taser is around for immediate use once Diego gets back to romping around Buenos Aires. In the end, I think Messi's talent is too explosive right now to be kept bottled up by any force. Golden Ball, anyone?

A golden ACE banadge may need to be rewarded after it's all said and done.

(zimbio.com)

Can Spain finally break through in the biggest stage on the globe?
At the dawn of the 2010 go-round, many have reserved the tallest portion of the podium for Spain, and for good reason. Coming off a dominant title run in the 2008 Euro tourney, Spain probably boasts the most world-class players currently are in top form. With footballers like David Villa, Xavi, Pique, and stud keeper Iker Casillas, it's somewhat of a shocker that they haven't already handed over the trophy to La Roja in the pre-tourney concert. But using history as a guide, it's a dangerous proposition to coronate the Spaniards in any World Cup. In fact, Spain's best World Cup showing was a 4th place finish in 1950, and their performance in international play has been marred more by underachievement than by pure futility. The dominating Euro 2008 in many ways, was more of the exception than the rule in terms of Spain's history in global competition, for it marked sort of a demon cleanser and their former title of chokers. However, you have to wonder if that loss to the U.S. in the Confederations Cup is still lingering In order for Spain to triumph on Johannesburg soil, they must outperform their marginal past, while having their medics do a little overachieving themselves. With players like Iniesta, Fabergas and striker Fernando Torres battling some form of injury or another, the medics' ability to heal these bruised superstars will play as much of a role in Spain re-writing their international history as a well-placed pass from Xavi.

Mochaman's World Cup Predictions

2010 World Cup Sweet 16

Group A:
Mexico
Uruguay

Group B:
Argentina
Greece

Group C:
England
United States

Group D:
Germany
Serbia

Group E:
Netherlands
Cameroon

Group F:
Italy
Paraguay

Group G:
Brazil
Portugal

Group H:
Spain
Chile

Golden Ball:
Lionel Messi ARG

Golden Boot:
David Villa ESP

Final Match
Spain 3 vs. Argentina 2

Third Place Game
Germany 2 vs. Netherlands 1

Didn't We Do This A Month Ago?

See! Some things have just got in the way.
(CEB II)

I'm baaaaaaaaaaack (again)! So much for coming back full force in May. I mean, there has been a ton to write about. A Barcelona league title, a somewhat-shocking Celtics final run and BP's little 'oopsies' moment were all for the taking for me to wax poetic about, or at least a chance to wax informal prose. To be fair, there was a lengthy computer issues that needed to be resolved. After pulling out my own hair between constant sessions with call centers and getting all my data backed up without an operating system (Figure that one out), it's back to go time, but the aftermath is still making me dizzy, especially after looking at the final bill to regulate this whole debacle. I'd also be lying if I didn't say that a bout of pure laziness (to be fair, an 'active laziness') hadn't slowed my blogging to a halt. Between getting accustomed to a new job and trips to D.C., it's been a wee bit difficult to sit down and boil up those creative juices into 300-600 words of enlightenment. Then again, it would be pretty difficult to compete at the blogging level up against the times when the idleness known as my endless job search last year took up all my minutes this time last year. It turns out that this lengthy pause is just what I've needed to get the pistons in my brain working into a new level of horsepower, pondering about new and interesting topics while refreshing my perspectives on the things that are already familiar to me. After all, it would have been boring for me to write about a 4th place Red Sox team that seemed to be on the decline, all while trying too hard to conjure up a refreshing nugget during this cyclone known as my life. It's all about quality, and it wouldn't be fair to you or me if I just blurted out half-hearted entries just for quick boosts to my reader stats. Especially after the creative blend I was able to pull off with my 'Locked Up' entry, I knew I could push myself further and be able to paint a meaningful picture without writing every time the wind changed direction. I vow not to let my 'active laziness' slow me down (I mean it this time!), but I'm also determined to bring quality over quantity as I head into the second year of the Cloud 10 administration. Probably be less articles I bang out, but hopefully each entry becomes more enlightening in some way. So, this is just declaration that the flint has been struck once again, and the chronicles will sure continue. Now, here's some montages just to show you I haven't been trapped in a catacomb for the past 2 months!

Memorial Day In D.C.

"O.M.G" - Usher (Featuring will.i.am) - Raymond v. Raymond, 2010




Red Sox - Orioles 4/30 (From The State Street Pavilion)

"Rocker" - AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976

An Unwelcome Return

Sorry, Paps. Can't hide from this stinker.
(cache.boston.com)

What a cobweb buster. Well, what can bring me back from my month-long hiatus from blogging (Sorry about that by the way)? What could possibly compel me enough to make some time to spew some vitriol with the help of my keyboard? What could be bigger news than a gigantic oil spoil, or my beloved Barça's exit from the Champions League? How about getting swept by a team that we were 16-2 against last year and were 4-18 coming into this weekend's debacle of a series, making it the the 1st time since the brand-spanking new Gerald Ford administration was putting Watergate in the dust that the Sox were swept in Baltimore in a 3-game set. And the back talk I'm getting from my friends in the Maryland/DC area is only the tip of the iceberg. So much for a Cloudcast comeback on how I spout about an emerging Sox team and how a certain McWalk-Off will direct our season for the better (Attended that doozie of a game, but no montage. Stupid me for not bringing the camera.). I mean, our bullpen out-Baltimored the Orioles 'pen, which says a whole lot about the state of our team right now, and reaffirms the concerns I have had about our relief corps since Spring Training. Our offense out-Baltimored the O's in clutch situations with a 4/20 clip with runners in scoring position during the nuclear meltdown known as that series this past weekend. Seeing the likes of Will Ohman and Matt Albers turn into Koufax/Drysdale made me as nauseous as someone who has drank the tap water in Boston this past weekend. I won't lie, I wish this team was a horse just so I could shoot it, put it out of its misery turn it into glue. Hey, it would be something useful for once. As great as the B's and C's are doing, my heart's affinity gears strongly for the Sox, and you probably know how that's working out for me, especially because this year's team is more vanilla than last year's version (or that Frosty I had a Wendy's two weeks ago), and they're losing to the likes of the O's on top of it. Even though it's only May and I realize that it is just past dawn in the season, I'm already in the pantry looking for that towel.

I wish I was really watching 'Groundhog Day'.

(cache.boston.com)

Where do I start? Well let's check the basics on Theo's genius run prevention strategy for '10. Team ERA: 4.78, good enough for 12th in the American League. The combined 5.60 ERA of Lester and Beckett doesn't help the 4.96 starter's ERA, nor does it validate any preseason predictions made for this rotation. Dice-K has me all but abandoning my prediction for a stellar comeback season. When you implode like he did on Saturday even when he was so under control earlier in the game has to indicate a mental timidness, a fear of returning to the failure he was so familiar with last year. The bullpen has me feeling less cozy, with Okajima's 6.75 ERA and Papelbon's knack for drama not exactly making it easy for me to sleep at night. Fielding Percentage: .980, which places 13th in the AL. Beltre has already made 5 errors at 3rd, Bill Hall has forced me into terrible flashbacks of my Little League career on a couple of instances in the field and our dynamic outfield duo have been done in by some bad ribs and a kidney stone issue that has become an eerie trend for Sox center fielders (See: Coco Crisp, 2006). Well, so much for pitching and defense, huh? But the holes are more frequent, and sooooooo much deeper. Our inability to throw out even the cement-footed on the basepaths has grown into a bigger malaise than even the most cynical sports blogger could ever even imagine. In fact, both 'Tek and V-Mart have caught only a combined 7 out of 45 runners (15.6%), which is actually good compared to the abysmal 2 for 40 clip (5%)that the tandem tallied prior to the start of the road trip at Toronto. The 9-steal performance against Tim Wakefield that I had the privilege to witness couple of weeks back only made our powerlessness against base-stealers more apparent, while compelling me to down more $8 dollar drafts to ease my suffering. And let's not let the hitting (or lack of) slide off that easily. The struggles of key run producers like Drew (.214, 29 Ks in 84 ABs), V-Mart (.230, 1 HR, .310 SLG) have stunted us enough, especially in clutch situations. However, the Big Papi situation (.159, 23 Ks in 63 ABs) consumes our attention the most, for we all wonder if the sun has set on his career. The bat speed just isn't there, as evidenced by the many floaters in the zone he used to make satellites are now just foul tips. The worst part is that you know the past two years have got to him. The steroid scandal and the slow start last year in particular have just affected him drastically, and you can tell with the blowup he had with the media after his struggles after only the 2nd game of the season. Don't you have to slump at least a whole month before expletives start being thrown around in clubhouse interviews? Even by getting the rest of the guys off the DL and on the lineup card, I'm starting to wonder if Ellsbury can charge us up enough to get back to playoff contention, or if a 37-year old Cameron can be a big contributor or just become another casualty like the other 30-somethings on the club. With this team walking on a 'bridge' so to speak, the Sox were the team out of the Big 3 in the AL East that could least afford a start like the one they have produced, especially when the Rays and Yanks have been on the high-speed rail to begin the season. The cherry on top of all this is that we head back home playing a combined 7 games against the two participants of the 2009 ALCS in the Angels and the Yankees this week. With all this Yes, there is 137 contests left to play and you always have to be on 'wait-and-see' mode in a long season such as a baseball campaign. I mean, who would have thought Varitek would be the MVP of the team at the end of April? With all the obsessing and prepping I do for this team, I would hate to give up on a season before the vernal equinox. But with the many deficiencies plaguing the team, I think I could feel confident in booking those Europe tickets for October.


Mochaman's Fantasy Baseball Report
- Bubba Gump Shrimpz - 29-24-3 (2nd, Vitamins and Supplements, 7 GB)
Tis the season, ladies and gents! Great to start up the fantasy baseball reports again. So far, so good on the title defense, especially after surviving a disastrous opening week. Carpenter, Johnson, and Niemann have teamed up with waiver-wire pickups like Fister and C.J. Wilson to create a staff that has been out of this planet despite the struggles of Felix Hernandez. Hopefully, it only gets better when Strasburg gets called up in June and tears it up like expected (knock on wood)! However, my team has slowly becoming the training room with the growing amount of injuries (Kurt Suzuki, Brett Anderson, Mike Gonzalez). Regardless, Choo and crew need to rake if I am to overcome this week, considering all of my starters will only have one start to contribute.

- Mocha Sox - 18-20-2 (8th, Yahoo Public 162850, 6.5 GB)
Lukewarm start, but better than expected considering I missed this draft (big oops!). The return of Cliff should help out a staff that has been saved by the wonder known as Ubaldo Jimenez. Another Rockie, Carlos Gonzalez, has been an absolute stud. Hoping that he can keep up this production year round. Hoping Prince Fielder and V-Mart can heat up an carry this team past consolation bracket territory. Either way, I think a couple of trades are in order.

A Year On Cloud 10

Year 1: Monumental Success
(CEB II)

After all of the Eurotrips, Sox-Yanks marathon games, celebrity sex scandals and mixing a little too much wine with beer this Easter, Cloud 10 has made it to the one-year mark, and I have enjoyed every bit of it. From chronicling my adventure in Oslo, to conjuring up the best post- lotto strategy, to sharing my joy/frustration that comes with every minute of following the Red Sox, I have had more than a blast sharing my rants and reviews with each and everyone of you. And I'm motivated to keep it going for another year. In a year which my cash flow wasn't exactly at its peak, this blog was a valuable outlet for my personal acclimation into the surrounding events of my so-called adulthood. Plus, a little baseball talk doesn't hurt anybody either, right? Anyhoo, here are a few samples of me in the past year putting on my best impersonation as someone who knows what they are talking about.

Opening Day....It's A Holiday, A Way Of Life, An Escape - 4/8/2009
My first true post on the blog, which details just how important the first day of the national pastime is to folks like me, despite any hardship that comes our way.

1st Ever Gamecast On Cloud 10: Sox - A's - 4/15/2009
My first gamecast (soon to be Cloudcast) where I let my emotions known as this marathon game was happening. Even though this game ended in a 2:30 AM disappointment, a Cloud 10 favorite was born. Aaah, the days of unemployment.

Front Row At Fenway + Doubleheader = Best Day Ever - 4/23/2009
No, seriously. It was the best day ever! Hope these photo montages do the day justice!

European Picture Show - 6/15/2009
Killer montages from each and every country I visited on my second Eurotrip. Images of schnitzels and Gaudi structures coexist so well with the music of Lady Gaga and Flo Rida. No, believe it!

R.I.P. To An Iconic Three - 6/27/2009
Paying homage to three pop culture icons (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson) who fell victim to the whole bizarre celeb trio death, but left us with so much of a legacy.

Destination Dreamin' - 7/17/2009
The birth of what was to become the '5-Piece', detailing my most desired destinations worldwide. Seriously working on Hawaii for this year.

If I Had A Dollar For Every Wishful Thought.... - 11/23/2009
A personal favorite of mine, displaying the right way to approach the triumph of a lotto jackpot (if your reeeeeeeeal lucky enough). You can thank that documentary on E! and a bad economy for this piece.

Tigers In Celebrity Cages - 12/2/2009
Me ranting about us as a society building up athletes to an image they really aren't. Wished I liked writing papers when I was in school. This has the beginnings of a thesis written all over it.

In Awe Of The Aughts - 12/20/2009
Lots of admiration for the past 10 years + a lot of time on my hands = this piece.

Locked Up In Your Own Prison - 2/5/2010
Comparing my brief experience as an MLN salesman to a favorite show of mine on National Geographic. Almost uncanny in similarities.

Is there anything unique you wish to see me pick apart in this blog? More political stuff? More '5-Piece' topics? Want more Barça/soccer entries perhaps? Comment away, my friends! I gotta another year of creativity in me, for sure.

Rising In The East

The Yawkey yells are getting more audible.
(CEB II)

It's almost here, folks! Let's just say Easter won't be the holiday I will be looking forward to most on April 4th. Opening Day is around the corner, but my spirit has been wandering Landsdowne and Yawkey waiting to get into the gates for a while. Sure beats watching every Celtics game and hoping K.G. doesn't snap in half on the court every game, or this biblical flood that has been formulating in Mass. the past 3 days. The regular season will also be a great diversion from the oozing cheesiness that the ESPN commercial starring Clay Buchholz singing 'Sweet Caroline' exudes, or at least I hope it does. Now, with 'The Final Countdown' blaring in my room, I grant you access to my crystal ball and its vision of what's gonna go down in the AL East. The shout of, 'PLAY BALL!' can't come quick enough.

Shawn Marcum
(sport.yahoo.com)

Toronto Blue Jays - Where's The New Doc In Town?
And you thought all the crickets were at Fort Myers this spring. With the departure of the Jays' all-time franchise player this offseason (Hint: not Alex Rios), the fact that Jays camp has been quiet is as much of an understatement as the fact that this will be a rebuilding year for the franchise. It is not going to be easy replacing Halladay, especially when the Opening Day starter this year (Shawn Marcum) hasn't pitched a game in the major league level since 2008 due to Tommy John surgery. Lefties Ricky Romero and the mess of consonants that is Marc Rzepczynski had showed flashes of brilliance in '09, but I'm not sure if they will translate in top-of-the-rotation talent, especially in a super-division known as the AL East. On top of that, the main prospects in the 'Doc Deal' (pitcher Kyle Drabek, catcher Travis D'Arnaud and well-traveled 1st base prospect Brett Wallace) are at least a year away from making an impact on the big club, putting the verdict on Anthopolous Era on hold for now. We mustn't forget however, that Toronto already has some quality talent in their major league ranks right now. Adam Lind proved that with a bulk of playing time, he could prove to be a vital cog for the Blue Bird attack, and young slugger Travis Snider may not be far behind. And even though I don't think he will come anywhere close to the 36 homers he hit in '09, Aaron Hill has proved to be one of the most solid all-around second basemen in the game in a division with Cano and Pedroia. However along with all the question marks of where their staff and bullpen stack up amongst their divisional foes, the $126-million franchise anchor known as Vernon Wells will hinder anything the organization will try to do over the next few years, while trying his best to get his picture on Webster's under the word, 'underachiever'. Pack your bags, Baltimore, somebody else is moving in the cellar. Maybe next year, Toronto......or next half-decade.

Prediction: 69-93 (5th)
Key Player To Step Up: Shawn Marcum (or anybody from that starting rotation)

Matt Wieters
(sports.yahoo.com)

Baltimore Orioles - Can A Bird Be A Dark Horse?
Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet? It's the repeated question asked by Oriole fans who have suffered from 12 consecutive years of futility. Fortunately for those in Charm City, they may be getting closer to the end of the tunnel. Even in another lackluster campaign in '09, the city of Baltimore saw signs of a black and orange renaissance. They saw a 5-tool player thrive in Adam Jones, who could be covering ground in center for years, the emergence of Nolan Reimold and a little taste of possibly the next franchise player in switch-hitting catcher Matt Wieters. Along with veterans like Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts, Baltimore has proven that they could be a solid run-producing team that could only get better with a more consistent everyday lineup. That could potentially be provided with Garrett Atkins, who has a lot to prove after completely falling of Pikes Peak in Colorado last year, along with Miguel Tejada who will bring a steady bat at third, while being a place-warmer for third base prospect Josh Bell. However, if the Orioles are ultimately going to rule the East again, they have to reconstruct a pitching staff that has basically extended batting practice sessions into game time over the past decade plus. With that in mind, I believe makes the arrival of lefty Brian Matusz (#5 prospect in MLB) arguably more important for Baltimore than that of Wieters. He, along with Brad Bergesen, could possibly revamp a staff that has been in need of a fresh renovation, and the acquisition of left-handed closer Mike Gonzalez puts an end to the questions of who is the stopper for the back of this 'pen, at least for now. The bigger deal is whether they have a bridge leading up to Gonzalez, or just a launching pad moat. Also, having your lineup catalyst (Brian Roberts) mentioned with the word 'epidural' is never a good thing, especially for a player who bases his game on speed. Ultimately, Baltimore still lacks the depth for a divisional takeover, but GM Andy MacPhail and crew are righting the ship right in front of our eyes. Hey, it's not the cellar, and you are almost there O's fans, almost.

Prediction: 73-89 (4th)

Key Player To Step Up: Matt Wieters

Carl Crawford
(sports.yahoo.com)

Tampa Bay Rays - Will Carlos, Carl And Cowbells Bring Contention?
Even if you are a Red Sox fan that has been annoyed by them in the past couple years (add me to the mix), you have to admit that the Rays have collected the most intriguing set of ballplayers in the land. With all this funny talk about floating divisional alignment, the Rays have proven that even a team with small pockets can be a threat in a room with two giants who seemingly print out money. With a perennial MVP candidate in Longoria, emerging talents like Zobrist and by acquiring an undisputed closer in Rafael Soriano this offseason, there is not enough Nyquil in the world to knock me out with the nightmares that this team will create in my slumber. With all of that said, the clock is ticking on the Rays. The bottom line is that there is more importance attached to the Rays' season than to any other team in the bigs, because who knows if either franchise player Carl Crawford or lineup centerpiece Carlos Peña will last till August wearing a Tampa uni. The only way to assure their stay into the dog days of summer is if the Rays come in like a lion, all while staying in the hunt to eliminate either Boston or New York from a coveted playoff spot. The key for them is a couple things. If the young guns of the staff (David Price, Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis) can rise a couple of levels on their virtually limitless upside, they could not only help out Shields and Garza, but possibly create a staff that will be better than their AL East rivals. Also, the Rays are going have to figure out who the real B.J. Upton is going to be, whether it is going to be the phenom that emerged onto the scene in 2007, or the underachiever that befuddled fans and experts in 2009, while dropping to 9th in the order. I'm also wondering whether the complications of J.P. Howell's sleepy shoulder will linger and play an antagonistic role in the Rays' 'pen throughout the season. If healthy, locked and loaded, the Rays are going to be sharks amongst teams in the AL. However, of the Big 3 in the AL East, the Rays have the most uncertainties. In order to have a season of success, they have to have exceptional seasons from at least 2 if not all 3 of their crew of young starters, an offensive recovery from Upton and Burrell, and a follow-up from Zobrist. My intuition tells me that all of that will not happen, with the Rays ultimately following short and possibility of either Crawford, Peña or even Soriano wearing a different uniform, all for the the sake of the Rays' to stay afloat in future years in a division in which every week is shark week.

Prediction: 89-73 (3rd)
Key Player To Step Up: David Price

John Lackey
(sports.yahoo.com)

Boston Red Sox - Run Prevention Is The Biggest Hit
For a team historically known for its prolific sluggers, you wouldn't know it by witnessing this team's offseason and how they got on the defensive. Out is the bat of Pedro Cerr...err...Jason Bay, and in comes the leather protection of Mike Cameron and Adrian Beltre, not to mention an addition of another ace, which along with Lester and Beckett create the best trio this side of The Three Tenors. In the category of run prevention, the Red Sox are top of the pops. In fact, with all the changes, the Sox will save 87 runs according to Baseball Info Solutions. The main questions stem from the lineup and whether it has enough firepower to battle in an arduous 162-game season. The top four (Ellsbury, Pedroia, V-Mart and Youk) should get on base an let the runs flow, but there is an unknown frontier when you venture beyond. Will Papi avoid a 2-month vacation and provide consistency in a power slot in the lineup? Will Fenway actually help Adrian Beltre's offensive numbers? Can we trust Scutaro's career year numbers that were achieved at age 33? While I still think that we need that Fear of God bat, the rest of the lineup proves to be more balanced than in year's past. Let's face it, Papi will not be what he was in the last decade, but it's feasible to predict that he can be a contributor, especially with the second half he pulled off. If not, they're no worries as the possibilities of getting a new bat via the trade market are wide open. Besides, with the Monster perched in left, it's not a pipe dream for Beltre and Cameron to hit a combined 50 homers, not to mention an 8-9 of Cameron and Scutaro provokes much more fear in the tail end of a lineup than 'Tek and Lugo. It took a some time and a recently-dull Boston sports scene, but I have actually talked myself into this team being competitive. They just won't win the division. However, I think a Wild Card berth is highly feasible, and with 'The Three Tenors' of baseball headlining this rotation, the World Series title may be shipping up to Boston come October....or November.

Prediction: 94-68 (2nd, AL WILD CARD)
Key Player To Step Up: Adrian Beltre

Curtis Granderson
(sports.yahoo.com)

New York Yankees - On The Beat Of Repeat

Fresh from a trip through the Canyon of Heroes, the Yanks are back to work on another pinstriped dynasty (Now praying for every force of the world to go against it), and they have retooled into what some experts say could be a better team. This offseason proved that even the power-stocked Yankees weren't immune to the defense craze that has been spreading like that John Wall arm-dance. The Evil Empire traded for Detroit OF Curtis Granderson, who is not only predicted to cover an acre of ground in whatever outfield position he will occupy, but with that short porch in right, could potentially reach Ruthian totals in homers. I mean, he has averaged 25 homers in the last 3 years, including slugging 30 in '09 while playing most of his games in spacious Comerica Park. Still, I wonder if Granderson is really an upgrade over Johnny Damon, who definitely is lacking defensively at the tender age of 36, but would would constantly extend an at-bat to sunrise before the big mashers finished off the fatigued hurlers. Then there is the Part Deux class, headed by Javier Vazquez, who perhaps came from his best season at age 33 with the Braves (15-10, 2.87 ERA, 238 Ks in 219 1/3 IP). But I question whether his second stint in the Bronx will be better than his shaky 1st, considering the AL East has gotten way better since his departure after the '04 season. Then there is Nick Johnson, who could be a better alternative at the top of the order to tag-team with Jeter over Granderson for his magnetic pull towards the bases (.402 career OBP), but still wonder whether he can stay off the ace bandages for a whole season. But even with all of the questions regarding their new acquisitions, the fact that the Yanks have the dilemma of having either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain as the set-up man shows that the Yankees will do more than tread water in 2010. Added with an explosive lineup, deep pitching and with all those heavy postseason monkeys off their backs, the Yankees will be able to cover up any flaw before it can become their kryptonite. Unless the big injury forces down either A-Rod, Teixeira or Sabathia (maybe all three!), along with Mariano Rivera finally short-circuiting, I unfortunately believe that the Yanks will successfully defend their AL East title. But with the badge of champions on them and with a more competitive American League emerging, Title #28 won't exactly be a stroll around the bases.

Prediction: 99-63 (1st AL EAST)
Key Player To Step Up: Javier Vazquez

All About Barça

I should just leave this part blank to represent my speechlessness.

(static.guim.co.uk)

I have finally reached 100 blog posts, ladies and gents! Out of all the things happening in life right now, it was actually pretty difficult, and then I thought of something really interesting. I have strayed away bit from Barça a bit on the Cloud, and I apologize to all you soccer nuts out there. But with all the international buzz stemming from the 2-4 victory over Zaragoza over the weekend, I think now is a good time to get the ball dribbling again. All considering that I don't want to talk about how my March Madness bracket got napalmed (Thanks, Kansas!), and that a guy named Joe has dominated the headlines in Fort Myers the past few days, the time is right for a little soccer chat, especially when Lionel Messi put on another clinic at the Romareda. He's the best player in the world, period. If Sunday's game didn't convince you, you will either never be convinced, or you have no pulse. If a soccer player or highlight makes it into everyday American media outlets without having to pull a John Terry, that's some big time stuff. Like the rest of the world, I have no more adjectives next to describe his play. He must have snakes for legs or something the way he waves through defenders. He makes the impossible a cakewalk. I've probably watched his breathtaking 2nd goal he scored about 200,000 times on YouTube, and I still have lockjaw. With his hat trick against Zaragoza on Sunday, he has tallied 8 goals in the last 3 games, 9 of the last 12 Barça goals and 25 goals netted overall in the Spanish Primera, which is as much or more than the totals of 7 of the last 12 Pichichi (top goal scorer in the Primera) winners. Messi is one of many reasons that Barça remain world favorites, and why I am looking forward to this year's World Cup as much as an 8-year old anticipates Christmas morning. And just to think that if he can pull off on the international stage what he has done all over Europe the past two years, his place amongst the all-time greats should be all but set in concrete and gold, and he's only 22! As hard as it is to think, this type of dominance presents a challenging dilemma heading into the next couple of crucial months for the blaugrana, and it goes far beyond the scare that the Barça defense gave us late at the Romareda.

Time for Ibracadabra to get the magic back.
(www.sport.co.uk)

On the whole, Barça seems to have a bit of a over-dependence on the Argentinian, which doesn't bode well for the squad. Even in the fixture against Zaragoza, you can't help but wonder if Messi didn't perform at a superhuman level if we would have grabbed those 3 points. Not only did he pull off the hat trick, but his aggressiveness in the box drew the penalty which produced the 4th goal that set the victory in stone with a Zaragoza side hungry for a late comeback. Or how about that Barnum and Bailey-like game against Almeria where Messi scored both goals in a 2-2 draw, preventing us from having some serious egg in our faces (even though there was probably still some anyway). The bottom line is that there seems to be one man carrying the operation lately. You sort of have to wonder if Johann Cruyff is on to something when he questioned the effort of those wearing the Barça stripes, especially seeing their play going into the new decade. Barça has failed to fall into their consistent and majestic ebb and flow that has established them as the world's best, all while Los Galacticos have gelled into superb form at the right time and have claimed the apex (at least for now). The resurgence of Real Madrid was totally expected due to the fact that they have too much talent on this team to be playing in the midst of mediocrity through the season, and we can't forget about the beastly performances of Higuain in this campaign. Yes, we have had situations lately in which he haven't been able to field a sure thing on the pitch, whether it was the defensive back situation that led to our only league loss against Atletico Madrid, or the creative juggling of the midfield has happened due to recent injuries with Yaya Toure and Xavi in recent weeks. But ultimately, Barça hasn't made it to that extra gear because no one has stepped up to become Robin to Messi's Batman. Thierry Henry hasn't exactly been pitch-perfect this season, scoring only 3 goals in 18 total club fixtures, while not gaining enough of Pep Guardiola's confidence to warrant him any consistent playing time (MLS dreaming, perhaps?). The same situation is in effect for Bojan, the unintended victim of Pedro's emergence, who unfortunately may just have to max out his potential on loan to another club or be let go all together. As much raw talent as Pedro has displayed this season, I still think that he is not completely polished enough to be an automatic starter just yet. That leaves all our eyes on the Big Swede himself, good ole Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Has the dead weight of €66 million Euros got to Ibra? It didn't really seem like it when he was pulling off goals for Barça like a magician pulls rabbits out of his hat (12 goals in 20 total club games) when he started playing for his new club and was a mortal lock for the top Pichichi spot. But whether it has been nagging thigh/ankle injuries or a bad batch of paella, 2010 hasn't been so joyous for Ibra, and it goes far beyond the minuscule 4 goals in 13 club games. What's worse is that this drought seems to be seeping into his play. The way he apprehensively moves around the defense wondering if he is on-side, the frustration in his eyes from an imperfect dribble, the way he is switching feet on his shots due to the lack of confidence and even how one missed shot will fester in the next failed attempt (How 'bout that wide open miss at Zaragoza?). Even on that penalty on Sunday, I was in prayer mode not necessarily for the impact it would have on the game, but for Ibra's psyche. It's probably fair to mention that playing alongside a world-class player who is playing at an other-worldly clip is slightly weighing on the back of Ibra a bit, but it is vital now that Ibra and the rest know that the weight of the spotlight will only magnify with each performance that is not up to standards.

To get this back, it's time to get on our horses!

(nimg.sulekha.com)

So whether it is Ibra, Pedro, Bojan or Henry, Barça needs another horse or two to shoulder the load and carry the team back to two-thirds of the treble. With 2nd place Premier League powerhouses Arsenal being selected as Barça's next opponent in the Champions League, the cavalry may have to come sooner than later. But even with Arsenal looming and a surging Madrid, they're two factors that give me comfort. The first is that when push has come to shove, Barça has won every game that they have had to win this season. Whether it was the dominant performance in the second league of the knock-out round against Stuttgart, the Nou Camp leg of El Clasico or the late push in the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes, Barça has allowed their flowing brand of attacking football, their depth in world-class players and their tutelage under whiz Pep Guardiola to foil opposing sides and stay within reach of maintaining their status as the aces of world soccer. Through all the recent inconsistencies, Barça hasn't really given us any true reason to doubt them come crunch time. Even though Barça is behind in the league (only by two goals in differential), they are 2 points ahead of where they were at this time last year, and with all the weight up at the top, something has to give, and the world might see it go down at the Bernabeu one way or another. Which gets me to the next nugget of comfort, that Madrid hasn't come through when the lights have shine brightest. Despite boasting a multi-million dollar cast that includes some former players of the year (Kaká, Ronaldo) and probably the most dominant player in La Liga in recent weeks aside from Messi (Higuain), I question whether those whole cast of characters are ready and able to win a trophy for the capital. By losing key fixtures against Barça and inter-city rival Atletico Madrid early in the season, that Copa del Rey abomination at the hands of Alcorcon and their recent Champions League flop against Lyon, picking Madrid as the favorites to win the league is a tough sell, bad economy or not. I do believe in the end that Barça is still the front runner to maintain their titles, however if that second go-to horse doesn't show up, that late-May confetti shower at the Bernabeu will only be a daydream, just like that Messi-Rooney World Cup showdown that has kept appearing in my head.

Nomar & A Can Of Worms

Once icon, once bitter, always Nomar.
(sportsofboston.com)

This past Wednesday, it was if another part of my childhood reached a conclusion when Nomar decided to come back (for one day) and retired in the uni in which it all began. Nomar's retirement not only grabbed the attention of the many Sox fanatics who witnessed him play, but also stirred up some emotions that hadn't been touched in over a half decade, maybe longer. For me, it's a kaleidoscope of childhood memories of emulating his stance, remembering the messy divorce of 2004 and the thoughts of possibly could have been in a whole array of situations. In short, my thoughts as varied as the many idiosyncrasies in the shortstop's stance. Even before he started rolling .300s on major league pitching, I remember my first Pawsox game, a game in which some shortstop with a unrecognizable last name hit the go-ahead homer in a wild game against the Syracuse Chiefs. Not only did I remember that name from then on out, but probably like many other fans who see a future major league star catch a glimpse of greatness before the bigs, we were all part owners of his MLB experience. The seed of emotional investment was already planted even before his breakout rookie campaign the year after. The multi-grand slam games, the hit streaks, the OCD that we all imitated and the SNL sketches, it was not hard for a baseball-crazed city to fall for 'Nomah'. But then he became the cover boy of all Sports Illustrated cover boys when he tweaked his wrist in Spring Training, slowly rolling his stellar career into a downhill trajectory. Even worse is that after looking at a ripped Nomar though the lens of a steroid-crazed sports society, there is that unavoidable wondering of whether PEDs were part of the rise and fall of what could have been a Hall of Fame career. Sure his batting averages were still stellar and he was still in the triumvirate of titans at shortstop along with A-Rod and Jeter, but his diminishing defensive range and his knack for swinging at nearly every pitch made the gruesome divorce inevitable, especially when an OBP/defense conscious ownership came to play ball for the Sox. We all know the story. A 4-year, $60 million dollar contract was turned down, he was a few million dollars away from being traded away from the city that adored him in exchange for another part of the shortstop triumvirate and only bitterness remained. I was totally against the trade not only for Nomar, but a Manny Ramirez in his prime would be shipped out along with a emerging left-handed pitcher named Jon Lester, however I was on the side of many others that Nomar should have seen this a business. He did turn down the biggest offer the team made, so naturally an organization will cue up other options. But at the same time, you can't blame him for being human. I mean, I've been laid-off by a company I had worked at for a long time near Christmas time, but he found out about the trade on his honeymoon for crying out loud. It wasn't necessarily an excuse to carry that animosity into a clubhouse of guys who have no involvement with the wheeling and dealing, especially when your rival counterpart flies into the seats while you're on the bench. However, I do understand the exhaustion of compassion and lack of motivation. Still, neither myself or the rest of us Sox fanatics were not prepared for what was to come on that last day of July, 2004.

The best medicine for idol departure.
(blogs.riverfronttimes.com)

I remember going on ESPN.com that day seeing Nomar, photo shopped into a Cubs uniform. The departure finally happened. With all the vitriol between player and organization, I guess I had to prepare for the inevitability. He did all he could here, but it was a mixture of declining skill and Boston fatigue that did him in the end. The story has been repeated many times. The Sox get O-Cab and would obtain their first title in almost nine decades, all without the guy that we thought was going to be the alpha dog in the day when the Sox finally got to the throne of coronation. It was sort of that last slap to the face that at the time seemed as if it erased everything that Nomar did and what he meant to us in this city, a sense that those 8 seasons had a fraudulent feel to them. But with deep reflection and the return of Nomar in a Sox uniform at Fort Myers on Wednesday, I totally disagree with all of that. The overall legacy of Nomar in the end has to be a positive one, and the one day re-signing has to be some proof of that. Nomar coming back to us is a sign that somehow, the Red Sox themselves are doing something right in reconciling with stars of years past. Even after the bitterness of the '03-'04 offseason, there were still moodier men and sloppier breakups than this one. Teddy Ballgame and Yaz weren't exactly the jolliest of characters while in Boston and took a long time to muster up any sort of mutual goodwill after their playing days were over, and I think we all know that Roger's tenure with the Sox ended in a prematurely empty locker in the 1996 season. Hell, even the Manny divorce made the Nomar one feel like a Fiji honeymoon, with the faked knee injuries and traveling secretaries a-tumbling under that big top of a mess. Yes, Nomar is that last face of the franchise that symbolized the 'almost, but never quite make it in to the station' Red Sox teams, but all the blame can't be placed on him for that. He also made known that despite his iconic status in a city full of seamheads, in a similar fashion to other Boston heroes of the past, he wasn't going to be an easy-access sound bite. On the same token, it's pretty hard to imagine nowadays the scrutiny and weight that came with being the main cog of lifting a hex that was brought on by a chubby slugger of years past, even only 6 years after obtaining that virtually elusive title. After 8 years of constant poking and prodding, I'd probably be a little ornery, too. You can't remove the fact that he was my buddy Mike's favorite player, and even influenced him, as well as many other youngsters, to be a shortstop extraordinaire. Even with all that Boston fatigue, Nomar never showed any malice towards those fans, such as my buddy Mike, that worshiped the ground he walked on. Along with Mo Vaughn and Pedro Martinez, Nomar was an embraced minority superstar in a city that to this day scares many off. So I could be Dan Shaughnessy and dwell on the bitterness of 2004, or how he got a flat tire on the road to Cooperstown. But by worrying about the peccadilloes, I would be avoiding what a true icon he was on and off the field. Retirements naturally bring about the act of overall reflection on one's legacy, and it's now clearer than ever that Nomar will remain an icon in all the hearts of the fans that followed him back in the day. The injuries and that summer of bitterness can't take away all of the other fantastic memories he provided us, even if one of those was by Jimmy Fallon. He many not have his number 5 retired in the rafters, but he will retire in my heart as a true MVP of this city.

Mochaman's Can Of Earworms
Can't believe that it has taken a music aficionado like me this long to create a section about the songs that have been barricading themselves in my head and putting up a stand. Kinda like the Nomar scenario, my musical mind is a diversely faceted being. There's songs of past and present, beloved and despised and ranging from multiple genres. Don't be surprised if some Scandinavian death metal group makes an appearance or two. Now, let's get the opener ready, ladies and gents!

'Break Your Heart' - Taio Cruz
Simple, but catchy R&B/pop blended song with a repetitive chorus that's simply viral. Basically, it's similar to 'Tie Me Down' in attitude with a Euro synth beat that makes me reminisce of Akon's 'Freedom' album. So catchy, that it has the capability to define a year in music, like Lady Gaga's 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face' will always remind me of my most prominent memories of 2009. Not bad for a guy who had spent his career writing hits for Britney and Justin. This tune definitely wont break break, break, break, break your heart (Had to do it!).

'Gin & Juice' - The Gourds
I admit it. I probably wouldn't be caught deceased at a bluegrass festival. I haven't even heard any other songs from this group, but this classic cover has enough joy and amusement to live off of forever. Nothing like an old Snoop Dogg classic with a Southern twang and a banjo, but the brilliant thing is that the Texan group actually pulled it off. Never thought that gangsta rap could go Nashville and have me not only set the track on repeat, but having me question my allegiance to the original. I would also consider this to be the lead song if they were to do a funkier remake of 'Deliverance'. Now have the sudden urge to grab a banjo and make a Tupac song work. On second thought, it's not worth the risk.

R.I.P. To A Lost Boy

Corey Haim (December 23, 1971 – March 10, 2010)
(img.slate.com)

(Extremely Late) Olympic Recap And Recovery

The Olympics: Canada, curling, and catfights.
(examiner.com)

Oh, Canada! It's been a few days (or 2 weeks), I know. But it feels appropriate to do a bit of an Olympic recap. Besides, I have a good reason for the delay, I swear! The recap is necessary because it was probably 90% of my TV viewing over those particular two weeks, competing heavily with shows like 'Modern Marvels' and 'Celebrity Rehab 3'. I mean, how much more History Channel/VH1 could I possibly watch? As pumped as I am for baseball, it's only just emerging out of its jumping jack and wind sprint phase. Plus, now that Spring Training games have started, I'm in prayer mode so that none of the Sox's big names pops an Achilles tendon during a split-squad game in Sarasota. My overall assessment on these Games in Vancouver: It was a comeback success, especially considering the games started with a fatality only hours before the opening ceremonies on a track that many of the competition had doubts on its safety potential. Also can't forget the botched torch lighting, which felt like these Games were going to go down the slope faster than a downhill skier, set up more for a fest of folly and less for competition. In between, we saw the we witnessed a record-breaking Games from Apolo Ohno, even though I think it is a little elementary to call him the greatest Olympian ever just because he has won the most Olympic hardware, especially when only two of them are gold. Not dissing the speed skater extraordinaire and 'Dancing with the Stars' dynamo, but what Eric Heiden did at Lake Placid sure trumps what almost anyone has done in the Winter Games. Then we also had the semi-annoying drama of the women's ski team and how Julia Mancuso felt a little like Jan Brady to Lindsey Vonn's Marcia-like attention grabbing. Admittedly, 'Vonn Watch' did get a bit frustrating after the 10th minute, especially pre-event time when the exposure pretty much exceeded Kardashian levels. But I'm secretly satisfied that it made a teammate get a little scrappy. I mean, at the end of the day, who doesn't like a good catfight? And even though the chance of me having a genuine interest in figure skating has equal odds of Hot Tub Time Machine winning an Oscar, what Joannie Rochette pulled off only days after her mother died was truly a story worth noting. But of course, my personal dish du jour of these Games was certainly the hockey. It was just about the only thing I cared about going into Vancouver, well, until women's curling got me a bit intrigued. The play flows so much better than the NHL game and they're mega-rivalries that don't need any help with a cheap Versus marketing campaign. The Games concluded with with one of the greatest Olympic hockey contests in history, however I sort of disagree with the assessment that the final was the biggest hockey game in history. I mean, maybe Canada thought it was. It was on their home ice, with 70% of the nation watching the game. Hockey by itself in Canada is the NFL, MLB and the NBA in importance, then multiply it by about 10,000. It would have been ultimately embarrassing if they lost to their neighbors to the south (twice), who would have just used that gold as another flaunting tool to go along with pseudo-patriotic chants from South Park movies. Yes, me and many other Americans wanted this gold medal, but Canada NEEDED it. So as much as it saddened me when Sid the Kid slipped the OT winner past Ryan Miller (forcing me to a faux ban of anything Barenaked Ladies or Bryan Adams on my iPod the day after), it was how these Games should have ended; with the host country (Canada) singing their national anthem after winning their national sport (hockey, a.k.a. by far the best/important event in the games). I mean, it's touching to have your little brother country win at what they're good at on a global stage, right? Overall, much better than watching the Celts do a Three Mile Island meltdown against a 5-win Nets team. So what has taken me away from the blogosphere for so long, making me leave my Olympic reminiscing to collect dust in my unfinished drafts? You guessed it, it's spring baseball, but it's not what you immediately think.

IT'S MINE, ALLLLLLLLL MINE!!!!
(CEB II)

Guess we are heading into my first video game review of sorts. This past Tuesday marked the arrival of this year's version of 'The Show', a.k.a., my video game heroin. Hell, I have almost totally forgot that the Olympics actually happened, or that I had a blog entry prepared for it. I can easily see myself locking myself in my room for days as I bang out a whole season, basking in the enjoyment of noticing little details and building my team on franchise mode while substituting my naps for blinking. Plus, it's a good method as a fanatic to pump in some regular season adrenaline during the frequent lulls of Grapefruit League action. If you are a fan of authenticity like myself, the graphics are exceptional, the mannerisms of play are so close to perfect (catcher finally takes his mask off) and the crowd reacts on sequence to the game action with chants that you can add personally. Most video games have the basic template down, so I'm usually attracted by the little things, and this year's version of 'The Show' sure has an abundance. With ownership of a PS3, I can add my own tunes to be the intro music of all my Sox players before they grind through their Fenway at-bats. It sort of makes me miss the 2004 team a bit more, considering I have a plethora of appropriate tracks in mind for Kevin Millar, ranging from 'Slow Ride' by Foghat to 'I Play Chicken with the Train' by Cowboy Troy. I like how the bullpen gets out of the way of an incoming baseball, I like how they included the actual mascots dancing on the dugout between innings (even though I despise actual mascots), I like the day-to-night transition that also makes the Madden games more authentic to a true game experience and even the beach ball can enter the field to delay a game. Guess it's only a matter of time before streakers start to make an appearance in virtual reality. For its impeccable gaming experience, its ability to take my mind off the world and controlling what seems to be a virtual monopoly of my free time, this game gets a solid 9.5 out of 10. Hope you make it to 'The Show', ladies and gents!

R.I.P. To The Leader Of The Mooses

Mosi Tatupu (April 26, 1955 – February 23, 2010)
(cache.boston.com)