IN SEARCH OF A-ROD AND A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
I am bleary-eyed and sleep deprived today but that's OK, I'm not complaining. It's an occupational hazard when you cover sports, especially when the ultra-intense drama of the baseball playoffs keeps you up until the wee hours EVERY NIGHT. Besides, I'm launching a new business today, so that's taken up some of my time. More on that later.
In case you missed it, Baltimore beat the Yankees in 13 innings to set up a fifth and deciding game and Detroit eliminated Oakland in 5 games. Just when I thought nothing could top Raul Ibanez' sick performance the night before (pinch homer to tie in the 9th, game winning tater in the 12th) to bring the Yankees back from the brink, last night was just as good, but in a different way. They say good pitching beats good hitting and this series proves it. The Orioles starting pitching is fantastic, making most of the Yankee hitters look like rejects from your local Slo Pitch League. A-Rod is a 29 million-dollar-this-year-punchline. Not only can't he hit, he fails to move runners along by making simple contact. He was dropped from 3rd to 5th in the batting order and really should be benched. Curtis Granderson is a 40 homer guy and he can't even hit a loud foul. Nick Swisher? Well, his name says it all this October. Sorry, but these are NOT your grandfather's Yankees. If it wasn't for 37 year old banged-up-but-still-gutting-it-out Derek Jeter, the Yanks would be dead already. I hope Baltimore wins.
I also hope the Jays make a serious pitch for free agent Josh Hamilton, whose problems with alcohol, drugs and now chewing tobacco are just as well known as his penchant for hitting long bombs. I think he would do OK in Toronto, where we tend to be a little more forgiving than most American fans (although that can be construed as a negative by some). Hamilton would make the middle of the Jays order incredibly tough to pitch around. Can you imagine a Bautista, Hamilton, Encarnacion middle of the order? Now, I don't care how much this is going to cost. Overpay for the guy. Even if you only get a few good years out of him, take a shot. The fans deserve a winner. If they can find a way to win in Baltimore, why not Toronto?
I'm really disappointed in the NHL and it's players. People say the fans will come back, just like last time. But I don't know. I feel as if we're begging for scraps and morsels of information that might lend hope to such a bleak situation. It's really pathetic. Both sides should be in constant communication. Instead, the NHL is announcing another two weeks of cancellations. Man, for some people that would be like Ford or GM announcing massive layoffs. Yeah, maybe you can come back to work in a few months. Maybe not until the New Year. Hey, we might cancel the whole season. Talk to your union rep, see if you might have to go find another job. Oh, that's right. The only thing you know how to do is play hockey.
Today I'm launching a new company "Sportlight Productions". We make custom recordings for sports fans. As a kid, I always fantasized about calling play by play of great sporting events. Of course, I also fantasized about scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Maple Leafs and having Bill Hewitt announce my name ("Hebscher, coming down the left wing, over the blueline He shoots, he SCORES! Hebscher from Mahovlich and Keon") So I want to combine my love of play by play and creative writing with your love for a sports fan who would really dig a special gift. So, if you wouldn't mind, click on the icon and check it out. Thanks..
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