When I try and explain to people how much I've missed baseball I stammer and struggle to keep my explanation under two and a half hours. It's not just that the Cards won the World Series, that is actually less than 25% of my nostalgia. The playoffs are so far away these emotions I have are mostly unaffected by the ring. Before I get too far let me maintain some kind of structure. The following I feel is supremely sweet...Major League Baseball. Having finished an NFL season that met predominately once a week and a college basketball season mostly twice a week, the idea of baseball 6 out of 7 days absolutely thrills me. This everyday feeling goes hand in hand psychologically with summer. During school you had the weekends, during the summer you have 6 out of 7 days.
I miss the pace of the game as well. This may shock the average fan but I think it comes as no surprise to anyone who is obsessed. Relative to the aforementioned sports, baseball lets you think. Not just about the game, but about life as well. Here is a great quote that kind of summarizes the rest of my point:
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base
I just can't wait till Opening Night.
Uruguay 2, South Korea 0. Please note that only Opening Night would take first story over this... The best present of all was Uruguay winning on my birthday. They looked good too. I'm actually getting goosebumps at the thought of Uruguay having a squad. Carlos Bueno scored
them both. I still haven't decided whether the first goal was an amazing pass from Recoba or just a bad play by the goalie. Know that I actually didn't care. The second goal is what has me worried. Bueno - who has the last name equivalent of an NBA player named, Mike Ballin' - rips a strike of unbelievable quality. Why am I worried? It was wholly unnecessary and to make matters worse, he pulls his jersey out and points to the Uruguayan ensignia (2:30). I'm not used to this kind of swager and frankly, I don't know if I can handle it. Wait a second, scratch that, much like the RGX commercial, I know I can't handle it.What a great picture too. It's like he's saying, "What have I done."
Luca Toni. Arguably the sexiest man in soccer (I'll get to Cristiano in a second). On the subject
of Friendly Competition did anyone notice Luca dropped due on the Scots? How about his form on the first header. When I dream of heading in a sick goal, that's the form I have in my dream. The fifteen seconds after the :55 mark literally make my day. Is it just me or do the Italians all look unchanged from the World Cup. No haircuts... same unis... I'm not complaining, I just felt unprepared sexually for that video.still on the subject of my life (soccer) the following is psh-lame...
United States Soccer. I feel like Bill Lumberg here disagreeing with Bob and Bob in Office Space. Bob and Bob here happens to be my life partner, James Stanley. Here is what he had to say about Landon. I'm gonna have to disagree. This is going to be a tough argument to make seeing as how much respect I had for the Ecuador squad. My argument is unfortunately helped by Ecuador getting blown out by Mexico yesterday, but I'm going to ignore the Dorians and stick to the Stators (mainly because I have no idea whats wrong with Ecuador).
First some things I cannot deny - all three, notch it, all three of Landon's goals were very
impressive. The volley, the stutter step and the UmmmmmmHolyShit really did have me appreciating the quality of Landon Donovan. I'm still not sold though. I haven't forgotten that he couldn't cut it in Europe and I actually think the US should move on from Landon. They should move on because Landon has proved to me unable to handle the enormous, irrational, and probably unjust pressure US fans place on him. I'm blaming myself and Jim and other fans here. Here in the US of A we search for one player, one superstar and one answer to solve our soccer problems, but the truth is, solo stars in soccer don't cut it. If Didier Drogba himself couldn't bring Cote de Ivore to the second stage then we should all know Landon wasn't going to either. With the fans having been noted, it's important to also remember that Landon hasn't stepped up in any game of significant meaning. That's a bad sign. I almost want Landon to go under the radar before 2010 just so he doesn't feel like he has to answer to anyone. You know what the Donovan story reminds me of - Peyton Manning before his title. Lets all hope Landon overcomes just like Peyton did.back to the oh so sweet...
One more thing for James. This is how I'm going to get his attention the next time I see him on the streets. I actually auditioned for this part. Listen carefully at the 2:48 mark. HeyJayyymes. It's more obvious if you download the song and listen with earphones. The irony is great here, "Just don't holla out my name like we was all that (HeyJayyymes)." If Jim ever says that to me I'm immediately going to holla out his name.
ps - I'm angry the first 5 lyric sites on google didn't include the yelling.
Cristiano in Vogue. If buying Vogue has ever been a good idea, that was the issue.Welcome to Hollyhood. Where will you be April 5th at 10pm? If it's not in front of a TV watching Triple Six Mafia in MTV's Adventures in Hollyhood then shame on you. I would normally never advocate watching an MTV show, but John and I are definitely going to be watching at least the premier of this one. A quick lame... The MTV website is literally the most infuriating website I've ever tried to navigate. Omg. And no google, I didn't mean Adventures in Hollywood. Normally you can read my mind, but not this time - which is a good thing.
The Sun-Maid is Hot. Oh hi there... you've got some grapes for me... why I, I'd love some.
I'm not ready to talk about:
That picture of Landon Donovan. Discotech 307.
2 comments:
I completely agree with you sir, and must respectfully disagree with James Stanley. Landon Donovan is overrated. While he might be the best we got, he's not the player we need. We need a midfielder that will be a leader and create chances. Landon can score, which is nice, but if he's shut down, we've got nothing. We need a central midfielder who has creativity. Can play balls into space, and make the shitty players around him look better. Oh, and we need all of our athletes to switch to soccer, that'll help too.
And yes, opening night will be gloirious. Oh how sweet baseball is.
a few thoughts:
the sun maiden feeds me grapes on a daily basis.
luca toni is really pretty incredible. he and didier are probably the best pure scorers in the world right now (especially with king henry injured). although i must say that messi is coming around nicely these days.
it must be nice to have two national teams to support. uruguay looks strong under the leadership of Carl Awesome.
it's true that one man can't do it alone, but i'm hopeful for the US midfield. there's a couple of young players like bradley and feilhaber (who reminds me of a very raw, inexperienced cesc fabregas) that look really promising and could provide that solid passing game to get donovan the ball in his supporting striker role. anyway, we've got a few years to work it out.
opening day. how badly do you want this jersey?
and finally, i've been putting it off for a while (because it's very flattering), but i think it's time for you to change the title of the blog. like a proud father watching his son's progress, it has been a pleasure to watch your posts evolve. take some time and think of a title truly worthy of the excellent witty commentary you serve up. i'll be more than happy with a link on the sidebar.
oh, and say hi to emily for me.
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