Marty October 31st, 2008
I’m still reeling from the fact that the Phillies actually won it. World Champs, baby!! In what was the longest weekend of sports ever, Philly fans got to see:
- The Flyers beat the Devils TWICE in a home-and-home series
- The Eagles win
- Penn State beat Ohio State at the Horseshoe for the first time in 30 years.
- And (for me) finally saw Dallas win another game.
- And in the coup de grace, the Phillies win Games 3 & 4 of the World Series on the way to their 50-hour Game 5 victory to win the World Series
I can’t wait to head down to the parade today. I’m taking my camera although I’m not entirely sure that I’ll use it in the crowd. But who cares - the Phils won the World Series!!
Marty October 22nd, 2008
Well, tonight’s the night - the Phillies begin their quest for the World Series. I’m psyched to watch it - I have beer, I’m going to eat wings, cheer loudly and berate the umps with my Phils hat on. This is a return to where I was in 1980 when they beat the Royals so soundly.
But what to do when you’re wife doesn’t want to watch the entire Game 1? When she wants to watch that episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” on the DVR? Well, you stand up in all of your masculinity, put your foot down and tell her firmly, “Well, then … I’m going to have to go upstairs to watch it.”
That’ll learn ‘er.
Marty October 19th, 2008
I still remember it fairly well- the first time the Phillies were in the World Series, way back in 1980. I was only ten but my parents let me stay up late to watch every game. Unfortunately, my father wasn’t a baseball fan, and besides we didn’t have any money for tickets. But that in no way diminished the memories of one odd the seminal sports memories of my youth. Continue Reading »
Marty September 10th, 2008
After last night’s game, it’s evident that the Phillies need to do to Kyle Kendrick what they did to Brett Myers - send him to the minors to get his shit together. In his last 6 starts, Kendrick’s line:
21.6IP, 29R/29ER (5HR), 16BB/8SO, a 1-4 record and a mind-boggling 12.08 ERA. Charlie - get this guy out of the rotation before he kills your chances at the playoffs!
Marty August 26th, 2008
I have to say that the Olympics were a lot of fun to watch this time around, particularly with my family around during our ‘vacation’ (more on that later). The opening ceremonies will be difficult - if not impossible - to beat, although the closing ceremonies were far less impressive (Does Jimmy Page look about a half-step from death, or was it just me?).
But it was a very impressive Olympics overall — sure NBC focused almost exclusively on the U.S., when there were other great events going on, but I guess that’s to be expected. I had a little bit of Michael Phelps overkill, but there was no denying that his races were exciting and spectacles of human athletic achievement.
The judging in the gymnastics was … difficult to understand (yes, Shari got me to watch a lot of the women’s gymnastics events), but it was still breath-taking to see what they could do. And I watched a lot of volleyball and a smattering of other events when I could. I winced when the relays dropped the baton, sat wide-mouthed at the speed of other runners, and cheered when the men’s volleyball team overcame the tragedy of the murder of their coach’s mother-in-law to win gold.
It was the best of times and it will be well remembered.
Amusements
Marty August 9th, 2008
I have to say that I think that demotion was one of the best things to happen to Brett Myers. When he left the Phillies for AAA, his line:
17G, 4-9, 101.2 IP, 71 R, 66 ER, 88 K / 44 BB, 5.18 ERA
But since his return, he’s been doing a heck of a lot better. Since his return:
4G, 2-0, 25.2 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 13K / 7 BB, 2.14 ERA
I’m not a fan of Manuel, but sometimes it really seems like he knows what he is doing. Now if he can just get the bats going again.
Update 8/25: And he keeps getting better. His stats since he came back:
7G, 4-1, 48.2IP, 9R, 9ER, 38K / 13MM, 1.68 ERA.
Marty July 24th, 2008
Well, we have another softball game today - and since we already have 1 loss in the playoffs, it could be our LAST one unless we come up big. We’re playing the #1 seed, and while they didn’t kill us the last time we played, they weren’t exactly in dire straits to beat us. And coming off the 18-2 drubbing we took in game 1, our confidence is a bit shaky. As a team, we aren’t hitting very well and although we’re playing decently in the field, if you aren’t scoring runs, you aren’t going to win. Continue Reading »
Marty July 22nd, 2008
Well, HOlympics V is over. This past Saturday, our annual celebration of sports athletic-like endeavors occurred, with 11 of us getting all-too-close to the top of that hill guys congregated at Bloser Arena (that is, my buddy Jim’s place) to compete, drink and talk a LOT of shit to and about each other. Like the four previous events, this one was full of more mouth than prowess, more beer than common sense and some truly spectacular displays of ‘recreational activities’ (c’mon … you can’t call darts a ’sport’, can you?). Continue Reading »
Marty June 8th, 2008
Well, last week was our weekly softball game and our first real test of the season. We were playing Exelon on their home field, a beautiful facility called PECO field outside of the city. Other than it being their ‘home field’, it’s easily the best ballpark we play in all year. Fitting that it would be the site of our best game all year as well - and my best game of the season. Continue Reading »
Marty June 2nd, 2008
My boss and I are heading to the Phils game tonight, and I’m hoping we get to see Ken Griffey Jr. make history with his 600th HR (albeit in a 9-1 Phils win, perhaps). This opportunity to see a little history made me think about how - despite all of the games of various sports that I have been to - I have never seen a truly historic event occur at a sports game I attended. I mean, seeing the Monkees after a Temple-Florida A&M game football doesn’t count, right?
I had tickets to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals in which the Colorado Avalanche won their first Cup (they swept in 4). I would have had tickets to the Super Bowl where the Cowboys would have won their then-record 5th Super Bowl victory (Super Bowl XXXI) … if they hadn’t lost to Carolina in the NFC semi-finals (which they should NOT have done). So, I’ve been close but never right there.
But this might be my chance. A hitter’s park. A pitcher (Kyle Kendrick) who gives up gopher balls, and against whom Griffey is 4-for-5. Granted, I won’t be anywhere near the home run area, but just seeing it and being there might be pretty cool. As long as the Phillies win, that is.
UPDATE: Well, Griffey didn’t even play, let alone get a hit so my streak continues. On the plus side, the Phils won with a volley of home runs.
