All Star Break

Ok - I have never been all that interested in the All Star game...but the recent change in format that makes the outcome actually mean something has spurred my interest. Participating in 3.5 fantasy baseball leagues has helped as well. So after putting the kids to bed for the last 2 nights, I've settled in for the Home Run Derby Monday and the actuall All Star game last night.

Home Run Derby - A few observations

• Ryan Braun should get a new agent. He might be an OK agent, but he's a terrible BP pitcher.
• What a great group of young superstars - and I'm like 10 years older than all of them.
• Canadians ARE nice people.
• Josh Hamilton has an amazing testimony...and he's not affraid to share it.
• Josh Hamilton also knows how to pick a BP pitcher...that old dude ROCKED!
• The person you pick to throw you the ball is more important than bat you use.

All Star Game - A few observations

• Yankee fans are brutal - booing Paplebon (and other Sox)
• Miguel Tejada played a great game
• Great Pitching
• Great Defense
• I'm dropping Dan Uggla later today from all my fantasy teams
• At least 3 bad calls (missed tags called outs)
• Maybe next year, they'll play for extra innings rather than getting everyone in and out before the 9th inning, leaving no one to play the game beyond that...
• Longest ASG ever - and I watched it...something to tell the grandkids...or not.
• Terry Francour probably got an ulcer from the last 2 hours of that game...

Having a life time season ticket on the Bandwagon, I was torn at who to root for. I chose the NL team since the poor saps have lost 11 straight years in a row. This could have been their year. But as the innings ticket by, and more and more men were left on base, and FOX ran out of commercials and switched in some PSAs, and as the clock crept past midnight, then past 1am...I found myself rooting for someone to just end the game...so I could finally go to bed...So the AL won 12 in row and finally won an extra innings ASG, thier first. And I got about 4 hours sleep...

I can't wait to see the stadium and some of those players up close and personal - bring on the roadtrip!

Go Brewers!

To avoid the "bandwagon" label, I am rooting for the Brewers for the remaining part of the 2008 baseball season. For an interesting article on why check out this article on ESPN.

Brewers pick up CC

Since being in Milwaukee last year, I have been pulling for the Brew Crew in the NL. They acquired a big name today by adding CC Sabathia to their starting rotation. Hope they can make a run for the nice people of Milwaukee...

Commerative Logos

Might be collector items...

If Izzy played in the 70's

he would have worn a uniform like this...

Bandwagon ID

Grand Wagoneers- Shamelessly opportunistic fans who switch teams at the drop of a 2006 Miami Heat NBA Champions hat. In one breath, they claim they're pulling for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and "history"; in the next, they're replaying David Tyree's catch for the 50th time and preordering New York Giants commemorative mini-footballs. Grand Wagoneers are less trustworthy than a borderline schizophrenic: outside their rooting life, they date around like Hollywood starlets, have a new best friend every other week and are masters of the board game Risk. They have always been at war with Eurasia.

While I never rooted for the Miami Heat - I did find myself torn during this past Super Bowl. Apparently I'm a SPORTS FAN, and in being so, sometimes loose sight (or see beyond) long standing relationships and rivalries. I look for the story and cheer towards an ending...so shoot me for having and affinity for the Cubs, Sox, Dodgers, Broncos, Patriots, & Steelers - sometimes.

Know this - I will always hate the Yankees & Redskins.

Is this the boy behind the man?

The classic version of Izzy...

Now that is old-school...