White Sox

The White Sox are in the postseason. Chicago is excited. The team did all it could to AVOID the playoffs. The Twins did the same thing and they had to play a play-in game; sorta like the 65th place team having to play an extra game just to get into the NCAA tournament in March.

Can you beleive it's been 102 years since both Chicago baseball teams have been in the postseason at the same time? Isn't that pathetic? Go White Sox. They are currently trailing the TB Rays in the 7th...

Looking for rah-rah?!

Well, you need look no further than this. This is called "Trumpets in the Dome" and takes place approximately 70 minutes before game time. Don't let the (slow start) Alma Mater keep you from getting to the good part at 1:24. See lyrics from previous post. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LnTr5RQXg

Just so you know...

The Notre Dame Victory March is 100 years old this year. Yes, the best-known of all University fight songs is that old. I went to the San Diego State game yesterday in South Bend and many people just don't realize there is more to the song than the simple chorus that we all know. I figured I would lay it out for everyone. Two verses precede the chorus. And they are:

Rally sons of Notre Dame,
Sing her glory, and sound her fame
Raise her Gold and Blue,
And cheer with voices true,
Rah! Rah! For Notre Dame.

We will fight in every game
Strong of heart and true to her name.
We will ne'er forget her
And we'll cheer her ever,
Loyal to Notre Dame.

Chorus:
Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky,
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching Onward to Victory.

USA Men's Basketball

What an exhilarating game; the Spanish were outstanding. Not outstanding enough to hold back Bryant. I cannot remember when I last cheered for or was exited to watch NBA players (well, not since the golden years of the 90's).

This is something altogether new for me. After all, it was the Olympics. I was on the edge of my seat the entire game even though the results of the game had long been determined over seas.

USA! USA!

What can I say? Michael Phelps is not human. Well, he's not mortal for certain...
What an exhibition.

How do you ruin a would-be bride's day?

You kick a soccer ball in her face. You heard me. It happened last night. I was playing with the usual fellas at our indoor facility. For the first time, my buddy brought his fiance with to watch the goings on. She was sitting on the endline half way between the sideline and the goal flipping through "Modern Bride" magazine. She was surrounded by a half-dozen other standing players who were resting during their game off. There isn't much room. The goal backs up all the way to a fence and there is only about three feet of space behind the endline. It's tight.

On the far sideline, a player was advancing the ball and then placed a shot on goal. The ball skipped past the goal keeper, bounced off three defenders and one other player on the endline before smacking Julie on her upper lip just below the nose... The room of 20 fell silent as John came over to tend to his lady. She tried to stay composed. No blood, nothing broken, all teeth present. The fact that four or five players made contact with the ball before it hit her likely slowed it down enough to cause no harm. Wow, she dodged a bullet there.

She spent the rest of the game behind a fence off the field where she could read her magazine and sit in a chair without the fear of a ball coming it to attack her. The take-away here is that the game is fast moving and a ball can come from anywhere at anytime. Whenever I'm not in the game, my eyes are always watching the action.

John and Julie will marry on September 27th. I bet you I don't see her at a game before that date...

Great outing today

I'm a Sox fan, but went to a game at Wrigley. It's an annual thing I've been doing with two co-workers since the summer of 2000 which makes this our 9th game.

It started out just the three of us - Joe, Derk and myself. Derk is the Cubs fan and his birthday was this week. Each year, we gather for a Friday home game around his birthday to watch his team and then go out for some drinks and food after. Some years, it's been a very late night of pub crawling but as of late we stay more under control and everyone heads home by 10pm. Myself, I was on the 8:40 train tonight. I had my fill and needed to prep up for a familly reunion tomorrow in Michigan. More on that later.

Soccer

Just leaving soccer. Actually played well for taking three weeks off for one reason or another. Scored a goal off my left foot from 25 yards out; upper 90. NEVER done that before. I had to walk away smiling...

Knute Rockne, All Amertican

As sad as this sounds coming from an alumnus of Our Lady's University, this was the first time I was able to watch "Knute Rockne, All American" in its entirety. What a great story. However, in true film making fashion, they take two hours to build up the story line and then resolve the story in only five minutes.

For example, the Rockne Memorial building (where I playe basketball and exercised while an undergrad) was but a side note just before the credits roll. Additionally, the "House that Rockne built" better known as Notre Dame Stadium received the same attention. Sure, the storyline was about the man and not what was left behid, but it seemed to be in poor form. Of course I have 68 years post-movie to make these statements. In 1940, things were different. Frank Leahy had yet to arrive on campus and rekindle the winning tradition to Notre Dame.

Great day

What an attitude adjustment I've had today. It's so nice to get out, go to a ballgame and then hang with the fellas afterwords for some beers, brats and bean bags. I great day all around. Happy birthday to Tom, Cindy, Phil and Gabe.

Anticipation

Tomorrow is Friday which also happens to be my first scheduled (and granted) vacation day is quite a while. Not sure how long it's been. I'm scheduled to go on our annual "Trifecta" which is a round of golf in the morning, a baseball game in the afternoon and then a pub crawl to end the evening. I'm stoked; ready to rock.

Update: We just cancelled golf because there is a 70% chance that there will be thunderous downpours in the AM. (Friday...Showers and thunderstorms likely. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy downpours and gusty winds. Highs around 80. Southwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.) This is not good news. It's now a biathlon...

Damn Cubs

I'm a White Sox fan, but have ties to many friends who are loyal to the North Side's Lovable Loosers better known as the Chicago Cubs. This year marks the centennial of this team winning its last national title in 1908 (the same year my house was built!).

I'm sitting in one of the stupid electronic waiting rooms trying to buy tickets for two traditions - Trifecta and Derk's birthday. The former is a golf-baseball-pub crawl and the latter is a birthday game for a good ex-coworker/buddy. He attends one game a year and drinks alcohol ony one day each year. They collide at his birthday game at Wrigley Field each July.

ND in 360

Finally found out who this dude is. We spotted him at our ND-Army RV game this month. Wild apparatus he has on. Captures some great shots; you can see them here:

http://nd360.nbcsports.com/