No Shortage of Sports Today

So the combination of being tired from duty yesterday (which is not tiring in itself but somehow took a lot out of me none the less) and the level of pain that I am in...I had little choice but to spend my Sunday in my recliner.

Before I jump into my take on the Olympics so far...let me discuss the effect that the Olympics has on the rest of television. It pretty much screws over anyone who is not interested in watching the coverage. Most of the other channels know that they have no chance in beating the three or four channels of Olympic coverage so they don't even try. So they show their shittiest movies and reruns and simply wait for the first 10 days to pass. By then...even the most hard core fans are plain sick of the Olympics and return to the channels they love. It is because of this and the lack of decent things to watch today that forced me to watch coverage of sports that I never would have watched otherwise.

I have to say that I found myself emerged in the men's basketball US vs China game. It has been at least eight years since I was about to muster any excitement over basketball so this was a bit surprising for me. As much as I don't care for Kobe...I must admit that watching him play is pretty overwhelming. He just makes it look so easy.

Moving on...I began flipping back and forth between three of the channels with Olympic coverage and found myself watching Lightweight Two Person Sculling, Archery, Water Polo, Lightweight Men's Weightlifting, and Men's Soccer. I am not even going to address the soccer game because anyone who knows me is already well aware of my opinion on the "sport". I have to say that I was actually entertained by the weightlifting and the Water Polo. But mainly I was killing time until the Law and Order: SVU marathon started...but it did get me thinking.

How does one become one of the world's greatest scullers? (I apologize if this is not the technical term...I only know what I learned today and even still...I spent most of my time hoping that one of the dudes biking alongside the scullers would bite it.) How does a child get exposed to a sport like archery and realize that he/she wants to go to the Olympics and compete in that particular sport. I guess it is no different than my dreams of gymnastics but gymnastics is little bit more mainstream than say Synchronized Diving. Nevertheless...kudos to these athletes who found their niche and have made it to this level...regardless of the popularity of their chosen sport.

While I was entertained by the daytime coverage of the games...it was the evening coverage that got to me. While I am always a sucker for comeback, underdog type stories...I found myself a little bit more emotional than normal. As I watched the US Women's Gymnastics Team this evening, I felt a lot of emotions. I felt proud of the poise and determination that they showed as they competed. I was most impressed by the way that they handled the pressure put on them my Lisa's injury during warm-ups. But the most significant thing that I felt was mother hen instinct kick in as I watched these young girls give everything that they had with no regard for the consequences.

In spite of the fact that I do not know any of these girls, I know many like them. Hell...I might not have made it to their level but I wasn't far from it and I can still remember my when I was at my peak in the sport. I never once gave any thought to the future or the effect that training was having on my body. I highly doubt that the girls on this year's team are thinking about that either. It is easy to buy into the line that it is a small price to pay for the glory.

Funny...those people who constantly fed me that line of bullshit never bothered to tell me that I would be paying that price for the rest of my life.

Of course...I might be so bitter on account of the fact that I had about three good months of feeling healthy and starting to get back into shape only to suffer another setback. Oh and the fact that Yankees were swept this weekend certainly doesn't help.

A Little of This...A Little of That

I am so pissed at the Yankees right now. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

So anyway…today the entertainment world suffered quite a loss. I was shocked when I heard that Bernie Mac passed away this morning. While I can’t say that I was huge fan…I have always enjoyed his work and am truly sorry that he is gone. He is one of the few actors who consistently made me laugh.

Moving on…how about that Eli Manning? For once I am not talking about his football skills (or occasional lack there of) but I am talking about his witty banter. Once his football career is over he should consider a career in standup because the guy is funny.

I’ll get to what prompted me to think about this in a minute but I want to start with the comment that first made me realize that the youngest Manning is a man with many talents. While being interviewed on one of the many late night talk shows after winning the Superbowl, Eli was asked about that asshole Belichick walking off the field before the game was over when he team totally blew it at the Superbowl. (Which once again I must say was one of the most unprofessional and disgraceful moments in Superbowl history!) Now Eli could have responded any number of ways but he took the high road and gave the most awesome answer EVER. With an incredibly charming smile he simply stated that he suspected the Palapatine…I mean Belichick was trying to beat traffic as there were a lot of people at the game. Classy and Witty...how can you not love this guy?

Well folks…Eli did it again today when interviewed about his take on the newly disgraced Brett Favre moving to New York. Once again…Eli could have answered that question any number of ways but once again he took the high road. He responded that he thought it was great and that maybe when Brett takes his private jet home he would be willing to give him a ride.

While I am still a diehard Peyton fan...I must say that Eli is quickly becoming my #2 favorite quarterback. With the Yankees playing the way they are…football season cannot come quickly enough. Instead of spending so much time hoping for the Yankees to win I think that I am going start focusing all of my energy on hoping that the Red Sux will lose. This way this season is not a total loss for me.

His Name is Kal-El, He Will Call Himself Clark Kent but the World Will Know Him as Superman

Today actually started off well. I got to sleep in for a few minutes, took Joba for a nice walk, took a long hot shower, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, and then got into my car in order to head out to CG Academy for what I assumed would be a quick medical appointment. I would be in and out and then I would head into the office to finish the day. It would be a good Friday indeed. How wrong I was.

As I sat in my car, eating an exchanged purchased lunch four hours after I had arrived at the Academy...a quote from The Simpsons came to mind. I was reminded of the time that Moe talked about how everything was going well for him and Edna when "Suddenly fate decided to play a little game I like to call 'Up Yours Moe'". Insert Millie for Moe and you have my feelings from the day. Oh well.

So anyway...while waiting for my unexpected X-Ray, a less than sensitive person mentioned that I have had a lot of X-Rays in my 26 years...which of course got the sci-fi geek in me thinking. In sci-fi world...all of the X-Rays would result in some kind of superhero abilities...and that wouldn't be a bad thing. This prompted me to think about the various superheroes that I have loved over the years. So here is my list of the Top 5 Superheroes.

#5 Radioactive Man: OK so this one is sure to put me in the line of fire with hard core superhero fans but I don't care. He has an awesome catch phrase "Up and Atom!" and he is from The Simpsons. There really isn't much else you could ask for. He was created as a result of falling into a radioactive generator and ever since has entertained the fine folks of Springfield. While I have never actually seen him save anyone or anything...I still love the guy. I fully admit that my judgement might be clouded by my loyalty to the Simpsons and all things pertaining to.

#4 Underdog: First let me say that I am referring to the old school animated series and not the monstrosity that was the 2007 movie. Don't even try to tell me that he is not a superhero just because he is a dog. He was a dog who could fly and speak in rhyme! That is pretty awesome no matter how you look at it. He flawless maintained his secret identity all the while he was fighting crime with the best of them...all within like 15 minutes. Never mind the fact that of all the superheroes...it would seem that Underdog often caused a lot of damage when he fought crime. It was always a small price to pay in order to ensure the security of the people who loved him so. Looking back I have to wonder about the shows many "subtitle" references...such as the Underdog Super Energy Pill. That being said...who wouldn't love a dog who totally ripped off Superman by changing in a phone booth?

#3 Spiderman: OK...so anyone who can survive a spider bite is a winner in my book. Peter Parker managed to turn my greatest fear into a positive, life changing moment...which is the sole reason that he makes the list.

#2 The Green Arrow: The first reason that I love The Green Arrow is because he is obviously inspired by Robin Hood...which has always been a favorite story of mine. It was originally written that he was a "castaway" who was lost on a deserted island, who taught himself how to shoot a bow and arrow in order to survive. So he has the obvious advantage of being a self-made hero. His hero abilities are all self-taught and not enhanced in anyway...which makes him all the more awesome. Yet the image of the Green Arrow didn't reach the level of adoration that it is at now until Smallville added The Green Arrow to the plot of Smallville. As I have previously posted on this blog...scenes featuring Tom Welling and Justin Hartley were almost too much for me to handle. So now in the mind of Millie...The Green Arrow is a total badass who is also incredibly sexy.

And this should come as no surprise if you follow the blog...

#1 Superman: It doesn't matter if we are talking about George Reeve, Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain, or Tom Welling (and so on)...Superman will also be the alpha hero. As I have said before, he is finest example of all of the traits necessary to be a superhero. He is merciful, selfless, and compassionate even to those who are not deserving of his kind nature. One of the many things that I love of Superman is the fact that he was risking all to save a foreign species. He wasn't human by birth and yet he loved mankind and fought for them because he loved them. Of course, his love for mankind might have brought on a lot of the trouble that he encountered but the hey...no one is perfect. Like most heroes...he suffered greatly in order to protect society but I can't help but think that his torment was a little greater than other heroes. Unlike Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne...Clark Kent did not choose to become a hero. Clark Kent was destined to be one before he could walk. While Bruce and Oliver were remarkable men...there were just that...men. Clark Kent was a "intergalactic traveler" who ended up on a planet where he just so happened to be far stronger and faster than anyone else. While all heroes have a secret to hide, Clark's has also seemed greater to me. The greater the secret...the greater the risk. If this post doesn't convince you that Superman is the greatest hero EVER...once again I must refer you to Superman's Song by the Crash Test Dummies. Again I cannot help but admit that "Sometimes I despair that the world will never see another man like him."

So far...I have not acquired any superhero abilities. In fact...at the moment I am wallowing in self pity as I once again try to understand why fate likes to play "Up Yours Millie" when it comes to my health.

Cross your fingers and toes and anything else you can cross that Yankees have a good weekend and that the Red Sux and Twins do not. Of course...the Twins are playing the Mariners so I am not holding my breath but I am thinking that the White Sox are quite capable of putting quite a hurt on the Red Sux this weekend.

X Marks The Spot

Let me start by saying that Derek Jeter's home run in the first inning of tonight's game was absolutely beautiful.

So as embarrassing as it is to admit...I had never even heard of Xavier Nady until he came to the Yankees. Up until recently, I have never paid much attention to the National League though I will admit that I find myself keeping an eye out for the score of the Mets games. But anyway...the point is that Xavier Nady has got to be one of the best additions to the Yankee lineup.

I don't know much about him...except for that he can hit. I think that he has had in the past 8 games which is pretty damn amazing. (Yes I am aware that the same thing can be said about Bobby Abreu...which is also awesome but I have come to expect him to hit well.)

Nady is currently averaging .368 with the Yankees. Really that is all that needs to be said.

I don't know what kind of player he was before he started wearing pinstripes but he is certainly playing well now that he is in them.

Now if only A-Rod would start hitting again. He is like 0-9 at the moment which is really starting to piss me off.

No Foolin'

When it comes to Yankee baseball at the moment...I have to totally rip off a line from JC to describe how I feel...this just doesn't cut the meat.

I love my Yankees...I really do but it has been tough to watch them over the past few days. I think that a large part of it is because I get to watch every game. Even though I had MLB Extra Innings in Seattle, I still didn't watch this much baseball because most of the time the first pitch was happening as I was walking in the door from work. I swear that 3 hour time difference was a bitch more far too many reasons.

Let's start with my beloved Derek Jeter....who at the time of the post...is 6 for his last 20. Ouch...I mean I know that he is one of the more consistent hitters in the AL...and his RBI average is nothing to scoff at and yet I find myself uneasy whenever he walks up to the plate. He keeps hitting these little choppers or right into the double play. That being said...the man is still magnificent when it comes to his defense....so all is forgiven. Hell....all the man has to do is smile and all is forgiven....no matter what.

Joba...I should have known. I get on board with the guy and ordered my #62 jersey...and he goes and gets hurt. I don't know how long he is going to be out for but he can rest assured that there is pretty much no chance that anyone is going to take his place as my favorite pitcher. I just hope he is back in the line up sooner than later. We are going to need him to spank Boston again at the end of the month.

Good but just not enough last minute runs. I love the fact that the Yankees never give up and keep fighting to end...but boy is tough to watch them fight so hard to get back into the game and still lose. Oh well.

Andy Pettitte...I love this guy. I have fond memories of watching him pitch over the years. Yet once again I find myself feeling uneasy when I know that he is going to be pitching. He just doesn't seem to be getting the job done. And I have totally gotten on board with the idea that if it doesn't cut the meat...you have to throw it out...No Foolin'!

So I was going to end things there...and then I witnessed yet another painful moment for my beloved Yankees. In what was the one of the most awesome collisions I have seen in awhile...when Murphy charged into Pudge Rodriguez. It was all that makes baseball collisions awesome. Murphy charged hard...and Pudge stood his ground and protected the plate. He even got the out...preventing the run. It was a great moment until I realized that Pudge was not getting up. I was totally bummed when he was helped out of the dugout and into the clubhouse...and can only hope that he will be back behind the plate soon.

All of this being said...I love my Yankees. I would rather have my hopes crushed by the Yankees than to have my dreams realized by another team.

- Side note...as I am approaching my 200th post...I am preparing for a best of thus far. Any suggestions regarding your favorite posts are wholeheartedly welcomed.

Finally...I stand corrected. Derek is having one hell of a night offensively tonight. Is there nothing that this man cannot do?

Words Can't Say What A Love Can Do

(No Pics tonight because Blogger is being most difficult. Sorry!)


Happy Monday folks. Its time to shuffle.


The Apartment Song by Tom Petty (98) - I love this song. Though it is not necessarily popular, it is one of my favorite Tom Petty songs. It reminds me of my first apartment of my own in Las Vegas. To quote the song "Times were hard, I don't want to knock but I don't miss it much at all". That being said...the song is a fun rocking song that is easy to sing along to. Whenever it comes on...you can bet that I am butchering it. There is nothing about it that makes it extraordinary but yet I love it. It is my favorite song off of Full Moon Fever...Free Fallin' be damned. Best line: "Lately I get a faraway feeling and the whole things starts again".


Regulate by Nate Dogg and Warren G (101): My dear friend Dino...this song is for you. Alone, this song is pretty good. It was the song that started my juvenile crush on Warren G back in the day. But now...years later it is even better because it reminds me of my dear friend Dino. Every time I hear I think of him and the laughs that we have shared because of this song. We never decided which one of us is Nate Dogg and which one is Warren G but that is OK. This song reminds me that no matter how far the distance I will always have a friend with which I can "regulate" if the need ever arises. Best Line(s): Regulators, we regulate any stealing of his property and we're damn good too. But you can't be any geek off the street...you gotta be handy with the steel if you know what I mean...earn your keep! REGULATORS! Mount Up!"


Come Sail Away by Styx (287): I really don't care what anyone says...I really do love Styx. I especially love this song. The sentimental fool inside of me loves the lyrics....as I really can relate to the words. It is a pretty deep song when you think about it. I am hard pressed at the moment to think of a better song for reminiscing to. The line that gets me the most is "We lived happily ever after and so the story goes but somehow we missed out on the pot of gold." I look at many of the friends around me and think of how true this line rings for us. When we were growing up, all we wanted was to remain close, get good jobs, get married and have kids. Most of have that and yet still wake up unhappy, unfulfilled and still searching for that pot of gold. Maybe that is human nature or maybe there is a little more to it. Then there is the line "On board I am a captain so climb aboard, we'll search for tomorrow on every shore." and it seems to make sense. I think that the reason that most of us are so unfulfilled/unhappy is because the trade off for getting the things that we wanted is losing control of our own destiny. We are bound by the very things that we crave. It is a vicious cycle I'm afraid. But I digress...Best Line: "But we'll try best as we can....to carry on." Indeed we do...if nothing else because we owe to one another to follow the advice of Bon Jovi and to live for the fight when it's all that you've got!


Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur (511): OK so I have written about this song at least a dozen times but that is OK. It is that awesome of a song that I don't mind writing about it over and over again. While it still one of my all time favorite songs...I have to wonder if the day will ever come when it doesn't sting a little bit to hear it. That is the problem when you are a music freak like me....you relate a song to life and then the memories are forever attached to it. It is not necessarily a bad thing...but it isn't always the best thing. I still stand by my original statement regarding this song...and that is that this is probably the most realistic and romantic songs EVER. The problem is that I am also realizing that it is also a sad song. I guess that it really doesn't matter how much you love/want a person...if it isn't meant to be...it isn't meant to be. Anyway...the best line of this song is the opening line...which is just another reason why I love it so..."I don't know why I'm so afraid...if you weren't real I would make you up." Bittersweet though it might be...I love this song and suspect that I always will.


I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi (309): Best power ballad EVER. There I said it! (Andrew...I smile and think of you every time I use that line as your post regarding this line was one of my favorites of yours.) When I am not listening to this song and especially when I am listening to other power ballads...I tend to forget how amazing this song is. Then I hear it and I get chills and I remember that it is the best ballad EVER. I also remember seeing him perform it live in Minneapolis and the way it brought tears to my eyes. One cannot help but appreciate how powerful and emotionally charged the lyrics are. I mean is there really any question that true love is suicide? Who couldn't forgive a man for forgetting her birthday if he was singing this song? But more than anything...is there a greater or more meaningful line than "I can promise you tomorrow but I can't buy back yesterday." Honestly...that is all I could ever ask for. Who cares about yesterday if there is even a chance for a good today? Oh and then there is probably the best part of the whole song....and that is that Jon Bon Jovi is singing it...and that in itself makes it FREAKIN' AWESOME! Best line: "When you breathe I wanna be the air for you...I'll be there for you." Seriously...Bon Jovi really is the greatest band of any generation!


Well folks...that's it for tonight. Joba the Nut is still on the mount and Joba the Pup is starting to chew on the couch.

Joba x 3

Holy Shit...what a weekend for Yankee baseball. After Thursday and Friday night games...I was sweating the rest of the weekend. I knew that the Yankees would struggle against the Angels but by Saturday, all I could do was hope that they wouldn't get swept. While I was proud of the comeback that Yankees waged against the Angels on Thursday night...it almost made the loss even worse. They built me up and knocked me down.

Saturday's game was pretty good...and resulted in a win so that was a plus. But honestly it was Sunday's game that turned out to be outstanding. Only the Yankees can be down 5-0...come back and lead 8-5...be down 9-8...and come back to win 14-9 in a single game. The only thing that I can say is that I love the Yankees.

Moving on...let's discussed Joba x 3.

First there was Jabba the Hutt...who scared the hell out of me as kid but I have come to really like as I have gotten older. What can I say...he is disgusting to look at but he is pretty damn awesome. He was a pimp long before it was cool to be one.

Then there is Joba the Nut. Previously blogs have discussed how I am rapidly becoming a Joba fan. He is my favorite pitcher at the moment and has moved up the rankings to become my 2nd favorite Yankee.

So how could I pass up the opportunity to pay tribute to two of the greatest things on the planet (i.e. Star Wars and the Yankees)?

Meet Joba the Pup...my new 3 month old puppy.

He is depriving me off of sleep and blogging time....and yet I already love this goofy little dog.

My final random thought for the nights...the Colts suck without Peyton. The game isn't over at the time of this post but that is not the point. The point is that regardless of the score...the Colts are not the Colts with #18 on the field. I will start praying now that Peyton is healed by the season opener.