Sad/Glad about Zito
As a Mets fan, I’m unhappy that he won’t be pitching in Queens. That said, giving ANY pitcher the kind of money/ length of contract that the Giants threw at Barry is INSANE. Now, THAT said, I’m delighted that Zito profited. He’s a great guy with a tremendous work ethic. The money won’t change him at all.
The Mets will be fine. They’ll package Lansings Milledge, maybe to the Giants for Lowery. Wouldn’t that be something?
Happy New Year, gentle readers.
Gerald R. Ford, The Newly Dead Guy…
… is being portrayed as someone whose decision to pardon Richard M. Nixon “healed the wounds of Watergate”. In truth, this was no more than a band-aide that did nothing but cover the festering sore on America’s proverbial ass. What it did was contribute to the mindset of politicians who followed [folks named Reagan and Bush], who believe that ‘accountability is for others’. One moment your “President is not a crook”. The next, he is most certainly a crook. And the very next moment, Tricky Dick is off rehabilitating his image, living a life of luxury and evolving into an “Elder Statesman” for the G.O.P.
Oh yea, the clumsy bastard played football in college. Whooptyfuckingdoo.
Hall o’ Fame
‘Tis the season when articles are being written about good, solid, retired baseball players making a bid to sway writers voting their enshrinement into Cooperstown. Ripken [Cal, not Billy] and Gwynn [Tony, not Chris] are locks. McGuire is not likely to be rewarded this, his first, time around. Others such as Harold Baines, Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Tommy John, Dale Murphy, Joey Belle, George Gossage, Dave Parker and Eric Davis come up short. Bobby Bonilla comes up shortest. [Perhaps I feel that way about Bobby Bo because I’m a Mets fan. Ya think?] There is, however, a well deserving candidate. He is the fifth leading strikeout pitcher in history. He won 287 games. I implore the “Powers That Be” to elect Bert Blyleven.
Me Boy
I spent the day, yesterday, hanging with my son Phillip. He’s 16 [going on 40]. We lit the candles, a couple of Jew Boys celebrating our heritage. He was a little sad that it was the last day of Hanukkah. Probably because the gelt [Yiddish word for money, my gentile, gentle readers] stops. It was my chance to tell him to live life as if ‘EVERY day a were Sunday and tomorrow is a holiday’. Sometimes being ‘Pop’ is extra special. God/ess I love that kid!!!!!
Mets to…
…meet with Zito today, but not in New York, in L.A… I won’t count my chickens, but it sure would be nice…I know they plan to trade Milledge to Oakland if they don’t finalize things with Barry. Blanton reminds me of Early Wynn. He doesn’t look like an athlete, but he wins games. He or Haren would be fine… These are the days that championships are won and lost. Go Omar. Go Fred. Go Mets!
Paul Arizin…
…died in his sleep earlier this week at the age of 78. For those of you who don’t know of him and the era of The National Basketball Association that he graced, let me tell you that you missed out. Paul led the pre-Wilt Warriors to the 1956 Championship. He was a perennial All-Pro who was cut from his High School team and went on to make the Basketball Hall of Fame. This man’s experience was an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of people. “NEVER GIVE UP” was the message he conveyed. This sharp-shooting Marine veteran, would come up to Kittatinny Camp a few times a year and lead basketball clinics for us campers. He’d visit our bunks, chat with us individually, and never fail to make eye contact. One of the highlights of my youth was throwing a bounce pass to this icon that led to an easy lay-up during a scrimmage. The words “Assist from Tyyyyyyykkkkooooo…” rang out in my head… I still hear them. To paraphrase Lady Day, “…oh no, you can’t take that away from me.”
As I may have mentioned in an earlier blog, I plan a trip to the hallowed campgrounds in Dingman’s Ferry this summer. I’ll cry a tear or fifty for a bunch of reasons. Paul Arizin’s passing will be among them. RIP, hero.
Here’s a picture from The Modern Encyclopedia Of Basketball [Hollander] of Paul, a Philadelphia Warrior, driving on the New York Knicks foward Kenny Sears [himself a terrific player].
Jackie Mason vs. The Jews for Jesus
Jackie, the son and grandson of Orthodox Rabbis, settled a law suit , for an apology from these self hating anti-semitics. They used his likeness in their propaganda. As he said in the press conference that followed his arduous ordeal, [and I paraphrase] “There is no such thing as a ‘Jew for Jesus’ There may be ‘Former Jews for Jesus’ and there may be ‘Future Jews for Jesus’, but by definition, a JEW isn’t for Jesus”. Check your Mythology; It’s more than likely that Jews killed Jesus, not the Russian soldiers.
Most Jews would gladly take a carpentry-kit to him again [in the *unlikely* chance that he came back]. There is no love lost on either side. Yes Virginia, there is no Santa Claus and there are no ‘Jews for Jesus’.
That said, I contend that there are Mormons for Mohammad, Baptists For Buddha, Episcopalians for Elvis and Catholics For Catnip.
I can say that and if I don’t use your likeness, you can’t sue me. But you can bite me.
A good week for the Mets…
…but a bad week for pets. First Charlie [see previous blog] and now my son’s cat, Tigre, died. Phillip is heartbroken, as am I – for him. Reminds me of the time I brought a rabbit home from camp [Kittatinny, of course]. I named it “Maranville”, after the Hall of Fame shortstop. Long story, short: My mother gave it to the cleaning woman, Izola [Queen Of The Mop] I thought the creature would be living out its life, surrounded by competent vacuumers and gospel music. “How’s R.M.?”, I did declare the very next Friday. “Delicious”, said she. “Fuck”, said I. It wasn’t the first [or the last] time I used that word to express my displeasure.
Mets fans rejoice…
…at the news that ace lefthander and future three hundred game winner Tom Glavine re-signed. This was a MUST, since Pedro won’t be back until after the All-Star game, if at all. On the field and in the clubhouse, he’s a class act. Way to go Omar. Now get us Jason Schmidt and/or Barry Zito, please. You’re truly the pride of Newtown High School…you and Hazel Artis, Spanish teacher numero uno. Bueno, Senor.
Comfortably Zoned with Ralph Zig Tyko 