There’s no stopping the forward press of time. I’m not so sure about turning 33 today, but at least my name isn’t Josh. A few months ago the combination of age and name seemed so charmed. They were a pair of Colorado wunderkinds: one 33-year-old Josh making strides towards one of Colorado’s most powerful positions, the other 33-year-old Josh newly occupying the other.
Josh Penry was making giant strides toward the Republican nomination for governor. Then one day in November the plug suddenly was pulled on his campaign. Now he isn’t even running for re-election to his own state senate seat in 2010. What’s going on?
But he’s on Cloud Nine compared to Josh McDaniels, who yesterday felt the bitter sting of missing the playoffs in his first season as an NFL head coach, losing 8 of the final 10 games after starting 6-0. Add in the turmoil with Brandon Marshall and other Bronco players, and it looks like the bandwagon is emptying for the time being. Where does he go from here?
I still have high hopes for 33. After all, so far it doesn’t seem much different than 32. The year’s work has just begun. I’m back in the fight.
Here’s the latest, greatest example why sports and politics don’t mix …. At first, when I read this posting from the Right to Work blog, I thought I had another solid reason to cheer against the New York Yankees for whatever is left of the World Series:
Mark Teixeira has a $100 million contract to play baseball with the Yankees. Good for Mark. But it’s too bad that this multi-millionaire is stepping to the plate on behalf of the union bosses by advocating for the Card Check Forced Unionism bill.
But then I followed the link and found that two of the 12 Forced Unionism baseball spokesmen were Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies. And horror of horrors, my favorite hometown pitcher Justin Verlander is a pro-EFCA signatory as well.
Shouldn’t these guys be focusing on how to hit A.J. Burnett’s curveball (or in the case of the Detroit Tigers’ Verlander, how to improve his golf game)?
All told, it does nothing to make me more interested in tuning in to tonight’s World Series Game 5. Like I said, a bad way to mix sports and politics.
A quick walk down Detroit Tigers memory lane: Today is the 3rd anniversary of Magglio Ordonez’ walk-off 3-run homer that won the ALCS and launched the Tigers into the World Series (also the first epic late-inning playoff loss for Huston Street, then of the Oakland A’s).
Which also means it was exactly 25 years ago today that the Detroit Tigers last celebrated World Series triumph, with an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 5 down at the Corner (and my childhood hero Alan Trammell named Series MVP). Sadly, the stadium is gone now. But the memory lives on.
Here’s hoping that Detroit repeats the feat sometime before that anniversary turns golden and my hair turns (completely) gray.
You’ll grant me a few indulgences for posting this one — after all, how often do I bother to write about my alma mater’s athletic feats? Not too often, I can assure you. But what happened yesterday in the old Hills & Dales on homecoming rates among the most historic gridiron happenings on Muddy Waters Field: the Chargers toppled the number 1 team in Division II, the perennial powerhouse Grand Valley State Lakers, 27-24.
Well, historic enough to make the Detroit News, anyway. The last time Hillsdale beat conference foe Grand Valley? Fifteen years ago, the year before I began my (non-athletic) college career. True, because it certainly didn’t happen during my brief tenures as sports editor for both the Hillsdale Collegian (1997) and Hillsdale Daily News (2001-02).
Yesterday’s upset ranks right up there in Charger football history with Chester Marcol’s 62-yard field goal (1969) and the 1985 NAIA national championship (before the team moved up to NCAA Division II). No word on whether the goalposts at Muddy Waters Field were left standing this time. But this was Hillsdale, after all — so no, it wasn’t that historic.
If you live in my world, politics largely has taken a back seat this week. My two MLB teams — the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies — are respectively locked in the races for the last two playoff berths.
Last night, in probably the most consequential game of the Tigers’ regular season so far, ace Justin Verlander got it done and the team survived some last-minute cardiac-inducing pressure from the ever-pesky Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, everyone in Colorado knows about Chris Iannetta’s 11th-inning pinch hit walk-off homer to take down the Brewers at Coors Field.
Result? With five games to go, Rockies have a three-game lead and a magic number of three to claim the NL wildcard, and the Tigers have a two-game lead and a magic number of four to claim the AL Central title. For me? After last night’s high drama, I just need a few relaxation exercises.
As far as being a baseball fan, this season has brought out the best for me. I’m enjoying (and sweating out) every minute of it. Hopefully, it gets even better heading into October.
I’ll admit it. I’m a fool for baseball. And one of the greatest reasons I love the game so much walked out onto the field at Comerica Park this evening — Ernie Harwell, 91 years young, diagnosed with terminal cancer, but as optimistic and gracious and gentlemanly as ever — to say thank you:
“It’s a wonderful night for me,” Harwell said. “I really feel lucky to be here, and I want to thank you for that warm welcome. I want to express my deep appreciation to Mike Ilitch, Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers for that video salute and also for the many great things they’ve done for me and my family throughout my career here with the Tigers.
“In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey, and the blessed part of that journey is that it’s going to end here in the great state of Michigan. I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all, no question about that.
“And I certainly want to thank you from the depth of my heart for your devotion, your support, your loyalty and your love. Thank you very much, and God bless you.”
It’s just like Ernie Harwell to say thank you to all of us, when all of us should be saying thank you to Ernie Harwell. As Ernie’s last season as the voice of the Detroit Tigers began in April 2002, I penned a column as Hillsdale Daily News sports editor — a column titled “Ernie Harwell reminds us what baseball is about”.
Simply one of the best, and a personal hero of mine. All the best to Ernie Harwell, his wife Lulu, and their family.
For the baseball fan, September is a sweet (or bittersweet) time of the year. As a Detroit Tigers fan, I’ve been accustomed to more of the latter. But the pennant race is on, and both my Tigers and my Colorado Rockies are in the thick of things.
Fans of the Detroit Tigers are now the second most confident fans, with 68% who think their team will win a World Series title this year. Overall, only 4% of all baseball fans think the Tigers will win. The Tigers currently lead the AL Central division by 3.5 games.
Mercifully, for the sake of fellow blogger Civil Sense, I haven’t harped on the American League Central race in awhile. But the All-Star break is upon us, and a good time for reflection on the standings:
1. Detroit Tigers 48-39 –
2. Chicago White Sox 45-43 3.5 GB
3. Minnesota Twins 45-44 4 GB
4. Kansas City Royals 37-51 11.5 GB 5. Cleveland Indians 35-54 14 GB
It’s not looking good for the Indians, especially after the symbolic 10-1 spanking Detroit delivered to them this afternoon.
Are you looking for a good summertime fiction read? A fresh story in the fantasy/action genre that is simultaneously fast-paced and in-depth? Then I urge you to buy a copy of The Way of Shadows, the first in the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.
I love to read, but the fantasy/action genre — nor fiction in general — is typically not my cup of tea. Then again seldom do I know the author personally, as in this case. Brent and I went to Hillsdale College together, are fellow Sinfonians.
Having that sort of a personal connection with the author made it easy to pick up the book. But once I did, the crisp and colorful storytelling, the unpredictable plot, and the compelling characters were what kept the pages and chapters quickly turning. (more…)
It’s been a couple weeks since my last update on the baseball season for Civil Sense.
A great piece in yesterday’s Detroit News recounts the amazing feat of the 1984 Tigers’ 35-5 start. A quarter century later, this year’s Detroit squad is nowhere near the caliber of dominance of the franchise’s last world champions.
But the Tigers — winners of six straight — are like their 1984 predecessors in that they are in first place at the 40-game mark of the season. In this case, 8.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians.
I have a friendly rivalry going this season with blogger Civil Sense from The Colorado Index. Today seemed like a good a time as any to point it out. Baseball is a long season, but his Cleveland Indians have slipped to the worst record in the Major Leagues after back-to-back home shutout losses to my Detroit Tigers.
Tonight’s 4-0 victory was great, but the finish couldn’t match the 1-0 thriller on Friday — when Tigers ace Justin Verlander carried his two-hit shutout into the ninth inning. Grady Sizemore came to the plate with one on and one out when … well, watch for yourself:
Yep, that’s my boy: Curtis Granderson. And my Detroit Tigers a game out of first place and six games ahead of Cleveland. Ouch, Civil Sense. Ouch. (It can’t feel good for Indians fan Jeff, either.)
The good news for the Indians is that 80 percent of the season is left to play.
El Presidente has posted video of the Denver Tax Day Tea Party, but the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel has the video coverage of Colorado’s largest Western Slope gathering.
The apparent highlight of the event was the rousing speech of Ryan Frazier, who also announced a formal step toward a U.S. Senate campaign (watch the video below the fold): (more…)
Hey, don’t yawn at me like that. — Oh, I see … you’re yawning at their headline? — So what you’re trying to say is the Dead Guvs aren’t exactly the source of breaking news for things happening on the Republican side of the aisle here in Colorado? — Okay, okay, call me Captain Obvious. But I’m not the only one around here….
Sources also have shared with Mt. Virtus a sneak peek at some possible upcoming headlines from the Democrat Pols blog:
Breaking: Bill Owens Says He Doesn’t Want Governor’s Job Again
Breaking: Jane Norton ‘Not in the Mix’ to Take On Ritter
Breaking: Bruce Benson to Stay at CU, Won’t Vie for Governor’s Chair
Breaking: Ward Churchill NOT a GOP Candidate to Replace Ritter
Breaking: Tim Gill Rules Out Controversial Republican Run for Governor
Breaking: Lindsey Vonn Rumored to Pass on Gubernatorial Campaign
Breaking: Carmelo Anthony Opts for Playoffs Over Ritter Challenge
Breaking: Fray Duo Slade and King Reject Statewide Campaign Rumors
Breaking: Amazing Race Star Mom Says 2010 ‘Not Right’ for High Office
Hey — By the way, did you hear Jay Cutler won’t be the Broncos’ starting quarterback next season?
Snow is on the ground, but the Major League Baseball regular season is here. Hopes are renewed. Leading up to the season, Michael at Best Destiny has featured his takes on the best baseball movies ever. I largely concur with his opinions.
As a Detroit Tigers fan, I consider myself sufficiently humbled after last year’s crash from the plateau of high expectations — a crash of epic proportions. This year the team looks somewhat different, definitely younger, and based on significant uncertainty in the bullpen could finish almost anywhere in the division.
But it’s April 6, and I’m hoping for the best.
As for the hometown Colorado Rockies (my National League team), they likewise are relieved of the burden of high expectations. In a weak National League West, almost anything is possible.
For both teams, playing meaningful games in playoff contention come September would be signs of a successful season. Anything more than that would be icing on the cake. For now, though, it’s just time to step back and holler: “Play Ball!”
I was looking forward to visiting my parents this summer near Grand Rapids, Michigan — maybe catching some minor league baseball action. Now I know there’s a genuinely tempting challenge involved, I’ll have to make a point of going to Fifth Third Ballpark.
4,800 calories? Methinks it’s not on the Weight Watchers plan. But a reason to miss the state of my birth? Perhaps.
I’ve decided to do something a little different with this year’s NCAA Tournament and the blog. I’ll be posting my picks on a day-by-day basis. Below are a list of tomorrow’s scheduled first round games with my projected winners in bold: (more…)
A mildly disturbing story that makes me wish sometimes we could keep the world of sports / entertainment separate from the larger political world. From an ESPN article about my favorite baseball team’s All-Star right fielder and a loathsome, repressive dictator:
President Hugo Chavez came to the defense of Magglio Ordonez on Sunday, slamming Venezuelan baseball fans who booed the major leaguer at the World Baseball Classic.
Chavez lamented that his friendship with Ordonez prompted catcalls from the mostly Venezuelan crowd during the team’s 3-1 victory over the Netherlands in Miami on Saturday, saying the fans who booed the Detroit Tigers slugger “have no shame.”…
Ordonez, one of Venezuela’s biggest baseball stars, appeared in a television ad last month supporting a proposal by Chavez to eliminate term limits for the president and other elected officials through a constitutional amendment. Voters approved the proposal in a Feb. 15 referendum.
The outfielder also joined the socialist for a friendly softball game ahead of the vote….
Say it ain’t so, Magglio.
I could have gone on never reading that story, living instead in ignorant bliss. Three weeks ’till Opening Day.
Say what you will, the 0-16 Detroit Lions at least are doing something to alleviate complaints that too many top-flight college athletes are jumping ship early and skipping out on finishing their degrees. From today’s Detroit Free Press:
There has been speculation that the fear of becoming a Lion was one of the variables Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford considered when he opted to remain at Oklahoma. It was also a consideration for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who’ll return to the Longhorns….
The deadline for declaring for the draft came Thursday. There were surprises along with Sanchez. Mississippi junior defensive end Greg Hardy, who had 8 1/2 sacks and 9 1/2 tackles for loss last season, opted to remain at Ole Miss. He could’ve become this draft’s Mario Williams, who rose up the rankings through the combine and became the No. 1 overall pick three years ago.
But now Hardy is not an option for the Lions.
Who’s next? Apparently, with a few exceptions, the word is getting through the grapevine to the cream of college football talent: Stay in school. It beats having to play for a demoralizing, career-killing, amateur-quality franchise.
But what happens in the very likely event the Detroit Lions also have the Number 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft? Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and company might be pushing and shoving each other around, saying: “No, take him. He’s really the best.” It might be the closest to modesty we ever see from a lot of this nation’s best young football players.
