Well, hello folks – and how was your weekend? My weekend included a trip to Lily Dale (more about that later…maybe) plus a couple of artist get together affairs… but, overall, nothing much to talk about. However, in the middle of last week we (my significant other and myself) took a bus ride to Lancaster to see the play about Moses. The play was okay (hey, they parted the Red Sea ON STAGE!!!) but the bus ride was a bit of agony. After all, 10 hours on a bus (and in the back end so that you felt each bump on the road) is not my idea of fun. Then on the way home we stopped at the site where Flight 93 crashed during the 9-11 attack on America. That place is way off the beaten path, and from what they told us it will not be completely built until 2020. From what I witnessed even that date seems to be a bit dreamful wishing. The area does have a wall with the names of the heroes that were on the flight… the ones who re-took the plane from terrorists (who were intent on crashing it into the building that houses congress or perhaps the White House.) And there have been some trees planted. We were shown a diagram of what the place will look like once it is completed – but, man… there is a lot of work to do before that is finished. However, as you can tell, I didn’t get involved much with the Wonderful World of Sports in the past few days. So, I guess the first thing to do is to get back on track… right? Of course, right!!!
I SEE WHERE the NBA Finals has finally been attained (these post-season playoffs seem to go on without an end)… featuring the Miami Heat (of course) and the San Antonio Spurs. This will be the second consecutive title series between the two. The Heat won it all last year – taking the full seven games to do it. The Heat is again favored to win the crown… although the majority of NBA fans will be rooting for the Spurs. Personally, I don’t care who wins the thing… just so that they get it over as soon as possible. This is no time to still be playing basketball!!!
HEY, LOOK AT the Erie Seawolves. The Howlers have won four in-a-row and eight of their last nine starts… which at 26-29, puts them very close to being a break-even team. I’d like to see them continue in this vein – but I have serious doubts that it will happen. Tell you what – let’s see if the Seawolves can get to .500 before we start hoping for better things… okay?
IT WAS THREE years ago that I read a sports publication praising the big league possibilities of Lonnie Chisenhall. The article claimed that the third baseman was a star of the future for the Cleveland Indians. Well, after three years of trying to be a starter, Chisenhall was nothing more than trade bait… that is, until the season. Chisenhall, despite limited playing time (he’s definitely not the best-fielding infielder in the game) owns a .361 batting average and is starting to look like his earlier press clippings. I know I’m impressed every time I watch the 25-year-old on t.v.
THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES are starting to look a bit better these days. That’s what taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers will do for you. Now, the Bucs have a three-game series at San Diego – the Padres with a 26-31 record and Pittsburgh at 26-30. The Pirates have had a lot of problems on defense thus far this campaign. This will have to improve if the Bucs are to make any kind of dent in their won-lost mark.
PHIL HUGHES CAME UP with the New York Yankees as a “can’t miss” project. Well, he had one excellent year (an 18-8 figure in 2010) and one average year (16-13 in 2012). But, he was so hit-and-miss that after last season he became a free agent. The Yanks simply didn’t want him anymore… a 56-50 career mark with a 4.53 ERA doing him in. The Minnesota Twins, hungry for anyone who could throw the ball, signed Hughes last December. And, Sunday he more than paid off – throwing a three-hitter at the Yankees while running his record to 6-1 with an ERA of 3.12. With three starters currently on the disabled list, the Yanks could certainly use Hughes now.
I HAVE TO CHUCKLE whenever I read another article on Johnny Manziel, the rookie quarterback from Texas A&M that Cleveland Browns tagged in the recent pro draft. The latest one concerns the attendance at the Browns’ training facility in Berea, Ohio. The Browns’ brain trust is now planning on requesting fans who want to take in some practice sessions to sign up early. “This is so we don’t turn away 2,000 or 3,000 fans who just show up,” team president Alec Schneiner was quoted. Now, I realize that Manziel is a hot project and the Browns, who set an attendance record at raining camp a year ago, want to be prepared for anything. The Cleveland team drew 56,306 fans to 13 open practices a year ago… including a one-day record of 4,466. Manziel certainly has caused a mighty stir in Cleveland… and elsewhere too. And, he still has yet to throw an NFL aerial… hmmmmmm.
SPEAKING OF THE BROWNS, just when is the NFL going to hand down its verdict on wide receiver Josh Gordon? According to ESPN, Gordon failed a drug test (his third??) and faces some kind of suspension. I have not read when the NFL is going to act… and training camps are due to open in five or six weeks.
WERE YOU AS shocked as I was when Roger Federer bowed out from the French Open the other day? Federer, who seemed to be cruising after a 6-4 fourth set win over Ernests Gulbis, fell apart in the fifth set as he was dispatched 6-3. Gulbis, who hails from Lativa and was seeded No. 18, appeared almost as surprised as was Federer. But, Federer is now 32 – which is an “old man” as far as professional tennis is concerned. Oh well, he can always look back at the record 17 Grand Slam titles he owns.
AND A FINAL NOTE… Forget about any comments on Lily Dale.
AND A SECOND FINAL NOTE… California Chrome will be gunning for the Triple Crown this Saturday.
-Jack Polancy
Superior Toyota 