I've got some catching up to do.
In case you are one of the hardy souls that have begun to frequent this page, I'm here to tell you that I haven't lost my inspiration; I've just been on a week of vacation. Now that I am once again in the land of Internet, hopefully I'll be able to put down some of the ideas that have been floating around since my last posting.

If you're in need of some reading material, two members of the Yankees' announcing team have released brief but enjoyable books.
Me and My Dad is the product of former Yankee right fielder and occasional color commentator Paul O'Neill, who became a fan favorite with his hustling defense and consistent bat in New York's run to four world championships from 1996 to 2000. Together with writer Burton Rocks, O'Neill recalls growing up in Ohio with his family through his professional playing days. O'Neill makes sure to highlight his greatest accomplishments within the context of his historic seasons with the Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds (with whom he won another title). However, the primary focus of this work is his father Chick, who was an extremely significant presence for O'Neill throughout his life. Chick O'Neill had been a ballplayer himself, pitching for small crowds in midwestern cities, but opted to become a self-employed construction worker in order to settle down. Paul constantly saw the sacrifices his father made for family, including shaping ballfields for his children and plowing driveways for extra money. For this reason, the younger O'Neill found it all the more rewarding that his always-optimistic father was able to follow his pro career from spring training to the playoffs, giving every indication that his dad was supportive of his baseball aspirations, but never pushed him into them.

While simply written, this book conveys the tremendous love the O'Neills had for each other, and keeps the reader interested with some exciting and humorous on-field memories as well as recollections about the dedication of the Yankee Stadium faithful. Paul O'Neill may not have known how to react when Chick passed away during the 2000 postseason, but this book is a fitting tribute from the heart of a ballplayer who regarded himself as a son, first and foremost.

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Still Pitching serves as the baseball memoirs for 25-year veteran pitcher Jim Kaat, who now is heavily involved with commentary for the YES network. If I appreciated Me and My Dad for the way it exhibited the special bond between father and son, I enjoyed Kaat's book for the author's respectful, yet no-holds-barred, attitude toward the game of baseball. Kaat, who finished his career with 283 wins, could certainly be in the Hall of Fame, although he mentions other ballplayers he believes are more deserving, demonstrating the characteristic modesty I have come to expect from him. During a recent broadcast featuring the Yankees and Kansas City, Royals manager Buddy Bell was seen swinging a bat in the dugout. When play-by-play man Michael Kay joked that Bell wanted to hit for his team, Kaat interjected that Bell could certainly hit his pitches.

Throughout the book, Kaat weighs in on the recent offensive era, the player-owner relationship, and what makes a great teammate. But foremost among his thoughts is the chapter entitled "Throw Strikes...Work Fast...Stay Ahead." This section comprises his philosophy on pitching, culled from his experiences playing, coaching, and broadcasting. Instead of overanalyzing the game, Kaat felt it was his duty, and that of pitchers today, to go after hitters, make them put the ball in play, and pitch low and away.

While admitting that he and George Steinbrenner have had their differences in the past, he goes out of his way to praise Steinbrenner for his drive to win. Additionally, Kaat realizes how fortunate he is to announce for a team that has enjoyed so much recent success. If I could send one excerpt of his book to a few announcers for major league clubs today, it would be the following:

When the Yankees didn't renew my contract after 1986, I interviewed for the Cubs broadcasting job, and they asked me if I had a problem rooting for the home team. I said I couldn't do that in good conscience. There are people tuning in who may not root for the Cubs and are just baseball fans. I'm sure there are people watching Yankees games that hate the Yankees. You have to approach a game like you're not associated with the team.

If you ever watch a Chicago White Sox game on WGN, you will notice how flagrantly its announcers violate this idea. In the last few years, I've heard my share of "Attaboy, Aaron," "Good Guys 1, Cleveland 0," and other blatant pandering to the local team. Broadcasters who behave this way could learn from the longtime voice of the LA Dodgers, Vin Scully, who never uses the term 'we' in reference to the team he covers.

sports

Finally, a diversion for sports fans who have been to their share of ballgames.
Sometimes, it's good to be a little bored. After a doctor's visit in one of the several cookie-cutter medical towers along the coast in Newport Beach, I thought it would be disappointing to head straight home. On an impulse, I turned right onto the oval that is Newport Center Drive instead of the usual left. Passing the Fashion Island mall complex and the Pacific Life building on the ocean, I felt somewhat sheepish for having headed in no particular direction. But then, it hit me.

At the intersection of Newport Center and Corporate Plaza, there's a small sign indicating that the Newport Sports Museum is ahead. Aside from this marking, there is little to draw the observer toward the building that houses a surprising array of memorabilia. However, I had passed the sign enough times in the past to pique my curiosity, and this was the perfect opportunity to visit. As I walked toward the door, I noticed several construction workers entering as well. For a split second, I wondered if this might not be the best time to check out the collection. But the same part of my mind that encouraged me to come this far was not about to turn back. I can unequivocally say that I made the right decision.

As I entered, I had a flashback to another sports collection I visited in San Jose when I was early for a Sharks hockey game, which turned out to be a showroom for potential buyers. I asked the receptionist at the entrance whether this was actually a gallery, and she informed me that none of the pieces were for sale. As it turned out, this was not the only difference between this 15-room collection and the one I remembered from Northern California.

First of all, the Newport Sports Museum's assembly is impressively extensive. From autographed footballs, to Presidential golf balls, to Olympic swim caps, the place is loaded with clothing and gear used in athletic competition. Additionally, the museum does not confine itself to recent years: 'anti-shank' golf clubs from the late 19th century stand are included along with cartoonish-looking Shaquille O'Neal shoes.

Another fascinating aspect of being able to see this equipment displayed lies in the details of each piece. I was pleased to see a hockey stick once swung by Jaromir Jagr, star right wing for my favorite team, the New York Rangers. In small print on the side of the lumber were the words: "The Choice For Me: Drug Free." It was the sort of thing one might not even have noticed watching a game on television. Furthermore, on a ball autographed by Jackie Robinson, it was interesting to note that the baseball pioneer's artful signature was written in ink the color of Los Angeles Dodgers blue. One room contains several glass cases of baseballs signed by winners of every World Series since 1940, including a ball intended for use in the 1994 World Series cancelled due to a strike.

Above all, game-worn jerseys steal the show: while many are from local teams, a large number of franchises are represented. A couple of the highlights include a Paul Kariya sweater worn during the Mighty Ducks' run to the 2003 Western Conference Championship, a baby blue shirt worn by the Royals' George Brett, and Dan Marino's famous #13. Universities are included as well: nearly an entire room is devoted to the history of USC and UCLA football, including the Trojans' rivalry with Notre Dame, complete with uniforms from decades past. Does anyone else remember when the LA Kings regularly wore purple and yellow?

Some of the artifacts in the collection are placed in historical context. For instance, a humorous and yellowed newspaper clipping complements the exhibit of prehistoric-looking golf balls, including one that was 'hand-scored' about a century ago. The article jokes that golfers should boast about never having lost to great professionals such as Francis Ouimet, because such a statement would probably be true. In the same fashion, the description under Jim Craig's apparel retells the story of the American hockey team's Miracle on Ice performance in the 1980 Olympic Games, recently the subject of a major movie. Even tickets from the Los Angeles Olympics and souvenirs from the Mighty Ducks' inaugural year are labeled clearly.

Upon visiting the museum's website, I learned a little more about its purpose. Founder John W. Hamilton opened the building in 1995 after having collected pieces for decades, and insisted that it never charge the public for entry. Today, the hall hopes to inspire children, and even allows clubs of 30 or more to tour it guided by a sports personality. In fact, many athletes have donated to the assembly in hopes of having a continued positive impact on the lives of local youth. I was the only visitor in the time I walked the museum, but it's heartening to know that it can have that kind of an effect.

Newport Sports Museum
100 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm and Saturday, 10am-3pm.

sports

It's hard to find a more appropriate cliche than baseball being a 'game of inches.'
One of the worst aspects of following sports is having to deal with the frustration that sometimes accompanies the exploits of one's favorite team. There are always difficult losses throughout a season: for me, today was a case in point. The Yankees, despite an astonishing number of chances to add to a 3-0 lead, failed to do so, and announcers disputed whether Tino Martinez was indeed out at home on a close play in the 3rd inning. After a hiccup in an otherwise strong start by Randy Johnson and a 9th inning home run off of Mariano Rivera (which may have been interfered with by a fan), first baseman Eduardo Perez had willed the Devil Rays into a tie ballgame with a total of 2 long balls. To add insult to injury, Yankee reliever Scott Proctor walked in the winning run after an intentional walk to Aubrey Huff. The Yankees had won five straight, but that was little consolation on such a night. It makes one wonder how a player can shut it all out and return the next day ready for action.

The Angels’ season continues to be a roller-coaster.

I couldn’t help but notice a recent trend: the Angels have played several extra-inning games against the Toronto Blue Jays in the last month. After winning in 10 innings at Toronto’s Rogers Centre a few weeks ago, they came out the next day and lost in 18. Sure enough, last night’s contest in Anaheim also required extra frames, with the California squad taking the game on an 11^th-inning run-scoring single by Darin Erstad.

Aside from length, the Halos have also played some extremely intense games, both to their benefit and detriment. I still have nightmares about Vladimir Guerrero’s 7th-inning grand slam on July 21, yet another time the team has been saved by his heroics. At the same time, they have lost games in dramatic fashion, including two in the Bronx the next week. In one, closer Francisco Rodriguez walked four Yankees in a stunning comeback. The next day, an Orlando Cabrera error with two outs in the 9^th inning allowed the Yankees to complete yet another four-run comeback.

Tonight, Rodriguez walked in the tying run against Toronto, then later allowed the go-ahead sacrifice fly. Because fans of the American League West leader are used to ‘K-Rod’ being so dominant, losses that come at his expense have to be worrisome.

I thought I’d sift through the daily barrage of baseball games to offer quick takes on a few contests.

Baltimore 4, Oakland 3.
WCBS commentator John Sterling is fond of saying “them’s the breaks” in reference to the bad bounces a team has to confront throughout a season. Tonight, the A’s fell victim to one such mishap, when an umpire mistakenly believed first baseman Dan Johnson was pulled off the bag in attempting to record the final out of the 7^th inning. The Orioles went on to score three in the inning, just enough to escape with a victory. So the umpires screwed up just enough to make it noticeable.

Minnesota 9, Chicago 4.
I’m amazed that teams in such a hitter-friendly era can go deep into extra innings against (usually) the worst pitchers on the staff. However, when the Twins finally broke through in the 16^th, they left no doubt by scoring 5 runs on the road. This reminded me a bit of the Boston/Detroit contest, where the Red Sox’ designated hitter David Ortiz homered to tie in the 9^th, prompting the squad to plate a whopping seven men in the top of the 10^th. Detroit answered with four in their half, prompting their fans to yell, “Who cares?”

Washington vs. Philadelphia, postponed.
This I hate to see. The Phillies led 1-0 in the bottom of the inning before the game was called off. Even worse than making the inning academic is torturing the fans with the chance of seeing the game played. Are you legally allowed to laugh at people who have endured a two-hour rain delay, only to see their patience wasted?

Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Atlanta 4.
For a team in the midst of a mediocre season, the Trolley Dodgers certainly have provided drama in the games that have been won. Over the weekend, Antonio Perez and Jayson Werth ruined Pedro Martinez’s no-hit bid and chance to win in the 8^th inning en route to a 2-1 final. Today, they scored three in the 9^th off a shocked Chris Reitsma. Does it qualify for Sports Illustrated’s ‘This Week’s Sign of the Apocalypse’ when a team is 54-64 and one of its members notes that “Things are starting to look better for us"?

baseball

Somehow, the home run streak continues.

I don’t intend to make myself the focus of this journal, but I may as well continue a story I started yesterday. After Gary Sheffield’s homer in Tampa Bay tonight, my Beat the Streak home run total has been extended to 3. At first, I thought I had picked Alex Rodriguez, and celebrated after his mammoth shot roughly 100 feet above the center field wall. His bomb actually hit a Tropicana Field catwalk, causing A-Rod, who was unsure what had happened to his ball, to slide into third base. After I noticed that I had actually predicted a Sheffield homer, I anxiously watched his at-bats until he delivered in the seventh inning. Mariano Rivera overcame some early trouble in ninth inning, and the Yankees parleyed a strong start from long-injured Jaret Wright to win 5-2. Meanwhile, the Curt Schilling experiment took a hit in Detroit, where the Tigers rallied off the recently anointed closer to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6.

I once racked up a 9-game hitting streak on the original version of Beat the Streak, which was impressive seeing as I made multiple predictions before going on vacation, and was out of touch with who was actually playing on a given day. However, great shakes compared to the nearly 40-game streak that another user attained without surpassing the requisite 56 (equal to the all-time hitting streak set by Joe DiMaggio). Obviously, the home run edition makes it far more difficult to put together long runs: the reward for a 9-game run (the all-time consecutive homer streak is 8) is $10,000 cash. While I don’t intend to get rich playing BTS, it adds a little extra fun to the game I love.

If no one gets to nine before the end of the season, someone can still win tickets to the 2006 All-Star game, so long as they have the longest streak that’s seven or higher. Incidentally, the guys who came up with the Home Run Edition have some serious lawyerly advice on their side. Check out this excerpt from the Official Rules:

“The Released Parties (as defined below) will not be responsible for Acts of God, acts of terrorism, civil disturbances, work stoppage or any other natural disaster outside their control, that may cause the cancellation of the 2006 MLB All-Star game.”

I don’t know about you, but seeing this rained on my parade. I might actually string together that many lucky predictions, beat other users on a tie-breaker (such as the number of runs batted in that accompanied the homers), and still not be able to attend the Midsummer Classic to which I so richly deserve tickets? Is there no order in the universe? Can we make any sense of its inscrutable methods?

Suddenly, I realized what it must have felt like to win an NHL contest.

baseball

Terrell Owens is, amazingly, garnering more attention than he deserves.
Upon his departure from the San Francisco 49ers before the 2004-05 NFL campaign, everyone knew that current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens had the reputation for being phenomenally talented and exceptionally headstrong. Some thought his image might be on the mend last year, when he not only put up phenomenal yardage and touchdown totals, but also played in the Super Bowl after doctors told him he was too injured to consider it.

But T.O.'s partnership with sports überagent Drew Rosenhaus has become a volatile situation. I'll admit, Rosenhaus has a point when he cries foul on the NFL financial system, in which teams may terminate contracts with little or no compensation, while players are not entitled to pay raises when their current contract does not reflect their high quality of play. It is quite likely that Owens is receiving below market value for his play. At the same time, it's easy to see why fellow agents despise Rosenhaus' arrogance, and now it has been noted that some players are wary of his domineering attitude. On ESPN's Around the Horn, writer Jay Mariotti noted how pervasive the coverage of Owens' current contract holdout has become. The feuds with quarterback Donovan McNabb and head coach Andy Reid has only added to the team's worries.

Indeed, with very few viable options at the WR position, the Eagles seem to be backed into a corner, as a Skip Bayless column has pointed out. But I can't help but wonder if the media could be focusing on one of a hundred other compelling stories as NFL exhibition games get underway. Will San Diego tight end Antonio Gates duplicate last year's fabulous 13 touchdowns? Is NY Jets quarterback Chad Pennington at full strength after a nice playoff run and subsequent off-season shoulder surgery? Do the Patriots have any shot at yet another championship? Who will be the next late-round pick to make GM's kick themselves for not drafting him? I have to believe that there is more to life in the NFL than one disgruntled superstar.

football

At the urging of my uncle Aly, I've decided to enter the great unknown: an attempt to explore the enormous number of issues present in sports as I perceive them, cyberspace-style. This has the potential to be an exhilarating diversion for someone as fixated on and detail-oriented about athletics as I am.

The blog also seems like a win-win proposition. If it becomes at all successful, it will be obvious that my incredible insights have won the day. At the same time, I know who the culprit is if the whole concept backfires. Either way, the blame is elsewhere!

Seriously, though, I hope to focus my daily thoughts around a few main points, which I will put in bold, then continue the idea afterward. That way, you can skip to the next appearance of bold if I become too preachy or repetitive. At the same time, I hope to make my snapshots accessible to the casual fan. I can't promise I'll always succeed at the latter, but please know that I'm trying.

In addition, I've often found the notion of objectivity in sports writing to be at best incomplete: writers may attempt to hold back their prejudices in the coverage of a topic, but this does not necessarily translate into the sought-after ideal of 'unbiased' writing. As a result, I will not hide my sporting allegiances from readers. Those who know me best realized that while I outwardly curse a successful rival team, I deeply admire how it is able to enjoy such success. Finally, I will not pretend to be an international observer. For the most part, I have been raised in the United States, so my perspective is largely focused on its most popular domestic sports.

There should be no rain-outs of Major League Baseball games in progress.
To begin: yes, I am a passionate fan of the New York Yankees, and I raise this point at this particular point in time because I feel slighted by the fact that arch-rival Boston was able to escape from today’s game with a postponement even after it trailed 5-2 with two runners on base and 1 out in the fourth inning. However, I have felt the way I have about postponement for some time. I can even remember feeling frustrated back in 1997 that a Yankee game was not completed even though New York was spared a large deficit in Florida because of a rainout (June 14 of that year).

In 2002, a lack of available pitchers in an extra-inning All-Star Game led to a tie result, much to chagrin of many fans of the sport. Commissioner Bud Selig pushed for a plan that would, over the next several seasons, award the league of the All-Star Game’s winner with home-field advantage in the World Series. For a league that was so offended by a tie All-Star Game, it is beyond me how its personnel tolerate the current policy of cancellation, and subsequent postponement, of games that have not progressed past the fifth inning (or four and a half if the home team is ahead).

I am not the only one to raise this criticism: indeed, I’ve spoken to several fans who favor resuming a game at the exact point play was stopped. I understand that plan has several flaws, including the possibility that players in the lineup on a specific day might no longer be with a team when the game is made up. However, it is a travesty to erase statistics (White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko’s two-run double, for example) and take away a team’s lead merely due to weather conditions.

New ballparks are just plain fun.

A friend and I checked out PETCO Park in San Diego last night for the first time. The stadium, home to the Padres, opened last year as a baseball-only replacement for Qualcomm Stadium, which is still home to the NFL’s Chargers. Because the venue’s located downtown, it was easy to have an Indian dinner in the Gaslamp District before heading to the game. While I found PETCO architecturally understated compared to other recent emergences such as San Francisco’s SBC Park, I really enjoyed taking in a game in a new spot in a city to which I rarely venture. The beige-colored exterior and honest-to-goodness recreational park over the center field wall fit in well with the city’s laid-back atmosphere.

Having said that, the night itself was a somewhat strange experience. Usually untouchable relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman gave up four runs in the ninth inning. The Padres’ speedy center fielder Dave Roberts reached base in the seventh inning after an infielder picked up a ball rolling down the first base line that appeared to be heading foul. Roberts had earlier argued with umpires that a third-inning grounder had actually hit his foot and should have been ruled foul, to no avail. Then, as I headed out of the park, a man fell hard and needed medical attention, while another in the same area attempted to sprint out of the stadium, but was detained by security. On the way to the parking garage, several pleased Phillies fans repeated chants praising their Philadelphia Eagles (they greeted my solitary New York Jets refrain with light laughter).

Some gaudy American League power numbers are emerging.

Over the last week or so, I’ve begun playing a game called Beat The Streak: Home Run Edition on MLB.com. The premise is simple: you pick a player every day who you think will homer, and try to establish the longest streak of games in which you are successful. I picked Yankee Hideki Matsui today, and was rewarded with a three-run blast near the right-field foul pole. Yesterday’s decision was more automatic: I chose another member of Bronx Bombers, Alex Rodriguez, whose longball that day was estimated to travel 485 feet to left-center field (although YES Network announcer Jim Kaat believed it to be at least 510 feet). Still, I can’t help but wonder if two is the longest streak I’ll have.

In any case, Rodriguez has seized the American League home run lead with 35. He’s not close to the 109 RBI tallied by Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez. However, WCBS broadcaster John Sterling pointed out both players have already had seven straight seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 runs batted in. You can rip on Ramirez’ defense or blame Rodriguez for being greedy. However, these are truly two hitters for the ages.

sports