DECEMBER 9 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Jorja Bell, C,
Casey Testa, P,3rd,DH, Lady Gators Gold, to
Katie Chaffin, MIF,
Jenny Maze, CA Desperados, to UC
Brianna Sloane, C,RF, AZ Heatwave Gold, to
Sammi Schroeder, P, So
Amy Hudson, 3rd, WA
Lisa Pendergrast, UT, WA
Maggie Simkiss, IF,OF, PA Gemz, to Seton Hall
TEAM CHANGES
Given the traditional changes every year at this time, SPY
does not attempt to record them all. We
do take note, however, when an accomplished player moves to a team and
immediately upgrades its potential, particularly so if that player is a
highly-sought college recruit. Thus,
we note that Krista Colburn, IF/P, with the WA Ladyhawks Gold, who is committed
to UCLA, has agreed to play this season for the Davis Batbusters.
PAYPAL & SPY
MAGAZINE
A number of readers inform us that they are experiencing problems in subscribing to SPY’s magazine. We are not aware of any problems in logging on to the web site: www.spysoftballthemagazine.com which opens up the subscription page.
One problem encountered by readers who have Pay Pal accounts. The ID and password they use for buying through Pay Pal will not purchase a SPY magazine subscription, or so readers tell me. Pay Pal says readers should purchase SPY subscriptions as a separate transaction. They will then have two sets of IDs and passwords: one for SPY and one for other Pay Pal purchases. The alternative, according to Pay Pal, is to use your existing Pay Pal ID and password; access your existing Pay Pal account; and see if you can purchase SPY magazine through a Pay Pal order.
Other readers say they cannot get their credit cards to work – but Pay Pal insists that it accepts all credit cards. There is an alternative. Send SPY your check or money order for $36, along with your preferred ID and password, and we will buy your subscription for you with our credit cards but in your name. Hopefully, there will be few such requests, because this method creates a bookkeeping problem for us, and potentially a rollover problem after 12 months.
We already have a rollover problem. The SPY magazine is offered as a six-volume or bimonthly product. Theoretically, SPY’s first year obligation ends when we publish Volume Six this month (about Dec 15). Beginning in March, SPY created a new magazine every two months but, for technical reasons, they were not published until October. Moreover, Pay Pal’s system is annualized, so your subscription in effect runs 12 months from the date of purchase, or approximately next October for the first subscribers. We can’t backdate the subscriptions, so subscribers in effect get the first five issues for the price of a single issue.
Ironically, while that income deficiency might bother some
people in the sports magazine business, it doesn’t bother SPY.
We don’t do this for the money; we do it for the kids.
2000 Autographed Olympic helmet
2004 Autographed Olympic helmet
Replica
National team replica jersey autographed by 2004 Olympic team
2002 Autographed World Champion Upper Deck Trading Card Set
2003
Autographed U.S. Cup poster
8x10 Glossy photo of Fernandez, Nuveman, Finch and Watley
Autographed Lisa Fernandez poster
Autographed Jennie Finch poster
Autographed Stacey Nuveman poster
Autographed Michele Smith poster
National team replica #27 jersey autographed by Jennie Finch
National team replica #29 jersey autographed by Natasha Watley
Visit the USA Softball EBAY outlet store and let the
bidding begin! http://www.stores.ebay.com/softballoutlet
The
auction began December 8 at
For
additional USA Softball apparel log on to www.softballoutlet.com.
FEEDING THE NEEDY
AT CHRISTMAS
Campbell Soup is donating a can of soup for each vote cast
for your favorite NFL team. Vote by
logging on to: http://www.chunky.com/click_for_cans.asp
DENNIS FORD
Long-time pitching coach Dennis Ford passed away December
3. He was the father of Samantha
Ford, now a pitching instructor, who was a top pitcher for the UCLA Bruins when
they won the NCAA championship in 1988 and 1989.
NUMBING PAIN
On Sunday, waiting for my flight from Bush International, I was in a high state of agitation, having been informed by Advantage rentals that, while their agent had every good intention in loaning Hertz a car for me, she was wrong in charging me $39.95 per day, and that Advantage had now charged me a walk-up rate of $100 per day. My ire was further raised after driving 70 miles to the airport I learned that the Advantage manager only works M-F. But, I am still having trouble comprehending how my anger prevented me from feeling an injury. While sitting at the gate, I noticed blood spots on the floor. Looking down, I realized my left pants leg was mottled with blood. Only then did I realize I had cut my leg. I pulled up the trouser leg and confirmed that blood was indeed seeping steadily out of my leg. One of those ubiquitous women who randomly walk through airports used her communicator to call for medical aid. Another woman came with bandages etc., then stood in front of me, mouth agape, declaring she was about to faint or throw up at the sight of blood. Just hand me the bandages, lady, I will do it myself, but, fixing her with my evil eye, I told her not to throw up or faint but just go away. Among the many problems associated with gnathastoma spinigerium is that the slightest bump can cause bleeding: hitting your desk with your leg, catching your hand on a door, etc. Same thing happened at Canada Cup; I crossed a row of seats, hitting the back of one, and was talking to Ronnie Isham and Ralph Raymond when they noticed blood oozing down my leg.
FRUSTRATION
Of course, some of our best intentioned efforts backfire in a laughable manner. Some years ago, the Agency for International Development and the United Nations sought to teach birth control and stem the spread of AIDS in African villages. So, they sent teams into a village which would serve as the model. To demonstrate the proper use of a condom, the health workers used broom sticks. When they returned a few months later, almost every woman of child-bearing age was pregnant – the men having been told that they now had birth control. In front of every hut was a broom stick – properly adorned with a condom.
I am also frustrated about football.
For 12 weeks, the Sooners of Oklahoma were not only #1, they were
unanimous choices for #1 in both polls. The
AOL sports editor declared last week that
End