OCTOBER 9 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Stephanie Weigman 2007, Pitcher, Riviera Beach Spirit, verbally committed University of Maryland Baltimore County
Samantha Pellechio C/SS NJ Inferno to Fordham University
MORE SURF CITY SCORES
MIZUNO PRIDE Gold @ Batbusters Fall Classic
Pride 8 Lakewood Ladies (Freeman) 3
Pride 11 SD Breakers (16-U) 1
Pride 10 Infinity 9
Pride 4 M32 2
Pride 7 Sliders 5
YE OLD PROGNOSTICATOR
The conventional wisdom is that enduring torment with restraint builds character. I manifested restraint by not hurling the remote through the TV on Saturday as I switched from Oklahoma losing to Texas to the Yankees losing to the Tigers.
Stoops didn’t like the call on the fumbled lateral, and if a Sooner really wanted to play what-if, the OU failure to go for a first down deep in Longhorn territory might have changed the score – but not the outcome. Oklahoma was outplayed. The Redskins made a similar boner on Sunday; instead of banging out a yard for a first, Joe Gibbs went for the field goal. Isn’t short yardage the specialty of TJ Duckett? Why did they acquire Duckett and not use him in his best mode?
The Yankees, well remembered for losing a 3-0 lead in games to Boston, went two dozen innings without scoring. They lost to a pitcher who had lost six times to the Bombers and had surrendered a 6-0 lead in his previous season game.
George will can Joe Torre, despite winning the AL East nine consecutive years. A-Rod, Mussina, Wright, Williams, the Big Unit and others will follow.
A GLOOMY DAY
Therapy and endless testing at three treatment centers at Hopkins are de rigueur after several weeks but there is never anything commonplace about the Oncology center, the cancer ward, where I had to spend part of the day. When you look at the dozens of people, sitting with family, some attached to portable machines, many without hair, and any number who have already got reserved seats on the next boat over the River Styx, you simply feel grateful – and lucky. Some look at you with an unspoken question: they can’t see the scars from seven operations, and they wonder why you’re there. Most don’t even see you; they have that thousand yard stare of people on the far side of the cancer curve. You say a silent prayer when the children come into your view, some with limbs not much thicker than the tubes in their arms. Every time, I think of some softball players and the brave fight they made – and some are still making -- to overcome cancer.
GENGHIS KHAN
Statues proliferate in the Washington area, many depicting people little remembered, and ignored by everyone except the ubiquitous pigeons. Now, the Mongolian community in our midst has persuaded the Mongolian Embassy to petition the State Department for permission to erect s statue of Genghis Khan. We may think of the Mongol Horde which swept down pout of the Asian steppes and conquered much of the then-world, led by a ruthless barbarian. But, the Embassy notes that he established an empire based on religious tolerance, in an age where Crusades and religious wars were commonplace. Moreover, they depict Khan as “an ardent free trader who established principles of diplomatic immunity.” Who is next? Timur Ling (Tamerlane)? Kublai Khan? I remember dining with the infamous General Singlaub at Tony Chang’s Mongolian emporium; Tony did not know the Mongolian name for Genghis Khan’s capital, the City of Black Sand. (Kara Korum)
COPPER CLAPPERS
Imstp usa.zip
Click on the above; if SPY copied it correctly, you will be treated to a vintage exchange between Johnny Carson and Jack Webb
UNSIGNED SENIORS
Manager: Frank Marksman (916) 995-2303 sbcoachfrank@yahoo.com
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