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I can't wait until about 9:30 p.m. tonight . . . . . . .
beacuse, despite the fact that I truly love the game of football, I am SOOOOOOO ready for the Super Bowl to finish and the season to be over. Almost all sports overstay their welcome these days. Baseball now plays into November, football into February, basketball and hockey into June. But, do I dare ask, does this make me a "clock watcher??"
One of the Greatest Olympic Stories
I have always loved the Olympics, particularly the Winter Games. To me the best part about the Olympics are the many touching, personal stories that come out of them. In just four days, we already have a handful of great stories, including the Chinese pairs skating team that came out of retirement and after 18 years together -- an eternity in that sport -- the "old timers" of 36 and 31 captured the Gold Medal. But the best and most heartwarming story is that of Alexandre Bilodeau. Anybody who has followed the first four days of competition even casually knows that this moguls skier captured Canada's first gold medal ever in a Games -- Winter or Summer -- that took place on Canadian soil. His story is different than most. As a kid growing up in Canada he naturally wanted to become a hockey player. But, his mother (if I heard Bob Costas correctly) insisted that instead of hockey he take up skiing because that was a sport that his older brother -- who was suffering from Cerebral Palsy -- could also participate in despite his handicap. So, young Mr. Bilodeau became a skier and, years later, he gave all his fellow countrymen a thrill of a lifetime with his Gold Medal performance. And his brother was there ceering wildly as Alexandre's biggest fan. The greatest part of the story came on Monday night when he and his fellow Canadians celebrated by proudly singing their national anthem during his medal ceremony. The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Bilodeau could have had his brother on the medal stand with him. The Canadian anthem is a wonderful song, perhaps the finest anthem I have ever heard. And I love the way that Canadians freely join in and sing their national song. True, it is an easier song to sing than the Star Spangled Banner, but we Americans could learn a thing or two from our neighbors to the North and proudly belt out our own anthem, especially at glorious and momentous events like the Canadians enjoyed on Tuesday evening at B.C. Place.
Unquestionably the best channel on television
I just ordered a package on my local cable that includes a channel that is clearly the best on TV today or any day for that matter. The MLB (Major League Baseball) Channel. Over the weekend, I have watched World Series games from 1979 and 2002. Not to mention highlights from the 1986 postseason, which may have been the most exciting of all time. Nothing better than watching baseball in December!!! It sure beats the hell out of watching the news channels and seeing those spoiled and incompetent egomaniacs in the Senate worry about actually HAVING to work up until Christmas Eve!!! I mean, how awful. These poor men and women have to report to work -- just like the people they represent -- up until Dec. 24. What a shame . . . . . . . .
By the way, I am thinking of moving to Nebraska. Sounds like that state just got a whole lot of money in return for a favorable vote from its Senator. Nebraska and Lousiana may be the only two states that will be able to afford this new and wonderful health care reform that is nearing passage.
Of course, what reform is actually in the bill doesn't matter. All that matters is that our President -- the biggest egomaniac of them all in Washington -- is about to make history. Ahhh, but I digress . . . . . . Now, time to get back to my MLB Channel. I'm sure another great Game 7 of a World Series is about to start . . . . .
What Has This World Come To????
I was on the golf course the other day getting ready to line up a putt that was, I must sadly admit, an attempt to save bogey. I turned and saw my two playing partners behind me. One was talking to someone, very quietly at least, on his cell phone and the other was tapping out a text message on his. It was at that moment that I realized that modern technology has now gone way too far. It has even infiltrated one of the most sacred grounds in the world -- the golf course. Bobby Jones and Byron Nelson are probably turning over in their graves. It used to be that people went to play golf to get away from the office and the distractions and the ringing phones, etc., etc. Now, sadly, they bring those things with them. Of course, my partners weren't conducting official business in their endeavors during my putt (which, by the way I drained for the ass-saving bogey). No, one was talking to his lady of choice for later in the evening and the other was sending in updates on his Fantasy Baseball team. Now, that subject of Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Football may be the subject for one of my future blogs. Right now, I'm still trying to figure out where I can go and get away from the addicted texters. I know church is out because I saw two people working their Blackberry devices furiously during Mass the other Sunday. Who knows? Maybe they heard about a late injury and had to change their starting pitcher for that upcoming week in Fantasy Baseball????
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