Category: Uncategorized
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An AFL primer..
I’ve written so many previews in anticipation of upcoming AFL seasons that I’ve almost forgotten that there are hundreds of thousands of baseball fans that have never followed the league. In a recent post I mentioned that every team sends their top prospects to the league for additional seasoning. Some players are trying to make…
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The black hole…
First of all, R.I.P to the great Dick Butkus passed away at the age of 80 and won’t have to watch tonight’s Bears game. I’m not smart enough to understand all of the properties of a black hole, but I know the Bears are lost in one right now. I’ve already described quite vividly how…
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When opportunity knocks..
Reflecting on 1983 and my freshman year in college has caused me to rethink the many positives of being a student in the ’80s and not because of the sports although that did impact my collegiate life and not the way some might expect. One need not travel out of state or community to take…
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A nonpolitical question..
Typically the topic of inflation riles people from both sides of the aisle, but in the case of sports, inflated numbers is apolitical. Years after historically important sporting events, attendance numbers unofficially become inflated, much like infamous transportation crashes. People who weren’t even in state somehow magically count themselves amongst those in the crowd. Some…
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Thirty years and counting..
Later tonight the Arizona Fall League (AFL from now on) starts its 30th season. For some stupid reason, they no longer start on the second Tuesday in October. They’ve always had marketing and attendance issues and MLB leadership has failed the league. Immediate Editor’s Note: Unless something miraculous happens, I will not be in Arizona…
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Game 162
The final game of the regular season means different things to different people. Fans of 18 games will be contemplating their team’s sordid past and rosy future, maybe simultaneously. It’s been a few years since I last closed out a regular season at a ballpark and I don’t feel any better about it. Unlike last…
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Harumph
Did you hear the one about the grumpy old neighbor? How about the Elmer or gold brick sundae that started to crumble? If you’re a Cubs fan, you can’t help but notice that David Ross’ demeanor is cracking, and the team appears to be crumbling under the pressure of a playoff push. Nobody in the…
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The way back machine
While Sherman and Mr. Peabody have set the machine for 1998 (again), I’ll try and refrain from the corny puns. Earlier this year, there was some debate as to whether the similarities between the ’98 and ’23 Cubs are real or imagined. It’s worth noting what made the backdrop of the 1998 season as something…
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Make no mistake…
Cubs David Ross is correct. The Cubs are better than the Pirates, at least the 2023 version is. The Cubs just completed their season series with Pittsburgh and finished with a 10-3 record. That’s pretty definitive and yet some have taken issue with Ross’ grand proclamation. The timing is a little questionable though as the…
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A delicate balance..
Forget politics and political discussions for a minute, it’s becoming more and more difficult to express one’s opinion these days without offending someone or crushing their very being. Forget about having a thought about one of the major labor issues today. If you take one side or even question the motives of either side, you’re…
I'd rather be sitting in a ballpark. 