Oh yeah…

I made this crummy MS Paint image last year for a post over on Ladies.

No reason for posting it, other than I just happened to remember it sometime during the third period of tonight’s 5-3 Pens win over the Rangers. (Not during the actual game. I was stuck at the office late and listened to the game while I wrapped up my day. Of course when I was finally home a few hours later I could not help but have the Tivo’d game on in the background.)

Anyway, I kind of feel bad for Jags. Really. He’s killing himself on the ice out there and it still feels weird to see him do it for another team.

Except when he yells at Crosby or fights with Malkin. Then I remember my crappy MS Paint.

Second (upcoming) reason for MIA…

Less than 85 hours from GTA:IV.  You have no idea how much I love GTA.

Next Tuesday may be a perfect day… GTA and a Pens playoff game.

(No I am not a 14 year old boy.)

The rumors of my blog’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

Really.

Promise.

The ideas are there, but the energy to flesh them out is gone.

Life has been a bitch so far in 2008, and all I want to do right now is just watch and not have to be all navel-gazing about it after the fact.

Sometimes, we just use sports to tune out everything and think about nothing.

A cliche is a cliche for a reason - Dodgers at the Coliseum

This was the scene when the PA announcer gave the world record-setting final attendance number of 115,300 during the seventh inning of the Dodgers - Red Sox exhibition game at the Coliseum. (Which petered down to what I would guess to be about ten to fifteen thousand in the 9th, a complete shame considering that watching Papelbon get lit up was the most exciting part if the night.)  For comparison, USC football games draw just over 92,000 and the LA Raiders played to a nation 65,000 strong.

Of course, the crowd was at its fullest in the second inning.  Somewhere around the third  inning fans launched probably the most successful wave since 1987, eventually tiring everyone out in the fifth and causing the girl next to me to remark, “This is the quietest 100,000 people I’ve ever heard.”

Quiet, but still lively as we spent the time between innings counting the number of fights and thrown beers we could see from our seats, along with monitoring Flag Watch 2008.

Look at how spiffy the place looked during batting practice.

Nice huh?  And then this happened -

It only took one to go and soon everyone along the top railing realized they could take home a souvenir.  By the end of the night the top of the stadium was almost bare.

Sad really.  That one must have had an extra knot in the cord.

Feel free to check out the rest of my flickr set of the day, including what appears to be a serious steroids problem in the beer pong world.

Special note for the Yinzer Mafia - Can you believe this guy’s vanity plate I saw in the parking lot? Kind of creepy.

My Bracketology - Hattitude

Picks I regret -

Pitt - They had just won the Big East! MSU looked so pathetic during the Big Ten tourney! My gut wanted to go with State just because I am closer with more people that went to MSU than I am with people who attended Pitt. (Which is completely messed up considering that I was raised in Pittsburgh.) My heart said Pitt because of lifetime crushes on Darren Morningstar and Sean Miller. (See also: Xavier.) Should have stuck with my gut.

Drake - I swore I wasn’t going to fall for the Drake hype. Swore. And then a Canadian co-worker convinced me I was wrong. Last time I ever listen to a Canadian about any sport that does not involve ice, sticks, or brooms.

Clemson - I’m still mad about some guy who “borrowed” my Villanova hat after a one-night stand in 1998 (was it 1997?) and never gave it back. Remember those white hats in the ’90’s that had that curvy two-toned script that came out for every college, NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL team? It was that hat, and I loved it. (Mostly because I had received it as my parting gift from another one-night stand in 1993.) For ages after that hook-up I would get the random email or call telling me about the status of that hat. Last I heard - in 2005 - that hat was living in Denver. I used to romanticize Villanova because of that fucking hat, but this year I picked against the them. And the hat fucked me yet again.

Anyway this is where I stand in Monday Morning Punter’s Blogger/Douchebag pool -

I fully expect Kansas to crush my bracket in the next round.

Me this week

(Does your company send out these “itinerary” emails? We do at my office, just people know where you are if they need you and/or panic when they do not see you on IM and/or don’t respond to an email within 45 minutes.)

Anyway, I should have come into the office this past weekend to play some catch up and get ahead of the curve so I could have taken off Thursday (Friday is already a holiday) but couldn’t find the motivation to do so.  (Mostly because new boss #1 is going to be in town on Wednesday, so I figure my Thursday is already fucked.)

For two weekends in a row Sundays have been for getting up early and watching Pens wins followed by Pistons wins.  Can’t argue with that.   Spent some time this weekend on my next big sports blog project, but hit enough road blocks to put off working on it until I have a few days straight to concentrate on it.  Hopefully I’ll be able to wrap that up soon.

Other than that, I’m going off the grid - aside of my small Twitter addiction - until probably Thursday.   Just too much to get done, too little time, and I want to watch as much basketball as I can at the end of the week.

Pirates maintain dignity, Crystal looks terrified

As I said over on WHYGAVS, I cannot believe I was checking the box score of an in-progress spring training game just for Billy Crystal. (And not only checking, having the page refresh every 30 seconds.)

Let’s never speak of any of this ever again.

EDIT - For some reason, I cannot stop staring at this photo.  I think this is the look of a man shitting his pants.

Kangaroo Nonsense #3: Tylenol 3 Edition - Seeing things

And no, I am not looking forward to the new REM album. (Why are they advertising this album at 6:30 AM during the CBS Sunday Morning show anyway? I’d love to know who justified that part of their marketing budget.)

Just having a long week and seeing (imagining?) Ralph McQuarrie nods here and there.

In case you missed it #2 - Free Curly Fries!

• Free Fries at Arby’s tomorrow (3/10/08) in celebration of #17 Matt Kenseth winning the NASCAR Nicorette 300.   Bring in the official race results from either a newspaper or a website to claim yours!
• Los Angeles Magazine is on to round two of voting for their March Madness -The 64 Greatest Things in LA.   Sorry In-and-Out, you cannot hold up to Amoeba.
• Steelers’ Linebacker James Harrison was arrested for simple assault and criminal mischief.  The only two people who ever know what is going on in a relationship are the two people in it together, but when you’re gal locks herself into the bathroom?  Leave.  Don’t break down the door.  Don’t break her phone.  Do not hit her.
• Finally, thanks to the crew of FaceOffCircle.Net for posting this great YouTube video of Backstrom scoring on his own net to seal the win for the Pens in the final minute of play.  Watch until the end to hear Crosby’s laughter and joy.

Kangaroo Nonsense #2 - Atwater Village Costco 3/8/08

I always thought chuchitos were Guatemalan tamales, but what do I know. (Although there are tamales on the upper shelf.) Either way, it is good to see people insisting on proper signage.

Signs you might be too much of a homer

I saw the this news ticker in my Gmail and my first thought was, “Why didn’t Ben bring Missy Peregrym to his appearance?”

Is there a sports blogging glass ceiling?

Monday, I sent out this email -

Which one of you has been approached by Yahoo blogs, The Sporting Blog, SportsbyBrooks, or even ESPN the Magazine online? (Really, I am not sure the latter ever got off the ground.)

I sort of snapped this morning when I read yet another blogger was joining the SbB crew and all I could think to myself was, “What the fuck? Where is Texas Gal? Where is Sooze? What about HCIC? Jesus fucking Christ I can’t throw a rock without hitting a talented female sports blogger and the same guys are being picked up all over the place. What gives?”

(I realize that SbB might be not be the most desirable spot for a female blogger - depending on her sensibilities - to land, but it is still a high-profile blogging position. That pays.)

If you are on this email list it means that you are among the 20-odd female female sports writers I respect, and cannot believe I haven’t seen any of your names appear yet at any of the sites I mentioned above. Every single one of you runs a site with well-above average page views. What am I missing here? Why don’t I see your names in the bigger bylines? (Deadspin aside, which many of us have contributed to, but none on a regular basis.)

So please tell me at least one of you has been asked and turned it down. (Which is a very real possibility.) Or has been asked, but everything is still top secret and you can at least wink and say, “No, I’ve got nothing going on over at my place. Nope. Nadda. Yoo-hoo? What does chocolate milk have to do with anything? Oh, Yahoo? Never heard of it.”

Anyway, I might try to work my (probably misdirected) anger in a post, so your input would be helpful. If you don’t want to be mentioned because you think such talk takes away from being considered part of the boys club, please let me know.

I’m just a little pissed off today.

sarah, aka TheStarterWife

PS I hope that none of you take this as lobbying for myself to reach a bigger audience. I am one of the least qualified/talented sports bloggers out there, male or female. But as a reader, yes, I want to see more women do well.

You can guess what the answers were. Just how many variations of “no” are there?

So sports knowledge, talent, and a significant readership means nothing? Is it possible, that the old boy network is even stronger online, despite the supposed equal playing field of the internet?

Why I love my friend Aris

 
 
 

Because every year for the past nine years, we’ve sent each other a text message the second we see the first Shamrock Shake. (Which never left Los Angeles, unlike other parts of the country.)

 
 
 
 

In case you missed it…

• Sid’s returning to the ice tonight - just announced this morning! - against Tampa Bay. So much for the rumors that he and Hossa would come back for the game of the week against the Rangers on Sunday.
• The next installment of the Deadspin Book Club posted yesterday. In this month’s discussion, we covered Will Leitch’s God Save the Fan. (Yeah, just a little inside baseball.)
• And Adam LaRoche continues to hope for his chance to pitch in the majors. (Sixth item down.)
• Clare sent me this great Star Wars cookie link. “Chocolate chips do not concern me, Admiral. I want that cookie, not excuses.”

Happy Birthday Ben

 
 
 

$102 million is a lot of cake.

Ben’s not the only one getting paid. Allan Faneca got the money he wanted from the J-E-T-S.

Kangaroo Nonsense #1

These need to taste much more like strawberries.

These need to stay in the 3 Musketeers lineup and not be just a limited run.

Nothing like a 30 point blow out - Pistons 103- Clippers 73

Not much to say after a thirty point blowout (other than Staples Center seemed to be at least 65% Pistons fans) other than TSB and I had a grand old time checking out the club level for the first time.

“Obnoxious Little Weed” - Is that the worst you can come up with?

I don’t follow cricket, but apparently this phrase is big news over in India and Australia. From what I gather this is basically what happened -

Elite player Australian Matthew Hayden said the following on a call-in radio show about elite Indian player Harbhajan Singh,

“It’s been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan. The first time I ever met him, he was the same obnoxious little weed that he is now.

“His record speaks for itself. There’s a certain line that you can kind of go to, and then you know where to push it - and he just pushes it all the time. That’s why he has been charged more than anyone else in the history of cricket.”

Well now. That is possibly the worst insult I’ve ever heard in my entire life outside of elementary school playground. How dare a player - no where near the pitch - call someone a weed.

Yoi, and Double Yoi - RIP Myron Cope

Legendary Steelers broadcaster and Terrible Towel inventor Myron Cope passed away today at age 79.

He lived a street over from me growing up and was considered a bit of a neighborhood grouch if you blocked his driveway, but he was the soul of Steelers fans and the reason why most Pittsburghers turned down the sound on their TV’s and listened to the radio play by play during the game.

If you’ve never heard Myron speak, be sure to check out Arlin’s Myron Cope’s Sounds, which covers everything from dirty coin tosses, “Who’s Barry Manilow“, to yelling about Kordell’s pump fake near the end zone.

(My recent favorite being his objections to how early Monday Night Football is on the west coast.)

Rest in peace Myron. Hmmmm hah.

Wow - Who saw that coming for the Pens?

Really. It was supposed to be a quiet trading deadline for the Pens and hours ticked by and nothing moved, I assumed that we were in the clear and didn’t check the wires until after the deadline had passed.

Boy was everybody wrong, including the Post-Gazette, who ran the headline, “Though Penguins not ruling anything out, major deal not likely at today’s NHL trade deadline.”

Atlanta’s Marian Hossa (!!!) and Pascal Dupuis for Armstrong, Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito, and a first round draft pick.

Everything you need to know about why this is a major - if not soon-to-be-costly - move by the Pens is right here in handy highlight video form, including Rage Against the Machine, Maid Marian, Bo Derek, and Slovak connections.

And let us not forget this fine looking addition to the defense, Hal Gill.

What I learned today - Clippers, Twitter, and puppies.

1A) If you go to buy Clippers tickets (because the Pistons are coming to town!), and click “Best Available”, you can still buy front row center courtside seats at Clippers.com.

1B) If you are going to buy Clipper tickets (because the Pistons are coming to town!), wait until the Celtics blow them out before you click “purchase” on StubHub. You’ll save even more money and get free parking. (Really. I waited two extra hours to buy my seats, and saved another $40. Premiere Level seats are practically 2-for-1. )

2) Enabling Twitter to go your cellphone is only a good idea if you have room for 100 txt messages.

3) A 25 pound dog can drag me down the street like I’m a rag doll.

Johnny Damon, Monchhichi

Someone in the Yankees merch department has to license a Johnny Damon Monchhichi as soon as possible.

Aside - Who knew there were so many monchhichi videos on YouTube?

Maybe the old guys can play instead.

The Post-Gazette certainly knows how to play to the hometown fans, and I’m not talking about moneybags Matt Morris.

Welcome back Chuck Tanner!  Maybe you can talk…

Happy 40th Anniversary - Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

I would be one of the worst Yinzer Mafia members ever if I did not mention that today marks the 40th anniversary of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood television show.

If you have never watched his goodbye message from his last show, I suggest you have a tissue ready. It might get a bit dusty around here.

Good lord this is a fuck bucket load of work.

Quick “meta” post.

Stages of grief upon leaving Ladies -

1) Relief. Something that I had put off for a few months was finally done.

2) Sadness. Incredible sadness of leaving some of the coolest gals ever.

3) Depression. What. Had. I. Done.

4) Relief and elation. Once the announcement was official, there was no turning back.

5) Panic. Wait? I’m homeless! Where will all my old posts go? I’ve already deserted about five or six other blogs and websites! I have no home! What if I want to post about… well… anything?

6) Diversion. Signed up for Twitter, for no other reason than Shanoff said I should.

7) Acceptance. Revived this blog, which I had set up last fall. Still needs a fuck load more work done on it.

8 ) Over-Ambition. Spent three hours trying to import posts from old blogs, none of which is really worth saving. Cannot find passwords for at least two blogs.

9) Denial. Having to re-label a few hundred posts. One-third of the way accomplished.

10) Law & Order Marathon Stupor. (Watched while working on six through nine.) Resulting in this meta-list post.

Never moving again.

TSW - Anniversary and Goodbye to Ladies…

Previously seen on Ladies, this is my section of the anniversary post.

We’re This Many! The Ladies… Turn One.

TSW:

After one year, I can make a confession.

Until last night, I had never seen Demetri Martin’s “Ladies…” bit.

There! I said it! I’ve come clean! I knew what the joke was via internet memes, but had never actually watched the video. So for everyone who has never known where the name “Ladies…” comes from, check out around the 1:50 mark. No shame in finally catching up now.

TSW - Be Mine

Previously seen on Ladies, this is my section of the Valentines Day baseball post.

Be Mine

This is the size of my heart you are allowed to hold,
This is the size of my heart you are allowed to darken,
This is the size of my heart you are allowed to break.

This is the time I spend each day reading WHYGAVS,
This is the new management, same as the old management,
This is the game I will attend come April when you are in town.

This is the heart of distant memories,
This is the heart I carry for my oldest friend in the world, thousands of miles away,
This is the heart not for baseball, but for Britcher who still loves the Buccos.

This is the color of black.

Lawyers, Guns, and Money - Hit and Run

Previously on Ladies…

I don’t get a chances to talk about the NBA. At least not on a daily basis. First off, I am surrounded by insufferable Laker fans. Are all Laker fans insufferable? Doubtful, but tolerable ones never seem to cross my path. Secondly, my good friend - as I have mentioned a couple of times in the past - is a die-hard Cavs fan. And while we have no few problems managing our Steelers-Browns relationship, our Pistons-Cavs rivalry is never spoken of lest we have a repeat of the 2005 March of the Penguins blow-up or the 2004 Kyoto Protocol /Vivid Girls smackdown.

So please excuse me while I take this moment to yell, “Nine in a row! Nine in a row! The Piston’s come back in the fourth quarter to win nine in a row!”

Don’t Rasheed and Tyronn look cute hugging? Like two puppies on a valentine.

Steelers Stick With Grass (And you thought the ProBowl was the end of football)

Previously on Ladies…

The Steelers today confirmed a Post-Gazette report three days ago that they will stick with “natural grass” at Heinz Field next season.

“The majority of our players have told us that they prefer natural grass to any artificial surface,” said club president Art Rooney II in a statement today, “and grass is also the preference of our coaches and athletic staff. We also discussed this with the University of Pittsburgh officials to make sure everyone is comfortable moving forward.” - Post Gazette 2/11/08

Awesome. I hope it rains for all of the following home games: Giants, Cowboys, Colts, Chargers, Browns, Bengals, and Ravens. (We can give the Texans a pass.) Bring on the punts that stick in the mud!

Pro Bowl LiveBlog

Previously on Ladies…, a live-blog done with Holly (Ladies and Snarkastic)

Holly and I are going to attempt to live-blog the Pro Bowl from a local watering hole this afternoon. You have the next five hours to plan accordingly; prepare snacks, finish the laundry, secure bail money.

I assume we’re totally going to gossip about Brady and Favre since they’re not going to be there.

And away we go: