Oh Papi!

Who was I kidding, thinking that the Red Sox would stay clear of the steroids mess? Today the news broke that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez both failed drug tests in 2003. Manny, of course, just served 50 games for taking a female fertility drug but I still hoped that it was just a Dodger problem... Looks like that's not the case. The Sox' run to the World Series in 2004 was one of the most thrilling sports adventures of my life and it will forever remain so, even under clouds of allegations. Falling asleep during Game 4 of the…

Most of sports is knowing defeat…

After watching the Celtics fall to the Magic in game 6, I switched to the Bruins-Hurricanes game 7, tied at 2 with 10 minutes to play in the game, and witnessed a crushing OT goal by Carolina that instantly ended their surprisingly super season. It can happen dramatically like this or quietly with a meaningless victory in a losing season, but almost every time we care, we lose. True, all Boston sports have had quite a run this decade and I consider myself fortunate to have enjoyed so many championships, but in the grand scheme most people who pour their…

Bogeys, Double Bogeys, Triple Bogeys and a few Pars…

I played my first golf round of the season at Forest Park in Queens this morning and it rained hard the entire time. Mets and Yankees games were postponed, but we slogged through the course and enjoyed every minute of it. Sure, it could have been bright sunshine and ideal golf conditions, but it wasn't, so we played what we got. It is a nice walk through rural New York City that included many bird sightings (nice Red-Winged Blackbirds, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, Geese and an Egret) and occasionally offered the opportunity to strike a small ball with a stick in an…

Let’s go Celtics!

We are witnessing an absolutely amazing series between the Bulls and the Celtics. It has been tit for tat in every game (both score-wise and physically) and has featured OT madness in four games so far, including last night's three extra period ridiculousness. It is maximum drama. So much clutch. Game 7 is tomorrow night in Boston and I have no doubt it will fit perfectly with the theme of epic contests. Win or Die!

Best Ski Day of My Life.

When I began skiing at age 8, I became obsessed with it. Almost immediately, I was so gripped by the sport that although very little of my time was spent on skis, I thought about it constantly. I watched videos and read ski magazines and designed my own mountains and trail maps. It consumed me, and every chance I could (for many years every Saturday with The Mass Ski Club), I would get on a slope and play. I have skied many mountains and enjoyed every one, but there was always a legend, a myth of epic proportions, whose mystique…

When days become 21 hours…

Baseball is on like never before. MLB.TV has feeds from every game, which would not be at all interesting if I didn't obsess over fantasy stats. Now I feel compelled to watch Dodgers v. Padres for Russell Martin and Adrian Gonzalez at-bats. I am seriously hoping that the new baseball smell wears off soon and I can resume a normal life, but I know myself too well: With this access to Red Sox games, I am doomed to spend even more hours a day in front of my computer (though, fortunately, I can hook it up to my TV or…

Take Me Out To Citifield®

I attended the first MLB exhibition game at brand new Citifield last night, featuring The 2009 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Most of the opening day starting lineup played the first 5 innings before a rain delay brought out the scrubs and eventually the Mets won, 4-3.  I give the new stadium high marks all around; nice atmosphere, good food and reasonably priced beverages make it a great place to spend an evening. After the delay, we found our way down to the box seats five rows behind the Sox dugout for an intimate rendez-vous with my team where…

Dutch Treat

From yahoo answers: "Along with "Dutch treat," which originally implied "cheap," other insults once popular included "Dutch courage" (liquor), "Dutch defense" (a retreat), "Dutch headache" (a hangover), "Do a Dutch" (commit suicide), "Dutch concert" (a drunken uproar), and "Dutch nightingale" (a frog, which seems an especially low blow)." Tonight the meaning of the phrase was an amazing baseball game in which The Netherlands beat The Dominicans in the 11th inning in the WBC. This was the second time they beat them in this tournament, but this time it was advance or be eliminated and this group of minor leaguers came…

WBC

Baseball is back! International competition is fun when The Netherlands (?) beats The Dominican Republic. Led by Sidney Ponson (born in the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Aruba...) these lowlanders took out loaded D.R. (blessedly missing A-Rod) in the first major upset. I am now watching the U.S. take a 2-1 lead (Youkilis scores!) over Venezuela. I also opened my mlb.tv account today to placate my need to access Red Sox coverage anytime anywhere. It feels like baseball is back already and I was actually shocked to realize that opening day is still four weeks away. I know this means that…

Play Ball

Even I'm getting tired of the A-Rod lynching that is taking place now; he is taking heat in the New York media like I've never seen before. Can't we just agree that the guy is a lying cheating scumbag and move on? This is the time of year where we should be amping up on spring training-- not some 'roids that this this fool put in his butt five years ago. Admittedly, we've known the guy is a punk for years and I felt some vindication beyond my personal Red Sox-Yankees rivalry issue when the story came out, but let's…