Welcome to Wednesday, Gabbers. Looks like we’re starting to see a bit more of spring out there. We’ve had some decent temps lately. More importantly, we’re getting rain. With much of the US mired in a multi-season drought, all those greens on the weather map look all right to me. Locally, it’s been pretty hard not to notice that the lakes have not been at their best. I realize I’m a pretty tall guy, but I have to go a good ways into most lakes here to get water past my navel. Hopefully we can have more rain this year and keep the snow coming to try and make up the deficit.

Speaking of making up, looks like the NHL is already planning some fan appeasement next season. While there is hockey now, a lot of fans we’re upset that the squabbling of Betteman and the player’s reps cost everyone the Winter Classic. If the league has done anything possible in the last few years, it has to be the Winter Classic. Hockey is a game that was made for the elements, so returning to the great outdoors has been great for the sport and its fans. This year’s game was supposed to be at the Big House in Ann Arbor, which has the largest seating capacity of any stadium.

The good news is the NHL is letting Ann Arbor keep the New Year’s Day game. A lot of people lost out on that cancellation, including the people of Ann Arbor. The league has also announced plans for 5 other outdoor games. On January 25, hell will freeze over as an ice rink is installed at Dodgers Stadium for a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. The next three games will all run up to the Super Bowl. This is something of a slick move, though the motives are pretty clear: let’s win over a few football fans with our product. New York will host two games at Yankee Stadium. Both games will feature the Rangers as the visiting team. They’ll take on the NJ Devils and the NY Islanders.

The league will also host two outdoor games during Hockey Weekend Across America. Chicago’s Soldier field will play host to the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1. A day later, the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators will play at BC Place in Vancouver.

The games are not set. The teams being named still have to approve. Some people wonder if this dilutes what has been a special event for the league. I would think, however, that this will be the only season we see some many outdoor games. I see it as more of a gesture to the fans for screwing things up this year as well as a way to grab a little attention before the Super Bowl. I just wonder how much good it will do. Having two major strikes so close together has even shaken your hardcore fans. With the most recent labor deal having a minimum shelf life of 8 years, the NHL has a lot of work to do to assure fans they are thinking of their best interests and for what is good for the game. The specter of another shortened or cancelled season may loom, but the NHL seems to be taking a good stride forward with this announcement.

Still, I would have loved to see the league try to include all of the Original Six teams. I realize that several of these teams have already had outdoor games, but at this point the league needs to recall its past and remind fans of what they used to offer. They should do ANYTHING to get fans to not look at this year. I’ll cut them some slack in that they got 4 of 6 in.

The NFL speculation season is in full swing. The draft is roughly a week away. The 2013 schedule comes out on Thursday. You can expect ESPN to call for another undefeated Patriots season on Friday.

The Bengals recent talks with former Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison have hit a snag. Harrison was recently cut for Pittsburgh due to a refusal to take a pay cut. With his age (34), declining stats, and tendency to get fined/suspended in consideration I am not sure what Harrison expects. I also don’t see why the Bengals would want a guy like Harrison. They’ve just managed to shed the Longest Yard jokes and are starting to look like a team. Harrison is a vet, but he brings a dirty player rep to a young and talented team. The Bengals would be much better off going after Carlos Dansby. He is 3 years younger, but doesn’t bring the same baggage.

It’s reported that Harrison is getting little attention elsewhere. I imagine someone will take a chance on him, but this should show the veteran a few things. 1) You need to re-evaluate your style of play. People are getting tired of seeing the cheap shots.  2) You may need to lower your asking price. Vets just aren’t getting the same amount.

I read about what might be the craziest rite of passage since the Masi spear hunting lions. I just finished reading The Tracker, which is the story of Tom Brown Jr. Brown is a professional tracker and survivalist who applies his skill to find lost hikers in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. He had an interesting upbringing that introduced him to the wilderness and saw a love and respect for the natural world. He was able to learn how to observe and track nature from an old Apache named Stalking Wolf. Stalking Wolf also told Brown of an old tradition in which a brave would stalk a grizzly bear until he could reach up and smack the bear to prove his tracking skills. This led to one of Stalking Wolf’s friends being mauled to death and almost cost Brown his own life years later. Weird ritual, but a real good read.

That’s all I have for this week. Thanks as always for reading. Here’s hoping you’ve been seeing some spring. I leave you as always with your word of the week.

update day

The one day, usually every month or so, where you finally crack, and update Adobe, Itunes, Steam, and a bunch of other crap all day. Basically renders your computer useless if you are using anything but solitaire.
 

God dammit! iTunes wants me too update! And Steam too! I guess it is update day again.

Im sorry, I couldnt remove Robby...Hes still making it possible

Greetings from the Hoodwood, where the locals are praying and sending their love for the folks in Boston

We’re going off the beaten path this week here at the Tavern, because this is important.  I have 3 baseball jerseys: a Red Sox home jersey (no number), a Red Sox away jersey (no name, no number) - just the laundry, and a Dodgers #42 jersey.  

“42” opened this week across the country.  I haven’t seen the movie yet, but Jackie Robinson is one of my all time heroes.  Let me be clear.  Jackie Robinson and I were alive at the same time for a little less than 3 years, I was beginning my journey as his was ending.  In a sense, his accomplishments have probably not directly affected my life, but I live in a better country because he was who he was.  I’m a kid who grew up in the Boston suburbs, where diversity meant your name either started with a vowel, or ended with one, which is to say you were either Irish or Italian and then there might be some French Canadians but they were the minority.  My life was going to be what my life was going to be.  Here's the thing though: I have taken a great life lesson from this man.

He grew up in a family of sharecroppers in relative poverty in an affluent community.  He gained some opportunity from his family’s choices, but was also excluded from some because of his race.  His brother ran in the 1936 Olympics, finishing behind Jesse Owens – you can imagine Dur Fuhers’ fury at the thought of black men defeating the clearly superior Aryans.  Clearly, Jackie wasn't the only superior athlete in his family, but his brothers' appearance at the Olympics demonstrates my point later on.   His family did what they could to position the brothers to succeed - but the boys had to work hard to achieve, they were handed nothing outside that which was given by their family.

This was a man who earned the opportunity for a college education when few men of color had that opportunity.  He came a few credit short of graduating because of financial difficulties, but consider this: his family sacrificed so he could excel.  He was drafted, and upon entering the military, he was qualified for officers school – because he was black he wasn’t going to be accepted, but those around him fought for him to be accepted…including one Joe Lewis, another man of color who had excelled.  Like another pioneer some 30 years later, he refused to sit in the back of a military bus and was subject to court martial for his actions.  While he was acquitted his military career was all but finished.  Those who were in position to do so, fought for him because he fought for himself.

His baseball career was personified by greatness – not only on the field, but as a human being.  He refused to be the person who fought back – he would win through that which he had always won, hard work and excellence.  Post baseball, he became a corporate vice-president and continued to fight for civil rights – in a position of moral authority.   He knew he could fight back, but his strength was that much more powerful through restraint.  Branch Rickey selected him to play because of his athletic ability, but also because of his personality.  He positioned himself to take advantage of that opportunity.

Robinson is a personal hero because he earned what he got, he refused to submit to less.  He demanded no less than the respect he deserved.  Beyond that, though, he leveraged that respect to give back what had been given him. 

See, despite the American idea of the rugged individualist, few of us actually get it done alone.  Jackie Robinson didn’t, but he did the work to put himself in position to achieve greatness.  Malcolm Gladwell describes in Outliers the same sort of person in Rosa Parks – the woman some 30 years after Robinson refused to go to the back of the bus, did the same and began a new chapter in civil rights history.  She herself couldn’t organize a bus boycott, but because she was who she was – an activist, giving back to the community – she had built a social network (before there was an electronic equivalent) willing to support her.  She had positioned herself for great things, as did Robinson.  Robinson was an outlier.  Superior in many, many respects.

He performed at a high level, had supporters, positioned himself for greatness, and got support in return.  When he was in a position to return the support for others that he had received, he did so.  He was exceptionally gifted, and he used his talents to their full expression, yet he was humble enough to know he needed others to get there. 

That, in a nutshell is why Jackie Robinson is a personal hero.  He can be seen as a civil rights hero, is much more than that.  I see him as just a hero.  Most of all, I see him as a man who worked hard to achieve everything he had, who was man enough to acknowledge he had received help along the way, and was human enough to want all who work hard to achieve.  He's a man who knew what he meant to others, and he knew that he was the first man of color to play in the major leagues because he was that far superior to most who were currently playing.  

 The world needs more Jackie Robinsons. The world needs more people like his family.  The world needs more people like Joe Lewis to step up and support those who excel and deserve a chance.  The world needs more people who give back that which they have been given when they finally do achieve.  Robinson had every excuse not to succeed, but he refused all of it.  He achieved because he wanted to, and because he had built a cadre of supporters who could help him...and in return he did the same.  He stands out among todays' ball players who choose not to accept the mantle of "role model."  He was the epitome of role model.  Even to a white kid, from the Boston suburbs.

Welcome Gabbers and others to my NASCAR updates and other fast stuff. Due to this program kicking me out and dumping my blog several times as well as the very late hour, this is going to be short. The race was Saturday night at Texas. Kyle Busch had the pole and won the race. He also led the most laps and he won the Nationwide race Friday night.

Truex put up a valiant effort to keep the lead after he took it from Kyle but a late caution ruined the hopes of a win when Kyle got off pit road first. On the restart he pulled away with Truex in the rear view mirror.

The race started out with high drama as Keselowski and Logano were still in the tech inspection line. NASCAR had found the rear housing on both cars of interest and decided to confiscate them. This left both teams scrambling to get the cars back together with new parts and re-inspected.

Keselowski made it to the pit road starting grid in time but Logano was still in tech as the drivers were called on to start their engines. Just as all the cars were making their way on to the track for the start of the race Logano's car finally made it to pit road and he crawled in. Because the cars were already making their pace laps he was considered late and sent to the back for the start of the race. Harvick also started in the back due to changing his engine.

Kyle leads the drivers to the green flag and Truex is close behind. Gordon in 3rd is not letting these 2 get away. He challenges for 2nd and is rewarded around lap 137 after green flag pit stops. Keselowski is in twice. He felt his tire was loose and it was. Lucky the holes weren't elongated. He's now a lap down in 31st.

Klye maintains the lead. Gordon, Dale Jr, Truex and Kenseth follow.

From lap 180 to 186 Gordon is side by side with Kyle and finally takes the lead. Dale Jr has lost power and his 3rd place as he heads down pit road. A faulty alternator is the culprit but he's now 4 laps down in 34th.

Around lap 197 green flag pit stops start and after they cycle through Truex has the lead. Kyle , Gordon. Kenseth and Johnson follow.

In the middle of the next set green flag pit stops a caution comes out and it's a lucky thing for Truex as his tire is down to the cords and he's lucky it didn't blow out. Truex manages to get out of the pits first and get away from Kyle on the restart.

With 28 to go Gordon goes to the pits for what he thinks is a left front tire going down. Turns out he's burnt up his hub. Back to the garage area he goes.

Truex still leads but a caution comes out with 21 to go and Kyle beats Truex off pit road. So Kyle takes the lead on the restart and the win.

Top 15 finishers - Kyle B - Truex - Edwards - Biffle - Logano - Johnson - Almirola - Vickers - Keselowski - Newman - Kahne - Kenseth - Harvick - Martin - Bowyer

Vickers drove Hamlin's #11 this week. An 8th place is a good showing. Although I'm sure it was tough for Hamlin to be on top of the box to watch somebody else drive his car.

Keselowski and Logano finished in the top 10 but the teams may face fines for the rear housing issue. Keselowski was very vocal after the race saying he felt like a target and that the events of this week in the garage made him question everything he believes in. I say...Welcome to Jimmie Johnson's world. Take it as a compliment. Your doing well so yes, you will be targeted for extra special double secret probation type scrutiny. Stop whining.

Since Newman got a top 10, if you go to the OutBack Steak House you can get a free bloomin' onion for mentioning Newman's 10th place finish. Just a thought if you're hungry. 

In the mean time, it's 2:15 am, I've worked all day and stayed up to watch the race. Tired is the word. And shower too. Need one. 

I'll be doing my breakfast with the grand kids and I hope all of you are spending time with your loved ones or doing that thing you love. So that would mean...

I'm outta here......

From YouGab’s Man on the Road I welcome to Masters Saturday from the Emerald City, home of the Original 12^th Man.   This week was a tour of the Pacific Northwest – Vancouver, Seattle and Portland.  It’s a beautiful region of the United States – at least when the sun comes out.  Over 5 days I believe we had about 4 hours of some sort of sun.  It is no wonder they are so passionate about their teams here…if you have rain all the time, you have to have something to brighten up your day.   West Coast trips really disturb your dedication to your team…all the sports kick in at 4:00 or 4:30.  I’m in an afternoon meeting watching the Capitals on my Slingbox app on my phone.  Not good for afternoon productivity in my humble opinion!

Word in today that Zack Grienke  is having a steel rod put in his shoulder to repair his collar bone following the brawl with Carlos Quentin (on my fantasy team, so rooting for a short suspension).  If you look at the video, Grienke actually puts his shoulder into the more massive Quentin like he is a running back trying to take on a middle linebacker.  Apparently, Zack never watched Bull Durham to pick up words of wisdom from Crash Davis.  You never go into a fight with your pitching arm (or shoulder).  In fact, if Grienke had just stood on the mound and said “no harm intended Dude” I am guessing that Quentin would have just trotted down to first base.  Quentin and Grienke had history so maybe there was more to the pitch than met the eye, but given the circumstances that is unlikely.

So every time one of these fights gets a little out of hand for whatever reason, you have everyone clamoring for an end to the baseball fight.  First of all, I don't really know how you would stop it, but the rare times they happen, everyone loves them.  I think they are not nearly as exciting as fights in hockey where you can really get a good battle from time to time, but they do have their entertainment value and they do serve a purpose.  The batter is standing there while the pitcher throws a rock at 90 mph at him...getting hit hurts and there is no doubt that given immunity, pitchers would take a few more liberties....then again, do we really want to see this again?

Does Tiger Regain his Claim to Best Golfer in the World this Weekend?

The Masters is through its first two days and we have Jason Day on top of the leader board at -6.  After looking dominant and dangerous through most of the first two days, Tiger limped home with bogies on 15 and 18 and it could have been worse save some excellent short game work.  

While so many are pulling for Tiger to grab another Green Jacket, I am not in that camp.  I have never really been a big Tiger fan - he just rubs me the wrong way.  I would love to see Fred Couples in the mix come Sunday - he looks like someone I would love to have a beer with...Tiger not so much.   There is a lot of talent on the leader board...it should make for an interesting Sunday afternoon.

I have to go catch my flight home (yea!)...hopefully I can add a postscript from Dulles Airport after I get in.  Happy Saturday all!