Sunday, June 24, 2007

Beat the Streak, June 24 07

My streak was broken a few days ago when Placido Polanco let me down. I took a couple of days off to sulk, and then decided to heck with it, and chose Ichiro Suzuki for ten games. (You can choose players for 10 games at at time.)

And Ichiro has come through for me 3 days in a row now. He now has a 17 game hitting streak. His highest is a 25-game streak...but I'm going to ride him til he lets me down. But I'll be thinking positive...

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Yankees have a woman radio broadcaster: Suzyn Waldman

I listen to baseball games on the radio when I have to, but it's been a long time since I've had to, so I didn't know that the Yankees have had a female broadcaster in the radio booth since 2005.

The bio below is from the Yankees website.

Suzyn Waldman

award winning journalist, Suzyn Waldman joins John Sterling in the radio booth as the Yankees' color commentator on WCBS-AM radio in 2005, becoming the first woman to hold a full-time position as a Major League broadcaster. Waldman has spent the greater part of two decades overcoming all the obstacles that go along with being a female sports broadcaster, and has risen to the top of her profession.

In l987, Waldman became the first female voice heard on WFAN, the first All-Sports Radio station in the country, and was a mainstay on that station for almost 15 years, creating the job of the radio beat reporter, covering both the New York Yankees and New York Knicks. Her news-breaking reports, exclusive interviews and always original and controversial opinions won her countless journalism awards. Among her accolades include: the International Radio Award for her live and emotional reporting from the upper deck of Candlestick Park during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, the l996 NY Sportscaster of the Year, by The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters the American Women in Radio and TV's Star Award for Radio in l999. Waldman became a popular talk show host at WFAN and co-hosted the coveted mid-day slot until leaving WFAN to join the YES Network.

The word "first" invariably precedes the name of Suzyn Waldman in every facet of her television and radio career. The first woman to work on a nationally televised baseball broadcast, Waldman added another first, being the first woman to provide play-by-play for a Major League team, when she started broadcasting New York Yankees games for WPIX, MSG Network and WNYW/FOX5 in the mid ‘90s. The first and only woman ever to host an NBA pre- and post-game show, working in that capacity for the NY Knicks on WFAN, Waldman provided play-by-play for the WNBA on Lifetime TV and was an analyst on St. John's Basketball games for MSG and WFAN.

She has been honored by countless organizations, including the Thurman Munson Foundation, the March of Dimes, the B'nai B'rith, the Jimmy Fund of Boston, the NY Baseball Scouts and the US Federal Women's Program for her contributions as a role model and a pioneer in women's sportscasting. She is a tireless motivational speaker at schools and cancer centers around the country, encouraging young women to pursue their dreams despite any pitfalls they may encounter.

Waldman's life and struggles have been the subject of hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and chapters in books, including the "MacMillan Book of Baseball Stories," "You Go Girl" and "That's Outside My Boat" both by Charlie Jones and Kim Doran. She has been profiled on the Today Show, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, ABC's 20/20 and NBC's Dateline.
A native Bostonian, with a degree in Economics from Boston's prestigious Simmons College, Suzyn spent 15 years on the Broadway Musical Stage, and is proudest of her two years starring opposite Richard Kiley in "Man of La Mancha." She now lives in Westchester with her German Shephards, Kiley and A.J.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Pat Summitt cancels TN-UConn yearly game

Every year for the last 10 years, UConn and Tennessee played at least one game a season - the marquee matchup of the year, on ESPN TV, etc. Pat has now ended it, and isn't telling anyone why. Supposedly she's not allowed to talk about the schedule until after its set, because of SEC rules.

Nevertheless, the sportsworld is buzzing. Even people who don't care for WCBB would tune in for this game. The bad blood between Pat and Geno Auriemma was well known - Geno has made several unkind remarks and jokes about Pat, something that classy lady wasn't used to dealing with.

So speculation on the Lady Vols board is that she was just tired of Geno, didn't like the fact that ESPN was trying to move the game to February, and ended the series.

I've been reading the two message boards, The Summitt and The Boneyard, and I must say the Summitteers are annoying as usual. They are the most arrogant fans on the planet, call everyone else names - and yet when they talk about the Boneyard that's what they criticize over there!

I first discovered the Lady Vols because of the yearly UConn-TN game... a lot of WCBB fans did. With that marquee matchup over...what's to bring new fans to the game? What rivalry will be of interest???

Beat the Streak for June 12

Ichiro came through for me today, on his final at bat - and hit a 2-out, 2-RBI single, tying the game vs the Padres. So I'm going with him tomorrow.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

James Follett's journey through his writing career

Edited to say.... this actually belongs on my The Thunder Child Science Fiction webzine blog, but for some reason I put it here and never noticed.... that's the problem with having two blogs and not enough time in a day to concentrate....

Beginning on Saturday, June 9, and continuing for 7 days at BBC 7:

Men, Martians and Machines

James Follett's journey through his writing career, including The Devil to Pay, The Man Who Invented Yesterday, and The Bionic Blob.

Friday, June 8, 2007

End of a marquee matchup in women's college basketball

http://cbs.sportsline.com/ncaawbasketball/story/10218852
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2007-06-08-uconn-tennessee_N.htm

UConn has issued a news release stating that Tennessee has elected to end the marquee matchup between the two teams.

This game was always on TV, and brought a lot of new viewers to the game.

The various message boards are buzzing with the news, and wondering why.

Some say it's because ESPN wanted to move the game to February (typically it has been played in January), others say it's because Pat Summitt doesn't like Geno Auriemma and some of the comments he has made in the past, others say it's because she's upset that Maya Moore signed with UConn and she doesn't want to lose Della Donne, etc. etc.

Stay tuned for more buzz about this unfortunate occurrence.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

MLB TV on my computer

A week or so ago I decided to bite the bullet and subscribe to MLB TV so I could watch games while I work on my computer. This was necessary for two reasons - I'm a Seattle Mariners fan and I live in Virginia, so I haven't a hope in heck of ever seeing a game on TV, except when they play against the Yankees or the Red Sox, and even then it probably won't happen...

I also like the Twins, who used to be my hometown team before I moved to VA.

Anyway, it cost only $60 for the package (I didn't opt for the "high-definition" package, I can see it just fine the way it is) and not only can I watch the game on the day, I can also watch previous games, whenever I want.

The only thing that really, really annoys me is this blackout nonsense. Because of my zipcode, I'm blacked out from watching the Orioles and the Nationals. (Except after the live game has passed.)

And this is just ridiculous. For example, the Orioles are currently in Seattle playing the Mariners, and I'm blacked out! This despite the fact that the Orioles are not on TV - normally they're on Channel 4 or 43 in my area, when they are on, and they're not on! So why should I be deprived of seeing them in Seattle just because they're not playing in Baltimore???

And apparently every game is blacked out on Saturday afternoons. [From TV, I can still listen to them all via digital radio.)

Presumably, they do this so people will have to watch commercial TV when the games are on, but this is just ridiculous. I played my money to watch these games -I should be able to watch them, period.

Anyway, the Twinkies are stinking it up again today.... come onTwins!!!!

Anyway, it's a good

Fantasy picks 6/6/07

Ichiro and the Mariners came through for me yesterday. Today, I'm going with Magglio Ordonez to get a hit, and the Mariners to win again.

I'm happy for the Mariners...but you've got to look at the quality of the teams they're facing. If they can continue their good hitting, not to mention pitching against the San Diego Padres...then they might really have something.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Wie Watch

I'm not a golf fan, and I'm not a Michelle Wie fan - in fact I think she needs to grow up a great deal and learn some class - but I'll just share any news that comes by...

June 6, 2007
Okay, it's official - I do not like Michelle Wie.
http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=reu-lpgawiedc&prov=reuters&type=lgns
Rehashing the fact that Annika Sorrenstam didn't like Wie's practicing 2 days after withdrawing from a golf tournament with a "bad" wrist, and now apparently two of Wie's playing partners at a pro-am tournament have lodged a complaint.

But she doesn't care. "That's insulting." Plus, she's made $20 million in endorsements this year. She's not as bad as Paris Hilton - but she's no class act, by a long shot.

June 5, 2007
http://www.sportsline.com/golf/story/10214140
Who says you can't learn anything reading the sports pages?
In an effort to edify America, here's a geography lesson on how the name of the host city for the LPGA's second major championship, held this week in a Maryland town called Havre de Grace, is properly enunciated.

The scoreboard never lies, as the big WD by Michelle Wie's name shows. (Getty Images)
It's "Have-uh-duh-Grace," which despite its auditory similarity, should not be confused with the pronunciation of the preceding LPGA event, "Have a Disgrace."
Last week at the Ginn Tribute, two giggly teenage girls served as the biggest news pegs for the inaugural tournament, ultimately for all the right and wrong reasons. Mega-star Michelle Wie, 17, was making her first start since reportedly breaking a wrist four months earlier. MacKinzie Kline, a 15-year-old amateur who was born with a debilitating heart defect, played with the assistance of an electric cart and oxygen device so she could walk the course without fainting.
____________
Basically, the story is that Kline shot over 88 and is disqualified from events for the rest of the year, wheresas Wie withrew just before she would've shot over 88, saying that her wrist was too sore for her to continue. A couple of days later, she was playing again.

NOTE: Much is being made of the fact that she never complained about having a sore wrist prior to pulling out - but if she had complained to playing partners, etc., she would have doubtless been called a whiner...nevertheless I think it's true that she pulled out because she didn't want to miss the rest of the season... seems like a stupid rule to have, anyway.

Female Race Car Drivers Watch

June 5, 2007

http://www.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/10214136

IRL flags nobody in Patrick-Wheldon flap
June 5, 2007CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indy Racing League will take no punitive action for the on-track collision or the subsequent postrace confrontation between Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick at Milwaukee on Sunday.

Patrick, who started 17th in the 18-car field in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225, went low on the track in an attempt to pass Wheldon on the 88th lap. The cars touched, sending Patrick's car spinning into the infield grass. She straightened the car out, but the collision bent the suspension and forced a long pit stop for repairs. She finished eighth.

____
Wheldon had this to say: "She's probably feeling the pressure of not winning races when her (Andretti Green) teammates are," Wheldon said. "She's just feisty. ... She's messing with the wrong person if she wants to get feisty."

Now is feisty something that he calls all drivers, or just female drivers?

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasia (WNBA) have a blog

http://www.wnba.com/news/birdanddee.html
Is the URL. Here's the description:

Throughout the 2007 WNBA season, these two longtime friends, teammates, roommates, competitors and fellow fun-loving troublemakers will exchange correspondence in this "Buddy Blog." They will talk about anything and everything that comes to mind, all the while keeping each other up on how the other is doing in their travels and the march towards the Playoffs. And thanks to either kindness or dumbness, they have decided to share their letters with the world...

June 5 Fantasy Picks

Ichiro is my pick for a hit today, and the Mariners, who are hot, are my pick for the win.

Monday, June 4, 2007

RIP: Mountain climber Mizuki Takahashi

This happened May 17...


Mizuki Takahashi, climber known for skills, smarts, dies at 36 in fall on Alaska peak
By Linda Shaw
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV of NEXT

Mizuki Takahashi twice climbed Mount Rainier solo.
Mizuki Takahashi didn't start climbing mountains until she was in her 30s. But once she did, she quickly became an elite climber, admired for her athleticism, her smarts and her focus.
In seven years, she successfully reached about 50 peaks, almost never the same one twice. When she wasn't working, she was climbing, or training to climb. Her friends joked that she never sat down to eat a single meal at her kitchen table. Mostly, she dined in her car, on the way to a climb or back.
Ms. Takahashi and Brian Massey fell May 17 while climbing Mount McKinley in Alaska. Ms. Takahashi died at the scene. She was 36. Mr. Massey died the next morning.

cick on link to see complete article
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003719746_takahashi24m.html

Racer Chicks

In surfing the web trying to find info about Kelly Sutton, I saw that her website is currently down - I betcha hits on it have gone through the roof thanks to Freeman's story and the site's bandwidth has been reached... -

and found this site called Racer Chicks, which apparently deals with all female racers.

So I share it here:

http://www.racerchicks.com/

Kelly Sutton

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10212155

I'm not a fan of any kind of race car driving - my interest piques only when there's women involved and then only because I hope they do well - I still won't watch the races.

Which isn't to say that I don't know some women who aren't big fans of the.... well, I guess you have to call it a sport...

Anyway, Mike Freeman's column today was about Kelly Sutton, a woman driver on the "gritty, tough-guy NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series."

A woman with multiple sclerosis who spent a year in a wheel chair, but now thanks to the drup Copaxone is back to racing again.

Very inspiring story - and very interesting - as apparently she can't get any "big-time" sponsors....

Criminitleys

Well, fantasy picks yesterday were a dead loss. Ichiro had 2 non-intentional walks - when was the last time Ichiro had 2 non-intentional walks in a game, that's what I'd like to know! And he was 0-3 and my streak is over again.

Well, I've chosen him again today, because he verrrry rarely does not get a hit in 3 consecutive games.

And the Red Sox lost to the Yanks. Darn them! So, today, will try to start a new streak with the Dodgers.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Book: Swimming to Antarctica

A book I'm reading and hope to review in the future:

Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer
Lynne Cox
2004

Inner flap:
*At age 14, she swam 26 miles from Catalina Island to the California mainland
*At ages 15 and 16, she broke the men and women's world records for swimming the English channel
* At 18, she swam the 29 mile Cook Strait, was caught on a massive swell, found herself after five hours farther from the finish then when she started, and still completed the swim
*She was the first to swim the Strait of Magellan, the most teacherous 3-mile stretch of water in the world.
*The first to swim the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia, thereby opening the US/Soviet border for the first time in 48 years
*The first to swim the Cape of Good Hope (and almost attacked by a shark)

In this extraordinary book, the world's most extraordinary distance swimer writes about her emotional and spiritual need to swim and about the almost mystical act of swimming itself.

... She tells us how she conceived of, planned, and trained for each, and recreates the experience of swimming (almost) unswimmable bodies of water, including her most recent astonishing one-mile swim to Antarctica in 32 degree water without a wetsuit.

Fantasy picks, June 3

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/index.jsp

MLB Survivor
My current streak is 1. I chose the Red Sox last night over the Yankees and they won. I have the Red Sox again today. Tomorrow, 6/04 I have the Dodgers over the Pirates. 6/05 I've decided to go with the Diamondbacks.

Beat the Streak
My current streak is 7. Yesterday, although I was hoping Ichiro could continue his hitting streak past 25 games, he didn't have a good history with the pitcher he was facing, so I chose Luis Castillo of the Twins instead. (Funnily enough, Castillo is the only one of the Twins who got a hit yesterday...)

Anyway, today I chose Ichiro...he's got a good history with the pitcher he's facing and, after having had his streak stopped at 25, hopefully he'll be able to start a new one.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Lou Gehrig began his streak today in 1925

On June 2, 1925, Lou Gehrig, who had been playing for the Yankees for two years, but never as a regular player, took over for Wally Ppp.

From Wikipedia:

On June 1, 1925, Gehrig was sent in to pinch hit for light-hitting shortstop Paul "Pee Wee" Wanninger. The next day, June 2, Yankee manager Miller Huggins started Gehrig in place of regular first baseman Wally Pipp. Pipp was in a slump, as were the Yankees as a team, so Huggins made several lineup changes to boost their performance. Fourteen years later, Gehrig had played 2,130 consecutive games