The 4th....30 Years Ago

July 4th....Independence Day.  Hotdogs, Apple Pie...and Baseball?  30 years ago to the day...The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets engaged in an event that went down in history as one of the longest and weirdest games on record.

The old Atlanta-Fulton County (cookie-cutter) Stadium was home to this game in which the first pitch was innocently thrown at 9:04pm after a 1 hour and 24 minute rain delay.

Then.....after more rain delays....these two teams combined to have 46 hits...22 walks...37 runners left on base....5 errors...2 ejections...and 29 runs.

Did we also tell you the game lasted 19 innings!

The game ended at 3:55am July 5th.   A Fireworks show was scheduled immediately following the game....and even though it was 4:00am in the wee hours of this southern summer town....

The show when on!  Thousands of local residents called the police ...thinking the city was under attack!

There were 44,947 fans that entered the stadium the night before....only a few thousand remained till the end.

But if you ask any Atlantans  about that night...today...Oh yeah...they were there!

Right!

From our friends at FoxSports South.   Reminisce with us:

 

Thirty years ago in Atlanta, a baseball marathon led to fireworks going off at 4 a.m.

JUL 2, 8:00a ET | Sam Gardner

A New York...."No-No"

It took 50 years....8,019 games.... 

but the New York Metropolitans finally have a pitcher who pitched a no-hitter.

Let's see what the Post has to say in their headliner:

 



 

R.I.P........Gary Carter

An inspiring kind of dude.....He of the curly hair.....a catcher.....a man's ...man.

Gary Carter.....dead at the tender age of 57.

Those of us in that immediate age group will take notice....And we should take better care of ourselves.

Our prayers go out to the family.....

Mr. Carter.......you will be missed.

 

FAREWELL 'KID'

Hall Of Famer Gary Carter Dies At Age 57.. Teammates, Fans Remember.. Career Stats.. REWIND: Game 6

A ...Slip of the Toungue?

We all know......all fields in New York...are ...."shitty"....

But.....the correct pronunciation is....."City Field"......

 

Gone.......In a New York ........Minute

Mets and Braves Swap Right Fielders

It's a done deal........Tonight, the Atlanta Braves traded home grown right fielder, Jeff Francoeur to the New York Mets for another right fielder, Ryan Church.

After taking the city by storm when called up in 2005........Francoeurs' career....has steadily descended.

Once a two sport star....... at Parkview High....with a football scholarship to attend Clemson, Francoeur never matched that 2005 and 2006 season.

Instead of adjusting to pitchers.......The pitchers....adjusted to him.

Baseball is a mental game........the trade could be good for Jeff.

But .....in New York?

We.......will see.

MLB Regular Season Roundup

It's over.......after 162 games.....6 months.....the Major League Baseball regular season is finally, mercifully over.


And, after 162 games........there was only one team to win 100.....(California Angels, 100-62). Two teams managed to lose over 100 games....(Washington Nationals, 59-102 and Seattle Mariners, 61-101). Only one team lost as many as they won, the Cleveland Indians, 81-81.


The six division winners were, in the NL, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles.....in the AL, Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Los Angeles.......with the wild cards going to Boston and Milwaukee.


The New York Mets did their annual choke job.......Minnesota was oh so close.......


The New York Yankees missed the post-season.......for the first time....in a long time.


Chipper Jones of the Braves won the batting title...........John Smoltz is a hit on TBS ........Barry Bonds still is without a team...........Manny is still Manny....and MLB lives on .....


Bring on the play-offs.

Hump Day News & Views

Go west......young men!

It has been nearly 50 years since the University of Georgia has traveled to the western part of this nation to play a regular season football game. Their last trip to the left coast was in 1960....(a 10-3 loss at Southern Cal)....

This Saturday, the Bulldogs will make a trip to Tempe, Arizona to take on Arizona State in a match up of the SEC and the PAC 10. The 3rd ranked dogs are 3-0.....while the Sun Devils are 2-1.....coming off of an upset loss to UNLV.

It is nice to see Georgia scheduling real teams .......instead of the usual Division II victims in their non-conference games.



Something is wrong here....

The Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost earlier this week. That is their right.....their prerogative .......Last year, the Brewers were in position to get in the play-offs via the "wild card".....but faded down the stretch. The decision for Yost's firing is justified. The Brewers had just lost 11 of 14 games and are in danger of missing the play-offs , yet again.

But .......with the season two weeks from being over.....and only 12 games remaining....Why now?

Seems like a move made out of desperation ..........




Can you say "deja vu" again? ....


Oh.......those amazing Mets!.......Those Mets.....who last year........lost a 7 game lead with only 17 to play.

Those Mets......who fired manager Willie Randolph in the wee hours of the morning this past summer.

Well........they're up for an encore! Last nights 1-0 lost to the Washington Nationals (the last placed Nats' ) knocked the Mets out of first place...........again......

I kind of feel sorry for the fans......but wait...........It's New York.....

Never mind........let 'em suffer.








5......in 10.......

We may never see this again.......It is definite we won't see it again this year.

For the first time ever, the AP college football poll, has 5 teams from the same conference ranked in the top 10. The SEC has Georgia (3rd), Florida (4th), LSU (6th), Alabama (9th), and Auburn (10th).

From Yahoo Sports:

AP Top 25

Sun Sep 14, 2008

1. USC
2. Oklahoma
3. Georgia
4. Florida
5. Missouri
6. LSU
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
9. Alabama
10. Auburn

Finally........

In this southern college town, the temperatures will be in the 50's tonight. After a long hot summer, relief is finally here.......in the form of fall. Could the leaves be turning next?

Let's hope.

Have a great Hump Day.......

Hump Day.......News & Views

The WNBA........has arrived.

Bench clearing brawl....punches thrown.....one player carted off in a wheel chair? A cat fight at The Palace at Auburn Hills in Detroit. You can't buy this much publicity.

Remember girls basketball in the 60's and 70's..........six member teams........only 2 "rovers" were allowed to go over half court. The remaining players stayed on one side.

My...have we grown..........or what?






The Mets are having .......another meltdown..........

Last night the N Y Mets led the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 going into the top of the ninth inning.

The "fighting phils" then scored 6 runs to win the game 8-6. Yes, it's just one game. But this shows the true colors of the Metropolitans ............No heart.

You remember these Mets........The ones that blew an 8 game lead last September.......and missed the play-offs.

Same old Mets.....


Meanwhile..........

The Atlanta Braves..........totally suck! The Braves where limited to 1 hit..........yet again.......in their 4-0 loss to the Florida Marlins last night. Bases loaded, nobody out? No problem for the fish............and no runs for the Bravos..........




Happy trails........Josh Childress.......

He of the big afro has dissed the Atlanta Hawks and signed a multi-year contract to play in Europe.

Again......same old Hawks........










Finally......

Hello "Dolly"..........this hurricane is wreaking havoc along the Texas coast........

I drove through torrential downpours last night in north Atlanta (Lawrenceville)........but not a drop.......in this southern college town.

8/8/8...........as in August 8, 2008...........The Olympics.....Are you ready?

I think the WNBA brawl..........was a good thing.....

Have a nice..........Wednesday.

Hey...........What's up with These....N Y Mets?

The New York Metropolitans ...........

1st place in the NL east. Winners of 10 in a row........

The train wreck, which was the Mets, has been cleaned up, spit-shined and polished , and transformed into the hottest team in baseball.

Exactly one month to the day of Willie Randolph's unceremonious firing, these Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds last night in a come from behind slug-fest , 10-8, to extend their winning streak to 10 games.

A month ago, the Mets were 6 1/2 games out ........in 4th place .......and going nowhere.

Jerry Manuel, who took over for Randolph, is now an impressive 18-9 as new Mets manager.

While we still feel somewhat bad for Randolph, and the way the firing was handled.........You've got to give high fives to Manuel and his staff.

The players are responding.......the team is winning........for now.

But this is New York.....

And.....we all know.....things can change........

In a New York minute.

More Willie Randolph

This is a very funny take on the Willie Randolph firing, thanks to Comedy Central, The Daily Show, and Jon Stewart.

And.....of course..........our good friends at Red Lasso......

Enjoy:

Willie's Story

This is interesting.....and different......





From the New York Daily News:

Willie Randolph opens up after his recent firing as Mets manager

BY WILLIE RANDOLPH
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Friday, June 20th 2008, 4:00 AM

Three and a half years and 555 games after it began, my dream of bringing a championship to the New York Mets officially expired a few minutes after midnight in Suite 1602 of the Westin Hotel in Costa Mesa, Calif.

You've heard of Black Friday? Well, this was my Black Tuesday.

Call me naive if you want, but I never saw it coming. I was sitting on a sofa across from Omar Minaya, the Mets' general manager and the man who hired me.

Omar was baseball's first Hispanic GM, and on Nov. 4, 2004, he made me the first African-American manager in New York baseball history. The kid from Queens and the kid from Brooklyn doing some pioneering together, hoping to lead the team they grew up rooting for back to glory.

It was a sweet, storybook day. It's too bad there wasn't a storybook ending. I remember how upbeat and excited Omar sounded when he hired me; he could barely get out any words at all.

That was then. Now, on Black Tuesday, we'd just beaten the tough Los Angeles Angels, playing one of our best games of the season. Mets VP Tony Bernazard came into my office.

"Omar wants to see you in his room when you get back to the hotel," he said.

"Okay," I replied. There had been a slew of stories in recent days that a couple of my coaches, Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto, were about to be fired. All the stories were leaked by "Met front-office sources."

It got to the point over the last month or so that whenever I saw the word "sources" in a story, I knew either me or someone on my staff was going to be declared on the verge of unemployment.

Anyway, when I walked into the room Omar asked me to sit down. He sat right across from me. He started talking about how the team was underperforming, how it needed to turn around.

He said it was time to make some changes, and I waited for him to talk about whacking Rick and Tommy, but he just kept talking, for a minute or two, maybe longer, about how the team was better than it was playing, about all the stories that were out there and the cloud hovering over the team.

As Omar went on and on, looking very uncomfortable, this weird chill started to course through by body. I could feel myself going cold. He kept talking, almost stammering, and the chill got worse.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that maybe he was talking about me. Maybe I was the one about to get whacked.

Finally, I stopped him. I looked right at him.

"Omar, are you firing me?" I asked. He looked away for a minute and then met my eyes. "Yeah, I'm going to make a move," he said. "It's a hard decision, but I have to make it."

To continue reading..... click:

Next Page

TGIF...........thoughts

Western Conference Champs.......

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs last night . Yes , Kobe Bryant, and those young Lakers ....got it done. Speaking of Kobe........Who's better now? Kobe? Or Michael? The debate continues..........But..........Kobe ...........is........awesome!



Bum knee?


Andruw Jones was placed on the disable list for the first time in his career............With the Los Angeles Dodgers.......I.....personally admired Jones. Well.......up until the past couple of years. It's sad, because I saw him as the best centerfielder ever to play the game........until he signed that contract..........and got fat.....and ...got content. Now , he will be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee.



The back pages......of the New York tabloids......are getting civil again......

The New York Mets have won three in a row.......Willie Randolph is breathing easier.......Amazing what winning will do in the big apple.



Braves win a road game..........

Yes, the Atlanta Braves won yesterday..........a road game. Interesting stat.........The Braves outscored the Brewers in the 3 game series, 10-5........yet lost two of three......oh, those one run games.


It's the weekend, baby.....

Here's to the weekend..........most folks are off from work.......as I have said in the past.....I am not ......most folks.....(I in fact work tomorrow night). But .......for the rest of you.......

Have a great weekend!

So.....You want to break up a Double Play?

Your Dad always said there would be days like this.....Your Mother insisted baseball was a non contact sport......You can't get hurt playing baseball....or can you?

New York Mets right fielder, Ryan Church tried to break up a double play against Yunel Escobar and the Atlanta Braves in the 9th inning of a game last night.

Well.......after sliding a good 3 feet to the center field side of second base......and one concussion later......he may think twice......before attempting this feat ever again.

Courtesy of ESPN and Red Lasso..........take a look:

Hump Day News & Views

Finally........the final four.....

The marathon we know as the NBA play-offs, is nearing an end........Well, sort of. Boston and Detroit will battle in the east, while Los Angeles and San Antonio will knuckle up in the west. Some time in late June a champion will be crowned. The Spurs bested the sentimental favorite, New Orleans Hornets, Monday night in game 7, played in New Orleans. A day earlier, in the new Boston Garden , the Celtics out lasted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in yet another game 7. Don't go placing bets.......but our picks are Boston in 6......and the Lakers in 6.




It's getting a little hot in here........you think?

New York Met manager Willie Randolph is feeling the heat of being the leader of an underachieving team. Since Randolph took over, in the Nation League east, the Mets have finished 3rd (2005, 83-79), 1st (2006, 97-65, losing in the NLCS), and 2nd ( 2007, 88-74).

That 2nd place finish last year was tough on New Yorkers. The Mets blew the single biggest lead in the standings in the shortest amount of days in the history of baseball. With 17 games left in the season, the Mets had a 7 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies..........They would go 5-12 in those final games and be stamped, "the biggest chokers....ever".

This year the Mets are languishing in 5th place with a mediocre 22-21 record. Over the weekend , Mr. Randolph lashed out at the New York media.......(Never a wise thing to do..."You're out numbered, Willie.") He said the media treated former Yankee manager, Joe Torre with more respect. Huh? Memo to Mr. Randolph, "Torre won 4 world championships.......You have..........how many?" Willie, Willie.......come on! This is New York, New York........You of all people should know what comes with managing in this town.

Be that leader.......That leader the Mets are paying you to be. You are a good man and a good baseball man. But ........you've got to win............or ........you've got to go.



Happy trails.....Mike Piazza ....

Former Met, Mike Piazza is calling it quits.......After a 16 year career, Piazza announced his retirement from baseball. And what an unlikely though highly successful career it was.

The year was 1988. Major League Baseball held its' annual amateur draft. 1,026 players were drafted ahead of Piazza. As a favor to Piazzas' father, then Los Angeles Dodger manager, Tommy Lasorda , used the teams final pick to select Mike in the 62nd round.

The rest.......as they say......is history. This future Hall of Famer amassed stats which puts him atop of the heap......of the elite. He is the greatest hitting catcher........ever. With more home runs (427 ) and more RBIs (1,335) than any catcher before him. A .308 life time batting average.......is not too bad either..... Mike, we applaud you.




Ryan..........gets rich! Quickly!

$72 million..........six years.........$34.75 million guaranteed. Now that's a contract! The Atlanta Falcons signed its' franchise savior and number 1 pick, QB Matt Ryan, to a contract Tuesday. It's only been a little more than a month since the Falcons made Ryan the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

Lets' just hope Mr. Ryan is up to the challenge. That's an awful lot of money to give to person who has yet to sell a single seat in the Georgia Dome........Has yet to throw a single pass......or gain a single yard........Has yet to get an NFL completion........much less a touchdown.

$72 million..........six years........$34.75 million guaranteed..........It's not my money...... but.....



Another National Champion for UGA......

They have a pretty decent athletic program at the University of Georgia in that small southern college town of Athens. Yesterday , the Mens Tennis team won its second NCAA title in a row as the Bulldogs defeated Texas, 4-2. The gymnastics team (the gym dogs) won its championship earlier this year.

The baseball team (the diamond dogs) is currently ranked 7th in the nation with hopes of competing in this years' college world series.

Seems ....that.....football team ( which some will rank 1st or 2nd in the pre-season polls ) will have some tough acts to follow come fall......

Finally..........

I think there was a winner on American Idol...........but I don't know who.......just wasn't interested......but you can google it ........and find out.

Finally.....Finally......

The WNBA season has began ...........again.....just not interested.....but you can google the WNBA also........Come to think of it........you can google any thing......at any time..... and that's .......a good thing.