Another World Series, another sweep...2004 over the Cardinals, 2007 over the Rockies...don't get me wrong, I love the wins, but occasionally, a little drama would be nice. It's why the emotions of winning the ALCS have been higher. However, a sweep is still just as satisfying, this year in particular, knowing how much of this team is a core for the future. With that, here's 15 (Pedroia) things I think about the World Series:
1. I'm sure anyone that's ever held a bat at the plate has pictured themselves hitting a home run to win the World Series (and some like Joe Carter have gotten to experience such). However, it's still got to be a great feeling for little powerhouse Dustin Pedroia to lead off his first world series game in his rookie season with a blast over the Green Monster. Bravo to the Red Sox 2nd baseman of the present and the future.
2. It's amazing how difficult it can be at times to get that 3rd out of an inning. Just ask the Rockies as the Red Sox blew open game 1 in the 5th, with hit after hit coming with two outs. Of course, walking in 3 straight runs didn't help Colorado's cause either.
3. The youth movement of the Red Sox continues with the duo of Ellsbury and Pedroia. First time in World Series history that a pair of rookies led off a game (Games 3 & 4, with no Youkilis), and did they produce. Ellsbury is so fast it's sick, and Pedroia just always seems to know what to do, nothing phases these guys. They're both so much fun to watch.
4. Thanks to the Rockies for making a few games close (including the great Game 2), even though they still got swept. That's another good young team over there, in what is typically looking like the weaker NL at this point. Now both expansion teams from 1993 have made the World Series (and the Marlins have won 2) with the only recent expansion team that's really underperformed being, surprise, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (I mean the Rays, or whatever they're calling themselves these days).
5. Though the Sox bullpen was quality for much of the year, let's give some big accoldates to it's two studs. Hideki Okajima, fully rested after a September slow down, absolutely befuddling the Rockies hitters with the weirdest delivery this side of the Pacific. As far as Jonathan Papelbon goes, wow is he dominant, and is he ever fun to watch. Speaking of which...
6. Jonathan Papelbon should have a part in the next Batman movie where they resurrect the villian Two-Face. I can not think of a player in recent memory who appears so strikingly different from when he's on the field to when he's off it. On the mound: that death stare that could kill anybody, those eyes coming out from underneath his cap, the entrance to the Dropkick Murphys, it is so damn intimidating. Off the field: the biggest partier in the clubhouse. For those who skipped college frat parties, there's Pap to show you the correct way to have fun with an empty Bud Light box, what the appropriate attire is for post victory celebration (I'm harkening back to when they clinched the AL East and those Under Armor shorts), and how to best show the world you just got the last out in the World Series. I sat there watching Game 4 going "this has to be a strikeout just so I can see Papelbon's reaction. Thankfully, he didn't disappoint.
7. Professor Thom's was a pretty cool place to watch a Red Sox game. Quite a bit bigger than Riviera's but both are quality places. Such is life as a member of the Nation - you can live within the boundaries of the Empire and still find friendly confines to watch the game. Also, though it was good, but not totally authentic, nobody, I mean nobody, does a better Hot Dog than the city of Chicago. Screw deep dish pizza, and get yourself a Chicago style dog anytime you're in the windy city...like a cheesesteak in Philly, it's simply required dining.
8. This assumes the Red Sox are able to work out a deal with Mike Lowell, which is still pending, but have you thought about the possible Red Sox lineup for next season? I mean it really is somewhat sickening -
1. CF - Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B - Dustin Pedroia
3. DH - David Ortiz
4. LF - Manny Ramirez
5. 1B - Kevin Youkilis
6. 3B - Mike Lowell
7. RF - J.D. Drew
8. C - Jason Varitek
9. SS - Julio Lugo
9. Award for most improbable contribution to a game during the series belongs to Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K helped his own cause in Game 3, which was close early, with a 2 RBI hit, batting only cause the game was in a National League park. Man when things are clicking, they are really just going well.
10. Props to Terry Francona, for becoming the first manager in MLB history to go 8-0 in his first 8 World Series games. The previous record had been 6-0. In four years with the Sox, the team has now made the playoffs 3 times, won a division title and two World Series Championships, with a post-season record of 22-9, a winning percentage of .710. Not bad. Add to that his ability to deal with the media and maintain team harmony, and it should be obvious - Ink this man to an extension.
11. I don't care whether it was ARod's idea or all Scott Boras' own doing, but leaking announcement of your opting out during Game 4, a possible clinching game of the World Series, is still a pretty low move and showing a total need for "me, me,me attention." If the objective was to show ARod is larger than the game, mission accomplished, it was all anyone could talk about the next day, with disgust. Want to be a singular superstar the rules all?...go to the NBA.
12. Want a good reason to keep winning more championships - simply so we can see more celebrations from Jonathan Papelbon and more "riverdance." For those interested, Pap will be leading the class at Arthur Murray's in December and January, during his off season.
13. I hadn't addressed it yet, but where was Matt Holliday during the 8th inning of Game 2. First career pickoff for Papelbon and the easiest safe/out call for an umpire to make during the entire post season. I had that happen to me once too, but I was a 14yr old playing freshman baseball, not in the World Series. Ouch.
14. One extra additional plug for the adorable hottie that is Dustin Pedroia. Can't wait for spring training.
15. Nothing will ever touch 2004 for all the build up over the previous 86 yrs, even if I wasn't around for most of that. Seemed almost like fate, that the Red Sox most recent post season heart break occurred just the year before in 2003, as one final dagger in the heart of fans before the 2004 team performed that exorcism. Now the Red Sox aren't the losers who find new ways to kill you slowly. This is a team that wins, a team that does have financial advantages (in part due to its rabid fan base & good ownership) and a team that makes smart decisions. I don't care how many more titles this group of guys wins (and hopefully there'll be a few more), it is always sweet to win. Thank you Boston Red Sox for kick starting 2007 as a year to remember for all Boston sports fans for the rest of our lives.
~SS
Wednesday, November 14
Monday, November 12
Lightning Strking
Ok, I know I've been very bad with my blog for the past month (for a variety of reasons), so you can scold me later (as long as the physical punishment isn't too painful). I'm going to get back into it with a couple posts recapping what's been an amazing past month in Boston sports, and any other funny anecdotes as I try to develop some sort of regular rhythm.
Now, with that out of the way, how's bout a lightning round recap from the sports world. With all due apologies to Peter King, here's 19 (Beckett) things I think about the 2007 ALCS:
1.How dominant is Josh Beckett. Two solidifying wins over the Indians, including the series saver in Game 5. Was there any doubt that Beckett would win that game. As I heard a commentator remark after the World Series, Beckett looked like he wanted there to be an additional round or two. Nothing touches this man in the post season.
2. Game 2's loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't devastating, as it would have been pre-2004. It was a loss, and all who know me, know that I'm not the best at losing (it's what allows wins to be so thrilling). But there was still hope with these Red Sox, cause the specter of 1918 doesn't hang over their head. As the sole team in MLB history to come back from being down 3-0 (which even most Sox fans thought impossible) here, even when down 3-1, I kept confidence up. Beckett would be lights out in Game 5 (he was), no way Schilling would lose two in one series (he didn't have dominating stuff, but it was still good behind amazing Red Sox bats), and then Game 7 is up for grabs (and it was, until it was broken open by the Sox late).
3. Could Kevin Youkilis sweat anymore when he's at the plate? Honestly, if he goes in the steam room at a gym, does he just turn into a prune surrounded by a puddle. It must be impossible for him to overheat.
4. Dustin Pedroia is such a gamer, the little guy that he is. You know he was the kid in high school that if four bullies all much bigger than him, started to give him a hard time, he woulda taken on all of them at once, eagerly. Oh, and screw that his hair is thinning, he is still so very hot.
5. I'll admit I bought all the hype, like most people, before the post season even began, about how tough it would be to face CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona back to back. Well, in this series the two were a combined 0-3, with the only game they started that the Indians won being Game 2, the marathon extra-inning game that the Tribe took 13-6.
6. How annoying did the white towels at Jacobs Field get. Much like the rally monkey in Anaheim a few years ago, any of these "actions" fans do to rile up their teams in the post season are cute the first 2-3 times, and majorly annoying from there on out. All I typically see at Fenway Park are just cheering/screaming fans, that know their baseball, without needing many extra gimics.
7. JD Drew finally came through, in a big way, in Game 6 with that grand slam. Up until that point, during much of the year, I'm sure other Red Sox fans were also longing for the company man, Red Sox home grown Trot Nixon. And gosh did he make the team pay in Game 2 with the hit that broke that game wide open. Good job by Trot, and great blast JD, to one of the deepest parts of the park.
8. Coco Crisp is either out of here next year, or will be a bench player. However, he's still young and a good, not great player, so hopefully the Red Sox can do him well and find him a nice place to go. While his arm strength is on par with that of my own during little league...gosh can he catch. The amount of OMG/web gems catches that Crisp made this year are too many to count. Can only hope Ellsbury will be able to match up to that (he's already given strong indications). Even that catch Coco made in Game 7, running in to the wall, to seal the series...man.
9. While many of the Indians bats came up lame during the series, Grady Sizemore, apart from having a great name, showed up to play. I've heard all the great acoldates, but getting to watch him play for a bit regularly, there's another hot young star. Can look forward to hopefully seeing him in many more Red Sox / Indians contentious games over the next few years.
10. Speaking of lame Indians, I know Kenny Lofton has come so close to winning a World Series many times, and I don't have a problem if he ever gets one. The man is still fast, still can play. However, that flip/drop of the bat on ball four of an at bat has got to go. I have no problem with Josh Beckett ripping him a new one for that.
11. These 7 game series and come from behind performances are exciting, but there's part of me, that would like win a series sometime where it wasn't always so desperate, say a 6 game series or something. However, if it has to go 7 games, it is better probably to have the Sox backs against the wall rather than trying not to blow something.
12. WEPN / 1050 ESPN Radio in New York needs to find its way onto a stronger signal if possible. Driving back on a Saturday evening from Massachusetts, I had a hard time for much of the Connecticut Turnpike in trying to pick it up. Hartford's ESPN affiliate wasn't much better. The best radio I could get, plenty clearly, was WTAM 1100 from Cleveland. (Going over lineups and the field, apparently the Indians broadcasters like the small details, letting us know not only all the distances to the outfield, but how high the fence is in each area - thorough). Disney also owns WQEW 1560, for Radio Disney. While the dial position is not as desirable, it's a clear-channel signal, and much stronger. Swap them perhaps? Just a thought for the future.
13. Could the elder statesman of the Red Sox, Mr. Tim Wakefield, have a bit better luck please. He's left off the ALDS roster for health reasons (rightfully so). Pitched one game in the ALCS, and pitched well in it, but still got let down by the total lack of Red Sox offense. Yes Paul Byrd pitched even better, but Wakefield had his knuckler working wonderfully, which is tough to do in October, before giving up some hits in the 5th. I agree with Francona, Wake woulda stayed in the game longer if it wasn't the playoffs. However, all that happened the next day in much of the national media was Wakefield getting scolded about how he was the wrong choice for the game and that he was overmatched. The man deserves better, and at least I hope most Red Sox fans still love this great guy.
14.What was baseball like in the post-season back before Fox got a hold of it. Seriously, before there were 437 cameras at each game, how did we at home watch a playoff game without knowing the angst expressed on the face of each fan in the ballpark. I think I was even able to count the number of one guy's fillings when he opened his mouth, we were up so close.
15. Did I mention how hot Dustin Pedroia is, in physical appearance, but also in game attitude and work ethic.
16. Francona always just seems to be able to make the right decisions. He's stuck behind players so long, usually deservingly so. However, in Game 6, he made the switch to start Jacoby Ellsbury in Center Field instead of Coco Crisp. Crisp bat had looked awful, and Ellsbury, who hadn't even played half a season in the majors, was ready and raring to go. What great dreams Sox fans can have of the future.
17. Thank you to the Jacob's bugs for not making an appearance in this series. While I've no doubt they rattled Chamberlain in the ALDS series for NY, those are the breaks. It was nice to not have something else around to scapegoat for the result of any particular game. Bonus thanks to "Terry in Boston" for calling up WEEI's Big Show with one of the most hilarious phone calls I've heard in a while.
18. NESN will more than likely have several people ready with the bleep button next year during Josh Beckett's post-game press conferences. But admit it, he's using words we all know, and it just makes him that much more fun of a player.
19. A big thanks from all of baseball to both the Red Sox and the Indians for giving us an actual series to watch. After and Divisional Series round that featured only one game above the minimum (3 sweeps, and the Cleveland/New York series went four games), a sweep in the NLCS, and then to come a sweep in the World Series, the Red Sox and Indians showed themselves to be the two best teams in baseball, as their tied records indicated at the end of the regular season, and thus gave us a strong 7 game to enjoy.
Up next, the Championship.
Now, with that out of the way, how's bout a lightning round recap from the sports world. With all due apologies to Peter King, here's 19 (Beckett) things I think about the 2007 ALCS:
1.How dominant is Josh Beckett. Two solidifying wins over the Indians, including the series saver in Game 5. Was there any doubt that Beckett would win that game. As I heard a commentator remark after the World Series, Beckett looked like he wanted there to be an additional round or two. Nothing touches this man in the post season.
2. Game 2's loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't devastating, as it would have been pre-2004. It was a loss, and all who know me, know that I'm not the best at losing (it's what allows wins to be so thrilling). But there was still hope with these Red Sox, cause the specter of 1918 doesn't hang over their head. As the sole team in MLB history to come back from being down 3-0 (which even most Sox fans thought impossible) here, even when down 3-1, I kept confidence up. Beckett would be lights out in Game 5 (he was), no way Schilling would lose two in one series (he didn't have dominating stuff, but it was still good behind amazing Red Sox bats), and then Game 7 is up for grabs (and it was, until it was broken open by the Sox late).
3. Could Kevin Youkilis sweat anymore when he's at the plate? Honestly, if he goes in the steam room at a gym, does he just turn into a prune surrounded by a puddle. It must be impossible for him to overheat.
4. Dustin Pedroia is such a gamer, the little guy that he is. You know he was the kid in high school that if four bullies all much bigger than him, started to give him a hard time, he woulda taken on all of them at once, eagerly. Oh, and screw that his hair is thinning, he is still so very hot.
5. I'll admit I bought all the hype, like most people, before the post season even began, about how tough it would be to face CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona back to back. Well, in this series the two were a combined 0-3, with the only game they started that the Indians won being Game 2, the marathon extra-inning game that the Tribe took 13-6.
6. How annoying did the white towels at Jacobs Field get. Much like the rally monkey in Anaheim a few years ago, any of these "actions" fans do to rile up their teams in the post season are cute the first 2-3 times, and majorly annoying from there on out. All I typically see at Fenway Park are just cheering/screaming fans, that know their baseball, without needing many extra gimics.
7. JD Drew finally came through, in a big way, in Game 6 with that grand slam. Up until that point, during much of the year, I'm sure other Red Sox fans were also longing for the company man, Red Sox home grown Trot Nixon. And gosh did he make the team pay in Game 2 with the hit that broke that game wide open. Good job by Trot, and great blast JD, to one of the deepest parts of the park.
8. Coco Crisp is either out of here next year, or will be a bench player. However, he's still young and a good, not great player, so hopefully the Red Sox can do him well and find him a nice place to go. While his arm strength is on par with that of my own during little league...gosh can he catch. The amount of OMG/web gems catches that Crisp made this year are too many to count. Can only hope Ellsbury will be able to match up to that (he's already given strong indications). Even that catch Coco made in Game 7, running in to the wall, to seal the series...man.
9. While many of the Indians bats came up lame during the series, Grady Sizemore, apart from having a great name, showed up to play. I've heard all the great acoldates, but getting to watch him play for a bit regularly, there's another hot young star. Can look forward to hopefully seeing him in many more Red Sox / Indians contentious games over the next few years.
10. Speaking of lame Indians, I know Kenny Lofton has come so close to winning a World Series many times, and I don't have a problem if he ever gets one. The man is still fast, still can play. However, that flip/drop of the bat on ball four of an at bat has got to go. I have no problem with Josh Beckett ripping him a new one for that.
11. These 7 game series and come from behind performances are exciting, but there's part of me, that would like win a series sometime where it wasn't always so desperate, say a 6 game series or something. However, if it has to go 7 games, it is better probably to have the Sox backs against the wall rather than trying not to blow something.
12. WEPN / 1050 ESPN Radio in New York needs to find its way onto a stronger signal if possible. Driving back on a Saturday evening from Massachusetts, I had a hard time for much of the Connecticut Turnpike in trying to pick it up. Hartford's ESPN affiliate wasn't much better. The best radio I could get, plenty clearly, was WTAM 1100 from Cleveland. (Going over lineups and the field, apparently the Indians broadcasters like the small details, letting us know not only all the distances to the outfield, but how high the fence is in each area - thorough). Disney also owns WQEW 1560, for Radio Disney. While the dial position is not as desirable, it's a clear-channel signal, and much stronger. Swap them perhaps? Just a thought for the future.
13. Could the elder statesman of the Red Sox, Mr. Tim Wakefield, have a bit better luck please. He's left off the ALDS roster for health reasons (rightfully so). Pitched one game in the ALCS, and pitched well in it, but still got let down by the total lack of Red Sox offense. Yes Paul Byrd pitched even better, but Wakefield had his knuckler working wonderfully, which is tough to do in October, before giving up some hits in the 5th. I agree with Francona, Wake woulda stayed in the game longer if it wasn't the playoffs. However, all that happened the next day in much of the national media was Wakefield getting scolded about how he was the wrong choice for the game and that he was overmatched. The man deserves better, and at least I hope most Red Sox fans still love this great guy.
14.What was baseball like in the post-season back before Fox got a hold of it. Seriously, before there were 437 cameras at each game, how did we at home watch a playoff game without knowing the angst expressed on the face of each fan in the ballpark. I think I was even able to count the number of one guy's fillings when he opened his mouth, we were up so close.
15. Did I mention how hot Dustin Pedroia is, in physical appearance, but also in game attitude and work ethic.
16. Francona always just seems to be able to make the right decisions. He's stuck behind players so long, usually deservingly so. However, in Game 6, he made the switch to start Jacoby Ellsbury in Center Field instead of Coco Crisp. Crisp bat had looked awful, and Ellsbury, who hadn't even played half a season in the majors, was ready and raring to go. What great dreams Sox fans can have of the future.
17. Thank you to the Jacob's bugs for not making an appearance in this series. While I've no doubt they rattled Chamberlain in the ALDS series for NY, those are the breaks. It was nice to not have something else around to scapegoat for the result of any particular game. Bonus thanks to "Terry in Boston" for calling up WEEI's Big Show with one of the most hilarious phone calls I've heard in a while.
18. NESN will more than likely have several people ready with the bleep button next year during Josh Beckett's post-game press conferences. But admit it, he's using words we all know, and it just makes him that much more fun of a player.
19. A big thanks from all of baseball to both the Red Sox and the Indians for giving us an actual series to watch. After and Divisional Series round that featured only one game above the minimum (3 sweeps, and the Cleveland/New York series went four games), a sweep in the NLCS, and then to come a sweep in the World Series, the Red Sox and Indians showed themselves to be the two best teams in baseball, as their tied records indicated at the end of the regular season, and thus gave us a strong 7 game to enjoy.
Up next, the Championship.
Monday, October 8
N to Nowhere???
In a few short months I've had some interesting subway rides, like any New Yorker. However, Sunday night is one that still leaves me puzzled and just a bit annoyed...
First, an overview of the MTA/NYCT (for those of you from New York, or familiar with our subway system, you can skip this paragraph). Unlike other cities with less complex system, New York's system is divided into different trains that at times share lines. There is a total of 24 different trains (with different color codes to simplify the reading of the map): 1,2,3 (Red); 4,5,6 (Green); 7 (Purple); A,C,E (Blue); B,D,F,V (Orange); G (Lime); J,M,Z (Brown); L (Grey); N,Q,R,W (Yellow); and some S Shuttles (Black). Construction is on going on the T Train (which is slated to be Teal).
[As an aside, the reason some are numbers and some are letters have to do with the width of the rail track. NYCT is a combination of three previous train companies. The numbered trains, from one company, use a narrower train for for a more narrow track vs. the other two companies, who's descendants are the letter trains.]
Different trains run different schedules during weekdays (peaks and non peak), weekends, and late nights (between midnight and 5AM, roughly). Some trains run local (meaning they hit every stop along their line), others run express (only hitting the main stops). Some express trains run express all the time, others run local at late ngiht, etc. Basically, the system is complex.
Due to all these issues, sometimes strange things happen. I've been on "express" trains that start their late night local as early as 9:30-10PM (which gets a bit annoying). Weekends and late nights are also prone to many unusual circumstances, due to track work. However, these are posted, so at elast, as a passenger, you know what is goign on. Sunday night however, lacked any of these indications. Ok, on to the story:
Following a Sunday of generous beer at Gym Bar, I stopped by my office to pick something up, and catch the train home to Brooklyn. On the platform at Union Square, I went through the turnstile at about 7:10PM. First train to come was a Q train, which would run express, but only get me to Atlantic Ave./Pacific St. before having to take the local R train. I passed on the Q (maybe should have taken it). Next train was a local R. [Again, an aside, but the R-local runs a track all the way to the southern tip of Manhattan (known as the Whitehall track), while the Express N/Q trains go over the Manhattan Bridge (eliminating about 6 additional stops).]
Finally after about 10 minutes an N train comes, I hop on, and begin the trek home. After the Canal Street stop, when we didn't pop right out up onto the bridge, I got suspicious. For some reason, at 7:20ish on a Sunday evening, we were going the Whitehall path instead of over the bridge, not stopping at the stations, but still routing through the longer path.
As we're coming close to the Atlantic Ave./Pacific St. stop, the train stops (happens more than it should), but stays stopped. We're informed by the conductor, that the emergency brake had been activated, and that the operator was going to check it out, we would hopefully be moving shortly, and please be patient. [This is one of the most enjoyable things the MTA has to say in any situation: "Please be patient," as if any of us has a choice in the matter.]
We're stopped for 15-20 minutes, with two other similar announcements from the conductor, informing us of the operator examining the emergency brake. At this point, two NYPD officers enter from the car forward ours, explaining us that this train is being canceled, and to exit the train at the front two cars. We gather up our stuff and trudge through the cars, only to find that the front two cars of this train actually had platformed at Pacific St., with plenty of people waiting around for trains. Now why, with all this time the break was being examined, they didn't let us off the train up until now, I have no idea. But ok, fine, that N train was canceled, I'll wait for another N or an R (whichever comes first).
About 5-7 minutes later, the N train, now empty of passengers, begins to move again. You would think it would proceed throguh the station to wherever it was ultiamtely going to rejoin service. Well it did - it came to the end of the Pacific St. platform, stopped, opened its doors, and was continuing on to Coney island, it's final stop. I got on, took it one more stop, before switching to the R train (which is required to get to my final destination).
So to recap, at approximately 7:15-7:20 on a Sunday evening, the N train, which is supposed to cross over the Manhattan Bridge to run express through Brooklyn, instead follows the longer Whitehall Path, not stopping at the stations, only to stop right before the Pacific St. station for 15-20 minutes due to "an activiation of the emergency brake.", when we actually were partially on the platform. The police cancel the train, empty it out, and a few minutes later, it comes to a stop completely on the platform, opens its doors, and reloads with passengers. The total time of this adventure, from Union Square back to Bay Ridge was 85 minutes (including the 7-10 mintues waiting for the first train). This trip usually takes about 45 minutes. Certainly on this day the MTA may have been goign someday's way...but it wasn't mine.
~SS
First, an overview of the MTA/NYCT (for those of you from New York, or familiar with our subway system, you can skip this paragraph). Unlike other cities with less complex system, New York's system is divided into different trains that at times share lines. There is a total of 24 different trains (with different color codes to simplify the reading of the map): 1,2,3 (Red); 4,5,6 (Green); 7 (Purple); A,C,E (Blue); B,D,F,V (Orange); G (Lime); J,M,Z (Brown); L (Grey); N,Q,R,W (Yellow); and some S Shuttles (Black). Construction is on going on the T Train (which is slated to be Teal).
[As an aside, the reason some are numbers and some are letters have to do with the width of the rail track. NYCT is a combination of three previous train companies. The numbered trains, from one company, use a narrower train for for a more narrow track vs. the other two companies, who's descendants are the letter trains.]
Different trains run different schedules during weekdays (peaks and non peak), weekends, and late nights (between midnight and 5AM, roughly). Some trains run local (meaning they hit every stop along their line), others run express (only hitting the main stops). Some express trains run express all the time, others run local at late ngiht, etc. Basically, the system is complex.
Due to all these issues, sometimes strange things happen. I've been on "express" trains that start their late night local as early as 9:30-10PM (which gets a bit annoying). Weekends and late nights are also prone to many unusual circumstances, due to track work. However, these are posted, so at elast, as a passenger, you know what is goign on. Sunday night however, lacked any of these indications. Ok, on to the story:
Following a Sunday of generous beer at Gym Bar, I stopped by my office to pick something up, and catch the train home to Brooklyn. On the platform at Union Square, I went through the turnstile at about 7:10PM. First train to come was a Q train, which would run express, but only get me to Atlantic Ave./Pacific St. before having to take the local R train. I passed on the Q (maybe should have taken it). Next train was a local R. [Again, an aside, but the R-local runs a track all the way to the southern tip of Manhattan (known as the Whitehall track), while the Express N/Q trains go over the Manhattan Bridge (eliminating about 6 additional stops).]
Finally after about 10 minutes an N train comes, I hop on, and begin the trek home. After the Canal Street stop, when we didn't pop right out up onto the bridge, I got suspicious. For some reason, at 7:20ish on a Sunday evening, we were going the Whitehall path instead of over the bridge, not stopping at the stations, but still routing through the longer path.
As we're coming close to the Atlantic Ave./Pacific St. stop, the train stops (happens more than it should), but stays stopped. We're informed by the conductor, that the emergency brake had been activated, and that the operator was going to check it out, we would hopefully be moving shortly, and please be patient. [This is one of the most enjoyable things the MTA has to say in any situation: "Please be patient," as if any of us has a choice in the matter.]
We're stopped for 15-20 minutes, with two other similar announcements from the conductor, informing us of the operator examining the emergency brake. At this point, two NYPD officers enter from the car forward ours, explaining us that this train is being canceled, and to exit the train at the front two cars. We gather up our stuff and trudge through the cars, only to find that the front two cars of this train actually had platformed at Pacific St., with plenty of people waiting around for trains. Now why, with all this time the break was being examined, they didn't let us off the train up until now, I have no idea. But ok, fine, that N train was canceled, I'll wait for another N or an R (whichever comes first).
About 5-7 minutes later, the N train, now empty of passengers, begins to move again. You would think it would proceed throguh the station to wherever it was ultiamtely going to rejoin service. Well it did - it came to the end of the Pacific St. platform, stopped, opened its doors, and was continuing on to Coney island, it's final stop. I got on, took it one more stop, before switching to the R train (which is required to get to my final destination).
So to recap, at approximately 7:15-7:20 on a Sunday evening, the N train, which is supposed to cross over the Manhattan Bridge to run express through Brooklyn, instead follows the longer Whitehall Path, not stopping at the stations, only to stop right before the Pacific St. station for 15-20 minutes due to "an activiation of the emergency brake.", when we actually were partially on the platform. The police cancel the train, empty it out, and a few minutes later, it comes to a stop completely on the platform, opens its doors, and reloads with passengers. The total time of this adventure, from Union Square back to Bay Ridge was 85 minutes (including the 7-10 mintues waiting for the first train). This trip usually takes about 45 minutes. Certainly on this day the MTA may have been goign someday's way...but it wasn't mine.
~SS
Sunday, October 7
Towards the Future...
Fair warning, that this will be a sports heavy entry (hey with football weekends & the baseball playoffs, it's kinda what's on my mind)...
While the 2007 season isn't done, it's time for Wisconsin to start looking towards the future. The Badgers defense couldn't stop anything yesterday, and as a result suffered what could only be described as an embarrassing defeat to the fuckin Illini of Illinois. Thankfully, Wisconsin's defense is young and will hopefully mature towards next season. Right now though, a patch needs to be made to salvage this season and still get to a big name bowl (maybe a 4th straight Capital One Bowl). At least it wasn't the worst upset of the day (for that, check out what Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal did against the Trojans...or ND finally getting one upsetting UCLA...AGAIN!!! --- a bad day of football for the City of Angels)...
The Red Sox, another great win on Friday. Anyone who has interest has already seen it. I still don't think that Manny's homerun has come down (and if it did, it was probably through the windshield of some car speeding down the Pike). The same way I heard Yankees fans all September saying the didn't want to face the Angels, I of course was thinking, that's fine, give the Red Sox the Angels. 18 out of 26 at Fenway, and continued post season dominance, right now the next time the team from Anaheim sees Beantown again, it'll be too soon. Not sure if the Sox will sweep, but they still certainly have control in the series. The Yankees have their part as well, going down 2-0 to the Indians. I think the Yankees won't get swept, but their backs are against the wall. They at least get credit for variety. They lost game 1 in a blowout and game 2 in an excruciating extra-innings fashion.
Patriots take their 4-0 record back home to Gillette Stadium and take on old defensive guru Romeo Crennel and the Cleveland Browns. As long as the focus is there, win #5 should be theirs in a matter of hours.
The other football note was Thursday night. I went to a speakers panel on Gays and the NFL (as it is Gay Superbowl Weekend in NYC). The panel, moderated by the founder of Outsports.com, had on it, among others, former out NFL players Dave Kopay (the pioneer in out athletes) and Esera Tuaolo. The discussion included not only stories from their own playing days, but questions/comments from the crowd (which included a forner 4-year NFL journeyman himself). The crux of the conversation, centered around feelings I could echo as my feelings on the issue of "integrated" sports: a single person is, for the most part, smart on the issue of having a gay athlete as a teammate. However, the group think of people (and in this case, a team) is much harder to change. It will change from the bottom up, in high schools and colleges (where it is very slowly happening). A transcendent moment would be a major athlete (like a Tom Brady) coming out. However, nobody really had a clue if/when that would happen. (Btw, it was basically agreed upon by the audience that Tom Brady = hot, Peyton Manning = not; made me smile.) The more likely idea is a high school athlete, say a quarterback, who comes out in high school, and is so talented, that a major school in a liberal area (I hate to say it, btu like a USC) would take him, develop him, and he'd continue to advance because of his skills, with his being gay an open fact the entire time. I don't know when I'll see an active, openly gay football player, or baseball, or basketball. It'll hopefully be sooner then later, but the one thing I can say, it's only a matter of time. As this generation, and future ones, which are more accustomed and more accepted of living with openly gay people, become the athletes of the future (much like the politicians of the future), change will come about...
~SS
While the 2007 season isn't done, it's time for Wisconsin to start looking towards the future. The Badgers defense couldn't stop anything yesterday, and as a result suffered what could only be described as an embarrassing defeat to the fuckin Illini of Illinois. Thankfully, Wisconsin's defense is young and will hopefully mature towards next season. Right now though, a patch needs to be made to salvage this season and still get to a big name bowl (maybe a 4th straight Capital One Bowl). At least it wasn't the worst upset of the day (for that, check out what Jim Harbaugh and the Cardinal did against the Trojans...or ND finally getting one upsetting UCLA...AGAIN!!! --- a bad day of football for the City of Angels)...
The Red Sox, another great win on Friday. Anyone who has interest has already seen it. I still don't think that Manny's homerun has come down (and if it did, it was probably through the windshield of some car speeding down the Pike). The same way I heard Yankees fans all September saying the didn't want to face the Angels, I of course was thinking, that's fine, give the Red Sox the Angels. 18 out of 26 at Fenway, and continued post season dominance, right now the next time the team from Anaheim sees Beantown again, it'll be too soon. Not sure if the Sox will sweep, but they still certainly have control in the series. The Yankees have their part as well, going down 2-0 to the Indians. I think the Yankees won't get swept, but their backs are against the wall. They at least get credit for variety. They lost game 1 in a blowout and game 2 in an excruciating extra-innings fashion.
Patriots take their 4-0 record back home to Gillette Stadium and take on old defensive guru Romeo Crennel and the Cleveland Browns. As long as the focus is there, win #5 should be theirs in a matter of hours.
The other football note was Thursday night. I went to a speakers panel on Gays and the NFL (as it is Gay Superbowl Weekend in NYC). The panel, moderated by the founder of Outsports.com, had on it, among others, former out NFL players Dave Kopay (the pioneer in out athletes) and Esera Tuaolo. The discussion included not only stories from their own playing days, but questions/comments from the crowd (which included a forner 4-year NFL journeyman himself). The crux of the conversation, centered around feelings I could echo as my feelings on the issue of "integrated" sports: a single person is, for the most part, smart on the issue of having a gay athlete as a teammate. However, the group think of people (and in this case, a team) is much harder to change. It will change from the bottom up, in high schools and colleges (where it is very slowly happening). A transcendent moment would be a major athlete (like a Tom Brady) coming out. However, nobody really had a clue if/when that would happen. (Btw, it was basically agreed upon by the audience that Tom Brady = hot, Peyton Manning = not; made me smile.) The more likely idea is a high school athlete, say a quarterback, who comes out in high school, and is so talented, that a major school in a liberal area (I hate to say it, btu like a USC) would take him, develop him, and he'd continue to advance because of his skills, with his being gay an open fact the entire time. I don't know when I'll see an active, openly gay football player, or baseball, or basketball. It'll hopefully be sooner then later, but the one thing I can say, it's only a matter of time. As this generation, and future ones, which are more accustomed and more accepted of living with openly gay people, become the athletes of the future (much like the politicians of the future), change will come about...
~SS
Thursday, October 4
What was that???
Ok, so it only took til the 3rd day that I missed a post. Oh well, I got home last night from Gym Bar, was tired, had some tortilla chips (what a dinner huh) and just went to bed to catch up a bit on sleep. I don't know if it's getting older (which sucks) or simply the fact that 4 days a week I'm consistently getting up around 6:30ish, but this not having energy in the evening as much as I should is a real drag...Yakko Warner said it best:
"Early to rise, early to bed
Makes a man healthy, but socially dead."
I need to find a way to try and combat that (obviously the long term goal is finding a better fit career wise), but in the meantime bring on the Monsters, Amps, and Red Bulls...
Game 1 of the ALDS in the books, and I think every Red Sox fan has concluded that Josh Beckett needs to pitch in the post season more often. By now we've all heard the stats from that amazing game, but the ones that stick out are not only his 3 CG shutouts in only 6 post season starts, and that he joins just 3 other legendary pitchers...but 83 of 108 pitches for strikes is ridiculous (or ridonculous, as heard on Mike & Mike this morning)...that's 77% of his pitches being thrown for strikes. When a pitcher has location like that, and you still don't know where the pitch is, then good luck. With all due respect to the heroics of Schilling in 04, which will never be forgotten, this is easily the best Sox fans have gotten to watch since the hey day of Pedro...
Also seen last night that required several double takes was quite possibly one of the most disgusting people I've ever seen with my own eyes on the Brooklyn-bound N train around 9:45ish last night. This person had to be in the 400-500lb range, looking more like an apple shape...black pants, with the top button undone, a white button down shirt (not dirty, but certainly not clean) untucked, and some jacket over it. As he was sitting there, drinking a snapple, with part of his belly hanging out exposed, I looked away as much as I could. I'll be the first to admit, as a skinny little stick, that I sometimes don't think the best things about fat people, and that's wrong. I try to work on that. However, this was just extreme. Not only was he fat, but he was a disgusting slob. The perfect finish - when he got off at 36th St. with his few plastic bags, to waddle to the bench, he pulls out a Sunkist while waiting for his next train, exactly what he needed, certainly...
~SS
"Early to rise, early to bed
Makes a man healthy, but socially dead."
I need to find a way to try and combat that (obviously the long term goal is finding a better fit career wise), but in the meantime bring on the Monsters, Amps, and Red Bulls...
Game 1 of the ALDS in the books, and I think every Red Sox fan has concluded that Josh Beckett needs to pitch in the post season more often. By now we've all heard the stats from that amazing game, but the ones that stick out are not only his 3 CG shutouts in only 6 post season starts, and that he joins just 3 other legendary pitchers...but 83 of 108 pitches for strikes is ridiculous (or ridonculous, as heard on Mike & Mike this morning)...that's 77% of his pitches being thrown for strikes. When a pitcher has location like that, and you still don't know where the pitch is, then good luck. With all due respect to the heroics of Schilling in 04, which will never be forgotten, this is easily the best Sox fans have gotten to watch since the hey day of Pedro...
Also seen last night that required several double takes was quite possibly one of the most disgusting people I've ever seen with my own eyes on the Brooklyn-bound N train around 9:45ish last night. This person had to be in the 400-500lb range, looking more like an apple shape...black pants, with the top button undone, a white button down shirt (not dirty, but certainly not clean) untucked, and some jacket over it. As he was sitting there, drinking a snapple, with part of his belly hanging out exposed, I looked away as much as I could. I'll be the first to admit, as a skinny little stick, that I sometimes don't think the best things about fat people, and that's wrong. I try to work on that. However, this was just extreme. Not only was he fat, but he was a disgusting slob. The perfect finish - when he got off at 36th St. with his few plastic bags, to waddle to the bench, he pulls out a Sunkist while waiting for his next train, exactly what he needed, certainly...
~SS
Tuesday, October 2
Late night laundry...
Well it's not really late, when it still hasn't struck midnight, but some laundry none the less. I couldn't wash things that late as is (apparently for some reason, our building's own laundry room in the basement is only accessible between 8AM - 11PM. I guess if I want/need to wash something late at night, that means a trip down to the local laundromat at 4th Avenue/Marine.
As I've been busy and it's late, this will be a short post. Frustrated, as usual, with many work things today, but at least on the drive home I found out many of my frustrations are shared by a co-worker. I'll no doubt get into those more later.
Apparently my sister needs to spend more time Saturday with me, so no Badgers game at the Wisconsin bar :-(. Jeff may also make the trip from Milwaukee out here for the weekend, which unfortunately hits the same time as that, so who knows what I'll actually be up to. In either case, I really need to make some headway on the apt. Unfortunately, the Red Sox playoffs start tomorrow, so again, the amount of time to really progress is limited.
Speaking of which, I predict the Sox win in 4 games (not sure whether it's game 2 or 3 that the Sox lose). John Lackey doesn't like pitching against Boston and hates Fenway, so the Sox should be in control. Meanwhile, I know the Patriots' opponents are a combined 4-12. However, New England is outscoring opponents 148-48, and is able to pass, run, defend, return, etc. The team can't overlook the upstart Browns, but I can - bring on Dallas and the Cowboys, for a big test...
~SS
As I've been busy and it's late, this will be a short post. Frustrated, as usual, with many work things today, but at least on the drive home I found out many of my frustrations are shared by a co-worker. I'll no doubt get into those more later.
Apparently my sister needs to spend more time Saturday with me, so no Badgers game at the Wisconsin bar :-(. Jeff may also make the trip from Milwaukee out here for the weekend, which unfortunately hits the same time as that, so who knows what I'll actually be up to. In either case, I really need to make some headway on the apt. Unfortunately, the Red Sox playoffs start tomorrow, so again, the amount of time to really progress is limited.
Speaking of which, I predict the Sox win in 4 games (not sure whether it's game 2 or 3 that the Sox lose). John Lackey doesn't like pitching against Boston and hates Fenway, so the Sox should be in control. Meanwhile, I know the Patriots' opponents are a combined 4-12. However, New England is outscoring opponents 148-48, and is able to pass, run, defend, return, etc. The team can't overlook the upstart Browns, but I can - bring on Dallas and the Cowboys, for a big test...
~SS
Monday, October 1
Getting back to it...
In the 2+ years that I've been in the NYC area, I've been looking for a creative outlet. When in both Amherst and Madison, I could easily let lose at my respective radio gigs (props to 91.1 WMUA & Z104). Much as I've tried to find something in New York (and trust me, performing weekly at Musical Mondays, if you can call it that, is a lot of fun - but it's not quite the same).
So here I am a few years after I let my LiveJournal go dormant, getting back into something I've enjyoed for a long time - writing. Just last week I was looking online at some old ed/op pieces I'd written for the Collegian, and realized how much I missed the freedom to just express my thoughts for what it's worth. I'm gonna try to be religious about updating this blog daily (provided I have computer access), even if it's with a minimal change, simply to keep the page constantly fresh.
it's the 1st of October, start of a new month, so why not start something else new (this blog, duh). It is also a Monday, and yep, work has been beyond boring, even for how my job usually goes. Thankfully, soon I'll be at the club drinking and singing showtunes (as is required on Monday). Tonight though requires split time, as the pats are playing MNF tonight against Cincinnati. Let the assault of Brady's Bunch continue (sorry Carson). So Splash & Gym bar, Larry's drinks (and they're 95% alcohol content) & some beer....isn't that how we should all spend MONDAY night.
In other sports news, the Red Sox post season schedule was announced: 6:30 on Wednesday, 8:30 on Friday. Those are great, as there's no need to miss part of the game Wedneday cause of work. Finish up at the office (the only day in the city again - gosh these LI days have got to stop), then head over to the bar, ready to begin the hunt- 11 More Wins! The Badgers also had a good weekend, not much through their own doing. Another subpar effort, but Wisconsin improves to 5-0, and moves up to 5th in the nation (much thanks to Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, and Texas for vacating spots on the undefeated list). Now two road games begining with the hated Illini. Oh I can't wait to run all over those FIBs (now can the defense manage to contain Juice Williams).
And as this is not going to simply be a sports only blog, this has to be one of the strangest news stories I've seen in a long time. I've always been a major advocate of oceans being superior to lakes and rivers, even in spite of such things as jellyfish, red tide, sharks, etc. While oceans may have all those, they are lacking in a brain eating amoeba. Don't believe me, well check out this story (even if such an event is rare).
I'll leave it short/sweet for day 1, and hopefully, whoever decides to read this, you get a little chuckle or enjoyment out of the day. Of course, if you know me, feel free to bitch to me about anything and everything through all acceptable means of communication (email, IM, cell - sorry I've stopped allowing carrier pigeon use).
I can see the headline on the back of the Herald now: "Bungled Bengals!" along with Tom brady's gawdy stats. Though I miss summer dearly, it's great to have football back, isn't it?
~SS
So here I am a few years after I let my LiveJournal go dormant, getting back into something I've enjyoed for a long time - writing. Just last week I was looking online at some old ed/op pieces I'd written for the Collegian, and realized how much I missed the freedom to just express my thoughts for what it's worth. I'm gonna try to be religious about updating this blog daily (provided I have computer access), even if it's with a minimal change, simply to keep the page constantly fresh.
it's the 1st of October, start of a new month, so why not start something else new (this blog, duh). It is also a Monday, and yep, work has been beyond boring, even for how my job usually goes. Thankfully, soon I'll be at the club drinking and singing showtunes (as is required on Monday). Tonight though requires split time, as the pats are playing MNF tonight against Cincinnati. Let the assault of Brady's Bunch continue (sorry Carson). So Splash & Gym bar, Larry's drinks (and they're 95% alcohol content) & some beer....isn't that how we should all spend MONDAY night.
In other sports news, the Red Sox post season schedule was announced: 6:30 on Wednesday, 8:30 on Friday. Those are great, as there's no need to miss part of the game Wedneday cause of work. Finish up at the office (the only day in the city again - gosh these LI days have got to stop), then head over to the bar, ready to begin the hunt- 11 More Wins! The Badgers also had a good weekend, not much through their own doing. Another subpar effort, but Wisconsin improves to 5-0, and moves up to 5th in the nation (much thanks to Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia, and Texas for vacating spots on the undefeated list). Now two road games begining with the hated Illini. Oh I can't wait to run all over those FIBs (now can the defense manage to contain Juice Williams).
And as this is not going to simply be a sports only blog, this has to be one of the strangest news stories I've seen in a long time. I've always been a major advocate of oceans being superior to lakes and rivers, even in spite of such things as jellyfish, red tide, sharks, etc. While oceans may have all those, they are lacking in a brain eating amoeba. Don't believe me, well check out this story (even if such an event is rare).
I'll leave it short/sweet for day 1, and hopefully, whoever decides to read this, you get a little chuckle or enjoyment out of the day. Of course, if you know me, feel free to bitch to me about anything and everything through all acceptable means of communication (email, IM, cell - sorry I've stopped allowing carrier pigeon use).
I can see the headline on the back of the Herald now: "Bungled Bengals!" along with Tom brady's gawdy stats. Though I miss summer dearly, it's great to have football back, isn't it?
~SS
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