An Ode to Tommy Glavine.

Hey Tom,

I just wanted to say, "Sorry", I'm sure you don't remember meeting me at the Burlington Mall. But I was about 13. I had on a Charlotte Hornets starter jacket and I had Paul and Chris with me. My biological brother and his best friend who never left my side. I had convinced my mom to drop us of at the mall to meet you. We had heard that you were going to be at the Burlington Mall raising money for the Bridgewater State Girl's softball team or something like that. I was in the beginning of my love of baseball. Paul and I had started collecting baseball cards and making Daddy buy us cards (all of which are now dusty in our cellar just waiting for a hot water tank to blow so my mom can toss them). Anyway. I was starting to like baseball, but mainly I liked liking something that my dad and brother liked. Then we went to the Burlington Mall. We were allowed to get one thing signed per person. I had an 8X10, and about 9 baseball cards. You smiled at me and said you didn't mind signing them all. I took an awkward picture of you signing the cards, and you smiled at me and told me you'd be happy to take a picture with all of us. I still have it. The boys smiling like their heads would explode. Me, completely awkward wearing my Hornets jacket, a pimply face and a really bad haircut. You asked the boys what positions they played. Who their favorite team was. You told them you understood they liked the Red Sox, but that they should like the Braves too unless they met in the World Series. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I was pulling for you today. That despite my Ryan Howard crush, I wanted you to win. You to go 7 strong, force the playoff, and everything else. I wish you had gotten a chance to wear the Red Sox uniform. Despite the WS with the Braves, the millions, the success, I can't believe it still doesn't hurt a little that the Boston kid didn't ever wear the Old Town's Team's colors. So, I'm thinking that you might come back next year, or, maybe you're done. But whatever you are, thanks, for making me think all baseball players were that nice. You kept me along till Nomar came along and I fell in love head over heels. And for that, I am grateful. I've been sucked in ever since. So sorry about todays game. I'm happy about the AL East and homefield. And I would never root for two teams at once. But just know it hurt a little to see your line score today. Thanks for everything.

Love,

Amanda

Counting down the days, hours, and minutes till I am in Boston next weekend while searching the internet for pictures of Papelbon's ass.

The 2007 AL East Champion Boston Red Sox.

I love this team. After 22 games in person this year...too much money spent at Fenway and the Baseball Tavern...2 kick ass road trips...one that almost killed me....one horrifc Jack Daniels encounter and almost commiting manslaughter when Papelbon blew the 14th inning and Detroit. It's finally ours. The AL East Champion Boston Red Sox. It has a such a great ring to it doesn't it? Anyway, I don't have a ton to say, I'm thrilled, relieved and excited. I'm glad it came off Mo. I'm hoping this team got hot at just the right time. Anyway, some awesome pictures from Kelly taken at the game last night and some fun pictures of the Sox partying at Game On after the game. SWEET!

(I cannot WAIT to be home for the ALDS next weekend. Between getting to watch Monday Night Patriots this week, the Red Sox on national TV starting next week, and my kids having standardized testing so we are just going to hang out a lot this week, I feel like it is already Friday and I am already getting on the plane to go home and see my favorites...and my friends too.)

HAPPY AL EAST!!!

Thank you Baltimore!

HI CONOR!

(back with a real post later!)

I can accept a little fun ribbing. I think this is hilarious.

Kind of hard to breathe...

LT is "confident" that if the Chargers play the Patriots 10 times, they win 9. There is a difference between "confidence" and "stupidity"...

Patriots just marched down the field. I think we are going to dominate tonight.

The Great Autograph Experiment Update...

I just moved into a new house a month ago, and I have been getting my mail forwarded. And the other day...I got mail from Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds since I got here. That is right. From A-Rod I got my card returned along with an autographed A-Rod photo and from Barry Bonds I got my card back, unsigned, along with another Bonds card and a letter thanking me for being a fan. So my two least favorite baseball players on the earth do at least, return mail. So now I have heard back from 4 players, Manny (card returned unsigned), Timlin (card returned signed), Bonds (card returend with letter), and A-Rod (card returned unsigned with autographed photo).

Seriously?

Waiting on 8:05

"They show no class, no class at all, and maybe that comes from the head coach" L "I steal nick names and am a little bitch" T

Good afternoon! I am going to be semi-live blogging today while I eagerlly await tonights killer matchups. Chargers @ Patriots and Yankees @ Red Sox. A very busy night in New England. I am in prime form. I alept till 11:00. Had some homefries and sweet tea. Watched the pregame shows. I'm ready to go. I got 7 hours to kill and you do too...

A few thoughts from the pregame show...

*Boomer annoys me.

*Why do we need so many people on the show?

*Everyone likes the Patriots. Me too.

*"Coach" Mike Ditka keeps forgetting his picks. Good work "Coach". I once coached a basketball team at the Boys Club. From this day forth, I would like to be called, "Coach" please.

*Eli Manning will play today. Well thank God. I still can't get over the feeling that Eli would rather be running around a field with butterflies, curling up on the couch with a nice cup of coco, an afghan, and a good book.

Brutal.

The one word text from KP summed it up entirely. It was brutal. I watched the first four innings or so from my couch and then checked in sporatically at the one real bar in North Carolina. I had a strange sense of uneasyness the entire time. But a 6 run lead in the 8th? I'll take it. Now, I have a confession to make. This loss was my fault. Last night, I was chatting with a very attractive young gentleman who was a friend of a friend. He was from Connecticut and was...a Yankees fan.

Obviously I had to have a little fun with him. I told him that he should really go check the score for me and was telling him how those Tigers are fiesty and that he better watch out or they'll be watching October at home, I told him I was really sad when the Yankees traded my favorite player, to which he said, "um, you mean Johnny Damon?", to which I replied, "You signed Johnny Damon...you traded Scott Proctor, who was my favorite pitcher in any bullpen" Yes, I counted my proverbial eggs before they hatched. I told him how Dice-K is a big game pitcher and how the best bullpen in baseball was in the game. I told him 6 and a 1/2 game lead with two weeks to go isn't going to be easy. I was cocky. And then VAYF (very attractive Yankee fan) got a text and went outside to read it because there is terrible service at the bar. I knew this was bad. I went to the one crappy little TV that had the game on and almost threw up on myself when I saw the score.

Despite this game now being a car accident (I didn't want to look but I had to) I had to stand in front of this little TV in a really bad spot with VAYF with my neck at a really uncomfortable angle. They were all zoomed in on Mo who was trying to close out the game, I told VAYF Mo was my favorite closer in the 2004 ALCS. He winced and said, "That hurts". I smiled. We may have lost last night, and it may have hurt. But at least, no matter what happens in the future. We'll always have 2004.

Good news!

*Talk about absolutely fantastic news, Kevin Everett is moving his arms and legs. Everett, a tight end injured in the Bills game Sunday, originally was thought to be paralyzed. So great.

*Not that everything is about us, but it is, anyone who as ever seen Travis Roy at the Bruins game or the "Dream On" montage at Game On or read 11 Seconds knows how devasting this kind of thing is.

*This is a really sad story about high school football players paralyzed in games. As someone who stood on the sideline for 40 plus college football games, I have to say this was always one of my biggest fears. The story does, however, have a somewhat bright light, and that is a charity started to help these injured high school football players. I swear, if I am ever a millionaire, I am going to have a lot of fun giving my money away.

*Well, the Patriots kicked ass and took names on Sunday, as expected. Now we learn we may have cheated by stealing Jets signs. I say, whatever works. I don't need to win higher and mighter than any one else. I just really need a Peyton-free Super Bowl Sunday okay? I am coming home Columbus Day, mainly so I can watch a Patriots game on TV before Thanksgiving. (Only partly joking)

Here we go again...

The Colts and Saints kick off the NFL season tonight, and I've been trying to get back in the football swing of things. Things haven't quite gotten off to a great start for the Pats, with Moss and Richard on the injury list and Rodney taking HGH and Tom possibly being distracted by baby drama. I'm not worried, I know that we are well coached, and that our game plan is going to be well thought out.

The thing is, I'm not sure that I'm ready for the stress. I've still got a baseball season to focus on.

And, I'm not quite over last season yet. I really thought we were getting 4 in 6 years. It had such a great ring to it. It said, dominance, it said, dynasty. I loved our team last year. I thought we were getting Corey one more ring and showing Larry how it is done in New England. After we dispelled the Chargers, I thought, there we go, that was it. And even when the Colts came back after that horrific Hobbs call and Peyton couldn't watch...I still thought, Tom will do it. Tom will get it done. We will not be beaten by the Colts in January. Then it happened, and I had a cold February to suffer through till the truck left for Spring Training.

Anyway, all this can be fixed of course, but even if we get to the promised land this year, I'll still be thinking...should have been 5 in 7 years.

Do I sound like a spoiled brat right now? Absolutely. But I am a Boston fan after all. And it is always about us.

Kicking ass and taking names...

I'm getting my life in order and the blog is back, hopefully to stay...

So I've had access to MLB TV for about a week now, (thank you Joe) and in that time I've seen the Sox lose every time I watched. Last night I was planning my lessons for the next week, and my computer was running low on battery. Instead of plugging in my computer and throwing on the Sox game, I put it back on my desk and let it charge, hopped in the shower, and got ready to go out. I got to the bar, and checked my phone, and had a missed call from Katie, and two texts from my brother...the first one read, "The Red Sox have all the hits through the 8th", and the second being, "Clay got a no-no". I was wondering if Paul was messing with me, then Frank's "Awesome" text came in. I got the goosebumps, Paul called and filled me in, then I called Katie back and she told me she had wanted to call but had the whole "fate of the no-no" to worry about. I totally understand. I was the one that made a poor text choice to Katie and Erin during the ill fated Curt Schilling almost no-no and I assured her she made the correct non-call.

Nothing quite like watching a no-no is there? I remember babysitting a crying two year old and infant when I was 16, just beginning to really fall in love with baseball, and I was channel checking and came across David Cone in the 8th inning of his perfect game. I remember wanting to call my Dad to make sure he had on the TV, but not wanting to jinx it, even thought he was a Yankee. There are very few chances in your life to see a perfect game, you don't one to pass you by.

I was babysitting Joey and Nicholas, my all time favorites, when Pedro hit Gerald Williams then almost no-hit the D-Rays. Their parents came home, and Lenny went to take the sleeping Nicholas off me, and I told him he couldn't drive me home now, idea. He was confused till I told him, "You need to sit down, and you need to watch the game, and I can't discuss this right now". He's a huge baseball guy, he got it, and then Pedro's chain broke from his neck, he had to put it in his pocket, and John "Freaking" Flaherty hit a bloop and it was all over. It still bothers me today that when you see the wall in the Hall of Fame with all the no hit and perfect game balls, Pedro doesn't have one there. It always felt like you were just 5 days away from the next chance to see a no-no.

Pre-2004, my favorite Sox memory was Game 5 of the ALDS when Pedro came in and no hit the Indians for 6 innings and risked his shoulder and career for a chance to go to the Dance.

Okay, I'm officially rambling...BUT,

I'm saddened and surprised to learn that Rodney used HGH. He's my guy. I firmly believe that the Patriots were one Rodney Harrison away from a 4th Super Bowl in 6 years. I love him, and I'm sad he didn't think that he had enough in the tank to get back without help.

You see, I have a thing for a certian type player. I like pitchers who aren't afraid to come inside and aren't afraid to hit someone betweent the numbers every once in a while, I like defensive backs who aren't afraid to absolutely cream someone coming across the middle so that for the rest of the game wide recievers are cringing when they go up for a pass, I like shortstops not named Julio Lugo as a rule, I like closers, especially those named Papelbon, I like the slightly dirty player. I like the gamer. And that is why I love Rodney.

One last thing, I'm sure everyone had the same reaction to me when we heard Richard Seymour was going to miss the first 6 weeks. I closed my eyes and said softly to myself over and over, "Clay Bucholz no hitter, Clay Bucholz no hitter, Clay Bucholz no hitter"

Oh, and one more one more last thing. Got to give some props to Bridget for throwing the big f you and your dumb Brazillian super model and giving the baby the Moynahan last name.

I love us...

Finally got the Sox highlights on Sportscenter. Saw Lester's reception. Man I miss us.

PS. In North Carolina, they have these things called Palmetto beatles, a fancy name for cockroaches, and a lot of people have them, and we are currently working on killing the little mo-fo's, and I just spent a good 20 minutes at war with one, chasing him around my apartment with a spray bottle of "home defense". I finally was getting nervous I might miss the Sox highlights and had to go get a shoe. I will kill these bugs.

PPS. Michael Vick shouldn't have waited so long to plea. Always better to go first in these kind of things.

"They're loud, they're drunk, they're obnoxious. They're one of the few places you'll hear racial comments . . . it's just different." Angels outfielder Gary Matthews, Jr. on Red Sox fans at Fenway Park.

I'm always surprised when I hear things like this said about Fenway. I took in 20+ Red Sox games this year, about 15 last year, and about 10 the previous year. Not once, in all that time, have I ever, ever heard a racial comment. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. Every village has its own idiot. But I really think that Sox fans are fair when it comes to race. We will cheer for, love you, boo you, hate you, regardless of color, creed, ect.

I'm sure Mr. HGH himself will find Fenway a much more hospitable place the next time he comes to Boston.

I'm backk...

After 8 long days without internet AND cable TV with the exceptions of some sneaking done at the Sheraton I am back thanks to the shady internet guy who came today and and the new roommate who figured out how to get my wireless internet working.


Anyway, for the last week + I have been like a junkie in need of heroin. Through phone calls, texts, bits and pieces of info through the Chicago news (for some reason we get there here), and the occasional break from high school football in the local paper, I have been without sports. I haven't seen Sportscenter, I haven't seen the Sox play except for when we could pick up Maryland TV in the Outerbanks last weekend, (I saw the O's first walkoff), I haven't read Rob Bradford...it has been a cold dark world. It's also been a kind of stress free world. I haven't been on Tom Brady Baby Watch 24/7. I haven't spent nights worrying about our lack of offensive production. I haven't heard announcer after announcer complain about Manny playing too close to the wall. So, I don't know what is going on in the land of Boston sports, but I'm going to be working my way back. I'm trying to figure out how I can get the Patriots down here, I have mlb.tv thanks to Joe and Katie for the rest of the baseball season, and now I will back in the world of basegirls, surviving grady, papelblog, deadspin, onemoredyingquail, extra bases, eric wilbur, chad finn and everyone else that keeps me up to date one things. But I don't want to leave you with a boring entry about how I don' t have shit to tell you, so instead, I'll tell you a dream.

Last night, I didn't feel that well, and my mom and I have been sharing my full size bed till she goes back to Massachusetts. So, we are both laying there unable to sleep, so she breaks out a xanyax for both of us. After about a half hour, we are still awake, so I break out a sleep aid. I passed out. At some point in the middle of the night, my Red Sox deprived sub conscience puts me at Fenway, and I decide I'm going to the clubhouse (now, I've been to the Press Box, EMC Club, and State Street Pavillion, so sneaking around Fenway isn't something new). Anyway, I get into the clubhouse, and am greeted by my college friends, who I don't see nearly enough, Katelyn and Freddie, who tell me that they do this all the time. I know that I have to find Jonathan Papelbon, and get my picture taken with him. I find him, he's as friendly as I would hope, and takes a picture with me, and proceeds to start making out with me. Then, he tells me has to go, and that he'll be back later. So, I need to call all my crazy Red Sox obsessed friends to share my ridiculous story. Of course, I can't find my cell phone in my dream. So I find Katelyn and Freddie, and Katelyn scolds me for making out with a married man. Then, I find Jeff, who I also graduated with and now coaches football at our college. He tells me that he now coaches the Red Sox, who now play football. (I think this must be where my lack of training camp coverage come in). I turn around to find Mike Lowell and Joshua Papelbon in shoulderpads, which, lets face it, Mike Lowell could totally play middle linebacker, Baby Papelbon, I'm not so sure. Anyway, I then turn around again, and it is my entire college football team (which, I was thier student athletic trainer), and Youk is yelling at me to tape his ankles and Sweeney (one of my footballers) is telling me that he should get to go before Youk. I then woke up.


Anyway, I'm glad I can rejoin the Nation starting today. I've missed being neurtoic, psychotic, and all the other good things that go along with being a Red Sox fan.

PS. I could not be more excited about this Patriots season. If I don't figure out a way to get the Patriots in NC I'm flying home every weekend.

PPS. Reggie Miller eh? I know I'm a week late but this Celtics off season is turning out to be a much better time then we first thought huh?

Just a quick update to let everyone know the big move to North Carolina is happening tomorrow, so posting may be a little scarce for the next week or two, but hopefully I'll have internet up and running at the new house soon! In the meantime,

Go Sox!

Well, last night was fun wasn't it? It was one of those Red Sox games where you just knew something good was going to happen. The Sox finally got some timely hitting, Batshit pitched alright, the bullpen was once again great, and, incase-you-forgot-who-your-mother-fucking-closer-is, it's me, Jonathan Papelbon. He makes me a ridiculously happy girl.

Today is Bobby Doerr (it might get a little dusty when you read that one) day at the Fens, where Bobby says he his making his last trip because he's getting too old to fly out from Portland. Also, it's Timmay's birthday. The amount of good karma flying around Fenway today will be too much for the lowly Orioles.

*Also, the picture above is UNDEFEATED!

The List...

I realized this morning while writing the ESPN entry, that I commented on my “list” of sporting events that I planned on going to. I’ve decided to make an actual list of places I’ve been and places I’m going for your viewing pleasure.

Places I’ve been…

Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Oriole Park @ Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL
Rogers Center, Toronto, ON
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
The Ballpark at Arlington, Arlington, TX
The Boston Marathon, Boston, MA
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
The Boston Garden, Boston, MA
The TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
The Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
The Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, ON
Saratoga Horse Races, Saratoga, NY
LeLacheur Park, Home of the Spinners (A), Lowell, MA
McCoy Stadium, Home of the PawSox (AAA), Pawtucket, RI
Volcanoes Stadium, Home of the Salem Keizer Volcanoes (A – San Fran), Salem, OR

Places I’m going…

Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Jacobs Field, Cleveland, OH
Coors Field, Denver, CO
Dolphin Stadium, Miami, FL
Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Shea Stadium, Queens, NY
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
PNC Park, Pittsburg, PA
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
A Summer Olympic Event
A Winter Olympic Event
A World Cup Game
World Series
Super Bowl (I don’t actually need game tickets, I just want to be in the city)
NCAA Tournament
The Masters
Wimbledon
Rose Bowl Parade and game
Big college football game (Michigan, Ohio State, ND)
Duke / UNC basketball game
Kentucky Derby
Nascar Race
Lambeau Field

If I forgot anything, or anyone has a suggestion for something to add to the list, please leave it in the comments!

ESPN loves lists. They are a lazy journalist’s best friend. (Yes, I know I wrote a list yesterday, I am not trying to be the exception.)

Anyway, ESPN currently has a Page 2 list of the “Cantonized” or current NFL players with a “ticket for Canton”. Anyway, I decided to take a peak. Starting off the list is 3 QB’s, Farve, Brady, and Manning. At some point in my life I am going to Canton to check it off my list, and I think I’m going to wait till the weekend Thomas Edward Brady is inducted. The only reason I’m writing about the list is that we are pretty well represented on the list, both current Patriots or former Patriots on the list.

Incase you were curious, here are the “Cantonized” Patriots.

2. Tom Brady
6. Richard Seymour
10. Adam something, used to kick for us?
14. Junior Seau
33. Randy Moss
35. Ty Law

Not to shabby. They then had a list of “on the bubble” and here is what read for Rodney Harrison.

Dirty player or ultimate glue guy? Harrison has been called both. He's the NFL career leader in sacks by a defensive back. As a Charger in 1997, he became the first player to score a touchdown on a fumble return, interception return and kickoff return in the same season. Harrison has raised his game in the playoffs, with six interceptions in six playoff games in the Patriots' Super Bowl runs in the 2003 and '04 seasons. He already has two Super Bowl rings. Would a third seal his enshrinement?

So, I guess the moral of the story is, we need to win another Super Bowl to get Mr. Harrison his ticket to Canton.

PS. I'm kind of surprised Corey didn't get a mention, he's 14th all time in rushing.

PPS. Asante, see your name there? Nope? Get on the freaking plane.

10 Things I think I think...

Well, I’ve been a little bit MIA lately eh? I promise to never leave you alone on the trading deadline again. I left to go shopping with my mom yesterday morning and my cell phone was 100% dead, so, not realizing the significance of the day, I left it at home charging. A trip to Walmart, Homegoods, the dentist, Target, TJ Maxx, and Sports Authority later. I returned home to find a panic related voicemail from Katie telling me, “I really needed you to be at work today”, and about the Gagne deal. I will never again be away from the TV / internet on the 31st of July again.

Anyway, here are 10 things I think I think (again, sorry Mr. King) about the trading deadline, Celtics (yes, the Celtics!), Patriots and whatever topic I need to get to 10.

*I was surprised how disappointed I was to see Kason go. I was legitimately bummed out. The kid came up, pitched well, always kept us in it, and was very good looking. Everything I love in a starter. I wish him very good luck in Texas (except for the 9 games a year), and I would like to tell him, Kason, no matter what the bartender tells you in Texas, it is a not a “Texas Thing” to drink Jack Daniels, it’s an idiot thing. So steer clear of that. Also, steer clear of Clicks, and whatever you do, leave the Sooner’s flag alone. Oh, and try out the Cheesy Fries at Saltgrass.

*Welcome Eric. I am so happy to see you. It’s always a good thing when you can shore up a league leading bullpen. Gagne is a career closer, so having him for the 8th inning will be sweet. Think Papelbon will be a little bit more fired up to close out the game now that he has Eric in the bullpen breathing down his neck? I do. Also, I love how Gagne had a no-trade clause and an incentive laden contract and the Red Sox were able to get him here by saying, “We’ll pay all the incentives”. Loyalties run deep in MLB.

“So Paul, did you hear we got Simon Gagne,” Me
“Yeah, but I think you mean Eric,” Paul
“Yes, Eric Gagne, why do I keep calling him Simon?” Me

“I think he is some kind of figure skater,” Paul

*I am kind of disappointed we had to send Kason, and two minor leaguers to Texas for Gagne when we could have had him for the same money we paid Jo-it was fun while it lasted-EL. Happy Trails Jo-EL. Also, best of luck to Mr. Brendan Donnelly who will undergo Tommy John surgery.

*The biggest strengths and flaws of your team is always magnified in the playoffs. For example, the biggest flaws in the 2003 team was the inability to finish games and Grady Little, it showed in Game 7. The biggest strength of the 2004 team was the ability to come back, and it showed in the playoffs. The biggest issue of this 2007 club is the inability of the Sox to score with RISP. I swear it will kill me before this season is said and done.

*My fantasy team has been bit by the injury bug as of late and as of early. I currently have Curt Schilling, Joel Zumaya, Carlos Beltran, and Mike Napoli on the DL. I’m also down in the max number of innings for pitcher, so I decided to go out and pick up some probable’s to get some innings, so tonight I have Oliver Perez of the NYM and Boof Bonser of the Milwaukee Brewers. What could go wrong?

*After last nights two home runs, I can’t help but hope that Papi has maybe found his mojo. While David’s power numbers have been down but his average is up, you can’t help but miss that 9th inning feeling, when the Sox are down by two, and you start going the walk-off math in your head. Just so long as one person gets on, and then the next two strike out, we get to Ortiz. If the first batter walks, then the second person gets a fly ball, we only need a double from David and all will once again be right in the world.

*I can’t believe that Wily Mo is still a Red Sox, (although, how much fun was that catch / belly flop / face plant last night?). I am in shock really. I would have thought that we could have at least gotten a case of Gatorade for him. I mean, think how handsome he would have looked in a Kansas City / Texas / White Sox uniform.

*So the Celtics landed KG. I don’t believe it. I wonder if this was Ainge’s plan all along or if this just kind of fell into his lap. The press conference was jovial with the new, “Big 3” showing their smiles and uniforms. I hope that these three mesh as well on the court as they did in the press conference. I really hate to see Big Al go, but we have a chance to win now, and we had to take it. I really liked SG and Jackie Mac’s take on the deal. There is a buzz in Boston and it is about the Celtics, I didn’t think I’d see the day. I am not going to pretend to be a huge Celtics fan, but I’m a huge Boston fan. I am really excited for all those Celtics fans who are just plain giddy right now.

*Good luck Chad Scott with the rehab. This Patriots team has one huge ? and that’s the secondary, so it disappointing to see him go down. That being said, I don’t remember being much more excited for a Pats season. All is well in the New England sports world right now.

*Dear Asante,

I just wanted to write you a quick note to let you know that I am moving to North Carolina next week, which means I am an 8 hour drive from the Florida border then just a short 13 hour drive away from Fort Lauderdale.

I want you to know that I empathize with your plight for a long term contract, I do. NFL careers are fleeting. One neck injury could end it all. The thing is Asante, the Colts are the defending Super Bowl champs and this is completely, 100% inexcusable. We need to bring the Lombardi trophy back to our house, and you should want to do this for me. (And don’t think for a minute that I don’t understand what is like to be disrespected with a 7.2 million dollar offer, because, in the world of customer service and teaching, this happens a lot.) As your tattoo says, you need to, “Get Paid”. So really, I understand, I do.

But if you think that for one minute I’m going to stand by and watch you sit out till week 10 , you, my friend are mistaken. 7.2 million dollars is enough for your family to live comfortably for the rest of your life, and for the rest of your children’s life. So you are about to, “get paid”, so stop being a little bitch, sign the freaking contract, get to camp, talk to Gene Upshaw about getting the franchise tag removed from the next CBA and prove you are worth the $$. The thing is, I don’t think you are a franchise player. I think you miss tackles by always going for picks and I think that you are soft.

Right now, I’m speaking for myself, although Scott and Bill and I usually agree on things, so here goes. If you sit till week 10, we are using you at all this season, and we are franchising you again in 2008, and then if you don’t play till week 10, we are sitting you the whole season. Try getting a huge multi year deal on the open market with big guaranteed money after not playing for two years.

So go ahead, make a ½ million a game, win the championship sign with someone else in the off season and never so much as get a whiff of the Super Bowl again.

If you think I’m above duct taping you up, throwing you in the backseat and driving you to Foxboro myself, you are mistaken.

If all this seems a little bit over the top, I get a little testy when the Colts are Super Bowl Champions, okay?

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Amanda

I should be back later with some massive links once I get a chance to read everything I missed the past few days.

The middle finger is for Theo...

Working on a post right now, but found this while google image searching for Kason and thought it was too good to pass up.

Now, I would hate to be those people who are still complaining about the tuck rule. I would. That being said, Ellis Hobbs got a letter of apology from the NFL for calling an incorrect penalty on a play that eventually led to a Colts touchdown. So, I'm not going to whine, I'm not going to complain. I'm just going to say that Peyton's Super Bowl doesn't count and needs to be removed from the record books. That's all. The Patriots are free to play the Bears next Sunday, by the way.

Man I've missed these boys...

Man it is good to see you Mr. Harrison!

The always adorable Bruschi family.

My God I have missed you!

Mike Vrabel playing with Tedy's kids.

Bill, I've missed you too. Especially your cut off sweatshirts and surly disposition.

All photos from The Boston Globe because I spent two hours in traffic trying to get to training camp yesterday before finally giving up and coming home.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/07/27/speed_recovery/?page=full

I love him.

The Red Sox are continuing to show me why I hit the panic button a little too soon. But, let’s face it. I’m nothing if I’m not a panicky, crazy, worrier of a fan. We just took 3-4 from the Indians, Jon Lester completed his amazing comeback, Matsuzaka and Beckett dominated, Gabby and Tavarez were picked up by the bats for once, and today we are heading onward to Tampa Bay (would give a major organ to be laying on the beach outside the Sirata right now).

Today is the first day when training camp is open to the public and is my last chance to see the Patriots live, probably for the season, unless I somehow make it out to Charlotte on the 24th, but I’m probably not driving 6 hours for an exhibition.

Tonight we got Timmay and the gents taking on those cute (allbeit peskey) little Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

And seeing that it worked last time, let’s not forget who likes to murder small animals.

The big move...

Faithful readers, I have an announcement to make. I’ve accepted a teaching job in North Carolina and will be moving very soon down there to get an apartment and whatnot. I will do my best to keep the blog up, but if I’m MIA for the next few weeks, I appreciate your patience. (That means I don’t want nasty, are you ever going to blog again messages).

I do, however have some tickets that I am not going to be able to use because of the move. Let me know if anyone is interested!

I have five tickets to the games August 11th and August 12th games at Camden Yards if anyone knows anyone looking for any. The Friday night, August 10th ones were $40 each and are in Section 262 and the Saturday ones are on August 11th for Section 71 LR and were $18. I'll sell them as 5 together, or as 2 / 3 if anyone knows anyone that is interested. I also have 5 tickets to the Phillies / Marlins game for that Thursday night, as we were going to stop on the way down.

Also, I have 2 tickets to the PawSox against the Rochester Red Wings on Monday, August 6th @ 7:05 that were $10.00 each, and 3 tickets for the PawSox against the Yankees on August 31st at 7:05 that were also $10.00.

I have 3 tickets that were $4.50 each for the Spinners against the Tigers on Sunday, August 5th, and 4 tickets for the Spinners against the Staten Island Yankees on August 27th at 7:05 that were $6.50.

If anyone is interested email me at amandaredsox@yahoo.com and we can work something out.

Do me a favor...google, "A Rod is a little bitch"

...how great is that. I'm so famous.

Thanks to Ashley for pointing that out!

Dear Thomas Edward,

Hi, how’s it going? I know you’re a little busy these days with Baby Brady and birthday celebrations and whatnot, but I just had to write you a quick little long rambling note. First, let me tell you a few things about me. When I get 12 cents in change, I think of you. When I picked up one of the new David Ortiz hats at the Reebok outlet the other day and realized that it had come in contact with an Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Champion hat, I threw it back, and then went and washed my hands.

So, maybe right now, you’re thinking, “So, you’re completely out of your mind! So I have a Yankees hat on my head! Who cares? You shouldn’t care, just so long as I keep winning you football games.” And that theory is well as good, except you play football here. In New England. And I’m not your average fan Mr. Brady, incase you haven’t noticed. (although I know there are plenty out there like me). I worry constantly. I fret. I overanalyze. I was depressed for months after the AFC Championship loss. I didn’t go out to watch the Super Bowl (even though it is one of my favorite days of the year). My heart physically hurt and I thought I was going to be sick when the confetti came falling down in the RCA dome. I know enough facts about players on your team to write a book. I agonized over whether or not to resign Troy Brown like it was my decision. I believe that Scott and Bill can do no wrong, but Theo still makes me nervous.

But most of all, when all things are said and done. I love the Patriots and the Red Sox. And I hate the Yankees and the Colts. I love more than I hate, but I really enjoy the hating. So when you’re prancing around Manhattan with your Yankees hat on, it hurts a little. (I mean, how would you like it if David Ortiz started prancing around with a Colts hat on?). The Yankees fan in my office puts your picture on the bulletin board. I have to look at it. I hear about. And I don’t like it. I know you’re probably thinking, “but it’s just a hat”. But it isn’t just a hat to me. It’s painful and annoying and quite frankly, a little disrespectful to all those who cheer you on every Sunday, snow, rain, sleet or shine in Foxboro.

There are a lot of hats in the world. I even have some suggestions. You seem to love Europe, been spending a lot of time there with the gf and all, so what about a futbol team hat from Europe? You could be chic and stylish and not pissing me off all at once. Not much of a soccer fan? Me either. What about a Michigan hat? If you loved Michigan ½ as much as I loved Assumption, this should be a logical choice. I believe you to be sponsored by Nike. What about a nice little plain hat with a cute little swoosh on it? I’ve seen you in those Gap ads. What about a nice little “GAP” hat? I’ll even buy you and Baby Brady matching hats if you want.

Now, there is one scenario that I haven’t given much thought to. That you may, actually be a Yankees fan. Tom, this would hurt my heart a little. If they make you happy, then I’ll accept that fact. Maybe, you grew up wearing Reggie Jackson’s jersey. Maybe you know Roger Maris’ career stats. Maybe you are delusional enough to believe Roger Clemens is the second coming. However, if this is true. You may never wear a Red Sox hat again. (and I don’t want to see you taking BP in a Sox jersey either Mr. Brady)

There is only one kind of fan I hate more than I hate Yankees fans. And that, is the bandwagon fan. So, Tom, lose the Yankees hat, or lose the Red Sox hat. But don’t make me come down to Foxboro on Friday night and have a talk with you about this.

Love always,

Amanda

PS. Who runs in khakis?

A couple links on Jon Lester Day!

*I hate when, after a tragedy, someone says, "This kind of thing reminds you what really matters". As if something horrible needs to happen to remind me that baseball is just a game.

However, story is just horrific. The AA hitting coach of the Tulsa Drillers, Mike Coolbaugh, was struck in the head and killed during a game Sunday during a Texas League game, he was 35 years old. He leaves behind a wife, Mandy, two sons, Joseph and Jacob. His wife is due with their third child in October.

*"Reliever Joel Pineiro has been designated for assignment to make room for Jon Lester on the Red Sox roster, Terry Francona announced after the game. Pineiro is out of options, meaning the team has 10 days to release or trade the pitcher." From the Extra Bases Blog. I'm pretty surprised by this one, Pineiro seemed to be pitching better as of late. I think that we must have something in the works / almost complete for another bullpen arm. Also, we have 10 days to trade him, and the deadline is creeping up on us, so we'll see. Our overall team hotness factor was severely effected by this move.

*After giving all of RSN a collective heart attack with that head first slide, we hear he might be out till Wednesday. From Edes notebook,

"David Ortiz is still sore, Francona said, indicating he may miss more games. Ortiz said he might not be back before Wednesday.
"David has been examined and everything's fine in that regard," said Francona. "He's sore and stiff. I'm confident you'll see him in Cleveland at some point. I don't know which day."

*Let's all say a little prayer for old friend Alex Gonzalez, who has missed a lot of time this year with the Reds to be with his ill son.

Gonzalez still out: Shortstop Alex Gonzalez missed the seventh and final game he's permitted under the bereavement list rules to be with his ailing 10-month-old son, Johan, who is hospitalized in Cincinnati. Because he is not ready to return, Gonzalez is expected to be placed on the restricted list by the Reds on Saturday. It will enable the club to play with a full 25-man roster. There was no word on when Gonzalez might return. (from www.mlb.com)

*David Beckham played soccer for LA for the first time.

*Someone won the British Open.

The Great Autograph Experiment

I got another returned SASE only this time, there was a real life autograph in it. Good old Mike Timlin is my first success story! I sent him the card of him on the Blue Jays, and he sent me back that card signed, and the card of him on the Red Sox with a spiritual message on the back of it.

Running Tally:

Items returned signed: 1
Items returned unsigned: 1
Items still out there: 18

The back reads, "I play baseball and I hunt. While those seem very opposite activities, they are actually quite similiar - at least in one aspect. They both require focus-whether the focus in on the outisde of the plate, or on the target in the woods.

Actually, focus is parkt of what it means to be a believer in Jesus as well. The focus is not on what we're trying to do-but on Who we're doing it for. Read the rest of my story at www.TheGoal.com

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men: since you kno wthat you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Colossians 3:23-24.

Better late than never...here are some pictures of Clay and Jacoby from the Paw Sox last week!

Look at that action shot! I should be a professional!

It's a strong man's game

On April 30th Jon Lester made his season debut for the Pawtucket Red Sox on a cold damp New England night. Tonight, the amazing comeback story comes full circle as Jon will be taking the ball for the big club tonight against those hard hitting Cleveland Indians. I am so excited for him and for all the people he has inspired this last year.

Is it 7:05 yet?

(also, I know I have been slacking, but I have all kinds of good stuff on the way, promise!)

photo credit goes to the Boston Globe

Closing my eyes and hiding under my desk...

I don't want to talk about last night, or how we could put the Yankees back to 8 games back and didn't, or how we've played like crap the past month, or how JD Drew and Lugo really have done nothing to win me over, or how we cannot buy a hit with RISP. And don't you dare give me the whole, "Amanda, if we had said in April we'd be 8 games up on the Yankees heading into August you'd be thrilled" bullshit, okay? So there we go, that is me, not talking about it.

These pictures are worth MUCH more than 10,000 words...

It's kind of like someone took this picture specifically for me. Like they said, "Hey, look at Paps and Mikey sitting there drinking beers, playing cribbage, you know who would love this picture, Amanda. I better take it for her"

Joshua's girlfriend. Now, I'm not saying that Josh isn't infinitely hotter because he plays baseball than he actually is. I'm just saying his girlfriend is...surprising.

Manny and Okie drinking wine. My only question is, where is Papi in all these pictures? Maybe these are Papi's pictures? Maybe he took them for me? Papi's probably sitting on the floor indian style between the pilots touching buttons and trying to grab the controller with a huge grin on his face.

I mean, how great are these pictures? Kansas City who? Whoever took them, thank you for bringing them into my life.

Objects in rear view mirror may be closer than the appear...

This is going to be a rambling mess, but I haven't posted in a while and I have a about 29293 things running through my head right now. Proceed at your own risk.

Okay, I'm offically stressed out. Our in ability to hit with runners in scoring position is so freaking frustrating I can't take it anymore. David's single followed by Manny popping out last night just added to my tension. I'm wondering if we need to make a move for another bat (although if our lineup could just hit how we know our lineup can hit, all would be well in my world). July 31st is quickly approaching and I think Theo has a big move in store for us. Here is my things with trades. I don't think in terms of statistics or productivity or contracts. I think in terms of how much I love the player. Under those rules, Jon Lester, MDC, the Typo Twins (Jacoby and Kason) (Credits to Surviving Grady for that one), Mike Lowell and Wily Mo would not even be considered for a possible deal. (I didn't mention Jonathan, Tek or Papi here, because they are clearly not going anywhere). Anyway, the moral of my story is, I wouldn't trade any of those guys because I love them. Theo, obviously, doesn't go with this heart. Lenny Dinardo performed at Theo's Hot Stove Cool Music event and then got released just before opening day. And, if I was the GM of the Red Sox in 2004, I never would have traded Nomar, and we probably wouldn't have won the World Series with him. And we'd be on 89 years of futility and my whole life would probably be different. So, the moral of this story is well, I don't know, but hopefully Theo does.

I'm off to see Clay tonight! I'll have full details and pictures tomorrow!

(Red Sox texts are welcome)

Let's remind those Blue Jays who is the boss around the AL East!

Hello on this lovely Sunday, I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I am currently enjoying the Sox game, but I was going through my mail and I had one of my SASE from the Great Autograph Experiment of 2007. I sent out 20 "fan" notes with SASE to 20 Major Leaguers, just to see who I'd get back. I got my first back today, unsigned along with my note, from Manny Ramirez. Apparently Mr. Ramirez doesn't deal with fan mail, but someone took the time to send my card back, which is nice.

Dear Mr. Demarlo Hale,

If you ever run my torn minicus boyfriend into a GD out at home to end the inning again, I promise to inflict SEVERE bodily pain.

Love,

Amanda

And I leave you with the handsomest third baseman and El Capitan...

So I have the attention span of a gnat today. Sue me.

Could HE be anymore dead to me?

Be wary of our 5th starter, he just might wreck your shit...

The badass picture of Wake seemed to work out last night, so here goes it again, this time with your starting pitcher, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Julian Tavarez.

I think I see Cashman in the distance Mike...

A little bit of bad-ass to start the second half. Tonight, it's Wake vs. Holliday. As for me, I'll be at the Spinners with the rest of the gang.

Road Trip: Toronto

Sunday morning, we got up at 7:30, d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g and finally hit the road about 9. We got to the hotel in Toronto, the Holiday Inn on King Street about 1:30 after a wrong turn or two. If you ever go to Toronto, I highly recommend the HI on KSt. It’s nice, is right near both the Air Canada Center and Rogers Center, and has a sweet pool on the 16th floor. We went to Toronto for two reason, one, so Kerry and Colleen could cross the Rogers Center off their list of parks to go to, and two, TROT.

We arrived at SkyDome / Rogers Center / Rogers Centre (those silly Canadians) a little before two. We bought 9 dollar tickets and promptly sat about 7 rows back from Mr. Nixon in RF. I had decided prior to the game that having no real vested interest in the game, that I would cheer for the Jays out of respect for the home team, and for Trot Nixon, out of undying love. It was the 5th when we arrived. I looked up at the scoreboard and told my cousin, “Hey look, Josh Towers has a no-no”. The next pitch was a line drive for a double, so, sorry Josh. We said hi to Trot. Told him we missed him. Told him to come back to us. Told him he was beautiful. Told him that JD is nothing compared to him. Told him we loved him. You know, the usual hello’s.

The surrounding Blue Jay fans, and I use the term loosely, seemed mildly annoyed. But listen you dumb asses. I stood and clapped after the double. That is what you do when a no-hitter gets broken up. Of course, none of you idiots know that do you? I may have been a little touchy after my interactions with Detroit fans, or maybe Blue Jays fans hate us too. I told one Blue Jays fan to get a life and lose the inferiority complex, and asked another how it felt to be in 2nd place, since I had no idea. And the rest I murdered and buried in the woods near the border.

Anyway, Trot seemed happy to see me (this my imagination talking - but he could def. hear us seeing you could have confused the Dome for a lib). We were glad the Jays won in the bottom of the 9th because we were going to have to hang ourselves from the empty upper deck if we had another extra inning game. After the game, we went and got some dinner and then went back to the hotel, loaded up on Tylenol PM’s and went to bed at 5:30 at night, and got up at 4:30 for the big ride home. We made it from Toronto to Woburn in about 9 and a ½ hours, getting back about 3. All in all, a fantastic time, although the only real downfall of the trip was the actual games.

Next Road Trip: Philly and Baltimore – August 2007

Road Trip: Detroit

After leaving Niagra Falls at the crack of 11, we finally made it to our hotel in Detroit about 5 after stopping off to see some old friends, and me almost getting us arrested at the border for not remembering where we had been the night before. (Hey, it was a long trip). We stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, after hearing that this is where the Red Sox stay. That was not our only reason, part of it was that we wanted to stay somewhere where wouldn’t get murdered, but, it did have something to do with it. We asked the bell boy when we checked in, and he told us the Sox stayed in downtown Detroit at the Atheneum Suite Hotel, which, is where our bell hop friend told us they stay. We never actually checked it out, because we aren’t those kind of girls. (Okay, we are, but we were scared to leave the area directly around the stadium, and directly around the hotel). I guess the Yankees and Twins stay with the Ritz, but the Sox and White Sox stay at the Antheneum. Just so you know. Anyway, after a quick change, we headed down to Comerica. On the ride, our friendly cab driver told us that he had picked up some Red Sox coaches and dropped them off at the Sox players entrance earlier in the day. So now we weren’t sure where they stayed. Anyway, the game up, sucked. Julian didn’t have it from the beginning and it was a really fun time to be in Detroit. (Not).

Let me tell you a few things about Detroit. I have now been to Fenway, Camden Yards, Sky Dome, Yankee Stadium, Tropicana, and the Ballpark at Arlington. Of all those places, my favorite stadium, hands down, is Comerica. It’s huge, had awesome architecture, really cool Tiger statues everywhere, plenty of concessions, beer men in the stands, lots of bathrooms, ect. Just an absolutely beautiful park overlooking the Detroit skyline.

That being said. Let me tell you a few things about Detroit fans. They bring kitchen utensils to the game and wave them around when Gary Sheffield is up (no wonder he wanted to be a Red Sox), they only make noise when 1. Red Sox fans make noise, 2. The scoreboard instructs them to do so, their old park, Tiger Stadium, opened the same day as Fenway, yet they don’t know to stand with two outs and two strikes. They are all covered in 2006 ALCS Champions shirts and hats. I don’t know about you, but where I come from, I don’t celebrate championship losses. It’d be the equivalent of me wearing an AFC East Champion shirt. I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a pen. And finally, the most damning evidence of all that they suck…Saturday’s game with Gabby pitching was the second highest attendance in the HISTORY of Comerica, AND Tavarez’s start Friday was the fifth highest in attendance. How is this possible? They played two ALCS games and 2 World Series games last year! More people come out to see the Red Sox than the World Series? And, it wasn’t like the Nation completely invaded Comerica like we usually do, we were definitely in the vast minority, with a scattering of Red Sox fans in our section, but completely outnumbered.

When we got to our seats in the first game, we sat in the wrong seats and I sat next to a Tiger’s fan who didn’t actually believe I was a Red Sox fan (because I was just dying to go to Detroit on vacation and needed an excuse?). He asked me how long I’ve been a Red Sox fan…(implying that it was since 2004), and didn’t seem to buy that I have been a diehard since 1997 when Nomar Garciaparra came into my life. He asked me if I knew the significance of the day Old Tiger Stadium and Fenway opened (the Titanic sank). Then, he told me the Tiger’s called up a bunch of players from their AAA team to face and I told him that the Paw Sox would destroy the Mud Hens (I don’t know how I knew their AAA team was the Mud Hens, sometimes I just know random shit). At least he was convinced that I was, in fact, a baseball fan, he began to explain to me how Curtis Granderson was screwed out of a spot on the All Star team by Major League Baseball. I informed him that the teams select which outfielders to put on the ballot, not MLB, so in fact, the Tigers screwed Granderson. At this point, I realized that he, in fact, didn’t know his shit, and had us move to our proper seats (okay, that’s a lie, the people whose seats we were sitting in came).

We went out for drinks after and came back to the hotel. I went into to full scale stalker mode, staking out the lobby in search of signs of Sox. (Not that I would have said anything anyway, seeing I was in my PJ’s with no makeup and such dark lack of sleep circles under my eyes that I looked like I’d been slapped around). Of course, there weren’t any, the bell boy had been telling us the truth.

For the second game we had the human typo, Kason Gabbard on the hill. He pitched great, giving up two runs, and of course, once again our O couldn’t get anything going. From the 8th inning on, every time the Sox got a batter on, Papelbon began warming up. This started to make me nervous, thinking that if this game goes a while, we are going to wear him out before we even see him. The entire pen does his job, and as we move to the bottom of the 13th, Terry decides to bring in cinco-ocho. Sometimes with Pap, I just know it isn’t going to end well. I knew he had thrown a ton of warm up pitches, and we didn’t even have the lead. When he hit Sheff and I was surrounded by waving kitchen utensils, my stomach sank. Still though, I had faith. Then Pudge came through with the game winning hit, and we headed to the exits in a hurry (skipping the free post game fireworks). Now, I understand that I was wearing a Papelbon shirt, and I understand we were in enemy territory. However, I have never, in my life, been called the things that we were called on the way out of that park. (including Yankee Stadium. I really think that the Yankees fans giving us shit, and they do, are more in good fun than the Tigers fans were). I mean, I don’t get why they hate us so much. I really was surprised. I mean, we don’t even play each other that much! And I’m not sensitive, I was fully expecting a ton of shit when we were walking out of there, but I was surprised with how ridiculously vicious a lot of the fans were. When I was at a Tiger’s game at Fenway earlier this year, no one was giving them a hard time. It’s indifference when they are here, and apparently a huge deal when the Sox are there. So much so that people would rather go rag on Red Sox fans than see their team compete for a World Series. After the second game, we wanted no part of the locals, so we retreated to the friendly confines of the Ritz and had some cocktails in our room before bed. Because, of course, we once again had a big day of driving ahead of us.

Road Trip: Cooperstown and Niagra Falls

Kerry and I left our lake house in NH at 5:30 on Thursday morning, picked up Colleen and her 34 Vera Bradley bags at 7:45, we were off to Cooperstown. We got there in a little under four hours, thanks to my fantastic navigation skills and superb parking job, we entered the hall about 12. As soon as we entered we realized our first mistake. Going during the summer. Little kids EVERYWHERE. Now I love little kids, but only if we share DNA. These little rugrats where everywhere, getting in my way, stepping on my feet, and standing in front of my camera. So, we immediately decided that if we ever go to Cooperstown again, we are going during the day, during the school year. Anyway, besides that, there is obviously a ton of cool stuff there, my favorite two items were the Cy Young jersey and THE sock. I have the complete album on my facebook, but here are a few of my favorite pictures. One thing I don’t like about the H of F is that there is so much stuff, it’s hard to walk through without the feeling that you just missed something important. The way the rooms are set up and the artifacts are arranged I think if confusing. Or I’m an idiot. Both are probably true. After Cooperstown we continued on our journey to Niagra Falls. This part of the trip took about four hours as well. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot, went down and saw the falls, went on this really cool ferris wheel that gave both Kerry and Colleen panic attacks, had some shots, drinks and dinner at the Hard Rock Café, and went to bed because we, of course, had a lot of driving to do the next day.