Saturday, 28 October 2006
 

Pressure: Diamonds or Dust?
Contributed by The Gray Dog

Gray Dog's Note:  A sincere congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans, especially OWD fans Bill Faith and Jim Bartimus.  Bill, your daddy has a lot to smile about.

Paper Tigers?  I don’t mean this in the typical disparaging manner the phrase usually connotes.  Just simply that comparing the two World Series teams on paper, the Tigers should have won.  Fortunately for the Cardinals they had to play the games on the field.  But this will not be a “sports piece.” 

If this had been twenty or thirty years ago, last night’s loss by the Tigers would have sent me into a fit of cursing and screaming which would have been followed by weeks of depression.  This morning, the sun is shining and I eagerly look forward to today’s Michigan football game as they march to the November 18th showdown with Ohio State.  While disappointed in last night’s outcome, I am not depressed. 

I feel bad for the people of Detroit.  This is a city that desperately needs something to feel good about.  I feel bad for the Detroit players, coaches and manager. But more than anyone else, I feel damn bad for Justin Verlander.  While he most likely, and deservedly, will win the American League Rookie of the Year award, the immense pressure he felt last night was obvious. He’s going to have to live with the stigma of two World Series losses and more walks, wild pitches and errors than he committed during the entire season. I hope the people of Detroit will be forgiving and not forget what a wonderful season he gave them. 

As I focused on Verlander last night, I thought of my sons, both of whom are in their twenties, and wondered how they might have handled that kind of pressure.  As my mind wandered, I began to think of all of the teens and twenty-somethings that face the incredible pressures of everyday life in the inner-city of Detroit or on patrol in Baghdad.  Each day is spent with life-and-death situations occurring all around them.  This is the type of pressure that will either build character or break ones spirit. Some simply don’t survive. 

I’m thinking about the first responders fighting the blazing wild fires in California.  Already several dead with others suffering life threatening and disfiguring burns.  Pressure?

Some may still think it is just “sour grapes,” but I can only put last night’s Detroit loss in perspective by knowing, “It was only a game.”

Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 28, 2006 at 10:47 AM in Bill Faith, Current Affairs, Sports, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Not My Daddy's Cards
Contributed by Bill Faith

I guess the Cardinals won the Series. Hooray, hooray. I had to check online to find out if they had; stretched out for a nap with the Cards 1 run up in the bottom  of the 7th, wouldn't have known that if I hadn't gone to the kitchen after coffee first. The little boy I used to be would be dancing in the streets. I know The Gray Dog would have been excited about it if the Tigers have won. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I couldn't even tell you the coach's name, or any of the players. The last Cards coach I remember was Whitey Herzog, coaching players like Ozzie and Lonnie Smith, Willie McGee, Keith Hernandez and Bruce Sutter. I honestly believe knowing they were going to the Series kept Daddy fighting after his first heart attack in '82, and I know he's smiling now. So, where did that little boy go? He survived Nam. Must've been 9/11.

Contributed by Bill Faith on October 28, 2006 at 12:20 AM in Bill Faith, Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 22 October 2006
 

A True Conservative Baseball Fan
Contributed by The Gray Dog

As a life long conservative Detroit Tiger fan, this past month last night brought me to the breaking point.  Sex scandals Errors, poor leadership execution and a continuous flood of illegal aliens Cardinals crossing our borders home plate prove that the Republicans Tigers need to be taught a lesson.

I know, the Republicans Tigers have been treated unfairly by the press umpires, but the fact remains they did not do enough to fight back score runs.  For this reason I believe that all true conservatives Tiger fans must sit out this election World Series.

I know that many of you are concerned that the Democrats Cardinals will sweep to power the Tigers allowing Nancy Pelosi Anthony Reyes to become Speaker Series MVP.  But I think this will be a good lesson to the Republicans Tigers that have let us down for so long.  Perhaps a couple of years out of power relegated to the minors are just what some of these Congressmen and Senators, players and managers need. 

For those who still cannot stay away from the polls baseball, there’s always the Libertarians Yankees.

The Gray Dogs note:  Stupid post?  Yep, you bet!  Sometimes trying to be funny when the topic is humorless hurts.  Cut-and-run conservatives that believe there is victory in quitting are adopting the same attitude as the liberals.

This dog will be voting Republican on November 7th and will be wearing Tiger Blue while I root for my team tonight.

Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 22, 2006 at 08:58 AM in Current Affairs, Media Perfidy, Politics, Sports, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Sunday, 09 July 2006
 

A duster and someone totally dusted
Contributed by George Mellinger

I saw this report on Liberian tactical art about a year ago, when somebody sent it to me as a very awkward, and bulky, power-point file, which I regret I was unable to post or share.

Now Grim has received from Chuck Z. a more civilized (sic) version of this report, and posted it as Military Science, Gangsta Style.

Warning. Go to the bathroom first, and do not have any liquids close at hand. This is truly grim humor.

And then stop by to pay your respects to Chuck Z, who has visited another very strange AO indeed.

See if you can spot a common theme.

-Rurik

Contributed by George Mellinger on July 9, 2006 at 10:05 PM in 2nd Amendment, George Mellinger, Peacenik Stupidity, Sports | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack