Wmcmanus

Nobody seems to want to win.

I thought this was fascinating and remarkably close to how I see the world (or at least the world of baseball). http://onlyagame.wbur.org/2014/10/04/mlb-playoffs-hateability-index?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=202403 http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-2014-baseball-playoffs-hateability-index-1412008971 So true about Boston's annoying beards last year. Same with the stupid "big up yo-self" gestures that Milwaukee was doing in the playoffs a couple of years ago when Prince Fielder was still there. Also understand how it's easy to hate the Cardinals (as a reasonable Yankee substitute) and to love the Royals (a small ball style on a low budget, kind of like the A's and Rays in recent years). There are also specific players that you love to hate, especially the roid'ers who keep producing (David Ortiz, Nelson Cruz, etc.).

Well there you go. I was wrong again. He's just done. Good for Doug. Plus the article was written by a wicked beardster who doesn't look like he would let you call him a liar and walk away from the experience.

That game had a little something for everyone. Gotta love it when the home crowd gets all fired up after back to back homeruns (one of which was a monster blast)... only to go on and beat them!

You've tried that before...

That would be my guess. Seems to me that eventually, Hot Doug's will probably reemerge in one way or another. Maybe with a different name, certainly at a different (and probably much larger) location, and perhaps not for several years, but he's got a good thing going there and he's no fool. At the same time, I can totally understand that he wants to get out of it and just have time to do whatever, whenever, and for however long he wants to. From the articles that were written when the closing decision was first announced, it just seemed like he was burned out with it and had no real plans of what might be next (and was quite happy about that). Like I say, don't blame him. Maybe next time (if there is a next time), he'll just be an investor/passive owner.

Ya, it's a great place. No doubt. Just think a lot of those people in the video are there just to say they were there, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Reminded me of the hipster beer crowd in Tampa for some reason, and I'm not so sure I would have enjoyed waiting in line for 24 hours with them.

Hot dog douches. This is the world we live in. It doesn't end with beer.

^ Thanks, Gary... and everyone else too. Birthdays are great, and it sure beats the alternative.

Well, there's a sigh of relief, huh Al? Mad Bum bowled a 300 tonight. Great job, Giants. Last night though... Kansas City vs. Oakland... man oh man, does a game like that ever make me love baseball more than ever! From the 7th inning on to the 12th, it was pretty intense. Fun to watch the range of emotions of the KC fans as well as those of the players for both teams. Incredible game, and I sure am happy for the Royals. KC has waited a long, long time. They're my favorite team still in the mix, although I don't give them good odds against the Angels. Possible close proximity World Series matchups: Angels vs. Dodgers Orioles vs. Nationals Royals vs. Cardinals A's vs. Giants... well, not so much anymore, you may have to settle for the Angels and call it close enough.

This guy is incredible!

Wow! Far out, Ric. I need to talk to my accountant. It might put me into a different, uh... tax... uhhh.

Had a great day today. Thanks for all of the well wishes. Got a big surprise actually, which turned out to be one of the best birthday presents I've ever received. Ironic, because it wasn't intended to be a present and I'm pretty sure nobody even knew that my birthday happened to be today. I was in a bit of a grumpy mood this afternoon as I left for a college event hosted on the other side of the Island when I would have rather been watching the game 162 excitement in a baseball season that I've followed more closely than ever in recent years. But off I went, duty called. It was an event to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the little college that I teach at here in Cayman, the so-called founder's day. Little did I know that I had been selected as one of two inaugural recipients of the first ever (official) teaching award presented by the college during its entire existence. Lucky me. It's nice to feel appreciated. Anyway, it was totally unexpected, and way cool that it happened on my birthday. I didn't even realize that they were introducing "formal" teaching awards today (or that they ever intended to). So I feel honored, yada yada. It's actually nicely framed.

My stupid computer won't load the picture... curious...

For sure! Many a bearding sites on the interwebz. I even have some T-shirts... http://www.cafepress.com/thebeardly

Careful what you ask for... just posted this on Facebook. "The other day, I was in St. Pete on my way to a Rays game and stopped in at Ferg's (famous sports bar across from center field) before the game for a reuben (most awesome sandwich, you really do owe it to yourself if ever you have a chance to catch a Ray's game)... So I'm sitting there, enjoying the last fews bites of my reuben and minding my own business as always, just waiting for the rain to stop so I can make my way over to the game. The White Sox were in town, so I was looking forward to the game and anxious to get moving because the opening pitch was closing in (it's an indoor stadium, so the rain wasn't going to delay the game). Time was of the essence, and now that the reuben was all but done and dusted, my mood was shifting from a 9 to a 3 on the scale of 1 to completely content and at peace with the world). The reuben really was awesome, but I had shit to do and I either had to get soaked or miss the first inning, neither being a good choice. Along comes an old geezer walking past my table, who was of course (as most old geezers tend to be) much better prepared for the rain (umbrella in hand) than was I... so although he didn't know it, he already had one strike against him in my book... but that's fine (I was thinking to myself), he didn't have anything else on his mind all day, so of course he would check the weather. Don't blame him. Not his fault I'm an idiot... But then he did it. He didn't have to, but he did. He could have just looked away like so many other people do, day in and day out, and just kept his mouth shut and his thoughts to himself. But he didn't. He stopped, while simultaneously opening his umbrella, looked directly at me and said/asked (I'm not exactly sure if it was a statement or a question)... but it was uttered without a hint of remorse or even playful sarcasm: "You haven't spent any money on razor blades for a long time, have you?" Although quite surprised, shocked even, and insulted if he meant it as an insult (although I'm not convinced that he did because it was an American accent, not British)... still, I didn't hesitate for even a second with my reply: "About a year... but did you know that they have a name for people who shave?" Now he looked confused, which made me that much more pleased to answer my own rhetorical question, so as he said, "No, what's that?" I said, "Women", then immediately stood up, walked past him as he was opening the door and without a hint of anger or frustration on my part said to him, "It's the same name they use for people who carry umbrellas." Then I wandered aimlessly out into the rain toward the Trop (although in truth I really wanted to run because it was certainly more than a drizzle and I was indeed going to get soaked if I kept up my he-man act... which of course I did). Yes... I did get soaked, but it was so worth it."

One, I believe... but lots of pulled pork nachos at the Trop in St. Pete.

The last 20 games were in Tampa in late August and throughout September. At $10 per game for tickets and free parking, why not? It's kind of quiet in there. Shame, really... but did get to see Jeter in his final series with the Yankees and Paul Konerko do his last hurrah with the White Sox.

Back home in Cayman today after seeing 48 (far too many but yet somehow not quite enough) major league baseball games this year.

Back sack.

RIP Richard, you were awesome. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/richard-kiel-dead-bond-villain-and-jaws-actor-passes-away-aged-74-9725322.html The bit at the end about how he went to lots of Bond-related events in his later years... makes me wonder if guys like Richard Kiel made enough money during their brief careers to live off of residuals, etc. I suppose he got appearance fees or was paid for photos and autographs.

You would probably get better responses if you provided a more detailed list of the kind of musicerable shit that you listen to.

Happy birthday, Matt. I'm going to check in on your folks next week and let them know how many people around here miss you.