Lately, the announcers and sportswriters have been getting it right. Injustices have been done. And players have done it to themselves. I promise, this will end my ranting about sports for now, I just have to get it out of my system. Let's start with the obvious: Folding 'Cards.
I read a good comment about the Pujols home run the other night. It said that while it was definitely dramatic, and a very clutch hit, it means nothing if St. Louis loses the series, which they very emphatically did last night. So you can stop showing the highlights of it, it only delayed the inevitable. Also, the announcers very astutely commented last night (and Tim McCarver wasn't there, what a shock) that the Cardinals really got destroyed this NLCS. I mean, aside from game 1 (where they played pretty well) and a miracle homer from Pujols, they got their butts absolutely handed to them. I mean, we couldn't get any kind of hits, runs, whatever. Say what you want about questionable strike calls, phantom tag-outs, etc., the bottom line is that we just plain sucked. But now it's finally over, and I can wait and see how we do in the off-season and hope for a better performance in next year's playoffs, assuming that we get there.
Lastly, I have to get one more parting shot in about Notre Dame. I have already covered in great length the injustices suffered by the horribly biased Pac-10 officials, and lack of replay (did I mention that Pete Carroll's son was out of the coach's box, calling a time-out they didn't have, which is 2 penalties in 1?), but now to add insult to injury the BCS has them at #16. 16? How is that possible, when they pretty much beat the best team in the land last week? I'll tell you. The freaking computers! They have them ranked 25th, which is just downright stupid. So now the Irish are on the outside looking in at a BCS bowl. So I guess we'll just have to win out and hope for the best. I feel like we should be in the SEC, alongside Auburn, who once again is getting the shaft. Oh, how sad this system is. Can someone say "playoff"..........
One down, two to go.
It was looking pretty grim for me last night. The Colts were down 17-0 in the first quarter after giving up 6 points a game before then, and the Cards were on the verge of going down in flames. Enter Peyton Manning and Albert Pujols. The Colts outscored the Rams 45-3 over the next three quarters (until a late garbage touchdown), and Pujols came through once again. I will admit, after Berkman's home run, I thought the series was over. No way, I told Lacey, can St. Louis win this game. She even said, "wouldn't it be cool if this guy got on, then the next guy, then the guy after that hit a home run and they won the game?" I shook my head and smiled at her naivete and told myself that she doesn't even know who is coming up, but I loved her for being so optimistic (yet foolish to believe that might happen). Then it happened. I was the foolish one after all. Eckstein's base hit to right. Walk to Edmonds. And a hanging slider that Pujols planted somewhere in Texarkana (were it not for the roof). Amazing. Sit your ass down, Houston, you're going to have to wait until at least Wednesday (you can't see me but I'm smiling ear to ear). I doubt we can beat Oswalt and Clemens back to back, but for one night at least, my wife's optimism taught me a valuable lesson: never underestimate your wife's brilliance on every subject:) Go Cards!
You can look back to October, '04 on my archives for the first "Collapse" article.
It was not a good weekend for yours truly. In fact, it sucked. Notre Dame lost one of the most heartbreaking games I've ever witnessed, and the Cardinals are on the brink of elimination. Let's recap.
It all started Saturday, around 7 PM. The Cards had just lost game 3 to the Astros, because of pathetic hitting (again!). But the worst part came in South Bend, Indiana. And I've got some things to say. I know, I said I'd be happy with a close game. And that is exactly what I got. But we really shoulda won. We were literally one play away from winning for most of the second half. One missed tackle. One overthrow. One missed field goal. One batted ball. One unfortunate fumble. One spin. One push. Just ONE thing, and they would have dethroned the champs. But it didn't happen. Now, some say it's irony, or that USC made a great play, or this or that. Buncha crap. Let's run through it, so I can get this off my chest. First of all, the correct CALL was made on Leinart's fumble at the one yard line. But there are a couple things most people are missing. He did NOT fumble forward. The ball got knocked BACKWARDs by that helmet. It's simple physics, really. So, the clock should stop, and not restart until the next play starts on the snap. Hence, Leinart's "fake" motion to down the ball is null and void (buncha crap). Next, the ball should NOT have been at the one-foot-line. It should have been placed where the ball went out of bounds, BEHIND THAT. And most importantly, it is a five yard penalty to assist the ball-carrier by pushing them, which is exactly what Reggie Bush did (illegally), helping Leinart get past the goal line to win the game. Horse-you-know-what. And I know, I know, it's sour grapes and all that. So I should be happy that all things considered, ND is back. The Irish can no longer be overlooked. We are one of the top teams in the country, and that is never a bad thing.
Now oh, those Cardinals, and their bats. What is going on? Granted, the Astros pitching has been dynamite, but that didn't stop us during the regular season! I don't get why this has happened now 2 postseasons in a row! I can't even remember the last time the Cards lost 3 games in a row. And then to eject LaRussa AND Edmonds last night? Ridiculous. That was ball four to Edmonds, and it was clearly a bad call. Granted, the ump had been calling high strikes all night, but Marquis didn't get that call the previous inning. Buncha crap.
So for all my 3 readers, sorry if you have no idea what I'm talking about in this post. And if you do, feel sorry for me. Feel very sorry:(
Today is a big day. Not only do the in-trouble Cards play a pivotal game 3 against none other than Roger Clemens, but it's the USC game for ND. It's been building for 2 weeks now, and South Bend is at its boiling point. I have read everything there is to read about the game, I've dreamed about the game, I've watched old USC-ND games on ESPN Classic, and there is so much I could write about the game, but instead of boring everyone to tears, I'm just going to post my DellPod playlist, the Irish vs. Trojan edition:
1.Alibi - David Gray
2.White Shadows - Coldplay
3.Interlude - Morrissey with Siouxsie and the Banshees
4.Forever Young - Youth Group
5.Collide - Dishwalla
6.Don't Tread on Me - 311
7.Feel Good, Inc. - Gorillaz
8.Questions! - System of a Down
9.Don't Turn Around - Ace of Bass
10.Bring The Beat Back - Dave Matthews Band
11.Collide - Howie Day
12.Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
13.All I Ask of You (from The Phantom of the Opera) - Andrew Lloyd Webber
14.Adagio for organ, violin and strings - Albinoni
15.All Out of Love - Air Supply
16.Hurt - Johnny Cash
17.I Will Survive - Cake
18.Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
19.Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand
20.We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions - Queen
Oh dear. After a miracle comeback that even had Lacey yelling at the TV, the Cards will face the 'Stros in the NLCS for the second straight year. I'm a little worried, but for the most part pretty confident. I know that the Astros have their big three (Clemens, Pettite, and Oswalt), but the Cards have their big three (Carpenter, Mulder, and Morris), are better rested (no 18-inning marathon), and a much better offense. I just don't see Brad Ausmus and Chris Burke getting home runs in clutch situations against our bullpen. It would be nice to have Rolen in the lineup, but we've been dealing with that for a while now. Anyway, it should be an interesting series. If we can hold serve at home, I'm confident in our chances to make it back to the World Series. If not, it could be a free for all.
Speaking of sports, there is good news and bad news for Notre Dame fans. The good news is that they are back in the top 10 in the country, at #9. The bad news is that USC is up this weekend, on a ridiculous winstreak. They're number 1 by a mile. And our defense is atrocious. And their offense is almost unreal. But giving Charlie Weis two weeks to prepare for any team is just asking to be picked apart, so you just never know. To be perfectly honest, I'm merely hoping for a close game. I don't expect the Irish to pull out a win, we're just not as good of a team. But if they can keep it close, and finish out the year with victories, and a good showing in a bowl game, I'm pumped. Cause next year is gonna be scary...
A thousand dollars is a lot for a concert ticket, but Pearl Jam and special guest Robert Plant justified the price last night (Oct. 6) during an intimate benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims at Chicago's House of Blues. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross as well as Habitat for Humanity and the Jazz Foundation of America
NEW YORK -- In his 12 years in charge of booking musical guests on Conan O'Brien's "Late Night," Jim Pitt always listed U2 and Johnny Cash as the dream artists he'd tried but never succeeded in getting.
He lost his chance with the late Cash, but the U2 dream is coming true Thursday in a major way.
O'Brien will turn over his entire show to the band, which is in New York for seven sold-out engagements at Madison Square Garden.
--Plant played a 45 minute opening solo set for Pearl Jam, and then joined them for about 7 songs during the main 2 hour set.
--Tune in tonight (I think?) for U2's appearance on Conan.