"Four Days In October"

ESPN is showing "Four Days In October" tonight (8pm EST), as part of the documentary series "30 for 30".

"30 for 30" contains some of the best sports documentaries ever made.  This one is particularly interesting because I know the story so well.  It is the greatest moment I'll ever have as a sports fan.  #2 is reserved for the USA winning the World Cup.  I can hope, but it probably will not happen in my lifetime.  

The night prior to our story, Red Sox lost game 3, 19-8. The loss meant they were down 3-0 against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.  They were on the verge of being eliminated by the Yankees for the second year in a row.  The 2003 ALCS was particularly cruel because of the way it ended, and because I believed the Red Sox were the better team.  We had our shot, and blew it. 

2004 was to become a different story.  It would be the Yankees who had their shot and blew it.

Kentucky Fried Kevin

Before game 4 of the ALCS, the first of the four nights, I remember sharing precisely the same thoughts as Red Sox resident clairvoyant, Kevin Millar. 

"Don't let the Red Sox win this game." 

I held the same hope, for the same reasons.  If Derek Lowe could get us through game 4, the Yankees would have to defeat Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling (would become the "bloody sock game").  Pedro is the best pitcher I have ever seen; Schilling, one of the best of his generation.  And, as we learned the year before, anything can happen if the Red Sox can just make it to a game 7.

During "Four Days In October", the Red Sox accomplished the most unlikely of comebacks, winning four straight games to go to the World Series.  The World Series was almost anti-climactic, as the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first championship since 1918.  When that game ended, not a moment earlier, I removed the bottle of Dom from the refrigerator to celebrate.

The Red Sox won the World Series again in 2007.  It was a great moment, not the same as 2004.  Then, the Mitchell Report was released, casting a shadow over the whole generation of baseball.  Today, the Red Sox are no longer considered the lovable losers.  Like the Yankees, Celtics and Patriots, winning has become the expectation.  Fans take success for granted.  Those who are not fans of the teams turn against them, rooting for the new underdog.  Please let anybody but them win. 

Not in 2004.  Nothing will ever be like those "Four Days In October".

You know I'm a dreamer, but my heart's of gold

I've never been good at remembering my dreams.  I remember them occasionally. 

In my dreams, I may be climbing a cliff, running through dense forest, playing poker, or being chased by lions while hyenas laugh at me (yup, that's right).  They may include my mother, who passed away over 10 years ago, or be set in the town where I grew up, and left after high school.  The dreams I remember seem to fit common symbols and archetypes.  There are logical reasons why they occurred.

I had two dreams that included cake this week; not a surprise that my birthday is coming up.  In one of those dreams, I taunted Shaquille O'Neal for throwing a football like a girl.  Perhaps I am concerned because he is long past his prime and has other interests besides basketball.  Perhaps I never cared before, but now he is playing for my favorite basketball team, the Boston Celtics.

Nice bow tie.

I figure that if I ever want to pursue becoming a serious writer, the way to begin is by keeping a bedside notebook and doing a better job documenting my dreams.  Anyone reading this knows I am not a serious writer.

For now, I'll just settle for the pen and paper that I use to write down ideas for this blog.  

AC Milan vs Parma 1-0 - HD Andrea Pirlo Long Range Crazy Goal 1-0 - 02/...

Nice goal by Andrea Pirlo.

Submitted with the heading "put this in your blog and smoke it."

MLB Playoffs

AL

Rays beat Rangers
Yankees beat Twins

Rays beat Yankees

NL

Phillies beat Reds
Braves beat Giants

Phillies beat Braves

World Series

Phillies beat Rays in seven games.

Here we are now, entertain us

About 10 years ago, a friend of mine said, "new music is mostly garbage because there is a dearth of good guitar players".  He is definitely what you'd call an audiophile, who especially loves the sound of his vintage record collection.  I agreed and we discussed, over many beers, selected facts that supported his point.  Around that time, another friend, within our group, commented that the only new music he likes is U2.  I said "oh, you mean the band that formed in the late 1970's?"

I don't have the focus or inclination to write a post that would give this topic proper treatment.  Instead, I'll say a couple of things, contradict myself, allow a contrary view the final word, and call it a day.

I know one song in the top 10 of the current Billboard Hot 100.  I have heard of many of the artists, and know some of their other songs. I am going to assume most new artists are corporate creations, and that people like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers are not particularly talented.  I am not going to watch American Idol.

That being said, I like Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake.  I very much enjoyed two Girl Talk concerts, even though the guy is a walking copyright infringement.  Not all rap is bad.  Just most of it.

So, maybe I am becoming more like my older friends, and closing my mind to new, and possibly good music.  In the car, there is an approximately 100% chance I am going to find the radio station that plays the old songs I know and like, instead of giving new music a fair chance.

With this in mind, take a minutes to peruse Blender Magazine's,

The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born

I will give up the final word, since I am not actually trying to win an argument with myself.  I will also resist the temptation to quibble with the songs and the ordering.  Feel free to do that for yourself.   

"Blender has never bought the myth that rock & roll declined at middle age; the last 25 years were as good as the 25 before them, unless you somehow think Eminem and U2 aren’t as Genius Level as the Moody Blues and Captain & Tennille. So we’ve constructed an alternative rock history that begins long after Woodstock stopped smelling bad and the Sex Pistols quit with dignity, a list of the 500 greatest songs since 1980. And believe us, it was hard to stop at only 500. Sometimes, the good ol’ days were yesterday and today."

Poker Tip #2: Protect your hand

Whether you are playing in a casino or at the dining room table, it is important to protect your cards at all times.  Cards are dealt face down and should not be shown, purposely or accidentally, to an opponent until all betting has been completed.  Players should cup their hands over the cards so only they can see when they are looking at them.  The cards should not be picked up off the table.  Cards should then be "capped" by placing a poker chip or other card guard on top of them.  I memorize the rank and suit of my cards but it is ok to look back if necessary.  You can see players do this by watching poker on tv or in a casino.    


One of the best ways to get information in a poker game is when an opponents cards are reveled.  You can review how the hand was played, knowing the cards involved.  Players folding while there is action behind them should be careful not to expose their cards.  Sometimes friends or players sitting near one another show their cards when they fold or when one of the players is not in the hand.  The general rule is “show one, show all.”  If I see this and want to know what the exposed cards are, I ask the dealer to enforce the rule.  Occasionally, accidents happen.  If you accidentally expose cards when folding while the hand is still being played, just say “sorry” and move on.  


If I notice that a player is exposing their cards when they are looking at them, I generally tell them once.  I say that I am not purposely trying to see their hand, but sometimes I happen to be looking in their direction and see their cards.  It happens more than you might think, especially since I am following Poker Tip #1: Follow the action.  It’s each players responsibility to protect their hand.  


Live cards should be "capped" so they are not mistaken as dead cards and folded by the dealer.  Also, if another player folds, touching your uncovered cards, the dealer can rule your hand is dead.  I have seen this happen in large pots.  The seats next to the dealer are most susceptible because players further from the dealer are folding towards those positions. 


Example:  At the Gold Strike in Tunica, an older man acting before me consistently exposed his hand while looking at his cards.  I could look at him and see what he had before I acted during every hand.  I quietly said to him that I could see his cards when he looked at them, thinking he would appreciate the information and protect his hand better.  Later, he won a $1,000 pot with a KJ, making a straight.  After the hand, I quietly said "good hand" and again told him I could see his cards when he looked at them.  He grunted so I knew he heard me.  A couple of hands later, I wasn't getting anywhere, so I informed the dealer. 


I was in the middle of a big hand when the old man decided to reply by asking if he and I had a problem.  He said he would call the floor man or we could just take it outside.  He did so loud enough for the whole table to hear, and while I was playing a hand.  As I am raking in my own $1,000 pot, I turned to the dealer, repeated that the player was repeatedly exposing his cards.  I had told him multiple times, and I thought it would be a good idea to call the floor man.


I shouldn't have done this next part.  It is out of character, but I do not like people who are disrespectful to other players and to the game.  I have very few conflicts at a poker table, however the old man was not only wrong, he thought he could talk down to me. 


When the floor arrived, I embarrassed the old man so thoroughly that anyone at the surrounding tables could hear.  I said that it was unfair to all players for me to see his cards, he ruined the integrity of the game, and someone playing in casino for money should be able to protect his hand properly.  I pointed out that I had politely said something twice and would not tolerate being disrespected by somebody who did not follow the rules of the game.  The dealer concurred, and the floor man instructed the old man to protect his hand. 


I wish he had not left within 15 minutes.  I apologized to the table for running the old man off because he was the easy money you want to keep at the table.  I wonder what would have happened if I had not attempted to be polite, and instead just played every hand knowing the old man's cards.  I'm pretty sure I know the answer.  Had he had stayed, he probably would have been separated from all of his chips.

Sorry 'bout that

The United States apologized today for intentionally infecting Guatemalans with sexually transmitted diseases in the 1940's.  This is similar to known studies performed on African-Americans in Alabama, or by Germans during the Holocaust. 

Today, we could accomplish the same thing by filming the next season of Jersey Shore in Guatemala.

Seriously, you'd like to think these atrocities do not happen anymore, but I'm sure they do - by governments and companies against humans as well as animals.

Weekend Watching

I certainly won't watch it all, but I will pay attention to The Ryder Cup, starting today.  The Ryder Cup is a team golf event matching the USA against Europe.  It is played every other year, and alternating venues between the USA and Europe.  This year's Ryder Cup is being contested at Celtic Manor in South Wales.

Normally, golf is an individual sport, where one plays for and by oneself.  Professionals, and some country clubbers, rely on a caddie to carry their bags and provide guidance, but the game is played individually.  The Ryder Cup asks the best golfers in the world to play for and as a team.  There are foursomes, fourballs, and singles play; each match offering one point to win, lose or split.  The team with the most cumulative points wins the Cup.

I rarely watch golf and stopped playing in college.  I tell people I gave it up because it was too easy, but that has probably never happened in the history of man.  I'll watch some of the Masters and the Ryder Cup, but that's about it. 

I have attended golf tournaments twice (at East Lake and Sugarloaf) and, in both cases, had a great time.  I highly recommend going if you have an opportunity.  Watching the best in the world make a difficult game look easy (but sometimes they look just like the rest of us), and seeing the landscaping and layout of the golf course make for a good day.  Watching Tiger Woods drive a golf ball while I stood 10 feet away (then getting him to chuckle at a joke as he headed to the tee-side porta john) rates as a unique experience.  Both times, beer was available to the gallery.

I am also interested in anything representing a high level of international competition, where the competitors are motivated by playing for their country (or, in Ryder Cup, continent).  To be on the Ryder Cup team, golfers accumulate points based on performance leading up to the event.  Eight qualify, and four are chosen by team captains, making for 12 man teams.  Players are honored to earn a spot on their Ryder Cup squad. 

I root for Americans to win.  I root for all to perform well, regardless of nationality.  Same with the Olympics, World Cup, FIBA Championships, and other international competitions.  I want to see something special.  The Ryder Cup is not routine, like a normal four round golf tournament or a 162 game baseball season.  The spectators tell you all you need to know.  That it's the best golfers in the world playing as a team for a title they truly care about.  It is a chance to see something special. 

And yes, Tiger Woods is playing.

Free Online Courses: Open Culture

Open Culture touts itself as "the best free cultural & educational media on the web".  The web site sets itself apart from a lot of what you will find while mindlessly surfing the web.  They combine intellectual content and pop culture in an informative and entertaining format.  According to the site, Open Culture is the product of Dan Coleman, Director and Associate Dean of Stanford's Continuing Studies Program, though not directly associated with the university.

Open Culture pursues educational content, unique intellectual stories, and adds narrative and videos for the viewer.  Open Culture is interested in topics from Puppet making with Jim Henson to Einstein’s E = mc2 Explained.  In addition, they provide a list of free online courses for readers to pursue.  It appeals to the PBS crowd, which I would say describes me to some degree. 

I have been working on a Yale economics course and Stanford Mini Med School lecture series.  Both are well done recordings of university lectures.  The Yale economics course on Game Theory includes blackboard notes, homework assignments and examinations.  I am simply auditing the Stanford lectures.  Since the product is so well done, I am capable of drawing as much from the online experience as students who are fortunate enough to attend.  I probably would not have stumbled upon the opportunity were it not for Open Culture.   

Open Culture and the content it links to are quality products and excellent resources available to those who want to use the internet for learning.  Thank you for all the terrific information. 

Weekend Football Picks

College

OKLAHOMA -3 over Texas
Wisconsin -2 over MICHIGAN STATE
Tennessee +16.5 over LSU
Notre Dame -2.5 over BOSTON COLLEGE
Stanford +7 over OREGON
ALABAMA -8 over Florida

Last week: nevermind

NFL

NY Jets -5.5 over BUFFALO
GREEN BAY -15.5 over Detroit
Baltimore +1 over PITTSBURGH
Denver +7 over TENNESSEE
San Francisco +7.5 over ATLANTA
Cincinnati -3 over CLEVELAND
NEW ORLEANS -15 over Carolina
Houston -3 over OAKLAND
Indianapolis -8 over JACKSONVILLE
PHILADELPHIA -5.5 over Washington
Arizona +9 over SAN DIEGO
NY GIANTS -4 over Chicago
New England 0 over MIAMI

Last Week: 9-7