Angels-4-Angels, part three.

Just wanted to share some more photos of the Angels-4-Angels who walked in the 3 day walk in Atlanta. We are all so proud of their super accomplishment.

Umpire interrupted. Torre the doberman. Angels x 60. Mattman. Coogs win.

Hey Sportsfans!

What a great week to report! Lots to share so let's get to it.

Did you see the awesome tackle made by the umpire in the LSU/South Carolina game from last weekend? Umpire Wilbur Hackett Jr., a former Kentucky Wildcats linebacker in the late 60s, lowered the boom on the South Carolina QB late in the first half of their game. I'm sure you've seen the video by now, but in case you missed it here it is: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3654428. LSU could have used Hackett in the Florida and Georgia games. I wonder if he reffed those games.

As a child I can remember the horror of watching our footballs, baseballs, etc., land in the Oakleys yard by accident on Selkirk Drive. What this meant was that Torre, the ornery doberman pinscher that lived in their garage, would now be the owner of our beloved sports balls. The Oakleys were not particularly neighborly folk. In fact, once after a golf ball broke a side bedroom window they were uncommonly ugly about the mishap. It's not like it was done on purpose. (At least that's what I was thinking at the time.) Anyway. I think I've gotten over this childhood unpleasantry. I think so. In Ohio, there is currently another "Torre" disguised as an 89 year old grandma who is on her way to the poky. Check here out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/27313586#27313377

The Angels-4-Angels completed the 3 day walk in Atlanta this weekend. Michelle, Dayna, Rachel, Susan x2, Sheri, Suzanne, Allison, Betsy, Meryl and many other friends did sixty miles in three days. Very inspiring. Here are some pictures of our angels. Hope to have more photos next week to share.

Here are some of the Angels (Michelle, Rachel, Dayna and Susan) finishing the first day of the sixty mile, 3 day walk in Atlanta. Way to go Angels!

This weekend we celebrated Mattman's Bar Mitzvah in Houston. He was awesome. The party was awesome. The food was awesome. Just awesome.

Sid, Em, Adam and Matt partied way too late!

In the annual Circle City grudge match, Northview topped Dothan in an overtime thriller. The Cougars now lead the series 16-15. Way to go Coogs! Coach Harris has then heading in the right direction. http://www.dothaneagle.com/dea/sports/high_school_prep/high_school_football/article/northview_beats_dothan_in_overtime/42943/

Almost forgot to tell you that Sid's soccer team won over Helena via forfeit. Emmy's team keeps rolling. They won again and now are 5-1 on the season. League tournaments start this weekend.

Sid is playing point guard for her hoops team. They've been practicing daily. Their first game is next week. Dance is getting more serious as the girls are fine tuning their numbers for the winter recital.

Picked out your Halloween costume yet? Don't eat too much candy. Have a great week everyone!

The Sports Guy

Don Zimmer, the Forrest Gump of baseball.

Most call him "Popeye." Others call him "Zim." Whatever you call him, make sure it includes the description of the one person who has been an eye to the history of baseball for the past sixty years. No other can claim to have seen and done what Don Zimmer has been through in the world of professional baseball. It’s not even close. Zimmer has been there and done that. Sometimes more than one.

Often referred to as the Forrest Gump of Baseball, here is just a partial list of Zimmer's baseball experiences:

-He was yanked from the seventh game of the 1955 World Series in favor of Sandy Amoros, whose game-saving catch won the Brooklyn Dodgers their only championship.

-He was coaching third base for the Boston Red Sox in the sixth game of the 1975 Series when Pete Rose said to him, before Carlton Fisk's home run, ''Win or lose, Popeye, we're in the greatest game ever played.''

-He is the only person present in uniform for every perfect game pitched in Yankee Stadium-He was the first player to wear a Mets uniform.

-He managed the San Diego Padres and the Texas Rangers and was at the helm for the Chicago Cubs for their first night game at Wrigley Field.

-He was the one who first noticed George Brett's illegal bat in the pine-tar game.

-He was the Red Sox's manager in 1978 when they lost a playoff to the Yankees, a game that featured Bucky Dent's famous home run.

-He mixed it up with Pedro Martinez in 2003 when he threw a wild left hook at Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez. And then Martinez, 41 years younger, grabbing Popeye by the ears and tossing him headfirst to the ground.

-He was so seriously beaned while in the minor leagues that he had surgery on his skull. The story about having a metal plate in his head is only half true.

-He was a fixture in the Yankees' dugout since Torre was hired before the 1996 season, when New York began its run of four World Series championships in five years.

-In 1999, Zimmer's ear and left jaw were cut by Chuck Knoblauch's foul ball against Texas in the AL playoffs. The next day, Zimmer sat in the dugout wearing a military helmet with the Yankees' logo.

-As Yankee interim manager, he had to defuse an international incident when the principal owner, George Steinbrenner, berated the pitcher Hideki Irabu.

-The other night he threw out the first pitch of game seven of the Rays and Sox seventh game of the league championship series.

Currently, Zimmer is a senior advisor for the Tampa Bay Rays. His role includes assisting the team during spring training and during home games

Here is a partial list of the teammates or players he's managed / coached: Sandy Koufax, Dave Winfield, Jackie Robinson, Carlton Fisk, Ryne Sandberg, Derek Jeter, Carl Yazstremski, Duke Snider, Mariana Rivera, Gil Hodges, Casey Stengel, Greg Maddux, Andrew Dawson, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Dwight Gooden, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Darryl Strawberry, Cecil Fielder, Jimmy Piersall, Joe Nuxhall, Cookie Rojas, Mario Mendoza and of course, Mickey Rivers.

He played for the Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, Reds and Senators. He has managed or coached for the Cubs, Padres, Yankees, Giants, Expos, Rays, Rockies and Rangers.

He is the last Brooklyn Dodger still active in baseball.

Every year, Zimmer increments his uniform number by one to match the number of years he has worked in baseball. During the 2008 season he wears #60.

Zimmer is as much a part of baseball history as anyone. Zimmer was a mediocre player and a decent manager. Why isn’t this guy in the Hall of Fame? I know you cannot be elected to the Hall of Fame for just hanging around. If there is balance in the world Zimmer should be elected to the Hall. He gets my vote.

Altamont era begins. Phillies vs. Rays. Angels-4-Angels. Southside Sukkah Stroll.

Hey Sportsfans!


Sid's athletic career at Altamont began this week. She is part of the Junior High Girls Hoops team. Made up of 7th and 8th graders, Sid and buds have a twelve game schedule that begins in early November. Daily practices started this week. Joining Sid are Jessie, Laure and several other friends. Finally she will get some real coaching! Can't wait to see how well she does.


Emmy's soccer team played this past weekend against St. Francis. In a yawner, the Eagles swooped in and took control from the start. Leading 3-1 at the half, Coach Colin's troops won going away 7-2. Emmy played tough at midfielder. She had several defensive stops and helped to push the ball back on the offense. Sitting in first with a 5-1 record these guys are cruising right now.


Sid's team did not play this weekend. Instead, she rehearsed for the upcoming dance recital.




UD and Marc reached the Top of the Ridge. LJCC trail.

Can you believe the Rays? Maybe the most unlikely story in baseball in the past fifty years. Or longer. Not only worst to first (almost), but they did it with young players. Tampa's management has learned how to win in one of the smallest MLB television markets, using mostly homegrown talent and with one of the smallest payrolls. A-Rod and Jeter make more than the entire Rays team!

Fifth game. You're up three games to one. Seven outs from the World Series. Your team is up by seven runs. You're feeling pretty good. But then Fenway Park magic kicked in. Ortiz hits a three run bomb in the seventh. Drew clobbers a two run job in the eight. Uh oh. Then Drew ties in the ninth. The Sox win it late. You're not feeling so good. Stephen King. Peter Gammons. Mark Walhberg. Ben Afflack (yes, him too). They are all rooting against you. How can you win? You can't. It's the new curse with newer ghosts. Call it new school.

Well, here's the good part. You get to go home to finish out the league championship series. The Trop, as it's called, is the place where you hold the best home-field record in all of baseball for this year. However, you lose game 6. Uh oh. What's going on here? Call the Yankees (2004) anf the Indians (2007). Been there. Lost that. The current version of the Red Sox do not lose seventh games.

So you go up 3-1 into the seventh inning. Then, when it means the most, in game 7, you bring in rookie David Price (former Vandy ace and No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft) to face JD Drew with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. The pennant is on the line. So what does Price do? Of course he throws slider, fastball, slider for strikes. Drew Ks looking! Unreal. Maddon still leaves Price in. Naturally. Price retires the side and then records the final three outs in the ninth. Rays win! Rays win! Biggest win in Rays history. Couldn't script it any better. Should be a fun series.

Next weekend in Atlanta several of our friends and readers are walking in the Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. In addition to raising huge sums of money and breast cancer awareness, these ladies have spent the past months training a sixty mile event. Huge shout-out to the walkers! The Angels-4-Angels team will have ladies from San Fran to Florida with lots of places in between. Hope to provide photos next week.

This evening we participated in the seventh annual Southside Sukkah Stroll. What big fun! Approximately fifty peeps. Four sukkahs. Two miles. And lots and lots of great food. Here are some pixs:

Have a great week everyone!

The Sports Guy

Komen Race for the Cure. Greatest catch ever? Oops.

Hey Sportsfans!

Another great (almost) week to report.

The annual Komen Race for the Cure was held this weekend in downtown Birmingham. Some awesome numbers: 13,000 runners. $1 million dollars donated. More than 200 (official and unofficial) Team Kate has Hope members. Almost $30,000 raised by TKHH. Three awards for the Team (Largest Friends and Family Team, Most Money Raised and Race Chair Award). Thanks to everyone who donated, raced, raised money or motivated others. Way to go Team!

Both girls opted to skip their soccer games this weekend. Instead they were front and center for a four (yes, four) hour dance rehearsal on Sunday. Kelly had them tapping and jazzing and doing all types of stepping. In their absence, the girls teams both won their soccer games.

I'm sure you have all made incredible and amazing catches while throwing a ball in the swimming pool. How about the one where you leap backwards and somehow keep control of the ball as you plunge into the water? Ever think you could do it on dry land? In a real game? And it was videotaped? Well, Edwin Baptise, a wide receiver for Morgan State University, made that very catch a few weeks ago. Might be the most incredible display of concentration you will ever see on the sports field. Check him out in this video: Click here: Greatest Catch Ever! - Edwin Baptiste - Video

Oops. Well Cinderella's slipper was smashed this weekend in Starkville on Vanderbilt's season. The Dores had no answers for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. With only 107 yards of total offense, ten penalties and two interceptions, the Commodores showed that you can not play poorly and overlook any teams in the SEC. You will be beaten. Period. Sitting at 5-1, the Dores have a tough few weeks coming up. Georgia (Oct 18th), Duke (Oct 25th) and Florida (Nov. 8th) are the next three games. Have faith and stay the course. The Dores will plough through.

Phillies v. Red Sox in the Series? Looks like it so far. Rays showed they can play with the big boys. Great win in 11 innings the other night. No left coast fans will watch if the Dodgers don't make the Series. Hopefully Manny and Torre will rally the troops.

Have a great week everyone!

The Sports Guy

#13! The Boss. Sam. The curse continues ....

Hey Sportsfans!

There is a first for anything and everything. Courso and Crew were in Nashville this weekend for ESPN's weekly College Gameday show. No, they were not there to showcase the University of Tennessee playing at the Titans' stadium downtown. They hosted a pregame program for the Vanderbilt's game against Auburn. http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092808aaa.html. Of course Courso picked Auburn. The rest of the crew went with the Dores. Even Kenny Chesney, a die hard Vols fan, went with the Black and Gold.

Some creative signs were seen in the background of the set:

"I got my GED at Auburn"

"Phil Fulmer ate my other poster"

"4-0 is not just our GPA anymore"

"The Geeks shall inherit the Turf"

Pretty creative stuff. Speaking of creative, for the first time in more than fifty years, the Dores knocked off Auburn. The 14-13 win helped Vandy to their best start since 1943 and puts them 5-0. #13 in the AP poll is their highest ranking in more than sixty years. Forget Shreveport, I'm thinking Gator Bowl. Mississippi State, you're next.

The NFL finally got it right. They recently announced that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at halftime of this year's Super Bowl. Other than the Stones and U2, most of the other recent choices (Janet Jackson and Prince to name a few) to perform have been terrible ones.

Cousin Sam in Houston recently began his sports career. Playing in the YMCA soccer league "I'm Sam, not Sammy" wowed the crowd with some great footwork. Here is a photo of Sam in action:

This Sunday Sid's team took on the Bullets in a slaughter. 11-1 was the final as Sid & Co. showed the others guys how to kick the ball around. A yawner from the start, the LJCC players were awesome. Frankly the score could have been much worse. Coach Nancy played everyone, everywhere in order to keep the score somewhat respectable. Sid played forward and was in on several scores.

Emmy's crew had the weekend off. Both girls play next weekend.

Cubs lose. Enough said. Go Dodgers. Go Rays.

Speaking of next weekend. The annual Race for the Cure is next Saturday morning in downtown Birmingham. As of today Team Kate has Hope has raised more more than $14,000 and our team will have at least 180 members. Nice job team!

Have a great week everyone!

The Sport Guy

Why baseball is the best sport.

Name your favorite sport and the reasons why. For me there is no doubt in my mind that baseball is the greatest sport in the world.

I am reminded why I love baseball so much each year. For example, remember the 2004 ALCS in which the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox battled it out in mythical fashion? How about the excitement during this past week of the Brewers making the post season on a late home run and a heroic pitching pitching performance? Better yet, even after 162 games in 189 days AL Central foes Twins and White Sox had matching records. The teams played a one game playoff last night. Tied at 0-0 going into the seventh inning, Jim Thome hit a monster home run to put the Sox into the lead. This one run stood up as the difference in the game. Exciting stuff. The Sox survive to play later this week against the Rays and the Twins go home for the winter.

Baseball post season plays out in dramatic fashion all the time. New heroes emerge every year. These headline stories read differently, but the same, each year. One game it could be a rookie (Ramirez) having a magical start to his career. What about a grizzled veteran (Thome) in the twilight of a career who shows the youngsters how the game is played. Maybe it will be a scrub (fill in the blank) who fulfills a dream of winning a key game. It happens every year and you never know who it will be.

In the baseball stadium it doesn't matter who is President, how the economy is doing or who our enemies are in the world. Baseball is the greatest game because it emulates life so well. We can find many metaphors and connections with our everyday experience. Inside those nine innings we encounter many interesting characters and figures. They each take a turn at the plate, some succeeded in impacting the game, and some fail. In our daily struggle people come in and out of our lives. Some hit home runs and others foul out. Like in life baseball has rules that need to be followed, and just like in life there are umpires along to way to remind us if we have broken the rules.

The single greatest thing about baseball is that there is no clock. Unlike every other major American sport, time is not ticking away. No one in baseball can say with certainty "this game will soon be over." Go to a game sometime. Doesn't matter if it's little league, semi-pro, sandlot pickup or the major leagues. We cannot speed up the course of events in our own life, even though at times we all wish we could. Things happen when they are suppose to happen. I know lots of people who are greatly impatient with the pace of their life. Just like in baseball we can only anticipate events, but we cannot predict them with full certainty.

In this age of TiVo and clock watchers baseball stands above that all. Baseball does not care about TV schedules or flight schedules, the game waits for no one. With a crack of a bat a game can be completely changed, the same with our lives. A sudden event in our lives can cause us to cheer or cry depending on the circumstances. Most of all baseball is the most human of sports, and it also the most artistic of sports.

A simple game involving a bat and a ball but that can mean so much more to so many people. Just ask Red Sox or Cubs fans.

I could be wrong though. Have you seen some of the exciting finishes in college football this season?

TSG