My Friday and the Rolling Stones
I went and hung out with Cameron, his brother, and their buddy Ali H. in Costa Mesa last night. I knew from the get-go that I was going to be drinking a lot. It was a good time, but Costa Mesa did not impress me. There weren't any cute girls at the bars we went to, but that was probably an effect of being led around by friends of Cameron's brother's ex-girlfriend, who were not that cool. Anyway, we decided that next time we go to the OC we're going to Huntington Beach or Newport or somewhere else with young people.
I'm going to the Rolling Stones concert at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow courtesy of my company. I've got to say, that's pretty cool. I've been there for three weeks and already I get a free ticket ($130 face value) to what should be a great concert.
Now that Cal football has virtually assured themselves at least a four-loss season with today's loss to Oregon, any hopes of going to a decent bowl have be anhialated. Too bad. So much for the glory days. At least there are only 6 more months until baseball season begins. I'm going to the Giant's season opener against the Padres on April 3. It's a two hour drive, but totally worth it. I've never been to Petco Park before and there's nothing like the atmosphere of an opening-day baseball game. After enduring the long, cold months of January, February, and March when all there is on TV is basketball, a sport of which I am not a fan in even any tiny way, it's great to have baseball games on every evening, Baseball Tonight on ESPN, and a fantasy team in our highly competitive Sigma Chi alumni league. What a great time of year that is. The days are getting longer, the weather's getting warmer, and there's a certain electricity in the air with all the teams in the league starting again with a blank slate. I'd be surprised if the Giants did that well next year, but if Bonds can play, if Moises stays healthy, and if they can pull in a solid free-agent pitcher and a young bat, they could easily run away with the NL West and have a legit shot at the pennant. The two teams that I'm most intrigued by for next year are the Indians and the A's. Both have rosters packed with young talent who are only going to get better as they gain more experience. The A's are one good right handed bat (Jeff Kent?) away from having one of the most well-rounded teams in the game. All the Indians need is to re-sign Wickman or, better yet, get a closer on the free-agent market (BJ Ryan? Trevor Hoffman?) and they're good to go.
On the subject of baseball, I'm glad to see both DePodesta and Epstein out of the GM clique. Perhaps I'd feel differently about Epstein if he'd been with another team, but I'm unable to seperate him from my seething hatred of the Red Sox so his demise is my delight. DePodesta was just awful. Seriously terrible. Okay, moneyball is a good philosophy. When employed correctly, it works. DePo was an example of what happens when it goes bad. Terrible clubhouse chemistry, injury-prone players, and a lack of any sort of balance and well-roundedness were what characterized the dismal Dodger's squad from this year. Granted, I am anything but a Dodgers fan, but I don't want them to suck. I want the Dodgers to be good. I just want the Giants to be better. A rivalry's a lot more fun when it's truly competitive. Giants/Dodgers was competitive this year, but only because neither team was any good. It was far from a Yankees/Sox or A's/Angels (which for my money is the best rivalry in baseball these days).
I'm going to the Rolling Stones concert at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow courtesy of my company. I've got to say, that's pretty cool. I've been there for three weeks and already I get a free ticket ($130 face value) to what should be a great concert.
Now that Cal football has virtually assured themselves at least a four-loss season with today's loss to Oregon, any hopes of going to a decent bowl have be anhialated. Too bad. So much for the glory days. At least there are only 6 more months until baseball season begins. I'm going to the Giant's season opener against the Padres on April 3. It's a two hour drive, but totally worth it. I've never been to Petco Park before and there's nothing like the atmosphere of an opening-day baseball game. After enduring the long, cold months of January, February, and March when all there is on TV is basketball, a sport of which I am not a fan in even any tiny way, it's great to have baseball games on every evening, Baseball Tonight on ESPN, and a fantasy team in our highly competitive Sigma Chi alumni league. What a great time of year that is. The days are getting longer, the weather's getting warmer, and there's a certain electricity in the air with all the teams in the league starting again with a blank slate. I'd be surprised if the Giants did that well next year, but if Bonds can play, if Moises stays healthy, and if they can pull in a solid free-agent pitcher and a young bat, they could easily run away with the NL West and have a legit shot at the pennant. The two teams that I'm most intrigued by for next year are the Indians and the A's. Both have rosters packed with young talent who are only going to get better as they gain more experience. The A's are one good right handed bat (Jeff Kent?) away from having one of the most well-rounded teams in the game. All the Indians need is to re-sign Wickman or, better yet, get a closer on the free-agent market (BJ Ryan? Trevor Hoffman?) and they're good to go.
On the subject of baseball, I'm glad to see both DePodesta and Epstein out of the GM clique. Perhaps I'd feel differently about Epstein if he'd been with another team, but I'm unable to seperate him from my seething hatred of the Red Sox so his demise is my delight. DePodesta was just awful. Seriously terrible. Okay, moneyball is a good philosophy. When employed correctly, it works. DePo was an example of what happens when it goes bad. Terrible clubhouse chemistry, injury-prone players, and a lack of any sort of balance and well-roundedness were what characterized the dismal Dodger's squad from this year. Granted, I am anything but a Dodgers fan, but I don't want them to suck. I want the Dodgers to be good. I just want the Giants to be better. A rivalry's a lot more fun when it's truly competitive. Giants/Dodgers was competitive this year, but only because neither team was any good. It was far from a Yankees/Sox or A's/Angels (which for my money is the best rivalry in baseball these days).
posted by The Puma at 8:58 PM
4 Comments:
No posts from the PUMA... does he have a GIRLFRIEND now ?!?
Alas John, you know me better than that.
How was the Stones Conert?
Awesome. It's hard to believe they're as old as they are. The venue was intimate (the Hollywood Bowl), the set list was impeccable, and the showmanship was out of this world. They are truly the greatest rock and roll band in the world.
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