ECK-V-P!

Cards Win. I'm Happy. Kind of.

Happy for ... David Eckstein, Scott Spiezio, Jim Edmonds, Yadier Molina

NOT happy for ... Jeff Weaver (up there with Schoeneweis on the list of people I hate), Tyler Johnson (Grade A douche bag).

Eck in Full Effect!

Rain rain go away!

I would have loved to write a mid-series baseball diaries but this rain is ruining it for me.

After drawing 1-1 in Detroit, the Cards took a 2-1 lead in convincing fashion Tuesday night, beating the Tigers 5-0!

Let's hope this rain goes away so we can play ball tonight and see the Tigers tie this thing!

Long live our planet, and its peoples

Today is United Nations Day.

Accordingly, I will be taking time this evening to dwell on all the beneficial contributions to humankind and civil society made by the UN. Which is to say, my entire evening will be free for spending with my family and watching the World Series.

And this is all as it should be. The megalomaniacal rent-seeking bureaucrats who staff the UN must believe they are making the world a better place. The one can’t resolve his dispute with his neighbour over the neighbour’s dog’s doo-doo on his lawn, yet he clearly sees fit to advise folks from other countries whom he’s never met how to run an entire society. Rather, our loves are naturally close to home. God has made us to take care of our own first.

And so tonight, all true Americans will be celebrating the Day by enjoying the best game known to the peoples of this planet being played at its highest level. The Fall Classic is a national treasure. The United Nations is an international embarrassment.

Did the gambler cheat?

OK, from a guy (me) that didn't watch the game because of being in the plane on my way back from Texas, I can't say yes or no, even after seeing a couple pics on the internet. All these writers for various web sites are really trying to stir things up for some reason, though. So I ask you all out there, was Rogers using pine tar to help get better movement? If so, after he "washed" or "wiped off" his hand, as there are varying reports, how did he continue to fool the Cardinal hitters? Also, if it should be a huge deal as these blokes would have everyone believe, why didn't La Russa make a bigger deal out of it than he did by demanding he be thoroughly searched?

What does America think?

So nobody picked?

I was out of town this past weekend and unable to post picks, but nobody else did either? Hey Jason, I thought I asked you to post picks for me? Remember? I said give me all the favorites? Sheesh. Well, at least I survived my KOTH tourny this week. I took the Donkeys when my buddy Gary told me, "I wouldn't touch that one with a ten foot pole!" He and his son picked the Seahawks and Jags, respectively. 47 others were ousted too.

I may be running out of luck...

the constant hum of life is there

"Screw Loose Change"

What’s Tony’s quote all about? A frightful viewing to be sure, but God alone knows what really happened. Perhaps the same may be said for what was going on in Carlos Beltran’s mind as he gazed on strike three with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7. And just like that the Mets are done. And what can be said for the Knights FC? A clear regression from mid-season form lead to total collapse in the finale and just like that, the Knights are done.

We may all believe what we need to believe. I need to believe there are holes in the government story. Mets’ fans need to believe there are holes in Beltran’s bat. Knights’ fans need to believe there is a reason to show up for the game. They are not untrue for being necessary, but neither are they true. But we all need grace. Grace from God and forbearance from each other. More often than not, we get it wrong.

the constant hum of life is there

"Screw Loose Change"

What’s Tony’s quote all about? A frightful viewing to be sure, but God alone knows what really happened. Perhaps the same may be said for what was going on in Carlos Beltran’s mind as he gazed on strike three with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7. And just like that the Mets are done. And what can be said for the Knights FC? A clear regression from mid-season form leads to total collapse in the finale and just like that, the Knights are done.

We may all believe what we need to believe. I need to believe there are holes in the government story. Mets’ fans need to believe there are holes in Beltran’s bat. Knights’ fans need to believe there is a reason to show up for the game. They are not untrue for being necessary, but neither are they true. But we all need grace. Grace from God and forbearance from each other. More often than not, we get it wrong.

Screw Loose Change

Soccer action from Europe!

Yesterday Steaua was trounced by Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, 4-1. And what do they get for such a beating? Why, another game vs. the same team, but this time in Spain! Sheesh. Well, at least they actually made it to the group stage of the Champions League. In UEFA Cup today, Rapid drew French side PSG 0-0, in a boring game.

Tonight, Knights FC gets to see what they're made of when once again they face the Skallywags, but this time in a playoff game. How did the Knights make it to the playoffs you ask? By default. Another team was disqualified. We better beat those punks. They irritate me.

the templar

Mine

Buffalo over Detroit
Baltimore over Carolina
Cincy over Tampa Bay
Dallas over Houston
Atlanta over NYG
Philly over NO
Seattle over Rams
Washington over Tenn
Kaci over Pittsburgh
Miami over NYJ
SD over SF
Denver over Oakland
Chicago over Arizona

this just in. . .

Buff over Det
Car over Balt
Cincy over TB
Dall over Hou
Atl over NYG
Phil over NO
Sea over Rams
Wash over Tenn
Pitt over KC
NYJ over Mia
SD over SF
Donkeys over EVIL
Windbag over Ari

I make football bets

I'm popular. Well, amongst cops with radar guns, but that's a whole other issue. Let's pick!

Seahawks def. Rams
Redskins def. Titans
Lions def. Bills (Peter King agrees, unfortunately, so does Dan Marino)
Bengals def. Bucs
Ravens def. Panthers
Eagles def. Saints
Cowboys def. Texans
Falcons def. Giants
Jets def. Dolphins (Dan Marino picked his old team to win this, go figure)
Steelers def. Chefs
Bears def. Cards
Broncos def. Chokeland (better be Jason 'cuz I got my $50 on it!)

And my upset of the week:

49ers def. Bolts!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Give us the boy of seven. . . .

Knights FC carried their usual form into last night's offering and found out a 3-1 defeat. Not bad though, considering it could have been worse. An unseen providence finds us in a playoff next Thursday against these same slatterns. These louts are so outlandish, I believe they play intoxicated. One of these scurra vagus actually dressed as a pirate! How sweet it will be when we dispatch them next week.

And all this caused me to miss most of Game 1 of Mets:Cards. I was for the Boll and the Cards, though I sympathize with my partners. I was hoping Weaver would get shelled, but the Cards would win a derby. Who would have thought he'd lose a duel?!

And all cheers thus far for the Tigers. Maybe they’ll just do us a favour and finish the sweep.

Not so sure.

Mets, Please Win Game 1

I hate Jeff Weaver. Therefore, I am rooting for the Mets tonight. After that though, Cards all the way.

Soccer, by any other name, would be called...

Football, I guess...

More Euro 2008 qualifying matches were played over the weekend and yesterday. Here are the notable ones:

Italy 2-0 Ukraine, Sat. and 3-1 Georgia Wed.
Scotland 1-0 France, Sat. and lost 0-2 Ukraine Wed.
Romania 3-1 Belarus, Sat.
Wales 3-1 Cyprus, Wed.

Tonight at 6:45pm, Knights FC once again battles the Skallywags. The season finale promises fast action, rough tackles, world class goals, and unabashed enthusiasm!

See you at St. James' Park!

the templar

the baseball diaries

What a game.

Even in the face of adversity, sadness, and waters of unfamiliarity, the game of baseball perseveres.

It was a truly sad day yesterday, when news of Cory Lidle's tragic death was heard. Lidle proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that man can have more than one passion in life. He had two; baseball and flying. Unfortunately the latter claimed his life. But should this deter others from pursuing a plurality of passions in life? I think he would be the first to say no. I would hope for his sake though, that those passions, however deep they ran, did not take the place of God in his life. I also hope that this would be a wake up call to not only Major Leaguers, but to the fans as well, that life at most is very brief. "...And just as it is appointed for man once to die, and after that comes judgment, so (Jesus) Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will come a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him." Hebrews 9:27-28.

The show must go on as they say, and it did in chokeland last night. Despite being down early in the game didn't seem to deter the Tigers from their game plan: Get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in. Well, through the 4th inning at least. Then, knowing that chicks dig the long ball, Gomez nailed a 2 run shot in the 6th and Granderson sealed it with a blast in the 9th. Done deal. Detroit takes a 2-0 ALCS lead back to the motor city!

Game one of the NLCS was rained out yesterday, so it starts today with the Cards at Mets around 5:05 pm. Former Angel pitcher, Hair Weave takes the hill for St. Louis as the Cards seem to want a one game handicap. Oh well, I really hope he doesn't suck, because, I really dislike those pesky Mets!

dil8d halo

old tricks

I will make time to gloat, but only a little. I have done perfect in my picks this week, although I would have been happier to see KC and SD lose.

ALCS begins tonight. Let's hear it for Detroit! That wretched city needs something to cheer about and Oakland fans deserve to lose. The A's were one of only three AL teams to not reach the 2 million mark in attendance this season and the other two were TB and KC. To be fair, they just missed the mark, but they still qualify for liquidation in my MLB-consolidation plan.

I think Detroit will take 'em in seven and the Mets will beat the Cards in six. Tigers win the WS over the Mets in seven games in the best Series since '02.

blatant use of time

Just in time? . . .

Chi over Buff
Car over Cle
Minn over Det
NE over Mia
SL over Pack
NO over TB
Indy over Tenn
NYG over Wash
KC over Ari (head over heart)
Jack over Jets
SF over EVIL (better be, Tony)
Phil over Dal
SD over Pitt
Donkeys over Bal (heart over head)

Picks

This is a tough week, but I'll try anyway. I need to appease the loyal supporters and readers of this log.

Colts def. Titans (my $50 game!)
Panthers def. Browns (again, sorry B)
Patriots def. 'Phins
Bears def. Bills
'Aints def. Bucs
Gi-Ants def. Redskins
Vikings def. Lions
49ers def. chokeland (it better happen!!!)
Jaguars def. Jets
Cards def. Chefs (Bob Costas and Peter King agree!)
Cowboys def. Eagles (T.O. is gay)
Donkeys def. Ravens

And my upset of the week:

Steelers def. Bolts!!!

See you on the grid iron...

Fotbal

Thursday Soccer is back!! (the crowd rejoiced)

After getting their butts handed to them last week by a bunch of geezers, Knights FC look to bounce back vs. the Retired Athletes tonight on White Heart Lane at 6:00pm. Key midfielder Matt will return from time off for "personal reasons" and hopefully bring some creativity to a side in desperate need of it. The combination of a crappy time schedule and lack of players showing up (literally and figuratively) has taken a heavy toll on this team which is short on talent but long on blokes.

The Templar has spoken!

LHTBJ Week Four Picks

Let the picking comence.

dil8d halo
49ers def. Chefs
Ravens def. Bolts
Colts def. Jets
Cowboys def. Titans
Falcons def. Cards
Bengals def. Patriots
Bears def. SeaHawks
Browns def. Raiders (Chokeland Sucks!)
Eagles def. Packers ($50!)
Bills def. Vikings
Rams def. Lions
Panthers def. Saints
Jags def. Redskins

and my upset of the week...

Texans def. Dolphins!

See you all next week when I pull a rabbit out of my hat!

WiseAndEck
San Francisco over KC
San Diego over Baltimore
Indy over NYJ
Dallas over Tennessee
Atlanta over Arizona
Chicago over Seattle
Cleveland over Oakland (Finally, a win!)
Philly over Green Bay
Minnesota over Buffalo
St. Louis over Detroit
Carolina over New Orleans
Jacksonville over Washington
Miami over Houston

Standings
dil8d halo: 32-14
WiseAndEck: 28-18
anaheimraiderhater: 20-12