Meet the 2007 JC Romero!

Darren Oliver is horrible. Please cut him. And sign his namesake...

Association Football

Hello Lads!

Knights FC had a heck of a night last Thursday. After winning two in a row to make the playoffs, the Knights were left missing four highly skilled players, including their 'keeper. Without hesitation, they took the field thinking that there is nothing to lose. Well, it turned out to be a great battle.

The game started with a cracking strike on goal by Tony, but to no avail as the shot went just high. Then it all fell apart in the counter attack which left the Knights to look at a 2-nil deficit. thankfully, better nerves prevailed and heavy attack lead to two hard fought come-back goal. After half time, the Knights took the lead a glorious strike and decided for some odd reason to sit on their laurels. Big mistake. Lapses in defence and poor not taking goal chances once again left them down on the score sheet, 4-3, with only 1:30 on the clock. This made for a mad dash to the end which saw an onslaught of strikes by the now desperate Knights forwards. And they were handsomely rewarded. On a mere :14 seconds remaining, the tying goal was shoved into the back of he net by Matt to send the game to "Golden Goal" extra time!

Given two, three minute halves of extra time , unless someone scores the Golden Goal winner, can be gut wrenching. Let me tell, it was! The Retired Athletes, the Knights formidable opponents on the night, started the first extra time half blasting away shot after shot, only to be parried away again and again by 6' - 4" Welshman, Jason. In the 2nd extra time period, the Knights turned the tables on the attack, but could not nick the winning goal, as a penalty shootout loomed.

The final whistled went and penalties were on. Up first, Retired Athletes. Their first shot sailed wide and the Knights' 'keeper was left to just watch. However, the first Knight to shoot was saved from close range. The RA's managed a goal on their next try only to be matched by usually unlucky Knights striker, Phil. RA came right back with a cracking strike, but the outstretched Welshman prove too good to be beaten. However, attacking center forward Nelson, could not find the quality to put Knights ahead as his chance was easily saved. That brought on RA again, with the shootout now at 1-1. Again the Welshman could not be beat as he was kean on every move. Then Anthony, the Knights' bulldog, who didn't hesitate to take a menacing strike after a small set-up touch, which left the game in the hands of the Welshman. Throughout history the Welsh have proved to be formidable foes, just ask the English. On this day, one should've asked Retired Athletes.

The final shot taker for RA was set. Jason looked poised, ready to pounce. As the striker put small touches on the ball Jason closed ground rapidly, then the shot cracked off the strikers foot! Diving to his left, the Welshman almost left himself out of position, for the shot was going RIGHT! Yet as fate would have it, Jason's height came through as he had enough to parry the shot with his feet sending Knights Football Club into the most unlikely final one would conceive. Here's to the Knights!

The Templar

Yes, there is a place called Splott

'Halo makes light of a welshman blogging about baseball, but Mr. Chris Webster, honorary secretary of the Welsh Baseball Union ("WBU"), would remind us that baseball has an esteemed history in Wales and still gathers modest interest, especially in Cardiff and Newport. The WBU now runs a three-division league and the sport is highlighted by an annual international between Wales and England.

Granted, the game is played quite differently than we do in the States, but it would help us to remember the debt we owe to those who played the game before us. Start here and let the journey begin.

TW Hit List - Stan Musial

"Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight."—Ford C. Frick

"When a pitcher's throwing a spitball, don't worry and don't complain, just hit the dry side like I do."—“Stan the Man” Musial

Stan Musial’s career was widely acclaimed for sustained excellence and integrity. Or as Williams puts it, “The kind of hitter—and the kind of man—for whom they erect statues.” Musial played his entire 22-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals where the fans still adore him for his great ballplaying and his solid citizenry. Compared to previous entries, he is characterized by a certain lack of colorfulness. He hadn’t the hostile fierceness of Cobb, the graceful style of Dimaggio, the intimidating presence at the plate of Gehrig or Foxx, much less the towering persona of Babe Ruth. But he was and is loved by the fans as a true baseball hero. Williams says the way he conducted his baseball life suggested a man who escaped from the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

He may not have been such a hero to pitchers, however. He led the league in total bases six times and won seven batting titles. He batted over .300 seventeen times. He maintained a .331 career average, and finished with the then-NL record for hits with 3,630, which to this day ranks fourth all-time among both leagues. His OPS was .977 and he still hit .330 is his next-to-last season when he forty-one years old. He was known for smacking left-handed pitchers almost as well as right-handers. He famously batted .314 in his career off Hall of Fame great lefthander, Warren Spahn, who once admitted that Musial was the only man he once intentionally walked with the bases loaded. If Spahn had such trouble, what was the remedy for pitching to this man? Preacher Roe found nothing, “I throw him four wide ones and then try to pick him off first base.”

When it was all done, Musial had three MVP awards, three World Series rings, and yes that consummate nickname, “The Man.” This appellation was given by Dodger fans(!) for his constant exploits against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He is one of only two players to hit five home runs in a doubleheader. Interestingly, when he did it first in 1954, Nate Colbert was an old eight-year old boy watching from the stands. Colbert became the second in 1972. There are some who would say he is often overlooked when debates about the greatest ever flare up, but those who played with him and against him know better than to do so. "He was one of the greatest players I ever played against," said Hank Aaron. "And he is an even better person."

Knights FC!

This the time for rejoicing!!!

After a hard fought season, Knights Football Club have made the playoffs. It took some grit and determination, but after securing 3 wins, 3 draws, and thankfully only 2 defeats, we are through to the post-season. Next Thursday is a potential double header. We are in a semi final, if we win that game, we are through to the final the same day. This could be HUGE!

Contra Mundum!

the Tempar

dil8d halo Hit List - "The Ty Cobb of the Federal League"

When it comes to defining the Federal League, only one name says it all - Benny Kauff. Over the two seasons spent in the Federal League, the last true rival to the Major American and National Leagues, Benny Kauff amassed quite lofty hitting statistics. In 1914, playing for the Indianapolis Hoosiers, "Ty Cobb of the Fed" hit for a .370 average, with 8 homers, 95 rbi's, had 211 hits which included 44 doubles and 13 triples. He received 72 bases on balls, but never intentionally. He also scored 120 runs that year. The following season, 1915, to bolster the line-up of the only Federal New York franchise, he was traded to the Brooklyn Tip Tops. His season with the Tip Tops produced almost equally impressive marks for Kauff as he hit .342, 12 hr's, 83 rbi's. 23 of his 165 hits were doubles, 11 were triples, and he walked 85 times. For his efforts in the doomed league, he was named batting champion both seasons.


Benny Kauff did have a career in the majors before and after playing in the Fed. In 1912, his rookie season, he played for the New York Highlanders. 1916 through 1920 saw him practice his trade with the New York Giants. They allegedly purchased his contract from the Tip Tops for $35,000. Funny thing is, he was payed about $6,000 for the 1915 season. In Game Four of the 1917 World Series, Kauff hit two home runs and got three rbi's in the Giants 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. They lost the title in six games. In 1918 his season was cut short due to service in World War I.


His last full season was 1919 and in December of that year, his life as a player took a horrible blow. He was implicated in a car theft ring along with his brother. Because of appearances for trials and such, his 1920 season saw him play in only 55 games. He was acquitted of all charges on May 13, 1921.


Sadly though, in 1921, the "Ty Cobb of the Federal League" was banned for life from baseball by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Said Landis of Benny Kauff, "He had an undesirable reputation and character. That acquittal was one of the worst miscarriages of justice that ever came under my observation."


Benny "Ty Cobb of the Federal League" Kauff died November 17, 1961 in Columbus, Ohio, still banned from baseball.

TW Hit List - Ty Cobb

“When I began playing the game, baseball was about as gentlemanly as a kick in the crotch."

Ty Cobb was known as one of the fiercest competitors in the earlier days of the game. He was and is widely acclaimed for his obvious talent, but just as widely criticized for his all-out, win-at-all-costs attitude that tended to alienate him from fans and teammates. He was considered mean. Every photo you might find of him, he has a glare and a snarl. He always looked as if he was out to get someone. Williams says that some might say he played like a man possessed. Naturally, he’s one of my favourites. In the den of my house, a framed photo captures his grit and sheer delight in getting dirty. He was the quintessential “old school” ballplayer. The great Branch Rickey said about him, “Cobb lived off the field as though he wished to live forever. He lived on the field as though it was his last day."

And yes, he was also a great hitter. Williams mentions having several conversations with Cobb and strongly disagreeing with some of Cobb’s hitting ideas. Cobb notoriously held the bat with his two hands several inches apart from each other, which he claimed helped him control the ball better. He also said he moved to the outside/inside depending on the pitch. Williams was stunned. How do you move when the pitch is on the way? The feet need to be planted and the hands must do the work of adjusting. I’m inclined to agree with Williams, and yet one can’t argue with results. And the results are impressive. (If you want to see a list of Cobb’s batting tips, here is one place. Remember Cobb was a lefthanded batter.)

Cobb won the batting title ten times and hit over .400 three times. He batted over .300 in 23 of 24 seasons! He finished with the highest career total in runs scored and hits and batting average. Pete Rose passed him for hits only in 1985, and then in 2001, Rickey Henderson passed him for runs scored, but each mark held for over half a century. And he remains the all-time batting leader at .366 for his career. He also stole home plate a record 54 times and in fact, stole second base, third base, and home plate in the same inning on four separate occasions. Williams makes much of Cobb’s intelligence for the game along with his natural talent. He does suggest that Cobb was certainly one of the game’s greatest natural hitters. (Interestingly, Cobb himself called Shoeless Joe the greatest natural hitter ever.)

Cobb is also the subject of one of my favourite pieces of baseball lore:

Decades after he retired from the game, a sportswriter asked him, “Mr. Cobb, what do you think you’d hit if you were playing these days?” Cobb said, “Oh, if I played today I’d hit .290, maybe .300.” The reporter, somewhat stunned, asked, “You are the game’s all-time hitter and you’d maybe hit .300? Are today’s pitchers that much better than the ones you faced?” Cobb replied, “You’ve got to remember – I’m 73.”

"The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault."

the baseball diaries

Since when does Vlad have to be on "Big O" duty?

Another one run game, but this time the Angels were on the wrong side of it. Dang it! All in all though, it was a good series. Vlad drove in five runs over the weekend and continued his awesomeness. Our pitching was excelent. The only thing lacking is the clutch hitting. Step it up boys!

A big thank you goes out to Seth and Nicole Warren for the tickets to Saturday night's game! We enjoyed the win.

The Angels head off to Cleveland, uh, er, Milwaukee for thier first road trip of the season. Yep, they have to play in a different state because of too much snow! (what was that about Global Warming...??) Magic will face the hittable CC Sebathia tomorrow at 4:05pm. After three games against the Tribe, the Angels are off to Boston for a battle with the Red Sux.

dil8t halo

the baseball diaries

"Oh me. Oh My..."

AAAAArrrrgggghhhhh! After starting the season by sweeping Texas, the Angels welcomed Chokeland last night. Unfortunately, the gA's weren't very pleasant guests, beating the good guys 4-3. Barry Saunders had a decent game on the hill, but the Angels were playing catchup the whole game. Vlad continued to crush all things covered in white leather as he busted his 2nd homer. Then Sit'n Sleep came up and made the pitcher say, "Doh!" as he busted his 1st homer of the season. Back-toback jacks! Nice! That tied it up at 2 a piece, yet the gA's wouldn't die. In the top of the 9th, tied at 3, with 2 outs, Frod served up a fat ass meatball to, formerly rumored to be gay, Mike Piazza for the loss. Ouch.

What was Bam Bam Ebel doing sending Crotch Gob home? He was mincemeat.

Tonight sees Sugar Shane face off vs. Joe "Ich bin ein Berliner" Kennedy. Let's beat these freakin' blokes!

dil8d halo

"Broken engagments and twisted faith.

Growing up and then just growing older.

Oh me. Oh my." -- Modern English

Clean Sweep!

Bust out the dust pan 'cuz Texas has just been swept!

The Angels came alive today in the 1st innings, scoring four runs, and went on to win their 3rd game of the season, 5-3. Once again Gary Matthews Juicer tagged his former club and Vladdy killed for more hits and rbis. Magic pitched a fine game, despite giving up two runs in the 3rd, going seven innings and racking up six K's! Fiasco pitched a perfect 8th, but Frod had trouble in the 9th, allowing two hits, a walk, and a run, while striking out two. Sit'n Sleep chimed in with two hits, two runs, and a ribbie. It has been discovered that he is still lazy. One awesome thing about today's game: No Errors!

The Angels continue their home stand vs. Chokeland tomorrow, as Barry Saunders looks to make his first start.

not to be forgotten. . . .

Unfortunately for WiseandEck, 66.66666667% of the contributers of this blog are footbal fans. So, he will bear these friendly reminders:

--After being solidly defeated by Chivas on Tuesday to knock them out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, DC United begin their MLS campaign this Saturday at Colorado. The MLS's most decorated club saw defeat on Tuesday as Goalkeeper Troy Perkins allowed the decisive goal to literally slip through his fingers. To be sure, Perkins followed with a pair of fine saves, but United had not the punch to equalize.

--UEFA Champions League quarterfinals continue today with Roma vs. Man U and Chelsea vs. Valencia. On the other side of the quarter-draw, Liverpool has already almost secured a semi-final match while Milan has some work to do against Bayern. In the end may everyone be happy enough as long as Valencia does not go through.

--Most importantly, Knights FC play a pivotal match tomorrow night (Thursday) vs. Real Montana as their current CH-BLD season winds down. May the Knights play with their heads up and their hearts low.

Game 2 Hero - Vladdy

First off, I hate Padilla. Second, Vlad is the man.

the baseball diaries

ANGLZWN!!!

How about that for an opener?! His Lackness was calm and collected even after allowing trouble, as he worked five strong innings to give up just one unearned run. Unearned because MoNapoli couldn't come up with a catch off a fly ball behind the plate. A couple pitches later Texas 2nd baseman, Ian Kinsler, smashed a homer to deep center. But the Angels were on the score sheet first as Vlad drove in Gary Matthews Juicer on a first pitch double to start his third season in a row with an rbi on his first at bat. In the 2nd Crotch Goblin stepped into one just beating Lofton in center and bouncing off the top of the wall for his first homer of the season. What an awesome start for him with two hits in his three ab's. Even Sit'n Sleep got in on the action late in the game roping a double then scoring on Che's single. The bullpen took over in the 6th, but Cousin Oliver was pointless. Just Inspire had to bail his butt out before Doug E. Fresh and Frod shut it down. All in all a very entertaining game and one which I didn't, at any point of the game, think that the Angels would lose.

Tonight the Halos continue vs. Texas and hope to win with Lambo facing off against Vicente "Fox" Padilla.

There were a couple miscues by MoNapoli and Gary Matthews Juicer which prompts to remind them that you gotta squeeze the balls if you wanna put out!

Man, I'm so glad baseball's back. There was this longing that was fulfilled last night. Another chance to go through all the ups and downs of a season. Another chance to root and to heckle. To have camaraderie with like minded people. This season is going to be fantastic!!

dil8d halo

I'll wait to see what happens to me,

Is this fiction or reality?

I'll try my best, but I can't confess,

Why instead of thinking I just took a guess...

-- the flood

Game 1 Hero - Just Inspire

Cousin Oliver decided to pitch like the despectacled tyke in the Brady Bunch, leaving Speier to come in and mop up his mess, Alice-style.

TW Hit List - Joe DiMaggio

“Joseph Paul DiMaggio played thirteen seasons in the major leagues and won nine World Championships and three Most Valuable Player awards, but he never sweated on the diamond. Not once. He roamed center field at Yankee Stadium, back when the House that Ruth Built boasted one of the most cavernous outfields in the major leagues, but DiMaggio never had to dive for a soaring fly ball or a soft, sinking line drive. He swatted home runs and loped gracefully around the base paths, but the bat never stung in his hands, the dirt never clogged in his cleats. For thirteen seasons, DiMaggio played frictionless baseball, his perfect play operating outside the laws of physics and random misfortune that torment lesser ballplayers and lesser humans in other fields of endeavor-which is to say, everyone else.” – David Jones

Well, maybe not quite. And although Jones was being facetious, it is clear judging by the effect he had on the game, the fans and some aspects of pop culture, that DiMaggio was a giant on the field, if not off of it. In fact, Williams says he was the best all around player he ever saw and that he simply idolized Joltin’ Joe. On pure hitting talent, I think Ted would have liked to see Joe placed ahead of Hornsby and maybe even Foxx, but the stats were just not there to justify it. He hit a career .325 with 361 home runs and a .977 OPS over thirteen seasons. Remarkably, he stuck out only 369 times, barely above his home run total. He was MVP three times, and incredibly won the World Series in nine of his thirteen seasons with the Yankees. He is likely best known for his 56 game hitting streak in 1941. (Here is a review article on a book written about the streak by the brilliant, but misguided, Stephen Jay Gould. I strongly disagree with the main thrust of the article, but it is an interesting and enjoyable read. Gould also brings up the question of why truly good writers are always drawn to baseball. He can’t answer it. I can’t either, but I suspect the kind of characteristics in a person that make a good writer are similar to the ones that make a good baseball fan. How I’d love to see a good book written that discusses the issue.) So, Joe was a fearful hitter to be sure, but lacked the numbers of Foxx and Hornsby. On the other hand, Joe played as a right-hander at Yankee Stadium. It was not the “House that Ruth Built” for nothing. When DiMaggio played, left field ranged from 402’ to 457’ while, right field was 296’ down the line. It is supposed that many long fly-outs would have been home runs in many other parks. He also lost some time in the armed forces. But I would say that everyone must be compared to their own peers and time and besides, he played year after year on some of the best teams ever, which can have a beneficial effect on the stats. However graceful his playing style may have appeared, results are what count.

But his style was apparently graceful, and he is remembered as one of the greatest ballplayers by many who saw him. And this is why the Yankee Clipper deserves his spot in baseball lore, not to mention the TW Hit List. No sport inspires like baseball, and he has possibly inspired like no other ballplayer. While I cannot stomach Gould’s philosophy, he was a true lifetime baseball fan. He said, “Baseball is like a river, both in the steady pace of its own action ... and in the continuity it establishes with our past through the isolation of individual performance. . . I don't know why grown men care so deeply about something that neither kills, nor starves, nor maims, nor even scratches in our world of woe. I don't know why we care so much, but I'm mighty glad that we do." Perhaps baseball attracts the best writers because good writing requires clear thinking, and no other game helps us think more clearly about the constancy of life punctuated by sudden events, for some joyful and for others sorrowful, than baseball.