Tag: #Cubs

  • ODDS and ENDS: The Constitution, Tottenham Stuff, and Cubs

    So Trump got indicted yesterday. Though no one knows what the charges are, my gut tells me he will be acquitted. The guy is good at weaseling out of stuff. Can’t deny it, nothing sticks to him. But I will say that it has been long over due for a former president to face an indictment. And I mean that in the principle sense. Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution states that after a president is convicted by the Senate that the president “shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.” To me, this says that The Founders believed and wanted the president not to be above the law. This was an expected situation, and it’s kind’a amazing that it took this long to happen.

    Son Heung-min made a public comment about Conte leaving Tottenham. Son somehow felt he was partially responsible due to his lack of production on the pitch. He is right that he hasn’t played his best football this season, but if player productivity was the issue, then there are like ten other guys on that team who need to also step up admit that as well. Ah… the season’s over anyway…

    But the Cubs won their opener! As of right now, we are undefeated!

  • World Cup Dispatch (UPDATE): USA v Iran

    A day like today is what makes the World Cup fun; Must win matches to get to the next round. Lots o’ drama.

    Unless you’re living under a rock with no wi-fi, then you know the big match of today is USA v Iran. The Americans need a win to advance, and Iran needs a win or a draw to move on to the next round. Then there is the animosity between our two countries which only heightens the emotions leading to this face off. I really don’t think there is much more insight I can offer, that hasn’t already been shared over the past few days.

    For me, I’m approaching this like a fan – I just want my team to win. And that desire creates in me an enjoyable competitive knot in my stomach. I felt this before when the Cubs went down in flames in 2003, or watching the Rangers lose the greatest game ever against the Cardinals in the World Series. But I also felt like this when the Mavericks won it all in 2011. And my insides were so squished together during the rain delay for Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, that I thought I might throw up. But I didn’t because the Cubs came out of the locker room to rally and break the curse.

    So, I know that feeling nervous just means that I care about my team, and I want them to win, and it sucks waiting for the match. And it will suck watching the match. And it will suck even more if the outcome isn’t the one I so desperately want.

    Boy! This is fun!

    UPDATE: The first half went a lot better than I thought it would. Iran looked like they had been knocked back on their heels, and didn’t have an answer to the American attacks. USMNT looks hungry out there, and they aren’t playing wild, just aggressive.

    Now, not for a second do I believe that Iran is out of this match. They seem to play better in the second half, and forty-five minutes is a long time. I expect them to put the pressure on by try to out run USA.

    I’m nervous but still having fun.

    (And if you are having fun easing this blog, show your appreciation by giving it a like. The Holidays are coming and that’s an easy gift to give.)

  • SPORTS

    I just want to get this out of the way; it really rubs me the wrong way when “artists” hate on sports. From making a Mitt Romney type joke – “I like sport,” – to the playing dumb – “I hope our team makes more homeruns then the other team,” – to outright hostility – “A bunch of dumb jocks, and your dumb for liking it!” I know some of it comes from the fact that most “artists” went to schools where the arts were pitted against sports, and that resentment never went away.

    I come from a very competitive family, and my dad had a rule which was that we had to play a sport or have a physical activity until 16. After that age, we could do whatever. I played team sports up to seventh grade, mainly basketball and baseball, but that’s when it became very clear I didn’t have to coordination, nor the killer instinct, that was needed to be successful an athletics. For the next two years, I took tennis lessons, and I was pretty good, but it wasn’t anything that I had a passion for. It was just fun. Anyway, by the time I was 16, I was theatre nerd, and in a sense, I was part of a different team sport.

    When it came to watching sports growing up, I always found it pretty boring. But as I get older, I seem to find myself reminiscing on fond memories of being around my dad, and sports being on the tv. During summers breaks, Wimbledon would be on NBC, and I remember watching that with the old man. And March Madness, that was one that he looked forward to. And when the Cowboys were really good in the 90’s, that was another moment when we would watch Troy, Emmitt, Michael, Jay, Moose, and Alvin.

    And then there was my grandfather and his never-ending faith in the CUBS, while watching them on WGN.

    The other thing I find true about myself is that I like sports because it can tell a dramatic story; Underdog and GOAT, rookie and veteran, superstar and utility player. You have to believe that your team can win, and complain about the owners.

    Anyway… sports.

  • My Sporting Weekend

    I’m not the biggest sports fan, but I do enjoy writing about it, and spending this time, when I’m trying to figure out what to blog about, to think about sports in my life.

    This weekend wasn’t the best. Tottenham went down in flames against Arsenal. The North London derby was more like a stampede and massacre all rolled into one. And Arsenal isn’t a good team, but damn, they sure did make the Spurs look worse. It was one of those matches where the other team seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. I gave up at half time and cleaned the bathroom.

    Then I thought I would look up where the Cubs were in the standing, and I knew they weren’t having a good season, but I saw that they were 26 games back. It was like the Cubs from the 80’s had returned from the grave. I was expecting to see Mark Grace and Andre Dawson out there on the field. Looking at the Cubs stats for the season just made me angry again at the Ricketts selling off the team a month or two ago. Looks like another 100 years of rebuilding.

    And that now leaves me with Monday night football and the Cowboys playing against the Eagles. I have hope the Cowboys will win, as I despise the Eagles as a team, and Eagles fans as well. They are just not nice people. They threw snowballs at Santa Clause, you know. And the old Veterans Stadium used to have a jail and a courtroom in it to deal with the drunk rowdy fans. Anyway, I’m hoping that the Cowboys will win, and Elliot will have a good game. Like, “get me 15 points so my fantasy team can win this week,” good game.

    Not that I’m a sports fan.

  • England v Denmark Today

    So… I really don’t know that much about international football, let alone European football, but that isn’t a good reason to stop me from talking like I’m an authority on EURO 2020/21.

    In that sense, I was wrong about Belgium, and very wrong about Italy. It feels like it’s the 80’s again with Italy playing well, and maybe winning a championship. Also, Denmark is the sentimental favorite of the tournament. They whole thing with Christian Erikson collapsing and almost dying on the field is just crazy to begin with, but Denmark seems to have found their stride.

    Which does make me nervous for England. (It’s the Cub fan in me coming out.) Sure, the Three Lions beat up on Ukraine, but that match wasn’t as much as a test as compared to the Germany game. And England is playing at home today, which should give them an edge. But Denmark has the better story, and is the underdog, and they lost their best player but somehow keep finding ways to win.

    So, I’ looking forward to the match.

    Problem is that the game is at 3pm, and that is when I need to get the kid from day camp. And she wants to go to the park after camp today.

    I might have to bribe her with ice cream so dad can watch the match in air conditioning at home.