Thanks to all of those who sent along their best birthday wishes, turning 30 was an enjoyable experience.
Mrs. Poop bought me a bunch of things, including a shirt (the short sleeves are particularly short and the guns aren't looking as good as they used to), a new pair of sunglasses (this is a gift for her, she hated looking at my old ones because the paint was starting to chip around the nose) and a scratch-off ticket.
She picked the ticket with the poker theme. Basically you get 5 2-card hands (Texas HoldEm) and the "champion" gets one. You need to reveal the board (flop, turn and river) and beat the champion. I got several junk hands but also got jack-ten of diamonds, one of my favorite suited connectors and ace-7 which figured to be favored over a random hand. Unfortunately the champion was holding ducks meaning I was behind but had two overcards on all five of my hands. A king came in the door, then an ace, putting me ahead, but the champion 2-outed me by hitting a deuce. When a king hit the turn the champion filled up and I was left drawing to 4 outs, a king or an ace for the bigger boat. A 5 hit the river and Mrs. Poop wasted $5 on a scratch off ticket.
My last gift was a GPS system. Since I am always making wrong turns due to bad guesses and inattentive driving this is a welcome if costly gift. It should certainly help us as we begin our summer of Poop (more on that later this week).
The day ended with a Mets victory, which is just about the best way a day can end, so I am happy and hoping my 30s will be as good as my 20s, which started oh so long ago.
I hope Damino who shares a birthday and 30 years ago shared a nursery with me (we were born in the same hospital on the same day), also had a nice day.
Dirk Nowitzki was born on June 19, 1978, but I don't think it was at Staten Island Hospital.
Other June 20th birthdays include:
Nicole Kidman, 1967
Paul Goydos, 1964 - Dirtbag
Dickie Thon, 1958 - Suffered one of the worst sports injuries I ever saw when he got hit in the face by a Mike Torrez fastball.
Cyndi Lauper, 1953 - Best known for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" but "Time After Time" is a much better song
John Goodman - 1952
Bob Vila, 1946
Lionel Richie, 1944 - The lead singer of the Commodores is unfortunately better known for his solo work and even more unfortunately, he's even better known as Nicole Richie's dad
Terry Funk, 1944 - The King of Hardcore
Brian Wilson, 1942 - Lead singer of the Beach Boys though he did not sing lead on my favorite Beach Boys song, former song of the week, "God Only Knows"
John Mahoney, 1941 - Played Marty Crane on "Frasier" where he was constantly upstaged by the adorable dog, Moose who played Eddie
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Dangers of Ambidexterity
An interesting battle went on during last night's game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees. Pat Venditte is an ambidextrous pitcher for the Yankees, a switch pitcher, if you weeeeel. Ralph Enriquez is a switch hitter, for the Cyclones. When the two got together this is what happened:
I'm not sure that there even is a rule on this. I don't even know what the rule should be, but clearly they can't allow this. I guess the batter should have to decide first, then the pitcher.
I'm not sure that there even is a rule on this. I don't even know what the rule should be, but clearly they can't allow this. I guess the batter should have to decide first, then the pitcher.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Baby Mama Drama
Fox News Channel caught some heat for referring to Michelle Obama as Barack's "baby mama" in an on-screen banner.
At least Fox didn't try to deny it, say it was an accident or a joke that never was intended to go to air. They said someone did it trying to be clever, but it wasn't clever it was insulting and quite possibly racist.
At least Fox didn't try to deny it, say it was an accident or a joke that never was intended to go to air. They said someone did it trying to be clever, but it wasn't clever it was insulting and quite possibly racist.
Jerry Manuel is Gangster
In his first game as manager, Jerry Manuel pulled Jose Reyes out of the game in the first inning because of an apparent injury. Reyes objected, threw his helmet, untucked his shirt, shook his head and sulked back to the clubhouse like a little kid. Jerry Manuel was having none of that, so he followed Reyes into the clubhouse for a conversation:
"I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him. I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you. You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field."
"I told him next time he does that I'm going to get my blade out and cut him. I'm a gangster. You go gangster on me, I'm going to have to get you. You do that again, I'm going to cut you right on the field."
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Box Dilemma
For Father's Day, Mrs. Poop bought me a new cologne (Kenneth Cole Reaction, if you must know) but she's objecting to the way I'm using it.
Not that I spray too much, but the fact that I keep the cologne in the box and every morning when I go to use it, I slide it out of the box, then slide it back in.
I do this because in case it should fall from the medicine cabinet, it might not break. And even if it does break, I won't have broken glass everywhere, it will be contained to the box.
I don't even know what her objection is really. I think she feels like the box takes up extra room in the medicine cabinet, which isn't really true. But I think she just hates when I do weird things like this. But to me it makes perfect sense and I can't think of one rational argument against keeping the cologne in the box.
Not that I spray too much, but the fact that I keep the cologne in the box and every morning when I go to use it, I slide it out of the box, then slide it back in.
I do this because in case it should fall from the medicine cabinet, it might not break. And even if it does break, I won't have broken glass everywhere, it will be contained to the box.
I don't even know what her objection is really. I think she feels like the box takes up extra room in the medicine cabinet, which isn't really true. But I think she just hates when I do weird things like this. But to me it makes perfect sense and I can't think of one rational argument against keeping the cologne in the box.
Anna Gilligan's Naked Summer Camp
The extremely hot Anna Gilligan revealed a little too much about her experiences at summer camp as a child on "Red Eye". The brilliant Greg Gutfeld took that information and ran with it.
Song of the Week
"Teenage Love Affair" - Alicia Keys
This is a great song with a sweet sentiment and some cool lyrics. The video is pretty good too. It reminds me of the video for "You Don't Know My Name", in which she tells Mos Def that she makes his hot chocolate with milk, even though the manager tells her to use water.
Anyway, this song expresses some of those nice feelings about new, young love.
"I write your name in my book, your last, my first, I'm your Mrs."
I also like the line "it's a matter of extreme importance," that really expresses a sense of urgency, doesn't it?
I already shared my thoughts on Alicia Keys when I made "Fallin" the song of the week, so I won't repeat them here.
And I'm breaking from format here because I want to use this song, and the video version of it, but none of those available on youtube allow embedding so you will have to click on the Record Label Link. Do it soon because this song is being played so often on the radio you're bound to get sick of it very soon.
This is a great song with a sweet sentiment and some cool lyrics. The video is pretty good too. It reminds me of the video for "You Don't Know My Name", in which she tells Mos Def that she makes his hot chocolate with milk, even though the manager tells her to use water.
Anyway, this song expresses some of those nice feelings about new, young love.
"I write your name in my book, your last, my first, I'm your Mrs."
I also like the line "it's a matter of extreme importance," that really expresses a sense of urgency, doesn't it?
I already shared my thoughts on Alicia Keys when I made "Fallin" the song of the week, so I won't repeat them here.
And I'm breaking from format here because I want to use this song, and the video version of it, but none of those available on youtube allow embedding so you will have to click on the Record Label Link. Do it soon because this song is being played so often on the radio you're bound to get sick of it very soon.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Sword of Damocles Falls on Willie Randolph
The Mets finally fired Willie Randolph. And along with him they got rid of Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto.
Jerry Manuel will serve as interim manager and Ken Oberkfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo were named as new coaches.
Oberkfell was the manager of New Orleans, the Mets Triple A affiliate. He'll be the new bench coach. Warthen was the pitching coach for New Orleans, he'll replace Peterson.
Ok, so now that that's out of the way, here are my thoughts:
First of all, Willie was not being evaluated on a day to day basis so the fact that the Mets won the last two games, and three of four has nothing to do with it. It makes the timing a little weird is all. But he was fired because of a huge collapse, followed by half a season of mediocrity. Does anyone think the Mets suddenly turned it around in the last few games? No, they just happened to win a few, because they're a .500 team, not a .000 team.
The best time to make the move would have been last Monday, on an off-day, after a devastating sweep. I have no idea why they waited. Maybe a different manager could have squeezed out an extra victory on the homestand with better bullpen management, but I doubt it.
I really have almost no hopes that these changes will lead to a sudden and drastic turnaround. The problems with this team are on the field, the players are the ones who have to improve.
That makes Willie an unfortunate fall guy, hut I'm glad he's gone.
I'm glad Willie is gone because he's so stubborn and refuses to make any major changes that might help the team. "Keep battling" is not a plan for improvement, it's the definition of insanity.
I also think he is a bad strategical manager, especially when it comes to using the bullpen. He is also not aggressive enough with base runners, and too often plays for one run with the sacrifice bunt at inopportune times.
To repeat, I'm glad they made this move, I think it's unlikely to start a drastic turnaround but it had to be done because there were no other ways available to make a major change to this team.
Jerry Manuel will serve as interim manager and Ken Oberkfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo were named as new coaches.
Oberkfell was the manager of New Orleans, the Mets Triple A affiliate. He'll be the new bench coach. Warthen was the pitching coach for New Orleans, he'll replace Peterson.
Ok, so now that that's out of the way, here are my thoughts:
First of all, Willie was not being evaluated on a day to day basis so the fact that the Mets won the last two games, and three of four has nothing to do with it. It makes the timing a little weird is all. But he was fired because of a huge collapse, followed by half a season of mediocrity. Does anyone think the Mets suddenly turned it around in the last few games? No, they just happened to win a few, because they're a .500 team, not a .000 team.
The best time to make the move would have been last Monday, on an off-day, after a devastating sweep. I have no idea why they waited. Maybe a different manager could have squeezed out an extra victory on the homestand with better bullpen management, but I doubt it.
I really have almost no hopes that these changes will lead to a sudden and drastic turnaround. The problems with this team are on the field, the players are the ones who have to improve.
That makes Willie an unfortunate fall guy, hut I'm glad he's gone.
I'm glad Willie is gone because he's so stubborn and refuses to make any major changes that might help the team. "Keep battling" is not a plan for improvement, it's the definition of insanity.
I also think he is a bad strategical manager, especially when it comes to using the bullpen. He is also not aggressive enough with base runners, and too often plays for one run with the sacrifice bunt at inopportune times.
To repeat, I'm glad they made this move, I think it's unlikely to start a drastic turnaround but it had to be done because there were no other ways available to make a major change to this team.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Wilboner
Pardon the Interruption's Mike Wilbon had quite the night on the town after Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles.
He was photographed with "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilkinson" which is fine.
But he also was with porn star Carly Parker.
And JA Adande cuddled up next to Lisa Lipps.
And of course the next day PTI had to have some fun with it.
He was photographed with "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilkinson" which is fine.
But he also was with porn star Carly Parker.
And JA Adande cuddled up next to Lisa Lipps.
And of course the next day PTI had to have some fun with it.