Thursday, October 28, 2004
Saturday, October 23, 2004
The Red Sox have me excited about baseball, and that hasn't happened in a long time. I can't wait for the World Series to start.
Monday, October 18, 2004
I admit, I am a transplanted Bears fan. My loyalty also lies with the Steelers, who have had much more success over the years. But I was in Chicago for part of the Ditka era and remember watching all those January playoff games. I guess you truly don't know what you have until its gone. Happy Birthday Iron Mike, we miss you...
Houston Texans coach Dom Capers and his wife, Karen, were at one table in the dining room where he-man portions of Italian food regularly win fan loyalty. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa held forth at another table.
In a private room, Houston Astros Craig Biggio and wife Patty, Brad Ausmus and wife Liz, Wade Miller and Jeff Bagwell gathered along with former Astros Billy Doran, Terry Puhl and Casey Candaele and others. Most had come in after attending Ken Caminiti's memorial service that afternoon.
Houston, the fifth-largest market in the U.S. (behind, NY, LA, Chicago and Philly), has such a lush choice of restaurants that the best these guys can do is go to Maggiano's, an OK Italian food place, but hardly the pinnacle of restaurant dining?
Plus, we don't have the oppressive heat and humidity. I could go on, but screw Houston and St. Louis!
Thursday, October 14, 2004
It's interesting, National League teams don't seem to be afraid of the Evil Empire. The Marlins beat the Yankees last year and the Diamondbacks beat them in 2001. I'm starting to wonder whether it's bad for baseball that the Yankees find a way to get to the show all the time. Just like people wondered whether having Tiger Woods dominate the PGA Tour actually hurt it. How long will this go on before it gets embarrassing?
I have a long weekend coming up, just because I needed a long weekend. No huge vacation, no big plans, just sleeping and not thinking about work. I may even be able to squeeze in my last round of golf before the dreaded snow comes.
It's easy to forget the reason we work is to make our lives better. You get so wrapped up in the job you forget why you are even there. You do it to take care of your loved ones or pay the bills. Sure I work for all those reasons, but I also do it for the satisfaction that comes with a job well-done. But even though I would not give up my job for anything, I still need time to relax. It is easy to get burned out and it took a lot of people yelling at me to remember that.
So don't be afraid to take a day off, just to take one. I used to think vacation days were useless if they were spent at home. Then I figured out that not being at work can be just as relaxing and going to the beach or a casino. And in the end you come back feeling refreshed and ready to dig in and get the job done the best you can.
The whole debate exercise seems more like a show than a discussion of the issues. People seem to be more concerned about who is sighing while off camera or making odd faces than about what these two men are saying. Get yourselves informed--there are less than three weeks to go before you have to decide. It's not about who looks the best on camera, and it's not about who is the best at ripping the other candidate. In the end it is about who is the best person to run this country.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
A friend and I like to play this game. All it does is drive us nuts. TASR went nuts from Oct. 2003 through this past June. My friend owned shares in Sirius Satellite radio, which languished until today, when Howard Stern announced he would begin broadcasting on satellite next year.
I wonder if any of you are kicking yourselves for not buying up as many Halliburton shares as you could get your hands on once it became apparent former CEO Dick Cheney was going to become our Vice President. We'd all be rich, right? According to guys like John Edwards, John Kerry, Jesse Jackson, Michael Moore and just about any anti-Bushie, Halliburton profited while American soldiers died. Right?
Wrong! First, check out this story from National Review Online today.
Here's a 5-year chart of Halliburton, and you can see that the stock has lost a bit since 2001, most of its losses coming between Sept. 11, 2001 and mid-2002.
Historical prices show that the stock closed at $37.12 on Jan. 19, 2001, the day before Cheney took office. Halliburton closed at $28.16 Sept. 10, and closed a little lower at $26.52 (the next day the markets were open after the attacks.)
War in Afghanistan loomed, but the stock bottomed at $19.35 on Sept. 26. Well, at least you'd think it bottomed out. On Jan. 4, 2002, Halliburton traded at a low of $8.60 a share. By March 19, 2003, the U.S. had begun its attack on Iraq, and some on the left asserted that Cheney's pals at Halliburton stood to reap a major windfall. Didn't happen. Halliburton closed at $20.50, or just $1.15 more than its post-9/11 correction low.
Today, Halliburton closed at $34.79 on the NYSE, up 82 cents for the day, but down $2.33, or 6.6 percent from its close on the eve of Cheney's inauguration.
Here's a 22-year chart of Halliburton, and you'll see that the most dramatic increase in stock price came during Cheney's tenure as CEO, when he was out of the public sector. You'll also see volume spike dramatically since Cheney has been Bush's VP, but the stock price slip.
His claim to fame could have been the 1.8 seconds he sat out in the 1994 playoffs, even though Toni Kukoc hit a game-winning shot.
He could have been known as the moody sidekick to Michael Jordan who never was as great after he left the Bulls in a trade he demanded.
And the way his career ended, his legacy with the Bulls could have been the enormous salary he more or less stole last year.
But that's not how Pippen the player will be remembered. I'll remember him as the defender the Bulls so desperately needed in the 1991 Finals against the Lakers, just about shutting down Magic Johnson in Games 2 through 5.
He'll be the guy who, personal demons aside, captained a Bulls team during the 1993-1995 Jordan-less era, and seamlessly faded into the woodwork when Jordan returned.
He'll be the superstar who was part of the Jordan-Rodman-Pippen rock-star triumvirate in the late 90s, when the Bulls were the best sports team on the planet.
Most of all, I'll remember him as the guy who played hurt in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, gritty series where Pippen's absence would have been costly. Pippen benefitted from Jordan all those years, but it became evident that Jordan couldn't have been MICHAEL JORDAN without Scottie Pippen. The picture of Jordan, ravaged by the flu (but playing anyway), leaning on Pippen at the end of a 1997 Finals game at Utah was symbolic of that.
The Bulls and the NBA have played themselves into irrelevance in Chicago since that Bulls team broke up after the NBA Lockout ended in 1999. It seems longer than six years since the last Bulls' NBA title. But when Pippen's retirement became official yesterday, the Bulls were back, if only for a moment. Thanks, Scottie.
UPDATE: My favorite Internet writer, Andy Dolan of Desipio.com, says Scottie WAS his favorite player, and he explains why. Our sentiments don't differ much, but he articulates it better.
I don't agree with his assertion that Pippen was one of the five best players in history. But I do think Pippen deserved it when he was named one of the 50-best players in NBA history.You couldn't identify with Michael. He was too good. Scottie was the hero for
the rest of us. He was a towel boy at a little college in Arkansas who had a
growth spurt and four years later was in the NBA. He could do everything that
Jordan could do...just not quite as well ... Scottie will never get his just
due. He was, in my opinion, one of the five greatest all-around basketball
players we've ever seen. He just happened to line up next to the best... He
could guard everybody on the court, literally. He was one of the best passers in
the league. He was a tremendously underrated rebounder. Nobody ever destroyed a
passing lane better than Scottie Pippen.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Monday, October 04, 2004
I am a lucky man.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention I am a White Sox fan. That having been said, I must admit I felt a little bad last year during the Bartman ball incident and subsequent NLCS loss. I even was following the Cubs drive to get into the playoffs again this season, at least during the last couple weeks. So I have a little heart.
But after I saw the Cubs lose again today (Saturday) 8-6 to the Braves, I just had to laugh. And I think even the most loyal Cub fans knew it was over, probably last week. Even the broadcast of the game today showed the wind was out of their sails.
The Cubs had one glaring weakness this year: relief pitching. They have not had a closer all year and the last two weeks are proof. Mark Prior pitched a complete game this week, gave up one run, got no help and the Cubs lost in extra innings. Last weekend another outstanding starting effort was ruining with one strike to go when the bullpen could not finish the game.
Nomar helped the defensive cause, but the Cubs needed a closer, and still need a closer. They may have already clinched the wild card if they even had an average closer.
But alas, it's just not in the cards... again. Sometimes you have to wonder whether Cubs fans will finally get fed up with their team coming close and losing or never being competitive. At least with us Sox fans we expected mediocrity or failure pretty much since the end of June and the injuries piled up.
It's just not going to happen any time soon and not with this group of players. And once the first "blockbuster" trade is made, let the rebuilding decade begin. It may be another 10 years before the Cubs are in the hunt again. But it was a good run while it lasted...
Friday, October 01, 2004
Trying to make sense of the Cubs' lost season, I am almost at peace now. The Astros have won 4-2, and San Fran leads the Dodgers 2-0. The best the Cubs can do is tie for the wild card, and that would be with two wins (possible to probable with Zambrano and Maddux pitching) and a lot of help (improbable).
The Cubs were playing from behind all year. The pitching staff wasn't "whole" until August, and even then the Cubs lacked a reliable closer. The Nomar Garciaparra trade didn't seem to provide enough of a spark, maybe because Nomar could only play 5 of 7 games in a week. Yet the Cubs remained in the hunt, and even appeared to be in the driver's seat until LaTroy Hawkins gave up a double on an 0-2 count on Wednesday. Had he sewn up the save, maybe Dusty Baker's thinking about the playoffs right now.
Right now, the Cubs have 88 wins, matching their total last year. Can that count for anything? I don't know. It's a disappointing season, and the players need to go home and figure out how to handle the enormous expectations and pressure (because that will be here again next year). We'll see what changes Jim Hendry makes. Steve Stone alluded to a "blockbuster" at the end of the season, and speculation has been rampant. Will Omar Minaya take Sammy Sosa off the Cubs' hands and give Sosa the chance to finish his career in Queens? Will Moises Alou leave? Will Kerry Wood be dangled as trade bait? Will Chip Caray, Steve Stone or both be let go (there's something to that story as well)?
Some have suggested that maybe Dusty Baker should be fired for such a disappointing season. I couldn't disagree more. For one, Baker has taken the Cubs to as close to World Series as any manager since Charlie Grimm. Secondly, stability at the top helps foster success.
Baker didn't take San Francsisco to the World Series until 2002, his 10th year. Since the end of 1996, he has played something like 11 meaningless games. (The maximum number of games his Cubs will play this year, by the way, is one.)
But critics complain he hasn't won the "big one." Fair enough. I guess we should find someone who has.
How's this for a list: Jack McKeon, Mike Scioscia, Bob Brenly, Joe Torre, Jim Leyland, Bobby Cox, Cito Gaston, Tom Kelly, Lou Piniella, Tony LaRussa, Tommy Lasorda, Davey Johnson, Dick Howser, Sparky Anderson, Joe Altobelli, Whitey Herzog, Dallas Green, Chuck Tanner, Bob Lemon, Billy Martin, Alvin Dark, Dick Williams, Danny Murtaugh, Earl Weaver, Gil Hodges, Mayo Smith, Red Schoendienst, Hank Bauer, Walter Alston, Johnny Keane, Ralph Houk, Casey Stengel. These are the last 31 managers who have managed to win the "Big One," dating back to Stengel's 1958 World Series crown.
I suppose Stengel, Keane, Alston, Smith, Hodges, Murtaugh, Martin, Lemon and Howser are unavailable as they're dead.
So we're down to 23. I doubt you could coax Ralph Houk out of retirement, seeing as he's 85, and last managed the 1984 Red Sox, back when Roger Clemens was a rookie. Ditto for Dark, who's 82 and last managed the 1977 San Diego Padres. We're down to 21.
Schoendienst is 81, and although he did a fine job of interim-managing the 1990 Cardinals (in between Herzog and Torre), it's doubtful he would come out of retirement, leave the only franchise he has ever known, and work for the Cubs. That's 20 candidates now.
Hank Bauer is 82 and Earl Weaver is 74. Neither will be making a comeback. Down to 18.
I suppose a 75-year-old Dick Williams might be interested in managing again (perhaps rejuvenated after seeing his old GM in San Diego, McKeon, win a World Series). But in his last job, he led the Mariners to a 159-192 record when he was canned in mid-1988. That's 17 left.
Chuck Tanner was a perfect manager for the Pirates when they won the World Series. From 1976 to 1980, he won 87, 96, 88, 98 and 83 games. From 1985 through 1987, he lost 104, 89 and 92 games. He's also 75, and unlikely to come out of retirement to deal with this bunch. Down to 16.
Dallas Green is only 70, and he has a nice connection with Cubs history. But he never had a .500 season in his five seasons in New York (one with the Yankees and four with the Mets). Cross him off the list. 15 left.
Herzog will be 73, and has said he wants to bulldoze Wrigley Field. Screw him. Down to 14.
Joe Altobelli (age 72) is already 0-1 with the Cubs (interim managing between Don Zimmer and Jim Essian). He had his chance. Down to 13.
Sparky Anderson is 70 years old with little to prove. The big complaint about him in his later years was that he was out of touch with the modern-day player. Why would he want to tarnish his legacy with the Cubs? Down to 12.
Davey Johnson did a bang-up job with Cincinnati, Baltimore and Los Angeles since leaving the Mets, right? Down to 11.
Lasorda just turned 77. He's happy hanging out in the Dodgers' organization, and even if he had "Marv Levy disease" and wanted to manage at that age, no way would he do it at Dusty Baker's expense. Down to 10
LaRussa is hated by just about every member of the Cubs organization. He's not a candidate. We have just 9 candidates left.
Lou Piniella? Well, if you could pry him loose from the Devil Rays (a player of Corey Patterson's caliber might do the trick)
Tom Kelly? Andy MacPhail may be able to talk him into it. He's only 54 and rested.... Keep him on the list.
Cito Gaston? He never took the Blue Jays over .500 after his second World Series. We're down to 8.
Bobby Cox? Atlanta is his last stop. Down to 7.
Joe Torre? New York is his last stop. Down to 6.
Jim Leyland? He lost 108 games in 1998 (not his fault) and 90 in 1999 as Don Baylor's replacement (his fault). That brings us down to 5.
Bob Brenly? The Diamondbacks' even-worse play since his firing in July might have vindicated him some, but I think he is still stuck with the tag of lousy manager. Down to 4.
Mike Scioscia? Does winning the big one count if it's against Baker? Down to 3.
Jack McKeon? He's already said he'll be back in Florida next year and that it's his last stop.
That leaves us with two possible replacements:
Lou Piniella and Tom Kelly.
You get them, God bless us all.
If not, we're simply stuck with one of the most successful managers of the past decade. I think we'll survive.
And before you go far, hear some words in Dusty's defense.
We'll be back next year!
