Missing You an ode to Tedy Bruschi

Patriot's linebacker Tedy Bruschi retired today. First of all I will state that it was probably the right time for him to call it a career, he has lost a step or two in the last year or so. Second let me say that Tedy you will be missed. Bruschi to me is what a professional athlete should be approachable, team oriented, and looking like you are having fun. Tedy always seemed to have a smile on his face, like he knew how good he had it and couldn't keep the look of joy off his face. I believe that if you asked any of the Patriots players about Tedy one of the first words they would use is leader. He led by example and also got his team mates pumped up with a pep talk if necessary. The passion that he showed on the field made the game more enjoyable for me. I loved to see him playing with his sons on the field before a game, it proved he knew what was really important. When he played his first game after his stroke against the Bills I had goosebumps and a tear or two in my eye, that is the emotion that sports is supposed to bring. So Tedy to make a long story short you will be missed. You will always be one of my all time favorite athletes. Also to the Patriots haters out there that I have seen on numerous boards trying to diminish his career maybe you should just stop watching sports because you just don't get it at all. Thanks Tedy!

Check out the first few chapters of my newly released novel, 33 Summer, at: http://www.darrenpare.com/

Life is just a fantasy, can you live this fantasy life.

The following statement for those who know me won't be a surprise, I am a fantasy sports fan. I stick mostly to baseball and football but have been known to dabble in basketball, hockey, and even NASCAR. To some people this admission will make me a geek, a nerd or harsher still a loser, but still I sit here getting ready for my fantasy football draft that is taking place tomorrow. While some will have a binder full of printouts, I usually just keep a bunch of windows open during the draft and pray that my computer does not freeze. I try my best to keep up on the latest injuries for I don't want my fellow competitors to snicker at me when I pick the guy that just blew out his ACL and is out for this season and most of next. I always have a plan in my head that is usually blown to bits by the third round when I have a quarterback and two wide receivers yet no running back. I do find that it keeps guys , and some girls, connected that might otherwise lose touch. Also if you win you getting bragging rights for a whole year which are always good. So there it is my dirty little not so secret. Now if I start up a soccer or curling fantasy league it just may be time for an intervention.

You can check out a preview of my novel 33 Summers at:

http://www.darrenpare.com/

Steroids and baseball

Okay here we go, everyone's favorite issue, steroids in baseball. Baseball has been beaten about for years now because of steroids in the sport, but for some odd reason football seems to get a free pass. Well the latest on this issue is the the list of 104 names from 2003 that was seized by the feds was taken illegally according to an appeals court. I am sure we are all surprised that the federal government did something illegal. Here is where I come down on the whole matter, the names on the list need to be kept secret for this is what was agreed to when this testing took place. Now some holier than though people will say that these guys are cheats and they just get what was coming to them, but I ask you do you know what MLB was testing for? No and neither do I, but I am sure there are supplements on that list that aren't illegal in day to day life. So to wrap up the government screwed up again and now can we just move forward.

Now off topic today is my 14th wedding anniversary so I just wanted to say I love you Rebecca and hope for many more years together.

You can check out my new baseball novel, 33 Summers, at: http://www.amazon.com/33-Summers-Darren-Pare/dp/1608602605

One more in Boston.

Well two brutal games down and one more to go in this weekend's Red Sox/Yankees match up anybody up for a close game. Well With C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett on the mound tonight I can only hope that a pitcher's duel will break out in Fenway, but the way this weekend has gone I am not holding out much hope. Tonight is when Sabathia can show that he can step up and pitch the big game for the Yankees and earn that monstrous contract of his. While we already know that Beckett is a big game pitcher and has made the Yankees look foolish as far back as 2003 when he was with the Marlins. So here I am five hours from game time and I am getting all psyched up and then I remember that tonight's game is on ESPN and I will have to put up with the moronic insights of Joe Morgan. If someone could please explain to me how in the world guys like Joe Morgan and Tim McCarver are paid money by major networks to be analysts, maybe I could sleep better at night because I sure can't wrap my head around it. Well here's hoping for a good game tonight and a Yankee's win of course.

Check out my new baseball novel, 33 Summers, at: www.amazon.com/33-Summers-Darren-Pare/dp/1608602605

Another big series.

It is another big weekend here in the Northeast for those who love baseball. The Red Sox and Yankees will once again square off, this time for three games at Fenway Park. The Yankees currently lead the American League East by 6 1/2 games over the Red Sox, so if New York captures only one game they will come out of the weekend okay. As for the Red Sox they need to win this series so the can stay in first place in the wild card standings. I am sure the match ups will be intense and maybe Kevin Youkilis can throw his helmet at someone again, and the get taken down like an 80 year old Don Zimmer afterwards. One thing I am sure of is the game tonight starts at 7:05 and will probably still be on well past 11:00, for it seems when these two teams get together it takes a long time to decide a winner. So grab yourself a cold one and make sure you have plenty of snacks and enjoy the game be it on TV or radio because this is what baseball is supposed to be. Now if we could only do something about getting rid of the designated hitter in the AL life would be grand.
Be sure to check out my baseball novel, 33 Summers at: www.amazon.com/33-Summers-Darren-Pare/dp/1608602605 or at www.barnesandnoble.com

Oh Brett!

Well Brett Favre will be back on a football field after all this season. He decided today to sign with the Minnesota Vikings after all his posturing and I am sure Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels are doing cartwheels right about now. Jackson and Rosenfels were going to battle to see who was to be the starting quarterback for the Vikings, but now the point is moot. I used to like Favre but these days he seems almost slimy. It is like he thinks he is so damn special that the world of the NFL revolves around him. I don't mind that the guy wants to continue playing just stop with the drama and the lies. If you want to retire stay retired, if you don't know tell us you don't know it is that simple, do you really need all the attention that ESPN gives you? Well one thing is for sure you are sure to take a beating in Green Bay and I'm not so sure you don't deserve it. Mr. Favre you are still one of the all time great quarterbacks, but these shenanigans have definitely tarnished your legend, so don't tell us any more lies and maybe someday we will remember you a the gunslinger you were instead of the bullslinger you have become.


You can find my new baseball novel 33 Summers at : www.amazon.com/33-Summers-Darren-Pare/dp/1608602605

Youk, Youk, Youk.

Oh my goodness what the heck was going through Kevin Youkilis' mind last night, he is lucky he didn't get his clock cleaned. Throwing his helmet like a spoiled kid was just the icing on the cake and he looked like he didn't know what to do once he got to the mound. As a Yankees fan I like many players on the Red Sox, Jason Bay, Rocco Baldelli, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, Jon Lester, and even Dustin Pedroia. But there are a special two that I don't like and they are Jonathan Papelbon and Kevin Youkilis. Papelbon to me just seems like a punk, but hell at least he is having a good time out there. Youkilis is just a sulky, whiny baby who I think really hurt his team last night. The Red Sox offense has been sputtering at best lately and Youkilis is one of the few that has been doing something, but soon he will be watching from the sidelines for his helmet toss. There is something about Youk that rubs me the wrong way. I know some would compare him to Paul O'Neill, but I think O'Neill just got mad at himself and water coolers, and it didn't hurt the team. I find that Youk lets his emotions get the better of him sometimes and that doesn't help the team. Maybe I would like him if he was a Yankee, but he isn't and I don't. The next 50 games are important for the Red Sox and their playoff hopes can they afford to be without Youkilis for foolish reasons, just remember that next time you find yourself chanting Youk at Fenway or at home.
My baseball novel, 33 Summers is available at: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608602605

Musings on Red Sox vs Yankees.

It was a good weekend for me as a Yankees fan, not so good for my brother the Red Sox fan. Now I am not going to bag on Red Sox fans, even though many of them can be loud and irritating most of the time. No I will state here for the record that I think the Red Sox will make playoffs if they do two things. Number one get another starter. Injuries have taken their toll and I don't think the Red Sox can wait until September 1st for Paul Byrd. You don't know what Byrd will have. Find a starter that can eat up some innings and give the bullpen a break. Next go get Cristian Guzman he is better than anything you guys have right now. These two little moves have been bandied about by other, I am not reinventing the wheel here, but they need to take place sooner rather than later. The Rays are on your heels and the Rangers are by your side and I don't think you can count on the usual Texas swoon to help you out. It is to the point that every game matters so Red Sox management make something happen.

A few spare thoughts about baseball.

Just a few random thoughts:

1. I find it kind of sad that John Smoltz finished his career in such a poor fashion or maybe this isn't the end maybe some other team will actually pick him up.

2. Although I will never be confused for a Red Sox fan it was nice to see Josh Beckett in the dugout, after he was out of the game, cheering on Daniel Bard.

3. Why was Robinson Cano put on waivers by the Yankees. I can't see them trading him at this point in the season so why do it. Maybe I will find an answer to this question in a day or two, but I don't think so.

4. I am writing this blog in the middle of the tenth inning of the Red Sox/Yankees game on Friday night, is it just me or is a well pitched 0-0 game in the middle of a pennant race better than a 12-10 slugfest.

Thoughts on Red Sox ,Yankees and Rays.

The four game set between the Red Sox and the Yankees this weekend is huge no doubt about it, but let us Red Sox and Yankees fans not forget about the Rays. I believe the wild card will once again come out of the AL East, my only question is which of these three teams will be sitting on the sidelines come October. The Rays go on to the Mariners in Seattle starting Friday and the fans in Boston and New York can only hope that they suffer jet lag and fall on their face on the west coast. I still think both the Red Sox and Yankees will make the playoffs, at least I think this for one more day.

Darren

My baseball novel, 33 Summers is available at: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608602605

The First Blog

Here it is my very first blog. Well let's just start with a few things about myself. I am a 38 year old, married, father of two, living in central Maine and a huge Yankees fan. I recently just had my first novel published titled, 33 Summers, and I am really excited. The novel is a fictional story about a baseball player who has all the talent in the world, but life is getting in the way of his dream. I will give out more details as we go along and if you have any questions please feel free to ask, and I will answer as quickly as possible. So there we go that is the first blog out of the way. I thank those who have supported me and purchased my book and to those who haven't yet what are you waiting for.

You can check out the book at: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608602605