Mea Culpa and More

Last Saturday I posted my latest entry to this blog and I must apologize for it. I bemoaned the fact that the college football schedule didn't seem to have much going for it, and I was wrong on that one as the Alabama and Tennessee game came down to the last seconds, while Iowa barely beat Michigan State, and USC hung on to beat Oregon State. We had a few exciting finishes while the one game I thought might be a battle wasn't when TCU crushed BYU 38-7. While I was banging on college football, I should have been calling out the NFL. Sunday's games were just plain awful as 10 out of the 12 games were double digit losses, though the ten point Minnesota loss to Pittsburgh was a pretty tight game so lets say 9 of 12 stunk. If it wasn't for fantasy football I probably would have watched something else. I guess all I can hope for is a more entertaining week next week. Well the Yankees made the World Series on Sunday and in turn made me a happy man. I hate to kick a man when he is down, but I fail to understand Mike Scioscia bringing Scott Kazmir and not Jered Weaver right away. One thing about starters coming out of the bullpen is you don't know how they will react, obviously Kazmir did not react well, while that question had already been answered with Weaver and his performance in game five. Some might say the two runs that the Angels let up in the eighth didn't matter and I say it was much more comfortable as a just a fan to have a three run lead I can't imagine what it meant to the Yankees themselves.

Hey all if you like this go check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html Or if you just want to go ahead and by one you can go here: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/33Summers.html

More Random Thoughts for the Weekend

Well here we are at the start of another jam packed sports weekend, so here are a few things that have been running through my brain. I'm not big on the NFL playing in England. I know the NFL didn't run it by me before they made their schedule, but really is the game big enough across the pond to warrant these regular season games being played there. I don't mind if you throw them some meaningless preseason game as a bone, but leave the regular season games on this continent. Also while I'm on the London game why would you send Tampa Bay, don't you want the Brits to see good football not a blowout. On to a weekend of college football that really is lacking in a wow match up. The biggest game is TCU versus BYU not really a classic battle. Don't get me wrong some games will probably wind up being good ones, but the chances look pretty slim. Now onto the biggest fish of them all game six of the ALCS. It is supposed to be played on Saturday, but the weather in New York might have other things in mind. As a Yankees fan I hope that the game gets played on Saturday and the Yankees wrap it up in game six, because if they don't then momentum certainly shifts to the side of the Angels. Enjoy the sports weekend everybody.

Hey all if you like this go check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html Or if you just want to go ahead and by one you can go here: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/33Summers.html

Random Sports Thoughts

Here are five random thoughts from this past sports weekend. 1. Why did I enjoy watching the Patriots crush the Titans 59-0 so darn much? I know a few reasons are that I love watching snow football and whenever the Patriots pull off a flea flicker I grin from ear to ear. Maybe it was because I could throw the score in the face of all the haters out there. Yes I can be petty, I am not proud of it, but it does happen on occasion. 2. I am a little ashamed to say I also enjoyed hearing about the struggles of the Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. After three weeks everyone was ready to dub this kid the savior of the Jets, well guess what he is a rookie so get used to the ups and downs folks. 3. Watching the end of the USC/Notre Dame game on Saturday I was yelling at my TV that there should be one second left before the referees looked at instant replay, but it did not help my Fighting Irish for they wasted the extra play they got and lost 34-27. 4. Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was cited for public intoxication on Sunday. Dude you realize you are a kicker the team won't put up with this, you are a dime a dozen and this is your second offense wise up. 5. Obviously I am happy my Yankees took a 2-0 ALCS lead after a 13 inning 4-3 win on Saturday. It was a very entertaining game, even though it was sloppy at times. Also as with pretty much everyone else in the country I can't wrap my head around why Brian Fuentes left that 0-2 pitch where he did for A-Rod to crush, I'm just hoping he does it again today.

Hey all if you like this go check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html Or if you just want to go ahead and by one you can go here: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/33Summers.html

Like Christmastime in New York

The American League Championship Series starts tonight in New York as the Angels and Yankees face off at 7:57 EST. If you aren't a regular reader of my blog or don't know me I am a ginormous baseball fan and the Yankees are my team so this is like Christmas morning to me. Little did I realize that my Christmas morning would bring winter like conditions to Yankee Stadium. The weather report is a chilly one for game one as rain is in the forecast and temperatures will be hovering around 40 degrees. Oh but wait it gets better for fans and players alike as there will also be a 15-20 mile per hour wind whipping around the new stadium making it feel like it is in the mid 20's. I personally hate cold rain it is my least favorite kind of normal weather, we will exclude hurricanes and tornadoes, but if I could be in the stands for that game I would be. Instead I will watch from home and try not to shiver as I watch all these people that are soaking wet, and I will do my best to gut it out and not break out the Snuggie and the hot cocoa. I really hope the weather doesn't effect the teams too much , it would be nice to see a well played game in a tidy 2 hours and 45 minutes. So good luck to both teams, okay really only the guys in pinstripes, and remember to dress in layers boys.

Hey all if you like this or heck if you hate it at least go and check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html Or if you just want to go ahead and by one you can go here: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/33Summers.html

The League Championship Series.

Well we are now down to just four teams in the baseball playoffs, the Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, and Phillies. Well when I predicted the winners at the beginning of the playoffs I was half wrong. I thought the Red Sox would be able to take care of the Angels and I also banked on the Cardinals disposing of the Dodgers, but as Mark McGwire would say I am not here to talk about the past. So let us look into the crystal ball and predict what will happen in the League Championship Series. First in the National League I think the Phillies will take care of the Dodgers in six games. I am also hoping this happens because I don't think I could stomach seeing Manny Ramirez in the World Series again. In the American League I am betting on the Yankees taking a close series in seven games against the Angels. I think the difference will be the Yankees bullpen, but then again that could be my heart speaking and not my head. One thing I have learned from the playoffs so far is that you can't count on anything 100 percent. I would never had guessed Joe Nathan, Huston Street, and Jonathan Papelbon all would get lit up like a Christmas tree. Though the series themselves may have lacked some drama the individual games were pretty entertaining so bring on the next round.

Hey all if you like this or heck if you hate it at least go and check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html Or if you just want to go ahead and by one you can go here: http://www.eloquentbooks.com/33Summers.html

The Best and Brightest in Blue, Not Quite.

Watching the Red Sox and Angels game last night was almost a painful experience, the umpiring in the game was just plain atrocious. Joe West was questionable at best behind the plate with the Red Sox Jon Lester getting visibly upset at least a few times. Joe West was fabulous compared to first base umpire C.B. Bucknor. He missed two fairly easy calls last night that both went against the visiting Red Sox. The first bad call came in the fourth inning when a throw by Alex Gonzalez pulled Kevin Youkilis of the bag but Youk made a sweep tag of Howie Kendrick who was clearly out to everyone,everyone that is but Bucknor. The second was in the sixth and another errant throw, this one by Mike Lowell, pulled Youk off the bag but he got his foot bag on in time, but once again Bucknor disagreed. Now these plays probably didn't cost the Red Sox to lose 5-0, John Lackey along with no Red Sox offense did that, but the umpiring needs to be better in the playoffs. This leads me to my main point why in the world is C.B. Bucknor even an umpire let alone allowed to be part of a playoff crew. Bucknor has twice been rated as the worst umpire in baseball, yet he gets this important assignment. Epic fail on MLB's part.
One more note what was with that little display by Torii Hunter after he hit his three run home run last night. Slamming his helmet on the floor of the dugout and acting like they just won the series. What would have been funny is if the helmet had hit Hunter or another member of the Angels and they missed the rest of the postseason because of this stupidity. Torii it is okay to enjoy the moment but act like you have been there before.

Hey Guys check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel, 33 Summers at: http://www.darrenpare.com/Announcements.html

The Center of the Sports World

For the next couple of days the American sports scene will have a new capital, Minneapolis, Minnesota. It all starts tonight when the Green Bay Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. Unless you have been completely sports deprived the last couple of months you know that it will be the first time Brett Favre takes the field in Viking's purple against the team he spent most of his career with and division rival, the Packers. Now granted the bigger Vikings and Packers match up happens on Sunday, November 1 when the game is played in Green Bay and the Packers fans will have to decide whether to boo or cheer their former hero. The thing is this Monday Night Football game has no other competition in the sports world. The baseball season is over and though I like hockey let's be real no one really watches it. The boys and girls at ESPN must be drooling thinking of what kind of ratings number this game will get tonight, I'm thinking it could be a record. After tonight's game the crew at the Metrodome will have to work quickly to clean up the place and get ready for tomorrow's Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins baseball game. This game will determine who has the honor of meeting the Yankees in the ALDS on Wednesday. The Twins have been a great story coming out of nowhere to catch the Tigers. While the Tigers have stumbled and bumbled their way to a tie. The Tigers will send rookie Rick Porcello to the mound while the Twins counter with Scott Baker. Both managers won't be afraid to use their bullpens because it's win or go home. I love when divisions go down to a one game playoff it reminds me of when I was seven and the great Yankees and Red Sox playoff of 1978, I love Bucky Dent. So enjoy the spotlight Minnesota the whole sports world will be watching.

Be sure to check out the first few chapters of my baseball novel 33 Summers at www.darrenpare.com Just click on the announcements tab.