Happy 1st Birthday Nolan

Happy Birthday to my little buddy Nolan Oliver.  He celebrated Easter twice and a leap year, all before he turned one. 

all business, all the time

6:36 AM in NYC our lived were changed for ever, for the better.  It went by extremely fast and although his vocabulary is practically non-existent, he's been walking for over three months, which is pretty impressive.  He's a good little dude with an awesome personality.  He's the man.

We're heading out to the Mystic Aquarium for a day with the little dude.  I feel bad leaving Nathan home all day, but he'll be fine, he's the toughest dachshund I've ever met.

Here's some other cool stuff (or uncool, depending on what your opinion is) that happened on April 16 in the history of the world.

• 1941 - Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians threw the only no-hitter on Opening Day in Major League history, beating the Chicago White Sox 1-0
• Funnyman Jon Cryer turns 47 today.  He's best known for his work on Two and a Half Men and his cameo in Due Date
• Ian MacKaye, frontman for Minor Threat and Fugazi, turns half century this year
• Bob Dylan debuted his song "Blowin' in the Wind" in NY in 1962
• The Rolling Stones debut album was released in 1964, "The Rolling Stones (England's Newest Hitmakers)"
• Bill Belichick turns 60 today and still rocks a ripped hoodie better than any coach in history

We're be having a great day and I hope you'll do the same.

366 in Year 1

Poor Nolan.  The kid has to wait 366 days until he turns 1.  Leap year, please.

His birthday isn't until Monday and Lindsay is going to take off from work so we can head down to the Mystic Aquarium.  I haven't been to an aquarium in quite some time but I'm looking forward to it.  I'm not sure if Nolan actually knows what he'll be looking at but that's all right.

That's all.  Leap year.

What Happened on April 9th?

• 1413 - Henry V is crowned King of England
• Alaska is purchased from Russia via a treaty passed by the US Senate by one vote, in 1867
• The Suez Canal in Egypt is open for shipping in 1957
• The Astrodome opened it's turnstiles for the first time, making indoor baseball a reality, in 1965
• Yankees pitcher David Robertson is born in 1985
• Hugh Hefner (Playboy Enterprises founder) was born today in 1926.  Coincidentally, porn actress Jenna Jameson is also born today, in 1974
• My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way turns 35 today (born in 1977)
• "Pops" Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates, died today in 2001
•  Promising Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart died suddenly in a car crash in 2009
• Freak show performer Zip the Pinhead passed away in NYC in 1926

Have a great Monday, if that's even possible.

Shocking Demotion; Birthday Shout Outs

Shocking Demotion
Talk about a fall from grace minutes before the MLB season kicks off.  Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan, of Siena College fame, and the opening day starter in 2009 and 2010 for the Nationals, was demoted.  He's scheduled to make $5 million this season too.

Sure, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson made him a little less of a priority, but he was a staple in their rotation for the past four seasons.

Don't take anything for granted.  Well, except the $5 million he's due to make.

Birthday Shout Outs

• Muddy Waters, the legendary blues musician.  This was actually one of the first artists Nolan listened to when he was only a few weeks old.  He loves the blues.  McKinley Morganfield died in 1983.
• Scott "Rockin'" Rolen turns 37 today.  He's got 8 Gold Glove awards, he's been in 7 All-Star games, and was a member of the 2006 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Birthday (& History) Madness - March 29

March 29

Birthdays

He'd be 145 today but Happy Birthday to 511 game winner Cy Young. Dude was a man's man - he had 829 decisions during his 22-year career.  And every year, the "best" pitcher in each league gets an award named after him.  Pretty cool.

Xena, Warrior Princess is 44 today.  Lucy Lawless, the New Zealand born actress still looks better today than she did as Xena - maybe because she was too busy bulking up and kicking ass.

Australian model and former SI Swimsuit cover girl Elle Macpherson is 48 today.  She's also been on television several times on a few different shows, but no one remembers that.  She's also run through two husbands in the 80's and 90's, but hasn't been married since 2005.

History

1974 - Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury and remains the only one to ever go to Mercury.  It was an unmanned spacecraft.

1996 - The Cleveland Browns chose a new name after leaving the city for Baltimore - and thus the Baltimore Ravens were born.  Kind of ironic, because on March 29, 1984, the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis.

1971 - A jury in LA recommends the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers.

 

Tuesday Trends

Here's a quick hits version of what's trending and what I think should be trending:

1. Napoleon Dynamite - Is it me or is this cartoon years late?  The movie was pretty funny but a cartoon in primetime - no thanks.
2. Ink Master - A new tattoo show showcasing ten of the best tattoo artists in the country (I think it's only America).  Long Island's own Tommy Helm is on the show and although I haven't gotten tattoed by him (and because of this show, probably never will), it'll be cool to watch.  He has tattooed a few of my friends.  Ante up!
3. Jay-Z has made a vow to stop using the word "bitch" in his rap game.  I'm sure he can put out ridiculous tracks without the word anyway.
4. In birthday news, the immortal Betty White is 90 today.  90% to a century and still making people laugh.  Oh, and she's spent 70 years on the screen.
5. Colts fired head coach Jim Caldwell.  Not having Peyton Manning had nothing to do with this - well, maybe a little.  The Colts defense has allowed more PPG every year for the past three seasons.

Gotta get going, whipping together a vegetable curry and brown rice dish for dinner.  Oh yeah, trying to eat a little more healthy.

The Weekend That Was (& Wasn't)

Here are the winners of the weekend that was:

• NFC East and AFC West - The only two division in football without a 10-win playoff team.  Didn't seem to matter much as the Giants embarrassed the Falcons, 24-2, while the Fighting Tebows beat the Steelers in OT, 29-23 (after a near collapse).
• Tennessee Volunteers basketball - Not only did they creep a game above .500 with a win on Saturday, but they beat #12 Florida, 67-56.  I don't think there is a taste more sweet for Vols fans than beating the hated Gators.
• Ottawa Senators - They overcame a 2 goal deficit, erupting for four third period goals, to take down my beloved Flyers, 6-4.  Eleven Senators recorded a point in this one.
• Drew Brees - Everyone knows he broke Marino's record forpassing yards this year (5,476) but he kept up the torrid pace in a 45-28 thrashing of the hapless Lions.  He threw for 466 yards and three TD's - but he lost a fumble.  I guess no one is perfect.

Here are the losers of the weekend that wasn't:

• NFL Referees - There were some brutal calls throughout the Wild Card Weekend - a non-fumble in the Lions/Saints game and several questionable holding calls in the Falcons/Giants game.  There were plenty of other calls that were head-scratchers, but I don't have the time to get into all of them.  Moving forward, I hope they let the teams play a little more.  There were 39 penalties in the four game.  But they missed a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers WR Mike Wallace on a third down play.
• University of Connecticut Basketball - The women's team lost at #3 Notre Dame in OT, 74-67, marking the first time they've lost a Big East game since February of 2008.  Sure, they are still going to be a force to reckon with, but after losing three times to the Huskies last year, the Irish might find themselves believing a little more.  The men's team lost at Rutgers, marking the second straight Big East game they've lost - both in NJ (Seton Hall beat them 75-63 on Tuesday).  The Huskies remain one of the nations elite, but they have to bounce back tonight at home against West Virginia, a team that is coming off a big home win over #11 Georgetown.
• Washington Wizards - This miserable group fell to 0-8, remaining the only winless team in the NBA, and in the process I think they've been eliminated from playoff contention.  The Timberwolves (3-5) crushed them yesterday, 93-72.  They're averaging 84.6 ppg (29th), shooting 39.7% from the floor (29th), are -12.9 in point differential (30th) and getting outrebounded by 8 rpg (30th).  Looks like a lost cause down in DC.  At least they delivered some good during the holidays.

Birthday

Happy 30th Birthday to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

Miami Dolphins

Don Shula, legendary coach and restauranteur, turns 82 today.

Happy Birthday!!

• Head coach of the Baltimore Colts (1963-1969) but better known as head coach for the Miami Dolphins (1970-1995)
• 2 Super Bowl Championships (VII, VIII)
• 1 NFL Championship (1968)
• 5 AFC Championships
• 328 regular season wins (most all-time)
• 6 Super Bowl appearances as a head coach (most all-time)

This guy is a legend and he makes a hell of a steak.

Awesome-ness

-- Buffalo Bills WR Steve Johnson - the guy who dropped the pass against the Steelers when he was wide open and said he'd never forget the drop - celebrated his birthday party with a classic cake - of his wife's ass.  Cl-ASS-y cake Steve:

-- Evan Longoria is going for the GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!  Alex Morgan and he have been tweeting - and it may lead to something more than that.  Two good looking people, nationally recognized (after this WWC thing), both athletes - why not:

-- Wipeout is now on.  Oh Big Balls, have some mercy on these poor bastards:

PPV; Friday Fun Facts

PPV
Cougars - NOT on Animal Planet and definitely not about the feline variety.
Broke Down Bitches - I think their cars break down and then they get broken down.  Maybe it was the mechanic.
Ghetto Hoochie Girlz: Straight Up Ho's - I think they need to get an editor for the title of this one, but it's ghetto, so proper spelling just ain't cool.
Horny Mexican Mamas - It should be mamacitas, but who am I to correct their Spanish verbage.

Sorry, these titles have been lacking creativity lately.  I always check though, so stay tuned.

Friday Fun Facts
#1 - The OJ Simpson Bronco chase occurred on this day way back in 1994.  He got caught eventually, but I guarantee if he was on a football field trying to outrun the police, he'd have gotten away easy - a few stiff-arms, a spin move, and boom, he's gone!

#2 - In 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived from France.  Hard to believe they shipped this over in pieces.  Shit, engineering and mega-builders never stop amazing me.

#3 - Two of the best names in basketball history were born on this day.  Former Iowa Hawkeye Luke Recker.  And former Murray St. Racer great and NBA felon player Popeye Jones.

I forgot to mention one other thing - sweet relish on hot dogs should be mandatory in America.

Goodnight.

Dirty 30

Today's my Dirty 30th. I'm out of my 20's today, but it doesn't feel any different.

I have never been a real big birthday- having guy, I just don't make a big deal out of it. 

It was tough leaving Lindsay and Nolan this morning knowing they'll be home alone for two days before they hop their flight to Gainesville FL.

As for us, we're on the bus headed to JFK. Got my camera, hopefully photo-journal a little bit before Lindsay comes down with the iPad (it's easier to blog on there).

Time to focus on the bus ride, I don't wanna get nauseas.

OK, the old(er) dude is signing off.

Case of the Mondays; PPV Porn Titles; Birthdays

Case of the Mondays
Dropped Lindsay off at jury duty right around the block from Yankee Stadium, pretty shitty area, besides the Stadium.
Drove 6 miles in 34 minutes to get back to work, and I hate traffic. (along with the rest of the world)
I just got finished moving some bleachers, real fun.
I just got finished moving some metal barricades, awesome.
I'm gonna head down to the park in a little while to stand on some scaffolding and change light bulbs in the scoreboard, soooo looking forward to that.

PPV Porn Titles
These things crack me up, although sometimes they aren't all that funny.  Last night, I re-read my post (yes, I'm a loser) and Lindsay and I were laughing so hard we were crying at the titles on television last night.  I mean loosen your screws a little and just take in the genius that is involved with selecting porn titles.

I need a laugh, so I am going over to TVGuide.com to check out some more porn titles showing today on channels 92 and 93 (for a nominal fee):
The MILFY Way:  Mom on Mom Sex - Has nothing to do with astronomy
Young Hot & Filthy Little Ho's - ???
High Class Urban Ho's:  Ghetto Sexual - I am not sure how many caucasian ho's are in this one
Bi-Girls:  Classy & Trashy Sexaholics - Classy and trashy?  Killer combination.

The weather out here isn't so bad, I just wish the sun would come out.  I have shorts on and a long sleeve shirt, but the wind out there on the scaffolding can be bone-chilling at times.

Birthdays
Doris Day turns 88 today.  "Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray,South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio..." to quote the great Billy Joel song "We Didn't Start the Fire".

Nathan turned two today.  Our little dog is growing up (I know, I sound like a crazy old cat lady) but he's a good shit.  He still only knows how to sit when he gets a treat, but that's good enough for us.  He has the occasional accident in the house (mainly on his bed, for some odd reason) but otherwise he's well-trained and well-behaved.  He barks only when we bark at him (yes, we bark at him) and everyone in the building knows his name.  Only issue is, they don't know Lindsay's name or mine.  Oh well, it's a dog community.  Woof woof!

Grandma Coiro (maternal grandmother) is celebrating another birthday today.  We sent a card out this morning, so it'll be a little late, but it's better than nothing, right?  I plan on calling her after I am done changing light bulbs.  We haven't seen her in a while, since she lives down in Florida, but I'm guessing she'll fly up once Baby D comes around.  She enjoys wine spritzers and hanging with the Red Hat Ladies at the clubhouse.  She's a social butterfly.

OK, that's enough from me, I better get to work.  I don't wanna get fired 10 days before the baby is due, that wouldn't be smart.  Off to the park, screwdriver and lightbulbs in tow.

Birthday Roll Call; Dear: Rain

Birthday Roll Call
Happy (dead) Birthday to the 4th President of this great nation, James Madison.  You'd be 260 years old today, Jemmie (what his friends called him).  This guy was the littlest President in history, weighing in at a whopping 100 pounds and standing around five feet, four inches tall.  A pretty dimunitive leader.  He made an astounding $25,000 a year when he was in office.  Happy Birthday to the guy who said "I always talk better lying down" on his deathbed.

Blake Griffin is 22-years old today.  Imagine being that talented at such a young age.  The dude's a man-child.  Here's a list of some of his accomplishments in the NBA - 2011 Slam Dunk Champ, 2011 All-Star, regular on ESPN's Top Plays.  In college, he was the 2009 Big 12 Player of the Year, 2009 Naismith College Player of the Year, 2009 AP National Player of the Year, 2009 Oscar Robertson Trophy, and the 2009 Adolph Rupp Trophy.  Those might not mean a lot to a non-basketball fan (like myself) but if you watch this kid play, he's an absolute beast.  Happy Birthday!


Dear Rain,

Just when I thought the precipitation would end for a few days, just a few days, you dump a few inches of rain on us.  At least you had the decency to bring it overnight. 

I am not a fan of your little brother snow either, but him I can tolerate.  It doesn't get me soaking wet when I step outside.  The only advantage you have is that when you're around, the weather is typically a little warmer.  Today though, it's only about 37° out there, so you're on the fence.

Sure, they've said you bring May flowers, but it's not even April, so why the hell did you decide to arrive early?

Anyway, I digress.

I appreciate what you're trying to do - green up the grass and clean the cars.  I am just glad I'm living in NY and not in Henderson Lake, British Columbia, which averages 256" of rain a year.  In Guadeloupe, Caribbean Islands, 1.5" of rain once fell in one minute - a record.  We only get around 42" of rain a  year here, so I won't bitch too much.

Anyways, you're supposed to be outta here by noon, so I can't get on you too much.  But do me a favor, rain when it's convenient for me - like during the overnight hours.  I don't drive too far to work, so I am not concerned with the toll you take on traffic, but ease up on them too.

We got a game today over at Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ at 3:30 pm.  They got turf, so I hope you don't factor in to the game.

Here's to staying dry.

Love,

Ryan

WVU and Cuse; News Desk; Birthday Time

 WVU and Cuse
 Syracuse is locked up in a tight one with Bob "I Don't Do Suits" Huggins' Mountaineers at the Carrier Dome tonight.  West Virginia took a four point lead into the half, but a 17-5 run to start the second half has pushed the Orange back in front, 43-35 with 14:46 to play.

West Virginia seems to have brought their three game with them, connecting on seven of fourteen in the first half.

Syracuse looks like they got a little talking to in the locker room - their zone seems a lot better - oops, there's a three ball by WVU.  Spoke too soon.  Still up five.

Not much else on the slate tonight, besides newly anointed #1 Kansas' trip to Manhattan to take on the Wildcats of Kansas State.  KU is laying 6.5 on the road in a game that should have been played during Rivalry Week.

News Desk
Air Nakedness - On Saturday, during a flight from Chicago to New York, an emotionally disturbed woman stripped naked while cruising the friendly skies and created quite a ruckus.  She was taken to a Queens hospital but will not face criminal charges.  I guess she was a little too late on opting for the strip search.

Vick on Oprah - Michael Vick is going to Chicago - for an interview with Oprah - on February 24th.  They'll discuss his dog-fighting past and how he's trying to make amends.  Oprah had a bet with Piers Morgan that she'd land a one-on-one with Vick before "The Owl" Larry King.  I hope he pays her the 200 pounds and not pellets.

Tiger Spits on Green - I think a little too much is being made about Tiger Woods spitting on the green during the Dubai Desert Classic.  A breach of the tour code of conduct?  I guess maybe it's an unwritten rule, and since golf is such a proper sport (see: John Daly), how could he do such a thing.  Who gives a shit if he spit or not - a bigger deal should be made over the final round 75.

Birthday Time
Happy birthday to Super Bowl XXXVI Champion Drew Bledsoe, who turns 39 today.  The first pick of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Washington State, a once proud football program, put together quite a career.  He played for the Bills and Cowboys after his hey-day with the Patriots.  This is a guy who threw for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns.  The guy was a monster at 6'5" and 238 pounds.  After he retired, he founded a winery with Seattle Mariners IF Chone Figgins, called Doubleback Winery.  Happy birthday Drew!

Birthday Bash - Baseball Edition

Now for a special edition of Birthday Bash - baseball.  For the sake of keeping order in the post, I will start with the oldest and work my way to the youngest.

A true pioneer in every sense of the word and a man who changed the game forever, Jackie Robinson would have turned 92 today.  If you don't know his story, you need to seriously reconsider your existence.

(courtesy of MLB)

Here's a few factoids for you less-educated baseball people out there, by the numbers style: 
1st:  Black player in MLB history (1947)
42:  His number, retired by the MLB for all players except Mariano Rivera
6: World Series appearances
1: World Series championship (1955)
6: Consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1949-1954)
.311: Career batting average in 10 MLB seasons

Happy Birthday Mr. Jackie Robinson, may you rest in peace.  You've a legend.

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks turns 80 today.  This 14-time All-Star has his #14 retired by the Chicago Cubs (on a flag flown at all games at Wrigley Field) and is a proud member of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  You think Ernie Banks and you think of the Chicago Cubs.  He had himself a stellar playing career:  2x NL MVP (1958, 1959), 1960 Gold Glove Award winner, 512 career HR's, 2,583 career hits, and 1,636 career RBI's.  Happy Birthday Mr. Cub.

"The Ryan Express" turns 64 today.  And based on some of the first pitches he's thrown out in recent games, he can probably still get some guys out.  This guy has staggering numbers from his playing career, including one royal ass-kicking of a young, brash Robin Ventura back in August of 1993.  Straight headlock to punching bag.

He definitely deserves a by the numbers look:
8: All-Star Game selections
5,714: Strikeouts (leads Randy Johnson by almost 1,000 for the all-time mark)
3: # of teams who retired his number (Texas Rangers #34, Houston Astros #34, Los Angeles Angels #30)
7: Career No-Hitters - this number will never be broken (Sandy Koufax is 2nd with 4)
3.19: Career ERA in 5,386 innings
27: Seasons played

Happy Birthday Nolan Ryan.  You gave hitters the business.

Hope you learned a little more about baseball today.  Go to the bar tonight and flaunt your new found knowledge of America's PastTime. 

And here's a few other notable folks who share their birthday with baseball greatness:  Musician and actor who brought sexy back Justin Timberlake (30); The voice of Jane in Disney's Tarzan, actress Minnie Driver (40); Miss USA 1997 and former Barker's Beauty Brandi Sherwood (40); former Sex Pistols rocker Johnny "Rotten" Lydon (55); and rock guitarist Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music fame (60).

Good day to you and yours.

KC Chiefs < Oakland Raiders; and it's Birthday Tiiiiiiime

It's taken some time, but the Ravens seem to have finally began to impose their will on the measly Chiefs.  After an early 41-yard jaunt to pay dirt for Jamaal Charles, not much has gone right for the AFC West champs.

The Chiefs were +9 this  year, but today, for some reason (inexperience in the playoffs) they're -2 (2 takeaways, 4 turnovers).  Cassel has two interceptions.  Charles and McCluster both have lost a fumble.  Three of their 8 possessions so far have ended in a turnover and one more ended on downs.  They've mustered up only 37 yards in the third quarter. 

Meanwhile, the Purple People Eaters have scored on 3 straight possessions, and are knocking on the door step of making it four in a row.  2nd & 4 at the KC four yard line.  TD Baltimore.  Anquan Boldin - dude's a beast.  Wacco Flacco is playing out of his mind too - 245 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Only thing that worries me is their running game is nonexistent.  Gotta get Ray Rice going downhill if they expect to keep playing past next weekend.

23-7 Baltimore.  Might as well get some things done before the Packers and Eagles start, this one's all but over.  Baltimore at Pittsburgh next week is going to be some bloodbath.  Let's go Ravens!

Silver & Black would have represented the AFC West better than the bumbling, stumbling, fumbling Chiefs.  Maybe they got too much of that KC BBQ sauce on their fingers.

Here's a feature I haven't spoken on in a while - one that was a regular in the repertoire last year - my birthday roll call.  Happy birthday to Kate Middleton, the fiancée of Prince William of Wales.  Her last one as a single woman, I'm sure she's on lockdown.  Maybe they'll let her family come to the castle once in a while, just to say hi.

On the sports side of things, Packers great Bart Starr is 77 years old today.  He helped lead the Packers to five Super Bowl titles - including being MVP of Super Bowl I and II.  The former 17th round pick (200th overall) was one of five HOF'ers in the 1956 NFL Draft.  Happy birthday Bart Starr.  I'm sure Aaron Rodgers is making you proud like his predecessor Brett Favre didn't.  Go Pack!

Time to take off, this game's almost over.  Marist leads Manhattan 61-55 with 1:28 left.  Both teams are struggling this year, looks like the Jaspers are hurting a little more.  They travel to Florida after the game to take on FAU on Tuesday in a rescheduled game (snow wiped out travel the first time they were supposed to fly down).

Bye!

Happy Birthday's

James A. Garfield

The 20th President of the United States of America, James Abram Garfield would have turned 179 today.  He was assassinated walking through the Sixth Street Station of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad.  He was in office for just over 6 months before he died, courtesy of a bullet fired by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2nd.  He died in office on September 19, 1881. 

Guiteau was a smug S.O.B. all the way to the end.  He loved being in the public's eye, waving and smiling all the way to his execution.  The reason he shot the President... ...he thought he should be given a government job.

Guiteau was mentioned in the song "Mr. Garfield" by Johnny Cash.

A few factoids about James A. Garfield:
1. He was the first left handed president

2. He juggled Indian clubs to build his  muscles
3. He graduated from Williams College
4. He learned to read at 3 years-old

5. He was 6 feet tall

Rest in peace, Mr. President.

Indian clubs

Happy Birthday's

  Just browsed a list of today's famous birthdays (courtesy of www.famousbirthdays.com) and found it interesting that there are no interesting birthday's today.  This prompted me to google "today's sports birthdays" and although I have yet to view the results, I'd imagine I can round up some pertinent information on at least 1 or 2 of these athletes.

  1.  Happy Birthday to Joliet, IL native Jesse Barfield.  51 years young today, he was once a featured gun out in right field, known predominantly for a cannon otherwise knows as his right arm.  He led all outfielders in assists from 1985 to 1987 - surprisingly, people kept trying to take an extra base on him.  He finished his career with 162 outfield assists - well short of Tris Speakers 449 career assists, but still a huge number for a 12 year career.

  Some of his on-field accomplishments included making the 1986 AL All-Star team (0-3, 2K), winning 2 Gold Glove Awards (1986, 1987) as well as a Silver Slugger Award (1986).  For his   After 8+ seasons north of the border, he was traded to the NY Yankees for left-handed pitcher Al Leiter.  He remained with the Yankees until after the 1992 season, when he took his game overseas and played for the Yomiuri Giants for a season in 1993.

  Barfield can still be found at Yankee Stadium for the yearly Old Timer's Day - throwing old dudes out at home with regularity.

  Over his 12-year MLB career, he amassed 241 HR, 716 RBI's, and 1,234 strikeouts (in 1,428 games).  He wasn't so much known for his bat, but he had an arm that base runners of his era will not soon forget.

  2.  Former NY Islander defenceman Denis Potvin turns 57 today.  He was the 1st overall pick in the 1973 NHL Draft and was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1991.  Although he is currently one of the voices of the Florida Panthers, it might best be remembered when the Islanders and Rangers played at the Garden, Ranger fans chanting, "beat your wife Potvin, beat your wife." over and over and over again.  Unless you've been to a Rangers game, you don't know the tempo or cadence of that chant, but you get the picture.  Another favorite of Ranger fans, albeit less original, were the "Potvin Sucks!" chants that bellowed from the rafters of MSG.  They were all jealous of his beard.

  I was brought up an Islanders fan (it gets harder and harder to root for them) but I will stick by them.  They play in a dump, so the end product really is no surprise.  He and Brian Trottier are the only two players Islanders to play 1,000 games for the team, a list that isn't likely to grow anytime soon.

  Let's Go Islanders!  Let's Go Islanders!  Potvin helped lead the Islanders to an unprecedented 4 consecutive Stanley Cup victories from 1979-80 to 1982-83.  (even though on the 1980-81 Cup, it reads "Ilanders").

  3. NY Mets right handed knuckle-baller RA Dickey is 36 today.

  4. Former Ohio State standout RB and current criminal Maurice Clarett turns 27 today.

  5. Puerto Rican boxing great Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez (44-3-1) turns 54 today.

  SF Giants are two wins away folks.  SUCKA!  All you Rangers fans with that stupid air high five or magic fist or claw, whatever you wanna call it.  Doesn't seem to be working thus far.  Still a ways to go, but it's a good start for the renegade Giants.

Happy Birthday's

  A segment I've gotten away from a bit happens to be one of my favorites.  It allows me to dig up some random facts on whoever has a birthday on a specific date.  Today's date is October 25th, and I have yet to look up to see who shares this day as the day of their birth, but here goes:

  The General, legendary college basketball coach Robert Montgomery Knight turns the big 7-0 today.  He is most known for his intensity, outbursts, witty comebacks, sweaters, and serious temper (not to mention the whole chair throwing incident in 1985 against Purdue).  The leader in NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching wins (902) currently is employed by ESPN as an analyst and color-commentator.  There is no one I'd rather listen to than him when watching my Duke Blue Devils on TV (except well-known Dukie Dick Vitale).

  Happy birthday coach!

  Everyone's favorite California Gurl, Katy Perry turns 26 today.  Fresh off her marriage to comedian Russell Brand just off a tiger reserve in India, the singer is probably toying around with her wedding gift from Brand, a baby Bengal tiger.  Not to be outdone, she gave Russell a baby elephant as a token of her love.  Odd as it may seem, nothing surprises me when it comes to Russell Brand.  The dude is hilarious.

  Maybe it's just the British accent or the fact that I understand only 25% of what comes out of his mouth, but either way, happy birthday Katy Perry.  Keep on with the wacky outfits, but I swear if I hear California Gurls one more time on the radio, I am going to lose it.

  Lots to do today, so I gotta get a move on.  Happy birthday to all, and to all, a good day.

  Oh, and how about those Raiders?!  a 59-14 ass-whooping of the Broncos.  Kyle Orton is getting all this love all season for throwing for so many yards, maybe because his team is terrible (2-5) and they are down every game, thus forcing the offense to call more passing plays.  Regardless, the Raiders are 3-4 (2-0 in AFC West) and for once look like a professional football team.  They host the Seahawks next week before a huge game with the 1st-place Chiefs.

  Let's keep it rolling, don't fall into the trap-game mentality.  .500 this late in the season might as well Christmas in October.  But seriously, a Halloween game, in Oakland, with a chance to get to .500 - look out.  The Black Hole is normally like Halloween every home game for the Raiders, but I have a feeling they got their mojo back by the bay.  Silver and Black are back, baby.

  Bye now!

Happy Birthday's

  A feature I've gotten away from for the past several months - ah hell, I've gotten away from blogging for a while.  It's kind of difficult with no internet.  I just recently downloaded the Blogger application on my cell phone, so if I don't have a chance to sit down and really put something good together, I can always enter in a short entry.  Just to keep you readers happy.  Anyway, on to the birthdays.

  Terry Bradshaw turns the big 6-2 today.  The Hall of Famer is now an announcer for the NFL, I think on FOX5 here in New York.  He finished his career with 212 TD and 210 INT.  Not a great ratio, but considering he won 4 Super Bowls, I'd say he's HOF worthy.  He's pretty funny to listen to, but often times gets carried away and just likes to hear himself speak.

  He was also named to the 1970's NFL All-Decade Team (he was 2nd Team), a team that included QB Roger Staubach, RB Walter Payton, WR Lynn Swann on the offensive side of the ball, and DT Joe Greene, MLB Dick Butkus, and CB Willie Brown on the defensive side of the ball.  The punter was all-time great Ray Guy.  In any event, happy birthday Mr. Steel Arm.

  Turning 42 today is possibly the most well-known Mexican-American actress alive, Salma Hayek. She came to the US from Mexico but struggled at first to pick up the English language - she was dyslexic.  She bounced back pretty well, and seems to be doing alright for herself.

  Her US big-screen debut came opposite Antonio Banderas in the 1995 blockbuster Desperado.  She's also been in From Dusk til Dawn, Wild Wild West, and the cult hit Dogma (with Chris Rock).

  She's also always listed among the Top100 Sexiest Women in most men's publications.  And for good reason.  Feliz Cumpleanos Salma Hayek.

  That's all for now.  I am going to continue melting.  Unbearable heat.