Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XXI

Not much to ramble about today other than the outstanding weekend of racing this past Memorial Day Weekend.

Indy 500 - Although I think there was a bit of overcoverage of the Danica Patrick story (Hey, ABC, she's in four place, how 'bout a shot at the leaders) but it is monumental and that girl gets mad props from this gearhead. She is not a gimmick as other female drivers that have come and gone (I won't name names but you can probably guess a few!).

I will say this, how much of an idiot is Robby Gordon? This guy never fails to amaze me! He's bitching because she's lighter than all the other men. I wonder why I never heard this when Lyn St. James or Sarah Fisher was in the cockpit? Hmm, maybe it's because this is a bonafide racing star in the making and in a few years she will make you forget she's a woman. She'll just be among the best racers, period.

Coca-Cola 600 - Although the race was sloppy with over 20 cautions (setting a Nascar record) it was exciting in spurts. Not sure what Dale Jr. and Michael were thinking getting caught up like that but Johnson's pass on Labonte makes for instant classic status.

Grand Prix of Europe - Everywhere else in the world (and everywhere else in the world is right on this one!) this was the biggest race of the weekend. How heartbreaking for Kimi to have the car breakup like that on the final lap. I guess the only solace is that if you were watching the race you just knew it was going to happen.

Great month of June coming up. The Pirates will host the Orioles and travel to the Red Sox and Yankees in Interleague play. Formula One will make it's annual stop in North America with races in Montreal and Indy. The triple crown circuit will end in Belmont in a few weekends. Although there is no chance for a triple crown winner this year, all eyes will still be on Afleet Alex, Giacomo and the rest of the field in the grueling mile and a half that has dashed so many triple crown hopes in years past.

It truly is the sport of kings.

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XX

Down the stretch they come....

What an outstanding Preakness weekend! The rain held off and the weather was beautiful (although not too many beaded babes if you catch me drift!) What an epic battle between Scrappy T and Afleet Alex. Big ups to Bellefonte native Jeremy Rose for getting the winning ride.

Off to Belmont...

The Pirates took 2 of 3 from the Rockies over the weekend and continue to play much improved baseball after their terrible start in April. Next up, mini-road trip to St. Louis and Cincy before returning home for a homestand against the Marlins, Braves, Orioles and Devil Rays.

The Riverhawks lost again over the weekend, and damn near got 100 points put on them as their defense did not make ONE stop! UGH! I know it's indoor ball but come on fellas.

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XIX

Well, less than a week away from the Preakness. My plans aren't complete yet. Not sure if we're going to be partying in the infield or the grandstand but either way, we'll likely be there. It may be my last trip to the second and penultimate jewel in the Triple Crown. I guess I'm just outgrowing the whole party scene.

I'd like to get involved in Harness action again, but I just can't find the time with everything else in and outside of work that I'm involved in.

Got to go to my first Pittsburgh Riverhounds... excuse me, Riverhounds FC game over the weekend. Now that they play at Falconi Field in Washington PA (home of the WildThings) they've dropped the Pittsburgh part of their moniker. Although there was way too much side entertainment that doesn't really fit (soccer has no stops in play as you may know) and the oddity of watching players go through a baseball dirt infield it was a good time and the home team won, their first game of the year I might add.

The Family Guy's Quagmire would have been in heaven, mad soccer moms in the house. Also, the KDK-babes, i.e. Sonni Abatta, Rebecca Hower and Kelli Olexia were there for an appearance.

It's too bad the rain didn't hold off Saturday night though, as the team was slated to have a game on Fox Sports Pittsburgh. Normally soccer games aren't called on account of rain, but with that dirt turned to mud, playing soccer would have been impossible.

Saw Anchorman on DVD over the weekend. Not the greatest movie but it had it's moments. Steve Carroll is one of the funniest actors in the business. Although his part of retarded weatherman didn't get too many lines he still was funny. Didn't necessarily steal any scenes but had some good lines.

Go f*** yourself San Diego!

Anyway, I'm out, you stay classy!

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XVIII

Mad stuff to discuss!

Who was that team dressed up in Pirate uniforms yesterday?! WOW! 16-2! It's like a team with offensive firepower came to the Bank One Ballpark! All kidding aside, it was a very impressive series in Arizona for the Buccos. I just hope they have some runs left for the Giants starting tonight.

Speaking of the Pirates, there was a very good editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over the weekend. It is definitely worth a read.

All this business with Ben Roethlisberger and the motorcycle surely is much ado about nothing. If this guy is dumb enough to ride without a helmet, simply because the law doesn't require it, that's his choice. In a rare display of creativity, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review had the best headline that I saw: "Ben to be wild". That's funny.

Don't get me started on the helmet law. Rendell totally through safety out the window in order to obtain votes from the bikers. In case you didn't know, only California has more registered motorcycle owners than Pennsylvania.

You've got to love the Kentucky Derby. The second biggest longshot in Derby history wins it while Steinbrenner's horse hits the wall in the stretch. Hey Big Stein, might not be that easy of a series against the Pirates come June 14-16 that you might have thought it would have been prior to the season. Any race that has a $2 superfecta pay over $1.7 million is alright with me. The Kentucky Derby is the best "win-all" race of the year, meaning hedge your bets by purchasing a win ticket for every horse in the field. A minimum bet is $2 so that's a $40 investment in Saturday's race, profit a little over $60.

Off to the Preakness, which I believe I will be partaking in again after a one-year hiatus a year ago.

I'm not crazy about sideline reporting in any sport but you have to be impressed with the work former jockey Donna Brothers does for NBC. On horseback, reins in one hand, mic in the other, feet in the stirrups; she makes it look so easy.

Go out and pick up Nine Inch Nails new CD "With Teeth". If you like the older stuff (Broken, Downward Spiral, etc) you will enjoy this. If you're more the downloading type, grab Love is Not Enough, All the Love in the World and Everyday is Exactly the Same.

Monday Morning Ramblings 2005, Issue XVII

Over the weekend I read a really good article on blogging in BusinessWeek. It talked about how blogging is changing the way those in the mainstream media think as far as their processes and how they write stories and columns. It was a much more hospitable take on the blogging scene than anything I've seen thus far from the MSM.

For instance, elitest columnists that bad mouth blogging and then don't respond to a counterpart written about a certain Pittsburgh boxer! No, I still have not heard from either Mike Seate or Sally Kalson. Quite frankly my opinion of Seate has gone downhill over the last few months. Before he was the refreshing liberal columnist in the right wing rag that is the Trib. I believe Al Franken described best in "Lies" as a "fishwrapper". His writing as of late has been boring, lazy and uninspiring.

The Riverhawks got their second win of the season this past Saturday over the AIFL Ghostriders. The league is off this week and then action returns the following week.

Hoorah! Family Guy is back! It picked up right where it left off. I loved the blast at Fox with Peter going through all the failed shows that came on after FG's first cancellation! My wife and I were sitting in front of the TV and, after months of watching and re-watching reruns on Cartoon Network, TBS and DVD, it was quite different, almost surreal if you will, to be watching a brand new episode.