More than a beginning

Do you like to write? Do you love sports? Do you find it a little harder as a middle aged New Englander to hate the Yankees? To steal from Rick Pitino, that ain't Thurman Munson, or Graig Nettles, or the Goose coming thru that door. In some ways passion has been replaced with a suitcase, and winning games has been replaced with contracts that 'keep score'. Not true for all cases. I will always respect Curt Schilling for trying to pitch 2 years ago, not liking the results, and moving on. Teams were willing to pay him to take the Roger Clemens tour, but he is in the gaming business and being Curt, which may make him Governor around here someday if he wishes to commit to it.

I have not written an essay for any purpose since I was 22 years old. I have done things for work, or other life requirements, but not a composition. i hope this doesn't suck too bad!!

I'd like to dedicate this first entry to my Dad. He's given me a lot: my love for sports, the push at a young age to try athletics, and was the first person to recognize I was wired different - loving sports and liking to participate is not always a bridge to high competition, both in sports and in life. It's taken me a long time to figure that out, and be able to deal with it. Dad also encouraged me to put pen to paper. You rock, Grampy . . . .

I feel a little like the Tin Man right now (some would say the Scarecrow . . . . if I only had a brain), but that's fine. Take your shots . . . I will only get better . . . .

A much discussed topic, but I feel bad for Mike Lowell. David Ortiz is productive, Victor Martinez can wear 2 gloves, as we saw tonight, and Adrian Beltre is pretty damn good in his own right. Lowell has complained a little publicly, but has done what he needs to, collects a good salary, and no one is going to trade for him unless they have a corner infield/DH injury and the sox eat 75-80% of the tab . . . . . we are very lucky to have Terry Francona, who is Switzerland to the opposing sides of Theo and Mike. Theo can't just give him away . . . . 12M is a huge nut to write off. And Mike . . . like george Carlin said, he just wants to go home. Baseball is a pastoral pursuit where the object is to go home. I hope Mike gets a chance to touch 'em all a few more times. He deserves it.