What a scene

Still processing and digesting what happened last night, what has happened over the past couple of weeks, and what has happened since April, when I first watched the Sox and Yankees square off in a Friday night game on Fox. IN APRIL. That's when I realized that things might be different this year. Televised baseball on Fox doesn't usually happen in April. Already, things felt different.

Down the stretch, things were different too. The errors and downturns that inevitably happen to every team would normally, in any other year, have spelled doom for the Sox and would have put them into a downward spiral. This time, when the errors or pitching mistakes would occur, someone would pick the team up. Someone would step up and make it happen and not let the mistakes drag them down. And it was someone different everytime. You could count on someone to come through and change the course of a game with one swing of the bat or one brilliant play in the field. Or especially one awesome pitching start after another. That can't be overlooked.

Many, many Red Sox fans at the ballpark last night. You could feel the energy and momentum rising as the game went later. Passing another fan with a "B" on his hat, you'd just nod and give each other knowing glances, both with the knowledge that you would probably be witnessing something magical. No words necessary; just a nod and slight hint of a smile would do.

As the final out was made, I got some video of the scene on the field and got a few pictures. Kia and I made our way around the perimeter of the stands and down closer to the action. I was more at peace and just happy than anything else. Just glowing, I think. All the St. Louis fans were very gracious and congratulated the Boston fans as they went past each other. I'm sorry to say that I'm not sure that would have happened in Boston if the reverse were true. Anyway, a huge group of Sox fans congregated behind the Sox dugout and generally waited around to be part of the moment. Players with champagne-soaked shirts came out, the World Series trophy came out, and it was a love-fest. People hugging and giving high fives. Once again, celebrating a series victory in someone else's ballpark. It would have been great (read: mayhem) to win it all at Fenway, but after 86 years, St. Louis is as good a place as any.

Everything's coming up Milhouse

Extraordinarily, events have led up to the miraculous opportunity for me to witness history tonight, live and in person. I have never been to a World Series game, never been to a playoff game in any sport, and haven't even seen the Red Sox live in a few years. What a good way to break those streaks...and another little streak that's been around for 86 years. In any case, things have worked out just perfectly for me to have this chance. Kia and I are leaving momentarily, camera in hand, hopefully to be a part of something great.

Upon further review...

A couple of days of quiet reflection and distance has not dulled the orgasmic excitement that the recent events have produced. If anything, they have only heightened the high and emphasized the importance that this epic comeback has had on the city of Boston and Red Sox Nation nationwide. Exhibit A is here, an inspirational video documenting some of Game 7. If anything, it only strenghtens my resolve to go to Busch Stadium next Wednesday night and make a big ruckus about my boys. And if you think I'm going to give up the baseball topic and shut up about this anytime soon, go elsewhere for your blogging needs. It's all Sox all the time, up until Halloween if need be. Now I think I'll go impulse-buy a Sox ALCS Champions T-Shirt online.

It's official (or "Rolen on the River")

Thanks to their gutsy vanquishing of the Houston Astros last night, I'm going (with a lucky-ass guest) to WS Game 4 on Wednesday night. Cheering for the Beantown Nine in Cardinal Country. I do have a Sox hat, but I've gotta get me some more gear. I feel that I should let the rest of the people around me know my position right away, so they're not all blown away when I start yelling my fool head off about Ortiz hitting one into the Mississippi. Now where to get a big styrofoam finger?

I'd like to feel sorry for the Astros, who have never been to the World Series in their 43-year existence. But 43 years vs. 86 years. There's just no comparison. If my graduate statistics class taught me anything, it's that 86 > 43.

So starting tomorrow night: two teams who battled back from the brink of elimination, duking it out. Unfortunately, I'm going to be in an airplane on my way to San Diego as it all happens, but what can you do? That's what highlights are for. Incidentally, if anyone reading this is also going to be in San Diego, look me up. Or call me. I'll be at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. Go neurons!

VICTORY!

Wow. I mean...wow. I mean....the last time the Sox went to the World Series I was 7. It was 1986. Let's go over that again -- the Boston Red Sox are going to the World Series.







YEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tons of emotions and things going through my head right now. I had wanted to write a lot more before now, like last night and earlier in the game tonight, but if history has taught us anything, it's to leave everything alone and not discuss it until it's over. My friend, Pat, gets very mad when anyone emails or text messages him during Sox games, since he perceives that as a significant change in the environment and may alter the game's outcome. See, I'm not the only crazy one.

Ok, let's see if I can get some thoughts down:

-This may just exorcise the demons. This may just do it. This may be the one. For me, this makes up for years of pain, embarrassment, and frustration. Not only does it feel huge, it's historical, on many levels. No one's every done it. And to the Yankees no less. Graaaa!!!!

-The guys who had been struggling the whole series, and in some cases the whole season, came through, and came through BIG. Damon - 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, including a grand salami; Bellhorn, a decisive home run last night, an added homer tonight; and Derek Lowe, who was confined to the bullpen at the beginning of this series, and came up with the biggest game of his life, allowing 1 (one) hit to the Yanks. For six innings, he made the biggest bats in the league look silly. He came up big.

-Schilling. Pitching through the pain. Blood on the sock. Does this man want it or what???

-And Ortiz. ORTIZ!!! Big Papi came up big. Huge. MVP. How many times can he drag us out of the fire? Something tells me he's not done doing that.

-They left no doubt in game 7, they didn't eke by or squeeze a run out in the 14th to take the AL Championship. No, they scored early and they scored often and took the Yankees and their fans right out of it. It looks like Curt's wish about shutting up 55,000 New Yorkers came true, last night AND tonight. You worry when the Yankees score even 1 run, like the 1 run opens the floodgates for more. It's like the "Don't break the seal" mantra when you're drinking; once you break it, it all comes.

-In order to get a $50 gift certificate a week or so ago, I had to sign up for an EBay account and place a bid. I decided to place a $10 bid on a 2004 ALCS poster which, until tonight, I thought would go straight to my closet. I have a feeling that bid is going to jump up just a bit after tonight. But I'm getting that poster, dammit!

-My World Series tickets arrived today. Sweet, sweet irony. Well, not irony. But sweet all the same. SWEEEEEEEEET.

JKD posted a long while back about IAGL -- "I Am Genuinely Laughing". Well, IASLAF -- "I Am Smiling Like A Fool".

I sleep now. I happy. Hee.

Oh how the tables have turned

Lots of thoughts now. For now, I'm not saying anything, except...

OH.
MY.
GOD.

Thank you, Curt.

Reality setting in

Well at least now I know who I'm rooting for if St. Louis gets to the World Series. That would have been awkward and all, rooting for Boston in St. Louis. No problem now. Get me a Pujols jersey and a glove and I'm all set.

Notes from the most important Sox game of the season

-Stephen King, an avid Red Sox fan, is in attendance tonight at Fenway. Appropriate, as it has the potential to become horrifying for Sox fans. Horrifying. Ha.

-It was mentioned that Derek Jeter and Tom Brady are very similar athletes. If that doesn't make you wretch, I don't know what will.

-I've realized that the atmosphere so far in this series has seemed a little flat, and then it dawned on me what was missing: fights. There have been no brawls so far. Come on, people. With hockey on strike, fill the void. Give the people what they want.

-Oh: I'M GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!! Game 4, St. Louis. Standing room only. Unreal. I won a lottery for the opportunity to buy tickets. No matter who it is, it will be incredible. If it doesn't turn out to be the Sox, I'll have even more incentive to root for the Cards.

-The Sox just tied it at 6. The game has taken an hour and a half so far. It's only the third inning. I'm getting too old for this. More later.

Since there are bigger things in life than baseball (although few and far between)

A long-overdue post about a very important website you should go to. This organization is going to be airing a bunch of slanderous, one-hour segments bashing John Kerry. Go here and sign the petition. This is a load of hooie, and we should let them know it.

Thanks to JKD for this one.

Possibly the Penultimate Postulation (aka Red Sox Rant ALCS version #2)

Not much to say right now, this may be one of the last Rants of the year (polite applause). Yea, yes, thank you. Although with the way the Sox do things in the offseason, I may have many more (uproarious boos). Hey, shut up! If you want to express your opinions, get your own damn blog!! That means you, Karpf.

So I'm feeling a mix of anticipation and nausea about the prospect of what I might know by the end of the night. No, nothing to do with pregnancy or illness in the family. The Boys are back at home, backs against the wall, forced to play the games of their lives in the next two (or three, hopefully even more) days. Just at the time when it's most important, it's all going wrong. Our Ace, the man who was to lead us to the Promised Land, is most likely out for the year. He needs surgery. Bad. Our other ace gave us a good showing, but the offense that was supposed to be so dangerous and effective wilted. They can't get it done early, and then try unsuccessfully to stage late-game drama. Well it hasn't been working. And I'm being told this on a daily basis. I'm also being told to get a real job, but what you forget is that I unpack boxes and assemble furniture 8 hours a week, and I consider that a real job. I don't just sit around and ponder the parietal lobe or stick schizophrenics in boxes and see how they respond. So BOO-YA!

We'll know more by Monday. A LOT more. We'll have a pretty clear picture. But until then, I can ponder the following interesting things about the possible match-ups:

-Houston vs New York: interesting b/c Clemens was a Yankee last season, and almost retired until he decided not to. So there's drama there.

-Houston vs Boston: interesting for almost the same reason. Clemens = former Red Sock. Which reminds me: what's the proper singular form for a member of the Red Sox?

St. Louis vs Boston: two teams whose major colors are red and white, and who's offenses (supposedly) are dominating and explosive. It should be interesting and very fun watching the balls leave the yard.

-St. Louis vs New York: not interesting at all, except for the fact that I won the chance to buy World Series tickets. Yes, that's right, I may be going to one of the World Series games in St. Louis, if I decide that I have enough money to do so. This is exciting.

Now I wait.......

Here we go again (Red Sox Rant, ALCS version #1)

"He said the awesome thing about being a starting pitcher is you have the ability to make 55,000 people shut up when you're on the road," Schilling said.

"I'm not sure I can think of any scenario more enjoyable than making 55,000 people from New York shut up."

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And that, folks, is why Curt Schilling is my hero. He don't take no guff. He's a horse. He'll pitch hard, and then harder, and harder. He hates coming out of the game. With an 8-run lead in an ALDS game, he gave up 2 runs in an inning and when the inning was over he rifled the ball at the ground and stomped into the dugout. If there's anyone who wants to win it all more than him...well, I'm not finishing that statement, b/c there's not. There's just not. And he knows this might be his last chance, upping the ante even more. Last year, we thought we had a chance against the Bronx Buttholes. This year, it's ours to take.

Strange juxtaposition

Right now, Bush and Kerry are debating right in the spot where I shot jumpshots during the IM basketball season last winter. Yeah, weird.

I've discovered something. John Kerry understands that political decisions are full of subtleties and nuances, as politics is. Bush would like things to be simple. Bush has messages that are simple. Kerry is trying to show people that nothing is as simple as Bush would like it to be. I like that.

This is a new direction for Wilco

I read in this week's Rolling Stone that Wilco is going to have a song called "Just a Kid" on the SpongeBob SquarePants soundtrack, and that Jeff Tweedy's 8-year-old son, Spencer, plays drums on the song. How would you like to be Wilco's drummer and get kicked out of your spot by an 8-year-old?

Apparently, there's a song by the Flaming Lips on the soundtrack, too. Man, kids these days are a lot cooler than they were when I was a kid. Who am I kidding? Kids these days are a lot cooler than I am now.

This may just convince me to go see the movie.

Going for the Kill (Red Sox Rant #whatever)

I like what I'm seeing. The Sox offense is clicking, they're giving run support to their pitchers, the aces are being just that: aces. Win one at Fenway this weekend and move on. I know, it sounds almost too easy.

The Lou's a Zoo

Between the Debate happening tonight (I didn't get a ticket, I don't think any Wash U students did) and the Cardinals in the playoffs, it's been a little weird around here lately. Starting today, all kinds of crazy, military-looking helicopters have been flying around. They're closing streets, and they put up four-foot-high green plastic fencing around the perimeter of the campus. For what reason, I don't know. Maybe terrorists can't jump over four-foot-high green plastic fencing? Whaaaaaaa?

Plus, there's a conference at Wash U this weekend, the annual Society for Research in Psychopathology meeting. I presented my poster last night, entitled "The Role of Encoding Strategy on Brain Activity and Subsequent Recognition in Schizophrenia." And I saw Aaron Beck, the guy who basically invented depression. Well, not exactly, but he had a big hand in studying and understanding it. He's a little cute old man with white hair and big glasses which, God willing, someday I will be too.

This CAN'T be good

Stories like this make me absolutely cringe.

Because once they are predicted to win, OF COURSE they're not going to. Doesn't anyone know how this works???

A sample of quotes from the article that make me angsty:

"We want to be the first on our block to announce: The Red Sox are going to win the World Series."

"If they don't win it this year, they'll never win it. Ever."

"The Red Sox are the logical pick," said one scout, "except for one thing: They're the Red Sox."

Duh.

All my hopes and dreams, crushed

An email I got today:

Thank you for submitting your name to the computerized lottery for student
tickets to the Presidential Debate. We are writing to inform you that your
name was not selected to receive a ticket to Friday's presidential debate.

The number of students who entered the lottery was 5,873. At this
point, no tickets have been issued to the University by the Commission on
Presidential Debates. The students in the top 300 of the lottery results
have been notified of their status, however we do not know how many, if any, of
those students will receive tickets. Thank you again for your interest in
attending the presidential debate.

This is an exciting time at Washington University, and we hope you will
take advantage of the remote viewing areas and other unique events that will
take place on Friday.

Things to do on the eve of the playoffs

On a Mac again, can't insert a link the cool way, but if you want a funny quiz to take, go here:

http://www.boston.com/sports/lighter_side/sox_pats_fan/

I'm sure you all want to know if you're a bigger Sox or Patriots fan. I know I did. My score was 17: borderline more of a Sox fan than a Pats fan, almost in that "love 'em the same" category.

More things that should not be televised

Once again, I must go back on something I have said. Televised poker is fine. Televised darts? Fantastic. Please, ESPN: don't show the National Scrabble Championships. How would you like to get that broadcast assignment? Hoo-wa.

You give me 'Fever'

Noah has told me that I'd like Nick Hornby's book Fever Pitch. Appropriately enough, today I saw news that it's going to be turned into a movie, starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. Here's the synopsis I found:

Synopsis: A man is obsessed with the Boston Red Sox and a woman is caught in the middle.

Definitely my kind of movie.

I'm no doctor, but...

I'm all for limiting the amount of pills people take and trying to stop the over-medication epidemic. But shouldn't pills actually be real pills?

Up to 60% of those surveyed had given placebos. For those of you in the bathroom (or smart enough not to take Psych 100), that's a sugar pill. Given in some cases even for women in labor.

Dubya and the Gang of Seven

I'm on a listserv of Oberlin alums who did (and some who still do) theater, and got an audition announcement for a musical called Dubya and the Gang of Seven. It's anti-Bush (go figure) and features many prominent political figures. Who, you may ask, is in this Broadway-bound blockbuster? See descriptions from the email below:
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(Note all actors should look like or be able to pull off looking like these roles)
GW - Baritone: Can do the real George W Bush in accent, mannerisms, etc.
Condy Rice - Mezzo, lush R&B voice.
Ashcroft - Tenor, Geddy Lee or Robert Plant-ish.
Wolfowitz - Tenor, Jewish Cantoral style
Rumsfeld - Bass
Cheney - Bass. Strong singer, (there are some rhythmically difficult patter-songs)
Powell - Baritone/tenor. Gospel style.
Rove - Baritone/tenor. Versatile musical theater voice.
Powell Jr. - Baritone. Soul and R&B voice. Younger version of his father.
GOD - Bass, Gospel soul voice.
Angels - Soprano, mezzo, alto: Women's Gospel choir.

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I like the idea of Condy Rice just busting out into an R&B song. And the idea that Cheney needs to be a strong singer because of "difficult patter songs". And GOD. The presence of GOD takes it to a higher level...no pun intended.

And Ashcroft should be "Robert Plant-ish"???? This I've gotta see. I wonder if they're going to include that awful "Wings of the Eagle" song he wrote....