The Sports Thread

[Wayback]

I wondered about the mood these days in the town of Frisco, TX (just north of Dallas), so just took a look on the web:
"Frisco is not to be confused with San Francisco" - Dallas Morning News (blog):
http://friscoblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/10/frisco-is-not-to-be-confused-w.html

And here's the obligatory mayors bets (note they still refer to SF as "Frisco"):
"Frisco's offer for the World Series" - Dallas Morning News:
http://friscoblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/10/friscos-offer-for-the-world-se.html

[urth]

through the good graces of an old friend and Southwest Airlines, a ticket to Game 2 and a plane ticket have both fortuitously appeared so it looks like I'll be making a quick trip to SF tomorrow, returning to PDX on Friday. Anyone else going? Pray there's no rainout. GO GIANTS!!!!

woo hoo! Good on ya, bub!  Bring a poncho -- some showers predicted, not enuf for a rainout but it could get damp.

We were prepared for precipitation, so of course the skies stayed dry the entire evening, and in fact it was rather balmy--70 degrees or so at game time, and it didn't drop much throughout the game (unlike Vladimir Guerrero the night before). And as you all are aware we got two games for the price of one--7 innings of a pitchers' duel (Cain was AWESOME, and CJ Wilson only slightly less so), followed by an inning of bullpen collapse and a mini-slugfest. So everyone wearing orange and black went home happy.

[urth]

One of your "favorites", Mike, Steve Perry was in attendance for the first two games of the World Series.

Actuallly, I woulda preferred "Don't Stop Believin' " to "Gawd Bless America"

I didn't much like the singer from last night.  Very grateful for her service (she was Army, I belive), but she was too American Idol for me.  she's no Tony Bennett. 

They showed Gretzky in attendance last night and Joe Montana was there the first night. 

No kidding. She had an OK voice, and good on her for serving her country, but she completely over-emoted throughout the entire song, warbling off-pitch and trying to sing a la Whip-me Houston.

Gretzky was indeed there, and a sing-along of "Lights" led by S. Perry. And I believe Mr. & Mrs. Montana were there for both games--we saw 'em on the jumbotron last night as well. Also Madame Speaker and the Hon. Ms. Boxer were in attendance, sitting down near the owners, where flying bats roam free.

[Tinka Cat]

One of your "favorites", Mike, Steve Perry was in attendance for the first two games of the World Series.

Actuallly, I woulda preferred "Don't Stop Believin' " to "Gawd Bless America"

I didn't much like the singer from last night.  Very grateful for her service (she was Army, I belive), but she was too American Idol for me.  she's no Tony Bennett. 

They showed Gretzky in attendance last night and Joe Montana was there the first night. 

No kidding. She had an OK voice, and good on her for serving her country, but she completely over-emoted throughout the entire song, warbling off-pitch and trying to sing a la Whip-me Houston.

Gretzky was indeed there, and a sing-along of "Lights" led by S. Perry. And I believe Mr. & Mrs. Montana were there for both games--we saw 'em on the jumbotron last night as well. Also Madame Speaker and the Hon. Ms. Boxer were in attendance, sitting down near the owners, where flying bats roam free.

and speaking of those flying bats: each night a bat went flying and hit a kid, and both kids attend the same Marin County Day School:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/29/MNIP1G3TVD.DTL

[urth]

One of your "favorites", Mike, Steve Perry was in attendance for the first two games of the World Series.

Actuallly, I woulda preferred "Don't Stop Believin' " to "Gawd Bless America"

I didn't much like the singer from last night.  Very grateful for her service (she was Army, I belive), but she was too American Idol for me.  she's no Tony Bennett. 

They showed Gretzky in attendance last night and Joe Montana was there the first night. 

No kidding. She had an OK voice, and good on her for serving her country, but she completely over-emoted throughout the entire song, warbling off-pitch and trying to sing a la Whip-me Houston.

Gretzky was indeed there, and a sing-along of "Lights" led by S. Perry. And I believe Mr. & Mrs. Montana were there for both games--we saw 'em on the jumbotron last night as well. Also Madame Speaker and the Hon. Ms. Boxer were in attendance, sitting down near the owners, where flying bats roam free.

and speaking of those flying bats: each night a bat went flying and hit a kid, and both kids attend the same Marin County Day School:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/29/MNIP1G3TVD.DTL

Read that article on the plane home this morning. Coincidence? I suspect someone's parents at Marin Country Day are hooked up with the team--or somehow connected.

[SFGuy]

no wonder the Rangers suck: check out their "walk-up" music. Josh Hamilton loves him some Christian rock. Gag me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMMebum8kE&feature=player_embedded

I then saw a story that Josh Hamilton was complaining about smelling "weed" inside AT&T Park during the game, and his delicate Christian sensibilities were offended, apparently. Bite me, dude.

I know you hate Christians but it has nothing to do with his "delicate Christian sensibilities". Hamilton is an ex-addict who says addiction (to either heroin or cocaine plus alcohol) almost killed him.

[ggould]

I didn't much like the singer from last night.  Very grateful for her service (she was Army, I belive), but she was too American Idol for me.  she's no Tony Bennett. 

I agree about the American Idol angle, and I thought her rhythm was odd.  But, and I don't ever know how to prove this, it seemed like her emotion was coming through very strongly, and I was touched by that.

[RGMike]

no wonder the Rangers suck: check out their "walk-up" music. Josh Hamilton loves him some Christian rock. Gag me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMMebum8kE&feature=player_embedded

I then saw a story that Josh Hamilton was complaining about smelling "weed" inside AT&T Park during the game, and his delicate Christian sensibilities were offended, apparently. Bite me, dude.

I know you hate Christians but it has nothing to do with his "delicate Christian sensibilities". Hamilton is an ex-addict who says addiction (to either heroin or cocaine plus alcohol) almost killed him.

I know that, but he also never shuts up about Jeezus. I don't hate Christians who actually emulate Christ. It's the rest of 'em that piss me off.

[Tinka Cat]

no wonder the Rangers suck: check out their "walk-up" music. Josh Hamilton loves him some Christian rock. Gag me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMMebum8kE&feature=player_embedded

I then saw a story that Josh Hamilton was complaining about smelling "weed" inside AT&T Park during the game, and his delicate Christian sensibilities were offended, apparently. Bite me, dude.

I know you hate Christians but it has nothing to do with his "delicate Christian sensibilities". Hamilton is an ex-addict who says addiction (to either heroin or cocaine plus alcohol) almost killed him.

I know that, but he also never shuts up about Jeezus. I don't hate Christians who actually emulate Christ. It's the rest of 'em that piss me off.

He's got an addictive personality, first drugs and alcohol, then fervent Christianity.  If the guy can stay clean & sober with the help of some higher power, more power to him.  he batted .359 this year, that Jesus Boy can rake! 

After going 0 for 4 with a walk in the first game, Hamilton laughed about being assaulted in center field by the pungent aroma of marijuana wafting down from the stands.

“It was crazy,” he said.

Asked whether the smell triggered any yearnings or flashbacks, Hamilton said it did not. “That wasn’t my drug of choice,” he said.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/sports/baseball/30hamilton.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

[Wayback]

SF Giants coach Tim Flannery plans music tour after World Series. As a singer-songwriter, he has released 10 albums, whose backup singers include Jackson Browne and Bruce Hornsby. He has performed on the same bill with Willie Nelson , Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam. His most recent album, Travelin' Shoes, was released last year and contains, among its 13 songs, a terrific cover of Karla Bonoff's "Home."  He and his band will launch a tour as soon as the World Series ends – right after what he hopes will be a parade in downtown SF. Flannery's music is available through www.timflannery.com, or via iTunes.  Article:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-flannery_1030gd.ART.State.Edition1.335e42c.html

[urth]

Pat the Bat better remember how to use his bat and soon or he's gonna be riding the pine. I like the guy, but he's picked a lousy time to go into a slump. 0 for 9 in the series, with 8 Ks. Here's hoping he turns around soon.

Bruce Jenkins concurs:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/31/SP9T1G4JRK.DTL

[RGMike]

Pat the Bat better remember how to use his bat and soon or he's gonna be riding the pine. I like the guy, but he's picked a lousy time to go into a slump. 0 for 9 in the series, with 8 Ks. Here's hoping he turns around soon.

I know Gaz will agree with me when I say: Pat can ride me with his pine any time.   But yeah, a disappointing perf thus far.

[RGMike]

Niners win in London -- Wembley's never looked lovlier.

[RGMike]

Sun Nite Football gets higher rating than WS Game 4:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/01/sports/s083143D06.DTL&tsp=1

SNF usually takes a week off during the WS, but not this year.

[urth]

Sun Nite Football gets higher rating than WS Game 4:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/01/sports/s083143D06.DTL&tsp=1

SNF usually takes a week off during the WS, but not this year.

Sad. On the other hand, take that, FOX!

Wonder how the ratings compared in Texas, the land where football reigns supreme?