Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Round 2: Big Z dominates

In the battle in Milwaukee, so far it's Cubs 2, Brewers 0.

Carlos Zambrano did indeed hold his emotions in check last night, save for the bat he broke in two after failing to get down a bunt; he did single in a run later though. Anyway, he was unhittable on the mound, throwing eight shutout innings as the Cubs increased their NL Central lead to three games.

Aramis Ramirez came out of his post-All-Star break funk too, with four hits, including three doubles.

Now it's up to Ryan Dempster tonight and Rich Harden tomorrow afternoon to complete the sweep. And don't think the Brewers aren't worried about just such a scenario. I'm sure they thought they'd be up 2-0 with CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets throwing the first two games. But the Cubs matched the pitch-for-pitch, actually going one better, setting it up for Dempster and Harden.

The trade deadline is tomorrow. Rumors have the Cubs possibly going after some relief pitching, but with the emergence of Jeff Samardzija and the eventual return of Kerry Wood from that nagging blister, they should be OK. There's also talk of going after the Mariners' Raul Ibanez, which would be a great pickup -- though it might mean the end of the Jim Edmonds-Reed Johnson platoon in center.

Anyway, onward and upward. The Cubs have won three in a row overall. Let's make it four, then five, and throw some distance between the Cubs and Brewers. And I guess the Cardinals too.

One other interesting note: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is now reportedly the favorite to end up as the owner of the Cubs when all is said and done. His bid for the team and Wrigley Field? A cool $1.3 billion.

God, please let this happen.

Cuban photo courtesy David Yellen

Sister Sue update

Well, things ain't all that good. Cheryl talks to her almost every day and says she talked to Sammy this morning. They were bringing a nurse's aide in to spend the day with her so Sammy could go to work. Somebody has to be with her when he's not home.

She's really having fits with the nausea, and is quite agitated at times. Cheryl says she may try to take a trip to Little Rock this weekend just to give Sammy a break. If I was just a little bit closer, I'd be there too. But it's a 17-hour drive, and airfare right now is pretty high.

But I'll do what I have to if it comes down to it.

More as I know it ...

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Seattle, here I come

Well, it's official: I will be traveling to Seattle to play for Cobalt Big Blue in the 2008 Gay Softball World Series. Reservations are set.

I'll miss one day of round-robin play, but will get there on Tuesday night, Aug. 26 in time to at least play in Wednesday's round-robin games. If not, I wouldn't be eligible for double-elimination, which starts Thursday.

I'm hoping Ed might be able to come too. His brother has a free ticket on JetBlue that he has to use soon -- it would be nice to take a short vacation together, even if it does involve softball (deep down, I think he likes being with all the people, especially those that don't play).

Anyway, I hope I can help Cobalt. I think they asked me because they think I might be able to do just that. Or they just needed a warm body. In any case, I'm getting pumped.

Check out the Seattle World Series site here.

The photo above is from Saturday's CAPS All-Star Game. We -- the A/B Division All-Stars -- beat a spirited C Division 12-10 in eight innings. We actually trailed 5-1 in the fifth inning before getting our butts in gear. And the C team, which included several Cobalt players, didn't give up either, tying the game in the seventh. That's me on the bottom far right.

More to come as the big trip approaches ...

Round 1: Cubs

In one of the best games of the season, the Cubs finally beat the Brewers in a see-saw affair Monday night 6-4. Derrek Lee had three RBI, including the game-winner in the ninth that broke a 4-4 tie.

It was nice to see the Cubs' bats come alive, especially against a guy like CC Sabathia of the Brewers; kudos to making him throw 124 pitches in seven innings. The bats started showing some life in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Marlins, so to see them carry those bats to a rocking Wrigley Field North is a good sign.

Note to Alfonso Soriano: Make sure the ball clears the wall before you start your home run trot. You could have been really embarrassed in the first inning if you hadn't gotten to second base for at least a double. Nice comeback, though, with a homer later in the game.

Round 2 is tonight with possibly the best pitching matchup of the season so far: Carlos Zambrano vs. Ben Sheets. Keep your emotions in check, Carlos, and you'll be just fine.

Oh, and the picture of Lou blowing his top was from Sunday's game when he and first-base coach Matt Sinatro both got tossed for arguing a close call at first. Lou said he got tossed just for asking first base umpire Rob Drake "Why are you so antagonistic?" My question is, why aren't umpires held accountable for their actions (other than the Milton Bradley case from late last season)?

Get all your Cubs news in the widget on the right.

Piniella photo courtesy AP

Monday, July 28, 2008

'Suck it bitches!'

With that, Steven's time on Big Brother 10 was over. By a 9-0 vote last week, our favorite gay rodeo star was voted out. But boy did he go out with a bang, uttering those final words in his plea to stay. But he said he knew he was going home, so he just went for it.

Good for him.

Now what to do with this week's choice for eviction, Angie and Jessie. Keesha rocked the house with these two, though her nominating Angie was kind of a foregone conclusion.

Ah, Jessie. The muscle boy goes from HOH to on the block. A little full of yourself, I'd say. If you don't win POV, and the house is smart, you'll be going home on Wednesday night.

And why do I have a picture of Dan posted here? Because he continues to fly under the radar as the guy who doesn't pose a threat to anybody. He's cute and has a nice personality, but his CBS bio is a little out there.

Watch out housemates. Dan could fly under the radar all the way to the final.

Dan photo courtesy CBS

9 reasons not to date a Tyrannosaurus Rex

I snorted at Nos. 1-4 and 7.

Zombie classifieds

Softball season ends -- maybe

Well, this weekend was the official end of my softball season. Probably. Maybe. Possibly.

My work team's season ended in early July. My gay softball team Nitro ended the season as the B Division champions of the Chesapeake and Potomac Softball league (CAPS), but we're not going to the World Series in Seattle at the end of August. There were too many people who couldn't go, so we just decided to let the Disturbance, which won the B Division at the World Series a couple of years ago, go in our stead.

The season-ending party was held at Nellies Sports Bar in Washington. Ed and I had never been there before, but we had a great time. It's just too bad we live so far away because we'd definitely go there more often if we could.

Anyway, another CAPS team, Cobalt, has asked me to go to Seattle to play with them. Ed and I have talked about it a bit, and while I think he'd rather I didn't go, I think he's OK with it. Who knows how many more World Series I'll be going to? I know next year's Series is in Milwaukee (OK, I like Milwaukee, but how in the world did Milwaukee outbid Chicago???) so there's a chance I could end up going there. So if I can swing the days off and finagle a plane ticket (we have a plan for that too), then I'm off for the Great Northwest.

Ed and I have talked a lot lately about my retirement, which is coming sooner than I'd like to admit. I'll definitely play next year for work and probably a last season with a gay team (Nitro? Capitol Punishment? Cobalt?) before I call it quits. Ed has put up with a lot of softball over the past almost 17 years, and it's time I started giving some of that back to him.

An interesting next few days and weeks are on the way.

Cubs vs. Brewers

Well, the Cubs survived the weekend invasion of the Fish, winning Sunday 9-6 to split the four-game series. Good thing -- the Milwaukee Brewers had actually moved into a tie for first with the Cubs on Saturday, but lost to the Astros on Sunday to give the Cubs a one-game lead in the NL Central.

Next up? A four-game series starting tonight in Milwaukee between the top two teams in the National League. CC Sabathia (how silly does he seem for dropping the periods?) faces Ted Lilly tonight in a battle of lefties. Tomorrow night's game features Carlos Zambrano against Ben Sheets. Now that should a game to watch.

The Cubs' offense seemed to be in a bit of a funk until yesterday, but Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez seem to be coming out of it at just the right time. And how about that catch Jim Edmonds made to the end the game yesterday, giving Jeff Samardzija his first major league save? Not to mention mighty-mite Mike Fontenot winning the game with a three-run double.

Speaking of Samardzija, what a debut for the Notre Dame guy who gave up a football career to play with the Cubs. And with Kerry Wood still fighting that blister, Samardzija has been nothing short of a Godsend.

So, it's on to Wrigley North. Miller Park in Milwaukee is going to be rocking for the next four nights. Man, I wish I was going to be there...

Sister Sue update

Had quite a lengthy conversation with Sue and Cheryl yesterday. While we were on the phone, Sue got on the scales and was happier than flies on sh*t.

I didn't know she had gotten down to 69 pounds, so when she said she was up to 75 and was "woo-hooing" we thought she was just happy because she hadn't lost anymore. Little did we know, right?

Anyway, a gain of six pounds for Sue is enormous. Keep up the good work...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Estelle Getty 1923-2008

This Golden Girl will definitely be missed.

She found her niche when she landed the role of the sarcastic Sophia, mother to Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan. Now that's a quartet.

I know it's cliche, but Thank You for Being a Friend.

Read more about this great woman's life here.

Photo clockwise from left: Getty, McClanahan, White, Arthur

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Best movie of the year

The Dark Knight is easily the best movie I've seen this year. So good that I've already seen it twice, and it just started on Friday.

All the hype about Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was right on. He is so good that you don't even realize it's him under all that makeup and purple suit. That, to me, is indicative of a great acting performance -- I hope Oscar is listening. Ledger definitely deserves a nomination with the best comic book villain to come along in a long time, if ever.

It's all good. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Michael Caine as Alfred. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent. I could go on and on. Is it for kids? No -- that PG13 rating was pretty generous I think. But if you are looking for 2 1/2 hours of escapism, with lots of action, then this movie is definitely for you.

It's just too bad Heath Ledger won't be around for a possible third Batman go-round. But then director Christopher Nolan and Bale didn't sign on for a third one either. Maybe they knew something.

One thing to watch out for in the previews: Bale as John Connor in the next wave of Terminator movies. He's signed on for three of them and vows to treat them much the way he treated his two turns as Batman.

Summer '09 can't come soon enough.

They're killing me ...

It's only a few games after the All-Star Break, but the Cubs bats are pretty much dead. I think they left them at Wrigley Field before the break. Or somebody switched them with the Washington Nationals bats.

Anyway, they still have a 2-game lead over the Cardinals and Brewers, and Alfonso Soriano is due back any day now from his broken hand. They really miss him, having to tread water at 17-17 since he went on the disabled list. Pitching definitely hasn't been a problem. New guy Rich Harden had himself a game last night -- and lost. He gave up one hit in seven innings, but it was a homer and the Cubs lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0.

Oh well. Today's another day, another chance to throw some distance between the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers. Remember, the Cubs and Brewers end the month of July with four games at Miller Park. That series could go a long way toward deciding the NL Central and wild-card races.

I just have to keep telling myself that there's no reason to panic -- yet.

Soriano photo courtesy Getty Images

Big Brother 10

So far, so good.

This season, they've gone back to their roots and it shows. I just think it's more fun when nobody knows anybody.

Muscle boy Jessie and Renny survived the first week's nominations, watching too-big-for-his britches Brian go walking out the door. Now Jessie is Head of Household, and he nominated Brian's BFF Dan and gay boy rodeo star Steven. Personally, I hope it's Dan that leaves this week. It's all going to come down to the Power of Veto competition tonight, followed by the eviction tomorrow.

All the boys this season are cute -- I just don't think the elevators go to the top floor.

And remember what I said about Renny. She's so annoying, and she, too, survived the opening week nominations. Mark my words, she's going to be there until the end. You have to have somebody you love to hate, right? Well, she's it.

Thank God for Showtime. I can get my Big Brother fix on Big Brother After Dark, which is on every night on Showtime2 from midnight-3 a.m. ET.

Steven photo courtesy CBS

Sister Sue update

Again, not much to report, which I consider a good thing. She's still fighting quite a bit of nausea, but she says she's eating and doing everything she's supposed to. Pretty much have to take her at her word about that.

If she can get past the nausea and just gain a little weight, I think she'd feel a lot better.

More as I know it ...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Monday, July 14, 2008

'The Dark Knight'

Check out the latest poster for the next Batman movie, The Dark Knight, which opens Friday.

I love this poster. Has more of a Joker-like feel to it, doesn't it? I think this Batman is going to be the biggest and best yet. The late Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is already being mentioned as a possible Oscar winner.

Man, I still can't believe he's gone. But what a great way to go out -- with the performance of a lifetime.

Even though it opens Friday, I'll have to wait until Saturday or Sunday to see it because Ed works Friday, and he'd kill me if I went without him.

I'll be like that little boy in the Disney commercial: "I'm too excited to sleep."

Big Brother 10

The Chen-bot is back. Thank God.

Julie Chen introduced this season's cast of Big Brother 10 last night, and it looks like it's going to be a fun season. It's supposed to be a season like the first two, with everybody who walked into the house total strangers.

I already have people I like and hate -- please vote Renny off this week and keep muscle-boy Jessie. Jessie might not be very smart -- giving up a chance to win a car, though to his credit, he had no idea there was a car involved, then getting into an argument with the aforementioned Renny, who has already annoyed pretty much everybody in the house. She's overbearing and not very friendly.

They already have an HOH, 75-year-old Jerry, who had to nominate two people within 24 hours of moving in. He was elected HOH before anybody walked in the house. People had to look at a board and just choose. Jerry's a nice guy who's pretty smart about the game. I hope his age doesn't get in the way.

I also like gay rodeo star Steven, who has not told anybody about how much he likes guys. That should be interesting when that little secret pops out of the closet, especially with the house leaning, I think, a bit toward the conservative side.

About three months of guilty pleasure, until The Amazing Race and Survivor return. Then it'll be time for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And we start all over again ...

Julie Chen photo courtesy CBS

All-Star break

So the official first half of the season ended Sunday. The Cubs have a 57-38 record (.600) and a 4 1/2-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central; they are tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the best record in baseball.

If you'd have told me that at the beginning of the season the Cubs would be sitting this pretty -- and doing a lot of the damage without Alfonso Soriano -- I'd have thought you were nuts.

Now, when he returns, probably next weekend, it'll be like the Cubs just pulled off another big trade. Keep him and new pitcher Rich Harden healthy and the Cubs could run away with the division title.

My biggest fear? They get to the World Series and have to face the White Sux. Lord, please, any team but that one. I don't think I could take it if the Cubs actually lost the ultimate grudge match.

After 100 years, God wouldn't do that to us. Would he?

First things first -- win the All-Star game tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium so the National League gets home-field advantage in the World Series. That would be huge for the Cubs -- with eight total players named to the team -- who have the best home record in baseball.

Oh, and while I understand the historical significance and all, is anybody tired of hearing about Yankee Stadium? And if you think it's bad now, wait until the final weekend of the season ...

Sister Sue update

Nothing new to report -- which is good news -- except that I talked to her Thursday and she sounded like the Sue of old...

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Chicago's top dog

A dalmatian, Frisco, has been named Chicago's top dog. Read all about him here in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Big whoop

So the Brewers trade for C.C. Sabathia, who since he's gotten so big for his britches now wants to be known as CC, sans the periods.

Who cares? The Cubs one-upped the Brewers the next day, trading for A's pitcher Rich Harden, arguably the best pitcher in the American League at the time, even better than Sabathia.

What's nice is that Harden is under the Cubs control through the '09 season while Sabathia has said he's going to test the free-agent market after this season. I hope Brewers fans don't get too caught up in "CC mania." Ah, what the heck -- go ahead. It won't do any good anyway.

The Cubs got rid of a couple of turds in the process -- Matt Murton and Eric Patterson (Corey's brother). They also traded pitcher Sean Gallagher, the key to the trade for the A's. Can't blame them. I think Gallagher's going to be something special within a couple of years.

But if Harden leads the Cubs to the promised land, Gallagher will just be an afterthought when all is said and done. And the Brewers will be lamenting the guy that got away, promising young slugger Matt LaPorta.

Wouldn't want it any other way.

Harden photo courtesy Getty Images

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sister Sue update

Sue had a stent put in her arm today and is expected to go home later in the day. They were going to put a port in her chest, but decided the arm would be a better place for her to get all her medicines.

Not really sure if the cancer has spread, but the last time I talked to her she thought it had. But she soldiers on, with hubby Sammy right there at her side.

Like I said before, if she would just eat and gain some weight, I think a lot of her problems would go away, at least for awhile. We've tried to get her to drink Ensure, but she says she just can't stand the smell.

I've had Ensure, and yes, it does get old after awhile, but boy it beats the alternative.

More later as I know it ...

Monday, July 7, 2008

Why men shouldn't own action figures

From Todd, a good friend of mine back in Arkansas. Toooo funny!

See? I told you ...

Reality TV returns ...

... I know. It never went away. But some of my favorites are about to be back, or will be shortly.

*Big Brother returns next Sunday, July 13.
*My all-time favorite, The Amazing Race, is back on Sept. 28 with its 13th edition.
*And Survivor kicks off the fall TV season on Sept. 22 with its latest edition in Gabon, Africa.

Can't wait for The Amazing Race especially, but September is still a ways away. Big Brother will do just fine holding down the fort until then...

But seriously ...

All-Star Cubbies

It's been a great season so far for my first-place Cubs, who took two out of three over the weekend from the Cardinals (it would have been a sweep but for a rare Kerry Wood meltdown, but I digress).

Seven Cubs -- Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Wood -- were named to the All-Star team Sunday, the most in the NL and the most-ever for the Cubs. That doesn't include manager Lou Piniella, who was named one of the coaches for the final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

And the All-Star Game has a lot of added meaning now since the winner of the game gets home-field advantage in the World Series. If ever there was a season when that was important it's this one, with the Cubs having the best home record in the NL. Time to break the AL's 10-game win streak (not counting the tie in Milwaukee in 2002.

The Cubs now lead the Cardinals by 3 1/2 games. But the team I think they should worry about even more is the Milwaukee Brewers, who today traded for C.C. Sabathia of the Cleveland Indians, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. The Brewers are only 3 1/2 behind, too. The Cubs and Brewers end July with a four-game series in Milwaukee that could go a long way toward deciding the NL Central.

Catch up on all the Cubs news with the widget at right...

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Josh and I went to Baltimore to celebrate Independence Day (Ed had to work) and had a great time. Josh had never been to Baltimore, a city Ed and considered moving to at one time. But the commute to the D.C. area was just too much so we settled in Lorton.

Anyway, we went up early and walked around the Inner Harbor for a while before settling in at the ESPNZone for a couple of beers. We then headed down toward the ballpark and had a couple of beers outside Pickles Pub. The whole area around Oriole Park is perfect for just meandering and having a good time.

Then it was time to head into the ballpark. We entered through Eutaw Street. The way Eutaw Street -- and the entire park for that matter -- is laid out you don't even have sit in your seat to have a good time. You can walk around and not miss any action.

It was Josh's second visit to a major league ballpark, with Nationals Park his first. One of these days we'll have to get him to Chicago to see THE BEST park in the world, Wrigley Field.

I've been to many ballparks around the majors, but to me, after Wrigley Field, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the second-best place to watch a game in all of baseball. It had been a couple of years since I had been back. Gonna have to change that -- especially if the Nationals keep playing as badly as they have.

Fickle fans? Nah. The Cubs are still No. 1. But I could be swayed to change my No. 2 ...

Sister Sue update

I haven't posted about Sue in quite some time. But last night she went back into the hospital in Arkansas. She's really been having a problem with nausea, and when you are trying to add weight to a 70-75 pound frame, nausea's not a good thing.

Hopefully they can get this under control and her hospital stay will be short and sweet. Her husband Sammy is a mess right now, understandably so. Don't know how Sue would have gotten through any of this if he hadn't been by her side. "Soul mates" is what they always call each other.

In any case, this is probably not a good sign. More to come as I know it...

UPDATE: Sue got some sleep over night, but is in a very agitated state. Doctors are going to put a port in her chest so she won't have to take a bunch of pills, and they also inserted a catheter after she fell and injured a hip last night. Luckily she wasn't hurt badly in the fall. But at this point, the less movement the better.

And I'm glad they are putting a port in. All those pills on an empty stomach may have been one pretty good reason why she was fighting so much nausea. At least in theory.

Hopefully we'll have another update later today ...

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

You can never be too prepared ...

Wanted

Went and saw the Angelina Jolie/Morgan Freeman movie Wanted yesterday. And of the three movies I've seen this summer -- Ironman and Indiana Jones being the other two -- Wanted is by far the best of the bunch.

Looking for lots of action and great special effects? Like movies about assassins? Like lots of blood? Then this is the movie for you. Have a gander at the trailer below.

George Carlin 1937-2008, Tim Russert 1950-2008

It's a little late, but I have to say goodbye to comedian George Carlin, who died of heart failure last week. He'll always be remembered for his "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," but I'll remember him for his role as the mystical Rufus in the Bill & Ted movies.

He also was the very first host of Saturday Night Live. NBC replayed that show recently to honor Carlin.

I would also be remiss if I didn't say goodbye to Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert, who died in his NBC office of a massive heart attack shortly before Carlin. He had a way of making politics easier for the every man to understand. Coverage of this fall's Presidential election between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain just won't be the same.

RIP guys. Like all the others, you'll be missed.

I heart Mark DeRosa

Finally, a victory.

I was pretty depressed/pissed off after the Cubs looked so bad over the weekend in losing three in a row to the White Sux. At least now they can put that fiasco behind.

I guess all it took was a trip to San Francisco, where Mark DeRosa hit two homers, one a grand slam, and had six RBI in a 9-2 victory last night. Ted Lilly was superb too, pitching into the ninth inning (though he did strike out five times during the game). It broke a four-game losing streak, the team's longest in a year. Thank God. And they did it without Aramis Ramirez, who had to go home to the Dominican Republic to tend to family matters. He won't be back until Thursday.

By then, Reed Johnson will be back, and on Friday Carlos Zambrano is back to pitch against the somehow-we're-still-in-second-place Cardinals. And Alfonso Soriano will be back before the All-Star break.

But back to DeRosa. He's been a favorite of mine since the Cubs signed him before last season. He plays anywhere you ask him, bats anywhere you ask him, and never complains. I think he gets it, and knows just how lucky he is. If only every baseball player --every athlete (are you listening, guys like Chad Johnson and Barry Bonds?) -- played like DeRosa, sports would be much more enjoyable.

I'll get off my soapbox now. Let's hope Jason Marquis can keep the momemtum going tonight.

DeRosa photo courtesy AP