Phil Mushnick of the Post loves to get on Mike Francesa's case about making bold, no doubt about it predictions that almost inevitably go south. He usually calls Francesa's losing touts The Land of the Lost Tapes, because WFAN claims not to have copies of the shows where Francesa gets things wrong.
As a writer, I don't have that luxury. If I write it, and I get it wrong, the evidence is right there on the screen. I can't run, can't hide. I try to be careful about it, but sometimes I just can't help it.
I worked for OTB from 1996 till 1999. The three times I worked the triple Crown races, the horses who won the Kentucky Derby went on to win the Preakness. All three times they lost the Belmont. In fact, it would happen 6 more times after that. And overall since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, it would have happened 13 times. 13 horses won the first two legs, none had won the Belmont. And I honestly thought it would never happen.
I figured it was something in the ways the horses were trained, or even in the way they were bred, but for 36 years, it didn't happen. Watching American Pharaoh finally break the curse, I felt like I was in bizzaro world. But as much as it pained me to be wrong, I have to admit, I was sure glad I got to see it.
June 9-Mets about to get no-hit. What a joke they are.
And then it happened again in September. Just reminded me of something else I predicted would never happen. (Thank you Johann Santana)
July 4- Took Timmy to the park this morning and blasted this song. I mean how could I not? Happy 4th everybody! Be safe.
The song in question was Saturday in the Park by Chicago.What with the 4th of July falling on a Saturday this year. Ironically the day before, I had taken Timmy to a different park, and there was indeed a man selling ice cream. (He wasn't singing anything, much less an Italian song.
July 5- WTG USA!!!!! The World Cup belongs to us!!!!
A few days later I was watching the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sports Awards and a week later watching some of the ESPY's, and all I could think of was "How cool would it be to be Abby Wambach right about now." She just looked like she was having the time of her life, enjoying every minute of being an American hero. She deserved all the fun, hell, the whole team did. They did us proud, all of them. I know that I take sports too seriously, I know in the long run, it doesn't make a difference. We still have to get up and go to work and raise our families regardless. Still, this made us feel good to be Americans. Every once in a while, its nice when sports can do that for us.
July 8- Well, I guess this means no more Sam and Cat reruns for Timmy. Another brainless Hollywood twit.
And after the US Women's soccer team made us proud to be Americans, there was Ariana Grande bringing us back to earth. A surveillance camera caught the squeaky voiced skankasourous saying she hates America and licking a tray of donuts, at a Wolfee Donut shop in California. Grande later apologized saying that while she loved her county (sic) she was just disgusted by our high childhood obesity rate. (which I have to admit, she has a point about) Still, she was rude to the staff at Wolfee, and disgusting for licking the donuts. I mean based on some of the outfits she wears, and some of the lyrics to her songs, (for example Bang Bang) who knows where that tongue has been?
July 29- WTF?
This was regarding the trade that wasn't. I shut the TV off believing that Wilmer Flores and Zack Wheeler were en-route to Milwaukee for OF Carlos Gomez. Checking my phone one more time before I went to bed, I saw that Mets GM Sandy Alderson was saying no deal. wha, WHA, WHAT?
Apparently the Mets saw something in Gomez medical records that scared them off. I believe they saw something in his contract that scared them off, namely lots of extra zeros at the end. So the deal was called off, I was banging my head against the wall, and two days later, they made a better deal for Yoenis Cespedes that saved their season and got them to the playoffs.
It also did my heart good to see Wilmer Flores so sad about leaving the Mets. It wasn't that long ago guys were dying to get out of Flushing, it was nice to see someone who actually wanted to stay.
August 7- If Donald Trump is going to get this wound up over Megyn Kelly, how the hell is going to handle people like George Stephanopolis, Candy Crowley and the schmucks at NBC News?
Donald Trump, love him or hate him, he made what is usually a TV wasteland into must-see TV, I don't know about you, but I have never tuned into a Presidential debate more than a year before the election. Yet there I was, tuned in to Fox News on August 6th watching the fireworks. But while I felt he was grasping at issues that I find important, much of the good was drowned out by the bad. Securing our borders? Good. Securing our borders by insulting Mexicans? Bad. Calling for better care for our veterans? Good. Insulting John McCain's time as a POW bad. Wanting to take the fight to ISIS? Good. Banning Muslims from entering the US, regardless of whether or not they have ties to terrorism? Bad.
But what really annoys me about Trump is that he feels the need to get into pissing matches with every dope who says something negative about him. It never fails. If I were interviewsing him, I'd as him this question "Mr. Trump, you have a trophy wife who is half your age, 5 kids, none of whom think you're an a$$hole, and a couple of billion dollars in the bank. Why do you get bent out of shape when someone not nearly as successful as you gives you a hard time?" And as a follow up, if you can't handle Megyn Kelly, or for that matter, Jeb Bush, how the hell are you going to handle Vladimir Putin or Bashar Assad?
August 22- WTG Daily News! Since you decided to splash these bare-boobed bimbos all over your front page every day this week, every horndog/tourist in Times Square was lining up 6 deep to get their pictures taken with them. Making my already treacherous commute through the crossroads of the world even more so
The Daily News made it their mission to get rid of the so-called desnudas prowling Times Square looking for tips in exchange for pictures. When I would see them on Saturday afternoons, I didn't notice too many people looking to have their pictures taken with them. But after a week in which the News put them on their cover at least 4 times, they were all lined up to get their pics taken. You know how much you want something when someone tells you they can't have it right? Well that's what happened here.
August 30- Happy Birthday to our amazing nephew. Hope you have a great day! Lucky 7-Kris Eller
Lucky 7. Holy crap, where did that time go. 7 years of fatherhood.
September 1- I just want to go on record as saying that I think that it is ridiculous that kids have to go back to school before Labor Day. I can tell by some of the pics I've seen on FB today, that not everyone shares that view.
The first time I had to go to school before Labor day was August 28, 1991, my first day of college. Timmy started back on Tuesday September 1. Look, I get one lousy week of during the summer, if I'm lucky. And I know that parents that have to stay home with their kids during the summer can be a royal pain. But shoot, I still get depressed when the summer ends. The Tuesday after Labor Day is one of the most depressing days of the year for me. Ending summer one week early was just uncalled for as far as I'm concerned. Long live summer!
September 12-Cespedes is UNBELIEVABLE!
A few days after I wrote this, he got plunked by a pitcher on the Marlins. From there on in, he was below average. And now he wants 20 million a year, and nobody has signed him yet.
September 12-Trying to start up a new blog. Let me know what you think, and I'll try to make it weekly.
I brought Weekly Mail back. The feedback has been very positive. Thanks so much for all your support. You guys make this fun.
September 26- I've been through The Beltran Strikeout, tweo collapses,Jerry Manuel, Jason Bay, and a Ponzi Scheme. I'm gonna enjoy this moment! (A FB meme with Grandpa Simpson)
They could have put about 20 more things here, (Luis Castillo comes to mind) but that list was enough. And I promised that whatever happened from here was gravy.
September 27-"For this is not the end, for you and I my friend. Yet we don't know what fate has in store. For you, there'll always be an open door. And we'll hold this day in our hearts, for evermore."
The first time I had to go to school before Labor day was August 28, 1991, my first day of college. Timmy started back on Tuesday September 1. Look, I get one lousy week of during the summer, if I'm lucky. And I know that parents that have to stay home with their kids during the summer can be a royal pain. But shoot, I still get depressed when the summer ends. The Tuesday after Labor Day is one of the most depressing days of the year for me. Ending summer one week early was just uncalled for as far as I'm concerned. Long live summer!
September 12-Cespedes is UNBELIEVABLE!
A few days after I wrote this, he got plunked by a pitcher on the Marlins. From there on in, he was below average. And now he wants 20 million a year, and nobody has signed him yet.
September 12-Trying to start up a new blog. Let me know what you think, and I'll try to make it weekly.
I brought Weekly Mail back. The feedback has been very positive. Thanks so much for all your support. You guys make this fun.
September 26- I've been through The Beltran Strikeout, tweo collapses,Jerry Manuel, Jason Bay, and a Ponzi Scheme. I'm gonna enjoy this moment! (A FB meme with Grandpa Simpson)
They could have put about 20 more things here, (Luis Castillo comes to mind) but that list was enough. And I promised that whatever happened from here was gravy.
September 27-"For this is not the end, for you and I my friend. Yet we don't know what fate has in store. For you, there'll always be an open door. And we'll hold this day in our hearts, for evermore."
This is from Erin's Pride's version of the Irish Blessing. A song Pete always played on Donovan's jukebox.
Until we meet again my dear friend Pete , may God hold you in the hallow of His hand.
Weekly Mail was made up of two sections, the first section was the weekend recap, usually involving crazy nights out, and then the second part was my spouting off about sports, politics, gossip, what have you. As much as I miss the nights of partying in the city, or Yonkers, the nights I really miss were the easy ones in Donovan's hanging out with Pete McGuinness. Pete was old enough to be my father, but treated me as if I was a contemporary. Never had a bad word to say about anybody. He was my Knights of Columbus sponsor, and just an all around good man. I had just seen him a couple of months before at my niece's communion, and I'm glad he got to meet Timmy. Another friend whose passing knocked me for a loop.
October 15-ON TO THE NLCS!!!!!!!
Most of my posts in early October dealt with either Chase Utley or Justin Turner, the former a dirtbag whose dirty slide injured our SS Reuben Tejada, the latter, an ugly little troll who was awful when he played for the Mets, but turned into Barry Bonds when he played against them. But it was all for naught as the Mets sent the Dodgers packing in a 5 game nail biter. And I promised that anything that happened from here was gravy.
October 20 I'm not a Mets fan but I have to say this guy is entertaining. Thanks Bill Gallagher for sharing.-(Padraigin Aine Fitzsimmons.)
The guy that Patti-Ann is referring to is Jim Breuer, who was a cast member when SNL was unwatchable. My cousin in law Rian O'Shea, started posting his videos after Met games during the season which were hysterical, and by the time the playoffs started, it was required watching. I wouldn't turn in till he posted his video, which led me to create the hashtag, No Sleep Till Breuer (#seewhatididthere?)
October 21-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR 2015 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION NEW YORK METS! !!!!!
To tell you how awesome Breuer's videos were, for this one, the one he recorded after the Mets beat the Cubs to advance to the World Series, he and his friends sprayed his kitchen with champagne! They had goggles and the plastic wrap around the appliances and everything. What a night. And I promised that anything that happened from here was gravy.
October 27- They may win this game, they may lose this game. The fact that that they didn't lose this game in the 12th inning actually makes me feel better. That flashback to 2000, I didn't need.
Well it went 14 innings and they lost. So what, it's one game.
October 28- Royals 7 Mets 1. Plus the reason I wasn't home for the first pitch on what was just an overall crappy day.
Forget for a minute the fact that the Mets got their a$$es handed to them this night by a pitcher who stunk, the worst part of this night was spending the first part of it at a CCD Meeting, being lectured on how to act in church, a speech I hadn't gotten since the guy I was sitting next to's mom was my teacher. (Anyone who gets this trivia question right gets a free one year subscription) 29 years earlier I missed the beginning of Game 3 of the World Series because I was making confirmation. At least they won THAT night.
October 30- Hey Bill Gallagher! You are quiet tonight. Where the f--k are you?-Keri D'Angelo
Where the f--k was I? I was at Timmy's Halloween dance. Sure I wanted to be there for first pitch, but this was more important. And as it ended up being a great night anyway, I got to hang out with some awesome people (espcially Danny and Sue) and the Mets won. And whatever happend from here was gravy. Except if they don't get the WS back to Kansas City,then I might be a bit PO'ed.
October 31-Royals 5 Mets 3. Recap and a desperate plea to the Mets for Sunday night.
And that plea was very simple. Don't f-cking lose.
November 1 Ken Dashow dedicated this song to Matt Harvey this morning. That goes double for me and the rest of us Mets fans.
Don't Let me Down-The Beatles.
November 2- Not for nothing, but I asked just for one thing, and one thing only. And you blew it. Thanks for nothing.
And the insults started pouring in. And you all know who you are. At least I never said I wouldn't blow my stack if they lost, right?
November 7-Is it just me, or does Dr. Ben Carson look like Venus Flytrap from "WKRP In Cincinnati" in this picture with Jesus? And who wouldn't want "Trap" in the Oval Office?
Here's a link to the pic. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2015/nov/07/ben-carson-house-homage-to-himself-in-pictures#img-4
And to really enhance the experience, here is Jesus is Just Alright by the Doobie Brothers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEvy8mROAj0
November 11- Happy Veterans Day to all who have and are still serving our country. Especially Timmy's Pop and Grandpa.
Amen.
November 12- So here's how I figure the Jets season will go, they may end up with a halfway decent record, but they are going to lose ALL the games I desperately want them to win... Like to the Patriots, and the Bills and to really make me miserable , the Giants on December 6.
I could pull a Francesa and just delete everything I post, and hack into your e-mails and delete them too. I could say it was my evil alter ego Barry O'Hallaran. Or I could just suck it up and admit I have no idea what I'm talking about.
November 26 To Those Working This Thanksgiving We Thank You-Especially my amazing wife. We love you and miss you, but most of all we thank you!!!
Can't thank you enough..
December 5 -What a fantastic night out with my favorite people. Lifetime friends. I am blessed. A lot of great laughs and memories. Thank you so much for an awesome night.-Padraigin Aine Fitzsimmons
Of course we got home around the same time we used to just be gettin started, but such is life in your 40's.
December 12-I'm so glad she kept her word on this. WTG Ronda!
Ronda Rousey, the formerly unbeatable UFC Middleweight champ, had promised Marine Lance Cpl Jarrod Haschert, that she would accompany him to a Marine Corp Ball, if he promised to behave as a gentleman and get a couple of dates for her friends.
The issue arose when Rousey was beaten soundly by Holly Holm in a stunning upset. Apparently, she was so badly hurt, her face was all messed up. In other words, she had every excuse in the book to blow off Lance Cpl Haschert.
But she didn't. She showed her true class and true patriotism by coming out and supporting our troops. She even went so far as to admit that being at the ball cheered her up from the stunning defeat. I'm hoping she comes back and knocks this Holly Holm person into the middle of next month and gets her title back.
December 13-These Santa Con drunks have to be sweating their Jingle Bells off!
I wrote that while I was in Penn Station on another unseasonably warm December night/morning, watching a bunch of drunkards dressed in heavy Santa outfits staggering for the LIRR. I've done my share of stupid stuff in the name of boozing, but I never did that.
December 21 Celebrating Mom's retirement.
Yep. Mom's jersey was raised to the rafters at PS 12 in Queens, who was nice enough to throw her a party at Vetro in Howard Beach. The speech given by mom's friend Fran was incredible. I already knew my mother was amazing, to hear her colleagues say it was very special.
December 24- Christmas Eve 2015 in Oceanside. I had to capture the clock at the Christopher's for posterity's sake. Who is going to believe it was 66 degrees on December 24?
The clock outside the Oceanside Christopher's Credit Union read 66 degrees. At 5:15 PM. On Christmas Eve, I felt like we were having a destination Christmas. To the Bahamas.
December 24. I've never seen Mr. Magoo's version of a Christmas Carol before. Good Lord this is sad!!!
I don't know what got into me, but this was on TV on Christmas Eve and this scene just got to me. Not sure if it was everything I had been through, or what, but I almost had to turn it off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qOFB4IXA8
December 30-I can't believe it's been 10 years. It's gone by quick, but when you think of all that has been packed into those 10 years, it amazing it hasn't been longer. I know one thing, there isn't anybody I'd rather have gone through it all with than this amazing lady. 10 years ago tonight, we walked down the aisle. Happy Anniversary Tara. And thank you for being so incredibly awesome!
Oh what a night.
Late December in 2005,
didn't think it happen while I was alive.
As I remember,What a night.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Have a Great Year.
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