This is one of those days that the sports fan inside of me smiles the smile of a thousand happy clowns. With the exception of Opening Day in baseball, which ranks right up there with my birthday, no other day really compares with this one for me. America's pastime is in full swing (nice win by the Braves last night), NHL playoff intensity continues to build, and the real NBA season starts. I'm sure that my remote control batteries will need to be replaced sooner than later. For those of you who don't really follow hockey but are still sports fans may I suggest that you pick out one or two teams and follow them throughout the playoffs. I usually do that w/ the Red Wings but thanks to some strange karma that is hovering over Anaheim (damn that Crystal Cathedral) the defending champs were booted rather abruptly in the first round. I'm scrambling to find another team now...perhaps Toronto? Or by just writing that have I violated the Patriot Act? Let me know if you have any suggestions. But anyway, playoff hockey is amazing. I remember a few years ago staying up past midnight to watch a four overtime game (can't remember the teams). And that's midnight Pacific Time and this was a game being played on the East coast (think 3 a.m.), yet there were few empty seats in the arena by the time the winning goal was scored.
The NBA playoffs start today. I'm not a huge basketball fan, but the last few years I've watched a lot of the Lakers thanks to my proximity to L.A. and the fact that all of their home games are on our Fox Sports affiliate. I even attended a game at the Staples Center last year ($80 for nose bleeds with a view). But I wouldn't exactly call myself a rabid Laker fan, so I don't think I could even be considered a bandwagoner, which in regard to a fan of any L.A. team is redundant. It's just that growing up I never followed the NBA closely. My dad loved the Celtics and for some reason I started liking the 76ers. Must be some kinda Oedipal thing because my dad is the biggest Alabama fan and I like Auburn which in the state of Alabama is like having a Jew and Palestinian living in the same house. To be honest, I actually hated the Lakers, disliked all L.A. teams, especially the Dodgers, and thought Magic Johnson to be nothing short of the antichrist of basketball (no way he was better than Dr. J). Then I moved out here, bought a Dodgers cap (still don’t really like them, but the cap was a clearance $5 at one of the last home games at Dodger stadium in 2000), and started following the Lakers. Sorry Dad!
That leaves baseball…. In order to prevent this post from becoming a novella, I’ll wait for another day to give you the lowdown on my love of this sport. Believe me, my cup runneth over.
Enrichment
Speaking of baseball, a good friend of mine has an excellent page called Ducksnorts (if you don’t know what a ducksnort is, you’ll find out there). On the site, Geoff, a contributor to another great site Baseball Primer, maintains a blog in which he gives his take on baseball in general and the Padres in particular. He likes to mix in some other gems as well. Today’s post on hearing someone blaring Lobo’s “I’d Love You to Want Me” is hilarious, though after personally witnessing a kid spewing Foreigner from his souped-up Honda, nothing surprises me. Anyway, check out Ducksnorts and send out cosmic well wishes to a Padres fan.
As long as I’m on the topic of blogs, one of my daily reads is largehearted boy. Despite the fact that David is an admitted Phillies fan, he keeps a great blog on the indie music scene. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been clued in to an upcoming release or have been directed to a great interview or radio stream from his site. I think it’s safe to say that he’s somewhat of a Guided By Voices aficionado. For proof, check out his 24-7 radio stream, all GBV, all the time.
Your Help Is Needed
When you get a chance, please sign this petition. Trust me, it will make our world a better place. Just think of it as an Easter present to the world. If it works, I have a few suggestions for future efforts.
