Ex-Marine Teaches Pickpocket a Lesson
Ex-Marine, 72, Fights Off Would-Be Pickpocket With Six or Seven Blows in Michigan
The Associated Press
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Bill Barnes says he was scratching off a losing $2 lottery ticket inside a gas station when he felt a hand slip into his front-left pants pocket, where he had $300 in cash.
He immediately grabbed the person's wrist with his left hand and started throwing punches with his right, landing six or seven blows before a store manager intervened.
"I guess he thought I was an easy mark," Barnes, 72, told The Grand Rapids Press for a story Tuesday.
He's anything but an easy mark: Barnes served in the Marines, was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and retired after 20 years as an iron worker.
Jesse Daniel Rae, the 27-year-old Newaygo County man accused of trying to pick Barnes' pocket, was arraigned Monday in Rockford District Court on one count of unarmed robbery, a 15-year felony.
Barnes said he had just withdrawn the money from a bank machine and put it in the pocket of his shorts before driving to the Marathon service station and Next Door Food Store in Comstock Park, a Grand Rapids suburb.
He remembers noticing a patron acting suspiciously, asking the price of different brands of cigarettes and other items. While turned away, Barnes felt the hand in his pocket, so he took action.
"I guess I acted on instinct," he said.
Kent County sheriff's deputies said the store manager quickly came around the counter. The three of them struggled through the front door, where two witnesses said the manager slammed Rae to the ground and held him there.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
More News Worthy Events
Here are some names of people who deserve to be household names, they are soldiers that have died in the past week fighting for your freedom and those of the Iraqi people.....too bad they didn't get a millisecond of the coverage that Paris got this week....as a nation we should be ashamed of ourselves.
U.S. soldier killed in Baghdad
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier was killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
Four other soldiers were wounded in the attack, it said.
To date, 3,569 American troops have died in the Iraq war. (Posted 4:09 p.m.)
The latest deaths reported by the military:
• Two soldiers were killed Monday during combat in Baghdad.
___
The latest identifications reported by the military:
• Army Spc. Joseph P. Kenny, 20, Veneta, Ore.; died Saturday in Mosul in a non-combat incident; assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
• Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, Dibble, Okla.; killed Thursday in Baghdad when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Five soldiers were killed Thursday by an explosive in Baghdad. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
Killed were Army Sgt. Alphonso J. Montenegro II, 22, Far Rockaway, N.Y.; Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, Oklahoma City; Army Pfc. Daniel J. Agami, 25, Coconut Creek, Fla.; Army Pfc. Anthony D. Hebert, 19, Lake City, Minn.; and Army Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, Binger, Okla.
• Four soldiers were killed Wednesday in Baghdad when their vehicle struck an explosive. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Killed were Army Maj. Sid W. Brookshire, 36, Missouri; Army Staff Sgt. Darren P. Hubbell, 38, Tifton, Ga.; Army Spc. Joe G. Charfauros Jr., 33, Rota, Mariana Islands; and Army Pfc. David J. Bentz III, 20, Newfield, N.J.
U.S. soldier killed in Baghdad
BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier was killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
Four other soldiers were wounded in the attack, it said.
To date, 3,569 American troops have died in the Iraq war. (Posted 4:09 p.m.)
The latest deaths reported by the military:
• Two soldiers were killed Monday during combat in Baghdad.
___
The latest identifications reported by the military:
• Army Spc. Joseph P. Kenny, 20, Veneta, Ore.; died Saturday in Mosul in a non-combat incident; assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
• Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, Dibble, Okla.; killed Thursday in Baghdad when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Five soldiers were killed Thursday by an explosive in Baghdad. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
Killed were Army Sgt. Alphonso J. Montenegro II, 22, Far Rockaway, N.Y.; Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, Oklahoma City; Army Pfc. Daniel J. Agami, 25, Coconut Creek, Fla.; Army Pfc. Anthony D. Hebert, 19, Lake City, Minn.; and Army Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, Binger, Okla.
• Four soldiers were killed Wednesday in Baghdad when their vehicle struck an explosive. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Killed were Army Maj. Sid W. Brookshire, 36, Missouri; Army Staff Sgt. Darren P. Hubbell, 38, Tifton, Ga.; Army Spc. Joe G. Charfauros Jr., 33, Rota, Mariana Islands; and Army Pfc. David J. Bentz III, 20, Newfield, N.J.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
You can have Paris
Thank God Paris has been released for jail, maybe now this whole media circus will end. No I have not against Paris Hilton personally,not at all, but I am sick of the over the top coverage of a woman who is know for nothing other than being well known and has become the latest example (only behind that whole Anna Nicole Smith bullshit) of how the news media is spiralling downward into the sewer in this country. Shit they even made Anderson Cooper cover her tonight, although he did seem quite annoyed with the whole thing, good boy Andy.
Personally I am discusted with the news networks, MSNBC follows her every move, while at the same time complaining about the amount of attention given to her by the media. Kinda an oxymoron statement Hugh? And CNN and Fox are no better.
Now I am having to suffer through all the exclusive very special interviews with whom ever was the highest bidder. Frankly, I've had enough and I am beginning to think compared to Paris, Lindsay Lohan has her shit together .So no, in my eyes Paris is not news worthy and my fingers are getting sore trying to find a new station that is not covering this completely unnewsworth event.
Personally I am discusted with the news networks, MSNBC follows her every move, while at the same time complaining about the amount of attention given to her by the media. Kinda an oxymoron statement Hugh? And CNN and Fox are no better.
Now I am having to suffer through all the exclusive very special interviews with whom ever was the highest bidder. Frankly, I've had enough and I am beginning to think compared to Paris, Lindsay Lohan has her shit together .So no, in my eyes Paris is not news worthy and my fingers are getting sore trying to find a new station that is not covering this completely unnewsworth event.
Question of the Day
Purely hypothetically speaking, Assuming you have attended a party or gathering and that you consumed maybe just a little to much of the juice:
Would You Rather
1. Not remember anything that happened after you left the bar / party?
2. Remember everything and regret every second of it?
And you must explain your response!
Would You Rather
1. Not remember anything that happened after you left the bar / party?
2. Remember everything and regret every second of it?
And you must explain your response!
A Disturbing Occurance
Monday morning I decided to take a day trip up to an outlet mall in O.C. Unfortuantely this is like an hour and half drive from my house, that is if there is no construction. But it's summer so of course there is construction, and lots of it. Anyway after about an hour of driving I decide that well I don't think I can make it to the Mall before I need to pee. What can I say I have a bladder the size of a walnut.
I'm pretty much out in the middle of fucking nowhere, and honestly don't think I can make it to the next exit, so I decide to get off at a rest stop. Now normally I wouldn't consider it, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Surprisingly the rest stop is quiet and more importantly clean, with soap, running water and towels thank god.
While I'm in the restroom doing my duty, I hear a voice. Kinda took me by surprise since I thought I was alone. Anyway at first I thought it was a woman talking on her cell phone since I didn't hear any responses to what she was saying.
But this one sided conversation quickly took a bizarre turn. As I am sitting there I hear her praying, I think ok she's praying, kinda a weird place to get one with your maker but to each his own.
For some reason I just sat there and listened, I don't know what compelled me to, but it was like I was intrigued by her private conversation, I felt a slight twinge of guilt for eavesdropping but hell this was a public restroom after all, what was I supposed to do plug my ears and try to wipe at the same time?
So I'm sitting there listening and the conversation just begins to become more and more bizarre....."you gotta stick with me Jesus, you hear, I need you, my babies are good, they are good kids, I am not going to listen to you, my babies are good, I am not going to kill my kids, I won't listen to you. My babies are good."
My heart was in my throat the minute I heard "I'm not going to kill my kids". At that point I was sort of in this weird limbo, part of me wanted to get the hell out of there, and part of me was intent on seeing if this woman was really alone.
I quickly pulled my skirt up, exited the stall and looked under the stall doors. There she was about six stalls down in the handicapped stall. I could tell she was alone, I didn’t see any other feet under the stall, and from what I could tell she was just standing up against the wall. All the while she keeps up her montra, “My babies are good, I won’t listen to you”
I quickly and quietly washed my hands and dried them, praying myself she didn’t come out of the stall before I exited. All the time I am thinking what the HELL, I can’t believe what I just heard, and why does this crazy shit always happen to me? I went to my car and waited, waited for the delusional woman to emerge from the restroom hoping she parked on the same side I did. Within a few minutes she comes out. I knew it was her I recognized her black and white canvas sneakers.
I was half expecting this monster to appear, but she was ironically normal looking. Well groomed and not someone whom I’d suspect would vocalize such insane statements. But that’s the thing about mental illness, it can strike even the most normal looking of person, Drew is a perfect example of this.
I watched her get in the passenger side of the car she was riding in, and decided I would not be able to live with myself unless I “did” something. I pulled out and started following her onto the expressway, dialed 911 and reported what I had heard and described her vehicle and plate number.
I felt kind of weird about calling and was having a hard time explaining what happened, the 911 operator sort started to blow me off, until she heard the urgency in my voice. Basically I told her that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I read in the papers in the near future that this woman actually carried out this act upon her children, and secondly I would be the first to call the media to explain my run in with her in a public highway restroom and explain how my concerns were blownoff by a certain 911 Operator. She assured me she’d dispatch an officer to the area, but couldn’t guarantee anything would or could be done. Fair enough was my response and I hung up.
I’ve told a few people about the incident, with mixed opinions being offered. Some say I was just being nosey, that the woman just was rambling incoherently and it meant nothing. Others have said I did the right thing, better to be safe than sorry. I don’t know I just think that if I hadn’t done anything that I would always wonder, this way I know I did what I could within my miniscule power. But I guess I will never really know.
I'm pretty much out in the middle of fucking nowhere, and honestly don't think I can make it to the next exit, so I decide to get off at a rest stop. Now normally I wouldn't consider it, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Surprisingly the rest stop is quiet and more importantly clean, with soap, running water and towels thank god.
While I'm in the restroom doing my duty, I hear a voice. Kinda took me by surprise since I thought I was alone. Anyway at first I thought it was a woman talking on her cell phone since I didn't hear any responses to what she was saying.
But this one sided conversation quickly took a bizarre turn. As I am sitting there I hear her praying, I think ok she's praying, kinda a weird place to get one with your maker but to each his own.
For some reason I just sat there and listened, I don't know what compelled me to, but it was like I was intrigued by her private conversation, I felt a slight twinge of guilt for eavesdropping but hell this was a public restroom after all, what was I supposed to do plug my ears and try to wipe at the same time?
So I'm sitting there listening and the conversation just begins to become more and more bizarre....."you gotta stick with me Jesus, you hear, I need you, my babies are good, they are good kids, I am not going to listen to you, my babies are good, I am not going to kill my kids, I won't listen to you. My babies are good."
My heart was in my throat the minute I heard "I'm not going to kill my kids". At that point I was sort of in this weird limbo, part of me wanted to get the hell out of there, and part of me was intent on seeing if this woman was really alone.
I quickly pulled my skirt up, exited the stall and looked under the stall doors. There she was about six stalls down in the handicapped stall. I could tell she was alone, I didn’t see any other feet under the stall, and from what I could tell she was just standing up against the wall. All the while she keeps up her montra, “My babies are good, I won’t listen to you”
I quickly and quietly washed my hands and dried them, praying myself she didn’t come out of the stall before I exited. All the time I am thinking what the HELL, I can’t believe what I just heard, and why does this crazy shit always happen to me? I went to my car and waited, waited for the delusional woman to emerge from the restroom hoping she parked on the same side I did. Within a few minutes she comes out. I knew it was her I recognized her black and white canvas sneakers.
I was half expecting this monster to appear, but she was ironically normal looking. Well groomed and not someone whom I’d suspect would vocalize such insane statements. But that’s the thing about mental illness, it can strike even the most normal looking of person, Drew is a perfect example of this.
I watched her get in the passenger side of the car she was riding in, and decided I would not be able to live with myself unless I “did” something. I pulled out and started following her onto the expressway, dialed 911 and reported what I had heard and described her vehicle and plate number.
I felt kind of weird about calling and was having a hard time explaining what happened, the 911 operator sort started to blow me off, until she heard the urgency in my voice. Basically I told her that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I read in the papers in the near future that this woman actually carried out this act upon her children, and secondly I would be the first to call the media to explain my run in with her in a public highway restroom and explain how my concerns were blownoff by a certain 911 Operator. She assured me she’d dispatch an officer to the area, but couldn’t guarantee anything would or could be done. Fair enough was my response and I hung up.
I’ve told a few people about the incident, with mixed opinions being offered. Some say I was just being nosey, that the woman just was rambling incoherently and it meant nothing. Others have said I did the right thing, better to be safe than sorry. I don’t know I just think that if I hadn’t done anything that I would always wonder, this way I know I did what I could within my miniscule power. But I guess I will never really know.
Remember This Guy?
Well it's a small world, I actually found this guy on a Sports Forum I just joined, yes I know I am completely nuts! But I can't help myself when it comes to the Tigers.
Hopefully he will be holding another sign this October....but with even a better ending. Now that's some fan devotion! GO Tigers!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Oh we are just up to our ass in terrorists again aren't we John?
So Bruce Willis is reprising his role of John McClain in the newest saga of the Die Hard Series. Have always been a huge Willis fans since his days on Moonlighting when he had a tad bit more hair. I knew then he wasn't long for the small screen, so when the first Die Hard came out I was excited and well pleasantly suprised. Hard to believe it's been 12 years since the last Die Hard episode, and well I am ready for some more John McClain.....Yippie Kay Yay Muther Fuckers!
Oh and my favorite quotes from the Die Hard Series comes from Die Hard with a Vengence, the combination of Willis and Samuel L. Jackson as "Zeus" is priceless.
[McClane hands Zeus a gun]
John McClane: You know how to fire one of these?
Zeus: No.
John McClane: No?
Zeus: Hey, all brothers don't know how to use guns, you racist motherfucker.
Oh and my favorite quotes from the Die Hard Series comes from Die Hard with a Vengence, the combination of Willis and Samuel L. Jackson as "Zeus" is priceless.
[McClane hands Zeus a gun]
John McClane: You know how to fire one of these?
Zeus: No.
John McClane: No?
Zeus: Hey, all brothers don't know how to use guns, you racist motherfucker.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Some Good PR
This story on Maggs appears in the July 2, edition of ESPN The Magazine
Fully healed, Ordonez flourishing for Tigers
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
Updated: June 22, 2007
On consecutive days recently, Jim Leyland peered into the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, turned to his right, in the direction of Magglio Ordonez's locker, and boisterously yelled, "Magglio!!" as if he had seen his right fielder for the first time in years. On the second day this occurred, Carlos Guillen, who sits next to Ordonez, playfully wondered why he did not get the same greeting. Perhaps if Guillen had posted similar numbers as Ordonez (.383-13-67), one of the leading MVP candidates in the American League, Leyland would be compelled to yell for Guillen, too.
Magglio Ordonez leads the majors with a .383 batting average.
"It's the Mags that I know and I remember," Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield said. "I know he's been hurt with his knee. Everybody around the league knows it. But I always knew Mags was an MVP caliber player every year."
Ordonez is healthy now, healthier than he has been in years as a result of a radical and experimental knee surgery not well known in the United States, and not usually performed on baseball players.
To fix an ailing knee that would not heal because blood had stopped circulating to a certain spot on the bone, Ordonez, after the 2004 season with the Chicago White Sox, went to Austria, Vienna to have shock wave therapy performed by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden.
"It was not an easy decision," Ordonez says. "I visited with more than 10 doctors in the United States and none of them could give me a concrete answer about my knee. So I had to make a decision quickly because I was going to be a free agent and I didn't have a job."
The shock waves caused microfractures, which allowed blood to circulate to the injured area of Ordonez's knee. Ordonez's once renowned opposite field power now finally has been restored.
"The difference I saw after playing against him the last couple of years, is when he was coming off of his injuries it seemed he didn't have a lot of power to the opposite field," Sheffield said. "And I think that has to do with your legs being under you. Now that he has his legs, he's able to drive the ball like he wants."
He is again the star he once was, though now with a long tangled mane of curly hair.
"I think he's crazy and I think he needs to cut it," Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel, the White Sox manager from 1998-2003, said of Ordonez's hair. "But he probably feels it's a Sampson type thing right now. If he cut it he might be getting weak. So he won't cut it. As long as he's hitting well, he ain't going to cut it. I can guarantee you that."
Ordonez spent almost two seasons recovering from the knee injury. Though he posted power numbers last season (24 home runs, .477 slugging percentage) that far surpassed the eight home runs he hit in an injury-stricken first season with the Tigers, the right fielder was not altogether healthy. Leyland noticed Ordonez was often in pain or simply could not perform at an elite level.
"One of the things I noticed and felt was that I still wasn't the strong and quick athlete that could compete against anyone," Ordonez said. "I couldn't throw the ball hard with all my strength, couldn't run like I was accustomed to, it was difficult to change directions when I was running. I think it was a matter of being patient."
The surgical procedure that fixed the knee was so radical, several of Ordonez's Tigers teammates didn't even know it existed. Second baseman Placido Polanco, who confused Austria with Australia, yelled from across the room: "Magglio you really went down there to have that surgery? They probably put a kangaroo ligament in your knee."
The surgery scared several teams away from bidding for Ordonez, which allowed the Tigers to aggressively pursue him.
Days prior to a scheduled Ordonez workout for six teams, the Tigers signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal. To protect themselves, the Tigers added a clause in the contract that allowed them to void the deal if Ordonez spent 25 or more days on the disabled list because of the knee injury.
"We knew there was risk, but not a great deal or we wouldn't have made the deal," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "If he made it through the first year, we were confident the injury wouldn't affect him in the long run."
With the signing, Ordonez's eight-year tenure with the White Sox ended. Often overlooked with the White Sox because of Frank Thomas, Ordonez had been one of baseball's most unknown potent hitters. From 1999-2003 Ordonez averaged 32 home runs, 118 RBIs and a .311 batting average for Chicago. He had been a force almost from the first moment he was in big league camp in spring training.
"In spring training, if you were on Field 4, and he was hitting on Field 8, you could hear it," Manuel said. "He was that type of guy. When I first saw him, just the sound [of his bat hitting the ball was different]. I'm a big proponent of that. When a young player makes a different sound with that bat, I took notice."
Though Ordonez had a successful tenure in Chicago, the White Sox did not make a serious effort to re-sign him after the 2004 season.
"We wanted to win a championship and for us to pay Mr. [Scott] Boras' price, we would have had to sacrifice one to two key players to fit in Maggs salary in our overall budget," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.
That 2004 winter was not the first time teams mistakenly had shied away from Ordonez. As a 16 year old, Ordonez was signed to the Houston Astros' Venezuelan academy by famed scout Andres Reiner, who developed such stars as Johan Santana, Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. Yet because Houston had not found a position for him to play, the Astros chose not to sign him to a professional contract. Reiner sent Ordonez to a White Sox scout for a tryout.
"Does he drink? Does he steal?" Reiner remembers the White Sox scout asking after the tryout. "Why isn't he signed?"
Reiner responded, "No, he's the healthiest player we have."
The Tigers can now say the same thing.
Jorge Arangure Jr. is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
Fully healed, Ordonez flourishing for Tigers
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)
Updated: June 22, 2007
On consecutive days recently, Jim Leyland peered into the Detroit Tigers clubhouse, turned to his right, in the direction of Magglio Ordonez's locker, and boisterously yelled, "Magglio!!" as if he had seen his right fielder for the first time in years. On the second day this occurred, Carlos Guillen, who sits next to Ordonez, playfully wondered why he did not get the same greeting. Perhaps if Guillen had posted similar numbers as Ordonez (.383-13-67), one of the leading MVP candidates in the American League, Leyland would be compelled to yell for Guillen, too.
Magglio Ordonez leads the majors with a .383 batting average.
"It's the Mags that I know and I remember," Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield said. "I know he's been hurt with his knee. Everybody around the league knows it. But I always knew Mags was an MVP caliber player every year."
Ordonez is healthy now, healthier than he has been in years as a result of a radical and experimental knee surgery not well known in the United States, and not usually performed on baseball players.
To fix an ailing knee that would not heal because blood had stopped circulating to a certain spot on the bone, Ordonez, after the 2004 season with the Chicago White Sox, went to Austria, Vienna to have shock wave therapy performed by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden.
"It was not an easy decision," Ordonez says. "I visited with more than 10 doctors in the United States and none of them could give me a concrete answer about my knee. So I had to make a decision quickly because I was going to be a free agent and I didn't have a job."
The shock waves caused microfractures, which allowed blood to circulate to the injured area of Ordonez's knee. Ordonez's once renowned opposite field power now finally has been restored.
"The difference I saw after playing against him the last couple of years, is when he was coming off of his injuries it seemed he didn't have a lot of power to the opposite field," Sheffield said. "And I think that has to do with your legs being under you. Now that he has his legs, he's able to drive the ball like he wants."
He is again the star he once was, though now with a long tangled mane of curly hair.
"I think he's crazy and I think he needs to cut it," Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel, the White Sox manager from 1998-2003, said of Ordonez's hair. "But he probably feels it's a Sampson type thing right now. If he cut it he might be getting weak. So he won't cut it. As long as he's hitting well, he ain't going to cut it. I can guarantee you that."
Ordonez spent almost two seasons recovering from the knee injury. Though he posted power numbers last season (24 home runs, .477 slugging percentage) that far surpassed the eight home runs he hit in an injury-stricken first season with the Tigers, the right fielder was not altogether healthy. Leyland noticed Ordonez was often in pain or simply could not perform at an elite level.
"One of the things I noticed and felt was that I still wasn't the strong and quick athlete that could compete against anyone," Ordonez said. "I couldn't throw the ball hard with all my strength, couldn't run like I was accustomed to, it was difficult to change directions when I was running. I think it was a matter of being patient."
The surgical procedure that fixed the knee was so radical, several of Ordonez's Tigers teammates didn't even know it existed. Second baseman Placido Polanco, who confused Austria with Australia, yelled from across the room: "Magglio you really went down there to have that surgery? They probably put a kangaroo ligament in your knee."
The surgery scared several teams away from bidding for Ordonez, which allowed the Tigers to aggressively pursue him.
Days prior to a scheduled Ordonez workout for six teams, the Tigers signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal. To protect themselves, the Tigers added a clause in the contract that allowed them to void the deal if Ordonez spent 25 or more days on the disabled list because of the knee injury.
"We knew there was risk, but not a great deal or we wouldn't have made the deal," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "If he made it through the first year, we were confident the injury wouldn't affect him in the long run."
With the signing, Ordonez's eight-year tenure with the White Sox ended. Often overlooked with the White Sox because of Frank Thomas, Ordonez had been one of baseball's most unknown potent hitters. From 1999-2003 Ordonez averaged 32 home runs, 118 RBIs and a .311 batting average for Chicago. He had been a force almost from the first moment he was in big league camp in spring training.
"In spring training, if you were on Field 4, and he was hitting on Field 8, you could hear it," Manuel said. "He was that type of guy. When I first saw him, just the sound [of his bat hitting the ball was different]. I'm a big proponent of that. When a young player makes a different sound with that bat, I took notice."
Though Ordonez had a successful tenure in Chicago, the White Sox did not make a serious effort to re-sign him after the 2004 season.
"We wanted to win a championship and for us to pay Mr. [Scott] Boras' price, we would have had to sacrifice one to two key players to fit in Maggs salary in our overall budget," White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.
That 2004 winter was not the first time teams mistakenly had shied away from Ordonez. As a 16 year old, Ordonez was signed to the Houston Astros' Venezuelan academy by famed scout Andres Reiner, who developed such stars as Johan Santana, Bobby Abreu and Melvin Mora. Yet because Houston had not found a position for him to play, the Astros chose not to sign him to a professional contract. Reiner sent Ordonez to a White Sox scout for a tryout.
"Does he drink? Does he steal?" Reiner remembers the White Sox scout asking after the tryout. "Why isn't he signed?"
Reiner responded, "No, he's the healthiest player we have."
The Tigers can now say the same thing.
Jorge Arangure Jr. is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
He's Back!
Yes, Kenny Rogers is back! And doing his thang as if he was never gone at all. He made his first start of the season after a blood clot was removed from his pitching shoulder this past spring, Rogers allowed only two hits in six innings to lead the Detroit Tigers past Braves 5-0 last night.
So when I first heard that Kenny would miss possibly three months of play after his surgery, did I think the Detroit Tigers would be tied for first place in the AL Central when he came back? I was hoping that's for sure. Just goes to show that there is no "I" in this team. They work together for the common goal, and no one person is more important than the other...including Kenny. But I am sure glad he is back......Welcome back Kenny!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Oh Yes!
New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was selected as the American League's top player for the week ending June 17.
Verlander threw a no-hitter last Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 12 batters and issuing four walks in the process. He became the sixth Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter and the first since Jack Morris in 1984.
The 24-year-old right-hander also beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday to finish the week with a record of 2-0, an earned run average of 1.80 and 18 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Verlander, the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, notched his second career weekly honor. He shared the award with Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in May of 2006.
THIS KID IS HOT!!
************************************************************************************
Other EXCITING NEWS!!!!!
Kenny Rogers makes his first appearance Friday Night ! Oh yes things are going to get interesting!!!! I am gambling on this senior pitcher lol.
OK celebration at my house, everyone is invited!!!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
That Great Moment Captured
What can I say it still amazes me, even if you aren't a fan you have to admit it was a moment to be proud of.
A Moment I Wish I Hadn't Missed
So this has been a totally fucked up week as I stated earlier, and one of the more disappointing moments was missing going out to the game Tuesday night. Just so happens that's the night that Justin Verlander pulled off a no hitter against Milwaukee. But at least I got to watch it on my "All Tiger's Network", yes I am a complete freak when it comes to this team and games like that one just really enable the obsession.
I gotta admit I am in awe of this kid, yes I called him a kid, hell his is only 24 and he has accomplished so much already. He was last season's Al Rookie of the Year, got to go to the World Series and now threw his first No hitter game. Quite a bit to be proud of really. Not every 24 year old can be so lucky.
One of the things I really like about Justin is that he obviously LOVES this game, and lives to play it. It's what baseball is supposed to be. When he goes out there he's there to give 100%. The game was on when he was pitching at 99 mph for the first eight innings and then ended with a bang turning the heat up to 102 mph for his last two pitches of the game. The LAST TWO !!! And the control that guy has at that speed and the ability to keep that control while changing up his pitches just simply amazes me. Although this was his first actual major league no hitter success, he has come close to grabbing the ring in his amature career, in middle school he pitched a 5 inning no hit game, and at Old Dominican University he pitched a one hitter and also a two hitter, just a taste of the glory to come. Yes, I know, I know I should have been born male, but I just can't help myself.
I can't imagine the career this kid has before him, and no doubt this will not be his last no hitter that he throws. I have to say I was also moved by the reaction and emotions that followed the victory. I think it is what has made this team so great for me over the years. The comradery of the players and how they seem to willingly try to bring out the best in each other and celebrate each others victories.
The obvious pride and genuine joy that Pudge showed in that hug he gave Justin after the last strike of the game, the wordless but not tearless embrace Leland gave to him as he approached the dugout, well I have to say it moved me. You have a lot to be proud of Justin, and all of Detroit is proud for you.
Be Careful What You Wish For
This has been my first full week off of work, and well I had great visions for what I was going to do. A little work around the house that I had been putting off because of well being completly bogged down at the end of the school year and also to finally, finally get out to see a ball game or two.
Unfortuantley things didn't work out that way, one of the reasons I haven't blogged for over a week, is that I threw out my back on Monday, yes the first day of my wondermus three months off.
And it was just plain stupid how it happened, bent over and well twisted the wrong way, wrong enough to cause my pelvic cage to shift leaving me with one hip jacked up two inches higher than the other and one leg an inch shorter than the other. Ok I am short as it is, I don't need to lose any more height.
So after a couple of days of excuciating pain, and having to have Drew help me to the bathroom a zillion times a day, I decided to get an adjustment. The trip to the Chiropractor was just plain depressing.
Now I am no spring chicken but I am also not old, but something about discussing how I am developing degenerative arthritis in my spine certainly made me feel like I should be an offical AARP card holder. When did I suddenly go from being a hip thirty something wannabe to someone who needs to sleep with an orthopedic pillow between their legs at night? All I know is that unless Farigamo comes out with an orthopedic version of their stilletos I am not going that route.
So I guess I have to sucumb to the notion I am getting older, which in reality I don't mind, I just don't want the pains that go with it. Oh well what the hell can I do, Life continues bad back and all.
Unfortuantley things didn't work out that way, one of the reasons I haven't blogged for over a week, is that I threw out my back on Monday, yes the first day of my wondermus three months off.
And it was just plain stupid how it happened, bent over and well twisted the wrong way, wrong enough to cause my pelvic cage to shift leaving me with one hip jacked up two inches higher than the other and one leg an inch shorter than the other. Ok I am short as it is, I don't need to lose any more height.
So after a couple of days of excuciating pain, and having to have Drew help me to the bathroom a zillion times a day, I decided to get an adjustment. The trip to the Chiropractor was just plain depressing.
Now I am no spring chicken but I am also not old, but something about discussing how I am developing degenerative arthritis in my spine certainly made me feel like I should be an offical AARP card holder. When did I suddenly go from being a hip thirty something wannabe to someone who needs to sleep with an orthopedic pillow between their legs at night? All I know is that unless Farigamo comes out with an orthopedic version of their stilletos I am not going that route.
So I guess I have to sucumb to the notion I am getting older, which in reality I don't mind, I just don't want the pains that go with it. Oh well what the hell can I do, Life continues bad back and all.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Disappointment Doesn't Even Begin To Describe How I Feel
I can sum up the series finale to the Sopranos in three little words.............
WHAT THE FUCK!
Here's a half assed off the top of my head ending that would have been a thousand times better than what was offered tonight.....While Meadow is trying in vain to parallel park her sports car, the guy who came in right before AJ, and the two suspicious looking dudes that followed blow away Tony, Carmella, and Aj. Meadow finally passes her parallel parking exam and comes into the restaurant just as the hit men are exiting realizing she is the only Surviving Soprano, guess you were right Meadow, you aren't as important as AJ, they couldn't even wait for you to make your appearance and gave you a pass.
UGHHHHHHHHH
Saturday, June 02, 2007
This Week In Photos
A dog tag ID is wedged between panels of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, May 27, 2007. This year is the 25th anniversary of the memorial, which has etched into it the names of the 58,249 American servicemen and women who died or were lost during the Vietnam Conflict from 1959-1975.
Lawyering Up
I have to honestly say that I heard one of the most outrageous things today. I guess the father of Josh Hancock, you know the St. Louis Cards pitcher that died recently in a car accident, is filing suit against a married of individuals whom he claims contributed to his untimely passing.
At first there was a grain of credibility to the story, laying a little blame with the restaurant that according to his father kept serving him drinks even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him…well we all have seen that occur.
But there is more to this, this is just a case of a grieving father lawyering up how completely irresponsible is it for Hancock’s father to name everyone under the sun as responsible individuals in his son’s untimely death. This just take’s the “It wasn’t my fault” excuse to a disgusting new level. Don’t believe me? Read on….
Other defendants besides the restaurant include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.
The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.. And the police report said that Tolar’s car stalled because some other asshole on the expressway cut him off.
OK since when are you responsible for your car malfunctioning after some other asshole cuts you off on the expressway, are we supposed to be psychic and know when this is going to occur?
But why stop there in this blame game, let’s name the tow truck driver too, after all according to Hancock’s father he took way too long to get Tolar’s car off the express way and out of his drunk assed son’s way. Because if he hadn’t taken upwards of 15 minutes to get the stalled car out of the way, his son might still be here enjoying another drink from an adoring fan in a bar somewhere.
The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants…my question…why stop there hell, you have named anyone else you can think of Mr. Hargrove. What about the Chicka he was talking to on the cell phone, I am sure she contributed just a little don’t you think, she actually voluntarily engaged in conversation with him, as opposed to individuals on the side of the road trying to take care of their own business.
No where in this statement released to the press was there an inkling of responsibility put on the shoulders of Hargrove. No mention that he had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he smashed into the back of the tow truck. No mention that he was speeding , using his cell phone, and not wearing a seat belt, and that a little of the mary jane was found in his car. The whole situation wreaks of stupidity, and I think his father needs to man up and quit making excuses for his son.
Yes it’s tragic that he’s dead, but he was a participating contributor to his own death, no one held a gun to his head and forced him to make the poor decisions he made that night. In my own arrogant opinion, his father should be releasing statements that he is thankful his son did not wipe out an innocent family that day on the road.
Did he get what he deserved, no; I don’t wish such a thing on anyone. But it pisses me off that his father feels the need shove the blame onto others. But this is the trend now a day isn’t it.
Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death." News Flash Dean, Your son contributed to his own death not anyone else! You got one thing right though, it was an unnecessary death.
At first there was a grain of credibility to the story, laying a little blame with the restaurant that according to his father kept serving him drinks even though he was intoxicated prior to the crash that killed him…well we all have seen that occur.
But there is more to this, this is just a case of a grieving father lawyering up how completely irresponsible is it for Hancock’s father to name everyone under the sun as responsible individuals in his son’s untimely death. This just take’s the “It wasn’t my fault” excuse to a disgusting new level. Don’t believe me? Read on….
Other defendants besides the restaurant include Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle in the early hours of April 29; tow truck driver Jacob Edward Hargrove; and Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Hargrove.
The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.. And the police report said that Tolar’s car stalled because some other asshole on the expressway cut him off.
OK since when are you responsible for your car malfunctioning after some other asshole cuts you off on the expressway, are we supposed to be psychic and know when this is going to occur?
But why stop there in this blame game, let’s name the tow truck driver too, after all according to Hancock’s father he took way too long to get Tolar’s car off the express way and out of his drunk assed son’s way. Because if he hadn’t taken upwards of 15 minutes to get the stalled car out of the way, his son might still be here enjoying another drink from an adoring fan in a bar somewhere.
The Cardinals and Major League Baseball were not listed as defendants…my question…why stop there hell, you have named anyone else you can think of Mr. Hargrove. What about the Chicka he was talking to on the cell phone, I am sure she contributed just a little don’t you think, she actually voluntarily engaged in conversation with him, as opposed to individuals on the side of the road trying to take care of their own business.
No where in this statement released to the press was there an inkling of responsibility put on the shoulders of Hargrove. No mention that he had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he smashed into the back of the tow truck. No mention that he was speeding , using his cell phone, and not wearing a seat belt, and that a little of the mary jane was found in his car. The whole situation wreaks of stupidity, and I think his father needs to man up and quit making excuses for his son.
Yes it’s tragic that he’s dead, but he was a participating contributor to his own death, no one held a gun to his head and forced him to make the poor decisions he made that night. In my own arrogant opinion, his father should be releasing statements that he is thankful his son did not wipe out an innocent family that day on the road.
Did he get what he deserved, no; I don’t wish such a thing on anyone. But it pisses me off that his father feels the need shove the blame onto others. But this is the trend now a day isn’t it.
Dean Hancock said he has an obligation to represent the family on all issues, "including any legal actions necessary against those who contributed to the untimely and unnecessary death." News Flash Dean, Your son contributed to his own death not anyone else! You got one thing right though, it was an unnecessary death.
Finally Someone With a Sense of Humor!
Ok the funniest thing happened at work today. So funny I wish I had been in on the planning and pulling off of this prank, but at least I was let in on it before it happened and was able to witness the chaos that occurred thereafter.
There is this one teacher in my building who constantly throws the onions from his various lunch items in the garbage of the teacher across the hall, now normally it's not an issue but in the last couple of weeks the building has begun to heat up again, and by 5th hour her room is wreaking of onions.
She's asked him to quit doing it, but he continues to do it because hell he doesn't want his room to smell like that. Having had enough of it, she devises a plan to punk him. Give him a little taste of his own onion so to say.
Now the onion wielding teacher is handicapped and well the teacher lounge in the building is on the second floor, not very easy for him to get to. So in an effort to become handicap friendly the lounge is being moved downstairs, but not without some considerable cost to the district.
So the teacher who is getting stunk out of her room by the onions each day, decides to write a letter of complaint to the handicapped teacher from a supposed concerned member of the community, questioning the validity of his "Handicap". Now this letter went into grave detail about how he does not "appear" to be handicapped, that he must be faking and that he should be ashamed that he is costing the already financially strapped district money to address the needs of a handicapped wannabe.
OK you would have thought that you started World War III, seriously it was so hard not to laugh my ass off as he went around the building complaining in a insanely loud voice, I will sue this muther fucker. In a matter of all of one hour he showed the letter and complained with some very descriptive expletives to exactly 10 teachers, the Superintendent, both principals, even the waitress at the coney place where he gets all those onions he doesn't want.
When he went as far as to call The Union Rep to get the paperwork going to actually sue this fictional individual that's when they let him know it was really just a joke....hell they really thought he would get to the end of the letter and realize it was a joke when the word "ONION" was worked into the name of the person complaining, and each letter was in BOLD.
Anyway it was a hysterical way to end the day, I came around the corner and saw the three of them laughing, well two of them at least, the guy that got punked was not laughing, and I just smiled ear to ear. At that point, he says to me, "Kat, you knew about this too, Kat you little bitch" followed by hysterical laughter.
Look......... after working on a team of "Women" who have the personalities of nats, it was nice to laugh, and the ironic thing about all of this, I am going to be on the letter writers team next year. Oh Yes! I think I am going to have some fun! Karma sweet Karma.
There is this one teacher in my building who constantly throws the onions from his various lunch items in the garbage of the teacher across the hall, now normally it's not an issue but in the last couple of weeks the building has begun to heat up again, and by 5th hour her room is wreaking of onions.
She's asked him to quit doing it, but he continues to do it because hell he doesn't want his room to smell like that. Having had enough of it, she devises a plan to punk him. Give him a little taste of his own onion so to say.
Now the onion wielding teacher is handicapped and well the teacher lounge in the building is on the second floor, not very easy for him to get to. So in an effort to become handicap friendly the lounge is being moved downstairs, but not without some considerable cost to the district.
So the teacher who is getting stunk out of her room by the onions each day, decides to write a letter of complaint to the handicapped teacher from a supposed concerned member of the community, questioning the validity of his "Handicap". Now this letter went into grave detail about how he does not "appear" to be handicapped, that he must be faking and that he should be ashamed that he is costing the already financially strapped district money to address the needs of a handicapped wannabe.
OK you would have thought that you started World War III, seriously it was so hard not to laugh my ass off as he went around the building complaining in a insanely loud voice, I will sue this muther fucker. In a matter of all of one hour he showed the letter and complained with some very descriptive expletives to exactly 10 teachers, the Superintendent, both principals, even the waitress at the coney place where he gets all those onions he doesn't want.
When he went as far as to call The Union Rep to get the paperwork going to actually sue this fictional individual that's when they let him know it was really just a joke....hell they really thought he would get to the end of the letter and realize it was a joke when the word "ONION" was worked into the name of the person complaining, and each letter was in BOLD.
Anyway it was a hysterical way to end the day, I came around the corner and saw the three of them laughing, well two of them at least, the guy that got punked was not laughing, and I just smiled ear to ear. At that point, he says to me, "Kat, you knew about this too, Kat you little bitch" followed by hysterical laughter.
Look......... after working on a team of "Women" who have the personalities of nats, it was nice to laugh, and the ironic thing about all of this, I am going to be on the letter writers team next year. Oh Yes! I think I am going to have some fun! Karma sweet Karma.
I Definately Feel Better Now
Had a little convo with a former teacher yesterday about the cunt in question in my last post, seems there is a history there of he just being a bitch to any teacher she works with, including the members of the team that she supposedly think like her. So yes, misery loves company and well I have adopted the Fuck it attitude, plus hell there is one week left in school and I don't have to work with this woman for at least another yeah, yes there is sweet irony.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
