Ramblings

Hey, hey, it's time once again for everyone's favorite type of column, the Random Ramblings. Ready? Here we go;

-One thing I forgot to mention from my last visit to The Keg was the fact that someone in the Bucket Head Brigade propsed to his girlfriend during the game. I HATE these things, and wish they wouldn't happen. When I own the Cubs and Gaddis is the GM, we will not allow such travishamoceries to happen in our hallowed stadium. I wish the woman who was propsed to would have grabbed the ring out of his hand and thrown it on the field, punched him in the face, dumped soda over his head, and walked out, but what can I say, I'm a romantic.

-Todd, it's Gimlet, not Giblet, surely you saw Gaddis and I drink enough of these during our years that you can remember the name.

-I'm not leaving my Yankees yet, and I feel weird saying "My Yankees", but oh well. They sucked when I started liking them, so I will stick it out, plus remember, I'm a Cubs fan, I'm used to suckitude. I will be wearing one hat when I am at the Keg June 6,7,8, my best friend, my black Yankee hat, it is a thing of beauty.

-I'll take Afleet Alex in the Derby.

-I may just mention the San Francisco Giants in every post I make from now on because there is a site which keeps track of any time the team is mentioned.

-Antoher note for Todd, in the Wednesday issue of the MJS, there was an article on La Crosse trying to curb binge drinking. In the article, many shots were taken at The Racquet. The shots included things such as, we don't need to have alcohol ads to make money, we are really running a classy paper this year, and finally the fact the name of the paper was changed to The Lantern to get away from the controversial and classless Racquet. I think I speak for all of those who worked for or read The Racquet when I say, ouch, but try breaking a bigger story than Todd and I did, er I mean alleged story.

-I am in full support of the end of the reign of the Oklahoma Sooners' baseball coach, by him resigning or being forced out. He did something he shouldn't have, and even though he apologized and everyone accepted his apology, it still can have an impact on players, and this was a way to prevent problems from arising. He took a page right out of the alleged G. W. handbook on this one.

-Marquette Gold, whatever. UWM fans are still going to hate the Warriors and Warriors fans are still going to have their noses in the air thinking they are better than other people. Can't you just see a Marquette grad saying the following to a UWM grad, "Yeah, well at least I'll have a degree and you'll be serving my kids fries on our way to Colorado for a skiing trip", a la Good Will Hunting? I'm not saying all Marquette grads are like this to anyone, I could just see someone doing it to a UWM grad.

-If chicks still dig the long ball, do they dig steroids as well? And, do chicks dig the long ball if it is a drive in golf, or a long pass or kick in football, or does it just relate to baseball and softball?

-I'll be golfing tomorrow, so hopefully the rain doesn't continue, and if I hit any more amazing shots or fail at trying to get a bartender's phone number, you'll read all about it on Monday.

-The thing I like about preferred parking is the fact that it takes about 2 minutes to get out of the parking lot after you get to your car. Sure, you may be a five minute walk from the stadium, but getting out of the lot first, is key.

-Anyone graduating this year should click here for collegehumor.com's top ten things to do at graduation.

-I wonder what Mel Kiper Jr. is doing today.

-While the play which led to Paul Pierce's ejection didn't look that bad, it was just a stupid play to begin with. He shouldn't have even looked like he shoved Tinsley, plus if he wouldn't have gotten the first technical, he wouldn't have been ejected. I just hope he isn't suspended for game 7, that would be a horrible penalty.

-Speaking of the NBA, dar-komisar, David Stern, really needs to relax and accept the fact no matter how big the fines are, people are still going to complain about refs.

-Don't look now, but the Milwaukee/ St. Louis series in Milwaukee the last weekend of September could be really, really big. And how come this isn't a bigger rivalry? Doesn't anyone remember 1982 when the AL Champion Brewers were defeated in the World Series by... the Cardinals? This should be a much bigger rivalry and will be soon.

-If the Nationals were to win the World Series, that to me would be the sports equivalent of "Andy crawled to freedom through five-hundred yards of s#*t smelling foulness I can't even imagine, or maybe I just don't want too" (The Shawshank Redemption). Almost being contracted, playing games TWO countries away for the past two seasons, slashing payroll every year, finally moving, and winning the World Series. That would do it.

-Unitl next time...

The Keg

I don't know if it is a good thing to have 400 people chanting the same thing at you, or not. But, when what they are chanting rhymes with bass-bowl, it probably isn't a good thing. This is what the entire Bucket Head Brigade was chanting at one Cubs fan as he was being ejected from the stadium last night.

It is no secret that Brewers fans and Cubs fans don't like each other, but after last night, I saw first hand that Brewers fans actually HATE Cubs fans, it was quite a sight to see.

As for the game itself, the Cubs looked horrible and the Brewers had clutch hits which won them the game. No one on the Cubs looks fired up or enthused to be playing baseball, and it is starting to get tiresome. Zambrano pitched well for 5 innings, allowed 3 runs, and the team went into shock. The most fired up anyone got during the game was after the play which led to the ejection of Corey Patterson. Absolutely a wrong call, he beat out the play by at least a step. I thought there were actually 4 bad calls during the game, three against the Cubs, and one against the Brewers, all of them involved someone being called out, when they looked safe.

The Brewers got clutch hitting from Bill Hall and then Lyle Overbay in the game to seal the vicotry. As scary as Derrick Turnbow looks on television, he looks that much more scary in person. His fastball and control are unbelievable, by the way, Dan who? Also, Geoff Jenkins made one of the best plays I have ever seen in right field, one batter after Corey Patterson was ejected from the game, and since he was called out, Bill Hall's play on Patterson's groundball would have been the defensive play of the game, save for Jenkins going horizontal.

Again, all in all it was a good trip. I am a Cubs fan, but if they have to lose any games all season, I don't mind if it is to the Brewers, they just looked so pitiful last night that it is hard to admit to cheering for them.

Season record at The Keg: 1-1
Weiner race winner: The Bratwurst
Next Game: Friday, May 27th- Astros

-Until next time...

Monday, Monday

Since most of you reading this will probably be reading it on Tuesday, I guess I should stop paying homage to the Mama and Papas with the title. Anyway, as is the custom, a few things on my mind today...


Anytime I hear about an athlete (doesn't matter the level) of any calibur getting into some kind of trouble, I have to wonder if they are criminals are heart, or just stupid. Don't these people realize that no matter how big of a star they are, people are going to watch their every move? For those of you who went to La Crosse, or know what transpired two Oktoberfest's ago, you know exactly how I feel about these types of situations. For those of you who don't know the story, I'll summarize, I think high profile people who perform criminal acts, or don't hold themselves to higher standards are just plain stupid, and deserve everything that comes to them as far as punishment, and probably even more.

This brings me to Badger running back, Booker Stanley and his activities this past Saturday night. Apparently, at a party which saw 20,000 people attend on Saturday night, Mr. Stanley got a little out of control and was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, battery, and resisting or obstructing an officer. For more on the story, read this. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. If I was a coach and one of my players was arrested for, among other things, battery, I would kick him or her off of my team, no matter how big of a star they were. Of course, this is easy for me to say, because I am not, nor will I ever be a coach and face this dilema.

Athletes and people in the public eye are held to a higher standard, it's just the way it is. They need to act like it, and should be held accountable for their actions. Sure, Stanley will have to pay a fine, may land in jail for a few weeks, but will most likely be put on probation. That doesn't matter to young athletes who see this kind of thing, all they see is that he will still be on the team next season. The coaches of these players need to start making the tough decisions and severely punish these actions. Suspension isn't enough.



According to the city of Boston, Victoria Snelgrove's life was worth $5.1 million. That's what the city will pay her parents after her death in October from being hit in the eye with a pepper-spray filled projectile, which was fired toward a crowd by a Boston City Police Officer. If you haven't heard of this tragic story, click here. My qyestion is this, how is the decision made that $5.1 million is fair? I know there are many suits like this every year, how do the people who make this decision arrive at that amount of money? Is there a formula such as; person was this many years old, they were in this profession, they would have averaged this much money, their death was this atrocious, and here's the money? I don't get it, and it infuriates me when juries award this much money to families of people who were killed, and that's supposed to make things right. Do I have any idea what would make situations like this better? No, I don't, nor do I know what a better settlement would be. However, basically what settlements like this mean is, hey, here's how much your son or daughter's life was worth to us, now take the money and don't bother us anymore. I know why families accept the money, it's money, but what does it do for them? I DON'T GET IT.



I know T-Mac is doing silly things in the playoffs, but I haven't watched a single second.


Big Zeldar (my cousin, Jon) asked why we don't email Darren and Bill and try to get The Keg some legs that way. Good point, and I encourage everyone to email them about this during every game for the rest of the season. We can all start tomorrow, well, everyone but me, because I'll be at The Keg enjoying the game.


I will leave you with this little nugget. I went golfing for the first time of the season this past weekend with John, and friend of his, Ryan, and a friend of Ryan's. We went to Whitnall Park Golf Club in Greendale. Not only was it the first time I went golfing, it was the first time I swung a club all season. Let me say this about the course, it sucked, absolutely horrible. You can't expect great things from courses this early in the season, but the $42 I paid for uneven tee boxes, uncut fairways, and dead greens with so much sand on them I thought I was putting in a sand trap, was far too much. Even with all of the bad conditions on the course, not to mention the cold temperature and the wind, I still had quite an enjoyable time. Hit a lot of good shots, hit pretty much every hole in regulation, and minus putting because, well, we talked about the greens, I was right around par. I probably took between 15-25 putts on the front nine (which is not good AT ALL), but given the conditions of the green and the fact my lines were all pretty much on, just off on speed, I was pretty pleased with my round. On the back nine, John and I played a scramble and finished 1 over par.

I also had the greatest shot of my life on the back nine, number 16, 400 yard par 4. After we used my drive on the hole because John hit his ob, we were left with quite a difficult shot to the green. The ball was lying inbetween two sticks, about one foot from the trunk of a tree on the right. Three more trees were on the right within 15 feet and were in direct line with the hole. There was also a tree to the left about 10 feet away, so a simple punch to the fairway would have been difficult. With the trees right in line with the hole, and low branches, I figured the best shot I would have would be to play a knock-down 4 iron, to keep the ball low, and try to cut it, start it out left and bring it back right, to have it go near the green. There was also a bunker between us and the green, in the front right. The ball was on a slightly up hill lie, so this was going to be tough. I took my stance, no practice swings, because I don't take them, and hit the shot I wanted to hit. The ball stayed low enough to miss the branches, and I shaped it perfectly around the trees. As the ball was traveling through the air and following the fairway, I thought we would have a pretty good shot at par. At the time we were 2 over and wanted to finish even for the day, so birdie would have been great. The ball hit once before the green and I saw it hit another time on the green, then it went behind the bunker and was lost. John said, "That is going to be an outstanding shot" and I replied, "Yeah, are you even going to hit?" Basically because we knew my shot was near the green, if not on, and in a scramble you both play from the best shot. As we approached the green, we did not see my ball there, so I wonder aloud if maybe it rolled off or, "It's probably in the hole". We stopped the cart behind the green, and while I tentively approached the hole, John sprinted there and started giggling uncontrollably. I was about 5 feet from the hole when I began to see the white of the cup, I took one more step and the dimpled glory which was my white Slazenger number 4 appeared at the bottom of the cup, resting comfortably after a long journey, with an ending no one saw.

My first ever Eagle on a par 4. It was great. After that, I swung and missed when I tried to get Katie, the bartender's number in the clubhouse. I will say this about her, she works at a golf course and is one of the 5 best looking women I have ever seen in real life, by far the best looking woman I have seen in this state. Not even kidding, she deserves her own column, I could've hit the jackpot, but of course she has a boyfriend. Only good thing is; her 21st birthday is May 9th we found out, and considering how good I have been in the past with girls and their birthdays, christmas, sweetest day, valentine's day, st. swithens day, and whatever other holidays they expect gifts for, it's probably good she had a guy already. Plus, you never want to start seeing someone with a major gift giving event in the near future. All-in-all, a great day.

-Until next time...