Yet It Remains.

It is not evil or even wrong,
but I know it cannot stay.
It has caused me such joy,
but I know I must let it go.
And yet it remains.

I have asked the only One who can,
To take it away from me.
I have begged the Almighty,
To root it out of me.
But yet it remains.

I have cut myself off,
From its source.
I have removed everything,
That might remind me.
But yet it remains.

I have embraced it fully,
Hoping for the best.
But that only lasts a while,
Before I return to the truth.
And yet it remains.

I have puffed out my chest,
In false bravado.
I have collapsed to my knees,
In tearful prayer.
But yet it remains.

What else might I do,
To remedy or cure it?
Embrace it or deny it,
I cannot escape it.
And yet it remains.

Too Late.

(Just found this. I wrote it the night before I left for my freshman year of college.)

V1
Up late, can’t wait/
Time to be moving’ on.
Don’t doubt, stressed out/
Can’t hide my feelings. Will I be strong?

V2
Pen up, brain’s stuck/
Could I truly write it down?
Here it goes, hope it flows/
Ends on the ceiling, or on the ground.

Chorus
How do you spell anxiety?
And what word rhymes with fun?
I need a phrase for complicated,
“Walk it off,” is overrated…
The issue’s not one of simplicity/
It will make sense when I’m done.

V3
Stakes high, pen’s dry/
Changing lives sure takes time.
Goodbyes, mom cries/
My mind’s still reeling, oh and I’m….

Bridge
Questioning myself. Yes, I’m/
wrestling with the doubt!
I’ve got a dinner date with fate,/
I have crossed the airport gate,   and/
those jets don’t stop for, “Wait!”

It really seems too late….

Chorus
How do you spell anxiety?
And what word rhymes with fun?
I need a phrase for complicated,
“Walk it off,” is overrated…
The issue’s not one of simplicity/
It will make sense when I’m done.

V4
Pen rests, confessed/
stress is gone at last.
Class test, feel blessed/
I’ve got a feeling, that this has passed.

Baseball Quotes.

Quotes about America’s Pastime:

People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball.  I’ll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring.
-Rogers Hornsby

You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too.
-Roy Campanella

No game in the world is as tidy and dramatically neat as baseball, with cause and effect, crime and punishment, motive and result, so cleanly defined.
-Paul Gallico

There are three things in my life which I really love:  God, my family, and baseball.  The only problem – once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.
-Al Gallagher

Baseball was made for kids, and grown-ups only screw it up.
-Bob Lemon

I see great things in baseball.  It’s our game – the American game.  It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism.  Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set.  Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.
-Walt Whitman

Baseball is a fun game.  It beats working for a living.
-Phil Linz

When they start the game, they don’t yell, “Work ball.”  They say, “Play ball.”
-Willie Stargell

With those who don’t give a damn about baseball, I can only sympathize.  I do not resent them.  I am even willing to concede that many of them are physically clean, good to their mothers and in favor of world peace.  But while the game is on, I can’t think of anything to say to them.
-Art Hill

Good pitching will beat good hitting any time, and vice versa.
-Bob Veale

The other sports are just sports.  Baseball is a love.
-Bryant Gumbel

Every hitter likes fastballs, just like everybody likes ice cream.  But you don’t like it when someone’s stuffing it into you by the gallon.  That’s what it feels like when Nolan Ryan’s throwin’ balls by you.
-Reggie Jackson

Say this much for big league baseball – it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America.
-Bruce Catton

It breaks your heart.  It is designed to break your heart.  The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.
-A. Bartlett Giamatti

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain’s free throws.
-Rick Wise

If a horse can’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it.
-Dick Allen, on artificial turf

Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world.  If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can’t get you off.
-Bill Veeck

Trying to sneak a pitch past Hank Aaron is like trying to sneak a sunrise past a rooster.
-Attributed to both Joe Adcock and Curt Simmons

I’ve come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen.
-Bob Lemon

You don’t save a pitcher for tomorrow.  Tomorrow it may rain.
-Leo Durocher

You can’t sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock.  You’ve got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance.  That’s why baseball is the greatest game of them all.
-Earl Weaver

During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times.  I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times.  You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season.  That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball.
-Mickey Mantle

Sandy (Koufax)’s fastball was so fast, some batters would start to swing as he was on his way to the mound.
-Jim Murray

The strongest thing that baseball has going for it today are its yesterdays.
-Lawrence Ritter

This is a game to be savored, not gulped.  There’s time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings.
-Bill Veeck

Baseball fans love numbers.  They love to swirl them around their mouths like Bordeaux wine.
-Pat Conroy

One of the chief duties of the fan is to engage in arguments with the man behind him.  This department of the game has been allowed to run down fearfully.
-Robert Benchley

It is well to remember that a Martian observing his first baseball game would be quite correct in concluding that the last two words of the National Anthem are:  PLAY BALL!
-Herbert H. Paper

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.
-Bill Veeck

A game of great charm in the adoption of mathematical measurements to the timing of human movements, the exactitudes and adjustments of physical ability to hazardous chance.  The speed of the legs, the dexterity of the body, the grace of the swing, the elusiveness of the slide – these are the features that make Americans everywhere forget the last syllable of a man’s last name or the pigmentation of his skin.
-Branch Rickey

Don’t forget to swing hard, in case you hit the ball.
-Woodie Held

You know it’s summertime at Candlestick when the fog rolls in, the wind kicks up, and you see the center fielder slicing open a caribou to survive the ninth inning.
-Bob Sarlette

Don’t tell me about the world.  Not today.  It’s springtime and they’re knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball.
-Pete Hamill

It ain’t nothin’ till I call it.
-Bill Klem, umpire

The greatest feeling in the world is to win a major league game.  The second-greatest feeling is to lose a major league game.
-Chuck Tanner

Baseball is a ballet without music.  Drama without words.
-Ernie Harwell

Well, boys, it’s a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit the ball square.
-Joe Schultz

There are two theories on hitting the knuckleball.  Unfortunately, neither of them work.
-Charlie Lau

Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too.
-Greg, age 8

The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up.
-Bob Uecker

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini.  They show a lot, but not everything.
-Toby Harrah

If Cool Papa Bell had known about colleges or if colleges had known about Cool Papa, Jesse Owens would have looked like he was walking.
-Satchel Paige

England and America should scrap cricket and baseball and come up with a new game that they both can play.  Like baseball, for example.
-Robert Benchley

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic.
-Robert S. Wieder

You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.
-Jim Bouton

People Will Come.

“People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. ‘Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,’ you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come, Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”

-Terrence Mann
Field of Dreams

Closer Music.

If I were a shut-down closer along the lines of Mariano, Eckersley, Hoffman, etc in my prime and had to pick an intimidating song to walk-in and warm-up to, these would be my top 4 choices:

4. When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
Closer songs have to have a memorable and intimidating opening. The heavy drum beat and bluesy harmonica more than satisfy that need. You can’t help but bob your head and look to see what’s going on when that starts playing. Plus I love this song, so it would be my choice if I was the closer.

3. Duel of the Fates – John Williams (opening through 0:17, then jump to 0:59)
The epic masterpiece from Star Wars: Phantom Menace sends chills up my spine! The opening a capella chords just scream “Showdown!” and the slow build after that caps with the choir coming back in at the same intensity level. Imagine standing on deck watching a dude jog in confidently with this blaring through the speakers.

2. God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash
Ok, yes, relief pitcher Joe Beimel already uses this. So what?! It’s prefect! Like “Levee” this songs starts out with a heavy, heavy beat. Then, in comes Johnny. His words echoe the sentiment, “Better not mess with this man, or his God.” The lyrics really say it best, from pitcher to hitter: “You can run on for a long time, run on for a long time. Sooner or later, God’ll cut ya down.”

1. O Fortuna – Carl Orff
One of the most parodied epic masterpieces of all-time, and what’s that saying? “Imitation is the greatest for of flattery.” In this case, it is definitely warranted. Once again, the choir opens up at full blast accompanied by some ominous strings and beastly tympani drums. The second this sound hit the speakers, the whole stadium would be paying attention. And then the music drops off and builds slowly, as if to allow the pitcher to warm-up while the tension builds. The song builds, the closer warms, the batter knows his end is near. As the song reaches it’s climax, the tympani return, and the man in the on-deck circle can just feel that the pitcher is warm and ready to send him back to the dugout! Plus that final chord? With the trumpets?? Perfect time to look at the ump and say, “Yeah, I’m good now, batter-up.”

Any other suggestions???
Also regarding baseball and songs: the Rockies play the song Green Onions by Booker T and the MG’s (from the movie The Sandlot. The part where the team from across town challenges the sandlot boys to a game. You know, “You play ball like a girl!”) as the crowd leaves after a loss, but I always wanted to hear that when we won!! That or the swing song played during that actual game. I don’t know the name of it. It is also from the ending credits. Great stuff.

I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy!

I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy
A Yankee Doodle, do or die
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam
Born on the Fourth of July

I’ve got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart
She’s my Yankee Doodle joy.
Yankee Doodle came to Jo’Burg
Just to beat the goalies
I am a Yankee Doodle Boy!

USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!

Patrick Henry’s Take on USA-England.

The days for talking are over, the day for action approaches, and as Thomas Paine said, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Yanks-Brits. Colonials-Red Coats. Doughboys-Limeys. USA- England, whatever you want to call it, the match 235 years in the making lies just 36 hours away. Who better to offer final comment than an actual American Revolutionary? Ladies and gentlemen, bask in the historic words of Patrick Henry:

“There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free–if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength but irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. [...] If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace–but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME DEATH!“

Give me liberty, or give me death.

2010 FIFA World Cup, U.S.A v. England. It’s here.

USA v. England Through History.

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” -Thomas Paine, 1776

Chronology of the United States of America v. England through the years:

1. 1775-1783 The American Revolution.
True, the story starts much before this, but it was here that the first shots were fired (both figurative and literal). Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Valley Forge, and Yorktown are all engrained in our history along with names like Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Patrick Henry, Benedict Arnold, Cornwallis, Rochambeau, Greene, and George III.
Score: USA 1, England 0

2. 1812-1815 War of 1812.
Once again the aggressors, the United States calls out the Bloody Redcoats on unfair trading restrictions. England responds by burning D.C. to the ground! Though a victory seemed apparent for England, Andrew Jackson had other ideas and a fury of last-minute triumphs, including at New Orleans, puts the Stars and Stripes back on top. The U.S.A. receives a war hero in Old Hickory and a new anthem in the Star Spangled Banner.
Score: USA 2, England 0

3. 1950 The Miracle on Grass
It would be 135 years before the U.S. and England faced off again, but now the arena has changed. Allies in recent wars, the Americans and the British now battle on the pitch in the World Cup. England is a 3-1 favorite to win it all, the Americans? 500-1. It’s a story made for Hollywood as the U.S.A., led by high-school teachers, mail-men, and dishwashers, beat the professional “Kings of Football” 1-0!
Score: USA 3, England 0

4. 1953-2008 “Friendly” Era.
So begins a long streak of “friendlies” between the two countries. England, ticked off yet again at the Yanks for the beat-down in 1950, storms the Americans in 1953, 1959, 1964, and 1985 by a combined score of 29-4. The U.S. side steals a match in 1993 by a score of 2-0 and then lost two competitive matches in 2005 and 2008 by scores of 2-1 and 2-0, respectively.
Score: USA 4, England 6

So the Brits caught up with us in time. However, all their victories have come in matches called “friendlies,” although the English don’t seem to take these matches in a very “friendly” way at all, it seems. The United States has come through when it matters most against England: in war and in the World Cup. Which brings us to the present.

2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Round Match: U.S.A vs. England!!

Come on, Yanks, let’s take it to those Red Coats like only we know how! They come into this match with their typical Football bravado, but we all know where that got them 1950! Sure, they invented the sport, so what? Never has there been a greater opportunity to beat them at their own game! If all else fails, remember the rallying cries of our brothers in 1775:
“Don’t tread on me!”
“Join, or die.”
“I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
“I have not yet begun to fight!”
“Give me liberty, or give me death!”

My BCS Solution.

Listen, I want to see Bama, Texas, TCU, Cincy, and Boise St all have a shot at the title just as much as the next guy. Difference is, I actually came up with a solution! Run this idea by the BCS committee and University presidents and they’ll be more excited than Martin Grammatica post-field goal!

Solution: 60 minute battle-royale game. 1950′s rules/regs and equipment (aka barely any), every team for itself, no alliances! One offensive team vs. all 4 defenses at a time. Teams MUST run actual, legal plays when they get the ball. Other than that, all’s fair. Punts are handled basically like street games of ’500′.
Game starts with the referee (ghost of Dick “Night Train” Lane) unexpectedly dropping the ball into the midst of the 5 senior captains meeting at midfield and then clotheslining all of them.
First team to score a touchdown wins. Overtime situation: If no team has scored at the end of 60 minutes, the team with the most “playable” offensive players remaining wins. Must include at least one skill-position player to qualify.
See? Much better than the BCS.

My Grandad

(Edited slightly from “My Dad” by an unknown author.)
This just really fit my Grandpa’s life perfectly. I just now got around to posting it.

He wore the sunshine in his famer’s tan,
Beneath his fingernails, he wore the soil of his land.
He wore his determination in the lines in his face,
Each day he worked hard at a steady pace.
He wore his pride well as he stood tall,
Because each day he gave it his all.
He wore his love for the open skies,
In an ongoing twinkly in his eyes.
He wore his happiness from within,
In his little jokes that always gave him a grin.

He worked hard daybreak to night,
And was rewarded with some wonderful sights.
The peaceful moments of the sun setting low,
With all its colors radiating their glow.
After the miracle of birth, a moment of pay,
The glory of watching a new baby lamb at play.

A time when a farmer’s expectations grow,
As the seeds of life were carefully sown.
The reward of looking across his land,
At his crops and sheep made him a rich man.
He didn’t take much time to travel the world and the sea,
But he possessed everything that a man could want to be.
Worldly possessions he may not have had,
But a rich man he was, and he was my Grandad.