Several Days Late and Many Dollars Short

I know, I know, this place has been a DeadZone this week (but not the lame USA network/Anthony Michael Hall DeadZone...the cool and creepy Christopher Walken DeadZone): Whit recovering from too much boozery, Rob holed up in the only part of California without TV or the interweb (yet Rob's phone keeps calling me), me recovering from some awesome SARS/Ebola/West Nile mix and Dennis, well, honestly, we never know where Dennis is or what he's up to. What does any of this have to do with you? Nothing really, just a lot of words that serve as a buffer between yet another goofy title and my usual nonsensical rantings...

Sure, it's been almost a week, but I would be remiss if I did not tip my cap to all the attendees of last Friday's DC Blogger Happy Hour. A good time was had by all, I am sure of that, though most of the evening is fuzzy...Unsilent Majority showing up in a Derrick Thomas jersey set the stage nicely, the Brothers Mottram of Mr. Irrelevant did not disappoint (I am still laughing at Jamie and the Blog Show closed captioning), Awful Announcing was in the house, I found Rob a new friend in Dan at Red Sox Monster, Blog Show producer Littles is indeed a huge Lebowski fan, Miss Chatter does a much better job covering the Nats than we could ever do (and she has a money iPhone) and if memory serves Agent Steinz even showed for a few minutes, just long enough for me to (once again) implore him to set up a G:TB/Gheorghe sit-down. I know there were others there as well, but honestly, too much cheap beer (and perhaps a handful of Red Bull Vodkas) means I can't remember at all...

You want good rock whistling AND a random Gorky Park reference? Then the Scorpions "Wind of Change" is where it's at...

I never thought this day would come, but in the last six months it appears the Albany Times Union is actually pulling its weight as a real newspaper. I know, hard to believe, but the paper most often referred to in my youth as the Times Useless was the first to break the Orlando steroids story (Hi Gary Matthews!), a probe which also eventually linked to Chris Benoit, and their recent coverage of this Michael Strahan training camp soap opera (brought to my attention by Geoffrey) has been pretty decent (speaking of Mr. Strahan - Michael, shut up, take your $4 mil and play ball...well, once you've skipped 90% of training camp that is).

In sorting through all these baseball trades and the prospects dealt, I stumbled upon my new favorite minor leaguer (he was not part of any of these deals...I just found myself searching the South Atlantic League site...I know, get a life): LHP Antonio Bastardo, Lakewood BlueClaws (a Phillies affiliate)...3-0, 2.10 in July and 6-0, 1.42 overall, 63 K in 61 IP, only 11 ER all season long. Honestly, how many Philly fans do you think will own a "Bastardo" jersey as soon as they realize this guy exists?

Mr. Litos, we like the switch to WordPress, now how about a Tribe Tuesday (or Thursday)?

Ah yes, my beloved Jankees - I mean, what is there to say? Hottest team since the All-Star break, scoring runs at a blazing clip, albeit crushing some god awful teams along the way. Seven back of the Red Sox in the AL East, three back of the Indians in the Wild Card. Rob might not be worried (or need to be worried, really), but the Yankees finally have it turned around. Or so I hope...I know just talking about the Yankees on G:TB means I've probably cursed them and cost them a playoff spot. Well, if that's the case, let me just say I think it's great how well Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka have pitched this year and what a lucky break that they've managed to avoid any major injuries (think that will work?).

Finally, I am amazed, yet pleasantly surprised, by the sudden reemergence of B-movie legend Bruce Campbell. You should know who Bruce Campbell is, but if not, I'll wait... go ahead, Google him... there, he's the Evil Dead guy. And if you have never seen Evil Dead or Army of Darkness, you're really missing out. Anyway, Bruce is back on the USA network's (wow, two mentions of the USA network in one post?) summer action/comedy/spy/whatever series "Burn Notice", playing heavy drinking ex-CIA spook Sam...but, even better, Bruce also has this fantastic Old Spice commercial running: