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Headin’ down the farm

Posted on April 13, 2022 by moc

Today’s the day I’m doing it. Gonna see the farm team finally. This morning, actually, as the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals take on the Carolina Mudcats at Virginia Credit Union Stadium, at 11:05. Damn I love morning baseball.
I haven’t seen a pro game of organized ball since 2019, and I’m excited to see the new stadium. Even with the pathetic corporate name it’s gotta be better than that God-awful one they had in Woodbridge.
And there’s nothing like watching guys half your age to keep you humble.

Weekend musings

Posted on April 11, 2022 by moc

Well, the weekend didn’t end with Tiger Woods donning another green jacket, but I did get to see some damn good golf, some damn good baseball, and parts of at least two good series on “TV.”

I’m happy to say Ken Burns’s latest offering, Benjamin Franklin, is up to Ken’s usual level of excellence. (I’m a Ben Franklin fan anyway, but wow that guy was a lousy father and husband.) Also I should say that HBO’s Winning Time has really turned it around since I gave my original take some weeks ago.

Series concludes May 8.

Life goes on happily.

Giving me a glimmer of hope

Posted on April 8, 2022 by moc

On the first day of The Masters every year there’s always an old man who somehow keeps up with the leaders through Round One, giving hope to old guys all over the world.

I guess it would be Tiger Woods some day.

The future is now.

It did not disappoint

Posted on April 6, 2022 by moc

To summarize Monday’s championship game between Kansas and North Carolina: it did not disappoint.

Shades of 2003, when the Jayhawks fell behind early to my favored team, this time they completed their comeback and will soon hang that 2022 championship banner at Allen Fieldhouse.

To think I was going to go to bed at halftime. Shame, shame.

When KU started the second half like a team ready to win, I knew it was only a matter of time.

And speaking of time, I do love the short turnaround between the end of March Madness and the beginning of the Masters (not sure how Nantz feels about that one). And have we ever had the opening round at Augusta occur on Opening Day of the baseball season?

Seriously, somebody pinch me.

It was epic, and will be re-epic tonight

Posted on April 4, 2022 by moc

Sometimes the buildup to something bound to be amazing is a bit overwhelming, and the event itself never lives up.

But come on, did you really think the Duke-Carolina game Saturday night was going to disappoint?

They’re the Yankees-Red Sox of college basketball, always worthy of primetime, and with the added element of (potentially) Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game, the happening had legendary status before tipoff.

Still does.

Which sets up tonight, bound to be epic again, two of the most storied teams in the sport (37 Final Four appearances between them), meeting for a championship yet again, 65 years after they met in one of the most famous finals of all time.

I can’t guarantee triple overtime tonight, but then, you never know.

Gonna be epic

Posted on April 1, 2022 by moc

They are four of the most storied programs in the history of college basketball, and when they face off against one another this weekend we have the possibility for the most epic nights in, well, the history of college basketball.

(Actually this is the NCAA Tournament, so any night can end up the most epic night in the history of college basketball.)

Villanova, Kansas, North Carolina, and Duke together have gone to 61 Final Fours won a combined 17 national championships. Furthermore they’ve combined for 8 of 21 crowns awarded this century, a staggering 38 percent among only these four schools.

It’ll be 9 of 22 as of Monday night, hopefully a shining moment for sports fans like this guy who don’t really care about any of the schools, just want to see awesome basketball.

And for a further discussion, tune in to this week’s broadcast of Math and Musings.

Lousy Smarch weather

Posted on March 30, 2022 by moc

Second day in a row I’ve woken up to temperatures in the 20s. At the end of March.

Remember that old line about in like a lion and out like a lamb?

Well, sometimes it goes out like a lion too.

Actually more like a polar bear as long as we’re changing the metaphor.

Send that one to Bartlett’s.

All kinds of surprises

Posted on March 28, 2022 by moc

I’m still a bit confused as to what happened, but my Twitter feed was rather crowded last night with news of an incident between comedian Chris Rock and actor Will Smith.

At the Oscars.

And my first thought was, The Oscars were tonight?

They seemed like really good predictions

Posted on March 25, 2022 by moc

Today’s episode of Math and Musings features some hot takes on this year’s NCAA Tournament.

I recorded it several days ago, of course, and half the teams I mention today have since been knocked out.

That’s March Madness for ya.

Back on the old beat

Posted on March 23, 2022 by moc

Spring has sprung, and baseball has begun.

That means we begin again…

the Jacob deGrom watch.

Yesterday’s spring training outing? Two innings, one hit, five strikeouts. Wow.

Alas, oh for oh at the plate.

Calling it now: deGrom DHs for self at some point in 2022.