Monday's Random Thoughts

SPORTS NIRVANA: Attention all sports fans. Please sing along:
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
Let's face it, rather than that one overlying event (such as March Madness or the Super Bowl or the Olympics), we have a convergence of just about every sport imaginable. And if they're not playing, they're still making news.
This weekend was one of that made me feel alive and happy to be able to have a varied love of all sports being played at every level. Let's break it down:

The College World Series started. Say what you will about the ping of the bat, but the road to Omaha is a wonder to watch, because you never know what's going to happen. You could get a game with nine home runs (as was my brother's first game in Georgia). Or you could get a 25-inning game -- the longest in NCAA history -- where a pitcher threw 13 innings in relief, 12 of those without allowing a hit. The college game is maddening and exciting at the same time. And it doesn't hurt my interest when Cal State Fullerton (NOT my alma mater) is still playing.

Professional baseball is in full swing. It's about now, as the weather warms up, that following the major leagues starts getting interesting. You've had the first two months, where every team mostly has its ups and downs, and you start getting a feel for who the real contenders are. And if the Angels don't do something with that bullpen soon ... Though, it was nice to get a comeback, walk-off win Sunday.

A little thing called the Stanley Cup Finals. And for all those Detroit fans who groused about having to play back-to-back games for openers, guess that really was an issue for your team. The only problem with the Red Wings winning those first two games is now we have the danger of the Cup being awarded on Versus, not NBC. The series will be shown on the obscure cable home of the NHL for Games 3 and 4, meaning that most of America might not see the final game (still not likely, gotta figure Pittsburgh wins at least one at home).

The NBA Finals are set to go. And, my apologies *snicker* to ABC for losing out on your dream match up. Guess you'll just have to settle for Disneyland vs. Disney World.

The king of clay, Rafael Nadal, lost at the French Open in tennis. This opens the door for Roger Federer to complete his career grand slam, which will put him atop many people's list as far as greatest player ever.

And even the sports I used to coach was on TV this weekend. The Women's College World Series is taking place in Oklahoma City (great complex, including a softball hall of fame, out there, BTW). Caught the last inning of a game on TV here at work. Actually, it was the last at-bat of the first game Sunday.
Didn't hear about it? It was only the ultimate dream-come-true moment for a ballplayer.
Two outs, bottom of the ninth (or, in this case, seventh), bases loaded. Down by three. Who didn't step up with their Whiffle ball and imagine that scenario? You always lived it out in your head, to the roar of your imaginary crowd.
A Florida player lived it. Opposite field, no less.
The announcers let the images from the field do their talking. The one dugout celebrating on the field. The other in disbelief, the emotions just overwhelming the players who were one out away from playing for a championship.
That's not considering the close finish at the NASCAR race and a playoff in the PGA.
A perfect day of sports. Something for everyone, and no waiting. It really helped, because ...

EARLIER IN THE DAY: Came the news that someone had gone into a church and killed a doctor, because he was a supporter of abortion rights.
Last time I checked, two wrongs, still do not make a right. And I'm no theological scholar, but I'm pretty sure that killing someone is still a sin. And killing someone in church? I'm thinking that earns you a FastPass for journey to hell ride in life.
And get off that "eye for an eye" Old Testament bandwagon. I think we all know the difference between right and wrong when it comes to another person's life. We're supposed to be the CIVILIZED society, especially, as some of the backwoods-redneck-racist bastards are wont to think, compared to the people in other countries who still allegedly do things like that.
We can go round-and-round over the whole abortion discussion again, but it just wears me out. Besides, earlier Sunday, my former co-worker Mike Rappaport beat me to the whole point, that seems to evade the pro-lifers out there:

I believe that as long as our laws and our society are the way they are, abortion needs to be safe and legal. That said, if a woman in my life became pregnant, I would do whatever I could to dissuade her from terminating her pregnancy.
Of course if I couldn't, the choice would be up to her. That's a choice I'm perfectly willing to let her make, as long as she understands that her actions have consequences and that she may have to justify herself before God at the end of her life.

So, hope the person who did this feels better about themselves. Because I'm pretty sure they're the only one.

RICH COAST: Yes, the trip is booked. The family has been notified. And in about a month, we'll be taking a vacation to Costa Rica.
And thankfully, the D-listers participating in "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" will be gone.
We're going down for Gina's grandmother's 100th birthday. And it should be a blast. If we can survive the next month dealing with her dad's paranoia, nerves and grandstanding.
Ever since we've told him we're going to go, he's started making plans for us to do things while we're down there. Every time he goes for a visit, it's typically for a month, and he goes off to Honduras ... Panama ... Colombia ... the whole region.
We're going for a few days. We'd like to see the family.
Oh, there are a couple of things we might do. Thinking of getting a car and going to a hotel by the beach. Maybe something we want to do.
So, if you're into praying, say one for us. Not necessarily for a safe trip (though that would be nice, too), but that we get through it without having a meltdown over Gina's dad.

INTERACTIVE PORTION: Who's the one musical act (past or present) you'd break the bank to see live and in their prime just once?