I Miss Summer Vacation!

My son had his last day of school yesterday and all he kept talking about last night was how great it was to be on summer vacation.  Mind you he’s only 6 and just completed 1^st grade but yet he already knows that for the next two and a half months he’s got nothing to worry about except having fun.  I miss those days.  When you get out of school and get a full-time job, you do have vacations but generally it’s a week to ten days.  I’ve never even had 10 straight days off of work for pleasure in my entire duration of working.  While I’ve been on disability for an extended period of time, that is hardly a vacation.  There is no relaxing involved in that scenario.  I long for the old days when you had two straight months of sleeping in and hanging out all day.  What I would give to have a full month off again!

I can’t even imagine taking a full month off.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve definitely thought about it but when I take vacation for a week I come back to a disaster, can you imagine what you would come back to after a month?  Perhaps next year I should start with two weeks and see how it goes.  The problem is I worry too much about my job and the people I work with.  I work in a small department and when I’m on vacation there is only one person left to do the work of two.  I don’t know why but I can’t relax or enjoy myself when I know that the person I left at work is stressing and cursing me out.  Not to mention that in this economy a job is very important and losing it could be disastrous.  I know my work wouldn’t fire me because I’m taking vacation but I always worry that my co-worker or another person in the company will do a better job than I am while I’m out.  Again, needless worry and stress when I should be having a relaxing time.

Maybe it’s me but it’s time I stop worrying about what’s going on here and enjoy myself.  I have vacation time and it’s time to start using it to my full advantage.  Next year I will take two weeks off in a row and not care what happens here at work.  I have to!  Seeing and hearing my son “brag” about having fun for the next two months last night really got to me.  It’s time to get that summer vacation feeling back again!

Oh No Canada....

As most of you probably know, I’m a huge sports fan and last night was Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  I know what you’re probably thinking, hockey?  Really?  Well, believe it or not, I was actually into the hockey playoffs this year, or at least the last three rounds.  I don’t really follow any one team but being a Red Sox fan and seeing that the Boston Bruins hadn’t won a championship since the early 70’s I began following them.  I was treated to some really good hockey.  I can honestly say that in the last month or so, I’ve watched more hockey than I have in my entire life.  All three series were pretty fantastic and Game 7’s in any sport are usually great games.  Unfortunately for Vancouver Canuck fans, it was pretty anti-climatic as the Bruins rolled to a 4-0 win and it really wasn’t all that close at the end.  The sad thing, the game isn’t what this post is about; instead it’s about the sore-loser Canadian fans that were classless, dangerous and downright stupid for their actions in the final minutes of the game and after.

Canadian fans set the tone for the night by first booing our National Anthem, then loudly singing along to their anthem.  Real class there Vancouver, real class!  I’ve been to numerous baseball and even hockey games where a visiting Canadian city is in town (Toronto and Montreal) and have NEVER heard fans boo during the Canadian anthem.  NEVER!  Not only was this disrespectful but it was ignorant and just plain stupid.  My opinions and thoughts on Canada were not all that high before I heard this but now I will make it a point to not only SIT during your anthem but any time I can to absolutely ignore and/or miss when a Canadian team is in town.

That aside, after the game, when the Bruins were receiving the Stanley Cup and getting their praise from the Commissioner and the NHL, the fans loudly booed.  They booed so loudly it was tough to hear at times and it again showed poor class.  I’ve watched a lot of series clinching games that were won by the visiting team and I can’t remember one where the visiting team was treated with such disdain.  I even remember when the Red Sox won game 7 of the American League Championship Series in New York in 2004 after an improbably comeback that Yankee fans didn’t boo.  YANKEE FANS!  They HATE the Red Sox and even they didn’t loudly boo during the ceremony (granted, most had exited before the final pitch anyway, but that’s for another post).  Again, Vancouver, really?  Are you that ignorant?

During the final moments and after the game, the Vancouver fans and general public also rioted.  Yup, they rioted and acted like a bunch of poor-sport babies because their team couldn’t pull off the win when they were up 2-0.  Fans set cars on fire, even some police cruisers, local stores were destroyed, windows damaged and looting and people were injured while these crybabies acted like idiots.  While not ALL fans destroyed the city, there were thousands that participated and I just don’t get it.  I’ve seen fans go crazy after they WIN a series and flip cars and cause some ruckus but never really seen the destruction that happened after the game last night.  Here’s a good website with some video and photos (http://www.twirlit.com/2011/06/16/vancouver-riots-2011-photos-city-destroyed-after-canucks-loss-watch/).  As you can see, utter chaos!  I guess it’s true; Canadians are really into their hockey…perhaps a little too into their hockey!

Maybe it’s me but Canada definitely lost some of my respect and I can bet some Americans are waking up today with some bad views of Canada.  I know, personally, I never really thought much of Canada to begin with but with events like this, it just really puts a bad taste in my mouth.  Grow up Canada….it’s just a game.

What are your opinions?  Do you agree?  Were the rioting, booing of the National Anthem and booing during the presentation ceremony disrespectful and class-less?  Let me know!

Super 8 - A True Throwback!

This past weekend I was able to catch Super 8, the new movie by J.J. Abrams and produced by the great Steven Spielberg.  It felt like I’d stepped back into the 1980’s as the movie has that Goonies/Stand by Me/E.T. vibe.  J.J. Abrams pays homage to Spielberg in a great way because the movie screams 80’s Spielberg.  It had it all, the story that’s focused on the kids, the messy home life scenes, the setting, the lighting and the late monster reveal.

Overall I thought the movie was fantastic though some late third acts scenes had some plot holes I can forgive them because the movie as a whole was so good.  The nostalgic feel to me was the most important aspect of the movie.  In today’s movie market you hardly see a “smart” movie with kids aged 10-13 as the leads.  Generally it’s either late teenagers or older getting the main focus of movies.  Here the kids are 12-13 years old and their acting is superb.  Dialogue that was spot on and although it’s a far fetched idea, it still seems grounded in reality, much like E.T. and Goonies.

I brought my six year old and he too absolutely loved it.  Though, I’ve trained him by reliving all of my favorite 80’s movies over and over again with him.  In fact, some of his favorite movies are my favorites (Stand by Me, The Goonies and Sandlot).  The problem is, I wonder how late teens and early twenty year olds are viewing this movie, the 16-23 demographic for example.  They are a bit too old to remember these classics and with movies nowadays being vastly different, I wonder what they thought of it.  These days, movie patrons are treated to a full-on-shot of the monster 15 minutes into a movie or even before in the trailers.  How are these impatient high school and college kids reacting to having to wait and sit through some excellent character development before getting their monster fix?

If you have a chance to see it, DO IT!  Especially if you grew up watching those classic 80’s movies and miss them as much as I do.  Maybe it’s me but I don’t think we’ll ever get movies like those again.  Though seeing Super 8 has me optimistic, maybe these types of movies will make a comeback.  I sure hope so because there’s nothing like that feeling.

10:30 Game Time....Really MLB?

Did any of you guys stay up to watch the Red Sox vs. Yankees game last night?  Well, if you did, you’re better than me!  The game went through a 3 and a half hour rain delay and didn’t start until 10:30 p.m.  I was only able to keep my eyes open until the 3^rd inning and finally had to give up.  Outrageous!  If I had tickets to the game I would have been majorly pissed.  I just don’t get why they couldn’t scratch the game and play it at a later date.  They play each other numerous times and could even schedule the game around an off day due to the closeness of the cities.  It’s not like we’re talking about two cities that are on the opposite sides of the country.  We’re talking a 3 hour ride here.

I don’t really know who to blame here.  My guess would have to be Major League Baseball.  My guess is that they had the final call and decided that 10:30 was an acceptable time.  I disagree and don’t think anyone should have to wait around 3 ½ hours then sit through a 3 hour ball game.  I hope they made arrangements with the Subway transit for those that come to the games on the trains.

Imagine if I had tickets and had to go to work in the morning.  There is no way I would have been able to stay for the game.  As a fan of the Red Sox and more importantly a fan of baseball I think playing that game at that time was unfair and cruel.  Baseball is getting more and more ridiculous with their scheduling that at times it’s comical.  What about the kids?  Kids love watching baseball, especially the Sox vs. Yankees.  Do you think any parent would allow their 8-13 year old to watch a game that starts at 10:30?  I sincerely doubt it.

Maybe it’s me but better judgment should have been used last night and the game should have been cancelled and made up at a later date.  Shame on you MLB, shame on you!

Take Fan Voting AWAY!

If you want a good laugh today, check out the all-star voting for baseball’s mid-season classic.  I know all star games in pro sports have become nothing but popularity contests but this year’s baseball voting is downright comical and sad at the same time.  Generally every year there are players that get left off the roster that should have been on it and sometimes players will sneak on because of popularity but this year, so far anyway, the fans have got it very, very wrong.

First let’s talk about the leader at 1^st base, Mark Teixeira.  He’s having a pretty good year so far (16 HR’s, 38 RBI, .901 OPS) but is he really the best 1^st baseman in the American League?  Adrian Gonzalez is having a monster year (.918 OPS, AL high 46 RBI, .329 avg.), Miguel Cabrera is having another MVP type season (1.001 OPS, 40 RBI, .311 avg.).  Heck even DH David Ortiz, who if you had to put at a position would be 1B, is having a monster year (.964 OPS, 13 HR’s, 28 RBI).  So is Tex the best option at 1B?

Now let’s take it to the National League at the same position.  Albert Pujols currently leads the voting and is so far having one of his worst statistical years ever.  His batting line of .265/.335/.412/.746 and 9 HR’s, 31 RBI looks putrid next to Joey Votto (1.001 OPS, 7 HR, 32 RBI, .338 avg.) and Prince Fielder (.924 OPS, 11 HR, 42 RBI, .291 avg.) who are putting together fantastic starts to the year.  Why does Pujols belong this year?  Is it because of his past MVP seasons or maybe his hardcore St. Louis fan base flooding the ballots?

The rest of the National League however is pretty good.  The voting seems logical and all the leaders in other categories I could reasonably say deserve to go to the All-Star game.  The biggest travesty comes from the American League.  Your leading vote getter so far at the position of short-stop is….Derek Jeter.  What the…?  Derek Jeter?  Really?  He of the following stat line - .264/.328/.332/.660 with 2 HR’s and 16 RBI?  Wow.  Let’s see there are probably 7 other SS that should be ahead of him, but I’ll narrow it down for you to 3.  Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians is having a beast of a year so far (.875 OPS, 10 HR, 39 RBI, .299 avg.) and should be the leading vote getter.  But there’s also Erick Aybar (.315 avg., .800 OPS, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 14 SB) and Jed Lowrie (.305 avg., .803 OPS, 3HR, 22 RBI) tearing it up right now.

I get it.  Jeter is iconic and legendary but the All-Star game is for what players are doing THIS YEAR!  It’s not what about you’ve done in your career.  I could see if this was Jeter’s last season in the league and we all knew he was retiring, then great, vote him in one last time and give him his curtain call, but we all know he’s going to continue to play mediocre baseball for the rest of his contract, so why is he the leading SS vote getter?

Maybe it’s me but I think it’s time to revoke the fan voting system MLB has in place.  If Major League Baseball is trying to push this game as “meaning something” and it does by giving the winning league home field advantage in the World Series it’s time to get the best players on the teams.  If it wants to continue with the fan voting popularity contest, then it’s time to remove the meaning of the game and let it be just an exhibition game.

With the game determining home field advantage for the World Series, then it’s in the best interest to have the best players at each position for each league.  Jeter should not be at shortstop and I’m sorry but Pujols shouldn’t be at first base this year.  Take away the fan voting and come up with a new system.  I’m sick of fan bases flooding the ballots to get their favorite players on the field when sometimes they just don’t deserve it.

Lastly, I’d like to point out that although I’m a Red Sox fan, I’m a baseball fan first and a baseball purist at that.  I don’t care that there are six Yankees leading the voting so far.  In fact I believe that 4 of those Yankees deserve to be in the game (A-Rod, Granderson, Russell and Cano) but let’s get rid of the ones that don’t deserve…