I love this kid...

RETURN OF THE JEDI TheNewsTribune.com Tacoma, WA

The more and more I learn about Mr. Snelling the more and more I'm glad he's in the Mariners organization, while slowly becomming my favorite player. There's nothing to like about the guy, he's a class act, works hard, and would be a star right now if he didn't run into injuries. He's still young, and has a lot of time to develop, I hope he can become a MLB star, but if he stays where he is now, I'd still admire him as one of the greatest players to lace up his cleats.

Lindsay's "Boob Job"

Lindsay Lohan taken off posters to promote Herbie: Fully Loaded - Brand Republic

Well, looks like I won't be seeing this one now... thanks parents. Why the heck do you think the owners of Herbie let her drive him in the first place? I doubt it was due to her racing skill. Hey, maybe this will drive her to depression and an appearance in Playboy ;-). She's 18, right?

Mmmm, MLB draft day...

I've spent the majority of the day watching the MLB First Year Player Draft, and learned a few great things. First off, I learned my name would not be called. Second off, I learned how ridiculous this sport can be. There's a 50% success rate for these kids, and by success, I don't mean fame, fortune, and a plaque in the hall. But success as in making it to the majors. This includes those guys who play for a year or two, and then get shipped back off to some small town like Reading to play out their career, bringing in maybe 100k a year - wishing they were making the big bucks. Seventeen, Eighteen and Nineteen year old kids, who are considering whether they should sign their life over, to perhaps be a career double-A baller, or go to college.

The draft itself is amazing: two days, 50 rounds, no crap time in between picks. The teams know who they want, can't trade picks, and some come out great winners (1988 Dodgers, drafting Mike Piazza in the 62nd round, 1390th overall) or bigtime losers (2002 Seattle Mariners, John Mayberry, Jr., 28th overall, who opted to go to Standford). Huge names come through this draft: Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, but some come through other methods; foreign free agency brought us Ichiro, Nomo, Cabrera.

The draft has even touched Schuylkill County, with a few names from the area being drafted in the last few years. Chris Nabholz was drafted twice, first by the Cleveland Indians in the late rounds of the 1985 draft, and then three years later, by the Montreal Expos, where he made a successful career, going 37-35 with an ERA of 3.94 for his career. Not too shabby for the Pottsville phenom.

Going into this draft, the favorite for number one was high schooler, and brother of MLB player B.J. Upton, Justin, and he eventually was the first overall pick. It will be a few years before we hear his name regularly, but he's bound to end up on the Diamond for the Diamondbacks in the next couple years. Names like that of Upton, Maybin, Clement, and Tulowitzki could be just as common as Jeter, Rodriguez, Ramirez, or Johnson within the next 10 years. But only time and fate will tell for these young hopefuls.

Been a while...

I haven't updated on here for what seems like forever, and I really have no excuse. I just wanted to let those who read this know that I recently signed up for the "AudioBlog" program. This allows me to leave an audio clip, via cell phone, on this site from anywhere (for free of course). I haven't tried it yet, but hope to in the future.

In other news, my birthday was May 29, and I am now 19. Kind of a pointless birthday stuck between 18 (age of legality), 20 (a new number in the 'tens' column), and 21 (what could be special about this?). I was able to do a lot over a three day period. Leo's graduation party started the festivities on Saturday, then on my actual birthday I went to mass, followed by a good batting practice at baseball, then going to Heisler's and Dunk. Yesterday, I had a party for the family to gather, and a couple of my good friends were able to make it. Then a excursion to Gettysburg took place, and a good time was had by all.

Well that's all for now, I will be attempting to update at a better pace than what I have been. Talk to ya.

Pray for Terri Schiavo

House GOP Fails to OK Schiavo Legislation

Only time will tell how this outrageous and ridiculous situation ends, you can help by making calls, and without a doubt by your prayers. Terri is a living woman, with the right to remain living. It's amazing at this time of the year, one supposed to be filled with hope and awe for the Ressurection can be tainted by something so horrible.

Writer Hunter S. Thompson kills himself

Thompson dead at age 67

A brief post for the mourning of the man who brought us "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". An all time great book, and amazing movie adaptation that will be viewed in the eyes of fans as great forever. Seeming to play to the cult crowd, and giving the view of a drug dominated trip to Las Vegas, gives people a view through the eyes of a junkie, and portrays the high like never before shown or told. An activist for people who were underreprestented, his views may have not been great, but his courage and knowledge, as well as life experience are hard to match.

R.I.P.
Hunter S. Thompson
July 18, 1937 - February 20, 2005

Switchfoot

Official SWITCHFOOT Website

I would like to thank Joe for giving me the oppurtunity to appreciate this band. They have such a great message, clever lyrics, and a great sound. I've spent a lot of time here at college listening to their latest CD, and I am hoping to get their earlier albums shortly. I've taken what they have to say in, and really can appreciate and relate to their music. I'm doing my best to get the word around to my closer friends who I think would appreciate them, and I think this is a good way to do it... so that's my Switchfoot promo.